The Greek gods are truly just one big happy pantheon family of D R A M A.

From start to finish, this is an excellent adventure novel that takes us all over mythological Greece. Daphne is a Sparta in all ways but birth. Her and her two brothers were adopted by a Spartan family, but no matter how much they train and or prove themselves worthy warriors, they can never measure up in the eyes of their fellows. After her one brother is turned into a deer by the goddess of the hunt, Daphne is forced to enter into a deal with Artemis. Nine items have been stolen from Olympus, the powers of the gods are failing, and Daphne must go with Apollo to recover them. Suddenly, this girl deemed lesser by the Spartans she fights for is now their only chance to save the world, and they don't even know it.

People say that Greek mythology is tired, but I am so wired for it. I fell in love with this and its adventure element almost immediately. It's actually more what I hoped Lore would be like. We face off against the Minotaur, a Sphinx and centaurs, rub shoulders with gods like Prometheus, Hermes and Ares, meet legends like Hippolyta and Theseus—and not once does it ever feel like it's too much to keep up with. In hindsight, this was a really clever book that takes so much already used to death and crafts something I found to be new and exciting. It's fast-paced and highly unpredictable as well. There were a few twists that were really well done, and there are threads of mystery that unravelled perfectly.

I really liked Daphne. There are a lot of characters—literal legends—in this book that could have easily drowned her out, but she held her own phenomenally well. The girl is a beast when it matters, and I am obsessed with that. Her Spartan training came in handy often, letting her show off to the reader without being cocky or overbearing. She's quick on her feet and terribly clever. Some of the moves she pulled had me smiling because damn girl! Her character was wholly believable and relatable, and I loved that for her. Almost from the start it's clear that there are questions about her parentage, namely who is her father because she is definitely not fully mortal.

From what I googled about the myth of Daphne and Apollo, this book is a very very loose retelling. There is absolutely a romance that stirs up between the two characters. I'm always unsure of where to land with god-mortal romances in YA. Like, Daphne, I know Apollo looks like he's 18 but he's actually 1001 and probably f*cked some questionable people and things. But also ... get your man, girl! Thankfully it didn't feel icky here, and was somewhat of a slow burn. I ship it **shrugs* I have to admit though, the cock-blocking wolf between the two of them was way funnier than it should have been.

This is the first in what looks to be a duology, but it wraps up really well and could almost be a standalone. There are still promises of what are to come, with a few mysteries still floating about, such as who is Daphne's father. You can bet I'll definitely be snagging the sequel first chance I can.

I love when I read a new retelling about a story/character I new absolutely nothing about. I really liked the premise of this book and getting to see the feats Daphne ended up surpassing. I'd like to take a moment to talk about Theseus in this book. I adored him he was such a good side character even though I was super bias against him because I'd just finished reading Ariadne in which he was not a good guy. I'm super intrigued by this premise and can't wait to read the next one.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

Daughter of Sparta is perfect for those who enjoy Greek mythology retellings. This is a reimagining of the classic myth of Daphne and Apollo, but with a female lead! Daphne must fulfill the quest of finding the nine missing items stolen from Mount Olympus. The book has incredible world-building and strong characters brought to life by Andrews' writing. The plot will keep readers on the edge of their seats! Highly recommended especially to fans of Greek mythology!!

Thank you NetGalley and Jimmy Patterson Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is for you if you love Greek mythology, quests, strong female characters, and quick pacing. There have been a couple of Greek mythology-based books that have been released so far this year and each brings their own spin to a popular genre. This book was just fantastic. The main character Daphne was such a powerful character whose growth was thrilling to watch. The storyline was well thought out and left the reader wanting more. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

This is a story about gods who find out they’ve been men all along.

Do you enjoy quests? How about Greek mythology? Brave heroines who rescue themselves… and their heroes? I’ve got a book for you! I really enjoyed this adventure- it integrated a wide variety of Greek myths & the pacing was quick without feeling rushed.

Thank you so much Netgalley & Jimmy Patterson Bookd for this eArc!

*I received a free arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

At the beginning of the year, I received a different YA arc by a more widely known author that was also a fun YA twist on Greek myths and legends. I had nothing but good things to say about Lore by Alexandra Bracken, and that holds true.

It's hard for me, having read both within months of each other, not to compare them. Honestly, there's not competition. Lore was a fantastic book but it doesn't hold a light to Daughter of Sparta.

