Hannah M. Lynn's Daughters of Olympus is the historical fiction retelling of Demeter and Persephone. This story is told primarily in two parts, covering Demeter's story and then Core's POV. It is a story of love, grief and heartache. Demeter: a goddess of life, living half of one. Demeter, one of the Olympians birthed from the Titans, like Zeus, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon, wanted nothing but to enjoy the beauty of the earth in bloom with her daughter at her side.

The other Gods, especially her brother Zeus, may be cruel and callous, but they have underestimated what the Goddess of spring is capable of. Demeter did not always live in fear. Once, the goddess of spring loved the world and the humans who inhabited it. After a devastating assault, though, she becomes a shell of herself. She decides to leave Olympus behind, and make a living among the nymphs who protected her, and her only solace is Persephone. Where Persephone is taken, Demeter turns the world into a place where nothing can survive.

Before she was Persephone, she was Core. Core is as bright as summer and devoted to her mother, even during their millennia in exile from Olympus. A balm to her mother's pain, Persephone grows among wildflowers, never leaving the sanctuary Demeter built for them. But she aches to explore the mortal world--to gain her own experiences. Naïve but determined, she secretly builds a life of her going further and further away from home.

She secretly builds a life of her own—and as she does so, even falling for a human who she makes plan to spent eternity with. Until she catches the eye of a powerful god named Hades and the rest you already know. Forced into a role she never wanted, Persephone learns that power suits her. Especially if she can spend time with the woman she fell in love with. Until she is betrayed by a demon into eating a pomegranate and is forced to remain in the Underworld for eternity as the Goddess of the Underworld.

In the land of the living, though, Demeter is willing to destroy the humans she once held dear--anything to protect her family. She even challenges Zeus to try to stop her which makes the situation even more dire for the humans on Earth. A mother who has lost everything and a daughter with more to gain than she ever realized, their story will irrevocably shape the world. Is there a solution that will make everyone happy? Of course!!

This is such a beautifully written story. I've always loved the stories of the Olympians and their sense of privilege with no thought to consequences, but Hannah Lynn has built a world above and beyond the Olympians. She has so skillfully shown each of them in three dimension that it's hard to believe no one has tried this before. She almost makes them human!!! Lynn focuses on the women and their children as they serve Zeus' court. She builds this world and pulls readers in as observers to the world of those with power who must now face the consequences of their actions. This is like no other book I've read before. I absolutely loved it and recommend it to anyone who loves the Olympians or has the curiousity to see what could be in that world.

Everything about this book is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
I think I went through every emotion reading this, such and enchanting read.

The relationships. Beautiful.
The romance. Beautiful.

The book is split into parts which lets you immerse yourself in one character fully without jumping around too much. The details and adaptation is honestly so realistic and depicted perfect in a way that does the subject matter and story so much justice.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC.

2.5 stars

This book took me far too long to finish. The pacing was incredibly slow but somehow the ending still felt rushed. This was possibly due to the repetitive nature of the book, where we are following the perspective of 2 characters with the first section of the book focusing on Demeter and then the second focusing on Core.

However I did enjoy elements of the story, in particular seeing more of Core's backstory and relationships before being taken by Hades and the theme of women empowerment and what that looks like for these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.75!

"I was a goddess, but you made me a queen. I had power, but you were the one who showed me how to be powerful"

This was such a complex book and such a well written story with morally grey characters that'll most definitely break your heart in two pieces 😭 its about sexual assault and the aftermath of it. its about a bond between a mother and a daughter and the lengths a mother would go through to protect her child. It's about friendship, It's a story about grief and loss and coping with it, it beautifully showed that you may never be rid of grief but you can always accept it and move forward. It's about betrayals and finding new paths and all of it in the words of Hannah M. Lynn, one can not ask for anything more 🤍

