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Daughter of the Rebellion
In this stirring historical romance by award-winning author Jamie Ogle, a young woman imprisoned in a Roman gladiator school becomes a legendary warrior. But when not even her fame is enough, she must fight to save herself and those she loves.
Rome, AD 403. As a loyal daughter of the Visigoth tribe, Adelgard followed her father to war, hoping to win back her family’s approval. But after a clash with the Roman army, Adel is captured and sold to a gladiator school. Now she is the most famous gladiatrix in Rome, determined to keep the fickle love of the crowd and never again rely on anyone but herself for her own security. But beneath the fame lies a darkness and pain that holds her captive.
Felix despises Rome’s fascination with violence. But after returning from medical training to discover his father missing and his family desperate, he had little choice but to accept a position at the gladiator school managed by his uncle. He finds a kindred spirit in Adel and does what he can to preserve the humanity of the rebel fighters, but when he receives orders that further compromise his beliefs, he arrives at a crossroads.
Then Telemachus, a Christian leader, approaches Felix with an urgent message: if the Visigoth captives are not released, their army will invade Rome. Despite the risk, the emperor is bent on proving his power through a stunning, deadly day of gladiatorial games. As Telemachus seeks to save the Visigoth fighters, Felix and Adel join forces in a desperate rebellion that may define not only their own lives but also the course of history.
A captivating Christian romance novel perfect for fans of Francine Rivers, Lynn Austin, and Angela Hunt. Great for book clubs who enjoy ancient historical fiction by Tessa Afshar, Stephanie Dray, and Kate Quinn. Weaves together themes of sacrifice, courage, surrender, and faith. Includes discussion questions.
Rome, AD 403. As a loyal daughter of the Visigoth tribe, Adelgard followed her father to war, hoping to win back her family’s approval. But after a clash with the Roman army, Adel is captured and sold to a gladiator school. Now she is the most famous gladiatrix in Rome, determined to keep the fickle love of the crowd and never again rely on anyone but herself for her own security. But beneath the fame lies a darkness and pain that holds her captive.
Felix despises Rome’s fascination with violence. But after returning from medical training to discover his father missing and his family desperate, he had little choice but to accept a position at the gladiator school managed by his uncle. He finds a kindred spirit in Adel and does what he can to preserve the humanity of the rebel fighters, but when he receives orders that further compromise his beliefs, he arrives at a crossroads.
Then Telemachus, a Christian leader, approaches Felix with an urgent message: if the Visigoth captives are not released, their army will invade Rome. Despite the risk, the emperor is bent on proving his power through a stunning, deadly day of gladiatorial games. As Telemachus seeks to save the Visigoth fighters, Felix and Adel join forces in a desperate rebellion that may define not only their own lives but also the course of history.
A captivating Christian romance novel perfect for fans of Francine Rivers, Lynn Austin, and Angela Hunt. Great for book clubs who enjoy ancient historical fiction by Tessa Afshar, Stephanie Dray, and Kate Quinn. Weaves together themes of sacrifice, courage, surrender, and faith. Includes discussion questions.
368 pages, Paperback
Published May 12, 2026
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November 12, 2025
This story is set in Rome in AD 403 and highlights Adelgard, a member of the Visigoth tribe, who becomes a war-daughter to win back the respect of her family. When life takes an unexpected twist during a battle, she finds herself in the Ludus Gallicus, a Gallic School for Gladiators, training to become the best to earn her freedom.
Things I appreciated:
💜the exploration concerning whether God’s presence can be felt in a place such as a gladiator school. Ogle introduces a Christian medicus who works in the ludus, as well as a monk, and both are instrumental to saving Adel, both physically and spiritually. Sometimes we find ourselves in places where we feel God is distant. Ogle reminds us that He is always with us.
💜the reminder that God often uses broken lives to save His people.
💜Ogle highlights redemption, forgiveness, and urges us to use grace and mercy instead of hatred and vengeance
💜To place our trust in what’s right because it will prevail in the end. It may not be easy, it’s always costly, but it’s never hopeless
💜We all struggle despite our outward appearance
💜Compassion is not weakness
💜Warning for us to be careful where we seek our worth
💜There’s value in seeing ourselves as God sees us
What I’ll remember most:
We can find ourselves in the same place as any Christian in that Colosseum. Just as they’d grown lax after a century of religious freedom, we too can experience unforeseen change. Circumstances change on a dime. Political climates change like the breeze. Will our convictions allow us to stand tall, or will we compromise to fit in? Wrong is wrong is wrong. Time won’t change God's opinion.
It was powerful to read about the push and pull created when Adel realizes that she’s always had to perform to earn her freedom as a fighter, a freedom that God freely blesses her with because she’s a valuable child of God.
I was gifted his copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Things I appreciated:
💜the exploration concerning whether God’s presence can be felt in a place such as a gladiator school. Ogle introduces a Christian medicus who works in the ludus, as well as a monk, and both are instrumental to saving Adel, both physically and spiritually. Sometimes we find ourselves in places where we feel God is distant. Ogle reminds us that He is always with us.
💜the reminder that God often uses broken lives to save His people.
💜Ogle highlights redemption, forgiveness, and urges us to use grace and mercy instead of hatred and vengeance
💜To place our trust in what’s right because it will prevail in the end. It may not be easy, it’s always costly, but it’s never hopeless
💜We all struggle despite our outward appearance
💜Compassion is not weakness
💜Warning for us to be careful where we seek our worth
💜There’s value in seeing ourselves as God sees us
What I’ll remember most:
We can find ourselves in the same place as any Christian in that Colosseum. Just as they’d grown lax after a century of religious freedom, we too can experience unforeseen change. Circumstances change on a dime. Political climates change like the breeze. Will our convictions allow us to stand tall, or will we compromise to fit in? Wrong is wrong is wrong. Time won’t change God's opinion.
It was powerful to read about the push and pull created when Adel realizes that she’s always had to perform to earn her freedom as a fighter, a freedom that God freely blesses her with because she’s a valuable child of God.
I was gifted his copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers |Tyndale Fiction for this ARC! All thoughts are my own!
🎉 Publication Date: 12th of May 2026 🎉
🤍 Tropes 🤍
⚔️ Gladiator Games
❤️🩹 Healer MMC
🗡️ Gladiatrix FMC
💔 Family Drama
✞Christian
🤍Clean Romance
⚠️ Warnings ⚠️
╰➤ Violence
╰➤ Injuries
╰➤ Death
╰➤ Murder
╰➤ Themes of Sexual Assault
╰➤ Slavery
╰➤ Abandonment
╰➤ Drug Use
╰➤ Christian Themes
I’m going to start this by saying that this genre is not always my vibe, so don’t take my review as the gospel truth! I have been trying to branch out this year with some hits and misses and this one was somewhere in-between.
This was not a bad story, by any means, but I think I’m so used to fantastical elements in books that I just wanted a dragon to fly in, or someone to cast a spell … This had no magic and was a straight historical fiction book. There were no miracles or Greek gods appearing out of nowhere and causing mischief. (I really love Madeline Miller’s books for the fantasy elements in her historical fiction!)
I did on the whole enjoy the time period this book was set as I have previously studied Classical Civilisations. However, I think the the layman would struggle with some of the terminology used in this book without any background knowledge. I could not see in my ARC that a terminology glossary was included, but perhaps this will be added at a later date.
That aside! Adel was a great FMC, she is a Visigoth who has been captured by Romans, has a painful past, and is trying to make the best out of her Gladiatrix/slave status. Felix, the MMC, also has a difficult past with a lot of family drama and is a doctor of a sort at the Gladiator house. Their backstories were interesting to me and I found their character development quite good. The plot itself was also pretty well set up and executed. I just really missed the fantasy elements and this made the book a bit of a hard read for me! This would be great for someone who loves pure historical fiction for sure. I think my mind just cannot accept a book in this time period with no gods causing problems. I’m too used to that I fear!
Thanks all for reading!
🤍🤍🤍
🎉 Publication Date: 12th of May 2026 🎉
🤍 Tropes 🤍
⚔️ Gladiator Games
❤️🩹 Healer MMC
🗡️ Gladiatrix FMC
💔 Family Drama
✞Christian
🤍Clean Romance
⚠️ Warnings ⚠️
╰➤ Violence
╰➤ Injuries
╰➤ Death
╰➤ Murder
╰➤ Themes of Sexual Assault
╰➤ Slavery
╰➤ Abandonment
╰➤ Drug Use
╰➤ Christian Themes
I’m going to start this by saying that this genre is not always my vibe, so don’t take my review as the gospel truth! I have been trying to branch out this year with some hits and misses and this one was somewhere in-between.
This was not a bad story, by any means, but I think I’m so used to fantastical elements in books that I just wanted a dragon to fly in, or someone to cast a spell … This had no magic and was a straight historical fiction book. There were no miracles or Greek gods appearing out of nowhere and causing mischief. (I really love Madeline Miller’s books for the fantasy elements in her historical fiction!)
I did on the whole enjoy the time period this book was set as I have previously studied Classical Civilisations. However, I think the the layman would struggle with some of the terminology used in this book without any background knowledge. I could not see in my ARC that a terminology glossary was included, but perhaps this will be added at a later date.
That aside! Adel was a great FMC, she is a Visigoth who has been captured by Romans, has a painful past, and is trying to make the best out of her Gladiatrix/slave status. Felix, the MMC, also has a difficult past with a lot of family drama and is a doctor of a sort at the Gladiator house. Their backstories were interesting to me and I found their character development quite good. The plot itself was also pretty well set up and executed. I just really missed the fantasy elements and this made the book a bit of a hard read for me! This would be great for someone who loves pure historical fiction for sure. I think my mind just cannot accept a book in this time period with no gods causing problems. I’m too used to that I fear!
