On Bloodied Ground

The Colosseum #3

by Melissa Addey

Rome, 82AD. Domitian is the new Emperor. At his command, a vast labyrinth is being built below the arena floor. Lit only by burning torches, echoing with the roars of wild animals, this is a place for men, women and beasts with a taste for blood. But all scribe Althea wants is to win Marcus’ heart and leave the macabre life of the Games behind. While Althea hopes for a romantic conclusion to the season, a new beast-hunter sparks a chain of events that brings a hidden danger close to the backstage team. Why are gladiators dying before they’ve even reached the arena? Can the new Emperor be trusted? Will Marcus declare his own feelings before it’s too late? Hearts beat faster as blood spills across the arena’s sand. Third in the gripping Colosseum series, On Bloodied Ground follows the backstage team as they uncover dark secrets and bring long-held desires into the light. This enthralling historical fiction will capture your imagination… and your heart. Enter the labyrinth to find out its secrets. Buy On Bloodied Ground today.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical

294 pages, Paperback

Published July 25, 2023

About the author

I mainly write historical fiction: my first novel, The Fragrant Concubine, was Editor’s Choice at the Historical Novel Society, my latest, The Cold Palace, won the 2019 Novel London award.

I was the Leverhulme Trust Writer in Residence at the British Library and now run regular workshops there. I have a PhD in Creative Writing and have self-published 13 books.

I live in London with my husband and two children.

If you’d like to try my writing, visit my website www.melissaaddey.com to pick up a free novella, The Cup.

Reviews

[Melanie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, glory and savagery in ancient Rome

A.D. 81, Emperor Titus, who grand Colosseum was inaugurated with spectacular success by Marcus and Althea' show production team, is dead. Domitition, who succeeds as the new Roman Emperor, plans a grander rebuilding and even grander games. Marcus, with Althea's able assistance serves again to run the Games for another year. Plagued by delays, interfering construction, mysterious deaths in the arena, personal and public tragedies all around her, Althea dreams of a different, better life. But Marcus is the lynchpin of her dreams, and he sees only the games, and Althea's capable assistance. He is blind to her love. The grandeur and grim reality of life in Ancient Rome is a vividly painted backdrop to this moving love story. Melissa Addey's stellar writing, coupled with in-depth historical research and surpassing human understanding make this third book in the Coliseum series an unsurpassably moving reading experience. My voluntary, independent ARC review? MUST READ. FIVE STARS!

[Sam Heffernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quickly entranced

Having just powered through books 1 & 2 on my lunchbreaks at work, i found the third available the DAY it was released on Amazon. Imagine my bookish glee to carry on with Althea and Marcus and the team, right where Id left off.
Melissa has once again wrapped a brilliant story in with historical facts (many of which I had no idea about) and creating a whole world within a world at the Colosseum.
Very well written, asking the questions I myself thought of while I was reading and answering them right when needed.
Characters who Ive become invested in (Carcophorus is defo one of my faves) and bew introductions to Quintus and Emilia.

Love it!!! Cant wait for number 4 and heartily volunteer as a tribute to proof read!
As someone who generally sticks to Tudor era novels, I found Melissa’s book the Consorts by accident and I blame her for my love of the Chinese Imperial Harem and my latest new obsession with the Romans. I feel like I am reliving my 6 year old selfs school lessons on them. Its fab!!!

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Ms. Addey for doing such profound research for your books, this book 3 in the Colosseum series delves into the lives of the people of Rome during the reign of the emperor Domition, a strange emperor to say the least. His building programme changes the amphitheatre where Marcus and Althea planned the gladiatorial games for the season. They strive amidst all the suffering and cruelty to bring pleasure to the plebian audience, as well as to the nobility who are just as bloodthirsty during these times. However this is not the only aspect of life we get to see in these books, we share the love of community in the insula where our cast of characters live, we get to smell and taste the foods prepared in the popina by Cassia who is like a mother to all the people living in the insula. Then we share in the festivity of the wedding between Cassia, Quintus and their adopted child Emilia. And we share the pain and hopes of Althea as she waits for Marcus to ask her to marry him too, to take her away from the brutality of the gladiatorial games, to build a new life on his old family farm. This book is so full of emotions, it's like a rollercoaster of feelings which sets all our senses alive be they through fear, or pleasure, love and also hate for such depravity suffered by so many in those ancient times. I cannot wait to read the final book in this very captivating, page turning series.

[Vivien Gintner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I was excited to read On Bloodied Ground because I was curious how Marcus and Althea's relationship would grow. Sadly, I was not blown away by the romance. There was just friendliness between him and Althea until Althea confronted him.
But I loved the friendship between the three women and the everyday life of the insula. The main theme was Earth, and it was great to know more about the vestal virgins.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great 3rd book! Emotionally tugged on the heart with a bit of mystery

Like the previous two books, I found myself engrossed in the continuation of the story and quickly read it. This book added an element of mystery and danger as well as tugged on the heart strings several times. I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read the fourth book to see what happens to the characters in this series.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic and totally different. This book if possible is even better than the the last. Loved the characters. Fast paced , intriguing.