Book: A Time of Gladiators and Fate by Susan Illene
Reviewed by Yuki_Soma55
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I would give ♾️/⭐️ if it allowed more than 5 stars.
Whenever asked where I would go if I could of anywhere in time I typically answer with Ancient Rome, it has always fascinated me and I am forever wanting to know Spartacus’ real name. When Susan talked about wanting to make a book where someone time traveled back to Ancient Rome I knew I needed that book in my life. It is so much better then I ever anticipated and it is quickly one of my favorite books (tied with The Realm of Zadrya series also from Susan). I helped beta read and even from the beta to the ARC so many small things where added that made it even better.
The level of research put into the book is astonishing and makes it so much more real having the FMC facing the challenges of that time period. I definitely could not handle the smell or hygiene they had in that time. I love the care and time it took to give us a glimpse into the past and how life would have actually been especially having all of today’s modern comforts.
Grace is a strong FMC that not only faced a lot of challenges in her modern life, but then gets thrown into one of the most difficult situations. She is forced to fight for her life constantly and learn how to survive in the wildly different time. She is such an incredibly strong character to face how she’s treated and still try to fight to have some basic decency. Additionally using her modern mathematical knowledge of accounting to her get out some potential trauma inducing situations.
There are two MMC options and as off book one we do not know who she will end up with. I have a clear side of which MMC I hope she ends up with. One of them is super shady feeling by the end, and the other definitely seems like he has no chance to get back into Graces good side. It is honestly a toss up on who she may end up with. Again I have my hopes of who it’ll be 👀
I love how every character is written uniquely and shows different sides of how that time frame can shape people. The side characters add so much to the story but either helping Grace cope with her new life or showing that there are plenty of challenges to overcome. Other gladiators help her training whether it’s willingly or being ordered to, they help her become a b*das* warrior. Her last fight scene is so epic and I love little details added to make it incredible.
The story definitely has a lot of dark, gritty and difficult moments how how many characters are treated, but it shows the strength they all have to make it through all they are put through. There is bit story element that definitely had me bawling and I was not prepared for 😭😭.
The twists that were added were perfect and soooo unexpected. The ending has the largest twist of revealing where/when Arack is from had my mind blown 🤯 and I really did not anticipate the twist at all.
Overall I freaking loved this book soooo much it is everything I needed and more from a time travel to Ancient Rome gladiator book. I need book 2 immediately, to bad we don’t have actual time travel to travel into the future to get the rest of the series.
I am incredibly honored to have been able to not only help beta read but ARC read this book. ❤️