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vivian01

No Glitter Blown

Honest reviews of things that caught my fancy, or not.

Currently reading

Art in Theory 1900 - 2000: An Anthology of Changing Ideas
Paul Wood, Charles Harrison
Male Colors: The Construction of Homosexuality in Tokugawa Japan
Gary P. Leupp
Daughter Am I
Pat Bertram
Lionheart
Sharon Kay Penman
Silver Bullet (Falls Chance Ranch #4)
Ranger, Rolf

Mark of the Gladiator by Heidi Belleau

Mark of the Gladiator - Heidi Belleau;Violetta Vane

Cunning, Blood and Transmutability

Love me some gladiators, but this one comes with a twist--gladiatrices. Hell Yeah! 

Smart and sexy this story combines an alluring cocktail of gamesmanship and sexual power in the ruthless ladder climbing of ancient Rome. Reading this is truly like watching the Wheel of Fortune spin, who the goddess favors is always changing. And who's in charge? That changes, too. 

This is a meticulously scribed vision of a slice of one family's life and the games they play. The power shifts within the household, the roles people act out and the truth hidden beneath it all--awesome. I figured out the way to the center of this maze rather quickly, but was not once disappointed in the story. If anything, watching the threads being laid down and woven to reach that end were a pleasure and not without a few unexpectedly delightful twists. 

Gods! The best part? Besides watching Rhakshna--yeah, I'm more than a bit bloodthirsty--every single character was both flawed and admirable. Plus the understatement employed to depict the grimmer realities were all the stronger with the gentle delivery. 

::So Happy::