A novel set in Pompeii in which Amara has escaped the brothel, yet is still haunted by the memory of the place. This was really enjoyable and I would recommend it highly, I could not put it down until I had finished. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book,

Elodie Harper captures the brutal, sparkling, ordinary everyday life in Ancient Rome, the raw enchantment that makes the ancient world so irresistible to us even thousands of years later, and practically gift-wraps it to us in this pleasure of a sequel.

It is a remarkable talent to not just be able to create a rare, genuinely authentic presentation of Ancient Pompeii, but also to be able to launch readers right but back into the heart of a protagonist’s tale many, many months after the first novel.

Harper’s language is vivid but modest. She speaks volumes without needing to say much, meaning any work for the imagination of the reader is effortless. Pompeii leaps off the page and into your mind, so quickly and fluidly you might as well be watching a film. Every single location is beautifully and tastefully evoked. I was particularly stuck by her description of the streets and people of Pompeii like fish in streams, so much so that I just can’t get the image out of my head. (The quotes acting as headings for each Chapter title are also, I must add, a very effective and perfectly chosen selection).

I’m a Classicist, and I work in academic Classics publishing. It is therefore a genuine relief, a breath of fresh air, when the ancient works is brought to life so authentically and respectfully. I had said this about Harper’s first novel and I will say it again - you can tell she has put the research in, and it has paid off. So many current retellings of the ancient world or ancient myth are just riding on the trend, with little understanding of the subject and therefore little quality to the writing. Harper’s respect for the culture she is depicting is paramount, and appreciated.

Thanks to all of the above, Harper crafts characters that you honestly root for and empathise with. Amara could absolutely, entirely have lived this life in Pompeii in 75AD. Philos represents a whole world of slaves that are often silenced in modern retellings. You really can’t help but love Britannica. And Pliny…Pliny is represented with such sensitivity and, again, respect, that I love Harper’s writing all the more.

Fundamentally, this was my most anticipated book of 2022, I inhaled it in hours, I’m desperate to read it again, and I can’t wait for Rome…!

Thank you so very, very much to Elodie Harper, NetGalley and Head of Zeus for this absolute privilege.

Often in the past, I haven't got on so well with sequels, even when I hugely enjoyed the first book - a lot of the momentum has faded for me by the time I read them. Not so with 'The House with the Golden Door'. I found myself instantly sucked back into ancient Pompeii and Amara's life, and I raced through the book. Unsurprisingly, author Elodie Harper has retained her talent for making history feel so present. The city of Pompeii feels utterly alive, and I could picture scenes vividly using Harper's quite sparing prose (no danger of purple prose here).

Amara is a fantastic main character. She's complex and at times makes questionable but completely understandable decisions. She has dark edges; she is a person sharpened by her need to survive. I felt for her so very much - and throughout the book, I could feel the sense of danger and fragility that must have permeated the lives of so many slaves in reality. Having recently read 'Ariadne', one of many recent Greek myth retellings, I can appreciate even more the enjoyment I've got out of Harper's two books; 'Ariadne' is no match when it comes to narrative drive and character strength. As an aside, apart from Amara, I LOVE Britannica. I was relieved and delighted that she was so prominent in the sequel.

My one criticism is that I was quite disappointed by the end of the book, which lacked the drama of the first book's ending. But I am eager to read the final book in the trilogy, and gutted that I have to wait for it!

(With thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review)

I was highly anticipating this book and it did not disappoint.

It’s hard to review this book without giving spoilers for the first book.

I nearly enjoyed it as much as the first. I did not guess the plot twists and turns. If you like the first book you’ll like this sequel.

Thanks to Apollo (Head of Zeus) and Elodie Harper for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This series has my heart. I adored The Wolf Den, so I’m not joking when I say this was probably my most anticipated release of all time. Thankfully, it did not disappoint. It was perhaps a bit slower paced than The Wolf Den – which is saying something, because that was also fairly slow – but I was so invested in the characters that, to me, it didn’t matter one iota. The research that Harper has put into this work is evident; the locations, real people and cultural, social and religious issues are all so brilliantly tackled. The level of DETAIL with which she includes elements from the Roman milieu circa AD 75 is astounding. I particularly loved the discussion about Martha (a Jewish slave)’s heritage and experiences as a free woman and then a slave under the Empire after the annexation of Judea. I have a personal interest in this period, so I am perhaps biased – I could read fiction set in the Roman world forever - but it is a particularly joyous experience to find a work so well-researched, sensitively – yet boldly – written, and so utterly captivating. This series will always have a special place in my heart, and I NEED book three NOW.

The House with the Golden Door is a second part of a trilogy. You can read here (https://focusread.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-wolf-den-by-elodie-harper-head-of.html about the first book - The Wolf Den.

