This poetry anthology is one that I have multiple times read cover to cover like a novel, and I cannot stop absorbing every single poem she writes. This anthology delves deep into the Greek myths but also imagines the deities living in our times – Eros lost without Psyche as her immortality wanes, Aphrodite finally able to reach out to other women, Hera able to divorce Zeus, Zeus being held in court for his crimes. Every time I read one of these I think WOW then I read it again and I am speechless. Each poem (sometimes mixed with some prose) breathes life into the myths and reimagines the motivations and minds of the great goddesses of Greek Myth.
She is releasing Hekate soon and I absolutely cannot wait because I love her work so much!
I wasn’t expecting this but oh my goodness did I love it! We have this gorgeously vivid world full of little details and quirks that make it fantasy. It reads like a fairytale especially closer to the end – I read it was a beauty and the beast retelling but honestly it is so far away from the original and improved that I wouldn’t have made the connection otherwise! When I did realise it made for a happy discovery because then I could link all the little bits and pieces!
Tru as a heroine is so delightful to read because she bonds two of my favourite heroine attributes together: she is strong and has been strong in her own right for years and her ability is not ‘discovered’ by the romantic interest, it is something that she has already wielded for years on her own. She is a painter, forging early masters in dead artist’s style so that her and her family can survive on the little food and shelter that she can work for. Unlike a lot of heroines who are warriors she is a creative which was so lovely to read and definitely memorable!
The imagery and world of this book were honestly just exquisite especially for the first 30% or so when we were in Tru’s world. It felt so real and all the little details that had been added as we jumped into Tru’s ‘just on the slight side of illegal’ life style was honestly flawless.
I also love that Elizabeth Lin didn’t make Tru’s sisters unlikeable or vain or shallow like a lot of retellings and original versions do. It made it so much sweeter of a read for me that I wasn’t annoyed over that.
To the star ratings!
Romance – 4/5 – Soft Romance – This was such a lovely romance, I really loved the scenes they got together and the ending was just *chefs kiss*
Plot – 4/5 – While it was relatively predictable I still enjoyed it and as the focus was on th relationship and the resolution of the enemy I didn’t mind it!
Characters – 4/5 – honestly these characters were beautiful they were so distinct and yet tied together by various things that honestly I can remember them all – which I always like to be able to do by the end of a book! Some books characters just fade away instantly but these were really good and I enjoyed them!
World – 5/5 – gorgeous. Just gorgeous.
Age Recommendation: YA – 12+ – while I think that older readers would also enjoy this it is a romance that I would be happy to give to a 12 year old and it feels on the lower age end of YA.
I loved this one so much! The rapid plot takes us from Aphrodite’s birth from the sea and we get to see not only a retelling and a delve into Aphrodite’s myths which are often ignored in mythology retelling but Pierce also doesn’t flinch away from portraying a heroine who is vengeful and dangerous. Aphrodite herself narrates this tale and as she learns more of the world her perspective changes and we get this glorious depiction of Olympus in the eyes of someone who is on one hand only a few weeks old and yet cynical and powerful.
I love how other characters – especially her handmaidens reflect the world of Olympus. Anyone who is powerful, any woman who could be anything other than a marriageable pawn is reduced to a shallow facet of their true power and there is nothing better than seeing it unfold. Her handmaiden has experienced it before and yet Aphrodite is now experiencing it first hand but she can be supported by her.
I honestly can say that this will stay with me for a while! I can’t wait for another reread once it releases and a sequel because this stunning masterpiece has me hooked!
Bold, powerful and still loyal to the cruelty of the original myths with an exploration of personal power and patriarchy.
World – 5/5 – oh my goodness was the world beautiful and stunning in the cruelest of ways! Greek mythology retellings always have to bridge the gap between changing the myths beyond recognition and setting them in a time that allows the story to flow. Myths come from over thousands of years and so it is set in a relatively timeless but pre-Roman empire Greece just before the Trojan War.
