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Gladiator, Goddess: The thrilling 'What is your Roman Empire' Romantasy
“A BOLD, BLOODY, RIOTOUS SAPPHIC ROMANTASY” –
The Guardian
What is your Roman Empire?
A sapphic, feminist romantasy, set in the age of ancient Rome.
The Roman Goddesses have grown weary of the rule of Gods and men.
They seek to change the fortune of the world by backing a brilliant young woman.
In Pompeii, Gia dreams of being a female Gladiator, but there is no such thing.
When she wins the favour of Claudia – the beautiful daughter of the Emperor – her star begins to rise in the arena, but so does the risk to her life.
Together, the girls must battle conspiracies to overthrow the Empire, and their growing feelings for one another. Feelings the Goddesses had not planned on.
A scintillating and enchanting new series, perfect for fans of Powerless , Lore and Crescent City .
What is your Roman Empire?
A sapphic, feminist romantasy, set in the age of ancient Rome.
The Roman Goddesses have grown weary of the rule of Gods and men.
They seek to change the fortune of the world by backing a brilliant young woman.
In Pompeii, Gia dreams of being a female Gladiator, but there is no such thing.
When she wins the favour of Claudia – the beautiful daughter of the Emperor – her star begins to rise in the arena, but so does the risk to her life.
Together, the girls must battle conspiracies to overthrow the Empire, and their growing feelings for one another. Feelings the Goddesses had not planned on.
A scintillating and enchanting new series, perfect for fans of Powerless , Lore and Crescent City .
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Published November 6, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 9, 2025
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Pride Book Tours.
Gladiator, Goddess is a new sapphic romantasy set during the time of ancient Rome.
The book follows Gia, who since being a young child idolised her older brothers and dreams of being a female gladiator. When her brothers and father die and she and her mother are left to fend for themselves, Gia makes a visit to the local training arena to collect her brothers belongings and sets in motion a future she could never have dreamed up. As Gia fights to earn her place amongst boys in the arena, she wins the favour of Princess Claudia (the Emporors daughter) but also earns the wrath of Claudias Emporor father and dangerous brother. As Gia and Claudia's fates entwine further and the goddesses throw their support and guidance behind them, danger explodes around them and a fight for survival and to overthrow the new Emporor to place the first Empress (Claudia) in Romes future begins.
I loved the power play and setting of this book so much and loved how human and mortal Gia was and how much she grew within herself throughout the story. The gods and goddesses were cleverly woven through the story, which added layers to it. I can't wait to read book 2!
Gladiator, Goddess is a new sapphic romantasy set during the time of ancient Rome.
The book follows Gia, who since being a young child idolised her older brothers and dreams of being a female gladiator. When her brothers and father die and she and her mother are left to fend for themselves, Gia makes a visit to the local training arena to collect her brothers belongings and sets in motion a future she could never have dreamed up. As Gia fights to earn her place amongst boys in the arena, she wins the favour of Princess Claudia (the Emporors daughter) but also earns the wrath of Claudias Emporor father and dangerous brother. As Gia and Claudia's fates entwine further and the goddesses throw their support and guidance behind them, danger explodes around them and a fight for survival and to overthrow the new Emporor to place the first Empress (Claudia) in Romes future begins.
I loved the power play and setting of this book so much and loved how human and mortal Gia was and how much she grew within herself throughout the story. The gods and goddesses were cleverly woven through the story, which added layers to it. I can't wait to read book 2!
October 8, 2025
introducing my new obsession: sapphic gladiators
Want to read
January 9, 2025sapphic ancient rome-inspired romantasy about a female gladiator and her sponser? fuck yes, 10 of these please.
December 12, 2025
*3.75*
I get it tbh, if I was the princess of Rome and I saw a woman dressed in gladiator gear fighting men I too would realise I’m a massive lesbian and have a crush on her.
In all seriousness I love books retold in Rome, I think they have a beautiful setting and there’s something about them that really draws me in. I did enjoy this, it has elements of feminism in with the idea that women are living in a world when even at their best they will not be considered better than a man at their worst simply because they are a woman. a world where we are given a very narrow set of options for what we can become and we are not permitted to step out of those- but in this story, women dared to do what they have been told they cannot: fight and rule.
I think the plot was good, it somewhat took a backseat for the sapphic romance to develop but not to such an extreme that I felt like the world had completely fallen. there was some issues with modern day slang / wording being used which was kind of jarring as it took you out of the historical setting somewhat.
overall it was a quick, fast paced sapphic read that I’m glad I finally picked up
I get it tbh, if I was the princess of Rome and I saw a woman dressed in gladiator gear fighting men I too would realise I’m a massive lesbian and have a crush on her.
In all seriousness I love books retold in Rome, I think they have a beautiful setting and there’s something about them that really draws me in. I did enjoy this, it has elements of feminism in with the idea that women are living in a world when even at their best they will not be considered better than a man at their worst simply because they are a woman. a world where we are given a very narrow set of options for what we can become and we are not permitted to step out of those- but in this story, women dared to do what they have been told they cannot: fight and rule.
I think the plot was good, it somewhat took a backseat for the sapphic romance to develop but not to such an extreme that I felt like the world had completely fallen. there was some issues with modern day slang / wording being used which was kind of jarring as it took you out of the historical setting somewhat.
overall it was a quick, fast paced sapphic read that I’m glad I finally picked up
October 15, 2025
I was sent a copy of this book for review.
The Goddesses Diana, Minerva, Fortuna, and Venus are tired of the destructive influence of the Gods who have empowered the flawed rulers of Rome. They plan to raise Gia, a poor woman in Pompeii to great heights by making her the first female Gladiator and to bring her together with Princess Claudia, the Emperor’s daughter who they want as the first Empress of Rome. When they meet their attraction is unquestionable and their destinies become intertwined. They experience visions from the Goddesses that show the downfall of Rome, and the fate of Pompeii. They work together to defeat Claudia’s evil brother from succeeding his father and bringing about the downfall of everything.
