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The Gladiator's Bride
Crippled by shyness, shunned for being not-right-in-the-head, gifted artist and Roman noblewoman, Marcia Mica, has only two people in the world who truly love her – her teacher, Daedalus, and her childhood friend, Asterion, both slaves in her father’s household. But when forbidden love blooms between the unlikely friends, only disaster can come of it. That disaster leaves Marcia horribly scarred and Asterion sold into the arena as a gladiator.
Years later, Daedalus brings a broken Marcia to Britannia, and Sabrina, the healer who saved his life when he was a boy, works miracles on the scarred girl. However, not all scars are physical and those Sabrina has no ability to heal.
When Sabrina and Marcia are kidnapped by a Celtic leader bent on revenge, Asterion must depend on the dreams of a Celtic Seer to find the love of his life and help foil a revolt that threatens the fragile peace in Roman Britannia. But even if he and his friends succeed, can scars that are more than just physical ever really be healed and can those whose lives are owned by others ever truly be free to follow their hearts?
Years later, Daedalus brings a broken Marcia to Britannia, and Sabrina, the healer who saved his life when he was a boy, works miracles on the scarred girl. However, not all scars are physical and those Sabrina has no ability to heal.
When Sabrina and Marcia are kidnapped by a Celtic leader bent on revenge, Asterion must depend on the dreams of a Celtic Seer to find the love of his life and help foil a revolt that threatens the fragile peace in Roman Britannia. But even if he and his friends succeed, can scars that are more than just physical ever really be healed and can those whose lives are owned by others ever truly be free to follow their hearts?
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2014
About the author
Nhys Glover
110 books79 followersNhys Glover is an Australian born award-winning author of over 75 romance novels. She is known for blending heart, heat, and a touch of the extraordinary in her stories. From time-traveling lovers to soul-deep polyamory connections, her work explores love in all its transformational forms.
Now living in Durham County UK, Nhys draws on her background in teaching and spiritual inquiry for inspiration in her writing. As she sits at her desk, staring out at the windy moors, she often reflects on what it means to stay human in an increasingly digital world. It is, after all, the subject of her newest book, a non-fiction called Authenticity, as Taught by a Machine.
But no matter the genre, Nhys is always chasing one thing: the truth at the heart of every story.
Now living in Durham County UK, Nhys draws on her background in teaching and spiritual inquiry for inspiration in her writing. As she sits at her desk, staring out at the windy moors, she often reflects on what it means to stay human in an increasingly digital world. It is, after all, the subject of her newest book, a non-fiction called Authenticity, as Taught by a Machine.
But no matter the genre, Nhys is always chasing one thing: the truth at the heart of every story.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 2, 2014
I LOVED IT! This historical romance has everything: Lust, love, action, adventure, mystery and even a little magic.
This is actually a double love story. While mainly focusing on Marcie and Asterion, Dath and Sabrina get their turn too. Nhys did an excellent job writing each character, and keeping them straight. (I have read books where it seems as if the author forgets which "voice" is which, but not in this book!)
I was drawn into the story from the very beginning. As the story went on, it kept evolving in a way that had me so eager to see what happened next! Nhys included so many details that I could actually imagine living as the characters lived back then.
I absolutely loved Asterion and Dath. They are so different from each other, and yet they both make fantastic heroes.
The love scenes, both physical and not, between Marcie and Asterion and Dath and Sabrina, respectively, are so moving. I was nearly brought to tears several times.
I just loved everything about this story!!!
I'm trying my best not to spoil anything, but let's just say that a widow, a fire, a dream and true love converge to make this one amazing historical romance, and I am now a HUGE fan of Nhys Glover!
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
This is actually a double love story. While mainly focusing on Marcie and Asterion, Dath and Sabrina get their turn too. Nhys did an excellent job writing each character, and keeping them straight. (I have read books where it seems as if the author forgets which "voice" is which, but not in this book!)
I was drawn into the story from the very beginning. As the story went on, it kept evolving in a way that had me so eager to see what happened next! Nhys included so many details that I could actually imagine living as the characters lived back then.