Amara escapes the brothel, but she isn't free at all. She feels captured and lonely in a golden cage and wears a mask of lovely, delicate and naive concubine. It doesn’t matter that she outwitted the most violent pimp in Pompeii, or that she could move mountains with her rage. This is not what her lover wants to see, so she hides it all. She holds the master's attention, even manipulates him, because she knows that her look will last only a short period of time, lovers are just as bad, but a closet full of coin never made any woman cry. Freedom has already exacted a heavy price. She cannot give up everything, or she will have nothing left of herself.

As is a first book, this one is also extremely enchanting, wonderfully written with vivid characters, real figures from history (Pliny) and in an atmosphere of an ancient Pompeii in the shadow of forthcoming volcanic eruption.

And in the middle - powerful Amara - love, grief, friendship and everyday struggle (of slaves and freemen) to achieve better life.

Every chapter begins with graffiti or a quote from ancient Roman era as a reminder that human nature stays the same.

Elodie Harper is a great storyteller and I am looking forward to Amara's adventures in Rome.

Highly recommended.

this beautiful sequel to the wolf den has been long awaited! it’s actually a 4.5 star from me - rounded down. It was so amazing to revisit the characters and places from the first novel and to see the relationships between the characters change and mature (sometimes not in a good way but that’s life) was so precious. No spoilers but i definitely have a new couple that i will be shipping! It didn’t rip my heart out and have me feeling as emotional as the first one did - hence i rated that 5 stars and this 4.5 but it was nevertheless very good and essential to read if you enjoyed the wolf den.

4.5*****

While I didn’t enjoy this as much as book 1, I still sped through it- reading the last 50% in one go.

As soon as I was approved for this, I started reading it.
Amara is out of the Wolf Den but is sorely missing this sisterhood she had, and deeply grieving the death of her truest friend in book 1.
She is learning what it means to be a concubine and how this elevated her position in society, above that of her previous slave status and prostitute. We see her troubles adjusting to this, as well as trying to move on from her past.

However, Felix will not let her go that easily. And not only does she have to deal with her completely horrible and dispicable previous owner, she’s also got new challenges to face, including keeping her patrons interest, and a dangerous/forbidden love which could leave devastating consequences.

In this we see Amara just trying to navigate a new scenario and situation for her, as well as trying to improve on her current situation and help those she loves… even if it means destroying herself in the process. We see her make difficult decisions and great sacrifices. She also becomes more cold and calculating- but it’s the only route of survival she has to try and save everyone she loves.

In this we also get to see her bond more closely to Britannica and more about Britannica- which I really enjoyed. I loved seeing the development of this deeply loyal and ferocious fighter become a fantastic confidante and teacher to Amara.

I really enjoy Elodie Harpers writing- the way she shows the delicate and often stringent relationships of those in the wolf den, the new relationships between courtesans and the slaves in general.

I cannot wait for Book 3 where I really hope Felix dies.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this E-Arc.

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed The Wolf Den I was delighted to hear that a sequel had been released.

While it doesn’t cause as many questions to be raised as it’s predecessor, this book still enthralls and you are invested in the story of the wolf pack and their lives in Roman Pompei

I loved the wolf den and so I had high hopes for this book and it didnt disappoint me. This book is so well written with well developed characters and a great storyline. I loved the setting in this book as well. I couldnt put this book down it was so gripping. Really well written.

If I hadn't fallen in love with this series when reading The Wolf Den I have now!

This sequel takes us right back into Amara's Pompeii after the events of the first book left us hanging. As a freedwoman, Amara learns that all is not as it seems as she continues to fight for her survival and that of those she cares about. Her precarious survival had me on edge the whole time as we learned along with Amara who she could really trust.

I love the way we get transported back to the sights and smells of Pompeii and my hatred of Felix still knows no bounds in this second book. Amara's fight to get away from her enslavement is compelling and the characters new and old she encounters on the way make for a breathtaking read.

Elodie Harper definitely knows how to tug at heartstrings and I felt every betrayal and glimmer of hope in The House With the Golden Door.

An amazing read and I can't wait until this book is published on the 12th May 🎉

I highly anticipated reading the second instalment of Elodie Harpers trilogy and it did not disappoint! From the first page I was once again drawn into the life of Amara as she battles to survive in Pompeii. The writing is excellent and I found it easy to visualise what I was reading. The story is full of twists and turns and I didn’t want it to end. I cannot wait for the third instalment and to see what other gems Elodie Harper releases after that!

Massive thanks to House of Zeus and NetGalley for allowing me access to this book.
#elodieharper #housewiththegoldendoor #houseofzeus #netgalley

Frankly, there aren’t enough words to describe my love for this book and Harper’s writing. I simply cannot get enough of it.

With the Wolf Den being such a fantastic book with interesting plot, I was nervous that this would not live up to the expectations the first book presented. However, there was never need for any doubt. The House With The Golden Door takes place after the events of The Wolf Den, with Amara now free.

Plot twists and heart wrenching moments litter this sequel in the best way, I couldn’t put it down!

