What do you think?
Rate this book
131 Days #5
To Thunderous Applause
Strength. Honor. Death.
The fighting season continues, with Goll realizing he might have killed one opponent too many. Confronting the wrath of a dead gladiator’s stable, he discovers a much more vengeful force behind a slew of blood matches.
While the gladiators fight within the Pit, Brozz fights for his life in a much different arena.
Escaping an attempt on his life, Borchus finds refuge with an old friend.
Struggling to both recover from his wounds and find a purpose in a little village, Halm of Zhiberia discovers that giving up a pit fighter’s life isn’t quite as it easy seems. Nor is it solely one man’s decision.
And all the while, in the west, a monstrous enemy makes itself known and positions itself to strike at both the games and Sunja’s heart.
This is blood sport at its finest.
At its worst.
At its longest.
RUNNING TIME => 13hrs. and 44mins.
©2018 Keith C. Blackmore (P)Podium Publishing
The fighting season continues, with Goll realizing he might have killed one opponent too many. Confronting the wrath of a dead gladiator’s stable, he discovers a much more vengeful force behind a slew of blood matches.
While the gladiators fight within the Pit, Brozz fights for his life in a much different arena.
Escaping an attempt on his life, Borchus finds refuge with an old friend.
Struggling to both recover from his wounds and find a purpose in a little village, Halm of Zhiberia discovers that giving up a pit fighter’s life isn’t quite as it easy seems. Nor is it solely one man’s decision.
And all the while, in the west, a monstrous enemy makes itself known and positions itself to strike at both the games and Sunja’s heart.
This is blood sport at its finest.
At its worst.
At its longest.
RUNNING TIME => 13hrs. and 44mins.
©2018 Keith C. Blackmore (P)Podium Publishing
- GenresFantasy
Audible Audio
First published October 9, 2018
21 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Keith C. Blackmore
38 books911 followersBooks are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and others.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 5, 2026
Another great read in this series. I have started book six, that one being the most recently published, and it leads me to believe that there will be eight to ten volumes in the series. 131 days is, I believe, the total days involved in the competition. Each volume starts within hours of the previous book’s ending. If you start in the middle of the set, you will probably be completely lost. You really need to read these starting with volume one.
In the city of Sunja, there is a yearly gladiatorial competition. The winner is set for life. Hundreds enter the tournament. There are about a dozen gladiator houses and we get to know the owners very well as the story goes on. Each house has a different amount of fighters available. Since these gladiators are part of a house they receive daily training along with food and shelter. They also receive, of course, part of the winnings when they are successful.
Other men want to also take their chances, but are not part of a gladiatorial house. These are known as Free Blades. Four of these men gather together and decide to open their own House. They have to meet the monetary demands of a council and find a taskmaster and trainers.
We get to know these four very well. Each has a separate view on the games as well as life. They are so well written that we worry about them as they fight.
At the same time there is a threat to Sunja by the Nords. This is another country who have been soundly beating the armed forces of Sunja. Will Sunja itself be invaded? I don’t know, but it is looking like it may occur.
The books include dozens of subplots. There are scenes of romance and war and are a joy to read.
In the city of Sunja, there is a yearly gladiatorial competition. The winner is set for life. Hundreds enter the tournament. There are about a dozen gladiator houses and we get to know the owners very well as the story goes on. Each house has a different amount of fighters available. Since these gladiators are part of a house they receive daily training along with food and shelter. They also receive, of course, part of the winnings when they are successful.
Other men want to also take their chances, but are not part of a gladiatorial house. These are known as Free Blades. Four of these men gather together and decide to open their own House. They have to meet the monetary demands of a council and find a taskmaster and trainers.
We get to know these four very well. Each has a separate view on the games as well as life. They are so well written that we worry about them as they fight.
At the same time there is a threat to Sunja by the Nords. This is another country who have been soundly beating the armed forces of Sunja. Will Sunja itself be invaded? I don’t know, but it is looking like it may occur.
The books include dozens of subplots. There are scenes of romance and war and are a joy to read.
August 21, 2025
After feeling like the last book drug on, this was a much needed change of pace! I was back to being fully engaged in the stories and all the schemes and mysteries unfolding between the gladiatorial houses. The banter between Clavellus/Goll/Mulluk will always be some of my favorite scenes, as well as the newer added banter between Torello and Garl.
