The night air is heavy with the scent of oleander, the sweet poison that Amara always associates with Rome. She stands with the other women, facing the high arched windows that overlook the moonlit city, caressed by a breeze that is still warm from the sweltering heat of the day. [opening of The Temple of Fortuna]
Elodie Harper has a way of making me feel like I am right there with the characters in her books.
Amara's heart beats painfully in her chest, expecting the worst, but the only person to approach is a think slave boy. He creeps up to her to stand by her elbow, silently holding out her cloak. Amara takes it from him, deftly turning it inside out so that the finer fabric is hidden, leaving the cheaper lining on display, then wraps in around herself.
The two slaves watch as she swiftly takes off her rings and bracelets, stuffing them inside a purse that she has pulled out from where it lay between her breasts, hidden under her clothes. "What?" she snaps at the gawking men as she stows the purse away again. "You've never seen a woman walk a street before?" Amara's sharp tone echoes Victoria, her former friend from the Wolf Den, and she can feel the past merging into the present. [pages 59-60 of The Temple of Fortuna]
This was an extremely tense moment in the novel in which Amara is afraid for her life and makes the decision to risk the streets at night on her own rather than stay where she is any longer. It is clear her past experiences have made her adept at knowing how to make herself as little seen as possible.
Amara's journey has taken her far; from a slave in Pompeii's wolf den to a high-powered courtesan in Rome... though her story is not over yet.
While Amara plays for power in Rome's imperial palace, those dearest to her remain in Pompeii. But it is AD 79, and mighty Mount Vesuvius is about to make itself known... [From the Publisher]
Which book/TV/movie character would you like to be friends with?
I would love to be friends with anyone in Freya Grove, Celestine Martin's Elemental Love series. I love her characters. They all seem so nice and like people I would love to hang out with. I just want to live in Freya Grove, if I am honest. Tommy Waddell from Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver is another character I wouldn't mind calling a friend. He has been through so much, but puts his best foot forward no matter what. He's loyal and honest with a kind heart. And can I please be friends with Lila Bard from V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic series? I have so much respect for her, and I think she would be fun to hang out with. Finlay Donovan from Elle Cosimano's series with the same name--we would have so much to talk about! I would want to be best friends with Debbie Tung and Jenny Lawson, but I don't think they count because they are not fictional people. They just wrote books about themselves and I could relate to their stories in so many ways.
A movie character I wish I could call my friend is Samwise. He's actually a book character too, so he counts for both. He is from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. He's my favorite character from the books and movie. Like Tommy, whom I mentioned above, he is just a good person at heart, practical and honest. In the realm of TV, it obviously would be Dean Winchester from Supernatural. When I first started watching the show, I liked his brother more, but in completing the show and re-watching it, it's Dean. Although, I don't think I would want to live in their world necessarily.
Are there any characters from books, TV, or movies you would like to be friends with?
Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.What books do you look to for inspiration at the start of the year or to motivate you to make positive changes in your life? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)
The short answer is that there really are not any books that I look to for inspiration at the beginning of the year or to motivate me towards change. Although not the same thing, I am mindful of my moods and state of mind, and sometimes will gravitate towards certain types of books more than others, depending on what my mental and emotional needs are at the time. Sometimes those books may be inspirational and occasionally I come across something that motivates me to change, but it more often happens serendipitously rather than intentionally.
What about you? Is there a book or type of book that inspires you to make positive changes in your life or inspire you?
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading!
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I think Samwise is the ultimate friend. Good choice. Enjoy your book. It sounds a little complicated. Is it?
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