Being back in this world was amazing, and the writing is just phenomenal.

Perfect for fans of Circe and Ariadne - a new modern classic, that’s for sure.

Just brilliant!! After reading and loving the first book, I was not let down by the sequel. So accurately written but also absorbing; it was hard to leave the characters behind! The historical immersion of Madeline Miller with the commercial sauce of Philippa Gregory.

I loved The Wolf Den and was delighted to receive an ARC of the sequel,thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.It definitely lived up to my expectations;it’s every bit as good as the first book.It continues the story of Amara ,devastated by the death of her dear friend Dido,but embracing her life as a freedwoman and concubine to her patron,Rufus.
However, she soon finds out that her new life is not as idyllic as she expected ,and that the problems she had with her previous owner, the brothel keeper Felix , have not gone away.She makes the decision to buy two of the women from the wolf den ,and this causes her great problems.Along with this is her love affair with Philos ,Rufus’s steward,which puts them both in a perilous situation.
The book is so well written and the characters so well developed ,that I really felt that I knew them by the end of the book.As before ,each chapter begins with an inscription or quotation from the time which really brings the past alive.I can’t wait for the next book and finding out what happens to Amara next.
This is an honest review based on my own opinions.

The House with the Golden Door by @elodielharper - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thank you so much to @headofzeus and @netgalley for my advanced copy!

The Wolf Den was the best book I read last month - one I’m still gushing about - so obviously I was excited to see an advanced review copy of the sequel was ready as I was finishing up as The Wolf Den is one of those books you won’t want to finish once you get to the final few pages (or minutes - the audiobook edition is brilliant!)

Scroll down a few posts to read that review in my grid, but what can I tell you about why you’ll also need to pre-order The House with the Golden Door? Well, without giving any spoilers away we’re staying with Amara as we explore a different side of Pompeii to life in The Wolf Den brothel. The writing is still stunning, the characters are still vivid and bold, and this plot, while not as addictive as the last, actually has higher stakes, more shocks and much more drama! Honestly, I’m gutted I’ve probably got at least a year to wait and see how it all ends…

The House with the Golden Door is out on May 12th - so grab a copy of The Wolf Den and get stuck in so you can be ready!

The Wolf Den was one of my favourite books of 2021 and I couldn’t wait to be transported back to Pompeii for Elodie Harper’s much anticipated sequel - it certainly didn’t disappoint!
Having escaped the brothel and the brutal hands of her pimp Felix, Amara is now a freedwoman. But will she ever be truly free? Her fate is determined by her patron Rufus. If he tires of her, her world will come crashing down. Will she outsmart him and sacrifice all that she has for true love?
Beautifully written, with such wonderfully detailed descriptions of Ancient Rome, the author has certainly done her homework.
I loved how every chapter started with a genuine quote or piece of graffiti from the era and cannot wait to head to Rome!
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this amazing arc and please don’t keep us waiting too long for the final book in this trilogy!

The House with the Golden Door is the second part of the Wolf Den Trilogy. I really enjoy reading stories about Ancient history and culture and this book was a pleasant read.

The whole book gave me the perfect historical Pompeii vibe come to life. I felt like walking through the whole novel like I’m part of it, and couldn’t put down till the end.

I absolutely enjoyed reading a piece of classical story.

To say I thoroughly enjoyed this book would be an understatement.
I was immediately transported back to familiar people and places and it was like getting together with an old friend
My only negative, I have to wait for book 3 to know what happens
Another triumph!

This book! I'm so GLAD it's just as good (if not better) than the first. I imagined there'd be fewer stakes, Amara's life less dangerous.... I was wrong and now I'm shook! Did I love these books? Yes. Did they literally break my heart and thow it on the ground? Also yes. It can be both. Would I recommend this series? Well I mean, do you enjoy being devasted, or....?

This is the second part of a trilogy set in Ancient Pompeii. It follows on immediately from the first where enslaved Amara has become a free woman, having been bought and granted her freedom by Pliny. In this part Amara is living as a concubine in a house rented for her by her lover Rufus.
Amara misses her best friend Dido enormously. Dido had died at the end of the first book. She realises quickly that her new freedom brings with it loneliness.
This book develops several of the characters from the earlier book and introduces some new characters. The characters are believable and all relevant to the story.
As with the first book, Elodie Harper has written a beautiful and realistic historical fiction. The sights, sounds,smells and tastes of the city are well captured. The story is structured round the many festivals of the Pompeii year which reflect Amara's changing fortunes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this next instalment of Amara's story and have already recommended to others but I would caution that the two parts should be read in order to fully appreciate the writing, although the author incorporates enough context to help a reader who has not read the first book.
My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC of this title in return for an honest review.

Book Review (Donna) - The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper.

With thanks to @netgalley and @headofzeus for the arc.

