VESUVIUS

In Biehn’s debut, set against the looming threat of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, two young men race to prevent disaster in Pompeii.

Loren, an attendant at the Temple of Isis, aspires to join the council and help implement reforms that will help the city’s residents, but something hidden in his past complicates his ambitions. Felix, a wandering thief, steals the helmet of Mercury—an artifact said to burn anyone who touches it, although it doesn’t harm him—and is threatened by someone who’s seeking the powerful relic. Felix flees, seeking sanctuary in the Temple of Isis, where olive-skinned Loren recognizes him as the “copper-haired ghost” from his prophetic visions warning of Pompeii’s doom. Determined to uncover the connection between his visions and Felix’s immunity to the helmet’s powers, Loren joins Felix on a journey that takes them through a brothel, bars, and patrician homes. Initially adversarial, the boys’ relationship deepens into something more (Felix is bisexual, and Loren is gay). The narrative alternates between the teens’ perspectives; Felix is a troubled youth haunted by fragmented memories, and Loren is an idealist who’s yearning for recognition. Their bond feels authentic, adding emotional weight to the story. The richly described Pompeii setting immerses readers in its vibrant yet tense atmosphere as tremors foreshadow the eruption, although the climactic event itself feels underwhelming compared to the buildup.

A heartfelt and absorbing historical adventure with light fantasy elements.