Gia faces backlash and physical attacks as she competes in the arena, but she is determined to honour her fallen brothers by becoming a mighty Gladiator. Gia is also coming to terms with her desire for Claudia. Claudia may return her feelings but what future does the daughter of a tavern owner have with an Emperor’s daughter. When all hell breaks loose and Mount Vesuvius starts to erupt the lives of Gia, Claudia, and everyone around them are in jeopardy. Can they change their fate, fight the interference of conniving Gods and devious men to survive the coming disaster?
This was a stunningly visual and epically portrayed sapphic romance that incorporates the infighting between the Gods/Goddesses as they meddle in human lives, the corruption of the Roman Empire alongside everyday life in Pompeii. I visited Pompeii recently and I loved how the author wove the facts of the city and what happened to it into this narrative. The romantasy storyline had plenty of passion, emotional scenes and believable action moments all wrapped up in a battle of wills and conflicting schemes of the Gods of Rome. Knowing the fate of Pompeii in 79AD, the tension and angst for the characters is heighted and the climax of the story is both realistic and compelling. The story had great character development, multiple well-thought-out storylines and a satisfying and thrilling ending.
The Goddesses Diana, Minerva, Fortuna, and Venus are tired of the destructive influence of the Gods who have empowered the flawed rulers of Rome. They plan to raise Gia, a poor woman in Pompeii to great heights by making her the first female Gladiator and to bring her together with Princess Claudia, the Emperor’s daughter who they want as the first Empress of Rome. When they meet their attraction is unquestionable and their destinies become intertwined. They experience visions from the Goddesses that show the downfall of Rome, and the fate of Pompeii. They work together to defeat Claudia’s evil brother from succeeding his father and bringing about the downfall of everything.
Gia faces backlash and physical attacks as she competes in the arena, but she is determined to honour her fallen brothers by becoming a mighty Gladiator. Gia is also coming to terms with her desire for Claudia. Claudia may return her feelings but what future does the daughter of a tavern owner have with an Emperor’s daughter. When all hell breaks loose and Mount Vesuvius starts to erupt the lives of Gia, Claudia, and everyone around them are in jeopardy. Can they change their fate, fight the interference of conniving Gods and devious men to survive the coming disaster?
This was a stunningly visual and epically portrayed sapphic romance that incorporates the infighting between the Gods/Goddesses as they meddle in human lives, the corruption of the Roman Empire alongside everyday life in Pompeii. I visited Pompeii recently and I loved how the author wove the facts of the city and what happened to it into this narrative. The romantasy storyline had plenty of passion, emotional scenes and believable action moments all wrapped up in a battle of wills and conflicting schemes of the Gods of Rome. Knowing the fate of Pompeii in 79AD, the tension and angst for the characters is heighted and the climax of the story is both realistic and compelling. The story had great character development, multiple well-thought-out storylines and a satisfying and thrilling ending.
December 31, 2025
god why aren’t there a ton of ancient roman or greek lesbian historical fiction books. i need more!!!
November 26, 2025
This is a sapphic, feminist romantasy set in ancient Rome, with a romance between the first woman gladiator and the emperor’s daughter – what’s not to love?! After developing a love for Ancient Greek reinterpretations, it was refreshing to step into ancient Rome, with each Act beginning with a scene from the perspective of the deities. It explores power imbalances, the continual demeaning of women, including the goddesses themselves, whilst offering a fresh alternative to Roman history – one in which women have the potential to rule.
This book is told primarily from the perspective of Gia, who wishes to be the first woman gladiator, and she is incredibly likeable. It explores her discovery of her attraction for women once she realises that it is an option, and Claudia’s journey alongside her. It is full of female rage but also is a beautiful coming-of-age sapphic story with snapshots of queer joy. Gia is incredibly courageous and loving, but this book also explores our limitations and does not paint her to be superhuman, with many influences from the goddesses.
This book has so many brilliant side characters, all fleshed out enough for you to genuinely root for them. I admit that I did cry a couple of times, but I won’t give any spoilers! Despite this revolving around 17/18-year-olds, it does not shy away from being gritty, brutal, and, at times, gory. It has its light, humorous moments but also many dark ones. Despite it being very much an alternative to history, it still maintains realism in many aspects.
The modern speech in this could be very jarring at times given the setting of ancient Rome, but I largely brushed this aside and read it for what it is – a reimagining. Still one I would very much recommend!
This book is told primarily from the perspective of Gia, who wishes to be the first woman gladiator, and she is incredibly likeable. It explores her discovery of her attraction for women once she realises that it is an option, and Claudia’s journey alongside her. It is full of female rage but also is a beautiful coming-of-age sapphic story with snapshots of queer joy. Gia is incredibly courageous and loving, but this book also explores our limitations and does not paint her to be superhuman, with many influences from the goddesses.
This book has so many brilliant side characters, all fleshed out enough for you to genuinely root for them. I admit that I did cry a couple of times, but I won’t give any spoilers! Despite this revolving around 17/18-year-olds, it does not shy away from being gritty, brutal, and, at times, gory. It has its light, humorous moments but also many dark ones. Despite it being very much an alternative to history, it still maintains realism in many aspects.
The modern speech in this could be very jarring at times given the setting of ancient Rome, but I largely brushed this aside and read it for what it is – a reimagining. Still one I would very much recommend!
October 8, 2025
“In a world of gods and mortals and monsters, love would save them and bury them whole, all in one.”
Thank you so much to @pridebooktours for having me on the tour and for the early copy!
The book is a sapphic feminist romantasy set in Ancient Rome which sounded so cool to me and it was so easy to read! 🏛️ The book was mainly told from Gia’s pov but there are some chapters told from the goddesses povs which I found really interesting! I was really happy to see that this book had chapter names! The book also has illustrations of the goddesses that came with each chapter and act 🤩
Gia was such an easy character to root for and I loved following her journey. She really went through a lot in her life and while I really loved the feminine rage in this book, I was getting so mad too! The way that Gia and the other women were treated in this book was horrific. The book could get pretty violent, particularly with the behaviour of the men which was often brutal and disgusting. There was also a few sad scenes which were a hard read 😫
The romance in this book was really sweet and there were some really amazing scenes. It was great to read Gia discovering then coming to terms with her sexuality. Her and Claudia were really cute together! Both are such strong characters and I loved how open they could be with each other when they got closer.
