This book is a beautifully crafted reimagining of the myth of Persephone and Demeter. The story is rich with emotion, exploring themes of love, loss, and identity in a way that feels both timeless and deeply personal.

The author’s writing is lush and evocative, painting vivid landscapes and delving into the complex bond between mother and daughter. The characters are compelling, with their struggles and triumphs resonating long after you turn the last page.

Fans of mythology and lyrical storytelling will find much to admire in this book. It’s a fresh take on an ancient tale that captures the raw humanity of gods and mortals alike. A truly memorable read.

Greek retellings are a little difficult as there has been so many. I feel like this one fell a little flat for me.

The pacing throughout the book felt so slow at times and then the ending somehow felt rushed at the same time.

Overall, I didn't personally enjoy this book as much as I was hoping. I am sure other readers will though.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.

I enjoyed this retelling, there aren’t many books that centre on the relationship between Kore and her mother, Demeter. The author did not shy away from showing some truly darker themes in this story, and I appreciate how she wrote about Demeter — she is not only a distressed, overprotective mother, but so much more! It was nice reading a different take on these characters.

Greek retelling always are a favorite of mine and this was no exception. I loved the writing it was beautiful and atmospheric and the pacing kept me interested throughout and wishing there was more. I really enjoyed the story in this one I have read many Hades and Persephone retelling but really appreciated the perspective and so much history of Demeter and Cor. This was my first book from this author but most definitely will not be my last. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

I like how the author doesn't shy away from the darker themes of greek mythology- even if I did find it a bit much at times. I really love a story from Demeters point of view as well because she is usually a side character as an overprotective mother.

Hannah Lynn’s novel retells the myths of Demeter, Greek goddess of grain, and her daughter Persephone/Core. Traditionally, Zeus is Persephone’s father without any background story. Lynn vividly fills that void, describing Demeter’s adoration of her younger brother Zeus when he rescues her from Cronus’s belly and then the transformation of that naïve hero worship into hate when he uses that trust to draw her off alone and rape her. So deep is her trauma, she withdraws to an island and for millennia fearfully protects her daughter from the gods’ notice—or so she thinks.

The narrative point of view shifts to unworldly Core, who chafes at her restricted life, cramped by her mother’s trauma. Eventually, Core seeks more in life with results at first happy and later devastating to both mother and daughter. All three of the Olympian brothers, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, commit acts of violence against the mother-daughter pair. The prologue announces, “This is the story of a mother’s loss and a woman so completely torn to shreds by her family that the whole Earth would suffer because of it.” This feminist rendering shows the lasting scars rape inflicts. Demeter may only want safety for her daughter, but in the process, she forces an unending, powerless girlhood on her daughter. Both Core and Demeter must break out of these anxiety-born limitations of character and grow—ironic for two goddesses whose touch makes flowers burst forth. Lynn’s portrayal of both characters grants them this complex development. To do so, she must draw a heavy line between these daughters of Olympus who feel fully human to the reader and the rest of the Olympians, even the other goddesses, who are unchangingly self-centered and vile.

Daughters Of Olympus
Hannah Lynn
4⭐️

Pub Date: 7/9/2024

This book is a part of the Grecian Women series but can definitely be read as a stand alone. This revolves around Demeter and Persephone, with the story starting from the very beginning- Titans vs Olympians. The plot is on a slower pace as it detailed the lives of both women, of how and why they made their decisions as they go. There was a lot of good detailing and character growth for both women. This has a clean plot, minimal spice. There's really no new information, but maybe a little bit of reimagining, of the known characters- Zeus is still a jerk. 🙄 I do wish there was more of Hades. I thought there were some good metaphors and symbolism here.

The writing style is nothing extraordinary that I could easily discern. But for some reason, it was done well enough that there's something about it that kept me glued to this story and kept me reading. Even if it got a little mundane. It's definitely something unique about it that kept me interested throughout. I say overall, it's a good read especially if you are a fan of Greek Myth, and the story of this mother-daughter duo.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for a gifted e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Persephone is my all time favorite Greek myth so I can say with absolute confidence this rendition of her story is perfection. It lives rent free in my mind daily. I love that Persephone wasn't such a timid, well-behaved daughter, but more of a people pleaser that wants to keep her mother happy out of love. I adore that Hades isn't this evil god, but more of an introvert that just wants happiness for Persephone. I found this novel to be both heartwarming and thought-provoking by it's end. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to be able to read and review this book!

As a a huge fan of madeleine miller i’ve been wanting to read this for a long time now as people have been saying that i would love hannah lynn as well. And they were not kidding. I ended up loving this book so much. If you are interested in mythology and love fantasy stories with amazing female characters, i’m sure you’ll love this one. The writing was flawless to read, i didn’t even realise i was almost done with the book within the day started. I am so glad i gave it a chance, and highly recommend.

a vastly sweeping and emotional retelling of the persephone myth. i've read hannah lynn's reworking of greek mythology since athena's child, and it's safe to say that daughters of olympus is her magnum opus.