I absolutely loved Asterion and Dath. They are so different from each other, and yet they both make fantastic heroes.
The love scenes, both physical and not, between Marcie and Asterion and Dath and Sabrina, respectively, are so moving. I was nearly brought to tears several times.
I just loved everything about this story!!!
I'm trying my best not to spoil anything, but let's just say that a widow, a fire, a dream and true love converge to make this one amazing historical romance, and I am now a HUGE fan of Nhys Glover!
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
waiting-on-kindle-tbr
January 31, 2020FREE!!! RN 1/30/20 Kindle
February 20, 2020
I will start off by saying The Gladiator's Bride thoroughly surprised me. And in a good way.
When I first opened the book, I was immediately put off by a typo I found on the first page and the lack of quotation marks used for the dialogue. I almost stopped reading the book then and there. But after thinking about it, I decided to give it a chance. I'm glad that I did.
This book is unlike any romance novel I've ever read. I don't know if I would have labeled it as a romance novel. It does have romance in it, sure, but overall it's much more story driven. You're introduced to four different characters, whose lives end up intertwining with each other through out the story. Dathor starts out a boy sold into slavery by his older brother. Sabrina is a girl who has the power to heal others by touch. Marcie is the shy daughter of the noble with artistic talents. And Asterion is a slave boy with dreams of combat and battle.
As you read this book, you get to see each of these characters grow into adults. They each go through hardships and loss. They find love, only to have it slip through their fingers. This story pulls you in, and at times the book is very hard to stop reading. You just want to know what's going to happen!
This book is so well written. For what I assume is a self published book, it is truly amazing. Nhys Glover has a talent for story telling. You really fall in love with these characters. They feel real, and there are times in the book when I genuinely felt worried for them. With most romance novels, I can easily predict what was going to happen. This book? I was surprised not once, but twice!
If you're thinking about reading this book, you won't be disappointed. It is incredibly good, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves historical dramas.
When I first opened the book, I was immediately put off by a typo I found on the first page and the lack of quotation marks used for the dialogue. I almost stopped reading the book then and there. But after thinking about it, I decided to give it a chance. I'm glad that I did.
This book is unlike any romance novel I've ever read. I don't know if I would have labeled it as a romance novel. It does have romance in it, sure, but overall it's much more story driven. You're introduced to four different characters, whose lives end up intertwining with each other through out the story. Dathor starts out a boy sold into slavery by his older brother. Sabrina is a girl who has the power to heal others by touch. Marcie is the shy daughter of the noble with artistic talents. And Asterion is a slave boy with dreams of combat and battle.
As you read this book, you get to see each of these characters grow into adults. They each go through hardships and loss. They find love, only to have it slip through their fingers. This story pulls you in, and at times the book is very hard to stop reading. You just want to know what's going to happen!
This book is so well written. For what I assume is a self published book, it is truly amazing. Nhys Glover has a talent for story telling. You really fall in love with these characters. They feel real, and there are times in the book when I genuinely felt worried for them. With most romance novels, I can easily predict what was going to happen. This book? I was surprised not once, but twice!
If you're thinking about reading this book, you won't be disappointed. It is incredibly good, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves historical dramas.
August 21, 2016
For disclosure sake I'll say I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book. In no way did that, however, affect my honest review.
And honestly? This story was just...
MARVELOUS!!!
A Page Turner, full of twists and surprises.
I wished I were a fast reader, I wanted to know everything at once. The historical setting was so believable I felt I was there witnessing those lives unfold in person. I could see the harsh reality of that era and the differences between the classes and cultures as the action took me from one place to another along the Roman Empire.
I was deeply touched by these characters, right from the main ones to the most secondary ones.
The good guys I loved. The bad guys I loved to hate. And the ones in between were just right. They greatly enriched the plot and I couldn't help but like them too. All of them together took me on an emotional roller coaster from start to finish. Their anxieties, their dilemmas, their pain and disillusions. Their love and friendships. Through all those emotions that people came alive right before my eyes.