Thanks all for reading!
🤍🤍🤍
priority-tbr
October 23, 2025I NEED THIS RNNNN😔🫴
😭😭😭
😭😭😭
May 18, 2026
4.5 stars
“You are a woman made in the very image of God. Chosen. Beloved. A woman worth fighting for. A woman He died for. If that does not make you the greatest of treasures, I don’t know what else could.”
On its surface, Daughter of the Rebellion by Jamie Ogle is a moving tale of sacrifice, faith, and love, set against the backdrop of fifth century Rome and its violent gladiator games. I was fascinated by the story of Telemachus that provides the framework for the overall plot, and the fact that it’s based on real history (he is featured in Foxes’ Book of Martyrs) made it all the more compelling. He is such an admirable character and I was truly inspired by what I learned about him. The other two protagonists in this novel – Felix (a medic for one of the gladiator schools) and Adel (one of its most legendary gladiatrices) – completely captured my heart, especially their easy banter that kept a grin on my face as their relationship developed. And oh my goodness… there were some intense scenes near the end that had me hardly able to breathe because I was so worried about them. (This is early Church fiction after all, where frequent martyrdom means a happily-ever-after isn’t guaranteed. Even more so when gladiator battles are in play too.)
Even if all of the above was the sum total of Daughter of the Rebellion, it would have been a riveting novel. But Jamie Ogle masterfully takes the story deeper, touching not only my heart but my soul too. There are some profound truths tucked away between the danger and the banter and the falling in love, truths just as relevant to us today as they were in fifth century Rome. For one thing, you don’t have to scroll very long on social media to see a striking comparison to the Roman Christians who either cheered for the death of fellow image bearers along with their pagan counterparts or simply ignored the evil altogether. I see it every day – hate and mockery spewed from the fingertips of people with ‘Jesus is Lord’ in their profile bios toward those who look differently or vote differently or live differently than they do. But even in the face of this level of dehumanizing others, greed, and rampant wickedness, another key truth shines brightly – that our value does not come from our successes (or our losses), our appearance, our bank account, our popularity, or what someone else says about us. Each of us is a treasure of great price simply because God thought we were worth dying for. The way Ogle weaves this through the narrative, particularly in Adel’s life, is exquisitely sweet and may be my favorite part of the book.
Bottom Line: Daughter of the Rebellion by Jamie Ogle kept my pulse rate high (those battles!), my oxygen levels low (because I couldn’t quit holding my breath), and my emotions on the edge. I loved the balance of heart-in-your-throat fight scenes, tender romance, witty humor, spiritual depth, and intriguing history that I found on these pages. Not to mention Felix, Adel, and Telemachus – the kind of characters who quickly capture your heart and stay with you after you’ve finished reading. Their journeys brought such rich layers to this novel, and I was struck often by their relevance to our modern lives as well. Such a moving story that would be a great next read for fans of Tessa Afshar, Francine Rivers, and Mesu Andrews!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
“You are a woman made in the very image of God. Chosen. Beloved. A woman worth fighting for. A woman He died for. If that does not make you the greatest of treasures, I don’t know what else could.”
On its surface, Daughter of the Rebellion by Jamie Ogle is a moving tale of sacrifice, faith, and love, set against the backdrop of fifth century Rome and its violent gladiator games. I was fascinated by the story of Telemachus that provides the framework for the overall plot, and the fact that it’s based on real history (he is featured in Foxes’ Book of Martyrs) made it all the more compelling. He is such an admirable character and I was truly inspired by what I learned about him. The other two protagonists in this novel – Felix (a medic for one of the gladiator schools) and Adel (one of its most legendary gladiatrices) – completely captured my heart, especially their easy banter that kept a grin on my face as their relationship developed. And oh my goodness… there were some intense scenes near the end that had me hardly able to breathe because I was so worried about them. (This is early Church fiction after all, where frequent martyrdom means a happily-ever-after isn’t guaranteed. Even more so when gladiator battles are in play too.)
Even if all of the above was the sum total of Daughter of the Rebellion, it would have been a riveting novel. But Jamie Ogle masterfully takes the story deeper, touching not only my heart but my soul too. There are some profound truths tucked away between the danger and the banter and the falling in love, truths just as relevant to us today as they were in fifth century Rome. For one thing, you don’t have to scroll very long on social media to see a striking comparison to the Roman Christians who either cheered for the death of fellow image bearers along with their pagan counterparts or simply ignored the evil altogether. I see it every day – hate and mockery spewed from the fingertips of people with ‘Jesus is Lord’ in their profile bios toward those who look differently or vote differently or live differently than they do. But even in the face of this level of dehumanizing others, greed, and rampant wickedness, another key truth shines brightly – that our value does not come from our successes (or our losses), our appearance, our bank account, our popularity, or what someone else says about us. Each of us is a treasure of great price simply because God thought we were worth dying for. The way Ogle weaves this through the narrative, particularly in Adel’s life, is exquisitely sweet and may be my favorite part of the book.
Bottom Line: Daughter of the Rebellion by Jamie Ogle kept my pulse rate high (those battles!), my oxygen levels low (because I couldn’t quit holding my breath), and my emotions on the edge. I loved the balance of heart-in-your-throat fight scenes, tender romance, witty humor, spiritual depth, and intriguing history that I found on these pages. Not to mention Felix, Adel, and Telemachus – the kind of characters who quickly capture your heart and stay with you after you’ve finished reading. Their journeys brought such rich layers to this novel, and I was struck often by their relevance to our modern lives as well. Such a moving story that would be a great next read for fans of Tessa Afshar, Francine Rivers, and Mesu Andrews!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
December 2, 2025
I loved learning about a hero of the faith I knew nothing about and the end of the gladiators in Rome. What a cool story! The training schools, the ludi, are a mixture of safety and danger, home and prison, to the gladiators. So much barbarianism and innocent captives caught up in kill or be killed. I learned a lot on the journey the reader goes with Adel and Felix. They're faced with complicated questions without answers, doing the best they can in an impossible situation. And yet God's mercy and love shine through in even a dark place such as this.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy and leave an honest review!
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy and leave an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Read for endorsement! Spoiler alert: I loved it! Friends, I hope you add this one to your Goodreads list. Five sparkling stars!
May 4, 2026
Wow! What an amazing story! This is my first book by this author and I loved her writing style! Now this book is not the type of book I usually read but I was hooked! I loved it so much! It takes place in 404 A.D. Adelgard is a Gladiatrix, I didn’t know female gladiators existed. I love her character, she is so strong both physically and emotionally! I loved her interactions with Felix. Felix is a doctor for the gladiators. Felix and Adelgard are such wonderful characters. Another character is Telemachus who was a real person. He was a monk who tried to help the gladiators. The Christian content was great! There are some innuendos and ogling and such by the bad guys. Overall a great story and I definitely recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
November 20, 2025
•───── 5/5★ ─────•
««« 𝒞ℴ𝓃𝓉ℯ𝓃𝓉 »»»
➸ Spice: none. kisses only.
➸ Language: minor (wh*re 1x)
➸ Content ﹢ Trigger Warnings (sᴘᴏɪʟᴇʀs!):
««« 𝒟ℯ𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓁𝓈 »»»
➸ Genre: Christian, historical
➸ POV: third person head hopping, 3 povs
➸ Tropes ﹢ Themes (sᴘᴏɪʟᴇʀs!):
➸ Age of FMC: not given
➸ Age of MMC: alluded to 25 years old
➸ Location: rome, italy
➸ Year: AD 403
•─────⋅°˖✧✿✧˖°⋅─────•
⋅𖥔⋅ 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛, 𝚙𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚛, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙽𝚎𝚝𝙶𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚍𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠. ⋅𖥔⋅
««« 𝒞ℴ𝓃𝓉ℯ𝓃𝓉 »»»
➸ Spice: none. kisses only.
➸ Language: minor (wh*re 1x)
➸ Content ﹢ Trigger Warnings (sᴘᴏɪʟᴇʀs!):
««« 𝒟ℯ𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓁𝓈 »»»
➸ Genre: Christian, historical
➸ POV: third person head hopping, 3 povs
➸ Tropes ﹢ Themes (sᴘᴏɪʟᴇʀs!):
➸ Age of FMC: not given
➸ Age of MMC: alluded to 25 years old
➸ Location: rome, italy
➸ Year: AD 403
•─────⋅°˖✧✿✧˖°⋅─────•
⋅𖥔⋅ 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛, 𝚙𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚛, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙽𝚎𝚝𝙶𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚍𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠. ⋅𖥔⋅
May 11, 2026
Jamie Ogle’s ability to tap into a time in history and bring it to life is truly incredible. Her characters are vivid and relatable, and the setting was fascinating.
I know very little about the post-Constantine Roman Empire (or Emperor Honorius), so I really liked learning about this era. I usually tend to steer away from war-based books, especially ones with descriptive violence, but the gladiator and Visigoth storylines were really intriguing to me.
As far as male main characters go, I was a big fan of Felix — he’s lovable and courageous throughout. Adel’s character develops really well, and their love story is really sweet!
Since I had the e-ARC, my book didn’t include the portion in the back that gives extra details about which events or characters mentioned were historically accurate and which were fictional. So, I’d be interested to get my hands on a copy of the final book to read more about this time in history (and would love to find a good nonfiction book about it, if anyone knows)!
I really enjoyed this book! I think it’s official that Jamie is now one of my auto-read authors 👍🏼.
