In The Deadliest Sport, Miriam has reason to be afraid.
   
“I dread attending Binyamin’s bout but not because I’m afraid he’ll lose. He told me he’ll have an untrained opponent, a noxi, you know, a criminal, not a trained professional. Maybe it’s the thought of another death on my brother’s hands, or that free from his contract, he’ll remain in Alexandria for good. I don’t know myself. All I know is the bout is not until Wednesday, but already I’m as nervous as if I were fighting in the arena myself.”

Miriam has reason to feel dread, but not because of the bout. She knows gladiatorial combat isn’t the only deadly sport in Roman-occupied Alexandria.