What do you think?
Rate this book
Wolf Den Trilogy #2
The House with the Golden Door
The life of a courtesan in Pompeii is glittering, yet precarious...
Amara has escaped her life as a slave in the town's most notorious brothel, but now her existence depends on the affections of her a man she might not know as well as she once thought.
At night she dreams of the wolf den, still haunted by her past. Amara longs for the women she was forced to leave behind and worse, finds herself pursued by the man who once owned her. In order to be free, she will need to be as ruthless as he is.
Amara knows her existence in Pompeii is subject to Venus, the goddess of love. Yet finding love may prove to be the most dangerous act of all.
We return to Pompeii for the second instalment in Elodie Harper's Wolf Den Trilogy, reimagining the lives of the women from the town's lupanar.
Amara has escaped her life as a slave in the town's most notorious brothel, but now her existence depends on the affections of her a man she might not know as well as she once thought.
At night she dreams of the wolf den, still haunted by her past. Amara longs for the women she was forced to leave behind and worse, finds herself pursued by the man who once owned her. In order to be free, she will need to be as ruthless as he is.
Amara knows her existence in Pompeii is subject to Venus, the goddess of love. Yet finding love may prove to be the most dangerous act of all.
We return to Pompeii for the second instalment in Elodie Harper's Wolf Den Trilogy, reimagining the lives of the women from the town's lupanar.
472 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2022
947 people are currently reading
34239 people want to read
About the author
Elodie Harper
9 books1,441 followersElodie Harper is a journalist and prize winning short story writer.
Her story 'Wild Swimming' won the 2016 Bazaar of Bad Dreams short story competition, run by The Guardian and Hodder & Stoughton and judged by Stephen King.
She is currently a reporter and presenter at ITV News Anglia, and before that worked as a producer for Channel 4 News.
Her story 'Wild Swimming' won the 2016 Bazaar of Bad Dreams short story competition, run by The Guardian and Hodder & Stoughton and judged by Stephen King.
She is currently a reporter and presenter at ITV News Anglia, and before that worked as a producer for Channel 4 News.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,130 reviews
June 19, 2022
whilst i loved the first book because it didnt hold back and felt true to the setting and plot, i appreciate this sequel for its character development and connections. it gives a little more opportunity for some world building as amaras life expands beyond the brothel and she meets and develops relationships with new people.
the thing is - amara drove me crazy with her actions the last 20% or so. like, i understand why she does what she does, but its extremely unsatisfying for the reader. the direction the story goes in because of her choices makes sense and does fit the overall tone of the narrative, so its consistent, but its just not enjoyable to read. if that makes sense.
so heres me hoping the next book can turn some things around!
thank you, union square & co., for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
the thing is - amara drove me crazy with her actions the last 20% or so. like, i understand why she does what she does, but its extremely unsatisfying for the reader. the direction the story goes in because of her choices makes sense and does fit the overall tone of the narrative, so its consistent, but its just not enjoyable to read. if that makes sense.
so heres me hoping the next book can turn some things around!
thank you, union square & co., for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
May 21, 2022
4.5⭐️
“Gaia Plinia Amara, Liberta”
In AD 75, Amara from The Wolf Den is now a freedwoman, no longer owned by Felix and forced to work in his brothel. She now lives in 'The House with the Golden Door' as a concubine to Rufus to whom Pliny has signed over his rights to her. But is she truly free of her past and all she has had to bear to get to this point? As she navigates her way through her new life she is haunted by the brutality, pain, loss and tragedy in her past.
“Her past is the whirlpool Charybdis, pulling her down under the waves where she cannot breathe.”
While she adjusts to her new life, she acknowledges that her well-being is contingent upon how happy she can keep her Patron, Rufus, who though not quite as true as Felix, is jealous and possessive and does not hesitate to hurt her when displeased. Amara is strong and pragmatic enough to acknowledge that her arrangement with Rufus is not permanent and a time will come when she would have to fend for herself.
“The things people do when they know you don’t matter. When they know you are nothing.”
As the story progresses, we see how she learns to harden her heart and use her intelligence and understanding of the people around her to further her interests and those she cares about. She uses her knack for business and numbers to continue her own money lending operations and creates a network of trusted friends and allies – courtesans, business owners and former clients. She misses her sisters from the brothel and is concerned with their fate in the hands of the cruel Felix. Her relationship with Felix remains complicated and she is also not quite free of Felix’s hold on her as her intentions to help her sisters who remain in the brothel results in her in debt to him and having to deal with him and his devious intentions, all the while keeping this a secret from Rufus.
“I am like you Felix, but not you. If you could have brought yourself to acknowledge me, instead of humiliating me, nobody would have been more loyal.”
The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper is a captivating story. I enjoyed the setting of the ancient city of Pompeii, the descriptions of the festivities and the ceremonies as well as the references to Greek and Roman Mythology. Elodie Harper shines in her characterizations. I enjoyed Amara’s character development- we see her strength and also her vulnerability and her desire for respect, true love and friendship as is evident in her relationship with Philos. Though her position has been elevated by her 'freedom', her status is not a secure one. It is often difficult to justify the risks she takes and the decisions she makes,but the author does a magnificent job of depicting the complexities in Amara’s character. I also loved how Britannica’s character was developed in this story. Even the characters of Rufus and Felix, though immensely unlikabe, are well fleshed out.