❗️Content considerations: minorly described s*xual assault scenes, physical marital abuse briefly referenced, physical intimacy briefly mentioned (closed door), war, violence and on page death, slavery, no language
💭 Age recommendation: adult
Thank you to NetGalley, Tyndale Publishing and Jamie Ogle for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I know very little about the post-Constantine Roman Empire (or Emperor Honorius), so I really liked learning about this era. I usually tend to steer away from war-based books, especially ones with descriptive violence, but the gladiator and Visigoth storylines were really intriguing to me.
As far as male main characters go, I was a big fan of Felix — he’s lovable and courageous throughout. Adel’s character develops really well, and their love story is really sweet!
Since I had the e-ARC, my book didn’t include the portion in the back that gives extra details about which events or characters mentioned were historically accurate and which were fictional. So, I’d be interested to get my hands on a copy of the final book to read more about this time in history (and would love to find a good nonfiction book about it, if anyone knows)!
I really enjoyed this book! I think it’s official that Jamie is now one of my auto-read authors 👍🏼.
❗️Content considerations: minorly described s*xual assault scenes, physical marital abuse briefly referenced, physical intimacy briefly mentioned (closed door), war, violence and on page death, slavery, no language
💭 Age recommendation: adult
Thank you to NetGalley, Tyndale Publishing and Jamie Ogle for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
May 15, 2026
Okay, wow! If you’re looking for a story that just keeps building until the final pages and completely sucks you in, this is the one!
Adel is a gladiatrix famous for always winning, cheered on day after day as she fights for her life. But while the crowd loves her, it’s easy to forget she isn’t free...she’s a prisoner, and her suffering is their entertainment.
Felix takes a job at his uncle’s gladiator school, as a medicus, to help his family. He hates the fighting, but the longer he works there, the more he’s forced to compromise his beliefs. When he learns the upcoming games will be brutal fights to the death, he realizes he may have a chance to help the prisoners...but if he’s caught, the consequences could be deadly.
Adel has her doubts about Felix at first, but as he continues helping her and risking himself for others, she slowly starts to trust him. And as warriors begin disappearing before the deadly games, Felix, Adel, and a few undercover allies start planning a rebellion in hopes of saving lives and changing history.
This was definitely a slow burn romance, but also a slower build overall. Around the first 30%, I worried I wouldn’t fully get pulled in. But once the story picked up and the chemistry between the characters grew, I hit the point where I didn’t want to put it down. So good! My advice: give this story time because it is SO worth it!
I gave this 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!
I received a complimentary copy, but this review reflects my honest opinion.
Adel is a gladiatrix famous for always winning, cheered on day after day as she fights for her life. But while the crowd loves her, it’s easy to forget she isn’t free...she’s a prisoner, and her suffering is their entertainment.
Felix takes a job at his uncle’s gladiator school, as a medicus, to help his family. He hates the fighting, but the longer he works there, the more he’s forced to compromise his beliefs. When he learns the upcoming games will be brutal fights to the death, he realizes he may have a chance to help the prisoners...but if he’s caught, the consequences could be deadly.
Adel has her doubts about Felix at first, but as he continues helping her and risking himself for others, she slowly starts to trust him. And as warriors begin disappearing before the deadly games, Felix, Adel, and a few undercover allies start planning a rebellion in hopes of saving lives and changing history.
This was definitely a slow burn romance, but also a slower build overall. Around the first 30%, I worried I wouldn’t fully get pulled in. But once the story picked up and the chemistry between the characters grew, I hit the point where I didn’t want to put it down. So good! My advice: give this story time because it is SO worth it!
I gave this 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!
I received a complimentary copy, but this review reflects my honest opinion.
May 12, 2026
Thank you to the author and publisher for this #gifted book!*
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Title: Daughter of The Rebellion
Author: Jamie Ogle
Genre: Historical Fiction
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Synopsis: Adelgard has made a name for herself in the games in Rome. As a renowned gladiatrix, the Amazon has learned to fight for herself when no one else would. But under her fierce exterior is a woman searching for strength, identity, and love in all the wrong places. When Felix finds himself as the medicus for his uncle’s gladiator training school, he find himself questioning if he’s compromising his beliefs. But soon he starts to see these slaves to the empire as who they really are—people loved by the Savior who gave his life for them. And the Amazon in particular has caught his attention. When the opportunity arises to save these fighters, Felix must decide if it’s worth it to risk it all to show these people their value—especially the very woman he’s come to love.
Analysis: Jamie Ogle writes my favorite love stories of all time. Why? Because they mirror perfectly the self-sacrificial love that models our Savior’s love for us. And Daughter of Rebellion perfectly captures that. I loved the historical attention to detail in this as Jamie explores the last known gladiator games. I learned much about how that came to be—and I won’t give spoilers because you’ll want to read it for yourself! This book is riveting and action packed. It does deal with the intense reality of gladiator training and fighting but in a way that’s respectful to readers and honoring to these precious people. When you get to the end, I think you’ll be surprised at some of the connections if you’ve read some popular middle grade+ novels. But perhaps these tell the true story even better—because Felix and Adel’s love points us to the One who gave up everything for us.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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Title: Daughter of The Rebellion
Author: Jamie Ogle
Genre: Historical Fiction
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Synopsis: Adelgard has made a name for herself in the games in Rome. As a renowned gladiatrix, the Amazon has learned to fight for herself when no one else would. But under her fierce exterior is a woman searching for strength, identity, and love in all the wrong places. When Felix finds himself as the medicus for his uncle’s gladiator training school, he find himself questioning if he’s compromising his beliefs. But soon he starts to see these slaves to the empire as who they really are—people loved by the Savior who gave his life for them. And the Amazon in particular has caught his attention. When the opportunity arises to save these fighters, Felix must decide if it’s worth it to risk it all to show these people their value—especially the very woman he’s come to love.
Analysis: Jamie Ogle writes my favorite love stories of all time. Why? Because they mirror perfectly the self-sacrificial love that models our Savior’s love for us. And Daughter of Rebellion perfectly captures that. I loved the historical attention to detail in this as Jamie explores the last known gladiator games. I learned much about how that came to be—and I won’t give spoilers because you’ll want to read it for yourself! This book is riveting and action packed. It does deal with the intense reality of gladiator training and fighting but in a way that’s respectful to readers and honoring to these precious people. When you get to the end, I think you’ll be surprised at some of the connections if you’ve read some popular middle grade+ novels. But perhaps these tell the true story even better—because Felix and Adel’s love points us to the One who gave up everything for us.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May 18, 2026
This book was a wild ride! My first read by Jamie Ogle and it did not disappoint. It was utterly devastating at parts, but a story that reminds us that life as a Christian isn't always easy, but God is faithful.
Adelgard (Adel) is a captive of the Roman Empire turned crowd favorite Gladiatrix. Repressing her anger and depression helps her focus on the attention and fame she has acquired. It's easier to imagine she is a jewel of Rome, rather than the truth that she is a slave of Rome. Meeting the Roman medic Felix is dangerous, not only because he's handsome, but because he shatters the illusion she has carefully crafted to survive. As Adel begins to see the truth of her reality while also preparing for a fight to the death, she gets caught up in plans by an underground Christian network aiming to set her people free. If only all goes according to plan, she may have a shot at returning home and falling in love with Felix.
Adel goes through it in this story. She has built an amor of defense around her heart, and let her self be deceived into relying on fame and admiration. It's a feeble house of cards that comes crashing down throughout the book. She fiercely protects the other Gladiatrices. I enjoyed the faux hate banter she has with Felix, as she tries to play the impenetrable and cold warrior, and I loved that he eventually wears down her defenses.
There was moderate-strong faith throughout the story. There are strong themes of redemption, forgiveness, and trusting God in a dark, Godless environment. Felix, especially, has to rely on God to help him navigate a situation that could ultimately lead to his death in order to be obedient to what God has called him do.
What I enjoyed:
⚔️ Gritty, historical detail
⚔️ Roman Empire era setting
⚔️ Gladiator/Gladiatrix storyline
⚔️ Opposites attract romance
⚔️ Underground Christian "network"
⚔️ An emotionally devastating climax
⚠️ Content Warnings:
- Roman Empire cruelty, colosseum games
- Gladiator related gore, violence, injury, fighting, death
- Sexual harassment & sexual assault (mostly off page)
- Drug use (unintentional)
*Not appropriate for younger readers
My Rating: 4.5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Writing: 5
Story & Characters: 4
Faith & Content: 5
Enjoyability: 4
It was a bit slow to start, but once you get a few chapters in, it was a riveting story! It's not an easy read, and there are events that will make you question if any kind of happy ending for any of the characters is even possible. But light shines in the darkness, and light always overcomes in the end. It's a bit reminiscent of the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers, both in content and writing style. I highly recommend this to any readers who like historically realistic plots with strong faith central to the story!
Thank you to NetGalley & the author for providing an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
Adelgard (Adel) is a captive of the Roman Empire turned crowd favorite Gladiatrix. Repressing her anger and depression helps her focus on the attention and fame she has acquired. It's easier to imagine she is a jewel of Rome, rather than the truth that she is a slave of Rome. Meeting the Roman medic Felix is dangerous, not only because he's handsome, but because he shatters the illusion she has carefully crafted to survive. As Adel begins to see the truth of her reality while also preparing for a fight to the death, she gets caught up in plans by an underground Christian network aiming to set her people free. If only all goes according to plan, she may have a shot at returning home and falling in love with Felix.
Adel goes through it in this story. She has built an amor of defense around her heart, and let her self be deceived into relying on fame and admiration. It's a feeble house of cards that comes crashing down throughout the book. She fiercely protects the other Gladiatrices. I enjoyed the faux hate banter she has with Felix, as she tries to play the impenetrable and cold warrior, and I loved that he eventually wears down her defenses.
