This was a fantastic story that I really enjoyed. Even though this books target audience is 9 plus. I would say it's probably better suited for 10 plus. However, if you are like me , you will love this book as an adult. It's a great historical fiction story that is close enough to real roman chariot racing. It is an exciting and thrilling storyline. I am sure both boys and girls will love this series. I haven't read the first book in the series, but it worked really well as a standalone. I didn't feel like I had missed anything. I loved this ook so much, and I couldn't put it down, so I read it all in one evening. This book would definitely make a fantastic movie. The characters were great, lovable, and realistic. This story brought out some great emotions within me. It has such a wonderful sense of atmosphere. I really can't recommend this book enough. It's perfect for roman history fans and horse lovers.

Only the highest of praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating such a wonderful and interesting story. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. This author is definitely one to look out for.
The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK where found and my blog today https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/rivals-on-the-track-by-annelise-gray-head-of-zeus-5-stars under ladyreading365

I didn't read the first book in this series but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Dido is fleshed out characters and the I liked the plot and the vivid historical background.
The name of the horse made me laugh and I'm wondering why a horse was named "pig" (that's the translation of Porcellus from latin).
A good read and I think it can be appreciated by younger and older reader.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

After loving the first Circus Maximus, I had high hopes for the sequel and was not disappointed. How I wish I had this series to read when I was a child! It is the perfect mix of horses, adventure and historical fiction with a fantastic heroine.
In Rivals on the Track, Dido and Porcellus are now reunited, but remain in hiding back in Utica. Emperor Caligula has put a reward on their heads and there is no shortage of people out looking for them. Despite this, Dido is determined to return to chariot racing with her beloved horse. A huge new stadium in Thuga being built to rival the Circus Maximus in Rome, and with it comes a new tournament with a huge prize pot, which could be the answer to her family’s problems. But will she be able to keep up her disguise without being discovered? And if she does make it back to the track, can she still win?
This is a well-researched and fast paced adventure story with family at its heart. I am really looking forward to seeing what Annelise Gray writes next!

RIVALS ON THE TRACK is another fabulous historical middle grade adventure set in the Roman racing world. Dido has escaped the emperor, but he's sent bounty hunters after her. But trying to lie low on her uncle's stables isn't easy when old foes are stealing from them, so it's time to head onto the track once more to ensure they have enough money to continue.

The pacing is once again terrific and the depth of research done into this book if fabulous. One thing I was so excited to see was the annotated diagram of a chariot and rider at the front of the book. It's such a good way of showing what it (probably) looked like to bring the book to life even more - a picture is like a thousand words, after all! (I checked, and the first book has this too, in the finished format.)

I loved how this book tackled PTSD. Both Dido and Parmenion have scars (physical and emotional) from a big crash in the first book, which they are trying to learn to live with and heal from. Dido is afraid of getting back on the track while Parmenion has trouble with his leg.

We're seeing more and more books in adult and YA tackle this subject, but this is the first time I've seen it in MG, and I really liked the way it tackled and acknowledged it. These characters have been through a lot, and it was so nice to see them get the time to heal from that, find new ways forward.

This is also a book about family and the complicated ties within them. RIVALS ON THE TRACK takes the hints from RACE TO THE DEATH and expands on them as the rest of the family are introduced. It's been badly fractured from past events, and the grandfather and his two sons are still clinging to their grudges. Plus it's not affecting how those two sons are interacting with their sons.

I'm not sure if there's going to be another book. The ending feels pretty final, hinting at what the future might bring, but I'd like another book in this world with these characters.

Warning: contains spoilers for Book 1.

Much has changed in primary education since I was a little girl but one thing that has stayed the same is children’s fascination with the Romans. There is something endlessly intriguing about these people who contributed so much knowledge and thinking to the world around them, as modern day humans do now, yet in so many ways were so very different in their beliefs and the way in which they treated those they considered inferior.

Having been hooked into the title preceding this one – Race to the Death – with its courageous and daring heroine Dido, I was keen to catch up with her latest adventures to see whether the same well-researched attention to historical accuracy and exciting narrative would be present here and am delighted to report that they are. With chariot racing in her blood, and following her successes in that first title, we find Dido now trying to stay hidden from those who would use her talents for their own gain and who would also demand the return of her precious Porcellus – the extraordinary horse stolen from her that she has reclaimed.

We reencounter Dido putting Porcellus through his paces, much to the annoyance of her uncle and trainer Scorpus who is determined to do all he can to protect his young charge. Sharing a letter with her that he has received from a friend, Scorpus warns Dido that the emperor, Caligula, has not taken her escape from his service lightly and is intent on tracking her down to act as his charioteer. Not only this, but he has sent out posters offering a massive reward to anyone who can locate her and return her to Rome.

Desperate not only to hide from her pursuers, but also to return to racing, Dido disguises herself as a boy once more and along with Scorpus and the rest of his family and staff finds herself travelling to the home of her grandfather Muttumbaal in an attempt to collaborate to save the fortunes of both men’s stables.

But while Dido is thrilled to have the opportunity to train once more for the races due to be held at the new circus being constructed close by, she is shocked to see the familiar faces of old enemies who have also arrived for the entertainments. Should she and her beloved Porcellus stay hidden? Will she be able to race without being recognised? And how will she react if she is destined never to race again?

There are so many stories now in which the female protagonist takes on a role that would be traditionally held by a male, which is as it should be in our more-enlightened modern world. Where this book differs is that it is quite apparent the lengths to which Dido must go to be able to claim her place in the ranks of the all-male racing team. Yes, this may not be entirely historically accurate, but there are so many women throughout history who have successfully passed themselves off as men in order to accomplish their goals and the book sends a very clear message to all children that achieving ambitions requires an enormous amount of sacrifice and hard work in addition to a fair amount of luck.

Many of the horsey books that I have either read or have knowledge of tend to be very fluffy titles marketed as girls’ books – something that makes me quite sad as many boys enjoy equine pursuits too. Here, not only is this a title which will appeal to anyone with an interest in horses but it will also find fans with those who enjoy action-packed, exciting stories with a heart-stopping level of peril – my copy of Book 1 is currently in the hands of one of our Year 6 boys, who is loving it.

Although the book covers everything from Book 1 that you need to know to bring you up to speed and would work as a standalone, I think it would be more enjoyable if you have read that first title and know the backstory and many of the characters before you pick this up. Suitable for confident Year 5 readers upwards, this is a fabulous story which covers ambition, family disputes and inequality and would make for some great discussion were it to be used as a class reader and would be perfect to complement any topic work carried out on the Romans.

Enormous thanks go to publisher Zephyr and Net Galley for my virtual advance read ahead of publication of the hardback on February 3rd.

A truly EPIC SAGA, The second in the Circus Maximus adventure series is waiting in the holding pens ready to storm the arena and it is sure to set pulses racing!

I absolutely tore through Race to the Death, in fact it was one of my favourite reads of 2021. Ever since, I have been chomping at the bit to return to Rome for more white-knuckle chariot racing and brushes with death with unforgettable heroine, Dido.

And there’s no let-up in pace this time around. Rivals on the Track is pure, unbridled adrenaline! I could almost hear the roar of the crowd and taste the blood, sweat and sand of the colossal racing arena. There’s secrets, old scores to settle and family honour to fight for. These are monumental tales that in my opinion, would make for legendary motion pictures.

Dido is the only girl ever to have raced to victory at the Circus Maximus, Rome’s greatest sporting arena. Emperor Caligula has put a hefty reward out for the capture of both her and beloved horse Porcellus and they are forced to go into hiding at her Uncle Scorpus’ stables.

But old foes and treacherous villans rear their heads, stopping Dido in her tracks, whilst an estranged family member reaches out to Scorpus for help. A new circus is being built in Thugga and it’s all or nothing: Scorpus and his boys Hanno and Abibaal, ably assisted by Parmenion must race for their family’s honour. Winning is everything: will this spur Dido on to make a daring return to the tracks?

I always think a sign of a superb series is when being reunited with the characters feels like being back with old friends and it certainly felt that way, returning to the stables with Scorpus, Anna, Hanno, Abibaal and Parmenion. In this second instalment, we really get to grips with who they are and their individual struggles. We see Dido wrestle with her identity; who she wants to be versus who society thinks she should be. Determined to follow her dreams in a man’s world, she furiously kicks against typical female stereotypes and refuses to succumb to the expectation that girls of the time were to be married and start a family.

The horses are supremely well-developed characters in the story in their own right, each with their own carefully drawn temprement – Gray’s knowledge of caring for and handling these majestic creatures really shines through. Stallion Porcellus is pivotal to the plot once again, flanked by new addition Jewel, a one-eyed mare so brave she is sure to melt hearts.

Just as the chariots on the circus track, the story takes some breathtaking turns and a sensational plot twist near the end literally made me gasp – I can’t stop thinking about it! Although Dido is a fiercely independent young woman, I enjoyed watching the closeness between her and Parmenion develop. They are fiercely protective of one another and I’m wondering if there’s the possibility of a romance blossoming in the future.

I am desperately hoping that this isn’t the end and we get to take up the reins with Dido once again for another thrilling adventure on horseback.

With thanks to Zephyr Books and Netgalley for approving me to read an advance copy of the book.

Circus Maximus: Rivals on the Track is the stunning sequel to Annelise’s Gray’s Roman adventure, Race to the Death. Set in Roman-controlled Northern Africa in AD 38, it paints a vivid picture of the power and passion of the world of horses and chariot racing.

After defeating the emperor’s team at the great Circus Maximus stadium in Rome, Dido has no choice but to flee and disguise herself as a boy. Insulted and humiliated, the emperor is furious. He wants her back in Rome and is willing to pay a reward to whoever can deliver.

Chariot racing is a man’s world – one that she just might have to leave behind. Unable to be herself, Dido isn’t really sure who she is. But when Jewel, a beautiful one-eyed mare, comes into her life, the spark reignites. Does she dare to race again?

Rivals on the Track is a thundering adventure overflowing with danger and daring. In this unforgiving world, only the toughest survive. Dido must gather all of her strength and determination to fight for those she cares about and keep her identity a secret. As she discovers the truth about her family, there is even more to fight for. With old enemies are around every corner, this is going to be more difficult than she ever imagined.

Teachers often ask for book recommendations to accompany a history topic on the Romans. The Circus Maximus series has slotted into that gap for Upper Key Stage Two beautifully. The attention to detail in the setting descriptions and day-to-day life of the characters shows children just what it would have been like to live 2000 years ago. The reach of the emperor and influence of his rule is clear as everything revolves around his desires and plans. Dido is a feisty girl who won’t be stopped just because of her gender. Again and again, she proves that she is just as capable as the boys and nothing will stand in her way – a wonderful role model for all readers.