Amara’s story and the stories of those around her present a heartbreaking picture of the degradation and abuse endured by slaves and their offspring in that era. The descriptions of the slave market and treatment of slaves – those born into slavery and those turned into slaves from captivity are hard to read. Freedom came with a price with terms solely dependent upon the owner’s discretion and came with no guarantee that freedom could prevent you from being separated from your family. As with the previous book, each chapter begins with a quote from either graffiti on the walls of the ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii or from the writings of ancient Roman speakers. In the author’s note at the end of the book , she discusses the importance of these quotes.
“It is easy to minimize the difficult experiences of Roman women and enslaved people after the passage of so many centuries. They did not have access to belief systems- such as Feminism or the emancipation movement- which would have allowed them to challenge their treatment in a systematic way. But we do have evidence that the Romans fully understood the horror of having your agency denied.”
The author also shares a line from Pompeiian graffiti that “boasts about the endemic abuse enslaved women endured” that reads “Grab your slave girl whenever you want; it’s your right to use her”. The author also mentions that most of the accounts of slavery from that era were written by slave owners and that one could try to comprend the slaves' perspectives in their own voices only from their epitaphs. In The Wolf Den Trilogy, Elodie Harper attempts to reimagine the lives of the enslaved women of that era and gives them a voice. Throughout the narrative , as we follow Amara in her new life, it is difficult to not question the meaning of "freedom" in the context of Amara's life and whether Amara is truly"free". Is she truly more in control of her life now ? To what extent is her life and her fate influenced by those more powerful than her?
Having loved The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper, I was eager to read the second book in the trilogy and I was not disappointed. A lot is going on in this novel but the author manages to tell the story without it becoming too heavy or tedious. While I will admit that this might not have been as compelling as The Wolf Den , The House with the Golden Door is a beautifully-written novel and a magnificent continuation of Amara’s story. I cannot wait for the final installment of the trilogy!
“Gaia Plinia Amara, Liberta”
In AD 75, Amara from The Wolf Den is now a freedwoman, no longer owned by Felix and forced to work in his brothel. She now lives in 'The House with the Golden Door' as a concubine to Rufus to whom Pliny has signed over his rights to her. But is she truly free of her past and all she has had to bear to get to this point? As she navigates her way through her new life she is haunted by the brutality, pain, loss and tragedy in her past.
“Her past is the whirlpool Charybdis, pulling her down under the waves where she cannot breathe.”
While she adjusts to her new life, she acknowledges that her well-being is contingent upon how happy she can keep her Patron, Rufus, who though not quite as true as Felix, is jealous and possessive and does not hesitate to hurt her when displeased. Amara is strong and pragmatic enough to acknowledge that her arrangement with Rufus is not permanent and a time will come when she would have to fend for herself.
“The things people do when they know you don’t matter. When they know you are nothing.”
As the story progresses, we see how she learns to harden her heart and use her intelligence and understanding of the people around her to further her interests and those she cares about. She uses her knack for business and numbers to continue her own money lending operations and creates a network of trusted friends and allies – courtesans, business owners and former clients. She misses her sisters from the brothel and is concerned with their fate in the hands of the cruel Felix. Her relationship with Felix remains complicated and she is also not quite free of Felix’s hold on her as her intentions to help her sisters who remain in the brothel results in her in debt to him and having to deal with him and his devious intentions, all the while keeping this a secret from Rufus.
“I am like you Felix, but not you. If you could have brought yourself to acknowledge me, instead of humiliating me, nobody would have been more loyal.”
The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper is a captivating story. I enjoyed the setting of the ancient city of Pompeii, the descriptions of the festivities and the ceremonies as well as the references to Greek and Roman Mythology. Elodie Harper shines in her characterizations. I enjoyed Amara’s character development- we see her strength and also her vulnerability and her desire for respect, true love and friendship as is evident in her relationship with Philos. Though her position has been elevated by her 'freedom', her status is not a secure one. It is often difficult to justify the risks she takes and the decisions she makes,but the author does a magnificent job of depicting the complexities in Amara’s character. I also loved how Britannica’s character was developed in this story. Even the characters of Rufus and Felix, though immensely unlikabe, are well fleshed out.
Amara’s story and the stories of those around her present a heartbreaking picture of the degradation and abuse endured by slaves and their offspring in that era. The descriptions of the slave market and treatment of slaves – those born into slavery and those turned into slaves from captivity are hard to read. Freedom came with a price with terms solely dependent upon the owner’s discretion and came with no guarantee that freedom could prevent you from being separated from your family. As with the previous book, each chapter begins with a quote from either graffiti on the walls of the ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii or from the writings of ancient Roman speakers. In the author’s note at the end of the book , she discusses the importance of these quotes.