Greek myths lend themselves well to YA novels to begin with. Daughter of Sparta is better researched, the writing and the story are more accessible (especially if you don't know or remember the original myths), and overall I just enjoyed my time with it more which is saying something as Lore did not disappoint.

I will say Lore lends itself better to younger YA audiences who have finished Percy Jackson, Daughter of Sparta is better for older YA audiences, the characters are more fleshed out, the romance is better. What I'm trying to say if that if you liked Lore, or you're trying to decide between the two, PLEASE DON'T SLEEP ON THIS BOOK.

The subject matter of course aligns it with Alexandra Braken's stand alone. The writing style and research reminded me of the Daevabod trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty. It was so good I could cry and I can't wait for the next installment. Please excuse me as I nip off to the bookstore to claim my own copy. What a gorgeous debut !

I’m an absolute sucker for anything Greek mythology, and this was no exception. I loved every moment, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!! Highly recommended to anyone who loves a good mythology retelling, including those who loved Percy Jackson as kids!

Enjoyed this mythically based novel! 3.5 stars

While it may be a bit slow-paced at the beginning, there is plenty of action once our MCs start their quest.

Daughter of Sparta by Claire Andrews
“You found pleasure in my pain! You enjoyed watching me fall!” I roar, darkness flooding my vision. “Now watch me rise!”
~~~~~~~~~~~
This is Claire’s first book and I was so stoked for it. I became a big fan of hers and she couldn’t get rid of me. I was lucky enough to win an ARC of Daughter of Sparta and then received a final copy of the book.
This book was absolutely amazing, I love Greek mythology and anything that has to deal with Spartan culture! So this was a dream book; and all the action was thrilling. I bookmarked so many things, and great quotes. The characters were great, really loved the way the main female character, Daphne, was portrayed. Incredible strength, healing, character growth, and overall just so much badass all in one person. Then for Apollo, the characteristics of this god were absolutely spot on! The way he interacted with the other gods, the way he interacted with mortals, the way he interacted with Daphne.
The storyline as a whole was astonishing, I loved how detailed Claire was with staying with what the Greek mythology has told us. From the way Claire wrote, in talking to her, and in watching her interviews for Daughter of Sparta; a reader can really see the commitment she had to this story and how she really wanted to stay true to it. But yet, she wanted to add some of her own little twists and turns and made it spectacular.
So if you love Greek mythology with a little bit of a fictional twist, Daughter of Sparta is absolutely an incredible new choice in the new book world! And thank you so much Claire for all the hookups with this book! I can’t wait for book two!

Daphne, a warrior from Sparta, has sought to be accepted her entire life; however, Daphne was brought to Sparta with her brothers by their caretaker when she was a baby, which makes her a Mothakes, or one who is allowed many liberties but not full rights as a Spartan citizen. When Daphne’s brother Pyrrhus doesn’t show up to run the Chase during the festival of Carneia, she opts to take his place, hoping that this will earn her the respect her family deserves. Daphne’s trek into the Taygetus forest earns her an unexpected audience with Artemis, who tasks Daphne with a quest to assist the gods. Roping her in with threats and promises, Daphne picks up Apollo, Artemis’s twin, as a traveling companion and sets out across Greece. During her adventures, she tackles the Minotaur and the Sphinx while running across allies like Theseus and Hippolyta. But when the gods are in play, Daphne finds herself interwoven into a plot that could see the downfall of Olympus as well as all of Greece, including Daphne’s beloved Sparta, and as the conspiracy begin to unravel, Daphne also discovers that her origins may be more complicated than she originally thought.

Utilizing the format of the quest narrative, Claire M. Andrews produces an epic tale that doesn’t waste much time jumping right into the action. Andrews immediately sets up the premise of Daphne’s journey and the novel sees her moving throughout Ancient Greece taking on one task after another. The author’s note that Andrews provides helps deal with the discrepancies that her reenvisioned telling might cause for classicists, noting that myths are ever changing and that history is written by the victors who are usually men. By offering Daphne agency to create her own story, Andrews provides a character worth rooting for.

When examining the myth of Daphne and Apollo, it is worth noting that Daphne is a relatively helpless character who is reliant on her father’s assistance to rebuke Apollo’s advances. By revising this myth and offering Daphne her own power, the reader can see that Daphne is not a damsel and she can save herself. In fact, she often saves many of her companions on their journey. As a reader, this provides a strong, independent character to which the reader can be attached.