Daughters of Olympus is a great addition for mature YA or new adult readers. If purchased for a public school, I would be a bit more cautious depending on environment and population.

I loved this so much! I love greek mythology but this one in particular once i started reading it i couldn’t put it down. So easy to read. I loved that she added Persephone’s mother (Demeter) perspective as well, it added a lot to the story and made it even more interesting!

very madeline miller, but kept a lot f the same flaws of hers as well! i love mytho works so this one is nice, but not perfect

I used to love Greek mythology in high school so I wanted to give this one a try! I found it to move pretty slowly and it didn't capture my interest. I had to put it down for now, but hoping to try again in the future.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This book was quite hard for me to get into, I personally love reading about the Greek Mythos and have read many series focused around them but this book just didn't capture my attention the way other authors have managed. I loved the perspective that was being taken and it was one of the few times I've read a book based around Demeter and Core and their relationship rather than each individually. All in all a fine read but wasn't my favourite, and I would probably have other mythology themed books I'd recommend before reaching for this one.

There is so much incest and rape in this story, it was at times hard to handle, but that's one of the bugs, so to speak, with Greek myths. One really has to be able to look past it, somewhat, to appreciate other features of these stories. Hannah Lynn doesn't shy away from these things, but doesn't, thankfully, dwell on the acts of violence, instead showing us these incidents affect the subsequent actions of the two characters at the heart of this retelling: Demeter, sister of Zeus, and Core/Persephone, daughter of Demeter and Zeus.

Demeter begins the novel just amazed by all the beauty and wonder around her. Zeus' selfish and monstrous (or should I say godly) acts of violence against Demeter send her and several nymphs away from Olympus, where Demeter eventually raises her daughter Core. Demeter's perception of everything around her has been damaged by violence, and she smothers Core, unwilling experience life away from the island. Wise words by a dying nymph help Demeter see she is harming Core, but she accepts it when Core begins exploring the world, and falls deeply for a human woman, whose death devastates the young goddess. Core is kidnapped later by Hades, and repulsive as this act is, along with Zeus' highhanded decision that prompted this, Hades does his best to treat Core with respect and kindness, giving her time to truly discover who she is and what she wants. Demeter, infuriated by Zeus and her daughter's kdnapping, goes to tremendous lengths to find Core, who eventually takes on the name Persephone and reunites with her mother. It's ironic, that terrible acts are what make the somewhat naïve Core into the powerful goddess that Persephone is.

I loved Hannah Lynn's take on Hades, whose kidnapping is awful, but whose subsequent actions did a lot to redeem him in my eyes. I still think that falling for your kidnapper as a story is horrible, but Lynn does a lot to distinguish Hades from the terribleness of the other gods on Olympus, who indulge their every whim and desire without consequence.

The bond between Demeter and her daughter was great, and only became better once Demeter learned to let her daughter Core go to make her own choices, which ultimately led to an even deeper relationship, and Earth experiencing spring each time Persephone returned from the Underworld.

I enjoyed this retelling, with its complicated mother daughter relationship, and the author's sensitive handling of the most terrible parts of this myth.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Core/Persephone is my absolute favourite character in Greek mythology, and I always welcome retellings about her. Especially when these retellings focus on her relationship with her mother, as that part of her story is so often erased with all the attention on her relationship with Hades. That was the standout quality of this novel in my opinion. I'm not sure I really liked Demeter, but I found her interesting and touching. I loved Core's growth and quest to gain autonomy and power.

Hannah Lynn's writing is very evocative and compelling and she sets up the world of her novels like no other. The publisher has kindly given me access to three of her works and they all share this quality. However, they also all share a tendancy to drag a little bit at times. But perhaps that is also because I am familiar with the myths and already know where we're heading. For this, I think maybe I'd recommend this book to readers who are new to mythology or myth retellings, more than to those very familiar with the myths already.

I would recommend this book for fans of greek mythology and interesting points of view. This was the second book by this author that I have read, and it was enjoyable. I found the beginning slow and hard to keep my attention, but once I was invested in the world, it was a great read.

Daughters of Olympus by Hannah Lynn is a captivating retelling of ancient Greek myths, focusing on the lives of Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, and her daughter, Core (later known as Persephone). The narrative centers around the complex relationship between mother and daughter, exploring themes of love, loss, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child. Demeter, who once thrived in the world, becomes reclusive after a traumatic event, while Core, bright and eager for freedom, struggles with her dual existence between the human world and the divine.

Daughters of Olympus stands out for its feminist retelling of classic myths, offering a fresh perspective on well-known characters. The novel's strengths lie in its character-driven narrative and thematic depth. While the exploration of heavy themes may not be for everyone, those who appreciate emotionally charged storytelling and mythological retellings will find much to admire in Lynn's work. The book’s ability to resonate on both an intellectual and emotional level makes it a commendable addition to the genre.

Daughters of Olympus is a powerful and thought-provoking read that successfully brings ancient myths into the contemporary literary landscape.