There was moderate-strong faith throughout the story. There are strong themes of redemption, forgiveness, and trusting God in a dark, Godless environment. Felix, especially, has to rely on God to help him navigate a situation that could ultimately lead to his death in order to be obedient to what God has called him do.
What I enjoyed:
⚔️ Gritty, historical detail
⚔️ Roman Empire era setting
⚔️ Gladiator/Gladiatrix storyline
⚔️ Opposites attract romance
⚔️ Underground Christian "network"
⚔️ An emotionally devastating climax
⚠️ Content Warnings:
- Roman Empire cruelty, colosseum games
- Gladiator related gore, violence, injury, fighting, death
- Sexual harassment & sexual assault (mostly off page)
- Drug use (unintentional)
*Not appropriate for younger readers
My Rating: 4.5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Writing: 5
Story & Characters: 4
Faith & Content: 5
Enjoyability: 4
It was a bit slow to start, but once you get a few chapters in, it was a riveting story! It's not an easy read, and there are events that will make you question if any kind of happy ending for any of the characters is even possible. But light shines in the darkness, and light always overcomes in the end. It's a bit reminiscent of the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers, both in content and writing style. I highly recommend this to any readers who like historically realistic plots with strong faith central to the story!
Thank you to NetGalley & the author for providing an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
February 15, 2026
Review of Advanced copied from NetGalley
Publication date: May 12, 2026
This book takes place during the later years of the Roman Empire. The author uses a lot of accurate vocabulary to describe the different types of gladiators/gladiatrix/gladtrices. It was difficult at times to understand what was being described.
The story follows Felix, a medic, in one of Rome’s gladiator schools. He does not want to work there but must in order to pay off debt his father has accrued before leaving his family. Felix and his family have converted to Christianity and working at the school makes him question how devoted he is to his faith.
Adelgaard, Adel, is the female main character and a gladiatrix who was captured in a battle between Rome and the Visigoths. She is of the Visigoth tribe and is a force to be reckoned with. Adel is strong and guarded making it difficult for her to trust anyone, especially a Roman who is her sworn enemy.
The story was very long and it took about reading 60% of the book to become fully invested in the story. I felt as though it was a story going through the motions and it took a long time to get to the purpose of the story.
I really wanted to love this because historical fiction, specifically Ancient Rome, is a favorite genre of mine to read. Unfortunately I found it difficult to want to pick up and read.
Publication date: May 12, 2026
This book takes place during the later years of the Roman Empire. The author uses a lot of accurate vocabulary to describe the different types of gladiators/gladiatrix/gladtrices. It was difficult at times to understand what was being described.
The story follows Felix, a medic, in one of Rome’s gladiator schools. He does not want to work there but must in order to pay off debt his father has accrued before leaving his family. Felix and his family have converted to Christianity and working at the school makes him question how devoted he is to his faith.
Adelgaard, Adel, is the female main character and a gladiatrix who was captured in a battle between Rome and the Visigoths. She is of the Visigoth tribe and is a force to be reckoned with. Adel is strong and guarded making it difficult for her to trust anyone, especially a Roman who is her sworn enemy.
The story was very long and it took about reading 60% of the book to become fully invested in the story. I felt as though it was a story going through the motions and it took a long time to get to the purpose of the story.
I really wanted to love this because historical fiction, specifically Ancient Rome, is a favorite genre of mine to read. Unfortunately I found it difficult to want to pick up and read.
May 21, 2026
First off, can we all just take a minute to appreciate this breathtaking book cover?!?! Isn’t just gorgeous! Jamie not only has beautiful covers, she also has stories that are just as stunning.
Jamie Ogle takes us back to the early beginnings of the Christian church where one’s faith may cost them their life. Daughter of the Rebellion takes place in Rome in 403 AD. Adel is captured during battle and forced to become a gladiatrix for the entertain of Rome’s elite. She quickly makes a name for herself and is much sought after. Dubbed the Amazon, Adel is shockingly defeat and lands herself in the infirmary where a young doctor treats her and soon becomes a friend.
Felix doesn’t agree with the Roman sport nor does he agree with the poor treatment of slaves. Yet he continues to work in order to support his family. When Adel is injured, Felix is brought face to face with the woman who will soon become his ally and weakness.
Felix’s orders conflict with his faith and he must decide if he will carry them out and survive or will he risk all to save those who cannot save themselves.
I loved this book so much. Jamie has way of bringing these ancient times to life and immersing the reader into the story. Gladiators, Rome, Visigoths, the early church: all extremely fascinating to me. And the slow burn love story will steal your breath away. It might also make your heart stop at one point. I can always count on Jamie’s books to put me through the emotional wringer!
I highly recommend this one for lovers of Christian fiction, early church history, Francine Rivers Mark of the Lion series, or just want a powerful, meaningful story of rescue and sacrifice.
Audio was great, too!
Jamie Ogle takes us back to the early beginnings of the Christian church where one’s faith may cost them their life. Daughter of the Rebellion takes place in Rome in 403 AD. Adel is captured during battle and forced to become a gladiatrix for the entertain of Rome’s elite. She quickly makes a name for herself and is much sought after. Dubbed the Amazon, Adel is shockingly defeat and lands herself in the infirmary where a young doctor treats her and soon becomes a friend.
Felix doesn’t agree with the Roman sport nor does he agree with the poor treatment of slaves. Yet he continues to work in order to support his family. When Adel is injured, Felix is brought face to face with the woman who will soon become his ally and weakness.
Felix’s orders conflict with his faith and he must decide if he will carry them out and survive or will he risk all to save those who cannot save themselves.
I loved this book so much. Jamie has way of bringing these ancient times to life and immersing the reader into the story. Gladiators, Rome, Visigoths, the early church: all extremely fascinating to me. And the slow burn love story will steal your breath away. It might also make your heart stop at one point. I can always count on Jamie’s books to put me through the emotional wringer!
I highly recommend this one for lovers of Christian fiction, early church history, Francine Rivers Mark of the Lion series, or just want a powerful, meaningful story of rescue and sacrifice.
Audio was great, too!
March 3, 2026
I cannot say enough good about this book. It is probably the best book I’ve read so far this year. And, I stayed up far too late reading more than once, it’s a book that can’t be put down.
The story was one of love, compassion, and faith. Throughout the characters journeys I got to experience every emotion and feel my heart break and mend along with them. Ogle did an amazing job showing the value of each image bearer of Christ and the importance of their individual souls. A must read.
*I received this book as an ARC. I was not required to leave a positive review, all thoughts are my own.
The story was one of love, compassion, and faith. Throughout the characters journeys I got to experience every emotion and feel my heart break and mend along with them. Ogle did an amazing job showing the value of each image bearer of Christ and the importance of their individual souls. A must read.
*I received this book as an ARC. I was not required to leave a positive review, all thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Her best novel yet! what an excellent, excellent book. It's possible I just finished my favorite book of 2026! Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers for providing a copy of Daughter of the Rebellion in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 20, 2026
Wonderful historical novel set in Rome in AD 403. And centered around the gladiators, especially the female gladiatrix. Our female heroine, Adelgard, or Adel, is from the Visigoth tribe and is captured during war. Sold to a gladiator school, she fights hard and quickly becomes the most famous gladiatrix. She struggles to find peace in her life and believing that her family doesn't care to find her, she jumps in fully to her new life and hopes that she'll rise in the ranks and gain her freedom.
Enter Felix. A doctor and the nephew of the man who owns the gladiator school that Adel is a slave to. They form an unlikely friendship as he heals her from her scars and wounds. These two had some fun banter, especially when they first met and Adel was very wary of Felix. But little by little, he earns her trust and then friendship.
It was a very fascinating read seeing the historical aspects during that time period. And thinking of the wars and political aspects of that time period. The things people had to do to survive. The things that people thought was entertaining but caused the loss of life for many. The author did a great job pulling it all together and creating a wonderful and thought provoking story. I kept turning the pages and was immersed in this story. The descriptions were well written and had me feeling like I was there in the arena, or at the staged fights, or in the tunnels, or wherever these characters were at.
Add in a rebellion bubbling under the surface and Felix being pulled into that. I loved seeing the background of these characters being revealed and helping us readers to understand their motives for their choices and actions throughout the book, but especially at the end of the book. Loved it!!!
If you enjoy historical fiction, I would recommend you picking up this beautiful and captivating story!
Content: Clean. The book does focus on gladiators and fighting and there are some deaths. But the author writes it in a sensitive way and I felt like it was clean. This is a Christian fiction novel.
I received a copy from the publisher, Tyndale House Publishers, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
Enter Felix. A doctor and the nephew of the man who owns the gladiator school that Adel is a slave to. They form an unlikely friendship as he heals her from her scars and wounds. These two had some fun banter, especially when they first met and Adel was very wary of Felix. But little by little, he earns her trust and then friendship.
It was a very fascinating read seeing the historical aspects during that time period. And thinking of the wars and political aspects of that time period. The things people had to do to survive. The things that people thought was entertaining but caused the loss of life for many. The author did a great job pulling it all together and creating a wonderful and thought provoking story. I kept turning the pages and was immersed in this story. The descriptions were well written and had me feeling like I was there in the arena, or at the staged fights, or in the tunnels, or wherever these characters were at.
Add in a rebellion bubbling under the surface and Felix being pulled into that. I loved seeing the background of these characters being revealed and helping us readers to understand their motives for their choices and actions throughout the book, but especially at the end of the book. Loved it!!!
If you enjoy historical fiction, I would recommend you picking up this beautiful and captivating story!
