2016 Reading Challenge: a science fiction book

Wolf's Empire: Gladiator by Claudia Christian

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


The best thing I can say is that I didn't HATE this book. But I certainly didn't like it.

The initial idea was interesting. The Roman Empire never fell and eventually created the Roman Galactic Empire. A girl from one of the noble families takes to the Gladiatorial Games to seek revenge for the deaths of her Mother and brother.

Sadly I found the main character to be a spoiled, self-centered teenage princess who always refused to look beyond her here-and-now, listen to the advice and council of others and just ended up doing what she wanted and thus getting herself embroiled in more than she could handle, end up addicted to drugs and causing more deaths to friends and family than she started out trying to avenge.

The story itself seemed to drag for me. I kept wondering "is it almost over?" only to discover that I had HOURS left to go in the listening.

I love Claudia Christian and am a huge fan. But I had a hard time separating her iconic role of Susan Ivanova from Accalla and comparing the two. I don't know if this was actually a case of where the reader was a detriment to the book instead of a help.

Regardless, I do not see myself actively seeking out the sequel when it comes out.



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