Tuesday 4 November 2014

HISTORICAL SHORT FICTION REVIEW: A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompei - Stephanie Dray, Ben Kane, E Knight, Sophie Perinot, Kate Quinn, Vicky Alvear Shecter

Release Date:  04/11/14
Publisher:  Knight Media

SYNOPSIS:

Pompeii was a lively resort flourishing in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius at the height of the Roman Empire. When Vesuvius erupted in an explosion of flame and ash, the entire town would be destroyed. Some of its citizens died in the chaos, some escaped the mountain's wrath . . . and these are their stories:

A boy loses his innocence in Pompeii's flourishing streets.
An heiress dreads her wedding day, not knowing it will be swallowed by fire.
An ex-legionary stakes his entire future on a gladiator bout destined never to be finished.
A crippled senator welcomes death, until a tomboy on horseback comes to his rescue.
A young mother faces an impossible choice for her unborn child as the ash falls.
A priestess and a whore seek resurrection and redemption as the town is buried.

Six authors bring to life overlapping stories of patricians and slaves, warriors and politicians, villains and heroes who cross each others' path during Pompeii's fiery end. But who will escape, and who will be buried for eternity?


REVIEW:

As a huge fan of Roman Historical fiction, I love it when I get to try new authors alongside firm favourites and for me, this title released by a cohort of talent from within the genre. Whilst I normally wouldn’t read a self pubbed title, when I see firm favourites and friends amongst the group I just have to dive in and see what is on offer, and boy, was this a title that more than took my breath away.

Firstly within this book, the reader is treated to the final days of Pompeii as that is the central theme of the title, it’s thrilling to read the diversity of people that inhabit the town and whilst you know what’s going to occur, it’s fascinating to see how the various characters deal with the disaster. It has great prose, the editing works wonderfully well and when added of course to solid dialogue and believability, you really have to pick this book up. Absolutely cracking.

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