Content: Clean. The book does focus on gladiators and fighting and there are some deaths. But the author writes it in a sensitive way and I felt like it was clean. This is a Christian fiction novel.
I received a copy from the publisher, Tyndale House Publishers, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
February 23, 2026
4.5⭐️s. Well written and great characters in Felix and Adel. I loved the history of ancient Rome and the little known story of Telemachus. The beginning moves a little slower but it’s a good build up and historical setup as the story progresses.
The book does a beautiful job at weaving the history of the time period which was an odd dichotomy of Rome being supposedly won over to Christianity after the horrific brutality and persecution of recent centuries, to those same majority-Christians reveling in the enslaved gladiators fighting and murdering each other by force.
I really loved both Felix and Adel - their difficult relationship to start and then the character growth in each other as the book progressed. It was a relatable view at how they struggled with betrayal, mistakes, bitterness and distrust, and ultimately learned that God isn’t like other people and loves us despite our lack or past.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.
The book does a beautiful job at weaving the history of the time period which was an odd dichotomy of Rome being supposedly won over to Christianity after the horrific brutality and persecution of recent centuries, to those same majority-Christians reveling in the enslaved gladiators fighting and murdering each other by force.
I really loved both Felix and Adel - their difficult relationship to start and then the character growth in each other as the book progressed. It was a relatable view at how they struggled with betrayal, mistakes, bitterness and distrust, and ultimately learned that God isn’t like other people and loves us despite our lack or past.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
“‘We trust that right will prevail in the end. It is rarely easy, always costly, but never hopeless.’”
It’s been awhile since I’ve read something set during the Roman empire! I was going to say that was a fun change of scenery but it’s about gladiators and gladiatrixes so fun is not the right word.
This was a fictionalized telling of the historical Telemachus and his influence in ending the gladiatorial games in Rome.
Daughter of the Rebellion is a love story filled with pain, bravery, vulnerability, honor, and heroism. It shows that we can trust God even with our darkest moments.
That “‘Just because something seems impossible doesn’t mean we do nothing.’”
The gladiator system might have touted valor and honor, but it is empty and false because it rejects the dignity of image-bearers. Christianity entreats us to honor God who is the source of both strength and mercy, justice and love. Part of honoring the Lord is honoring his creation— his image-bearers— and treasuring life.
It’s always humbling to think about Christians before me and the persecution they faced (and still face around the world). The Christian life is not an easy one, but it’s the only one with true hope. This book gives us a good example of how to stand and resist what is contrary to God’s design. What a legacy of faith and trust Christian martyrs leave behind!
The cover image is a little misleading. Our main character is a female— Adelgard— but she is a prisoner of war sold to a ludus and forced to be a gladiatrix. Pretty much the entire book revolves around that situation. The cover makes it seem like she is living this calm, fancy life when in reality she spends her days in the sand fighting for her life and her honor.
I had never heard of Telemachus before. In my own research it seems we don’t know a lot about it and some stories differ from one another. That’s probably why Ogle opted to imagine her story focused on two other characters— a gladiatrix and a medicus— that knew Telemachus rather than make him the true focal point.
I don’t know if the final publication will include an author’s note at the end that shares which parts of the story were true. I read the advanced readers’ copy and to my chagrin, that version did not. I would love to know what Ogle found in her research! Based on the details of the gladiator life she wove into the story, it’s clear she did a lot of it.
It is hard to read about the gladiatorial games because we do know the true history and horror that played out in those arenas; Adelgard’s plight is heartbreaking. Having visited the Colosseum in Rome, it was sobering to look around and imagine people treating violence and death as a form of entertainment.
At the time of Telemachus’ ‘event’ (I won’t say exactly what it is because I feel like that’s a spoiler) Rome was ruled by young Emperor Honorius who was recognized as a Christian. At this point in history Christianity was the established state religion. Telemachus is appalled that Christians would still be allowing, promoting, and enjoying the despicable practice of the games and was urging the emperor to stop them.
In the story Adelgard is a Visigoth, a people group from the Balkans ruled by Alaric at the time. Though, historically, Alaric was responsible for the sack of Rome in 410, Ogle used his animosity a little differently in the story and the timeline is different. I’m guessing this is fiction, but in the book Alaric is threatening to attack Rome if the emperor does not release his people who were captured, including his own wife and daughters.
Telemachus tries to press upon this information and persuade Honorius to meet Alaric’s demands. In this story Telemachus, a monk from the East who spent time as a gladiator earlier in his life, had been with the Visigoth people teaching them the Scriptures. He knows Adelgard personally and because of his own experience, knows what she’s going through as a gladiator.
Meanwhile Adelgard is telling herself that she doesn’t mind being a gladiatrix. Feeling betrayed during her capture, previously ostracized by her people, and feeling unwanted by her own father, she views her role as a gladiatrix as something purposeful, a way to achieve her own worth.
She thinks she is being taken care of by the Romans, fed and clothed, and because of her fame, loved. No one has ever fought for her before so she is perfectly fine to take her life into her own hands and work her way up to a better life.
“The only way to stop fighting forever was to prove herself worthy and earn a place among the magistri— or die trying. To be unable to even try… That offered a fate worse than death.”
Enter character two: Felix. Felix, schooled as a doctor in Alexandria, left the family business at the ludus because of his Christian beliefs. Now he would do no harm. But when his father disappears after accumulating a big debt, Felix feels forced back to the family business to provide for his mother and sisters. He becomes one of the doctors to the fighters.
This is where he meets Adelgard. And where we get the romance aspect of the book.
Felix becomes close to Adel and cares for her. He eventually teams up with Telemachus and some other monks to try to help Adel and the other captives escape their fate.
“‘I do not know if anyone can survive what is coming. You have given us hope, Felix. And that is a better gift than any I have ever received.’”
Adel unknowingly helps give Felix the courage and strength to do the right thing, and Felix helps Adel know her worth, that not every man will lie to her and take advantage of her:
“‘You, Adelgard, are a woman worth fighting for.’” *cue swoon
Jamie Ogle has written a compelling story that makes you feel like you’re there. Even though it’s a heavy atmosphere, she still manages to include some humor and lightheartedness. I enjoyed Felix’s relationship with his sisters and the banter he shared with Adel.
I loved the themes that explored courage and love and how the characters realized they were both justifying something wrong because they weren’t trusting the Lord for what they needed (Adel justifying her own abuse, calling it love; Felix justifying being part of a murderous organization because he needed provision).
It’s a dark part of history, but Ogle shows us where the light is.
Recommendation
I thought this was a great read, especially if you enjoy historical fiction or books set in the Roman empire.
We might not find ourselves in a Colosseum like Adelgard, but we still must be on our guard against compromising our beliefs for what is popular. We have our own battles to resist the lure of sin, of complacency, of fame, of self-sufficiency. This story reminds us that though our journey is hard and costly, it is never hopeless.
‘The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.’ (Psalm 33:10-11)
This was my first Jamie Ogle book, and I’d read another.
[Content Advisory: No swearing or sexual content (there was some sexual harrassment); Many of the fights are described so there is a lot of violence and some death but I wouldn’t say it’s super graphic or gratuitous.]
**Received an ARC via Tyndale House Publishers**
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It’s been awhile since I’ve read something set during the Roman empire! I was going to say that was a fun change of scenery but it’s about gladiators and gladiatrixes so fun is not the right word.
This was a fictionalized telling of the historical Telemachus and his influence in ending the gladiatorial games in Rome.
Daughter of the Rebellion is a love story filled with pain, bravery, vulnerability, honor, and heroism. It shows that we can trust God even with our darkest moments.
That “‘Just because something seems impossible doesn’t mean we do nothing.’”
The gladiator system might have touted valor and honor, but it is empty and false because it rejects the dignity of image-bearers. Christianity entreats us to honor God who is the source of both strength and mercy, justice and love. Part of honoring the Lord is honoring his creation— his image-bearers— and treasuring life.
It’s always humbling to think about Christians before me and the persecution they faced (and still face around the world). The Christian life is not an easy one, but it’s the only one with true hope. This book gives us a good example of how to stand and resist what is contrary to God’s design. What a legacy of faith and trust Christian martyrs leave behind!
The cover image is a little misleading. Our main character is a female— Adelgard— but she is a prisoner of war sold to a ludus and forced to be a gladiatrix. Pretty much the entire book revolves around that situation. The cover makes it seem like she is living this calm, fancy life when in reality she spends her days in the sand fighting for her life and her honor.
I had never heard of Telemachus before. In my own research it seems we don’t know a lot about it and some stories differ from one another. That’s probably why Ogle opted to imagine her story focused on two other characters— a gladiatrix and a medicus— that knew Telemachus rather than make him the true focal point.
I don’t know if the final publication will include an author’s note at the end that shares which parts of the story were true. I read the advanced readers’ copy and to my chagrin, that version did not. I would love to know what Ogle found in her research! Based on the details of the gladiator life she wove into the story, it’s clear she did a lot of it.
It is hard to read about the gladiatorial games because we do know the true history and horror that played out in those arenas; Adelgard’s plight is heartbreaking. Having visited the Colosseum in Rome, it was sobering to look around and imagine people treating violence and death as a form of entertainment.
At the time of Telemachus’ ‘event’ (I won’t say exactly what it is because I feel like that’s a spoiler) Rome was ruled by young Emperor Honorius who was recognized as a Christian. At this point in history Christianity was the established state religion. Telemachus is appalled that Christians would still be allowing, promoting, and enjoying the despicable practice of the games and was urging the emperor to stop them.
