The Gladiator by Carla Capshaw → Start Date: March 7, 2016

[Vicki]

Drishti, Dolce, Ashlyn and I would love it if you could join us when we read this for our movie challenge!

[Ashlyn]

Thanks for making the thread!

[Ashlyn]

Do we want to read 7 chapters a day to finish by Thursday?

[Vicki]

That sounds reasonable to me. I wasn't able to start it today but I know I can finish it by Thursday.

[Ashlyn]

I was only able to read about two chapters today, but I will read more tomorrow.

[Vicki]

Ch. 7

Marcus (view spoiler)[is a despicable human being and an awful uncle! He not only sold Pelonia, but would have sold her to a brothel and then liked to her cousin and said she was kidnapped...ugh! (hide spoiler)]

Caros (view spoiler)[is a decent person, I think. Even though he has slaves and has killed people he definitely has a thing for Pelonia. I think he's tender hearted toward her. (hide spoiler)]

Pelonia (view spoiler)[has found a way to get Caros to listen to what she believes about Christ. Good move! (hide spoiler)]

I am Christian so (view spoiler)[stories like this that test one's faith have a special interest to me. I love that Pelonia is human and questions God and where He is when she needs Him but at the same time she comes back to her belief and trusts in God. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

I have read through Chapter 6. I'm too tired to read Chapter 7 tonight, so I will read it in the morning and post then.

[Ashlyn]

Vicki wrote: "Ch. 7

Marcus [spoilers removed]

Caros [spoilers removed]

Pelonia [spoilers removed]

I am Christian so [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 7

Marcus (view spoiler)[I completely agree with you! I cannot believe he told Pelonia's cousin that she was kidnapped! How could he have sold his own niece? (hide spoiler)]

Caros (view spoiler)[It seems a little strange that he is jealous of the idea that anyone else would talk to Pelonia. I feel as though he is a little obsessed with her. Especially since he is willing to whip someone who told lies about him to Pelonia. (hide spoiler)]

Pelonia (view spoiler)[I feel her getting Caros to listen to her was all the sudden. She seems a little unsure of herself. I mean she will embrace Caros one minute, and then run away or tell him someone mean the next. (hide spoiler)]

I usually (view spoiler)[don't mind reading books with God mentioned throughout, however, this one is a little over the top for me. I feel like that is all the book is about, so it takes away from the story. (hide spoiler)]

I can't stand that the paragraphs aren't separated somehow when it goes to another character. It is very confusing, and usually takes me a little bit to realize what is going on.

[Vicki]

I agree that the book is a little "preachy" but because I am Christian I am enjoying the message that I'm gleaning from it.

Ch. 14

Pelonia (view spoiler)[is obviously falling for Caros. I do feel like she probably loves him but doesn't want to because he's not Christian and she fears he'll not be accepted by her family. I am predicting that he will turn to Christ because of her example and eventually they'll be marry. (hide spoiler)]

Caros (view spoiler)[is really trying his best (although he's still selfish for keeping her) to win her over and change some of his ways. I find it funny that he wants to see her jealous because the ONLY reason she would be jealous is if she cares for him. (hide spoiler)]

Marcus (view spoiler)[is even more disgusting now that I've read how he's also (what appears to me) duping his family out of Pelonia's family's entire estate and money. (hide spoiler)]

I understand why Caros (view spoiler)[won 't rape Pelonia, or at least I hope it's not only because he cares about her. I think he would not want or be able to rape after seeing his own mother and sisters raped...how AWFUL to be forced to watch that! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapter 14

I completely agree with your predictions. I am having a hard time with this book. I feel like (view spoiler)[their jealousy towards each other is a little overwhelming. I think the author should have toned it down a bit. Also, I feel like she only loves Caros because he rescued her. It seems like she loves him but doesn't at the same time. She likes him when he is kind, but immediately after she finds a reason to dislike him. I guess I just don't like the back and forth. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

I can see where you are coming from because Pelonia is definitely (view spoiler)[conflicted. But for some reason I get it. I think she is conflicted because of her faith and because she isn't sure his feelings are anything other than a conquest. But I can see why you dislike that. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

I think (view spoiler)[Caros needs to see her as more than a conquest. He should not keep her there because he wants her. He should realize that she would love him if he set her free, not held her captive. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

I completely agree, but I do think (view spoiler)[he sees her as more than a conquest. I think he has genuine feelings for her. They are in a world where slaves were common. So for him to give her special treatment would be unusual, I think. I DO agree that she'd definitely look at him differently if he would not keep her for his own selfish reasons though. So I agree with you on that. I think he is "learning" and that eventually he'll give her a choice of some kind. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapter 21

Caros (view spoiler)[I wanted to slap him in the face when he told Pelonia that it wouldn't matter if she was his slave or his wife because he would own her either way. I'm glad that he finally let her go, but I am surprised that he wouldn't try to get her back and that she didn't visit him. (hide spoiler)]

Marcus(view spoiler)[ I hope he doesn't do anything to Pelonia! Maybe him and Caros will get into a fight? I wonder why he was even invited to the party. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

I agree with you about Caros saying what he did about her being his slave or his wife; however, (view spoiler)[I do believe that at that time women were considered property so I can understand why he would have felt that way. But of course I've never like women being "property" even historically. (hide spoiler)]

Finished the book and I really liked it a lot.

I absolutely loved the (view spoiler)[very end when Pelonia was brought in the arena and the "vicious" tiger was let loose. LOL Oh my gosh! I'm in love with CAT. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

I also liked at the end (view spoiler)[ that Cat was the tiger. The only thing I didn't really like was that the fight was made out to be really hard for Caros and that he might not make other out, but he didn't even seem to break a sweat. I guess I was expecting something else based on the buildup. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

There is a book about Alexius:

and one about Quintus and Adiona:

[Vicki]

Ashlyn wrote: "I also liked at the end [spoilers removed]"

I have to agree with you. But I guess Caros was (view spoiler)[such a fighter that he could "easily" take them on. I must say it was due to things like that that I didn't rate it 5. Too many unbelievable things. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Those are pretty good finds! They aren't even in the same series, right? I think The Gladiator is a standalone, isn't it?

[Ashlyn]

I have no idea. I just saw in a review that there was going to be books from other characters points of views, so I looked it up. I'm assuming they take place after this one because of the characters.

[Vicki]

Are you interested in reading them, or did The Gladiator kill it for you? LOL

[Ashlyn]

I don't think I would buy them, but I would read them if I can get it from the library. I love the time period it was set in.

[Vicki]

Okay, I'll check my library too.