I am in awe 😭 the way this story delivered on every single frint!! The way it had me gasping and being torn and going from hating characters to loving them, all of it to make me fall in love with the world and piecing my heart back. Hannah M. Lynn out did herself with this novel because the writing style was so beautiful and I've always praised her for her writing style before but this one was so fucking beautiful. So immersive and ethereal, the way she describes everything with so ease without making you feel bored, you just go along with the flow of the writing and again I have said it before and I'll say it again, if her books are ever adapted, they'll be amazing because the way it's written makes you feel you're in an adaptation and its so beautiful. I honestly do not read that many Greek myth books, the most I've read are like 12-13 and it's not typically the genre that I go for but for this book I'm so glad that I requested and it got approved because this quite literally changed my life. It altered my brain chemistry and the way some of the moments are etched into my mind 🥺🙏🏻

Demeter, how I would give everything for you to live on a beach in peace with your daughter and your nymphs happily without a trace of any of your disgusting brothers 🥺 she tried, she always tried to be good and she showed love and compassion and purity and support and even when all of it got lost because of Zeus and what he did to her, she still tried to maintain and compose herself as she was and tried to love her children and she tried again and again to be good despite being tormented, loosing her loved ones and in grief until her daughter Core goes missing that would be her breaking point and all the actions that took place after that were justified (except for what happened to the nymphs) and the people who were to blame were Demeter's brothers and sisters.

Persephone, before she took that name, she was only Core a daughter who was loved dearly by her mother and who stood with her when she saw the unjustness of the Olympians, a woman who wanted to speak happiness, a goddess of life, a woman who wanted to love, I love how her love and grief was depicted and even when she went into the underworld and changed her name, I love how she processed her grief and was willing to move on. I also loved how she became the goddess of life and death.

Hades, this version of him is easily my favorite!! He wasn't some big asshole, possessive and one who'd growl or grunt. He was shy and cute 🤭 he was so different and I loved this take. He was respectful and treated Persephone like a queen, gave her time to process everything, gave her space, gave her his whole kingdom, allowed her to process her loss and was willing to give her up for her to be happy, for her to go back to the land of living and this is Hades that I fell in love with. He was understanding, smart and respectful and showed Persephone a part of her that she lost a long time ago, the part where she loved herself, where she felt strong and that was just beautiful.

Zeus, Poseidon and Hera, they can never make me love you. Y'all are for the streets. The things that Zeus and Poseidon did are the reason why women hate men these days because idk how a someone can do that to anyone and Hera is the biggest doormat ever and if she was in this world she would be the one who started 'pick me' culture. I hope they rot and burn in the deepest parts of hell.

The mother daughter bond was something in this book that I loved more than the romance because I loved how the books that was formed between the two was so strong and I loved where Zeus was ready to sell her daughter off, Demeter stood up and defended her, where Zeus was tormenting Demeter, Persephone stood up for her mother. The depiction of fear and trauma was so well done because the scene where Persephone goes into the underworld and is screaming 'rape' and 'help' hit me so hard it showed how deeply Demeter being abused by her brothers affected her and it showed how she thought that she would have the same fate 💔 and lastly I loved how Demeter tried to protect Persephone from the things that she faced.

The romance was so beautiful, I don't want to talk about Demeter' because it'll be spoilery or about Core's relationship before she became Persephone but her with Hades was beautiful ❤️ it was everything that I look for in a romance and they are easily the best Greek myth couple.

I've already talked about the plot and I loved how it was composed with the time jumps and part 1 being dedicated to Demeter and part 2 to core and how some things made sense as you read both of the point of views and how realistic the emotions described felt. One thing with the plot was, is that I felt that it resembled the problems in the real world and it depicts how unjust it is, how unreasonable it is and how thousands if women go through this and some are left without seeking justice. It was truly beautifully depicted.

Overall, I loved this book and I would honestly urge everyone to read this story.

Growing up I’ve always loved Greek mythology, so I jumped at the chance to read this. Especially since this was about Persephone. The first part focused on Demeter and I realized that I didn't know her story as well as I thought. Her story is tragedy after tragedy after tragedy, and when Persephone is taken she just snaps. This telling paints her in a new light and adds layers to her instead of just showing her as an overprotective helicopter mother. Her reaction is so much more understandable. When it switches to Persephone's POV I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She's just trapped and when she finally gets her freedom she just blossoms. First with Ione and then later with Hades, who also isn’t as villainous as the myths show him. All in all I feel this built beautifully on the myths and is probably one of my favourite retellings of Hades/Persphone, I will have to check out more of Hannah Lynn’s stories.

Rating 4 stars
*I received a review copy from NetGalley for my voluntary and honest review

Daughters of Olympus" by Hannah Lynn is a captivating retelling of ancient Greek myths, cantered around the lives of the often-overlooked daughters of the gods. Lynn masterfully blends mythological lore with fresh, imaginative twists, creating a narrative both familiar and original. I particularly enjoyed the LGBT+ representation throughout Core's story and found it a refreshing take on a very well known story.

The story follows the lives of several key female figures from Greek mythology, focusing on 2 POVs: Demeter & Core (Persephone) Each of whom tells their myths from their own perspectives. I particularly enjoyed the comparison between Core and Demeter's story, that of mother and daughter set in the same timeline, showing how perceptions and justifications of a situation can be drastically different but also familiar.

What sets "Daughters of Olympus" apart is its focus on the resilience and agency of its female protagonists. Lynn delves into their personal struggles and triumphs, offering an exploration of themes such as power, love, and identity. The characters' journeys are compelling and relatable, making the ancient myths feel relevant to contemporary readers.

Thankyou to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an earc in exchange for an honest review

I would like to preface this review by saying thank you to Sourebooks Landmark for sending me an ARC of Daughters of Olympus.

Daughters of Olympus follows the story of Demeter and her daughter Core, more famously known as Persephone. For the most part, I don't usually enjoy retellings of Persephone and Hades as most writers romanticize their relationship. But, this retelling tells the truth of what really happened. This story was rich in greek mythology and thoroughly researched. I found this retelling to be imaginative and heartbreaking. I have read several books by Hannah Lynn and I trust that she is excellent at what she does: bringing life to the untold stories in greek mythology.

'I am the daughter of Olympians. I am the Goddess of the Underworld. I am Persephone. This is my story'.

I wasn't aware of the mythology around Demeter, her daughter Core and how Core became Persephone, Hades' wife. This story is told primarily in two parts, covering Demeter's story and then Core's POV. It is a story of love, grief and heartache. It reminded me of the two adages, 'better to have loved and lost' and 'if you love something, set it free'. Demeter's consuming, smothering love for Core ultimately leads her into danger. Whereas, Hades' love is unlimited and not corroded by fear, 'He loved me enough to let me leave'. I never would have dreamt of the God of the Underworld having such a heart but, it actually makes sense; he cares for everyone's souls.

You need to turn a blind eye to the ick of incestuous relationships and forced relationships - this is just Greek mythology. Once you do, you're sure to enjoy this very readable, descriptive and detailed story about finding your sense of self worth and inner strength.

'I was a goddess, but you made me a queen. I had power, but you were the one who showed me how to be powerful'.

If Hades is the king of simps, Zeus is the king of men with small pp energy. But enough about them as the book is about other peeps.

I loved both Demeter's and Persephone's character growth. I wanna be like them when I grow up. Demeter showed a great deal of feminine rage as she should. You go my goddess! She didn't deserve the abuse as much as Persephone didn't deserve the never ending confinement.

If this review feels a bit chaotic my apologies as I can't sleep and it is almost 1 am and me lil brain is not operating as usual. Peace out and may the men like Zeus never get a day rest.

I will never ever tire of Persephone/Hades retellings. Hannah Lynn’s retelling is one that gives varying perspectives that I related to on a heart level.

Without going into too much detail, Core is Demeter’s daughter, the result of a vicious assault. Demeter is a protective and loving mother who is all to aware of the brutality that awaits her daughter. When Core is abducted and taken to Hades, we hear her side in what starts as a terrifying ordeal but soon becomes a freeing experience.

The fight between gods is brutal and bloody but I’ll leave that for the reader to discover and delight in.

Beautifully written and hard to put down. Hannah Lynn is an author that should be on every book lovers shelf.

Another dynamic retelling of Greek mythology from Hannah Lynn. I find Hannah Lynn's approach to the stories of the goddesses & gods in the Greek pantheon to be fresh and insightful. She explores common themes & feelings like love, loss, despair, grief, and the desire to live life in a way that makes us truly happy. Hannah doesn't give a basic retelling of Hades & Persephone nor does she create a dark romance filled with steamy sex scenes. Rather I was immersed in the world of the Greek gods & goddesses from the beginning. Lynn takes us on a thorough exploration of Demeter's life and how that impacts Core/Persephone. I felt deeply empathetic towards Demeter and her many losses. Lynn is masterful in creating the tension between understanding Demeter's deep fears & also Core's need to be free. Once Lynn turned her attention to Persephone's story I was swept away in the adventures of exploring the beauty of Hellas.

I was surprised and intrigued by Lynn's depiction of Hades. Normally he's not portrayed as hesitant or unsure. Hades gets a much more nuanced personality than he is sometimes allowed. While I enjoy the traditionally dominating, dark portrayals of Hades this was a more humanizing & accessible look at the King of the Underworld. Again I was captivated by Lynn's prose as she makes the Underworld come alive. I felt like I was part of Persephone's self-journey as she embraced her power. If you enjoy Greek mythology, women gaining power & realizing their true worth then Daughters of Olympus is a must read.

Such a wonderful and beautiful retelling! I am a huge Greek mythology fan and was very excited to get an early copy of this! I truly loved the different perspective of the book and being able to see from Demeter’s gave me a whole new outlook. I enjoyed the overall feel and imagery this book brought to life!

My enjoyment of novels re-imagining Greek myths and figures continues. Knowing I was going to be seeing Hadestown in the spring, I decided I needed to try to get a preview copy of Hannah Lynn’s new novel The Daughters of Olympus, given its focus on Demeter and Persephone. The mythology surrounding Hades and Persephone is some of the toughest for modern writers to tackle because of how infamously problematic the origin of their relationship is. So far, Lynn’s approach to that relationship is the first one I’ve read that didn’t make me want to put down the book altogether (so many writers get caught up in the aesthetic of Hades and Persephone and either gloss over the creepy/horrifying beginnings of their marriage or glorify it along with all of its disturbing elements. Lynn’s take walks a fine line beautifully on that front, though I had a difficult time with first getting through the first section of the book with its narrative focus on the bleakest depiction of Demeter I think I’ve ever read.

From the earliest days when her younger brother Zeus freed her from the belly of their father, Demeter has enjoyed blessing mortals with her gifts simply because she adores them and not because she desires their worship of her. Clashing with Zeus over the various ways he has violated and abused her - raping her and killing those she loves - Demeter refuses to return to Olympus and instead hides away with her daughter, Core and a few loyal nymphs. But the safety and isolation she craves grates on her daughter who yearns to explore the world and experiment with her powers. When Zeus interferes once more in Demeter’s life through her daughter, Demeter goes to horrifying lengths to ensure her power is felt and respected. But is there anyone who cares about what Core wants for herself?

It isn’t exactly the portrait of Demeter herself that bothered me in Daughters of Olympus. It’s the fact that it felt like, if there were multiple versions of a myth, Lynn chose the most upsetting and traumatic version. She also included myths or elements of myths that didn’t really advance the story or change the reader’s understanding of her as a character (and some of those stretches were so brief, they probably didn’t need to be included at all - for example, the stretch of Demeter encountering Poseidon while searching for Core - it has a minimal impact on the story by the time it happens). Given just how much the portrayal of Hades and Persephone has been altered, it made the degree of trauma the reader needs to wade through in Demeter’s portion of the story feel that much more unnecessary.

I suppose an argument can be made for the ways that Demeter’s trauma affects her treatment of her daughter, but that could be accomplished with a lesser degree of reveling in the trauma inflicted upon her. Core/Persephone and how she gradually comes to understand how much her mother’s views impacted her idea of herself and how being away from her helps her develop a more complete sense of self was my favorite element of the novel. It’s such a deviation from so many of the prevailing versions of the Hades and Persephone myth. While it all gives her a bit more depth as a character, there are still some subtle (and mildly frustrating ways) that she gets short shift as far as agency. The resolution does ultimately work for the book, but I can mentally see a version where she has even more agency.

Anyone who knows me knows: if it’s related to mythology, I am interested!

There are so many women in the world of mythology and so many who only have a short story or mention. There are definitely some goddesses that are more popular and have more focus put on them so I was excited to read about Demeter and her daughter Core. So many know about the story of Persephone/Hades, but there is not as much light shed upon Demeter.

I found this book to flow very nicely with beautiful passages that brought about such a vivid picture in my mind. There is such emotion and empathy in this book and I found it so relatable and wanting to know more.

I will definitely be looking into Lynn’s other work!

Thank you so much to the author, Hannah Lynn, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the eARC of Daughters of Olympus!

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m really conflicted over my thoughts on this book. I felt like it was too much telling and not enough showing right off the bat. On the one hand, I get the urge to explain the mythology to a reader like me who might be less familiar. But it’s so much right at the beginning that I was bored out of my mind. Because of that, I ended up DNFing, at least for now. I may pick it back up in the future.

Beautiful third book in the series and I absolutely thought it was the best one! I did not want to go to work and leave this story behind. Feminine power, love, magic, dealing with the gods......this has it all.

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely love Greek mythology but my favorite stories are the ones about goddesses. I didn’t know a lot about Demeter or Core’s story and I only know Core by her other name. I really enjoyed how Daughters of Olympus focused on their lives. Demeter is a stronger goddess than I expected because I didn’t consider Goddess of Harvest to be my first pick of powers but there is a lot of control there. You can literally wipe out a whole species. The first half of the book is from Demeter’s POV and how she came to self exile and how she lost her daughter. Lots of tragedy but what else would you get from Greek mythology. Core’s story was the second half of the book and though it overlapped and slowed at the beginning of her part, she had the best character growth. I wish there was more on her half of the book and the ending was sudden but complete.

I am a huge fan of greek mythology retellings. I’m always looking for a new favorite in that genre and this one will definitely be joining those ranks!

I think the characterization of these gods was very well done. I was really able to get to know all of the characters, of course Demeter and Core/Persephone in particular, and I understood them. I enjoyed being in both of their heads and seeing their perspectives and how the same situations could differ in view between the two of them.

My absolute favorite part of this was seeing Persephone come to be. Seeing her come into herself and become who she was meant to be was very engaging. When we get to see what happened to her in part two, I couldn’t stop reading from that point on.

One of the things I loved most about this is, while we learn so much about Demeter and Core and who they are, we also learn a good amount about other myths and characters along the way. I’m not a person that knows a whole lot about greek mythology. I know the basics and I know who a lot of the key names are, but that’s about it. So when I’m reading retellings, I’m sort of collecting these tidbits of information and fitting them together in the larger picture. I understand retellings are the author’s unique perspective most of the time, but I still see these as filling out this world in my mind.

What I’m trying to say is that this one was amazing for me in that way–I feel like I got a new and broad understanding of a lot of myths that I hadn’t yet come across in my reading and it was done in a way that I really enjoyed. Nothing felt out of place and I feel like we were always given the exact right amount of information for the context to make sense.

If you are already a fan of mythological retellings, you should add this to your shelf. I also think that if you’re new to retellings but want to give them a try, this would be a great place to start!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this arc! As a lover of greek mythology, I have no looked into Demeter or Persephone’s lives and what happened to them which is why I’m so grateful to have received this arc. I ended up giving this book 4.25 stars as the further I read on the further I understood the actions of the 2 goddesses and why they acted like they do in mythology! The character development was amazing, and the events of the book were super easy to understand (especially if you haven’t read greek mythology before!)