This is the second in the Wolf Den trilogy - I read the first just before reading this - in an effort to avoid spoilers, I'm not going to go through a massive overview, but this trilogy focuses on Amara, a slave in an infamous brothel in Pompeii.

Guys, I cannot rate these two books high enough! I have a love of ancient civilisations and Elodie makes Pompeii come to life with this immersive and captivating read. Whilst the core story is fictional, it is tinged with realness - the environment, attitudes, and beliefs of the time have been well-researched and I love that the chapters started with quotes from actual graffiti found at Pompeii. It is also refreshing to see a book from the perspective of a female slave, with the gender and class imbalance explored well.

There is strong character development not just of Amara but the side characters as well (all hail Britannica, who I adored in this book!!). This includes the villains, who whilst absolutely awful, you understand what has shaped them into who they are.

I really liked Amara, though this book had me on edge with knots in the stomach over some the questionable decisions she made!!

We have hope, romance, desire, revenge, ambition, heartbreak - and a well-driven plot to boot. I cannot wait for the third book! These are a new favourite.

A brilliant follow up to The Wolf Den continuing to follow the life of Amara. Again it is the relationships that are at the forefront of this story and what make it a really enjoyable read. Even the difficult relationships and the unlikable characters are done so so well. I really enjoyed the development of Britannica in this second book and I really hope there is more to come in the saga of Amara's life.

This series is SO GOOD

I adore the backdrop
The women
The badassery

I am PumpED FOR THE NEXT INSTALMENT

Amazing sequel to The Wolf Den. I love learning about this period of history through these wonderful novels.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much Union Square & Co for sending me a copy of The House With The Golden Door by Elodie Harper.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

This book had me in a chokehold, I simply could not put it down. (The only reason why this book was not read in one sitting was because I had to go to work)

We pick up almost immediately after the ending of The Wolf Den and Amara is struggling to contain control on Rufus. Freedom certainly isn't as easy she once hoped it would be. And while this book certainly isn't an uplifting novel, it is so gripping.

I was sending screaming messages to my book club as I was so nervous and anxious as this book went on! There were some moments of levity and Amara seemed so happy. I really wanted her to succeed but do we think that's going to happen?

I. Can. Not. Wait. For book three!

I enjoyed The Wolf Den so much that I was almost scared to read this in case it didn't live up to it. I needn't have feared. This is just as brilliant. The House with the Golden Door starts with Amara now a freedwoman. Of course she is not completely free. She is being kept by Rufus her sponsor to whom she is at first grateful and then as circumstances change, resentful though she has always to be careful to keep this hidden. Amara is a wonderfully complex character who has to make difficult choices not all of which work out for her. Other characters are well developed too, especially Britannica who really comes into her own in this sequel. Pompeii itself is almost a character here so well is it depicted. The sights, sounds and smells of ancient Rome are all there. The book is further enhanced by quotes from classical Roman texts at the beginning of each chapter which are extraordinarily well suited to what follows. I usually skim over such quotes but it's impossible to ignore these. I loved this book and can't wait for the next in the trilogy. I love books about ancient Rome and Greece and have read many set in this time. I think this series is my favourite (though Pat Barker has to come a very close second). Thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the ARC.

I kindly received an Arc of this book via netgalley.

The Wolf Den was in my top 5 books for 2021 so I was really looking forward to the sequel.

The House with the Golden Door picks up from the Wolf Den and follows our main character Amara. It was very different from book one as it was more about her struggle for independence. She has replaced the cage of the Wolf Den for a golden one.

I enjoyed the links to the old characters but I found certain things that happened predictable - I was eye rolling at one character in particular just knowing it wasn't going to end well.

I recommend reading this if you loved the first book but didn't quite enjoy it as much as the first. I will definitely be reading the next one though!

At the beginning of the year I read and loved The Wolf Den, and I'm so grateful to the publisher for giving me the chance to read its sequel. I had high hopes for it, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first book.

Even though Amara has been freed at the end of the first book, she is far from being completely free. She has left the brothel and has now a wealthy patron, but she has to depend on him for everything, and she has to face different challenges and dangers. The tension was always high and I kept turning the pages, wanting to see what would happen. The second half was especially gripping and I just couldn't put it down. The ending was very sad but it also made sense, and it made me even more excited for the conclusion.

Apart from the gripping storyline, what I most appreciated about the book was, once again, the main character Amara. Her incredible will to survive and to improve her circumstances is what drives the whole story, and, like in the first book, she becomes more ruthless and manipulative in order to do so. Sometimes I ddin't agree with her decisions, but I always understood her and sympathized with her.

I was also glad to see Britannica and Victoria again, although I wasn't happy with some things which happened between them and Amara.

I can't wait to finish Amara's story in the next book!

Amara has escaped her life as a slave in the town's most notorious brothel but it's out of the frying pan and in to the fire as her life now depends on her holding the affections of her patron. He's not quite the man she thought he was and her dreams are still plagued with memories of The Wolf Den and, more specifically, the women she left behind and the brutal man who owned and abused her.

