The cover image reminds me much if the kind of age-appropriate book I was reading when I was in the early double figures of age, although the title states otherwise!

In the book, the language is clear and easy to read. Things appear to be well-researched, and Latin terms are thrown in every bien and then to give a sense of authenticity. You might enjoy having access to Google to research them, unless you were lucky enough to have a classical education.

The story follows Renatus and Lucius as they build a relationship and explore the world of sex together.

Each chapter gets hotter and hotter sex scenes, moving Lucius from innocence into a sexual adventure.

The story dances around the Epicurean philosophy, which is often reduced to the pursuit of pleasure, however, it is more complicated than that (our whole idea of atoms comes from that philosophy).

…the category of unnatural and unnecessary desires. These can take three forms: fame, money, my and power. … if you are genuinely seeking happiness you must renounce the pursuit of these three desires, they are not necessary and they have no satiety; there is never enough of them, and one remains perpetually consumed by the desire for more, leading to an unhappy life.

Page 112

I find that a powerful insight that the pursuit of fame, money, and power cannot bring happiness when sought for their own sakes.

Fame has no value in its own, unless it is used to benefit others.

If money actually brought happiness and made people feel content, they’d reach a point where they stopped trying to accumulate more. Instead, it seems that the more somebody has the more they need.

Like money and fame, the thirst for power is unquenchable. That is why sometimes the best people to give authority to are those who want it least.

This book actually has a plot that’s worth following, it’s not massively complicated, but the characters are interesting and likeable enough to make the plot enjoyable – with the obvious highlights of excellent sex scenes!

Anyone who studied The Cambridge Latin Course at school will remember the name “Caecilius”; I don’t know whether the author is nodding towards that particular school book, or is just using a name that is known to have lived in Pompeii, but it makes me smile you think that there might be a little bit of subversion going on there.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The sex scenes were vivid and very erotic indeed! While, there was actually a plot and sufficient character development for me to feel engaged and care for the characters in the story. It felt well-researched by somebody who loves ancient history and has knowledge of Pompeii.

I will be on the lookout for other books by Evan D Berg!