The Wolf Den, by Elodie Harper, is intense, dramatic historical fiction, set in an ancient Pompeiian brothel, with a world of violence and exploitation. You really do have to be up for the brutality in this one, seriously. I knew I’d love the ancient Roman setting, and there’s a lot to enjoy about Roman customs and daily life, in addition to a dramatic and surprising story.
Amara, one of the girls trapped in the “wolf den”, uses her wits and her knowledge from her previous life to save herself and her friends from horrific treatment. Amara and the other girls face constant brutality and exploitation, with moments of camaraderie and peace. Their stories are tragic, but in a realistic way for a world where women are property and have almost no means of independence. Amara was educated as a doctor’s daughter, but after her father’s death, the family has no income and she was sold as a concubine. From there, she was sold again to the brothel. Another girl was kidnapped, and another was abandoned as a baby and brought up to be a prostitute. There are references to historical plays about slavery, where the rescue of beautiful slave girls is the comedy, which highlights the everyday nature of the sale of young women.
Overall, The Wolf Den offers engaging historical details and an exploration of power and private resilience in ancient Pompeii. The ending leads to a new stage of Amara’s life, but it’s left fairly open, with two more books in the series to continue the story.
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Great review!