A standout to me was Gia and Cyrus’s friendship. While there were ups and downs it was sweet to see someone else rooting for her. I did find some of the modern speech it a bit surprising but the book is set in an alternate Rome history. Also I only just found out after I finished that this is the first in a duology! That made me laugh considering the theories I had but I was happy with it and I’m curious about the next book!
Thank you so much to @pridebooktours for having me on the tour and for the early copy!
The book is a sapphic feminist romantasy set in Ancient Rome which sounded so cool to me and it was so easy to read! 🏛️ The book was mainly told from Gia’s pov but there are some chapters told from the goddesses povs which I found really interesting! I was really happy to see that this book had chapter names! The book also has illustrations of the goddesses that came with each chapter and act 🤩
Gia was such an easy character to root for and I loved following her journey. She really went through a lot in her life and while I really loved the feminine rage in this book, I was getting so mad too! The way that Gia and the other women were treated in this book was horrific. The book could get pretty violent, particularly with the behaviour of the men which was often brutal and disgusting. There was also a few sad scenes which were a hard read 😫
The romance in this book was really sweet and there were some really amazing scenes. It was great to read Gia discovering then coming to terms with her sexuality. Her and Claudia were really cute together! Both are such strong characters and I loved how open they could be with each other when they got closer.
A standout to me was Gia and Cyrus’s friendship. While there were ups and downs it was sweet to see someone else rooting for her. I did find some of the modern speech it a bit surprising but the book is set in an alternate Rome history. Also I only just found out after I finished that this is the first in a duology! That made me laugh considering the theories I had but I was happy with it and I’m curious about the next book!
October 2, 2025
Thank you to Pride Book Tours and Gallery YA for the finished copy, it hasn’t affected my honest review.
TW: death, violence, references to sexual assault, blood, gore, animal cruelty
The Roman goddesses have grown tired of the way that the male gods rule things. In order to change things, they decide to back an impossible young woman in her goal to be recognised. Since she was a child, Gia has wanted to be a gladiator in the arena of Pompeii. However, there’s no such thing as a woman gladiator- and the men of the city have made that very clear. After the loss of her brothers, and her mother sinking further into alcoholism, Gia is forced to consider terrible actions to keep her family on their feet. When she’s offered the chance to be the first female gladiator in Pompeii, she jumps at the chance to train. As her star begins to rise, Gia gains the attention and favour of the beautiful Claudia, the daughter of the Emperor. The more famous Gia gets, the more her life is under threat, and things are complicated more by the growing feelings the girls have for each other. The goddesses never planned for Gia to fall in love, especially not with Vesuvius rumbling in the distance and the entire Empire under threat through conspiracy.
This is a gorgeous sapphic debut romantasy, set in the vibrant and brutal world of the ancient Roman gladiatorial arena, complete with interfering goddesses, a society unprepared for women to fight and a main character who strives to change the world. I really liked the character of Gia and her determination to make her own choices, especially because so much was working against her. She’s grieving and terrified of what might happen to her and her mother, which I found really well written. Her gradual acceptance of her sexuality and attraction to Claudia were beautiful and heartfelt as she never realised that it was an option. However, Gia can’t entirely trust Claudia either because there’s always the risk that she’s just being used; the tension and emotion in their scenes felt very real, especially as they become closer. I loved how the goddesses Minerva, Venus, Diana and Fortuna were involved and influenced things; the brief chapters we got at the start of each section from their perspectives were some of my favourites. ‘Gladiator, Goddess’ is the first in a duology but this one wraps up really well so I’m interested to see how it’ll go in the future.
TW: death, violence, references to sexual assault, blood, gore, animal cruelty
The Roman goddesses have grown tired of the way that the male gods rule things. In order to change things, they decide to back an impossible young woman in her goal to be recognised. Since she was a child, Gia has wanted to be a gladiator in the arena of Pompeii. However, there’s no such thing as a woman gladiator- and the men of the city have made that very clear. After the loss of her brothers, and her mother sinking further into alcoholism, Gia is forced to consider terrible actions to keep her family on their feet. When she’s offered the chance to be the first female gladiator in Pompeii, she jumps at the chance to train. As her star begins to rise, Gia gains the attention and favour of the beautiful Claudia, the daughter of the Emperor. The more famous Gia gets, the more her life is under threat, and things are complicated more by the growing feelings the girls have for each other. The goddesses never planned for Gia to fall in love, especially not with Vesuvius rumbling in the distance and the entire Empire under threat through conspiracy.
This is a gorgeous sapphic debut romantasy, set in the vibrant and brutal world of the ancient Roman gladiatorial arena, complete with interfering goddesses, a society unprepared for women to fight and a main character who strives to change the world. I really liked the character of Gia and her determination to make her own choices, especially because so much was working against her. She’s grieving and terrified of what might happen to her and her mother, which I found really well written. Her gradual acceptance of her sexuality and attraction to Claudia were beautiful and heartfelt as she never realised that it was an option. However, Gia can’t entirely trust Claudia either because there’s always the risk that she’s just being used; the tension and emotion in their scenes felt very real, especially as they become closer. I loved how the goddesses Minerva, Venus, Diana and Fortuna were involved and influenced things; the brief chapters we got at the start of each section from their perspectives were some of my favourites. ‘Gladiator, Goddess’ is the first in a duology but this one wraps up really well so I’m interested to see how it’ll go in the future.
September 28, 2025
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
GLADIATOR, GODDESS is a fun Roman-set romantasy.
After several years of Ancient Greek books being all the rage (which doesn't show any signs of slowing!), this year has brought two YA fantasies set in Ancient Pompeii. This one is based around gladiators (as the name suggests!) and is a sapphic romantasy full of feminine rage.
The book is told from Gia's perspective, though each act has a chapter from the goddesses' perspectives, showing what's happening in their world - and how they're trying to pull the girls together. The four in question are Minerva, Venus, Diana, and Fortuna. I really liked the inclusion of Fortuna as she's so often sidelined or not mentioned in favour of the major gods.