🌙

In The House With The Golden Door, we return to Pompeii for the second installment of this brilliant trilogy, reimagining the lives of the women who history would have us forget.

I absolutely adored Amara in The Wolf Den but it was a really interesting turn to see how she handles life outside of the brothel and how she now needs to be ruthlessly cold and calculating, the very things she despised about her previous owner, Felix, in order to survive.

She has to make some great sacrifices and decisions and, while I didn't understand some of the decisions she made at the end, I'm really excited to get my hands on the last book to see how everything weaves together in the end!

(We also get to see a lot more of Brittanica in this book which I loved, she's such a fantastic character and has an amazing development!)

If you haven't already read The Wolf Den then please make sure to check it out! There's still plenty of time before the follow up is released in May 😍👌🏼

A massive thank you to @netgalley and @elodielharper for the chance to read this one early 💕

The house with the golden door
Sometimes sequels can be a bit of a disappointment, and as I loved the first book in this trilogy, The Wolf Den, so much, I was a little anxious about dipping into this one. I needn’t have worried though, because Elodie Harper has done an excellent job of developing Amara’s story as she moves from slave to courtesan in ancient Rome.
It very quickly becomes clear that although she has left behind her life in the brothel, Amara has merely swapped a sordid cage for a gilded one. She may have a fine house and the trappings of wealth, but they are all dependent on the whims of her petulant and fickle patron. Amara’s safety remains worryingly precarious and as the book progresses we see how the threats both to her happiness and the lives of herself and those she loves, multiply at an alarming rate.
Yet again Harper has brilliantly created a world in which we can really believe and she shines a light on the people who rarely receive much attention, on a world where most women are overlooked, slaves even more so, and then there are the prostitutes at the very bottom of the hierarchy.
I’m not sure there were any surprises in the book, it seems clear from quite early on that all will not be well, and Amara’s behaviour is sometimes a little hard to understand. However, the way we are shown new friendships forming, and the development of the characters both old and new are all really well handled.
I’m so glad that there’s going to be another episode in Amara’s story, and I’m excited about the action moving to Rome. I suspect it’s too much to hope for a completely happy ending, but I do hope that Amara finally gets her revenge on Felix.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in return for an honest review.

3.75 stars

"The House with the Golden Door" isn't quite as good as the first part of the series, but still offers a great variety of female characters and intriguing relationship dynamics.

Amara's position is precarious and dependent on how well she manages to please her patron, and I liked seeing that she kept on hustling to make sure she and hers were safe.

The romance plot was my least favorite part of the novel because the romantic interest just didn't suit Amara all that well, at least in my opinion. The ending felt a little rushed, but I liked to see Amara set herself up in a position of greater influence in order to save her family. I'm intrigued to see how the story continues.

Amara has escaped from her life in a notorious Pompeii brothel but will things be any easier as a free woman?

Well it wouldn’t be much of a story if life was suddenly plain sailing for Amara and her friends and it definitely isn’t! The world of Pompeii is brilliantly recreated by the author and I was pulled right in back in. The detail around life in the city at the time with its festivals, customs, limitations and opportunities is just brilliant.

Amara is a great central character. Smart and tough but also fallible and human. I also enjoyed Britannica's development in this book as she becomes a bigger part of the story.

The quotes at the start of each chapter were a great touch. Always reminding us that although we’re separated by a couple of millennia we’re not that different from the citizens of Pompeii.

The ending was perhaps not as dramatic as the first book but I feel it has set it up nicely for the final part of the trilogy

Hugely enjoyed The Wolf Den and was so looking forward to this. It really did not disappoint. Now impatiently waiting for book three!

Thank you Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the e-ARC of The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Having devoured The Wolf Den I was torn between hesitancy and desperation to read The House with the Golden Door; There is always that fear about the second book. However. I am so pleased to say that the fear was totally misplaced. Elodie Harper picks up the baton from the end of The Wolf Den with Amara settling into her new life as a freedwoman. As free as she can be, dependent on her patron, Rufus and subject to his timetable, whims and desires.

Amara continues to plough her course, not always making the best moves logically, often driven by her emotions, fears and experiences from the brothel. Amara’s character continues to be as complex and contrary as we saw in The Wolf Den, but her intentions remain well meant, if not the most advantageous at times.

Harper doesn’t deny us development of other characters, including Britannica, who really is a force. It was wonderful to read and see her development as she comes to the fore of the story. And other characters are illuminated to shape Amara’s circle and relationships.

The use of quotes from classical Roman texts at the beginning of each chapter are totally en pointe, not only in their relationship to the content of each chapter, but also their relevance to life now. There are so many that apply to current life, situations and relationships- I will definitely be keeping notes of them.

