Reviews

The Temple of Fortuna

'Elodie Harper’s description of the most famous volcanic eruption in history, and of the attempts of those caught in it to survive, is brilliantly done. The Temple of Fortuna is a thrilling conclusion to one of the best historical fiction trilogies since Hilary Mantel sent Thomas Cromwell to the scaffold.' - Antonia Senior in The Times

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'Harper evokes ancient Rome with a classicist’s authority and a storyteller’s innate pace and intrigue, skilfully combining pathos and humour with plot twists. The tough, principled and canny Amara remains one of the most fascinating characters in contemporary historical fiction, and her milieu is a fine combination of the gilded and the gritty.' - Alexander Larman in The Observer

Elodie Harper has concluded this trilogy in the most perfect way imaginable. She sweeps the reader into the world of ancient Rome and Pompeii so effortlessly - we are there, utterly absorbed in every detail...[it is] unbelievably beautiful, emotional and powerful. As someone who has been so invested in Amara's journey since we met her in the Lupanar in the first book, I was on tenterhooks to see how her story would end. Now I feel bereft that the series is complete and there is no more. -- Jennifer Saint

The perfect balance of tension and hope make The Temple of Fortuna an unputdownable read. With Harper's trademark eye for character, dynamic, and drama, readers are sure to enjoy this triumphant conclusion to one of the most original historical fiction trilogies of our time. -- Luna McNamara

Once again Elodie Harper has delivered a truly captivating novel where the destruction of Pompeii is vividly realised amid the epic and satisfying climax to Amara's powerful journey. A stunning final instalment and an absolute triumph! I loved it. -- Susan Stokes-Chapman

The Temple of Fortuna combines the breakneck pace of an unputdownable thriller with the heart of a love story in which Elodie's female characters remain fiercely and resolutely themselves within a society and geography that seeks to crush them. Although steeped in the sex, violence and decay of Pompeii, the characters leap from the page with all the fire and fury of modern women without ever feeling anachronistic. The conclusion was perfect. I loved it.' -- Caroline Lea

Is Elodie Harper a time traveller? It would help explain The Temple of Fortuna's brilliance - the meticulous level of detail, how richly the world of Pompeii is brought to life, the vivid reenactment of the disaster which befalls it. This book is superb - I couldn't put it down.' -- Louise O'Neill

This series has completely consumed me. Elodie Harper conjures the ancient world onto the page in vivid, immersive detail and weaves a thoroughly compelling story of courage, hope and bonds worth fighting for. -- Bea Fitzgerald

Utterly original, vibrant and unflinching, this is one of my favourite trilogies ever written. Harper has done something extraordinary: she has shown us a world we thought we already knew, but through the lenses of characters whose voices we had never heard. Her research is richly detailed, bringing to life a world where beauty and brutality always coexisted. Amara, Britannica, Philos, Victoria and Berenice will stay with me for a long time. -- Costanza Casati

The House with the Golden Door

‘The Wolf Den, the hard-hitting story of a brothel in Pompeii, is one of my standout novels of the past few years … The House with the Golden Door is as vivid, unsentimental and compelling’ - The Times

'The Wolf Den was one of last year’s most vivid and transporting books... Its gripping sequel ... depict(s) its protagonist Amara’s new and luxurious life as a courtesan... Harper’s recreation of this ancient world continues to thrill.' - The Observer

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'Meticulously researched, it's another brilliant look at the inhabitants of this fascinating city' - Woman and Home

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'Beautiful, moving, captivating... A brilliant sequel to The Wolf Den' - Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne and Elektra

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'Gripping, and richly imagined, this is spellbinding storytelling' - Louise O'Neill, author of Idol

The Wolf Den

BEST BOOKS of 2021 - The Times

"Harper has that rare knack of making the reader believe she was there, stylus in hand, chronicling what she witnessed. Vivid, wise and unflinching, this is a triumph."

BEST BOOKS of 2021 - Woman and Home

'A compelling story of survival, friendship and courage. Amara and her fellow she-wolves are vividly drawn in a fascinating depiction of women at the time. Utterly spellbinding.'

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"A one-of-a-kind historical novel ... It is a mesmerising, richly detailed tale of sisterhood and courage that fans of Circe will love." - Red Magazine

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"Elodie Harper's vibrant and thrilling story is steeped in historical detail while remaining contemporary in its concerns." The Observer

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"A gripping historical story" - The Independent

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'I loved this stunning, gripping read. A heart-wrenching portrayal of female solidarity in male-dominated Pompeii. Beautiful, brutal & compelling' - Caroline Lea, author of The Glass Woman

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'An utterly gripping story. It humanises the men and women who had their humanity taken away from them, and helps to remind us that the brothels of Pompeii were far more than seedy tourist attractions' - Daisy Dunn, author of In the Shadow of Vesuvius 

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'Hope and humour runs through this powerful, moving story – I loved it!' - Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne

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'Harper’s style is exhilaratingly direct, with images lingering long in the mind’s eye. You smell the oil lamps and temple incense, taste sticky figs, feel physical blows, and the dialogue packs a powerful punch too. It’s a vivacious piece of work, and all underpinned by a woman’s longing for freedom' LoveReading.co.uk

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'Set in the seedy yet complex milieu of Pompeii's brothels, Harper's masterful first historical novel follows Amara and her fellow 'she-wolves' through a city where opportunity is rife for even the lowest born slave.' Waterstones

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'What a book! Utterly compelling, unflinching in describing Amara’s life as a slave-prostitute in Pompeii and so incredibly transporting. Best book I read in ages' Sophie van Llewyn, author of Bottled Goods

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'Rich with sly humor, wisdom, and sensory detail, and with an excellent plot that kept me turning the pages late into the night, The Wolf Den breathes life into the she-wolves, women working in ancient Pompeii's brothels whose place in history has traditionally been at the bottom of the rung, and gives them the humanity they deserve. If Circe by Madeline Miller met On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe, the result would be Elodie Harper’s stunning historical debut' Buki Papillon, author of An Ordinary Wonder

The Binding Song

'A wonderful new arrival in the 'Norfolk Noir' genre, this deliciously gripping novel casts the familiar setting of Norwich and its surroundings in a grim and haunting new light.' - Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent

'A splendidly unsettling debut - a chilling mystery to be read with the lights on and your back to the wall.' - John Connolly, author of the Charlie Parker series

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'Satisfying and thought-provoking in equal measure, and it stays in the mind long after the final page is turned. Harper, as Mr King so astutely realised, is definitely one to watch.' - i Paper

The Death Knock