In the story Adelgard is a Visigoth, a people group from the Balkans ruled by Alaric at the time. Though, historically, Alaric was responsible for the sack of Rome in 410, Ogle used his animosity a little differently in the story and the timeline is different. I’m guessing this is fiction, but in the book Alaric is threatening to attack Rome if the emperor does not release his people who were captured, including his own wife and daughters.
Telemachus tries to press upon this information and persuade Honorius to meet Alaric’s demands. In this story Telemachus, a monk from the East who spent time as a gladiator earlier in his life, had been with the Visigoth people teaching them the Scriptures. He knows Adelgard personally and because of his own experience, knows what she’s going through as a gladiator.
Meanwhile Adelgard is telling herself that she doesn’t mind being a gladiatrix. Feeling betrayed during her capture, previously ostracized by her people, and feeling unwanted by her own father, she views her role as a gladiatrix as something purposeful, a way to achieve her own worth.
She thinks she is being taken care of by the Romans, fed and clothed, and because of her fame, loved. No one has ever fought for her before so she is perfectly fine to take her life into her own hands and work her way up to a better life.
“The only way to stop fighting forever was to prove herself worthy and earn a place among the magistri— or die trying. To be unable to even try… That offered a fate worse than death.”
Enter character two: Felix. Felix, schooled as a doctor in Alexandria, left the family business at the ludus because of his Christian beliefs. Now he would do no harm. But when his father disappears after accumulating a big debt, Felix feels forced back to the family business to provide for his mother and sisters. He becomes one of the doctors to the fighters.
This is where he meets Adelgard. And where we get the romance aspect of the book.
Felix becomes close to Adel and cares for her. He eventually teams up with Telemachus and some other monks to try to help Adel and the other captives escape their fate.
“‘I do not know if anyone can survive what is coming. You have given us hope, Felix. And that is a better gift than any I have ever received.’”
Adel unknowingly helps give Felix the courage and strength to do the right thing, and Felix helps Adel know her worth, that not every man will lie to her and take advantage of her:
“‘You, Adelgard, are a woman worth fighting for.’” *cue swoon
Jamie Ogle has written a compelling story that makes you feel like you’re there. Even though it’s a heavy atmosphere, she still manages to include some humor and lightheartedness. I enjoyed Felix’s relationship with his sisters and the banter he shared with Adel.
I loved the themes that explored courage and love and how the characters realized they were both justifying something wrong because they weren’t trusting the Lord for what they needed (Adel justifying her own abuse, calling it love; Felix justifying being part of a murderous organization because he needed provision).
It’s a dark part of history, but Ogle shows us where the light is.
Recommendation
I thought this was a great read, especially if you enjoy historical fiction or books set in the Roman empire.
We might not find ourselves in a Colosseum like Adelgard, but we still must be on our guard against compromising our beliefs for what is popular. We have our own battles to resist the lure of sin, of complacency, of fame, of self-sufficiency. This story reminds us that though our journey is hard and costly, it is never hopeless.
‘The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.’ (Psalm 33:10-11)
This was my first Jamie Ogle book, and I’d read another.
[Content Advisory: No swearing or sexual content (there was some sexual harrassment); Many of the fights are described so there is a lot of violence and some death but I wouldn’t say it’s super graphic or gratuitous.]
**Received an ARC via Tyndale House Publishers**
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Review of advance copy
“You are a woman made in the very image of God. Chosen. Beloved. A woman worth fighting for. A woman He died for. If that does not make you the greatest of treasures, I don’t know what else could.”
Cue the classic Jamie Ogle loudest three dotes ever…
My un*biased* opinion of Daughter Of The Rebellion by Jamie Ogle ↴
Honestly, I have no words. I’m still in that post book brain shock I think. I love this book with every fiber of my being, and I love Jamie Ogle even more. She created yet another book that is a 10 out of 10, new all-time-favorite, faith booster.
Every single one of her book I read and makes me immediately want to run a marathon or go on a missions trip. I want every person to feel God’s overwhelming, undeniable, unconditional, undeserving Love that is portrayed in this book. We don’t deserve it and yet we are still handed it as a gift.
I honestly think that Jamie Ogle might quite literally live in my mind, because there were so many lines in this book that felt so personal to me and where I am at in my life right now. She hasn’t failed to make me cry in her books yet. Some of these lines were like literal gut punches, hitting right to areas in my life that I related to or needed confirmation in.
That’s one of the things I love so much about her books, that every single thing points back to God. Even the romance! I always love her romances, cause they are done SO well. They are so realistic, it’s actually amazing. No fluff, but still so cute and swoon worthy. The banter was TOP SHELF. Gave off Kai x Paedyn vibes for some reason, but wayyy better and without the toxicity.
The slowww burnnn *chef’s kiss*.
And the humor! Omg. When a writer makes characters set from thousands of years have humor that’s actually hilarious, yes. Thank you. Take my money. Sometimes it is easy for me to forget that these people were actual humans, with actual lives. Her characters were so relatable! I actually wanted to kiss Felix. And Adel? I wanted to give her a huge hug. Both of them are some of my new heroes, cause—gosh, they were so cool. Adelgard wasn’t strong in the sense that she was the classic fmc that can do anything by herself, with herself, for herself. She was strong in the sense that she realized she couldn’t be, by herself. And Felix? Christian book boyfriends deserve SO MUCH more hype, cause this guy made Kai Azer and all his friends look like total losers (and I’m a Powerless fan lol).
The characters, romance, faith, GLADIATORS VIBES?? And talk about high stakes. I never want to hear about a high staked book again until you’ve read a Jamie Ogle. My stress levels were HIGH.
It gave off if The Hunger Games met Powerless met Gladiator. All with a slice of Heaven literally on top.
And the Baker Publishing box came with so many cool things applying to the book, including Jamie Ogle’s signature! I’m so happy hehe. I can’t believe I was able to read this before it even came out, and I’m so grateful for Jamie Ogle and the books she has created, cause they never cease to make me fall in love even more with Jesus.
Rating: ★★★★★
Triggers/things to note: Just kissing. Lots of violence. Gladiators and slavery. One main characters was defiled/assaulted (in past, account not described). Verbal harassment from some of the male gladiators.
*rapidfire smooches*
Cue the classic Jamie Ogle loudest three dotes ever…
My un*biased* opinion of Daughter Of The Rebellion by Jamie Ogle ↴
Honestly, I have no words. I’m still in that post book brain shock I think. I love this book with every fiber of my being, and I love Jamie Ogle even more. She created yet another book that is a 10 out of 10, new all-time-favorite, faith booster.
Every single one of her book I read and makes me immediately want to run a marathon or go on a missions trip. I want every person to feel God’s overwhelming, undeniable, unconditional, undeserving Love that is portrayed in this book. We don’t deserve it and yet we are still handed it as a gift.
I honestly think that Jamie Ogle might quite literally live in my mind, because there were so many lines in this book that felt so personal to me and where I am at in my life right now. She hasn’t failed to make me cry in her books yet. Some of these lines were like literal gut punches, hitting right to areas in my life that I related to or needed confirmation in.
That’s one of the things I love so much about her books, that every single thing points back to God. Even the romance! I always love her romances, cause they are done SO well. They are so realistic, it’s actually amazing. No fluff, but still so cute and swoon worthy. The banter was TOP SHELF. Gave off Kai x Paedyn vibes for some reason, but wayyy better and without the toxicity.
The slowww burnnn *chef’s kiss*.
And the humor! Omg. When a writer makes characters set from thousands of years have humor that’s actually hilarious, yes. Thank you. Take my money. Sometimes it is easy for me to forget that these people were actual humans, with actual lives. Her characters were so relatable! I actually wanted to kiss Felix. And Adel? I wanted to give her a huge hug. Both of them are some of my new heroes, cause—gosh, they were so cool. Adelgard wasn’t strong in the sense that she was the classic fmc that can do anything by herself, with herself, for herself. She was strong in the sense that she realized she couldn’t be, by herself. And Felix? Christian book boyfriends deserve SO MUCH more hype, cause this guy made Kai Azer and all his friends look like total losers (and I’m a Powerless fan lol).
The characters, romance, faith, GLADIATORS VIBES?? And talk about high stakes. I never want to hear about a high staked book again until you’ve read a Jamie Ogle. My stress levels were HIGH.
It gave off if The Hunger Games met Powerless met Gladiator. All with a slice of Heaven literally on top.
And the Baker Publishing box came with so many cool things applying to the book, including Jamie Ogle’s signature! I’m so happy hehe. I can’t believe I was able to read this before it even came out, and I’m so grateful for Jamie Ogle and the books she has created, cause they never cease to make me fall in love even more with Jesus.
Rating: ★★★★★
Triggers/things to note: Just kissing. Lots of violence. Gladiators and slavery. One main characters was defiled/assaulted (in past, account not described). Verbal harassment from some of the male gladiators.
*rapidfire smooches*
May 12, 2026
Daughter of the Rebellion follows the Visigoth tribe fleeing Hunnic incursions, moving closer to the borders of Empire and even infiltrating it. The Empire hires the men as mercenaries, but fails to deliver on its promises, leaving the tribe starving with little hope of sustenance, raiding the towns of the Empire to survive and to draw attention to their plight. After the battle of Pollentia in 402 AD, the captured Visigoths are sold as arena fodder.
Adelgard, a fierce war daughter of Alaric's tribe is among them. In Rome, she is acclaimed as a gladiatrix (female gladiator) and hailed as the fierce Amazon, in an Empire that's becoming Christian, but still revels in the horrors of the games.
Hard hearted, tough, giving no quarter not begging for any, Adel meets Felix, the medicus, a Christian, a man who treats her as precious and doesn't seek to take from her, but only give, and slowly her life changes.