The House with the Golden Door may not have the punch in the guts that was The Wolf Den, but what it does have is the greater insight into the politics and complexities of Amara’s life as she transitions from slave to freedwoman, and all the new and not so new challenges it brings. This second book in the trilogy doesn’t fail to hit home and is certainly a series that will retain its strength and place in my bookish heart…even if I am now left waiting for Book 3!

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. After devouring The Wolf Den, I was super excited to delve into the sequel early and it was every bit as brilliant as the first one!

You can expect an exciting plotline containing strong women pulling together in the face of adversity; secrets and betrayals; a juicy forbidden love affair; and some impossible choices as Amara realises her life as a freedwoman isn’t as free as she first thought. The characters are fantastically developed - I was rooting for all the girls and completely immersed in their complex relationships and different reactions to the trauma they have been through. There are twists and turns that make it absolutely gripping in places as well as taking you on a turbulent emotional journey.

As a piece of historical fiction, I found the dialogue and the writing style to be a bit contemporary and I couldn’t quite see them as real people who could have lived in the ancient Roman Empire. However, this didn’t detract from the brilliant storyline and I thought the excerpts of Pompeii graffiti were fun ways to start some of the chapters. This, along with the snippets of information you pick up along the way as the characters’ backstories are revealed, was a great insight into a time I haven’t read much about before.

This is out on 12th May and I strongly recommend a pre-order!

Beautiful and moving…. The House with the Golden Door is the second part of the Wolf Den Trilogy. I really enjoy reading stories about Ancient history and culture and this book was a pleasant read. Thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a lovely way to start the new week!

If you loved The Wolf Den, you'll love The House With The Golden Door. Elodie Harper brings back the fantastic character of Amara to follow her life after she leaves the brotherl.

Thanks to @headofzeus and @netgalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Some people will remember my light criticism regarding The Wolf's Den. I am an Italian art historian, I have studied much archaeology throughout my life, but I hadn't found some of the details I had wanted in the first book. Of course it had been an engrossing read and the story intriguing enough to keep me going. Plus Amara’s arc had been beautifully depicted. But I had found it lacking in some aspects and my 3 star rating had reflected that.
However, I wanted to further explore the story. And this time around, The House with the Golden Door gave me so much more than its predecessor.
It was an absolute gem. I loved reading about Amara’s new journey, her days, her ascent, her sparring moments with Felix whilst still managing a selfish patron and his insulting requests.
I loved reading about her political plans, all the different endeavours to ensure her future through a complex web of friendships and borderline relationships. Plinius was back and with him, many other beloved characters, such as Britannica. Oh Britannica. I loved her so much and I deeply felt for her losses.
The only things I found somewhat unnecessary were the romance and the drama revolving about Victoria. But the ending was utterly perfect. Bitter, realistic and like a punch in the face.
4 stars for this second instalment and Amalia's brave heart.
Now that she is headed to Rome, when’s book 3 coming out? *grins*

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review, this was one of my most anticipated reads and it did not disappoint.

Carrying on three months after the first book finished, this was equally as gripping and as engrossing as the previous. I love Amara, and all the characters are so well written that they feel 100% real. The way the author manages to make Pompeii and the ancient Roman culture come back to life is so well researched.

I can’t wait for the next book and I just want Amara to have a comfortable, happy life!

I read the NetGalley proof in two days, unable to put it down.

This is the second book in the Wolf Den series and it certainly makes for a fascinating sequel, branching out in new directions as Amara's life alters with her circumstances. Against the beautiful backdrop of Pompeii and chapters tipped with relevant quotes from the city's graffiti, from the moment I began reading I was submerged back into the story of Amara and wholly invested in how her life was playing out. The Found Family theme of the first book is echoed in this one as Amara gathers people around her that she trusts and cares for, building a little sanctuary for herself that as a reader you are constantly in a state of concern about given her patron's tempestuous nature.

Of all the returning characters that stood out for me, Drusilla and Victoria were my favourite, with Fabia tugging at my heartstrings. I enjoyed the character of Philos, he is well-written as a strong lead and more likeable than I first thought; Rufus is soundly characterised so that while he is not likeable he is certainly a strong antagonist, someone provided layers which a lesser writer would not have bothered adding, but as usual Elodie Harper has masterfully created a well-rounded cast that would be perfectly at home on the big screen with clear motivations and humane, understandable flaws.

If you want to lose yourself in a Roman drama, this is the book for you. You will be sucked in and doused in lavender bath-water, decorated in garlands for festivals, and surrounded by frescoes of goddesses. You can imagine the streets, the city, the port, every artfully picked-out detail enhances your sensory perception of Amara's world.

This is one of my favourite books in the Greek Mythofiction subgenre, I encourage fans of Ariadne and The Song of Achilles (who enjoyed the heartache!) to pick this up today.

The House With The Golden Door - Elodie Harper

AD 75

We return to Pompeii and the life of Amara. She is now a freedwoman, free of the brothel and the danger that life brings. She has to adjust to her new life, all paid for by her patron. Yet, she cannot forget her old friends at the brothel and contrives to buy them their freedom. Putting herself back in the debt and path of her old master, she craves revenge and has to become as ruthless as he to keep her freedom. Can she keep her place in her patron’s affections even as she falls in love, risking everything to be free?