Plot – 5/5 – how could it end like that? My one qualm with this book was the abrupt ending, I honeslty would have loved to see Aphrodite continue on her journey. We know from myth what happens but I would have loved to see Bryony Pierce’s interpretation of it.
Romance – 4/5 – Swoony B – Ares and Aphrodite is a couple that have gone down in myth for their affairs and yet their devotion to each other (if you ignore other paramours which aren’t present in this book) and the cruel separation by Zeus. The most infamous Aphrodite/Ares scene is present for fellow myth lovers but you could also read this if you know nothing!
Characters – 5/5 – complex, cruel and sadistic, these are the Greek gods and I love that they haven’t been changed because that is one of the things about the Greek myths. Their gods often were the worst of humanity and I enjoyed the parallel between what Aphrodite made the mortals do and what Zeus made her do which was very interesting.
Age Recommendation: Upper YA/Adult – 15+
Romance Rating: Open Door – Swoony C – very euphemistic, less than a page for one, less than a paragraph for another
Violence Rating: Level 6 – there is both physical violence throughout and fights as well as sexual violence which happens regularly and there is the threat of it throughout.
CW: SA, Rape, a lot of sexual undertones and innuecendo. If you are familiar with the golden net entrapment of Aphrodite and Ares naked from the myths that does happen and it is a particularly nasty bit because of the embarrassment and nudity and shame of Aphrodite.
Thanks to Net Galley and Ever King for this ARC! All thoughts and views expressed are my own!
13+B
I had high hopes going into this book I love Greek myths and assassin mcs which can sometimes make it harder for a book to impress me but
I loved this one!
We have a dark academia world full of little Greek myth details interwoven into a background of power and secret societies and I was captivated.
A dual POV of Kiera and Lucian sweeps us into a world that is similarly split between mundanes and mages, rich and poor, oblivious and oppressed. Kiera’s detailed focus on the mission at the beginning soon expands into wonder as we see through her eyes the magic but also corruption of the world! I really really enjoyed Lucian’s interactions with the Raven Society – often the mcs are alone fighting a war they are unsupported in but Lucian has the support from his peers allowing him and Kiera to split of taking one part of the quest.
The celestial magic of Kiera was honestly my favourite part of the book. I love love love the backstory of how the witches were persecuted and how that magic that some mages wielded in a slightly altered form was also persecuted and in the end it was almost completely wiped out and with it Heartstrings. The idea of fated lovers/fated mates can be a really hard thing to integrate with a relationship because it takes away the choice but Ever King neatly avoided this by showing the Heartstring was potential not binding and it grew as they trusted each other more! I could keep gushing forever but I need to move onto the star ratings!
World – 4/5 – when it was marketed as throne of glass x harry potter with Greek myths I was expecting it to be a darker gritty retelling of the love story but instead the world completely surprised me with the freshness. There are little Greek myth elements but the world has also drawn inspiration from dark academia, witch/mage grimoires and the idea of a society where the upper class have no idea that the lower class is suffering. Any YA book which is set at a school seems to be compared to Harry Potter and I can see why but I would definitely say that in my opinion it leans more into the romantasy academia than that series or Throne of Glass.
Romance – Smokey Romance/Fade to Black – 4/5 stars – I often have to be convinced of enemies-to-lovers. It is a much loved trope and I get it and love it when done well (I think all of my greatest loved books which have this trope are closer to the rivals-> lovers, ignorance of different experiences-> love or forbidden love which is actually very close to this books romance!) At first I found Lucian enigmatic and it was difficult to get a feel for how he interacted with Kiera and what I thought of that! Obviously she tried to kill him so that does put strain on the relationship at the beginning but I was convinced by the end that he was without a doubt a book boyfriend to add to the long list!