I liked the journey to pair go on to discover their attraction. Gia hasn't thought about liking girls - or realised it's an option - and instead just knows she does not like the boys she's had to deal with (and they are very much "lads" in the worst possible way.) But at the same time, she's not sure how much she can trust Princess Claudia as much as she would like to. Claudia has the power and Gia's mentor has pointed out just how expendable Gia is. I do like it when power imbalances are acknowledged in relationships because it's not something that should be ignored.
This is very much an "alternative history" fantasy. This is not how history actually played out, for all that there are many highly accurate elements to the setting. It is an interesting combination - great reality in the city but not the plot (not to mention the many anachronisms in their speech, which was very jarring at times.) I basically ended up deciding to treat it as a Roman setting with a fantasy plot so I didn't keep going "wait, what?"
This is the start of a duology but I quite liked that it didn't end on the classic duology cliffhanger. Both the plot and the romance come to a satisfying conclusion, though it is clear what the main challenge of the second book will be. I am very intrigued to see what this is going to mean for the future of Rome.
GLADIATOR, GODDESS is a fun Roman-set romantasy.
After several years of Ancient Greek books being all the rage (which doesn't show any signs of slowing!), this year has brought two YA fantasies set in Ancient Pompeii. This one is based around gladiators (as the name suggests!) and is a sapphic romantasy full of feminine rage.
The book is told from Gia's perspective, though each act has a chapter from the goddesses' perspectives, showing what's happening in their world - and how they're trying to pull the girls together. The four in question are Minerva, Venus, Diana, and Fortuna. I really liked the inclusion of Fortuna as she's so often sidelined or not mentioned in favour of the major gods.
I liked the journey to pair go on to discover their attraction. Gia hasn't thought about liking girls - or realised it's an option - and instead just knows she does not like the boys she's had to deal with (and they are very much "lads" in the worst possible way.) But at the same time, she's not sure how much she can trust Princess Claudia as much as she would like to. Claudia has the power and Gia's mentor has pointed out just how expendable Gia is. I do like it when power imbalances are acknowledged in relationships because it's not something that should be ignored.
This is very much an "alternative history" fantasy. This is not how history actually played out, for all that there are many highly accurate elements to the setting. It is an interesting combination - great reality in the city but not the plot (not to mention the many anachronisms in their speech, which was very jarring at times.) I basically ended up deciding to treat it as a Roman setting with a fantasy plot so I didn't keep going "wait, what?"
This is the start of a duology but I quite liked that it didn't end on the classic duology cliffhanger. Both the plot and the romance come to a satisfying conclusion, though it is clear what the main challenge of the second book will be. I am very intrigued to see what this is going to mean for the future of Rome.
November 28, 2025
This is SUCH a good book, this book is literally my roman empire. I have basically zero prior knowledge on the roman empire, and I was still able to thoroughly enjoy this book, follow everything and understand everything I needed to, although I do think people who have knowledge of the roman empire would have an even better experience than me, like I LOVED this book, so for roman empire fans (?) or people who are interested in it? They could honestly explode, I truly wouldn’t be surprised, it is SO good.
I loved the Goddess chapters (?) inserts (?) those parts. They came in at really good points that didn’t disrupt the flow of the story, but added to it. I did keep forgetting who was god/goddess of what, but again that’s most likely my fault for not knowing anything anyway. They did all sound really pretty though, and I liked how their world (?) land (?) each home was described and how grand and magic it felt to read, everything was described to sound so big in their world, it was really good world building.
I also liked the world building of the actual world, earth, Pompeii. Once I finished reading my kindle copy, I bought a physical copy and immediately saw the map, and it was exactly as i’d pictured in my head while reading, and that’s how you know it’s well described.
Obviously the characters were also amazing, I like how besides the obvious one, the ‘evil’ characters weren’t like the worst people in the world? Like they were a realistic amount of rude / disgusting / disrespectful people (may as well say men let’s be honest) it wasn’t like overly exaggerated or extreme how bad they were, besides the obvious)
With the other characters, I loved the family they built, the trust and respect they had, how they bonded together, like yes other books have found family, but this one you could really tell the familial love that was there.
The romance was also BEAUTIFUL, pure chefs kiss. I love how they were both so nervous and apprehensive at first, because of the time and lack of education on queer love, they clearly didn’t know what they were doing, and I loved going on that journey with them. I loved how their first time was a positive experience, they talked it through, they were one together, and I just loved it all, like I do not have the words to describe how good and wonderful the romance was in this book, like I have read a lot of sapphic romances, and somehow this one was different and I really enjoyed it.
I can’t wait for the second book, I promise I loved the storyline too, i’ve just ran out of room.
I loved the Goddess chapters (?) inserts (?) those parts. They came in at really good points that didn’t disrupt the flow of the story, but added to it. I did keep forgetting who was god/goddess of what, but again that’s most likely my fault for not knowing anything anyway. They did all sound really pretty though, and I liked how their world (?) land (?) each home was described and how grand and magic it felt to read, everything was described to sound so big in their world, it was really good world building.
I also liked the world building of the actual world, earth, Pompeii. Once I finished reading my kindle copy, I bought a physical copy and immediately saw the map, and it was exactly as i’d pictured in my head while reading, and that’s how you know it’s well described.
Obviously the characters were also amazing, I like how besides the obvious one, the ‘evil’ characters weren’t like the worst people in the world? Like they were a realistic amount of rude / disgusting / disrespectful people (may as well say men let’s be honest) it wasn’t like overly exaggerated or extreme how bad they were, besides the obvious)
With the other characters, I loved the family they built, the trust and respect they had, how they bonded together, like yes other books have found family, but this one you could really tell the familial love that was there.
The romance was also BEAUTIFUL, pure chefs kiss. I love how they were both so nervous and apprehensive at first, because of the time and lack of education on queer love, they clearly didn’t know what they were doing, and I loved going on that journey with them. I loved how their first time was a positive experience, they talked it through, they were one together, and I just loved it all, like I do not have the words to describe how good and wonderful the romance was in this book, like I have read a lot of sapphic romances, and somehow this one was different and I really enjoyed it.