It would be remiss to discuss the myth of Daphne and Apollo without tackling the love story. As a young adult novel, I suspected that Daughter of Sparta would be an enemies to lovers trope, and for the most part, I was correct; however, I appreciated that throughout the novel, Andrews didn’t cheapen Daphne, and she chooses herself more than she chose any growing feelings for Apollo.

As a second book has been announced, some readers may wonder how severe the cliffhanger is in this installment. I was pleasantly surprised that minus one or two answers Daughter of Sparta could stand on its own. I found the ending to be satisfying as it closed this chapter in Daphne’s saga. That’s not to say that I don’t want more. Andrews provided a need for those answers that weren’t supplied and a desire to see Daphne continue to face more challenges. I know I will certainly be tuning in for the second installment.

Final note, there is a glossary and I would recommend referencing it for some of the Greek terms throughout the novel. I will say that I initially missed the glossary, and though it would have been helpful, much can also be gleaned from context clues.

What an adventure! I absolutely loved this story! It had a strong Spartan female protagonist, lots of adventure, greek mythology, and a touch of romance. Everything I could want in a story! I am looking forward to continuing this series, and I highly recommend reading it!

A feminist take on Greek mythology with a rarefied diverse group of female characters. I loved the twist of Artemis being an anti hero and so mysterious, This novel avoided the overdone trope of Zeus being the villain of Greek mythology. Perfect for those of us who were raised on the "Percy Jackson" books and now want to read something similar,

This had a really solid start to me but then fell short through to the ending. I enjoyed the characters and the nods to mythology but with how saturated the book world is right now with these types of books I didn't think it stood out. as much as I wanted it to.

What a creative retelling of Daphne and Apollo. Feminist and adventure filled, touched by romance too. I received this novel as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this take on Greek mythology and the story of Daphne and Apollo. Daphne is not annoying in her stubbornness and is noble in her quest to save her loved ones. This is very much an enemies to lovers story with a lot of banter, but it also has a lot of action. We also get to meet a variety of different Gods and new takes on the myths. It’s a good read.

I really loved diving headlong into an epic quest filled with Greek Gods and Goddesses and a very stubborn heroine. I enjoy Greek mythology and though my knowledge on the subject isn't great, I still felt the author did a really great job weaving in the different gods and their abilities. Daphne made for a really great MC. She has a take no crap attitude and is brave and determined without being annoying or idiotic. The choices she made in the book felt true to her character. I loved the added banter and humor throughout the story that really lifted it up. Some of the scenes are a bit dark and the humor really helped break those up. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Greek myth retellings and fantasy books with epic quests.

Daughter of Sparta is loosely based on the myth of Daphne and Apollo. This sprawling fantasy adventure follows Daphne, one of three adopted siblings of a nobleman in Sparta who wants to be accepted as a Spartan. She engages on a quest to save her family and all of Olympus with the help of Apollo whose powers are waning. Along the way other mythology characters and gods play various roles. Notably, unlike the myth, Daphne is unaware of her origins.

I believe teen readers will enjoy the story for any variety of reasons: action, adventure, gore, romance, mythology, vengeance, belonging, family loyalty, etc. The pace of the story was quick throughout despite the book’s heft. The cover is beautiful but did not quite fit with the character’s description in the text.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

ARC provided for review by NetGalley and Jimmy Patterson Books for an honest review of the book.

This book delves into Greek myths and mythology and falls right into one of my favorites areas! It is a loose retelling of the story of Daphne and Apollo. It’s so hard to not give away details about the story but just know it’s amazing and so are the characters! It is based around a quest which is very engaging and action packed. It delves into enemies to lovers romance but with Daphne being reluctant based on how she knows the gods manipulate and use humans.

I’m definitely excited for the next book and can’t wait to see what happens with Daphne in the future.

Daughter of Sparta was such a fun book and it took me right back to my early teenage fascination with Greek mythology. This was a fast-paced quest story led by Daphne, an incredible female warrior raised in Sparta. I loved every step of her journey and I had so much fun reading Claire Andrews' spin on familiar and not-so-familiar myths.

Daughter of Sparta was a phenomenal debut and a must read for anyone who enjoys Greek mythology retellings and YA fantasy. It was a fun read that had me escaping from the real world every time I picked it up. I loved Daphne's story and had so much fun watching her journey across Greece on her quest. The only issue I had with this book was the changes to some characters' stories that the author put in. I like my retellings to stick a little closer to the actual myths than this one did at times. Otherwise, this one is one I'll definitely be recommending to others.