Characters – 4/5 – I liked the characters a lot, we had the assassin mc (a favourite of mine), a royal love interest (another favourite of mine) but where this really stood out was that Lucian was supported by other peers that didn’t just exist to reflect his power back at him. Lucian was never presented as the most intelligent of the group or the clear overlord or the most powerful despite being the leader and I really enjoyed all of their interactions!
Plot – 3/5 – The plot seemed to become the romance by the end (I know it’s a romantasy) and we do get the final fight scene and the quest but I feel like there are a lot of loose threads that I cant wait to see be picked up in the next book like the orbs and Edmund shifting in his seat at the mention of heartstrings???
Content Warnings: Self Harm (on page, brief, no detail), Panic Attack, (on page, brief), death of parent.
I feel like I have barely stepped into this rich world and I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
This book continues on from the battle at the end of the first book. usually, fantasy chosen ones just blaze around, killing people with any real remorse, guilt or horror. Faye, on the other hand, has PTSD and withdraws from the camp life. she is still part of the protectors, but the sights of any weapons freaks her out and yet she knows that she will be expected to lead the war as the most powerful being in the Ether. Telanes is the only one who she will let near her when she gets scared and their friendship (and maybe a little more) is cemented. Daron and Alec’s romance develops and the is a hint of a love triangle between Telanes, Faye and Marious (a merman prince) but as in the previous book, romance isnt used as the driving force and that makes far better than most YA. It is slower paced than the first book but that is needed as we explore more of the characters emotions. Most second books are worse than the first, but this is better!
World – 5/5 stars. just so gorgeous in general and i loved seeing the underwater world!
Characters – 5/5 stars – I just love them so much especially the minor characters and Telanes. Telanes might have to take a spot on my favourite love interests of all time list he is just so sweet.
Romance – 4/5 – Sweet Romance– love this so much, Daron and Alec are the sweetest (the only actual romance in this) and like i said above Telanes is just so perfect for Faye and I really hope that they become more than friends!
Plot – 4/5 – like the previous book, the plot is mostly driven by the characters and I enjoyed this on both my first and reread (and possibly third read i’ve lost count).
Things to be aware of: PTSD surrounding blood and battle but nothing too graphic. Some fantasy violence but not much 2/5.
Amazing read! It only takes a few things to change the normal genre of YA, and this book does it perfectly. I have read this a few months ago and reread it since. The story starts normally. Faye finds out that she is from another world. Handsome guy called Daron takes her there and shows her around. but what makes this book standout is that Faye herself doesn’t have a romantic relationship that dominates the book. In most YA, Daron would be her love interest, but in this other love stories surrounding the heroine provided the romance. That changed the entire book, the reader wasnt fretting or getting annoyed about who she was going to get with and so you were fully submerged in the story. Daron and his love interests romance is perfectly done, and it is nice to see gay representation in YA fantasy. I adored Daron’s relationship – and it made so much more sense as they had known each other for years and had had time to develop feelings and know each other.
Characters – 4.5/5 – Adore the main cast, Daron and Aaron are an amazing couple, and Daron is very sweet towards Faye as well. Faye is an excellent main character and not an insta-warrior which supports the story very well.
World – 5/5 – A fantasy world based of mythology? Yess!!!
Romance – 5/5 – Swoony A – Alex and Daron do have one scene where they sleep together, but less than a paragraph and very very euphemistic – I honestly would say that some Sweet make out scenes have more details but I still give it the Swoony A because they do technically sleep together on page.
Plot – 4 stars – it was a good plot, but the main focus was on Faye and the adjustment between two worlds and how she was leaving everything behind back home.
Trigger warnings/things to be aware of: Faye’s mother is brainwashed into not noticing that her daughter is missing for months on end. Centaur culture is very close to mythology’s wild representations and there are mentions of their ‘reputations’ which could be a suggestion at SA. Their culture also has a ‘mating circle’ that is never seen on page but mentioned in passing. Because of these, i have bumped up a 12+B rating into a 13+ but it isnt a violent 13+. There are two f-cks in case you mind the profanity but it isnt excessive. Alex and Daron do have one scene where they sleep together but is not described in any real detail and I wouldnt classify it as even 0.5/5 for spice as it is very very vanilla but that also bumps it up to a B.
Greek gods. Trials. Main character with revenge motivations?
I knew I had to read it and I really enjoyed this one.
The main character Ara is the little sister of other books. Her older sister Estella was taken as one of Zeus’s tokens to be part of the Immortal Games (but you don’t get immortality as a prize, just an open wish and I loved hearing what the others were going to wish for – all less selfish than Ara’s original wish). After Estella dies and Ara wakes up to her sisters crushed twisted body on the bed next to her all she can think of is revenge and Zeus’s life. She spends years training to be chosen as a token alongside Theron another boy who desperately wants the chance to prove himself.
The Immortality Trials themselves will end up sounding like the Hunger Games but they are most certainly not. The gods each have a token and they roll a dice to control what happens to their tribute in each trial. The tokens know their best chance is to stay together but they are also picked off and only one can win at the end – so what is their strategy? Zeus, Poseidon and Hades have a wager, whoevers token wins gets the other two’s thrones. And Ara is Hades’s token. Did I mention Hades doesn’t believe in violence and wont give her weapons like the other tokens have?
Anyway to the stars!
Plot – 3.5/5 – it was entertaining and quick paced but didn’t have quite the depth and complexity I wanted.
World – 4/5 – I enjoyed it! It was clearly well thought out and I liked having the dreamscape as well.
Characters – 4/5 – this got an extra star because of how great it was to hear why other tokens were so desperate to win – it is easy just to focus on what Ara wants but the others had legitimate and selfless goals.
Romance – 3/5 – Sweet Romance – I just, I don’t like Hades as a love interest. He just – I cant get over the original myths and he would need to be rewritten amazingly (read into a completely different person with no connection to the myths) for me to forget that (and a closer age gap! I have seen it done with mythology edited or made so that the gods are younger. Other than that I enjoyed it and also how her relationship with Theron changed during the trials.
Things to be aware of: some violence and death as well as betrayal.
I have read this book several times over the last few years and every time the vivid world and courage of Zahrah has returned it instantly to my reread pile.
In general, I dont read a lot of sci-fi, but this one stands out from everything I have read both in that genre and in general because of the world of Ginen and the kingdom of Ooni. It is vivid and detailed and in places very similar to earth (and they mention earth as a ‘legend’ which might be one of the best and memorable worldbuilding details I have read yet) but with a sense of otherness that really defines the sci-fi genre. All the technology in Ooni is made using plants which I love! Even the library is made up of a giant plant. Even the computers grow with the child, as they are plants, and their leafboards grow to perfectly fit the child they are growing for. I love all these tiny little details that make the world so vivid.
Zahrah has dada – vines growing in her hair – which sets her apart from her peers at school and causes her to be bullied in the beginning. As the story progresses, we learn there are more to the dada than just vines as Zahrah grows up and matures. It is a classic character arc, but one that is portrayed beautifully and believably and freshly. One of the things that can be difficult with a story that is focused on a physical Quest is that the characters become stagnant or do not have any character development past their acceptance of the quest. However, this book neatly avoids all the pitfalls and allows Zahrah to grow alongside and separately from her quest in the greeny jungle to find an egg to save her friend who is in a coma despite the fact that no nobody goes deep into the forest and there are horrific stories of people who even go on the outskirts.
Characters – 5/5 stars – They are all rounded and realistic and everyone around Zahrah has their own stories that dont rely on hers (especially the frog! I love a good talking animal and the pink frog is the best)
World – 1000/5 stars – I have gushed about it enough, but honestly this world is so refreshing to read as it isnt based on a pseudo-european medieval land but instead Nigerian myths.
Damsel in Delight 