“It is easy to minimize the difficult experiences of Roman women and enslaved people after the passage of so many centuries. They did not have access to belief systems- such as Feminism or the emancipation movement- which would have allowed them to challenge their treatment in a systematic way. But we do have evidence that the Romans fully understood the horror of having your agency denied.”
The author also shares a line from Pompeiian graffiti that “boasts about the endemic abuse enslaved women endured” that reads “Grab your slave girl whenever you want; it’s your right to use her”. The author also mentions that most of the accounts of slavery from that era were written by slave owners and that one could try to comprend the slaves' perspectives in their own voices only from their epitaphs. In The Wolf Den Trilogy, Elodie Harper attempts to reimagine the lives of the enslaved women of that era and gives them a voice. Throughout the narrative , as we follow Amara in her new life, it is difficult to not question the meaning of "freedom" in the context of Amara's life and whether Amara is truly"free". Is she truly more in control of her life now ? To what extent is her life and her fate influenced by those more powerful than her?
Having loved The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper, I was eager to read the second book in the trilogy and I was not disappointed. A lot is going on in this novel but the author manages to tell the story without it becoming too heavy or tedious. While I will admit that this might not have been as compelling as The Wolf Den , The House with the Golden Door is a beautifully-written novel and a magnificent continuation of Amara’s story. I cannot wait for the final installment of the trilogy!
October 2, 2022
This trilogy gets better with each book. The House with the Golden Door returns to Pompeii in 75 AD, four years before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and follows one woman’s journey from enslaved to freedwoman.
Amara’s life has vastly changed since the events of the first book. She is now a freedwoman but must still cater to the whims of her patron Rufus or risk losing his support, on which she is entirely dependent. At the same time, she longs to free the friends she had no choice but to leave behind at the brothel.
As much as she’d like to forget Felix, her previous owner, their paths continue to cross, and Amara can’t help but notice the same qualities they both share.
Amara must carefully balance appearing to be the woman Rufus desires while also preparing herself for life after he tires of her.
This second instalment solely follows Amara’s perspective. I said it in my review of The Wolf Den, but I’ll say it again: Elodie Harper excels at bringing Pompeii back to life. From the Forum, the shops, and the houses, Harper makes it easy to visualize this bustling time.
It has themes on the currency of beauty and what happens when it runs out.
I enjoyed seeing more of Brittanica and learning more about her background.
Although nearly 500 pages, I never felt bored reading this tome. This is fast becoming one of my favourite series, and I cannot wait for the third and final book.
Thank you to Union Square and Co. for providing me with a widget via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amara’s life has vastly changed since the events of the first book. She is now a freedwoman but must still cater to the whims of her patron Rufus or risk losing his support, on which she is entirely dependent. At the same time, she longs to free the friends she had no choice but to leave behind at the brothel.
As much as she’d like to forget Felix, her previous owner, their paths continue to cross, and Amara can’t help but notice the same qualities they both share.
Amara must carefully balance appearing to be the woman Rufus desires while also preparing herself for life after he tires of her.
This second instalment solely follows Amara’s perspective. I said it in my review of The Wolf Den, but I’ll say it again: Elodie Harper excels at bringing Pompeii back to life. From the Forum, the shops, and the houses, Harper makes it easy to visualize this bustling time.
It has themes on the currency of beauty and what happens when it runs out.
I enjoyed seeing more of Brittanica and learning more about her background.
Although nearly 500 pages, I never felt bored reading this tome. This is fast becoming one of my favourite series, and I cannot wait for the third and final book.
Thank you to Union Square and Co. for providing me with a widget via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2024
I hate men so much
November 12, 2023
*2nd read - Man this is sooooo heartbreaking. SO much so that sometimes I'd look at the book sitting there and actually be conflicted about whether or not to pick it up. Spoiler alert, I always did. I am terrified for The Temple of Fortuna*
*1st read - This could be my book of the year...*
*1st read - This could be my book of the year...*
March 3, 2024
BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
I've finally read book 2, nearly two years after I read A Wolf Den. I was slightly worried how this would compare, as the ending of book 1 meant this sequel would have to take quite a different approach to the story, but now I realise that I should never have doubted Elodie Harper!
Just like The Wolf Den, The House with the Golden Door has fantastic characters that invest us in a tense, unpredictable plot that evolves through brilliant prose. Amara finds herself in a very different position in life, but one that is dangerous and fragile in completely different ways.
Elodie Harper has not only thought of a brilliant story with twists and turns and standout characters, she also has the skills as a writer to make every page engaging, with the subtlety to make characters jump off of the page.
I cannot say much more without spoilers, as is the problem when discussing any beyond the first book of a series, but I can say that The House with the Golden Door absolutely blew me away. One of the greatest sequels I have had the pleasure of reading, and one of my favourite reads for a long time.
5/5 STARS
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
I've finally read book 2, nearly two years after I read A Wolf Den. I was slightly worried how this would compare, as the ending of book 1 meant this sequel would have to take quite a different approach to the story, but now I realise that I should never have doubted Elodie Harper!
Just like The Wolf Den, The House with the Golden Door has fantastic characters that invest us in a tense, unpredictable plot that evolves through brilliant prose. Amara finds herself in a very different position in life, but one that is dangerous and fragile in completely different ways.