I am so thrilled to be back in living breathing Pompeii! Elodie Harper has recreated a world we only see in pictures and stone, scenes so vivid, you could climb into the pages and walk alongside Amara.

Initially it felt slower moving than The Wolf Den, but I felt we got to know these characters more deeply for it and I was pleased that Dear Old Pliny made an appearance too!

It is a captivating, moving story and tells a tale of female survival, bravery and friendship. It is unflinching in the depiction of these women’s lives, at times making my heart beat faster, I could feel these women’s fear lift from the page, having to live on their wits. I was left wondering if Amara would survive. Although I am always rooting for Amara, I found a new affection for Britannica, the feisty Iceni warrior, she is a brilliant character and I loved watching these two women’s relationship deepen and develop.

I constantly felt like I was learning from this book, at the same time as being entertained. The research that has gone into this is clear to the reader and I am desparate to make a trip to Pompeii to see this place for myself the inscriptions that head each chapter and to walk in Amara’s footsteps.

This is a beautifully woven tale of strong, vibrant women. A tale of love and survival, brutal at times with betrayal and dark secrets but their courage and bravery shine through.

Inevitably my mind turned towards that dreaded date of AD79 and how will this series end for Amara? Having to wait will not be easy!

✩✩✩✩✰

This was my most anticipated read of this year and Elodie Harper hasn't disappointed. While it was a slower start than The Wolf Den, I was thoroughly gripped by Amara's story and fully invested in her turmoil. Everything in her life seems to be so precariously balanced and, while I'm not sure she always makes the right decisions (but when do any of us ever?), I'm continually surprised and impressed with her ability to navigate the life that's been forced upon her.

I loved that we got to know some of the other characters in more detail this time, and Britannica is a particular favourite for me. I have no doubt she will get her vengeance eventually.

As things got harder and harder for Amara I found I couldn't put the book down, and I'll absolutely be buying a copy for my shelves. I've recommended The Wolf Den to absolutely everyone I know, and I think I'll be recommending the sequel just as much! (Is it too soon to say I can't wait for book three?!)

After finishing The Wolf Den, I couldn't wait to find out what life has in store next for Amara. Having become a freed woman, she has left the brothel and Felix's ownership to finally lead her own life.

I found this slightly slower than The Wolf Den, but the last 70% or so had me completely captivated.

Amara's struggle to find herself in her new life made me feel so incredibly sad for her, with things going not quite as expected or hoped.

This was a truly beautiful tale of love, friendship, betrayal, uncertainty, heartbreak. The way men underestimate women and feel entitled to own them. Women having to sacrifice a lot simply to survive.

The ending is much more sad than the first book, but also hopeful - I am excited to read about Amara's next adventures as she only grows stronger.

What a treat to get a preview copy of the 2nd book in the Elodie Harper’s Wolf Den series. Amara has been freed from the Wolf Den and is technically no longer a slave. Though as a courtesan to a wealthy sponsor, she still isn’t totally free, being subject to his whims and continued patronage. There’s no denying life is better though. We meet some new characters and Amara continues to fight for a freer life. This book is driven by her standing by old friends from the brothel, learning her new place in society, and finding love in unexpected places. Felix, the evil owner of the Wolf Den, continues to put Amara’s world in jeopardy. I hope that volume 3 holds a shred of a happy ending for some of the characters before Vesuvius destroys their world.

Harper’s writing and her detailed research bring Pompeii to life. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this preview copy.

The kind of historical fiction publishing today often feels quite one-note – there's a mystery, it's a bit gothic, a bit witchy – and when I read The Wolf Den last year, it felt so refreshing to return to my fave kind of historical fiction, the kind that showcases a slice of life from a bygone period. This book continues with Amara's story and although I don't think I enjoyed it *quite* as much as The Wolf Den, I still really liked it! It's less atmospheric than the first book, with less scene-setting and fewer insights into Pompeii life, but what this book lacks in scenery, it more than makes up for in readability: I could not put The House with the Golden Door down. Ok, it's a bit melodramatic at points and there's a few subplots that – as much as I liked them – felt like they came out of nowhere (I ❤️ Philos but where was the set-up from the first book?). None of that matters, though, because I was immersed and invested, and I can't recommend this trilogy enough if you're interested in slice-of-life historical fiction/the ancient Roman empire/anything old. I'm absolutely dying to visit Pompeii now and I can't wait for the last book in the trilogy. Elodie Harper does a fantastic job of describing slaves' and ex-slaves' lives, and the precarity and brutality of existence in the ancient world. I strongly hope it's all going to work out for Amara and Philos and Britannica, but judging by the year the book ends, I am not too confident about that point lol. In summary: I recommend, and get me to Italy asap.