I can’t wait for the second book, I promise I loved the storyline too, i’ve just ran out of room.
December 16, 2025
*4.5 stars*
*Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing a digital copy to review*
Female gladiators, sapphic romance, the Roman gods creating problems & it’s set in Pompeii! If you love all these things, then, like me, you’ll just adore this story.
I love Greek/Roman myth; we know this, and I especially love seeing the gods having a stake in the lives of humans. The story isn’t very ‘god heavy’ if that makes sense. There are chapters dotted throughout the book that show Venus, Minerva, Diana & Fortuna discussing and plotting with most of the story focusing on our FMC, Gia.
She’s a “not like the other girls” kind of FMC, but I love her. There’s been a lot of tragedy in her life, and I just loved seeing her do something she’s been wanting to do since she was a child, beating men up for sport. Love that for her. Of course, being a gladiator, you run the risk of death, but ignorance is bliss.
I did enjoy the buildup of Gia & Claudia’s relationship. It starts off as enemies to lovers, and there is great tension between the two. However, it did feel a bit sudden when their relationship went to the next level.
I feel like ancient Rome is an overused setting, so I loved how this story is set in Pompeii during an event that is pretty well known. I love how the actions of the gods are used to explain why this devastating event happened, and I just love the blend of historical and fantasy.
Also, the ending! It was so mysterious and so perfect.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing a digital copy to review*
Female gladiators, sapphic romance, the Roman gods creating problems & it’s set in Pompeii! If you love all these things, then, like me, you’ll just adore this story.
I love Greek/Roman myth; we know this, and I especially love seeing the gods having a stake in the lives of humans. The story isn’t very ‘god heavy’ if that makes sense. There are chapters dotted throughout the book that show Venus, Minerva, Diana & Fortuna discussing and plotting with most of the story focusing on our FMC, Gia.
She’s a “not like the other girls” kind of FMC, but I love her. There’s been a lot of tragedy in her life, and I just loved seeing her do something she’s been wanting to do since she was a child, beating men up for sport. Love that for her. Of course, being a gladiator, you run the risk of death, but ignorance is bliss.
I did enjoy the buildup of Gia & Claudia’s relationship. It starts off as enemies to lovers, and there is great tension between the two. However, it did feel a bit sudden when their relationship went to the next level.
I feel like ancient Rome is an overused setting, so I loved how this story is set in Pompeii during an event that is pretty well known. I love how the actions of the gods are used to explain why this devastating event happened, and I just love the blend of historical and fantasy.
Also, the ending! It was so mysterious and so perfect.
January 7, 2026
My Roman Empire is queer books set in the Roman Empire.
The first female gladiator and a princess who wants to be the first empress of Rome. Scheming Goddesses who are trying to influence destiny. Sapphic love. Set in Pompeii in year 79. What could go wrong?
I absolutely adored this. The plot, the romance, the setting. Girls fighting back against the patriarchy
The first female gladiator and a princess who wants to be the first empress of Rome. Scheming Goddesses who are trying to influence destiny. Sapphic love. Set in Pompeii in year 79. What could go wrong?
I absolutely adored this. The plot, the romance, the setting. Girls fighting back against the patriarchy
October 25, 2025
3.5⭐️
This could have been so much more.
This could have been so much more.
Read
January 12, 2026this was really bad 😭😭😭 not the shout out to bad girls in the acknowledgments 😭😭😭
November 5, 2025
“no, i…i like men”
“so do i…love the men” 💀💀DEAD DYING DECEASED
AHHH I LOVED THAT SO MUCH it was such a perfect blend of historical fiction, a beautiful sapphic love story and an integration of roman history and mythology AH IT WAS FANTASTIC.
i think the distrust between the rich and common people was explored really well as well as the disconnect that claudia had just due to her upbringing was done really because you kinda wanted to be mad at her for not being aware and living life in a lavish way but also it’s not her fault and she was at least TRYING to do better for the women of rome and i loved that. continuing on from that sentence but i just love stories that explore the women of ancient rome as i think those stories have obviously been erased throughout history and they’re only now coming to light and this one was absolutely beautiful to read because even tho yes most of it was fiction, there’s a high probability that there was a young girl exactly like gia and i really love that.
CHAPTER 18 WAS LIFE CHANGING GOD DAMNNNNNNNN i don’t want to say too much for spoilers but HEHEHEHEHEHE I WAS BLUSHING🤭
“so do i…love the men” 💀💀DEAD DYING DECEASED
AHHH I LOVED THAT SO MUCH it was such a perfect blend of historical fiction, a beautiful sapphic love story and an integration of roman history and mythology AH IT WAS FANTASTIC.
i think the distrust between the rich and common people was explored really well as well as the disconnect that claudia had just due to her upbringing was done really because you kinda wanted to be mad at her for not being aware and living life in a lavish way but also it’s not her fault and she was at least TRYING to do better for the women of rome and i loved that. continuing on from that sentence but i just love stories that explore the women of ancient rome as i think those stories have obviously been erased throughout history and they’re only now coming to light and this one was absolutely beautiful to read because even tho yes most of it was fiction, there’s a high probability that there was a young girl exactly like gia and i really love that.
CHAPTER 18 WAS LIFE CHANGING GOD DAMNNNNNNNN i don’t want to say too much for spoilers but HEHEHEHEHEHE I WAS BLUSHING🤭
October 9, 2025
I was gifted this advanced readers copy by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I heard that this was a sapphic romantasy set in Ancient Rome following a female gladiator… I couldn’t say no!
Gia is like all my favourite female wrestlers, strong FMC’s and the warrior that I always aim to be rolled into one.
I loved the involvement of the goddesses and the input of their story alongside Gia and Claudia’s story too.
This book was full of ups and downs, loss and love and it kept me on the edge of my seat! It did start off a bit slow for me, but once the pace picked up, I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. I loved it!
When I heard that this was a sapphic romantasy set in Ancient Rome following a female gladiator… I couldn’t say no!
Gia is like all my favourite female wrestlers, strong FMC’s and the warrior that I always aim to be rolled into one.
I loved the involvement of the goddesses and the input of their story alongside Gia and Claudia’s story too.
