Amy Hearst

Nardine has been a slave ever since her mother sold her at the age of eleven. Her master runs a school for gladiators in ancient Rome known as a ludus. Although she occasionally serves the master and his family whenever they travel to gladiatorial events; Nardine primarily divides her duties between the kitchens and the infirmary as both a cook and a physician's assistant.

She had always counseled her friend Celeste to be extremely careful about falling in love with a gladiator, as that sort of relationship could only lead to heartbreak in the future. Nardine knows this feeling from personal experience as she has lost her heart exactly twice in her lifetime - first to a gladiator named Matthias, then to another one called Gaius - and she has inevitably lost both men to the horrors of the arena. While losing Matthias was certainly heart-wrenching, Nardine is utterly devastated by the sudden death of Gaius.

Nardine privately believes that she has long been unlucky in love, so she truly cannot fault her mistress Cornelia for believing that she is actually cursed. However, despite suffering through such tremendous grief, Nardine also begins to believe that she has ultimately been blessed as well: she is finally pregnant. Yet a life of bondage is definitely no future for a child, so Nardine resolves that escape is the only viable option, no matter what the punishment will be if she fails.

Fleeing from his sorrowful past, Abedi has long wanted to be a gladiator. Now he is living his dream, and at one of the most prestigious schools in all of Rome. Yet despite relying on his strength, bravery and quickness while fighting in the arena, Abedi also cannot deny that there is always the possibility that he will be injured or worse.

Ultimately, Abedi will be tested to the very limits of his abilities and endurance. However, after meeting the beautiful Nardine working in the infirmary - the answer to his prayers - he will find the challenges that he has faced in the arena are only the beginning. Indeed, it is the promise of finally having a family of his own, an enduring love, and the prospect of freedom that will sustain Abedi throughout his time in the arena.

Actually, this book is quite a bit longer than the first book in the series. Although having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story as well. As I have said before, I usually enjoy reading anything having to do with ancient Greece and Rome, and it was intriguing to read more stories based in this particular historical period. In my opinion, this was a fast-paced and well-developed story despite its relatively short length and I would certainly give this novella an A!… (altro)

Celeste is an orphaned slave girl in ancient Rome whose master runs a gladiators' school known as a ludus. She is primarily a servant to the master and his family; although she is often given to gladiators for their enjoyment after they win a match in the public arena. Being kept as a reward; expected to provide pleasure to some of Rome's fiercest warriors, Celeste's experiences with these men are painful. Most gladiators take the greatest pleasure in brutalizing and humiliating her; and for Celeste, they are nothing more than violent brutes.

When a new gladiator named Lucius arrives at the ludus, Celeste doesn't know what to expect. He seems nice enough, but she's certain that it'll be only a matter of time before his true personality is revealed. Yet, Lucius eventually surprises her. He's a gladiator with a gentle spirit, who manages to entice Celeste out of her shell and helps her to believe in love again.

But their happiness is constantly threatened. Lucius could be killed while fighting in the arena any day, and Celeste just can't seem to satisfy her cruel mistress, Cornelia - who repeatedly accuses her of somehow angering the gladiators. In a time when violence and cruelty was encouraged, and life existed at the whim of the powerful; can Lucius and Celeste find a way to be permanently happy together?

Despite this story being only the length of a novella, I still enjoyed it very much. I usually enjoy reading anything having to do with ancient Rome and Greece, and this was no exception. The story was coherent and fast-paced; well-written and dramatic. I found myself really rooting for Celeste and Lucius, and wondering what would happen next for them. I give The Gladiator's Girl by Amy Hearst an A!… (altro)