Elodie Harper has not only thought of a brilliant story with twists and turns and standout characters, she also has the skills as a writer to make every page engaging, with the subtlety to make characters jump off of the page.
I cannot say much more without spoilers, as is the problem when discussing any beyond the first book of a series, but I can say that The House with the Golden Door absolutely blew me away. One of the greatest sequels I have had the pleasure of reading, and one of my favourite reads for a long time.
5/5 STARS
April 26, 2022
NOT AS RIVETING AS THE FIRST IN THE SERIES
The Wolf Den knocked my socks off. So I might have gone into this book with high expectations. Sadly, the things I really enjoyed about the first book were in short supply here. The candor, which made the first book so special, was toned down here. The story dragged on a bit and lacked urgency for much of the story, which was a real setback. However, I will still be looking forward to the final book in the series.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: 10 Criminally Underrated YA Books with an LGBTQ Twist
The Wolf Den knocked my socks off. So I might have gone into this book with high expectations. Sadly, the things I really enjoyed about the first book were in short supply here. The candor, which made the first book so special, was toned down here. The story dragged on a bit and lacked urgency for much of the story, which was a real setback. However, I will still be looking forward to the final book in the series.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: 10 Criminally Underrated YA Books with an LGBTQ Twist
February 10, 2022
4.5*****
While I didn’t enjoy this as much as book 1, this was still SO amazing! I still sped through it - reading the last 50% in one go.
As soon as I was approved for this on NetGalley, 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. She brings life to Pompeii of what it could’ve been like, and I love how she’s uses facts and actual people and weaves them into the story.
This book broke my heart with grief but also had me so enraptured and tense reading these lines.
I didn’t enjoy the decisions Amara made in the last 25% of this book and I found these decisions made no sense (reflected in the rating), however, I am still so involved with wanting to see what happens to her and the other characters in this world.
I cannot wait for Book 3 where I really hope Felix dies.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this E-Arc.
While I didn’t enjoy this as much as book 1, this was still SO amazing! I still sped through it - reading the last 50% in one go.
As soon as I was approved for this on NetGalley, 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. She brings life to Pompeii of what it could’ve been like, and I love how she’s uses facts and actual people and weaves them into the story.
This book broke my heart with grief but also had me so enraptured and tense reading these lines.
I didn’t enjoy the decisions Amara made in the last 25% of this book and I found these decisions made no sense (reflected in the rating), however, I am still so involved with wanting to see what happens to her and the other characters in this world.
I cannot wait for Book 3 where I really hope Felix dies.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this E-Arc.
December 23, 2024
RATING BREAKDOWN
Characters: 5⭐️
Setting: 5⭐️
Plot: 5⭐️
Themes: 4⭐️
Emotional Impact: 4⭐️
Personal Enjoyment: 5⭐️
Total Rounded Average: 4.75⭐️
What an incredible second installment to the Wolf Den trilogy! Elodie Harper has a way of making me stress-read her novels at a frantic pace, gritting my teeth, and white-knuckling it to the very end. I am so invested in Amara's story. She is a fascinating character—her circumstances are grossly unfortunate, yet she is capable, incredibly self-possessed, and composed. She is ruthless as well, and yet she has this soft spot for the ones she loves, it's what makes her the most vulnerable. Her love gives her life meaning, but it may also ruin her. I absolutely love and hate the characters in this series. The dialogue and tension in some of these scenes is a masterclass in effective subtlety and relationship politics. The setting is immersive and fascinating, and the plot has just escalated and thickened to a breaking point. I cannot wait for book three.
I highly recommend this to pretty much everyone. It transcends the normal genre tropes, it's accessible while being sophisticated, and it is sure to make everyone feel something. I love it so much.
Characters: 5⭐️
Setting: 5⭐️
Plot: 5⭐️
Themes: 4⭐️
Emotional Impact: 4⭐️
Personal Enjoyment: 5⭐️
Total Rounded Average: 4.75⭐️
What an incredible second installment to the Wolf Den trilogy! Elodie Harper has a way of making me stress-read her novels at a frantic pace, gritting my teeth, and white-knuckling it to the very end. I am so invested in Amara's story. She is a fascinating character—her circumstances are grossly unfortunate, yet she is capable, incredibly self-possessed, and composed. She is ruthless as well, and yet she has this soft spot for the ones she loves, it's what makes her the most vulnerable. Her love gives her life meaning, but it may also ruin her. I absolutely love and hate the characters in this series. The dialogue and tension in some of these scenes is a masterclass in effective subtlety and relationship politics. The setting is immersive and fascinating, and the plot has just escalated and thickened to a breaking point. I cannot wait for book three.
I highly recommend this to pretty much everyone. It transcends the normal genre tropes, it's accessible while being sophisticated, and it is sure to make everyone feel something. I love it so much.
May 30, 2024
Elodie Harper never misses. Period. She could throw ink at a page, and it would still be one of the most original and creative pieces of 21st century literature I've laid eyes upon.
