I’ve been a fan of this series from the get go and what a joy it was to be back in Amaras world.

So much research must go into these books. Elodie Harper skillfully creates such a vivid picture of the place and the time. The vibrant society of ancient Italy, rich with customs and fashion and alive with the sights and sounds of everyday life is skillfully recreated. As ever I was utterly captivated.

In this book, we join Amara in Rome as mistress of Demetrius. Entangled in the politics of the day, when matters take a dangerous turn she is encouraged to leave Rome until danger passes.

Back in Pompeii, a place haunted by the ghosts of her former life, Amara is reunited with her daughter Rufina, her lover Philos and her friends. Though she is now a wealthy and protected woman, she is still not safe and her old nemesis Felix is again making a name for himself.

The eruption of Vesuvius has hung over the series. In this book we get to that eruption and the drama and terror of the event and the attempts to flee are so well written and so tense that I was literally left breathless. I felt utterly invested in the characters and their survival.

I couldn’t have hoped for more from the final book. What an incredible series this has been and Temple of Fortuna is an excellent final instalment. I’m just gutted it's over.

So incredibly grateful to Head of Zeus & Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy. Special edition on order!

Since I received the ARC for The Wolf Den, I have been hooked on Elodie Harper’s depiction of Roman life – from the lavish palaces of Rome to the brothels of Pompeii. The Temple of Fortuna is the final instalment for this trilogy and sees the much-awaited events which have made Pompeii a famous ruin come to fruition.

The world which Harper has created always feels realistic and detailed, and this is certainly the case for The Temple of Fortuna as snippets of graffiti and extracts from writings are used as chapter headings and back up the events in the book. As always, Amara is an interesting and multi-faceted character and has grown so much since the first book which has made the series a pleasure to read. I did get a little bogged down with the sheer amount of characters in the first half of the book though, but as it is the final part of the trilogy I think there was a real need to wrap some of the storylines up.

I did think the first half felt very slow – we know where the events are heading, and the explosive twist doesn’t happen until 60% of the way through. There is some setting up of important events, but I think this might have benefitted from an edit down. I did really enjoy the dramatic events though and the book wraps up most of the threads from the trilogy really well. The ending is almost a cliff-hanger which was a little surprising and I wonder if we will see more from this world from Harper in future – I’ll be keeping an eye out!

Overall, The Temple of Fortuna is the explosive end to the trilogy that we have been hoping for! Thank you to NetGalley & Head of Zeus – Apollo for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The final instalment of the Wolf Den trilogy, and the continuing saga of Amara.

Now living in Rome under the protection of Demetrius, Amara is much different to how she was portrayed in the earlier books. A stylish, pampered woman of some importance, mixing with the high and mighty, the true grit and survival spirit of the earlier works seems to be hidden, though no doubt it is there should she call on it!

On her return to Pompeii, Amara once again meets up with old loves, friends, other she-wolves and, of course, Rufina and Philos.

It is no spoiler that there was a massive event in Pompeii in AD79, so the lead up to that and the subsequent events make compelling reading.

Meticulously researched (good that the date of the eruption was updated) and beautifully written, this book rounded off the series well. A slower start than the other books, and some knowledge of those previous books is needed to make sense of this offering.

As a whole I preferred the previous books, but this was still a must read.

Thank you NetGalley.

✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨

Temple of Fortuna - Elodie Harper
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

LIKES
☀️ Amara‘s heartbreak and anguish could truly be felt through every page. I can’t think of many times I’ve rooted more for a main character. She had so much depth.
☀️ The portrayal of what is effectively Stockholm Syndrome. Seeing how Felix continued to play a huge part in Amara’s decision making really captured the all-consuming hold that abusive relationships can have over someone.
☀️ I can’t fault Elodie’s writing. It had me close to tears on multiple occasions. I also felt SO on edge reading those last few chapters. A book that makes you feel all the emotions is a winner with me.
☀️ The decision to not put graphic scenes on page. Knowing they’re happening is simply enough.
☀️ Characters you connect with and care about. There are a lot of them, but the friendships are all so sweet and genuine.
☀️ Not a happily ever after ending, but not a miserable one either. It was satisfying without being too perfect.
☀️ So much angst and pining.
☀️ The vivid descriptions of the various locations this is set. Nothing ever felt vague or confused, as Elodie does such a great job of painting a clear picture.
☀️ While fiction, I feel like I learnt a lot from its historical context about what women during this time had to go through. You can really tell the author did her research on the Roman Empire.
☀️ I was gripped from beginning to end, almost unable to put it down.
☀️ Philos and all of his gut-wrenching proclamations. I will never recover.