At the end I had a smile on my face and a new set of friends to cherish, fondly remember and revisit whenever the mood strikes.
And the good news? Most of those secondary characters I loved so much had their own stories told in other books already!
October 31, 2014
I received an advanced copy of The Gladiator's Bride in exchange for my honest review.
First off it was really well done. I have always liked how you incorporated multiple characters views into the story. It gave me insight into what they were thinking. I have read The Barbarian’s Mistress probably 7 or 8 times now and am in love with that story. I really liked how in The Gladiator’s Bride you added Vali into the story. I was hooked from the beginning. At every turn there was something different and I always wanted to know what everyone was thinking. I loved how you made Daedalus into a fatherly figure, even though he is older. I enjoyed watching both Sabrina and Marcia’s relationships develop. Overall this book was very well written. I hope there are more books like The Barbarian’s Mistress and The Gladiator’s Bride in the future.
First off it was really well done. I have always liked how you incorporated multiple characters views into the story. It gave me insight into what they were thinking. I have read The Barbarian’s Mistress probably 7 or 8 times now and am in love with that story. I really liked how in The Gladiator’s Bride you added Vali into the story. I was hooked from the beginning. At every turn there was something different and I always wanted to know what everyone was thinking. I loved how you made Daedalus into a fatherly figure, even though he is older. I enjoyed watching both Sabrina and Marcia’s relationships develop. Overall this book was very well written. I hope there are more books like The Barbarian’s Mistress and The Gladiator’s Bride in the future.
September 5, 2016
I absolutely loved this book! I haven't read a fiction novel set in this era before, and I was really impressed with this. The characters were fleshed out, human, and well-written. The author did a good job of staying historically accurate while delivering an exception fiction story.
February 8, 2016
Is a great book to read
March 16, 2025
Pulled me right from the start
I received this book for free so I haven't read any of the other books. I only knew about this one. It is a stand alone book so I don't think it mattered that I haven't read the others. I found the first part of the book very interesting. I just wanted to keep reading. Even though the story continues, as it should, very interesting and full of action, I had to skim a bit here and there once I got around the 60% mark, but I absolutely loved this story.
Outstanding actually.
I received this book for free so I haven't read any of the other books. I only knew about this one. It is a stand alone book so I don't think it mattered that I haven't read the others. I found the first part of the book very interesting. I just wanted to keep reading. Even though the story continues, as it should, very interesting and full of action, I had to skim a bit here and there once I got around the 60% mark, but I absolutely loved this story.
Outstanding actually.
May 29, 2019
Very well researched action thriller!
Great read for those interested in ancient Rome historical fiction. It is a love story beset with slavery, class, war, and tragedy, with a bit of fantasy on the side. There are a few sexual scenes with more detail than I prefer, but I was easily able to skip them; the story is not inundated with lust, so I didn't have to skip often. For the most part, it's a fun, edge-of-your-seat adventure that truly captures the imagination!
Great read for those interested in ancient Rome historical fiction. It is a love story beset with slavery, class, war, and tragedy, with a bit of fantasy on the side. There are a few sexual scenes with more detail than I prefer, but I was easily able to skip them; the story is not inundated with lust, so I didn't have to skip often. For the most part, it's a fun, edge-of-your-seat adventure that truly captures the imagination!
September 24, 2019
This one is not for me :(
Sorry, but the writing is just not my style. We jump back and forth in time and perspectives, we see one scene from three different people's view. You thought the story moves on and then you realise you're reading the same scene again from someone else's point of view. Gets boring and interrupts flow of story.
Sorry, but the writing is just not my style. We jump back and forth in time and perspectives, we see one scene from three different people's view. You thought the story moves on and then you realise you're reading the same scene again from someone else's point of view. Gets boring and interrupts flow of story.
August 7, 2022
Good historical romance during the conquering Roman army era. Depictions of slavery contrasted by examples of kindness of a few citizens.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews