#Review of Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii by @valvearshecter @NetGalley

This title will be released on May 27, 2014.                 When your world blows apart, what will you hold onto?

TAG is a medical slave, doomed to spend his life healing his master's injured gladiators. But his warrior's heart yearns to fight in the gladiator ring himself and earn enough money to win his freedom.

LUCIA is the daughter of Tag's owner, doomed by her father's greed to marry a much older Roman man. But she loves studying the natural world around her home in Pompeii, and lately she's been noticing some odd occurrences in the landscape: small lakes disappearing; a sulfurous smell in the air. . . . 

When the two childhood friends reconnect, each with their own longings, they fall passionately in love. But as they plot their escape from the city, a patrician fighter reveals his own plans for them -- to Lucia's father, who imprisons Tag as punishment. Then an earthquake shakes Pompeii, in the first sign of the chaos to come. Will they be able to find each other again before the volcano destroys their whole world?

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Vicky Alvear Shecter is the author of the young adult novel, CLEOPATRA'S MOON (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 2011), based on the life of Cleopatra's only daughter. She is also the author of two award-winning biographies for kids on Alexander the Great and Cleopatra. She is a docent at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Antiquities at Emory University in Atlanta. The LA TIMES calls CLEOPATRA'S MOON, "magical" and "impressive." PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY said it was "fascinating" and "highly memorable." The WALL STREET JOURNAL called it "absorbing."

This book was a good read. A romance through and through. The author did a great job describing the landscape and apparently did research regarding the historical time and place. The research was evident in the description of the historical sites, dress, and customs that were described throughout the book. There were times that I actually wanted and did look up the definition of a word just for a more in-depth description. I had continuous interruptions but that wasn’t a problem while reading this book.  If I’m engrossed in a book I can be pretty cranky when interrupted so it was nice that I was able to put it down and come back to it with minimal stress. All in all I would give this book 4 stars. A nice easy enjoyable read. Would make a great beach read. 

"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own. OR I purchased the book on my own."

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Posted in: 4 Stars, Netgalley, Review, Scholastic, Young Adult