DISLIKES
🌙 Nothing!

Series ratings:
The Wolf Den (5🌟)
The House With The Golden Door (4🌟)
The Temple of Fortuna (5🌟)

If you haven’t read this series yet add it to your list RIGHT NOW. You will not regret it.

I love the Wolf Den series of books by Elodie Harper and was so happy to receive an ARC for the final instalment in the trilogy; The Temple of Fortuna. In this we follow Amara to Rome where she is the established partner to the wealthy Demetrius having left her former lover and daughter in Pompeii. When Demetrius asks Amara to marry him, she returns to Pompeii to prepare for the wedding. I loved The Temple of Fortuna - it is full of drama and atmosphere and is so vivid and well researched. It is a very fitting and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

Oh my god what a way to end the trilogy!
Going into this book, I was a bit apprehensive - I’d loved and devoured the previous two books so this one had a lot to live up to… and it definitely delivered.
While it started slow, with Amara living an easier life than we're used to seeing, the stakes quickly rose and we got back to the story full of feeling, intrigues and power plays expected from Elodie Harper’s books.
And that ending - just what it needed to be: full of heartbreak but also redemption. It fully shows Amara’s humanity but also the determination and cunningness we’ve grown accustomed to.
And the epilogue? Had me finishing reading with a very satisfied, big smile on my face and wishing we’d had more of this voice throughout the books!

Last year I bid farewell to Amara when she boarded on a boat and left her child and lover behind. It was utterly heartbreaking and yet, I understood her motive. This year, I was happy to finally get reacquainted with her story and see her thrive.

The Temple of Fortuna kicked off three years after the ending of book II. The first 40% of this final volume, which described Amara’s life prior the eruption of the Vesuvio, was melancholic and slow. But essential. And when the worst happened, the author gave me exactly what I was waiting (and hoping) for.

I loved, loved, reading about how Amara was able to face the unknown, the tragedy and survive the unthinkable. I loved reading about those days, because they felt so real and raw, I couldn’t stop thinking about what might lay ahead.

I cannot talk about the exact sequence of events because it would be a major spoiler, but the ending was perfect and you should trust me on this. I could literally feel that reunion in my bones.
4 full stars.

A fantastic final instalment. Engaging, thrilling, moving and just all round incredible.

I loved this book and couldn't put it down. This is a trilogy I know I will return to again and again and tell everyone I know to read.

The Wolf Den is one of my favourite historical novels so I was extremely excited to read the final installment of the trilogy. I love Elodie Harper's fantastic use of contextual details and obviously in-depth research on Pompeii - even down to the frescoes and fountains in villas being accurate! I think her writing provides an immersive and at times visceral portrait of life in Roman colonies as a member of the unprivileged classes (slaves, women, freedpersons).

Part of Amara's charm as a character is her determination to advance herself in society despite this forcing her to override her own emotional and ethical intuitions - it is refreshing to have a female character who is complex and morally grey, and yet still clearly deeply emotional. I think the portrayal of motherhood in The Temple of Fortuna, and Amara's subsequent choices surrounding her priorities - family and friends or status, wealth, and security - is brilliantly written. I love that almost none of the characters in the trilogy have clear-cut affinities, including Amara, and the majority do not fail to choose themselves and their advancement over overs, as I feel this really gives an impression of the insecurity and danger of living as a non-freeborn woman, constantly having to ensure alliances and favours are reinforced.

Whilst I would love to discuss the plot further I am conscious of spoilers so I will refrain from saying anything more than that the plot twists managed to take me by surprise! Being familiar with Pompeii's history, I thought I knew what would happen, and whilst I was mostly correct I was still taken unawares by the events in the last parts of the book.

Overall, the final part of The Wolf Den trilogy did not disappoint - The Temple of Fortuna is a masterfully written, emotionally charged, and historically fascinating book. I will definitely be rereading the entire series in the near future as I already miss Amara!

Many thanks to Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read and review this book via Netgalley.

I loved this book! Having read the other 2 books in the trilogy I knew the characters and the back story but this book could be read as a stand alone to the others. Elodie Harper brings Roman living to life, the sounds the smells, the unambiguous position in life which imprisoned some.

Amara, in this episode of the trilogy looks to have everything she ever desired, but wealth is not everything as she still does not have her daughter with her. Will her patron accept her daughter and bring her to Rome? Will she ever escape from the blackmailer Felix?

Fantastic read highly recommended!

