“The Queens of Themiseyra” by Hannah Lynn is the third book in the “Grecian Women” series. As this book is about the Amazonian Queens Hippolyte and Penthesilea, who are quite clear they are not Greek, I found it a bit odd to have them in this trilogy - but, well, whatever; both women did spend some time in Greece proper. So, to the story. I’ll be honest, my knowledge of the Amazons was minuscule before reading this book (Wonder Woman & helped Troy against Greece), so I found some online sources to help fill in my knowledge gaps — and went down rabbit holes about them along with Hippolyte, Penthesilea, the battle against Athens, along with Theseus, Aegeus, and Hippolythus (whew!). If you know the myths (or related myths) great - you may find this take on them an interesting one. If, like me, you had to really jog your memory (or put the stories into memory) you may also find this an interesting read. The one thing I will say is that I did have problems with Hippolyte basically falling apart when Theseus was around … he’s a pain in the rear and a manipulator (basically just like I thought he would be with the whole Minotaur thing). While my heart cried for Hippolyte to grow a spine … well, Ms. Lynn decreed that it not happen (sigh). I found reading about Penthesilea interesting - and a nice balance to Hippolyte. A strong recommend - just be aware that Ms. Lynn took some different myth stories and cobbled them together as best she could - which is never easy.

I have been sitting on this review for almost a week trying to decide where to rate this last book in the trilogy. I loved the first two books in the series with the first being my favorite, but the third book - not so much.

I was never a fan of Theseus in Greek Mythology. I always found him to be arrogant and self-centered. He always seemed to think he was better than everyone else and boasted about his heroic deeds. Despite his bravery and skills as a warrior, I couldn't get past his egotistical nature.

I also found his treatment of women to be reprehensible. He abandoned Ariadne and Phaedra, two women who loved and supported him, without a second thought. His abduction of Hippolyte and his treatment of her as a trophy rather than an equal also left a sour taste in my mouth.

This was the daughter of Ares, God of War, owner of the zoster, whom she willingly gave to Heracles because he needed it for his twelve labours. She was the Queen of the Amazons, a woman who went to battle even against men.

She turned him down time after time and it seemed that Theseus does not like to talk NO for an answer. Any other good hero would have bowed his head in knowing defeat and moved on. Nope, he drugs her, abducts her from her world and when her sisters come to save her, she tells them she doesn't want to leave...that she knows he loves her in his way.

If this isn't a case of Stockholm Syndrome, I don't know what is.

While I love that Ms. Lynn is expanding on other myths outside the heavily saturated world of Hades and Persephone, this book was not my favorite. It may be due to that I found Theseus's character unbearable, arrogant, and selfish. I never liked him at all, which may be why I found this tale not to my taste.

I hope Ms. Lynn continues to dive further into the Greek and Roman world of myths and bring us tales that need retelling.


*Disclaimer: Thank you to the author, her publishers, and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. The opinions of this review are mine and mine alone.

Queens of Themiscyra is the final book in Hannah Lynn’s The Grecian Women Trilogy. It opens us up to a version of the story of two queens of the Amazons— Hippolyta and Penthesilea. Following Hippolyta as she is swept away from her people to be queen of Athens, and Penthesilea as she steps into her new role as Queen of the Amazons, the reader is taken on a journey of sisterhood, love, vengeance, and heartbreak. A fitting story for anyone seeking to read a Greek myth that has never been retold before.

Going into the book, I was curious what tale Lynn would choose to spin as the stories of Hippolyta vary so greatly and are quite vague. The emotions that Hippolyta’s trials stirred in me were immense; I rejoiced with her, I wept with her, and I was furious on her behalf. Likewise, seeing the grow of Penthesilea was rewarding.

However, throughout the book I often found myself wondering when it would end. I would check what page I was on and be confused that I was not yet even half way through. The story seemed to stretch on longer than necessary with an abundance of filler descriptors, many that were well written and pictorial but sometimes felt poorly placed or too long. At some points in the middle of conversations I felt I was ripped away from the dialogue by a long paragraph of internal ramblings of the character. Likewise, many of the chapters ended so abruptly, seemingly trying to add dramatic effect to statements but simply causing me annoyance at the odd point of narrative breaking.

That being said, I was so drawn into the story, desiring to know how Lynn would choose to play out the chronicles of these fierce queens. Looking beyond my own discontentment of certain writing choices or missed writing errors, I still connected with the women. Even though I knew how their stories would end I was still yearning for Lynn to choose to rewrite their endings.

I believe Hannah Lynn did a wonderful job intertwining different versions of the tales of the Amazon Queens to create an all-encompassing account of their legacies.

*Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I love Greek retellings, but haven’t picked up much about Hippolyte, and her sister, or the Amazonians. I was happy to have a chance to read this book, and go in blindly.

I love the story and possibilities, but wished it would have been more about women empowerment, and less rushed at the end. Overall it was a 3.5 for me, rounded up.

Another Greek mythology retelling fiction books. This book focuses on the Amazons like Hippolyta and Penthesilea. If you have watched Wonder Woman, these names and characters should be familiar. I was never really exposed or have any prior knowledge to Amazonians before reading this book besides from Wonder Woman films. The problem with this book as I was reading it is the quick pace and a lot of unnecessary stuff added to the characters to give them character like rape. Also, when I bought this I had an impression that this is a women empowerment book, but its an ehhh on that side

This is a difficult one to review. Although I thought the writing was solid it sucked the way things fell apart for the Amazons. Definitely a hard book to read as the Amazons were quite revered. The ending of the story felt a bit drawn out and could have been shorter. It was a decent book that I would suggest others check out but it was tough watching that story go down. 3.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

╰► 4.5/5 ⭐️ 1.5/5🌶️

I want to thank Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also, fair warning, this review will have spoilers.

Why is this the first time I've sought out a book about Hippolyta? Not only was her character amazing, strong, and wise. I found that Hannah's depiction of her gave her so much dimension. I recently read Athena's Child by Hannah, and absolutely fell in love with her writing style, and I feel like she goes above and beyond for this novel.

I loved Thesus and his dedication to Hippolyta, the fact he kept returning to her to prove he wished to be with her. And their connection seemed very realistic, they had a lot in common, there was passion, a softness, and a respect. I loved that she would grapple with him, as a warrior would, but ultimately fall for him in the end. I personally forgive him for kidnapping her, they were too great of a match for her to ignore him and pretend she didn't want to be with him.

When he started to somewhat resent her for not looking at him as her equal when it came to fighting, and he was angry, I found it so hard to completely be annoyed at him because I understood his side. She doesn't trust that he is strong enough. Buttttt then he returned from killing the Minotaur and my heart broke for Hippolyta. Woooow what a 180 Theseus done. Hannah did a great job of making me love him and then all of a sudden hate him. I genuinely felt betrayed.

Anyone who's read Hannah's work and wondered if you should read more, I highly suggest picking this book up! There is passion, romance, war, blood, longing, sadness. Everything that you want in a Greek tragedy!

My rating system:

⭐️: Not my vibe at all.
⭐️⭐️: I finished it, but I didn't have a good time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Yeah, that was fun. I enjoyed myself. I probably won't reread it, but it was fun.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: I loved it and want to read more from this author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Perfect, amazing, everything I love in a novel!

I usually really enjoy Greek retellings, but this book I just could not get into. Perhaps it was my mood at the time but I just didn’t care about the characters and I feel like the book as a whole was much longer than it needed to be.

I ordinarily really loved mythological retellings, but I've never read one about Hippoloyte and Penthesilea and their lives on (and away from) Themiscyra. Knowing little about these myths, I dove in with an open mind and really enjoyed reading it. Lynn's writing helps to bring a real voice to these deities that doesn't feel forced or make the reader feel obtuse (I can feel that way with some retellings). The plot induced enough curiosity in me to keep the pages turning.

'Queens of Themiscryra', while focusing on a distant past, deals with familiar themes of sisterhood, war and peace, love and betrayal.

I haven't read the previous books in this series but I feel like I may need to!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for an e-arc of Queens of Themiscyra, all opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I rather liked this retelling. First, it’s about characters we have seen less in the Retellings that have been so popular lately, so that makes this unique to start. But the writing and pacing was also very well done and so I felt immersed in this story.

I love retellings of all sorts. To me retellings are how we continue to keep the myths alive and relevant. This is a wonderful retelling of the Amazon women in Greek mythology. As someone that hasn’t revisited many Greek myths since childhood I enjoyed this version.

I have always found the Queen of the Amazons to be an imposing figure. Many Greek myths tend to be misogynistic, and I appreciate how Lynn tried to give unique voices to Hippolyta and Penthesilea, but part of me expected more gumption from daughters of Ares. Overall I enjoyed this retelling, but I think Lynn’s skill of writing largely makes up for the unlikable characters.

Oh gosh this book. It made me so angry, sad, and hopeful throughout. What can we expect when it comes to Greek Mythology right? Women generally never win. However reading Hannah Lynn's take on Hippolyte's life in Themyiscryra as Queen, then her life away from her people, and her family as she navigates life as a married woman. So many feelings.
This is a retelling that is thrilling, heartbreaking, and written so well. I would recommend it to anyone who likes mythology, love, sisterhood, family, and retellings with strong female characters.

I received this book from Sourcebooks and Netgalley for this review. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are on my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Queens of Themiscyra was a fast paced and exciting foray into Greek Mythology, with extra focus on the lives and experiences of female characters, particularly, the Amazons.

The writing is incredibly immersive and really establishes itself in the Ancient World. The characters are complex and well rounded, I was eager to follow their progress throughout the novel.

The plot was well paced and followed the source material well enough that I wasn't finding myself annoyed at the inconsistencies.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmarked for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book was completely hooked from the first page and couldn't put it down definitely recommend

Not too sure about this story. Why did we romanticize Hippolyte and Thesus?! I can’t get behind a book glorifying rape culture and making the woman so weak. This story just isn’t for me. So disappointing after I loved the first two books in this trilogy.

I love retellings of mythology! I find them to be fun and fascinating reads. This is definitely one of my favorites and possibly the best within this series. I was hooked on this story from start to finish. It is a very emotional story, as many of these are, and it impacted me profoundly.

I think these might be my favorite two characters from any mythology retelling I’ve read thus far. I love that we get perspectives from both Amazon queens. I just really felt a connection with both of them and I enjoyed the ways in which we explored their relationship to each other and with other characters.

I loved the themes of female empowerment and their group of badass warrior women. It was interesting to see how they relate to the world as whole in contrast to the way that women are viewed and treated elsewhere - seeing powerful men quake in the presence of such distinguished women. I also loved the connection these women have to horses. As a horse person, I felt this really strongly and I loved the bond and respect they shared with them.

We get to experience this story over many years and throughout many trials and tragedies. I really enjoyed the writing style and voice. The plotting is fast-paced and exciting. The lore and world-building are engaging. It delivered on everything that I could want from this type of story.

This was just such a magical and all-encompassing experience. I can’t speak for its accuracy, as I’m not that knowledgeable when it comes to Greek mythology. But I think one of the great things about myths and legends is that they lend well to interpretation, expansion, and for writers to explore their own creative purpose with.

I highly recommend to any readers that love mythology and retellings! I will definitely be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Queens of Themiscyra" by Hannah Lynn presents a captivating narrative set in ancient Themiscyra, focusing on the lives of Hippolyte and Penthesilea, queens of the Amazons. The story promises a rich exploration of sisterhood, war, peace, love, and betrayal in a mythic retelling that may resonate with fans of Madeleine Miller and Claire Heywood.

The premise, with Hippolyte being swept away by a love that takes her away from her people, sets the stage for emotional conflict and personal growth. Meanwhile, Penthesilea's leadership in Hippolyte's absence introduces elements of ferocity and terror, adding layers of complexity to the characters and their relationships.

The mention of Themiscyra, Amazons, and the legendary king Theseus creates a familiar backdrop for readers with an interest in Greek mythology. The themes of war and peace, love and betrayal, and the emphasis on sisterhood suggest a narrative that delves into both the strength and vulnerabilities of these powerful women.

For those who enjoy mythic retellings and stories that blend historical elements with rich character development, "Queens of Themiscyra" seems like a promising read.

🪓 ARC REVIEW

What a thrilling ride from start to finish! Complex characters, all with their own stories and epiphanies. Loved reading this one, couldn't put it down for the last couple chapters.

Although I liked the book I do have to say I was skeptical of reading another Greek mythology retelling that focused on unlikely characters. Hannah did a good job of staying true to the source material while keeping the reader guessing and eager for more. I especially loved that she chose to tell a story about the Amazons.