I found Wolf’s Den to be a challenging read. There are many scenes of sexual violence, and the quite frankly horrifying experiences that some of the characters go through while not described in gory or salacious detail meant I felt the need to put the book down.
That I picked up it again is a testament to the gripping plot and the engrossing characters. Determined Amara, gentle Dido, self-assured Victoria were my favourites. Felix is truly detestable as the owner of The Wolf Den, a ruthless pimp and loan shark that controls his brothel through physical and psychological abuse. I wanted to scream at him (and worse) because of some of the cruelty he inflicts.
It is not all darkness and despair. Ultimately Harper has written a book about survival. The extraordinary instinct humanity has to find a way to survive even in the direst circumstances is a thread that runs through the story. There is plenty of humour in the book, much of it from Victoria, who is a bit like Samantha from Sex in the City, constantly making vulgar comments and egging the rest of the gang on. Amara is a smart and resourceful protagonist that is easy to root for, and most moments of levity involve her bonding with the other sex workers under Felix’s yolk.
In parts, it reminded me of Sansa POV chapters in Game of Thrones. The constants anxiety of hiding emotions, the mentally exhausting process of plotting and planning, the dread of not knowing who to trust. Like Martin’s, the research that Harper has done makes the world of Pompeii rich and palpable.
As a historical novel, Harper has written something remarkable. It is a piercing look at how sex and power are intertwined and how both genders use one as a tool to gain the other. What Amara and the other sex workers in the Wolf Den are subjected to by men is abhorrent. Harper writes superbly well, showing a deft hand at creating characters that get under your skin in both good ways and bad. I’m not sure I enjoyed it, but it has lingered with me.

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