The House with the Golden Door (Wolf Den Trilogy) Paperback – October 10, 2023

Good trad

This series has got me! I enjoyed this book so much more than the first book. Looking forward to seeing how Harper wraps this up in book three!

It isn't often that a sequel is better than the first book, but this book is tighter in terms of storytelling with less time on descriptions and character interactions that seemed less important. Of course, a few of those moment from book one turned out to be useful in book two IF you could remember them. This book is all about Amara's first year (maybe longer?) with her patron after she is technically freed (I won't spoil your reading by explaining more) and the the fallout after that passion fades. We see Amara's skills she learned in a brothel as well as her innate ability to think, plan, and understand others continue to be important for her survival. In case you are worried that this book will be all her and Rufus (her elite Roman patron), I can tell you that she is not alone in her new life by choice and through circumstances on the edge of her control.As an ancient historian I also felt that this book was better in terms of realistic portrayals of women's and slaves' life without resorting to a fake antique way of characters talking or relying too heavily on the use of Latin or Greek terms and phrases. Some of Amara's challenges may feel quite relatable to women and the poor today without packing on the pathos, Harper simply does a good job of showing us what is happening and then moving on or coming back when relevant.I plan to start reading book three soon.

Ugh, Can Felix just go away already?I like how we get more development in all the characters, see more of their daily lives and get to know them better.I wasn't attached to Philos and Amara's romance but I see why they loved each other. Trying to create something stable and loving amid the chaos of everything.This one ends on a cliffhanger but luckily the third book is out next month!

This is the second book in this trilogy. We continue to follow Amara. Her life changes drastically when she is freed from her slave status. She is struggling to cope with how the rules changes. But is she really free. She still has to please her Patron, Rufus. Plus she is lonely and feels guilty for the friends left behind. She manages to collect some money to buy one of her friends freedom. But does she choose wisely? She ends up freeing Victoria and buying Britannica. She slowly realizes that to Rufus she is still property. She is attracted to the steward, Philos. This proves to be the bright spot of love in her life. We see her struggle with the choices she has to make and their consequences.This story is full of imagined details of life in Pompeii. The characters are fully developed. I can hardly wait for the final book in this trilogy.The audiobook is narrated by Antonia Beamish. She does an excellent job.

I didn’t like this installment as much as the first. It was a very long read and I gave up on it towards the end. The characters weren’t as compelling and I wasn’t invested in their stories. For me that was the biggest disappointment. I skimmed the last 50 or so pages to see what happened since I didn’t want to read it.

Amara’s story as a courtesan beats steadily with risk & terror. Even the love she has chosen is terrifying. This is still better than Felix’s Wolf Den where she was a slave & prostitute. I think the best thing about these books, other than Ms. Harper’s excellent prose, is the real rendition of class differences in Ancient Rome. There are vast differences within the slave population, depending on age, appearance & skills. Similarly there are differences in the free population, especially among the rich, though these are more insidious. Ms. Harper describes them all so astutely, a veritable pressure cooker heating up for the appearance of VESUVIUS. ⛰️

Narrator for this audibook smacks her lips too much. Sounds like she’s constantly swallowing and smacking on spit. I wish this was taken care of during editing but I guess not. The story however is good.