Pompeii City on Fire by T.L. Higley

Pompeii, a city that's many things to many people. For Cato, it's the perfect escape from a failed political career in Rome. A place to start again, become a winemaker. But when a corrupt politician wrongfully jails Cato's sister, he must oust the man from power to save her.

For Ariella, Pompeii is a means to an end. As a young Jew, she escaped the fall of Jerusalem only to endure slavery to a cruel Roman general. She ends up in Pompeii, disguised as a young man and sold into a gladiator troupe. Her anger fuels her to fight well, hoping to win the arena crowds and reveal her gender at the perfect time. Perhaps then she will win true freedom.

But evil creeps through the streets of Pompeii. Political corruption, religious persecution, and family peril threaten to destroy Ariella and Cato, who are thrown together in the battle to survive. As Vesuvius churns with deadly intent, the two must bridge their differences to save the lives of those they love, before the fiery ash buries Pompeii, leaving the city lost to the world.




The Review:
My Rating: 8 out of 10
Ages 15 and up

I've read Higley's work before, so I was excited to receive Pompeii, City On Fire. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, I snatched it off of my TBR and dove in, eager to meet another set of Higley's well written, endearing characters. While by the time I finished Pompeii I knew for a certainty that Petra still held the #1 spot on my shelf, Pompeii was another wonderful read that I enjoyed completely.

Cato was a very interesting character who was easy to like and become interested in. He was a bit intriguing and had a protective side to him that I loved to see come out occasionally. The way he interacted with Ariella was charming and I loved him as the hero.

Ariella was a really unique character who was written out so well that by the end of the book I'd felt I'd actually known her. She was so head strong yet at the same time just needed someone to love and take care of her.

The writing style was easy to read and once again I was stunned at the amazing history that Higley teaches about through her novels. Absolutely amazing.

Sensuality:
Man threatens to frame woman of adultery.
Cato asks if Ariella was the gladiators whore, which she is not.
Ariella worries about what the gladiators would do to her if she was discovered.
While handled very well, it is obivous that Ariella's brother was used as a sex slave to her previous master, a now apparent homosexual, as her master said that he was just as good as her, and it is obvious that she was sexually abused while under his control, though not described.


Violence:
Minor descriptions of fights taking place in the arena is to be expected, as Ariella lives among, and is, a gladiator. Nothing extremely explicit or graphic.

All around, this book is not one I will soon forget and I totally look forward to reading more from Higley. T.L. Higley has a knack for whisking away her readers into ancient times, so don't pick up this book if you aren't ready to experience an adventure! Aren't sure if this is the book for you? No problem! Read the first three chapters here! If you like it, make sure to purchase it through the link below! :)