This book was full of ups and downs, loss and love and it kept me on the edge of my seat! It did start off a bit slow for me, but once the pace picked up, I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. I loved it!
September 20, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for a ARC of this book!
Conceptually, this should have been everything I like in historical fantasy, but unfortunately this fell short.
The setting was well described, and the main point I liked about this, but I found the character development to be lacking. Also, the amount of common modern slang phrases really threw me off, and took me out of the story completely.
Conceptually, this should have been everything I like in historical fantasy, but unfortunately this fell short.
The setting was well described, and the main point I liked about this, but I found the character development to be lacking. Also, the amount of common modern slang phrases really threw me off, and took me out of the story completely.
October 5, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up
To start, I am so thankful for the NetGalley email recommending this novel to me, because otherwise I would have had no idea about its existence and what a tragedy that would have been. I loved reading Gladiator, Goddess, and devoured it in one go, late at night. It is so funny, witty and enthralling, I simply could not put it down and will need to get my hands on one of the gorgeous, finished copies of it.¨
I am currently quite sick and sleep deprived, so I am struggling to put my thoughts into words sensibly, but due to the closely impending release date and my personal love for the story, I felt I could not delay this review any longer. So please, bear with me here.
Gladiator, Goddess is the story of a girl, Gia, that dreams of becoming a gladiator as a child in Pompeii, but has grown up to let go of these impossible–seeming dreams when the opportunity to train to be Rome’s first female gladiator presents itself to her. She gets trapped in the plots of gods and politics, yet this may not be as bad as it seems as her new position also entwines her fate with that of the princess of Rome, Claudia.
I have enjoyed my fair share of varying–levels–of–accurate tales of Roman mythology and ancient Rome since I was a kid and I continue coming back to these stories. Each time, I find something new to love, as is the case with Gladiator, Goddess. Right away, I fell for its rich worldbuilding of myths and history entwined. On top of that, I enjoyed its wide cast of complex characters that you could not simply love or hate, but mostly both. And the romance! It is so beautiful, and I love to see sapphic love portrayed so unapologetically in the center of a story.
While this novel felt quite contemporary in its tone at times despite being set 2,000 years ago, I personally found that quite fitting. At the end of the day, this is a fantasy story. It is a reimagining; it is not supposed to resemble real history but imagine what things could have been. Additionally, for a YA novel, it is important to be able to connect with its young audience. While I may not be the intended audience age wise, I felt as though the choice of a more contemporary tone did help me feel connected with the story easier.
Overall, Gladiator, Goddess was an extremely positive reading experience for me, and I will definitely be picking up a copy once it is officially released.
Lastly, thank you Simon and Schuster UK Children's | Gallery YA and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
To start, I am so thankful for the NetGalley email recommending this novel to me, because otherwise I would have had no idea about its existence and what a tragedy that would have been. I loved reading Gladiator, Goddess, and devoured it in one go, late at night. It is so funny, witty and enthralling, I simply could not put it down and will need to get my hands on one of the gorgeous, finished copies of it.¨
I am currently quite sick and sleep deprived, so I am struggling to put my thoughts into words sensibly, but due to the closely impending release date and my personal love for the story, I felt I could not delay this review any longer. So please, bear with me here.
Gladiator, Goddess is the story of a girl, Gia, that dreams of becoming a gladiator as a child in Pompeii, but has grown up to let go of these impossible–seeming dreams when the opportunity to train to be Rome’s first female gladiator presents itself to her. She gets trapped in the plots of gods and politics, yet this may not be as bad as it seems as her new position also entwines her fate with that of the princess of Rome, Claudia.
I have enjoyed my fair share of varying–levels–of–accurate tales of Roman mythology and ancient Rome since I was a kid and I continue coming back to these stories. Each time, I find something new to love, as is the case with Gladiator, Goddess. Right away, I fell for its rich worldbuilding of myths and history entwined. On top of that, I enjoyed its wide cast of complex characters that you could not simply love or hate, but mostly both. And the romance! It is so beautiful, and I love to see sapphic love portrayed so unapologetically in the center of a story.
While this novel felt quite contemporary in its tone at times despite being set 2,000 years ago, I personally found that quite fitting. At the end of the day, this is a fantasy story. It is a reimagining; it is not supposed to resemble real history but imagine what things could have been. Additionally, for a YA novel, it is important to be able to connect with its young audience. While I may not be the intended audience age wise, I felt as though the choice of a more contemporary tone did help me feel connected with the story easier.
Overall, Gladiator, Goddess was an extremely positive reading experience for me, and I will definitely be picking up a copy once it is officially released.
Lastly, thank you Simon and Schuster UK Children's | Gallery YA and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 18, 2025
J’ai vraiment beaucoup aimé Gladiator Goddess !
Même si l’intrigue n’a rien d’original, surtout lorsqu’on a vu Gladiator et Gladiator II de Ridley Scott à sa sortie au cinéma l’année dernière, le côté féministe de l’intrigue lui donne un aspect très appréciable et presque novateur. La romance saphique est aussi un plus, même si je n’ai pas été entièrement convaincue par celle-ci, que j’ai trouvé soudaine et superficielle, malgré un bon dynamisme entre les protagonistes.
J’ai principalement aimé l’intrigue de Gia, qui devient la première femme gladiateur. C’est une protagoniste appréciable. Les personnages secondaires sont aussi très bien écrits, on se prend à détester Decimus ou Fabius, et à l’inverse à adore Cyrus. Les entraînements et différents combats sont assez exaltants. Le roman a un rythme soutenu, avec beaucoup d’action et des rebondissements, ce qui en fait un véritable pageturner. L’intrigue de la prophétie des déesses et le coup d’état de Claudia sont tout aussi intéressants à suivre, et permettent leur propre lot de rebondissements. Les différentes sous-intrigues se mêlent parfaitement au service de l’intrigue principale, et l’ensemble est homogène.
J’ai trouvé la fiction historique particulièrement bien écrite. Que l’éruption du Vésuve soit reliée à la colère divine et aux changements d’Empereur sur Terre fonctionne parfaitement bien. La manière dont histoire et fiction se mêlent dans ce roman est intelligente. Le côté féministe de l’histoire est introduit de manière parfaitement réaliste dans l’époque dans laquelle se déroule l’histoire.