Just over a month ago, I read a sample of The Temple of Fortuna, and was intrigued enough to find The Wolf Den and read it. I was hooked and immediately bought The House With the Golden Door and later waited impatiently for the full publication of the final book in Elodie Harper’s compelling trilogy. Eight years ago, I visited Pompeii and the actual wolf den in the ruins of the city, so it was amazing to be experiencing the author’s vision of what life in Pompeii might have been like.
It’s been a pleasure to share the lives of Britannica, Philos, Amara and the strong, beautiful and complex women imagined by Elodie Harper. It was bittersweet to end the story, but I look forward to reading more by the author.

I loved reading this final instalment in Elodie Harper's Wolf Den trilogy. In The Temple of Fortuna we finally reach the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and Harper's depiction of both the horror of the eruption and its aftermath for the communities it affected, is brutal and compelling. One of the great strengths of this trilogy is the way characters are developed --they are frequently flawed but ultimately believable and I feel sad to be leaving them behind.

After adoring the first two books in the trilogy, I was looking forward to the conclusion and I'm happy to say I wasn't in the least disappointed. I knew I could trust Elodie Harper with a wonderful finale.

The story starts with a change of scenery: after becoming the concubine of Demetrius, Amara moves to Rome where she becomes entangled with political intrigues and dangers. Even though I was looking forward to her return to Pompeii, I really enjoyed this part and I wouldn't have minded reading even more about it. I just love political intrigue and I loved what we saw of it.

Once Amara returns to Pompeii, admittedly, the story becomes even better. I liked seeing her reunited with her friends, while her more tense relationships, not only with Felix and Victoria but also with Philos and her daughter, where very interesting.

The eruption of Vesuvius was, however, my favourite part of the story. It was extremely well written, tense, raw and very emotional. I just couldn't put the book down, I was so anxious to see what would happen to everyone. I also found the aftermath very interesting: Harper really showed the huge impact the eruption had on the lives of the survivors, and I really sympathized with them.

The conclusion was very satisfying. I was so glad with everything which happened to Amara, and the open ending makes me really hope that Elodie Harper will write more in this historical setting, because this series has been a wonderful reading experience from start to finish. I'm already looking forward to re-reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC of The Temple of Fortuna!

After devouring The Wolf Den and House With The Golden Door in January, this book was one of my most highly anticipated releases of 2023 for good reason. The Temple of Fortuna beautifully concludes one of the best historical fiction trilogies I've read in years, and to give both Elodie Harper and this trilogy its due justice, I'll be refraining from any significant spoilers and conclude my thoughts on the series as a whole.

The final novel of the Wolf Den trilogy immediately immerses us into the world of Ancient Rome, 79 CE. The Empire is left reeling following Emperor Vespasian's death; Amara finds herself embroiled in the middle of a power struggle between the Emperor's two sons, Titus and Domitian, alongside her patron, Demetrius, all the while being haunted by her past, those she left behind in Pompeii. And with the added benefit of hindsight, we know that one of the world's most catastrophic natural disasters is on the horizon.

What initially drew me into the first book was not only the setting but the key themes that continue throughout the whole trilogy. Amara's development as she regains her autonomy and processes her trauma is so intricate, raw and authentic. You truly get a sense of Amara struggling between merely surviving, using her cunning and shrewd nature, manipulating people just as Felix does, and navigating life as a freedwoman, a mother and a courtesan in the Imperial Palace. The Temple of Fortuna is a brilliantly dark study of trauma, grief, strength, revenge slavery, sisterhood and sheer determination to survive, set in a beautifully rich, fleshed-out historical setting.

How Harper fleshes out female characters adds a more profound complexity and vivacity to the women in this novel, not just Amara. In a society where their roles and lives had so little agency, it is returned to them here. I particularly loved the continued friendship between Amara and Britannica and the blending between fictional characters and literary interpretations of historical figures, namely Julia Felix and Pliny the Elder; as a reader, you can genuinely understand and appreciate the amount of research and detail given by Harper.

What a spectacular ending to a touching, powerful series that gives agency to women often overlooked in history. The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper is a 5/5 for me!

I was so thrilled to be given an ARC of this book and have loved following Amaras story. I think Elodie did an amazing job concluding what has been a highly emotional and at times difficult read. I think the story concluded beautifully.

The growth of Amaras character was wonderful to see even if hard at times of great suffering. The people she met and loved along the way and of course those she hated helped make this a compelling tale.

I wont give any spoilers but there was just one character I wanted to know fate of however it is minor and upon finishing the story I was crying and smiling. I cannot wait for more people to read this final chapter of the trilogy so I can discuss everything.

This book and the two previous books in the wolf den trilogy are perfect for those who love ancient Rome tales and strong female characters.