That being said, story-wise, Amara has been through the wringer times a hundred, but I have the most urgent need to find out what happens next.
I also want to be friends with Brittannica. She's wonderful. A true strong woman who doesn't need to keep talking about how strong she is. She just embodies perseverance and ass-kicking.
That being said, story-wise, Amara has been through the wringer times a hundred, but I have the most urgent need to find out what happens next.
I also want to be friends with Brittannica. She's wonderful. A true strong woman who doesn't need to keep talking about how strong she is. She just embodies perseverance and ass-kicking.
August 18, 2023
[edit: и тук намерих картинка за Амара]
Робството и мъчителните му избори, или липсата на такива, като ежедневие, като изграден манталитет за оцеляване, рядко е избор в масовата литература. Много от по-новите англоезични автори паникьосано не смеят дори да произнесат на глас думата “робство”, и се правят или че не съществува, или подхождат толкова засукано и с милиони извинения, “уточнения” (?!) и дисклеймъри, че да ти се отще даже да започваш заглавието. Но и във втората книга от трилогията Елоди Харпър, за моя огромна радост, не отстъпва нито сантиметър в посока на анемичната, безхарактерна и лицемерна захарасаност, която напоследък е запазена марка на почти всичко, рекламирано като исторически фикшън или “преразказан” (разбирай взет наготово за зле притоплена аматьорска употреба) мит.
Във втората част сюжетът се съсредоточва почти изцяло върху Амара.
Тя се е изкачила на висока цена едно стъпало нагоре в хранителната верига като метреса на помпейски богаташ. У нея все така продължават да се борят свирепият и инстинкт за оцеляване с вродената и съпричастност към онеправданите и безсилните. Всеки ден я изправя пред нови въпроси и трудни решения, за които единствен правилен отговор липсва, защото самото устройство на римското общество изисква хищническото отношение да е норма.
Силно се надявам последната част, която е предвидена за ноември, да поднесе достоен завършек на тези чудесни две части. Но имам предчувствие, че ще е точно така, защото в годината на действието изригва Везувий. Нямам търпение.
4,5⭐️
P. S. Елоди, няма да ти простя, ако избиеш всички в края, да знаеш! Даже и за злите типове не съм съгласна, твърде качествени са.
Робството и мъчителните му избори, или липсата на такива, като ежедневие, като изграден манталитет за оцеляване, рядко е избор в масовата литература. Много от по-новите англоезични автори паникьосано не смеят дори да произнесат на глас думата “робство”, и се правят или че не съществува, или подхождат толкова засукано и с милиони извинения, “уточнения” (?!) и дисклеймъри, че да ти се отще даже да започваш заглавието. Но и във втората книга от трилогията Елоди Харпър, за моя огромна радост, не отстъпва нито сантиметър в посока на анемичната, безхарактерна и лицемерна захарасаност, която напоследък е запазена марка на почти всичко, рекламирано като исторически фикшън или “преразказан” (разбирай взет наготово за зле притоплена аматьорска употреба) мит.
Във втората част сюжетът се съсредоточва почти изцяло върху Амара.
Тя се е изкачила на висока цена едно стъпало нагоре в хранителната верига като метреса на помпейски богаташ. У нея все така продължават да се борят свирепият и инстинкт за оцеляване с вродената и съпричастност към онеправданите и безсилните. Всеки ден я изправя пред нови въпроси и трудни решения, за които единствен правилен отговор липсва, защото самото устройство на римското общество изисква хищническото отношение да е норма.
Силно се надявам последната част, която е предвидена за ноември, да поднесе достоен завършек на тези чудесни две части. Но имам предчувствие, че ще е точно така, защото в годината на действието изригва Везувий. Нямам търпение.
4,5⭐️
P. S. Елоди, няма да ти простя, ако избиеш всички в края, да знаеш! Даже и за злите типове не съм съгласна, твърде качествени са.
October 19, 2023
Ugh, Can Felix just be unalived already (can someone tell me why everyone is using this word all of a sudden? Missed the memo)?
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!
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!
March 7, 2024
every decision amara made makes my blood BOIL
May 12, 2022
For me, this was a step-down from the first book. The dialogue felt more unnatural, the romance was predictable beat-for-beat, and the plot didn’t seem as tight as The Wolf Den. It felt a lot longer than the first book, and there was a lack of urgency throughout much of the book. It’s not bad, far from it, but I don’t feel intrigued for the next book after reading this one.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2025
Trama/Plot ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Personaggi/Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stile/Style ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spicy ⭐
Un romanzo che è più drammatico e coinvolgente di quanto non fosse il primo libro della serie. Amara è al tempo stesso una donna forte ma piena di fragilità, astuta ma anche ingenua in modo disarmante, fiduciosa – nonostante tutto – ma contemporaneamente chiusa nei confronti degli altri. Bellissimi e ben descritti anche tutti gli altri personaggi, ognuno di loro con un proprio vissuto ed una personalità ben definita. Su tutto il racconto, poi, incombe un senso di tragedia imminente che ti tiene con il fiato sospeso, ti aspetti sempre che nella pagina successiva avvenga un qualcosa di irreparabile.
