Reviews

Sol of the Coliseum by Jon Guerdrum, Adam Gaylord

andypeloquinauthor's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I always love stories about gladiators, and this was no exception. It was an enjoyable read, and I loved how the author found new and creative ways to pit the gladiators against tougher opponents with every bout.
I would have given it more stars, but there was missing punctuation, a surprising number of misused words (dribble instead of drivel, etc.), and some basic flaws that made it seem a bit amateur.
Also, the villain was VERY two dimensional. He had the potential to be an amazing character (who doesn't love to hate a sadistic bastard), but there was no understanding of WHY he did what he did. He was just nasty for the sake of it. With more depth, he would have been much better.
The story was interesting, though nothing too unique. It was similar to most gladiator stories I have read, so while it was good, it wasn't great.

liisp_cvr2cvr's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

In short- this book is full of extremities! Extreme fights, extreme characters, extreme situatons and deep dilemmas… In a way, it portrays the fragile human mind, or the strength of it. From one extreme to another- either never know of and have hope at all, or never give it up.

Sol of the Coliseum is a book full of fighting. Fighting for life, fighting for hope, fighting for freedom. Also fighting other people and creatures and fighting for love. I found the book to be quite philosophical as well- characters’ thoughts about their situations, about their pasts, and their futures. The dialogue was great, Sol’s musings even greater. I love going in the deep end of thoughts full of existentialism, survival and morbid fears. *bonkers*

I loved the creatures Adam Gaylord had created- the fluffy beings that ate anything that moved until there was naught left but bonedust and blood spatters. I loved K’nal- I wish I could see a picture of what he looks like in the author’s mind. I simply picture him looking like a bigfoot.

And what’s a book without women. The Spoils- slave women handed over to fighters after walking away from a fight alive to do with as the fighter wishes. Bluntly- Spoils are sex-slaves. Disgusting. Yet this whole book, without going into an overwhelming amount of detail, makes me shiver at how clearly I can see the fights, the wrong-doings play out.

I was slightly worried that there was going to be this Hollywood-like attempt at having the hero of the story get down and dirty with Korra, the only female character that had spotlight. I was glad that didn’t happen and stayed more true to the way things would actually happen if this book was real life. I was bracing myself for one of those “Oh shit, here we go again, the damsel in distress, in close vicinity of a young gladiator, pants will fly”- what a cliché… Thankfully the ending of the book was exactly perfect! I liked the ending so very very much it gave me warm feels for right reasons.

Full review: Cover to Cover

katnordholm's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I was a little bummed to finish this book because then I had to put it down and I didn't want to. The characters were so interesting and well developed I wanted to keep following them on their adventure. Even though the whole story takes place in the Coliseum, the narrative touches on the backstory of the characters (especially Korra and K'nal) and gives a gimps into a much bigger wold. The author was great at describing things just enough to be interesting and let your imagination take it from there. Since all the main characters are slaves you can't help but root for them until the end of the book. Quite the good read.

lenamjohnson's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

First off, this is not Rome. It is a fantasy world that is very much like Rome. Once I got past that (I'm a bit of a history nerd) I really enjoyed the book. It took a while to really pull me in, but the climax was exciting and I stayed up late to finish. Really late. The ending of the book came a bit fast, though, and up until the last 2 pages I fully expected there to be a setup for a sequel, but alas, it seems not.

I would definitely read more books by this author.

marianc6f98's review

Go to review page

4.0

Sol of the Coliseum is an action-adventure story set in a world reminiscent of – but definitely not – Ancient Rome. Sol is born in the Coliseum; his mother dies as a result of his birth, but he is saved by a momentary tenderness on the part of Grall, a guard who is missing his own newborn son.

Sol grows up as a slave and inevitably becomes a gladiator, fighting for his life on the sands of the Coliseum, gaining the respect of his opponents and a steady stream of 'the Spoils”: the slave women given as a reward to a successful gladiator. But Sol is a natural gentleman, and he spends more time listening to these women than bedding them, and as a result he learns his worldview is, not surprisingly, simplistic...and slowly he becomes embroiled in rebellion.

Sol of the Coliseum is a straightforward adventure story, with detailed descriptions of gladiatorial battles against both other gladiators and wild beasts. The writing is competent and the story flows well, although I had some issues with pacing, especially towards the end, when culminating events happened very rapidly. The characters are well rounded and attractive, with perhaps the exception of the evil Lysik: I kept waiting for some backstory or explanation of his vileness to make him more than a stock nasty (albeit a very nasty nasty.) While there are few surprises in the plot, the story is nonetheless entertaining.

I had a few issues with the world-building; although Gaylord takes his time at the beginning of the book to create a solid setting, the insertion of some modern phrasing and concepts into what was essentially a Romanesque world jarred a little, none more so than the characters drinking coffee. This seems to be common intrusion into created worlds, one, I suspect, (in a rather tongue-in-cheek way) that may result from writers not conceiving of how a world can function without it. However much I may need my coffee (and I do!), I still find it jars when it appears in a world where it doesn't seem to belong. But that is a personal peeve.

The book is a stand-alone adventure, but the story could be continued. Sol is a interesting enough character (in some ways he reminds me of the actual Tarzan, the one from Edgar Rice Burrough's books, not the movie versions) that the author may wish to further develop his story.

Four stars, overall, to an enjoyable adventure story with appealing characters.

Review by Goodreads Author Marian Thorpe [b:Empire's Daughter|24979052|Empire's Daughter|Marian L. Thorpe|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424496086s/24979052.jpg|44645036]

The author provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
More...