Felix is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea: creditors breathing down his neck for his Pater's loans, basic familial needs and the increasing twinges of his very awake conscience that rebels against his working in a place that profits from sheer human misery and death.
Both Felix and Adelgard have difficulty trusting people and God but as events hurtle towards a stand off in the arena and the plans for rescue through the monks led by Telemachus a former Visigoth gladiator but now monk, gets more complicated, will they finally learn to trust each other, their friends and God? Most importantly, can they survive the day of reckoning with all the nasty surprises it has in store for them.
Jamie Ogle, neatly balances the fine tuned, thrumming tension throughout the book: you are always wondering what is next. It's lovely to see realisation slowly dawn on Adel as she confronts the various lies Satan has told her about herself and her situation, as God works in Adel through Felix. Felix's awakening is no less dramatic.
The final denouement in true Jamie Ogle style, is bitter sweet and what one expects from such a gifted author, but even here, there are surprises aplenty. I found myself hoping for good news all around. I was gifted an ARC copy, but the opinions expressed here are my own and the result of an excellent work of fiction.
Adelgard, a fierce war daughter of Alaric's tribe is among them. In Rome, she is acclaimed as a gladiatrix (female gladiator) and hailed as the fierce Amazon, in an Empire that's becoming Christian, but still revels in the horrors of the games.
Hard hearted, tough, giving no quarter not begging for any, Adel meets Felix, the medicus, a Christian, a man who treats her as precious and doesn't seek to take from her, but only give, and slowly her life changes.
Felix is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea: creditors breathing down his neck for his Pater's loans, basic familial needs and the increasing twinges of his very awake conscience that rebels against his working in a place that profits from sheer human misery and death.
Both Felix and Adelgard have difficulty trusting people and God but as events hurtle towards a stand off in the arena and the plans for rescue through the monks led by Telemachus a former Visigoth gladiator but now monk, gets more complicated, will they finally learn to trust each other, their friends and God? Most importantly, can they survive the day of reckoning with all the nasty surprises it has in store for them.
Jamie Ogle, neatly balances the fine tuned, thrumming tension throughout the book: you are always wondering what is next. It's lovely to see realisation slowly dawn on Adel as she confronts the various lies Satan has told her about herself and her situation, as God works in Adel through Felix. Felix's awakening is no less dramatic.
The final denouement in true Jamie Ogle style, is bitter sweet and what one expects from such a gifted author, but even here, there are surprises aplenty. I found myself hoping for good news all around. I was gifted an ARC copy, but the opinions expressed here are my own and the result of an excellent work of fiction.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Jamie Ogle's Daughter of the Rebellion is a balanced historical romance with action, strong main character development, lessons on love and faith, and plenty of interesting historical tidbits about the Roman empire in the gladiator age.
The strength of this book lies in the heart: not only the budding romance between Adel and Felix but also the author's clear hope that readers understand God's love for His children. This is a story of people in our lives who are worth fighting for, and the lesson stems from the author's depiction of Christ's sacrificial love for us. I was "all in" on the depth and tenderness of the romance between the main characters. Felix and Adel are a great pair; sharing the same wit, vulnerability, and threads of hope in their hearts.
The execution of the book left a bit to be desired. Specifically, the point of view and sequence of events was a bit choppy and inconsistent. I prefer stories with multiple points of view when there are delineated chapters or sections for each character's point of view. I think it just reads easier that way. This story, however, moves back-and-forth between the vantage points of each character, but in the third person. For example, I would just get comfortable reading a scene through Adel's perspective and then suddenly we're in Felix's head. I didn't always understand why the switch was made. Granted, some authors can do this type of switching very well. I felt that this story lacked the necessary transitions to make it a smooth reading journey.
Even though I didn't love the execution, I did love the romance and I do love a good gladiator story. And this is a good gladiator story. The author introduced aspects of the games that I never knew before -- the horrifying, fascinating history of the brutal past. The final few chapters are page-turning; action-packed and suspenseful.
I would recommend Daughter of the Rebellion for fans of historical fiction and romance as well as Christian fiction.
Jamie Ogle's Daughter of the Rebellion is a balanced historical romance with action, strong main character development, lessons on love and faith, and plenty of interesting historical tidbits about the Roman empire in the gladiator age.
The strength of this book lies in the heart: not only the budding romance between Adel and Felix but also the author's clear hope that readers understand God's love for His children. This is a story of people in our lives who are worth fighting for, and the lesson stems from the author's depiction of Christ's sacrificial love for us. I was "all in" on the depth and tenderness of the romance between the main characters. Felix and Adel are a great pair; sharing the same wit, vulnerability, and threads of hope in their hearts.
The execution of the book left a bit to be desired. Specifically, the point of view and sequence of events was a bit choppy and inconsistent. I prefer stories with multiple points of view when there are delineated chapters or sections for each character's point of view. I think it just reads easier that way. This story, however, moves back-and-forth between the vantage points of each character, but in the third person. For example, I would just get comfortable reading a scene through Adel's perspective and then suddenly we're in Felix's head. I didn't always understand why the switch was made. Granted, some authors can do this type of switching very well. I felt that this story lacked the necessary transitions to make it a smooth reading journey.
Even though I didn't love the execution, I did love the romance and I do love a good gladiator story. And this is a good gladiator story. The author introduced aspects of the games that I never knew before -- the horrifying, fascinating history of the brutal past. The final few chapters are page-turning; action-packed and suspenseful.
I would recommend Daughter of the Rebellion for fans of historical fiction and romance as well as Christian fiction.
May 3, 2026
“You, Adelgard, are a woman worth fighting for.” “They do not mean for you to survive.” “Then it’s a good thing you’re worth dying for.”
This fantastic book is filled with gladiators (and gladiatrices!), faith, love against the odds, following God’s leading, and sacrificial love! I very much enjoyed this glimpse into the life of a gladiatrix and the ludi. The story of Telemachus, his courage and love, is amazing. I loved the theme of God’s steadfast love that doesn’t change no matter our mistakes.
Adelgard (Adel) is strong, brave, and determined. I loved how she tried to help and encourage the other gladiatrices. I loved when she tried to stand up for herself and what she desired. I loved her begrudging friendship with Felix. When she realized how much she truly cared for him, oh my goodness! I will admit to a little worry that their happily ever after might not come. I loved Adel’s reconciliation with her family, it truly brought me to tears. Felix is intelligent, brave, and cautious. I loved his determination to care for his mother and sisters. His battle between his faith and his job as a medicus was intense. I loved his gentle, tender care of Adel. I loved how he challenged her way of thinking. I enjoyed seeing his faith grow and his obedience to God’s prompting. I loved his bravery in fighting for the Visigoths and his strength when his situation changed. Telemachus is devoted to the people he’s taken as his own. I loved how he encouraged and challenged Felix. His bravery and sacrificial love was incredible, truly!
A few more quotes:
“Touch me and it will be the last thing you do.” “Well as you’re bleeding out, and I’m the medicus, if you kill me, it’ll be the last thing you do.” “I will let you live. For my sake.”
“There is always a place for gentleness. It isn’t weakness. Rather a . . . power under control.”
“It is strength to rely on others when we have none of our own. It is a gift.”
This fantastic book is filled with gladiators (and gladiatrices!), faith, love against the odds, following God’s leading, and sacrificial love! I very much enjoyed this glimpse into the life of a gladiatrix and the ludi. The story of Telemachus, his courage and love, is amazing. I loved the theme of God’s steadfast love that doesn’t change no matter our mistakes.
Adelgard (Adel) is strong, brave, and determined. I loved how she tried to help and encourage the other gladiatrices. I loved when she tried to stand up for herself and what she desired. I loved her begrudging friendship with Felix. When she realized how much she truly cared for him, oh my goodness! I will admit to a little worry that their happily ever after might not come. I loved Adel’s reconciliation with her family, it truly brought me to tears. Felix is intelligent, brave, and cautious. I loved his determination to care for his mother and sisters. His battle between his faith and his job as a medicus was intense. I loved his gentle, tender care of Adel. I loved how he challenged her way of thinking. I enjoyed seeing his faith grow and his obedience to God’s prompting. I loved his bravery in fighting for the Visigoths and his strength when his situation changed. Telemachus is devoted to the people he’s taken as his own. I loved how he encouraged and challenged Felix. His bravery and sacrificial love was incredible, truly!
A few more quotes:
“Touch me and it will be the last thing you do.” “Well as you’re bleeding out, and I’m the medicus, if you kill me, it’ll be the last thing you do.” “I will let you live. For my sake.”
“There is always a place for gentleness. It isn’t weakness. Rather a . . . power under control.”
“It is strength to rely on others when we have none of our own. It is a gift.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is my third book by this author and I can now confidently say- I LOVE JAMIE OGLE'S BRAIN! Adel and Felix and Telemachus will be in my heart for a while...
- Historical backdrop: Not many Christian historical fictions take place during the time period when the Roman Empire and the teenage Emperor Honorius become Christian, but still holds on to their pagan traditions, especially one so dark as the fighting arena... It was so heartbreaking to see the Roman citizens' perspectives knowing the gospel but still choosing bloodlust. I also learned a lot about the relationship between the Visigoths and the Roman Empire.
- I know that Suzanne Collins' based The Hunger Games off of the Roman arenas but still, reading this book made me think SO MUCH of the Hunger Games... It also reminded me a lot of The Mark of the Lion Trilogy by Francine Rivers.
- I loved Adel and Felix!! Their tension. Their skill in their respective fields. And Telemachus- his story should be more known!!!
- Our past does not define us- we are and always will be God's image-bearers!