Quattro stelle piene.
***
A novel that is more dramatic and engaging than the first book in the series. Amara is, at the same time, a strong woman but full of fragility, astute but also disarmingly naive, confident - despite everything - but at the same time closed towards others. All the other characters are also beautiful and well described, each of them with their own experience and a well-defined personality. A sense of imminent tragedy looms over the entire story that keeps you in suspense, you always expect something irreparable to happen on the next page. A full four-stars novel.
Personaggi/Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stile/Style ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spicy ⭐
Un romanzo che è più drammatico e coinvolgente di quanto non fosse il primo libro della serie. Amara è al tempo stesso una donna forte ma piena di fragilità, astuta ma anche ingenua in modo disarmante, fiduciosa – nonostante tutto – ma contemporaneamente chiusa nei confronti degli altri. Bellissimi e ben descritti anche tutti gli altri personaggi, ognuno di loro con un proprio vissuto ed una personalità ben definita. Su tutto il racconto, poi, incombe un senso di tragedia imminente che ti tiene con il fiato sospeso, ti aspetti sempre che nella pagina successiva avvenga un qualcosa di irreparabile.
Quattro stelle piene.
***
A novel that is more dramatic and engaging than the first book in the series. Amara is, at the same time, a strong woman but full of fragility, astute but also disarmingly naive, confident - despite everything - but at the same time closed towards others. All the other characters are also beautiful and well described, each of them with their own experience and a well-defined personality. A sense of imminent tragedy looms over the entire story that keeps you in suspense, you always expect something irreparable to happen on the next page. A full four-stars novel.
May 12, 2024
I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The House With the Golden Door is the second book in the Wolf Den Trilogy by Elodie Harper.
Amara has escaped life as a she-wolf brothel hoar after being bought as a freedwoman from her former pimp Felix. But Amara still doesn't have a life without anxiety and fear. We meet new characters in this edition, and Amara has no choice but to become more firm and heartless in her decisions and actions to protect not only herself, her friends, and her new love.
I couldn't stand Rufus and was glad to see his patronage end, but although I could understand some of Amaras' decisions led by her heart, I did feel like shaking her a few times!
I absolutely love Britainnica and found her funny, endeering, and so loyal. I did kind of expect Victoria to do what she did but hoped I wouldn't be proven correct.
This series is so brilliantly written and brought to life and heartbreaking at times as to the degregation women and slaves were put through and the ways they were treated during these times. I'm looking forward to book three to learn the fates of Amara, Britannica, Plios, and Amaras daughter after the ending of this book.
The House With the Golden Door is the second book in the Wolf Den Trilogy by Elodie Harper.
Amara has escaped life as a she-wolf brothel hoar after being bought as a freedwoman from her former pimp Felix. But Amara still doesn't have a life without anxiety and fear. We meet new characters in this edition, and Amara has no choice but to become more firm and heartless in her decisions and actions to protect not only herself, her friends, and her new love.
I couldn't stand Rufus and was glad to see his patronage end, but although I could understand some of Amaras' decisions led by her heart, I did feel like shaking her a few times!
I absolutely love Britainnica and found her funny, endeering, and so loyal. I did kind of expect Victoria to do what she did but hoped I wouldn't be proven correct.
This series is so brilliantly written and brought to life and heartbreaking at times as to the degregation women and slaves were put through and the ways they were treated during these times. I'm looking forward to book three to learn the fates of Amara, Britannica, Plios, and Amaras daughter after the ending of this book.
May 14, 2023
I am in awe of the way Elodie Harper has managed to write a story that is so harrowing and yet has such a beautiful ease to the way it reads. I adore this trilogy, its story and its writing, despite the fact that it is determined to continue to both ruin me and cause me an infinite amount of stress with every day the release date for book three gets closer.
TW: rape, sexual assault, slavery
TW: rape, sexual assault, slavery
February 16, 2022
Aahhhh, I wanted to love this second book in this series as much as I loved the first one, The Wolf Den. But I didn’t enjoy it much. I loved Amara in the first book because she was tough and pragmatic. She was a survivor. But in this book, she is not a badass like she used to be. She makes very poor choices too and I wasn’t feeling her unfortunately.
Still, I loved the friendship she made with a certain female character (I can’t say the name to avoid spoilers!). And I love that character!🥰 I want to read more about her than Amara at this point😂
Still, I loved the friendship she made with a certain female character (I can’t say the name to avoid spoilers!). And I love that character!🥰 I want to read more about her than Amara at this point😂
August 4, 2024
This got 3 stars only because the last 1/4 picked up its pace and story a bit. In my 2nd to last update, it was 2 stars and facing becoming a DNF. But, I forced myself to read on simply because I enjoyed Wolf Den so much! I fully agree with all those other 2 and 1 star reviewers, I’m afraid, and am not sure at this point if I’ll even bother with the concluding book number 3.
February 3, 2022
The life of a courtesan in Pompeii is glittering, yet precarious.