Thank you Elodie for sharing this with us!

What a satisfying end to this wonderful series! I really had no ideas as to how the story might continue and the way it was handled was perfect. I look forward to many more wonderful novels from this gifted historical fiction author! Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

Wow this book. This is my most anticipated read of 2023 so it’s been one I have held huge hopes for and was dying to read.

My rating is 5 stars and this is because this book is written so beautifully and with so much care for the accuracy of history.

One of my favourite aspects of this book is the timeline, the build up to what you as the reader are eagerly anticipating, the eruption of Vesuvius. I honestly was contemplating the numerous scenarios of what could happen to Amara and her family and those of Pompeii and this anticipation made the book an incredible read. I think what strikes you the most is that you already know what happens, it’s literally history, but the sheer devastation of knowing that characters you have loved for 2 whole books have the potential to be lost and it’s just a matter of finding out who it could be.

On top of that, you can see Amara’s pain and trauma from her past throughout this book, the past always being at the front of her mind and never really letting her live her life the way she would like to and it’s very much a hard read for the reader who can see so clearly what she should do but knowing that it is harder said than done.

The ending of this book was incredibly relieving and through the devastation that was Pompeii, it brings you a level of hope, that we do know people survived and they made new lives for themselves and that’s what really makes this book incredible from start to finish.

I would recommend this book and series to everyone, it will hold you so tight in it’s grip and it’s a beautiful series and conclusion.

I adore this series so much and the conclusion to the fantastic Wolf Den and House of the Golden Door did not disappoint!

A fitting ending to this historical fiction trilogy! I enjoyed the first two books and was excited to find out how Amara’s journey would end. This was a very well researched novel and you felt transported to AD 79. I raced through to find out what happened and there still were twists and turns even though you know there will be a big event in the novel somewhere. I thought it was a good ending to the Wolf Den and looking forward to seeing what Elodie Harper writes next.

This is my favourite historical fiction series EVER and I was delighted to have been offered an ARC copy of the book.

"The Temple of Fortuna", to be published on 23rd November 2023, marks the riveting culmination of the Wolf Den Trilogy, beckoning readers to traverse a captivating odyssey alongside Amara. From her perilous days as a slave within Pompeii's infamous Wolf Den brothel to her triumphant ascent as a formidable courtesan amidst the heart of Rome, this narrative unfurls themes of tenacity, resolve, valour, liberty, and the indomitable bonds of female friendship.

Accompany Amara as she embarks on a fresh chapter in her existence amidst the bustling thoroughfares of Rome. Yet, her journey is far from untroubled. Despite her newfound stature and opulence, Amara remains besieged by recollections of her daughter Rufina, her cherished Philos, and the allies and adversaries she left behind in Pompeii. Much like the formidable Vesuvius preparing for a cataclysmic eruption, Amara's emotions mirror the impending tumult. You will submerge yourself in the vibrant milieu of ancient Rome, where women of the era grappled with extraordinary circumstances. Set against the backdrop of September AD 79, a pivotal juncture in Roman history marked by the volcanic wrath of Mount Vesuvius, which ultimately obliterated the city of Pompeii, this tome bestows a vivid glimpse into a bygone era.

There are so many things I adore about this series. The writing is exquisite, with sensual descriptions of smells, foods, outfits. It transports you right into the heart of Roman Empire and gives you broad perspective into what the life was like for the poorest and the richest. Pompeii and Rome truly come to life through vivid descriptions of day to day life, but also special celebrations of festivals.

I got to truly love Amara as an unwavering and formidable leading character, resolute in her pursuit of liberty and steadfast in her devotion to her companions. Across the pages of the novel, the stark contrast between those in bondage and those who have managed to rise above their beginnings and savour the sweetness of freedom is unmistakable. No matter Amara’s initial circumstances, her unbreakable human spirit and deep love perseveres, never yielding to adversity. Britannica is another character that has truly stolen my heart and I wouldn’t love anything more than reading a whole book dedicated to her and the Boudicca’s rebellion written by Elodie Harper!

What truly stands out is the amount of historical research that must have gone into this book and the descriptions of Vesuvius catastrophe. I have never read a book that described natural disaster in more skilful manner. The fear, destruction and chaos are palpable, I was holding my breath while reading the passages.
Overall "The Temple of Fortuna" is an incredible end to a fantastic trilogy, a true work of art! If you love historical fiction and want to be truly immersed in the world of Ancient Rome, go and read this series NOW!

* Thank you Elodie Harper, Head of Zeus & Netgalley for the Arc! *