- I could not stop once I got to 75%- that last 25% was WILD! I got scared for our characters, knowing that Jamie doesn't shy away from heartbreaking endings, but was very satisfied by how it wrapped up.
- This story really made me realize that there are SO many believers I will get to meet later whose stories I never knew but were so important to the continuation of the gospel <3
Mahalo to Netgalley and Baker Book House for an E-ARC. All opinions are my own.
- Historical backdrop: Not many Christian historical fictions take place during the time period when the Roman Empire and the teenage Emperor Honorius become Christian, but still holds on to their pagan traditions, especially one so dark as the fighting arena... It was so heartbreaking to see the Roman citizens' perspectives knowing the gospel but still choosing bloodlust. I also learned a lot about the relationship between the Visigoths and the Roman Empire.
- I know that Suzanne Collins' based The Hunger Games off of the Roman arenas but still, reading this book made me think SO MUCH of the Hunger Games... It also reminded me a lot of The Mark of the Lion Trilogy by Francine Rivers.
- I loved Adel and Felix!! Their tension. Their skill in their respective fields. And Telemachus- his story should be more known!!!
- Our past does not define us- we are and always will be God's image-bearers!
- I could not stop once I got to 75%- that last 25% was WILD! I got scared for our characters, knowing that Jamie doesn't shy away from heartbreaking endings, but was very satisfied by how it wrapped up.
- This story really made me realize that there are SO many believers I will get to meet later whose stories I never knew but were so important to the continuation of the gospel <3
Mahalo to Netgalley and Baker Book House for an E-ARC. All opinions are my own.
March 17, 2026
(I received a complimentary copy of this title through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
I am a huge fan of Jamie Ogle’s books and have been so looking forward to “Daughter of the Rebellion.” In fact, this title has ranked high on my most-anticipated-list for the year!
I’ll get right to it: I loved it.
“Daughter of the Rebellion” tells the story of a hero of the faith whom we don’t often hear about: Telemachus, the monk who ended the gladiatorial games. This story is set in Rome in AD 403, and also closely follows a medicus and a gladiatrix, Felix and Adelgard.
Truly, I learned so much from this book!
The historical details are so rich and well-researched, and the Christian faith themes explored are done so beautifully and in such an impactful way. This book explores the inherent dignity of people made in God’s image, God’s mercy and grace, His presence even in dark places, God’s willingness to use broken people with sinful pasts, and more.
“Daughter of the Rebellion” is a Christian historical romance with no spice. Since this book does feature gladiatorial games, I would suggest checking content warnings if you are someone who prefers to know violence levels and things of that nature. If you’re curious about anything, as always, please feel free to send me a DM, and I’ll be happy to help you decide if this book is a good fit for you.
I highly recommend “Daughter of the Rebellion!”
I am a huge fan of Jamie Ogle’s books and have been so looking forward to “Daughter of the Rebellion.” In fact, this title has ranked high on my most-anticipated-list for the year!
I’ll get right to it: I loved it.
“Daughter of the Rebellion” tells the story of a hero of the faith whom we don’t often hear about: Telemachus, the monk who ended the gladiatorial games. This story is set in Rome in AD 403, and also closely follows a medicus and a gladiatrix, Felix and Adelgard.
Truly, I learned so much from this book!
The historical details are so rich and well-researched, and the Christian faith themes explored are done so beautifully and in such an impactful way. This book explores the inherent dignity of people made in God’s image, God’s mercy and grace, His presence even in dark places, God’s willingness to use broken people with sinful pasts, and more.
“Daughter of the Rebellion” is a Christian historical romance with no spice. Since this book does feature gladiatorial games, I would suggest checking content warnings if you are someone who prefers to know violence levels and things of that nature. If you’re curious about anything, as always, please feel free to send me a DM, and I’ll be happy to help you decide if this book is a good fit for you.
I highly recommend “Daughter of the Rebellion!”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Phenomenal! 'Daughter of the Rebellion' immersed me in a setting I had never explored before, the lives of gladiators in Ancient Rome. While it took a bit more focused reading in the opening chapters to fully grasp the environment, the payoff was well worth it.
I loved how Jamie Ogle weaves legitimate Christian history, including the story of Telemachus, into a redemptive fictional narrative. She clearly researched this era carefully, portraying the harsh realities of Roman and gladiator life with restraint and care. Though there is physical peril and difficult subject matter inherent to the setting, it never crosses a line, and I felt safe knowing this remained firmly within Christian fiction. Readers sensitive to intense danger may want to take note.
The romance is captivating, and the leads, Adel and Felix, are dynamic and compelling. Telemachus also receives his own POV, adding meaningful depth to the story. Like all of Jamie Ogle’s novels, my faith was stirred by the narrative. This book left me reflecting on what it looks like to love my “enemies” and represent Christ, no matter the cost.
Special thanks to Tyndale Fiction and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy. I received this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions expressed are completely my own.
I loved how Jamie Ogle weaves legitimate Christian history, including the story of Telemachus, into a redemptive fictional narrative. She clearly researched this era carefully, portraying the harsh realities of Roman and gladiator life with restraint and care. Though there is physical peril and difficult subject matter inherent to the setting, it never crosses a line, and I felt safe knowing this remained firmly within Christian fiction. Readers sensitive to intense danger may want to take note.
The romance is captivating, and the leads, Adel and Felix, are dynamic and compelling. Telemachus also receives his own POV, adding meaningful depth to the story. Like all of Jamie Ogle’s novels, my faith was stirred by the narrative. This book left me reflecting on what it looks like to love my “enemies” and represent Christ, no matter the cost.
Special thanks to Tyndale Fiction and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy. I received this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions expressed are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Daughter of the Rebellion is truly a powerful, evocative, and inspirational story. I was drawn to the premise of a female gladiator set in the time of early church history and was not disappointed. Adel’s story captivates from the get-go, and she commands your attention all the way through. The historical detail of what life was like for the gladiatrices was fascinating and so well researched. The attention to detail and how it wove into the story to enlighten the reader without feeling like a history lesson is an example of the author’s writing talent. Whether it was in training circles, the common city life, the social events, the separation of classes, or in the arena, the life of the characters was expressed in so many vivid details. This does not equate with gory. I did not find there to be any gory details and yet, the rigor, stamina, and danger of what these slaves and volunteers experienced was told clearly. Ultimately, the story bring honor to the memory and martyrdom of St. Telemachus, and it is a beautiful tribute. The story of Adel and Felix are but an example of what many others likely experienced in those turbulent times, but it was such an encouragement to see what lived faith may have looked like in that fickle society. I highly recommend this for those who love historical stories, rich with detail, complex characters, riveting action, and genuine faith expressed in all aspects of the writing.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Adelgard is captured after following her father to war, she is sold as a slave to a gladiator school. She is now a famous gladiatrix known as “The Amazon.” From the outside, it looks as if she loves the attention and cheers from everyone who witnesses her fighting but on the inside, she has deep pain.
Felix is a medicus at the gladiator school to help pay off debts that his father made and has now disappeared, so Felix has a lot of anger built up inside of him against his father. He wants to help Adelgard because he sees how broken she is inside. But when Felix is approached by two men who want him to free the captives of the school, he must decide whether it’s worth risking his life.
This story is about sacrifice, courage, faith, and surrender. Adelgard seeks her worth in all the wrong places. The void in her life can only be filled by discovering how God sees her. But she doesn’t believe that God sees her as chosen and beloved. She is not the sum of her mistakes and neither are we. We bear the image of God and are precious and worth fighting for. This was a beautiful story that shows that God’s love endures even when others’ love does not.
Thank you NetGalley and Tyndale Publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Felix is a medicus at the gladiator school to help pay off debts that his father made and has now disappeared, so Felix has a lot of anger built up inside of him against his father. He wants to help Adelgard because he sees how broken she is inside. But when Felix is approached by two men who want him to free the captives of the school, he must decide whether it’s worth risking his life.
This story is about sacrifice, courage, faith, and surrender. Adelgard seeks her worth in all the wrong places. The void in her life can only be filled by discovering how God sees her. But she doesn’t believe that God sees her as chosen and beloved. She is not the sum of her mistakes and neither are we. We bear the image of God and are precious and worth fighting for. This was a beautiful story that shows that God’s love endures even when others’ love does not.
Thank you NetGalley and Tyndale Publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Daughter of the Rebellion by Jamie Ogle, set in 404 AD featuring Roman gladiators and real life character Telemachus is such a different book from others I've read by Ogle. The main character Adel is from the Visigoth tribe (East Germanic people) and was taken as a captive by the Romans. She is such a complex and intriguing character. Felix is a Roman doctor and doesn't want to be working where he is, but he values the lives of the gladiators and strives to do what he can to help them.
The twists and turns in this story keep the reader engaged. There is such strong faith content in the book and the characters struggle in faith due to the challenges they face. I found it very interesting to learn more about Roman Gladiators and Gladiatrix, who were slaves along with the early medical treatment given to keep the gladiators going in the arena.
I liked this book, though I enjoyed the first two books Ogle wrote better than this one. I enjoy her writing style and the book is well done. She has such a unique voice in the Christian fiction world and can't wait to see what she writes about next.
Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The twists and turns in this story keep the reader engaged. There is such strong faith content in the book and the characters struggle in faith due to the challenges they face. I found it very interesting to learn more about Roman Gladiators and Gladiatrix, who were slaves along with the early medical treatment given to keep the gladiators going in the arena.
I liked this book, though I enjoyed the first two books Ogle wrote better than this one. I enjoy her writing style and the book is well done. She has such a unique voice in the Christian fiction world and can't wait to see what she writes about next.
Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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