Amara’s life could not be more different from just a short while ago after being able to declare herself no longer a slave or whore, having escaped the town’s most notorious brothel and it’s nefarious and heartless owner Felix, yet now it seems she must play a different sort of game where yet again her future and happiness are weighed against the affections of her patron: a man which once upon a time she doted on and saw as her way out of a life of oppression and abuse but perhaps he isn’t the man she thought he was.
The Wolf Den comes to Amara in her dreams, haunting her and reminding her that those she considered friends are still at the mercy of Felix and the men who see them as nothing more than pieces of meat, and memories of someone Amara had such affection for but was taken so brutally from her.
Now being pursued by the man who once’ owned her, she must be ruthless if she ever wishes to be free from him once and for all but to do this, Amara may have to become the very thing she despises the most, compromising both her morals, and possibly her very freedom in the process.
Will Amara ever be completely free or will the shadows of her past cast over her forever, trapping not only herself but also the ghost of someone she once loved.
Continuing Amara’s struggle with life now being a woman who is no longer shackled to the Wolf Den, only cements her further as someone who only wants to truly be free and live her own life: raw, beautiful, emotional and truly spellbinding, the author yet again draws a spectacular landscape of life in Pompeii which is genuinely unmissable.
Amara’s life could not be more different from just a short while ago after being able to declare herself no longer a slave or whore, having escaped the town’s most notorious brothel and it’s nefarious and heartless owner Felix, yet now it seems she must play a different sort of game where yet again her future and happiness are weighed against the affections of her patron: a man which once upon a time she doted on and saw as her way out of a life of oppression and abuse but perhaps he isn’t the man she thought he was.
The Wolf Den comes to Amara in her dreams, haunting her and reminding her that those she considered friends are still at the mercy of Felix and the men who see them as nothing more than pieces of meat, and memories of someone Amara had such affection for but was taken so brutally from her.
Now being pursued by the man who once’ owned her, she must be ruthless if she ever wishes to be free from him once and for all but to do this, Amara may have to become the very thing she despises the most, compromising both her morals, and possibly her very freedom in the process.
Will Amara ever be completely free or will the shadows of her past cast over her forever, trapping not only herself but also the ghost of someone she once loved.
Continuing Amara’s struggle with life now being a woman who is no longer shackled to the Wolf Den, only cements her further as someone who only wants to truly be free and live her own life: raw, beautiful, emotional and truly spellbinding, the author yet again draws a spectacular landscape of life in Pompeii which is genuinely unmissable.
February 13, 2024
The way Amara manages to do everything under the sun except kill Felix.
I'm so disappointed in Amara's decision making. She just does things because she thinks she can but doesn't consider the long-term effects. It's a MESS. She had me s t r e s s e d the whole book. She was willing to risk her and Philos's lives with an affair and having a baby by him, but killing Felix was "too dangerous"? I don't understand that logic. Speaking of things that make no sense, who needs enemies like Felix when you've got friends like Victoria? That was so infuriating how Victoria screwed Amara over like that. I should've seen it coming: you can't trust male-identified women.
I can only hope that the next book has happy endings for Amara and Britannica.
I'm so disappointed in Amara's decision making. She just does things because she thinks she can but doesn't consider the long-term effects. It's a MESS. She had me s t r e s s e d the whole book. She was willing to risk her and Philos's lives with an affair and having a baby by him, but killing Felix was "too dangerous"? I don't understand that logic. Speaking of things that make no sense, who needs enemies like Felix when you've got friends like Victoria? That was so infuriating how Victoria screwed Amara over like that. I should've seen it coming: you can't trust male-identified women.
I can only hope that the next book has happy endings for Amara and Britannica.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2023
For as much as I loved The Wolf Den, this one was just OK. I feel like not much happened to further the story except for Amara making bad decisions. Hopefully this is just the lull before the final book in the trilogy.
3.5 stars rounded up
3.5 stars rounded up
January 13, 2023
This book is 486 pages.
Do youself a favour open to page 480 and read to page 483, those 3 pages are the only ones worth reading.
Do youself a favour open to page 480 and read to page 483, those 3 pages are the only ones worth reading.
May 9, 2023
Five stars is really not enough!
Merged review:
This was worth more than 5 stars! Having read and loved the Wolf Den, I immediately requested an arc when I saw it was available. I was strangely reluctant to start it though- in my mind, once the main character had been freed, I couldnt imagine there ‘being much of a story’ left. I was completely and utterly wrong. The emotional stress Amara feels throughout her time at the house with the golden door was very real- how to keep her patron interested, realising the conditions for her freedom are not as good as they first seemed, falling in love with someone inappropriate. The ending really shocked me! I need the next book asap.
Merged review:
This was worth more than 5 stars! Having read and loved the Wolf Den, I immediately requested an arc when I saw it was available. I was strangely reluctant to start it though- in my mind, once the main character had been freed, I couldnt imagine there ‘being much of a story’ left. I was completely and utterly wrong. The emotional stress Amara feels throughout her time at the house with the golden door was very real- how to keep her patron interested, realising the conditions for her freedom are not as good as they first seemed, falling in love with someone inappropriate. The ending really shocked me! I need the next book asap.
