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bleadenreads's reviews
491 reviews
The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper
4.0
This was the final book in the Wolf Den trilogy and I'm so grateful to Becky @thelibrarybat for putting this on my radar.
Note to anyone reading this,don't start the Mount Vesuvius bit right before going to bed 🌋. ..you'll want to stay up until the end! this part was terrifying and the tension was built up brilliantly by the odd little earthquake and also the sheer disbelief and shock of everyone when it did erupt.
I have to admit, I didn't like Amara in this final book. I found her selfish and obsessed with money & status. Philos deserved so much better! I know she is a product of her circumstances but I found it really hard to root for her, unlike in the previous 2 books. However, l think Harper wrote Amara with flaws for a reason...
However, Brittanica remains an absolute icon, a fierce woman gladiator from Britain fighting in Pompeii, loved her and would honestly love to hear her origin story.
I also don't know enough about Pompeii to know if the ending was unrealistic or not? I would love to know if anyone has any recommendations for a documentary about Pompeii 🌋 I found the eruption incredibly well paced, full of tension, fear & destruction.
Overall - I absolutely loved this trilogy and reading historical fiction set in the Roman Empire was 👨🍳😘, the historical detail was superb, especially the little bits of historical text quoted or snippets of graffiti found in Pompeii excavations. I cannot wait for more of Elodie Harper's fiction!
Note to anyone reading this,
I have to admit, I didn't like Amara in this final book. I found her selfish and obsessed with money & status. Philos deserved so much better! I know she is a product of her circumstances but I found it really hard to root for her, unlike in the previous 2 books. However, l think Harper wrote Amara with flaws for a reason...
However, Brittanica remains an absolute icon, a fierce woman gladiator from Britain fighting in Pompeii, loved her and would honestly love to hear her origin story.
Overall - I absolutely loved this trilogy and reading historical fiction set in the Roman Empire was 👨🍳😘, the historical detail was superb, especially the little bits of historical text quoted or snippets of graffiti found in Pompeii excavations. I cannot wait for more of Elodie Harper's fiction!
Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan
dark
emotional
informative
sad
5.0
Wow - this was something special.
I knew next to nothing about the Sri Lankan civil war and yet Ganeshananthan slowly guides you through the horrors and heartache as if she was confessing to a friend.
I struggled to put this book down and I was completely swept up in Sashi's life and her family. I got so invested in her becoming a doctor and loved the passion for learning throughout the novel, against the background of utter destruction and massacres.
The relationship between Sashi and her brothers felt so real, especially the love, arguments and desire to protect each other.
K - well K broke my heart, with his extreme politics but unwavering love for Sashi, her family and for the rights of Tamils.
Yet another absolute corker I would never have picked up if not for the @womensprize - forever grateful for this prize for highlighting such excellent women's fiction.
I knew next to nothing about the Sri Lankan civil war and yet Ganeshananthan slowly guides you through the horrors and heartache as if she was confessing to a friend.
I struggled to put this book down and I was completely swept up in Sashi's life and her family. I got so invested in her becoming a doctor and loved the passion for learning throughout the novel, against the background of utter destruction and massacres.
The relationship between Sashi and her brothers felt so real, especially the love, arguments and desire to protect each other.
K - well K broke my heart, with his extreme politics but unwavering love for Sashi, her family and for the rights of Tamils.
Yet another absolute corker I would never have picked up if not for the @womensprize - forever grateful for this prize for highlighting such excellent women's fiction.