La plume de l’autrice est simple et appréciable. Les scènes de combat sont compréhensives et cinématographiques, la caractérisation des personnages est bien faite, les dialogues sont réalistes.
Même s’il ne s’agit pas du meilleur roman que j’ai lu, j’ai passé un excellent moment. Et je le recommande chaudement. La conclusion me parait suffisante, mais je lirai une suite si elle existe. Gladiator Goddess est très prometteur et a tout d’un best-seller.
Même si l’intrigue n’a rien d’original, surtout lorsqu’on a vu Gladiator et Gladiator II de Ridley Scott à sa sortie au cinéma l’année dernière, le côté féministe de l’intrigue lui donne un aspect très appréciable et presque novateur. La romance saphique est aussi un plus, même si je n’ai pas été entièrement convaincue par celle-ci, que j’ai trouvé soudaine et superficielle, malgré un bon dynamisme entre les protagonistes.
J’ai principalement aimé l’intrigue de Gia, qui devient la première femme gladiateur. C’est une protagoniste appréciable. Les personnages secondaires sont aussi très bien écrits, on se prend à détester Decimus ou Fabius, et à l’inverse à adore Cyrus. Les entraînements et différents combats sont assez exaltants. Le roman a un rythme soutenu, avec beaucoup d’action et des rebondissements, ce qui en fait un véritable pageturner. L’intrigue de la prophétie des déesses et le coup d’état de Claudia sont tout aussi intéressants à suivre, et permettent leur propre lot de rebondissements. Les différentes sous-intrigues se mêlent parfaitement au service de l’intrigue principale, et l’ensemble est homogène.
J’ai trouvé la fiction historique particulièrement bien écrite. Que l’éruption du Vésuve soit reliée à la colère divine et aux changements d’Empereur sur Terre fonctionne parfaitement bien. La manière dont histoire et fiction se mêlent dans ce roman est intelligente. Le côté féministe de l’histoire est introduit de manière parfaitement réaliste dans l’époque dans laquelle se déroule l’histoire.
La plume de l’autrice est simple et appréciable. Les scènes de combat sont compréhensives et cinématographiques, la caractérisation des personnages est bien faite, les dialogues sont réalistes.
Même s’il ne s’agit pas du meilleur roman que j’ai lu, j’ai passé un excellent moment. Et je le recommande chaudement. La conclusion me parait suffisante, mais je lirai une suite si elle existe. Gladiator Goddess est très prometteur et a tout d’un best-seller.
November 24, 2025
Thank you to the author and publisher for a copy of this book! This has not influenced my review and all opinions are my own.
This book made my little gay heart happy!!! As a bi woman, queer representation is so incredibly important to me. Unfortunately there is very few sapphic historical fiction novels, but fortunately, this is one of them! I absolutely adored Gia from the beginning, and some of her traits felt like my own. I too am stubborn and wish to be an inconvenience to men. The exploration of sexuality within this book really had me emotional. I remember experiencing my first feelings for a woman, and that confusion and the guilt. So this perspective was so incredibly important to me and I’m just so thankful for the representation. I strive to be an absolute terror to the patriarchy and I loved how Gia and Claudia strived to be independent. The setting for this was stunning and I really loved how the author built up the difference scenes. This book was so incredibly easy to read, I finished it in just over a day cause I just did not want to put it down. It’s digestible and entertaining and just very consistent with the plot.
This book is gay, shocking and entertaining all at once. And I loved it.
Rating: 5/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
This book made my little gay heart happy!!! As a bi woman, queer representation is so incredibly important to me. Unfortunately there is very few sapphic historical fiction novels, but fortunately, this is one of them! I absolutely adored Gia from the beginning, and some of her traits felt like my own. I too am stubborn and wish to be an inconvenience to men. The exploration of sexuality within this book really had me emotional. I remember experiencing my first feelings for a woman, and that confusion and the guilt. So this perspective was so incredibly important to me and I’m just so thankful for the representation. I strive to be an absolute terror to the patriarchy and I loved how Gia and Claudia strived to be independent. The setting for this was stunning and I really loved how the author built up the difference scenes. This book was so incredibly easy to read, I finished it in just over a day cause I just did not want to put it down. It’s digestible and entertaining and just very consistent with the plot.
This book is gay, shocking and entertaining all at once. And I loved it.
Rating: 5/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
January 13, 2026
As a kid who grew up playing sports, Gladiator, Goddess hit me in a way I didn't expect but deeply needed. Owens captures the visceral thrill of competition with the same intensity I felt chasing personal bests and fighting for positions. The gladiatorial arena feels familiar, not because of the swords and sand, but because of the pressure, discipline, and hunger to prove yourself in a world that's always watching. A world constantly judging your body, your strength, and your worth.
The relationships in Gladiator, Goddess feel earned, built through trust, shared pain, and mutual respect. What made this book especially powerful for me was its queerness woven naturally into the world portrayed. There's something profoundly affirming about seeing sapphic desire portrayed as strong and sacred rather than soft and sidelined.
Ultimately, Gladiator, Goddess feels like a reclamation of power for those who live their life unapologetically. It honors strength without stripping away tenderness, and it celebrates sapphic women who refuse to make themselves smaller just to survive. For anyone who grew up with scraped knees, sore muscles, and a heart that beat for the win and women, this book feels like coming home.
The relationships in Gladiator, Goddess feel earned, built through trust, shared pain, and mutual respect. What made this book especially powerful for me was its queerness woven naturally into the world portrayed. There's something profoundly affirming about seeing sapphic desire portrayed as strong and sacred rather than soft and sidelined.
Ultimately, Gladiator, Goddess feels like a reclamation of power for those who live their life unapologetically. It honors strength without stripping away tenderness, and it celebrates sapphic women who refuse to make themselves smaller just to survive. For anyone who grew up with scraped knees, sore muscles, and a heart that beat for the win and women, this book feels like coming home.