August 21, 2023
Did Amara leave all her brain cells in book one or what?
I couldn‘t bare the stupidity of most of these characters this time around.
I was waiting for Amara to get up and actuall do something after book one. Take some men down. Plot something, ANYTHING. But all she did was cry in the entire book…..
Also the random pregnancy trope is what I hate with a burning passion. bye.
I couldn‘t bare the stupidity of most of these characters this time around.
I was waiting for Amara to get up and actuall do something after book one. Take some men down. Plot something, ANYTHING. But all she did was cry in the entire book…..
Also the random pregnancy trope is what I hate with a burning passion. bye.
November 21, 2024
Whilst it has been some time since I read the first book in the trilogy, I enjoyed this book. This is what historical fiction is all about. The second book is more about character building, at parts frustrating. Amara is a freed slave and out of the Wolf Den brothel. She makes understandable but rash decisions and is back in debt to the horrendous Felix, the brothel owner, who the author has done their job by writing brilliantly as as a result I hate him with a passion. Rufus, Amaras' benefactor, is mainly clueless as to what is happening under his nose, although he marries another so Amara is no longer secure. My favourite character is Brittannia, who is a warrior, protective of Amara and funny. Excellent historical fiction.
December 11, 2024
The Wolf Den Trailer
In this second volume we follow Amara as she walks on her path of freedom now that she become a concubine. Amara really did some stupid mistakes and decisions in this book starting with Felix. I hope this awful decisions she made and the consequences of them will actually make her develop more through learning from her mistakes and obtain finally the freedom she fought for in the last installment of this trilogy.
In this second volume we follow Amara as she walks on her path of freedom now that she become a concubine. Amara really did some stupid mistakes and decisions in this book starting with Felix. I hope this awful decisions she made and the consequences of them will actually make her develop more through learning from her mistakes and obtain finally the freedom she fought for in the last installment of this trilogy.
October 3, 2022
4.5 stars.
For fans of gritty, realistic, and dramatic historical fiction, Elodie Harper revisits the fascinating women from The Wolf Den, and has them confront a new series of challenges. Themes of freedom, betrayal, manipulation, ruthlessness, desperation, and love pervade this riveting story. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so it'll be hard to wait another year to see how it all turns out.
For fans of gritty, realistic, and dramatic historical fiction, Elodie Harper revisits the fascinating women from The Wolf Den, and has them confront a new series of challenges. Themes of freedom, betrayal, manipulation, ruthlessness, desperation, and love pervade this riveting story. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so it'll be hard to wait another year to see how it all turns out.
March 27, 2024
Един автор-историк беше написал, че освободените робини са били може би най-свободните жени в древния Рим - oт една страна, нали, вече не са робини, а от друга не са точно част от римското общество, така че не се налага да се съобразяват със строгите морални норми, според които живеят гражданите/ките му.
Разбира се, парадоксът на свободата е, че ако си истински свободен, имаш също свободата да умреш от глад. Е и да преследваш любовта там, дето я срещнеш... ама не и ако искаш да имаш пари и да живееш в златна клетка (или поне в хубава къща със боядисана в златно врата).
Животът и вътрешният свят на Амара се хвърлят отчаяно от една надежда на друга, блуждаят между гласа на слона и гласа на маймуната, между неща които тя иска и тези, които и се иска да иска и са толкова близки и разбираеми за нас, колкото е близък и самият Рим до съвременните големи градове (Амара живее в Помпей но айде да не разваляме хубавото сравнение).
Липсата на каквото и да е модерно морализаторстване или използване на изтъркани клишета относно робството, проституцията и съдбата на жените от страна на Елоди Харпър прави Къщата със златната врата свежа глътка въздух в съвременната литература, па била тая глътка въздух взета директно от мръсните, надраскани с графити улици на Вечния град - влажна, гнусна и с неизбежната миризма на човешки отделителни функции. Което е добра метафора на свободата, защото една свободна глътка въздух е свежа, даже да мирише на говна.
Разбира се, парадоксът на свободата е, че ако си истински свободен, имаш също свободата да умреш от глад. Е и да преследваш любовта там, дето я срещнеш... ама не и ако искаш да имаш пари и да живееш в златна клетка (или поне в хубава къща със боядисана в златно врата).
Животът и вътрешният свят на Амара се хвърлят отчаяно от една надежда на друга, блуждаят между гласа на слона и гласа на маймуната, между неща които тя иска и тези, които и се иска да иска и са толкова близки и разбираеми за нас, колкото е близък и самият Рим до съвременните големи градове (Амара живее в Помпей но айде да не разваляме хубавото сравнение).
Липсата на каквото и да е модерно морализаторстване или използване на изтъркани клишета относно робството, проституцията и съдбата на жените от страна на Елоди Харпър прави Къщата със златната врата свежа глътка въздух в съвременната литература, па била тая глътка въздух взета директно от мръсните, надраскани с графити улици на Вечния град - влажна, гнусна и с неизбежната миризма на човешки отделителни функции. Което е добра метафора на свободата, защото една свободна глътка въздух е свежа, даже да мирише на говна.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,130 reviews