This book was amazing! I loved it so much and I cannot wait for the third instalment in the series! I will 100% be buying this in paperback as well once it is released.

I actually loved this book more than The Wolf’s Den which is unusual for a sequel book. This book was so well paced and the character developments were amazing, I loved see Amara’s transition from prostitute to concubine and I adored the relationships that were built upon in this book. The characters were beautiful and I loved how Briticanna was developed into a fully dimensional character and her fierce loyalty towards Amara was so pure and I loved their friendship.

This book was amazing. I loved the authenticity of the setting however I do feel that sometimes the excessive sweating took you out of the book as I wonder how accurate it is that they use such language and I did sometimes get a bit confused regarding how old some of the characters are in particular Philos. Aside from this I loved the book and the narrative and everything about it!

The House with the golden door

The sequel to my favourite book of 2021, can you imagine my excitement?!

I loved being back in the world of ancient Pompeii and to get to spend some more time with Amara and her friends (and enemies).

I loved that we got to see more of some characters that we had only started to get to know in the first book, and that we got to meet even more interesting characters. This world that Eloise Harper has created is so alive and feels so modern( but at the same time accurate to the time). It shows that some themes are timeless and that we have a lot in common with the people of the ancient world.

I did feel that this sequel didn’t pack quite the same emotional punch as the first book, at least for me. I did find that I would have liked the story to play out a bit differently. There was a lot of focus on a specific aspect of this story that I unfortunately didn’t really care for. I’m trying to avoid spoilers but it involved a new character that I just didn’t find that interesting. I had also hoped to see a bit more of a change in Amaras *situation*.

This was still a very good read for me though and I’m so curious and excited about the third book in the series!

I could not wait to dive back into the life of Amara in Pompeii once I was given the opportunity to read the second part of the trilogy following the wonderful Wolf Den.

Amara has now gained her freedom- but is it all she believed it to be. She is still dependant on the favour of her patron and could lose everything if she displeases him. She also is still to escape from the vengeance of Felix , the owner of the Wolf Den.

The world that the author creates in Pompeii pulls you into the glittering lives of those who have so much to the precarious nature of life for those who have so little and the choices they must make to survive.

A book of love, loneliness, friendship, fear and betrayal.I raced through it and can only hope that I don’t have to wait too long for the next book.

I've had such a miserable few days being ill but then this morning I got an email from @netgalley saying I'd been approved for an eARC of The House with the Golden Door. It was like a gift from Asclepius.

🌟🌟🌟🌟

I'm really wary of giving any spoilers but everyone needs to read this book. It would be so easy for a book about Roman courtesans to be gratuitous and sensationalist but it is so far from that. The House with the Golden Door is visceral and brutal but it's also so beautiful and human.

Every character in this book is so multifaceted, even the ones that I hate (and I really, really hate them) still have layers and I find myself grudgingly understanding some of their behaviour. Amara herself is wonderful, she is so fierce and strong but vulnerable and empathetic, I think she might be my favourite heroine of the year so far. She has to adapt to her change in position but I feel she still stays true to herself.

Elodie Harper really brings Pompeii alive, I love that the chapters are headed with an excerpt from a letter or graffiti from Ancient Pompeii or Rome, it really grounds you in the time period. I don't know if I'm being very coherent which I'll blame on the cold but this book made me feel all of the emotions and had me at the edge of my seat. I would recommend it to anyone who likes strong, believable female characters and historical fiction.

Thank you NetGalley and House of Zeus.

#TheHousewiththeGoldenDoor #TheWolfDen #Lupanar #Pompeii #Roman #NetGalley #bookstagramuk

Amara is a free woman…… or is she, really? In the second book of her trilogy, Harper explores the precarious world of Roman freed women and their patrons in an engrossing tale of power, exploitation and some sisterly solidarity set in Pompeii. The central character is a survivor - a Greek doctor’s daughter sold as a slave to a ruthless small town thug and pimp, schooled by his own brutal and abused childhood. The book begins with her having been freed by a famous Admiral of the Fleet to ‘help’ a young male relative. But life as a mistress is a short career and no bed of roses, even if she is prone to a quixotic mixture of impetuous generosity and studious attention to money making. There is a wealth of well researched detail in the households, streets, bars, festivals and ceremonies along the way in this gripping saga. The poetry and graffiti quoted to illustrate the start of each chapter are a great touch. A well written historical fiction to engage readers with the ancient world is very welcome too.

I am hooked enough to want to know what happens in the next book. Do I want a break before then, though? Yes. The constant attention to sex and sexual exploitation is perhaps inevitable, given the characters in focus, and it may of course be that ancient people viewed the world of individual personal relations the way we do in the west now, but I am not so sure. I am not too convinced either by the fictitious involvement of well known historical characters in a modern story about an ancient place.

That said, this book is definitely worth reading after Wolf Den, which I also recommend.