Review of Amora

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Michaela West
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Review of Amora

Post by Michaela West »

[Following is a volunteer review of "Amora" by Grant Hallstrom.]
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3 out of 4 stars
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Amora by Grant Hallstrom is a historical fiction novel based on an unnamed woman that is written about in Justin Martyr’s petition to the Roman Senate. And follows this young woman through Roman high society and her family through life and the adventures it brings. Set during the reign of emperor Marcus Aurelius, this novel has all aspects of life we think about when we think of Ancient Rome. There are parties, gladiators, battles and even charity work as it was done by the wealthy women of the era. The story starts by following a young woman named Amora who is from a wealthy patrician family, as she marries a wealthy young senator and they embark on life’s journey together. There are moments of heartbreak and joy woven throughout as we follow Amora through a journey of love, struggle and forgiveness. With forgiveness and family being the main theme woven throughout the novel.
This is a well written story with lots of description and beautiful language woven throughout. There are moments of suspense that keep your interest in the story. Especially the first chapter that ends in a cliffhanger that you want to keep reading to figure out what happens. The plot is very well thought out and quite interesting to read. The historical aspects are very well researched and there is a note in the back of the book explaining the inspiration and direct historical derivatives that the author drew from. As well as including recognizable figures such as emperor Marcus Aurelius.
The big drawback for this book would be the fact that there are times where the story jumps a span of time, sometimes years in the middle of the chapter. With the seemingly random jumps it can make the reader feel lost for a moment while trying to figure out how long its been and what has happened to the characters in that time.
I would give this book a 3 out of 4 stars, only due to the occasional confusion associated with jumping spans of time with no warning. Overall this is a well written book with very little profanity and lots of clean, entertaining story line that I would recommend to my friends to read.
This book is one that would be enjoyed by people who read Roman historical fiction and enjoy realistic stories. As well as those who prefer stories that don’t have a stereotypical happy ending, or a predictable plot.

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Amora
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