October 19, 2025
This is a sapphic feminist romantasy set in Ancient Rome. I really liked Gia's character and I thought she had brilliant character development and I was routing for her the whole book! She went through so much and all I wanted to do was give her a hug! I did feel the female presenting people are treated so harshly in this book, but that was how it was in ancient times sadly. Some parts are very violent and sad but I feel the author wrote it in such a way where it worked! It did not seem like it was over the top and it added to the story quite well.
I really loved the tension when Gia and Claudia first meet! It really made me wonder where the story would go!
I really enjoyed the writing and even though there is modern day language spoken I feel it fits quite well into this book. I did like Cyrus too, I found the friendship they had with Gia was perfect, it showed that friends have their ups and downs and it was nice to see someone wanting it to all work out for Gia too. The action scenes were intense and I found myself unable to put this down.
Thank you @pridebooktours @sailor.crossing @gallerybooks @simonyabooks @simonschusteruk for having me on this tour!
I really loved the tension when Gia and Claudia first meet! It really made me wonder where the story would go!
I really enjoyed the writing and even though there is modern day language spoken I feel it fits quite well into this book. I did like Cyrus too, I found the friendship they had with Gia was perfect, it showed that friends have their ups and downs and it was nice to see someone wanting it to all work out for Gia too. The action scenes were intense and I found myself unable to put this down.
Thank you @pridebooktours @sailor.crossing @gallerybooks @simonyabooks @simonschusteruk for having me on this tour!
November 24, 2025
I really wanted to love this book, but I don't think it was executed that well. The writing is funny at times, and I honestly don't mind the run-on sentences (I'm guilty of that too LOL), but historically, it feels very inaccurate. Even though it's a fantasy, the use of contemporary slang and other anachronisms still take away from the interesting setting.
Romance-wise, I can appreciate trying to build tension, but having them almost talk about their feelings and then be interrupted is fun if it happens once, maybe twice, and it felt more like 10 times. I was a little disappointed by how little actually happened 'on-screen' after all that buildup. It was sweet though, and I love the masc/fem lesbian vibes. I also enjoyed the fantasy/mythology element (especially Diana, the patron goddess of butch lesbians) but felt that this could have been explored more.
All in all, it was still engaging for the most part, and I'm giving it an extra star because it's sapphic and I would love to see more things like this. Oh, and if there's ever a sequel, please let Gia cut her hair!
Romance-wise, I can appreciate trying to build tension, but having them almost talk about their feelings and then be interrupted is fun if it happens once, maybe twice, and it felt more like 10 times. I was a little disappointed by how little actually happened 'on-screen' after all that buildup. It was sweet though, and I love the masc/fem lesbian vibes. I also enjoyed the fantasy/mythology element (especially Diana, the patron goddess of butch lesbians) but felt that this could have been explored more.
All in all, it was still engaging for the most part, and I'm giving it an extra star because it's sapphic and I would love to see more things like this. Oh, and if there's ever a sequel, please let Gia cut her hair!
January 9, 2026
CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED!!
This book is amazing 10/10 this book was a page turner from page 1. From the strong female lead to the theme of empowerment to women to getting a real concept of Ancient Rome, this book inspired me entertained me and had me enthralled like no other. Not to mention the strong sapphic storyline that tied the whole book together. I just loved roles the gods and goddesses played in this book. I can’t express enough how much this book entranced me, it painted such a vivid picture in my mind and every page was entertaining and brought something new. I felt a strong connection to the protagonist, gia and got attached to a lot of the characters throughout the book which I was very impressed by.
I 100% recommend this book if you are looking for something entertaining adventurous girl power sapphic Ancient Greece vibes.
This book is amazing 10/10 this book was a page turner from page 1. From the strong female lead to the theme of empowerment to women to getting a real concept of Ancient Rome, this book inspired me entertained me and had me enthralled like no other. Not to mention the strong sapphic storyline that tied the whole book together. I just loved roles the gods and goddesses played in this book. I can’t express enough how much this book entranced me, it painted such a vivid picture in my mind and every page was entertaining and brought something new. I felt a strong connection to the protagonist, gia and got attached to a lot of the characters throughout the book which I was very impressed by.
I 100% recommend this book if you are looking for something entertaining adventurous girl power sapphic Ancient Greece vibes.
October 12, 2025
Gladiator Goddess is at turns both sweet and thrilling. The plot moves along at a brisk pace, knowing when to slow down for the more tender moments yet never breaking its stride. I couldn't put this book down as we move from edge-of-your-seat gladiator battles to shadowy plots to overthrow the emperor. Both the political machinations and the action were enthralling.
I really loved the romance between Claudia and Gia; how it progresses from something uncertain but tender to full of heartbreaking yearning. Their relationship alone would warrant five stars!
I really loved the romance between Claudia and Gia; how it progresses from something uncertain but tender to full of heartbreaking yearning. Their relationship alone would warrant five stars!
November 17, 2025
You know when you read the first chapter of a book and you can tell already it's going to be a book you'll end up loving? That was me with Gladiator Goddess...
(I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review!)
I love books set in ancient times - whilst l've read a lot based in ancient Greece, l've only read before a series once based in Ancient Rome, so I am loving this is set in Pompeii! The book has a really good pace, so when I do sit down and read, I fly through loads of the book at a time.
What else I love is yes this is a feminist based book, but the historical context is taken into account and is relevant. It's not just 'our most badass warrior is a woman, yay feminism' - it's all this, but Gia also has to contend with going against the tide and the box she's been shoved into just because of her gender. And then to make it queer too? Oh this book feels just so very perfect for me!
(I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review!)
I love books set in ancient times - whilst l've read a lot based in ancient Greece, l've only read before a series once based in Ancient Rome, so I am loving this is set in Pompeii! The book has a really good pace, so when I do sit down and read, I fly through loads of the book at a time.
What else I love is yes this is a feminist based book, but the historical context is taken into account and is relevant. It's not just 'our most badass warrior is a woman, yay feminism' - it's all this, but Gia also has to contend with going against the tide and the box she's been shoved into just because of her gender. And then to make it queer too? Oh this book feels just so very perfect for me!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews