Description
“The end is coming. The gods are watching. This thrilling historical fantasy set in the days before Mount Vesuvius destroys Pompeii is a meet cute with an explosive fallout.
Clever thief Felix slips from city to city to survive the present and escape a past he can’t remember. When Felix steals a divine artifact—Mercury’s helmet—from a temple in Pompeii, pieces of his forgotten past begin to surface.
Loren, an ambitious temple attendant, has seen Felix in his apocalyptic nightmares for years. The last thing Loren expects is for his dream to stumble headfirst through his temple doors, moments after an earthquake rocks the city.
When Felix shows Loren the helmet, Loren sees the world coming to an end. He knows they have mere days to uncover Felix’s ties to the relic and to Loren’s visions if they have any hope of saving the city. But Ancient Rome is ruled by bloody politics and unstoppable destinies, and now that Loren and Felix are intertwined, their lives aren’t all they risk losing. When all has turned to ash and rubble, the boys will have to piece together their fates to make it out of a burning city alive.
An exploration of ambition and class, autonomy and religion, survival and love, Vesuvius combines the romantic angst of They Both Die at the End and the blended magic and history of The Song of Achilles to show readers that it is never too late to change your fate—or change the world.”
Reviews
“Debut author Biehn weaves political intrigue into impressively researched Roman history and mythology. Setting Felix and Loren’s blossoming romance against the 79 CE eruption of Mount Vesuvius adds tension and suspense to a seismic queer love story that investigates themes of class, gender, and healing from trauma.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A heartfelt and absorbing historical adventure with light fantasy elements.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Roman mythological connections are a draw for the Riordan crowd, as are the high stakes, modern-feeling characters, queer romance, and witty banter.” —Booklist
A compelling YA historical fantasy debut brimming with political drama and queer love. . . . This dual POV narrative combines a modern voice with a convincing historical backdrop, mythical undertones, and subtle magic. . . . Biehn brilliantly pits choice against destiny in this exciting and immersive adventure. —Shelf Awareness
Much like any story involving the Titanic, knowing Pompeii’s ending won’t stop readers from investing in Loren and Felix’s romance and hoping desperately for a way out of the city. . . . A fun, unique historical romance for fans of Adam Silvera’s They Both Die at the End and Roman mythology. —School Library Journal
Resources
YAF052040: Young Adult Fiction – Romance – LGBTQ+
YAF019040: Young Adult Fiction – Fantasy – Historical
YAF030020: Young Adult Fiction – Legends, Myths, Fables – Greek & Roman