Race to the Death

Race to the Death transports readers to ancient Rome, where twelve-year-old Dido dreams of becoming a charioteer in the Circus Maximus. The daughter of a trainer at Rome's famous hippodrome, she has grown up around horses but faces obstacles due to her gender and social status. When Dido becomes entangled in dangerous political schemes at the circus, she must navigate both the treacherous world of Roman politics and the high-stakes arena of chariot racing. Her journey involves uncovering conspiracies while pursuing her forbidden ambition to race. The novel combines historical detail about ancient Roman chariot racing with elements of mystery and coming-of-age storytelling. Through its exploration of class barriers, gender roles, and political intrigue in ancient Rome, the book offers young readers insight into both a fascinating historical period and timeless themes of determination and justice.

Readers describe this middle-grade Roman adventure story as fast-paced and engaging for young fans of historical fiction. Many reviewers note the authentic details about chariot racing and life in ancient Rome. Liked: - Strong female protagonist Dido - Educational elements woven naturally into the story - Action sequences, especially the racing scenes - Clear explanations of Roman terminology - Friendship dynamics between characters Disliked: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - A few readers wanted more depth to the secondary characters - Several mentioned the plot was predictable Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (180 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.6/5 (89 reviews) Amazon US: 4.5/5 (42 reviews) One teacher wrote: "My Year 6 class was completely hooked. The racing scenes had them on the edge of their seats." A parent noted: "My 11-year-old learned about Roman history without realizing it - the story came first."

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🏛️ Annelise Gray worked as a press officer at the British Museum, where she developed a deep passion for ancient Roman history and culture. 🐎 The book's setting in ancient Rome's chariot racing world is historically accurate - the Circus Maximus could hold up to 250,000 spectators, making it the largest sports arena ever built. 📚 Before writing fiction, the author published non-fiction books about ancient Rome under the name Annelise Freisenbruch. 🏆 Chariot racing was Rome's most popular sport, with top charioteers becoming celebrities who could earn fortunes equivalent to millions in today's money. 🎯 The novel's main character, Dido, was named after the legendary Queen of Carthage - a significant figure in Roman mythology who appears in Virgil's Aeneid.