Title: A Day of Fire
Author: Various
Publisher: Self
Release Date: October 21, 2014
Acquired Via: Historical Fiction Blog Tours
Pompeii was a lively resort flourishing in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius at the height of the Roman Empire. When Vesuvius erupted in an explosion of flame and ash, the entire town would be destroyed. Some of its citizens died in the chaos, some escaped the mountain’s wrath . . . and these are their stories:
A boy loses his innocence in Pompeii’s flourishing streets.
An heiress dreads her wedding day, not knowing it will be swallowed by fire.
An ex-legionary stakes his entire future on a gladiator bout destined never to be finished.
A crippled senator welcomes death, until a tomboy on horseback comes to his rescue.
A young mother faces an impossible choice for her unborn child as the ash falls.
A priestess and a whore seek resurrection and redemption as the town is buried.
Six authors bring to life overlapping stories of patricians and slaves, warriors and politicians, villains and heroes who cross each others’ path during Pompeii’s fiery end. But who will escape, and who will be buried for eternity?
My Review
Usually when reviewing a short story collection, I try to review each of the stories individually. However, with A Day of Fire, I don't really feel that it's necessary. Each of the stories are of the same quality, and I feel like the theme running between them was also the same. This is by no means a YA collection (though older teens may enjoy it), but each of the characters faced coming of age and learning who they were and what they were about, even the older characters. The most important thing that I saw the characters learning was honor in the face of the terrifying event that the anthology is based around.