There was a lot happening to where I felt on the edge of my seat, and we did get a few measures of closure! I did not expect to cry and also be so thoroughly disturbed at the same time by the ending!
Overall this story felt very cohesive, and I am looking forward to the next book to see the conclusion of all the unanswered questions!
I will also be forced to start saying “gurry” and “brazen he-bitch” because it’s just too funny and I cannot get them out of my head. 10/10 series
There was a lot happening to where I felt on the edge of my seat, and we did get a few measures of closure! I did not expect to cry and also be so thoroughly disturbed at the same time by the ending!
Overall this story felt very cohesive, and I am looking forward to the next book to see the conclusion of all the unanswered questions!
I will also be forced to start saying “gurry” and “brazen he-bitch” because it’s just too funny and I cannot get them out of my head. 10/10 series
June 22, 2024
4/5 stars
0.5/1 ★ for plot
1/1 ★ for characters and character development
1/1 ★ for writing style and narration
0.5/1 ★ for pace
0.5/1 ★ for world-building
Overall, another fun read in the 131 Days series with the exceptional voice and accent talent of narrator John (Rafter) Lee!
Book 5 focuses on the blood matches against Goll, while tragic deaths take place off the arena sands.
To get a bit nit-picky, books 4 and 5 aren't as well-paced or as focused on each character like the first three books. Book 4 essentially omitted Halm, while book 5 said, Pigknot who?
Now that I'm all caught up on this series, I hope it won't be long to read book 6!
0.5/1 ★ for plot
1/1 ★ for characters and character development
1/1 ★ for writing style and narration
0.5/1 ★ for pace
0.5/1 ★ for world-building
Overall, another fun read in the 131 Days series with the exceptional voice and accent talent of narrator John (Rafter) Lee!
Book 5 focuses on the blood matches against Goll, while tragic deaths take place off the arena sands.
To get a bit nit-picky, books 4 and 5 aren't as well-paced or as focused on each character like the first three books. Book 4 essentially omitted Halm, while book 5 said, Pigknot who?
Now that I'm all caught up on this series, I hope it won't be long to read book 6!
June 28, 2019
A bouncy sort of story, To Thunderous Applause often drifted—in my opinion—way too frequently between characters. Also, to my disappointment, there wasn't as much Gladiatorying (I guess? This needs to be a word, we should make it a word) as I hoped, given the title.
Still, a damn fine story as reading goes. I enjoyed Halm's recovery with his new found love, Borchus's struggle, Goll's ever-forward quest for the grand prize.
Of the 5, this is my least favorite. That doesn't mean the book isn't worth reading. Quite the contrary, it's vivid, bloody, even gross at times. All the gory things you'd come to expect from Keith's writing.
The book borders an unfocused plot, drifting between warfare, jailhouse shenanigans, and the meat of the previous four books. As enchanted as I am with the series, I don't think it matters. If you've made it this far, you might as well gear up and finish the ride.
PS: I'm not sure how far into the 131 days this book is. Has anyone counted the days?
PPS: The king is a prick.
Still, a damn fine story as reading goes. I enjoyed Halm's recovery with his new found love, Borchus's struggle, Goll's ever-forward quest for the grand prize.
Of the 5, this is my least favorite. That doesn't mean the book isn't worth reading. Quite the contrary, it's vivid, bloody, even gross at times. All the gory things you'd come to expect from Keith's writing.
The book borders an unfocused plot, drifting between warfare, jailhouse shenanigans, and the meat of the previous four books. As enchanted as I am with the series, I don't think it matters. If you've made it this far, you might as well gear up and finish the ride.
PS: I'm not sure how far into the 131 days this book is. Has anyone counted the days?
PPS: The king is a prick.
September 18, 2024
The series just gets better and better. I really love the fantasy Rome element and the characters and their relationships. The story is very gripping and the writing enhances the experience, at times providing extremely vivid and real scenes that really put you in the moment and the story. I would love to continue to read more of these books if this superbly talented writer decides to move forward with more installments. I can't wait to hear what happens next. I definitely recommend this book to anybody who likes this author or are learners or students of Roman history, as this fictional fantasy world mirrors our reality very closely and authentically brings it close to our historical home.
June 16, 2020
Great series. Please keep them coming, Mr Blackmore.
August 21, 2023
I found a significant portion of this installment in the series to be quite boring.Having finished this, I can honestly say that I have no desire to wait around on the next book in this series.The previous books were awesome and set the bar high. This one doesn’t measure up.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews