I absolutely loved this book. It was everything I could have wanted and i can't wait to have a physical copy in my hands and on my shelf. And the part of kore being Sapphic with Ione and being her life altering heart break incredible. The dual poverty of the mother and daughter and how differently they saw the same situation fantastic.

Typically, when I read Persephone in a book blurb, that is all I need to see and I’m in. But in a niche that is becoming ever more saturated, it is more and more difficult to find a book that does something different with the story. To me, Daughters of Olympus does just that in a number of ways.

Firstly, the book is not only Persephone’s story but also Demeter’s. Without specifically counting pages, I’m almost positive more than half, maybe as much as two thirds of the novel is told from Demeter’s point of view, beginning well before Persephone is ever born.

This positioning of this narrative feels like a throwback to the classical Homeric Hymn to Demeter, in which the importance of the tale lies not in Persephone’s abduction, but in Demeter’s reactions and actions as a result of it.

This is not to say that Persephone is a background character at all. Her narration begins with and focuses on how she loves her mother, but sees her actions and choices in a very different light. We as readers are given the opportunity to decide who, if anyone, we believe is in the right.

So many more traditional tellings essentially begin with the abduction as if Persephone had no life, agency, or experiences beforehand. I won’t go into detail, but this Persephone has had a full life’s measure of sorrow and joy before she ever sets foot in the Underworld.

This is a story of women. Of feminine rage. Of grief. Of joy. While the actions of men do spur the plot in places, it is never their story. Even the men who are depicted as paragons, or at the very least, above some of the failings of their sex, they are left undeveloped, as if their place in the story is only to facilitate the advancement of the story of the women.

In this way, the story feels both old and new. Reading it in places feels almost like you’re reading an original classical source. But the actual focus, and its treatment of women is definitely modern.

I think it speaks to the focus of the novel that I’ve written this much without once mentioning Hades. While he is certainly present, this is not his story, and the abduction does not occur until more than halfway through the novel.

Ultimately we all know how and where this story ends, but it is definitely an unexpected journey in how we get there. This novel shows how not one of the players is infallible or without fault, and the ultimate solution (again playing out exactly as we suspect) doesn’t feel so much like a compromise that no one is happy with, but actually a solution that forces everyone to improve upon their faults.

Very much a read worth your time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the early read.

Honestly anything that has to do with Greek mythology I’ll pick up and read. So this was an auto grab for me. This is definitely a fantastic book for people wanting to get into Greek mythology and a nice refresher for someone who is into it.

It’s lovely having a female writer in the Greek myth world where it’s mostly written by men. Hannah Lynn continues to do a great job with Greek stories.

If you loved The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec or Daughters of Sparta by Claire Haywood, this is the book for you. Hannah Lynn did a wonderful job telling the stories of Demeter and Core (Persephone) in a way I wasn't expecting. This novels delves into the relationships between mothers and daughters and isn't afraid to confront issues like sexual assault and grief (both rife within Greek mythology). It would've been so easy for Lynn to gloss over the difficult topics, but it wouldn't have been Demeter and Persephone's story if she had.

At times the story felt slow at times, but I enjoyed the way Lynn showed the passage of time for her immortal characters.

Trigger warning: incest, rape, infanticide, murder, abduction

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Gorgeous writing and a new view on the classic mythology we all know. Just beautiful and would fully recommend for anyone interested in Greek mythology!

I've read many Hades-Persephone retellings that minimize the connections between female characters in favour of the romance between Persephone and Hades and demonize Persephone's mother for getting in the way, so I appreciated the more sympathetic portrayal of Demeter here and more nuanced exploration of her and Persephone's relationship than one usually gets in such stories. That said, I must admit that Demeter's character didn't really work for me, much as I sympathised with her, given how much of her behaviour stemmed from the death of a man she had known for less than a day (and this coming from a woman who had previously lost a son!). I did not find her connection with Iasion believable and the major impact he had on her life even less. Had they known each other for longer, had they gotten the chance to have a proper relationship, his death would have felt more impactful for the reader and Demeter's subsequent depression and self-isolation would have been more believable.
As for Persephone, I enjoyed her part of the story more than Demeter's, much to my surprise. I did like that she had a romantic relationship prior to her marriage, but I'm not quite sure I liked the way how in the end said relationship was pushed out of the way in order to make room for Persephone's (heterosexual) romance with the man who kidnapped her. I also keep waiting for a retelling in which Persephone takes power over the Underworld herself without needing to be given everything on a silver platter by her husband, but I guess the latter option wouldn't be so frequently used if it didn't appeal to many readers.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an eARC of this book! I really wanted to enjoy this book as I’d read Athena’s Child by this author and was looking forward to a Greek historical fiction that was much longer, but ultimately I found myself being severely underwhelmed by Daughters of Olympus and so I’m giving it 2 out of 5 stars.

The pacing of this book was quite slow and like some others have mentioned in their reviews on Goodreads, I also felt like things kept repeating too much for my own liking. Demeter’s story was quite repetitive and very slow (and sad, but it wouldn’t be Greek fiction without grief and tragedy) and when we did eventually get to Persephone’s story (Core at the time), her story repeated much of what we’d already read and experienced with Demeter before we started to get Persephone’s own individual story. When she did finally end up in the Underworld, much of Persephone’s story was rushed, especially the building of her relationship with Hades and the ending was so very rushed when things started to get properly interesting that it really threw me off, especially when things could have been much more further explored and developed.

Overall, the story was decent and very much upheld the Greek tragedy’s that Greek mythology is known for, I was just hoping for a story with a little bit better pacing and a less repetitive story. Thank you again NetGalley!

The Daughters of Olympus retells the myth of Demeter and Persephone. It is a profound look at maternal love, the desire for independence, and loss. The book follows two POVs of Demeter and her daughter Persephone. Demeter embraces the world with joy until a devastating assault leaves her fearful and withdrawn. She only finds comfort in her daughter, Persephone, and is overly protective, sheltering them from the world.
Persephone secretly ventures into the mortal realm, yearning for freedom and adventure, which catches the attention of Hades, who kidnaps her and forces her into a role she never wanted. Demeter's grief and anger over her daughter's abduction drive her to drastic measures. The book explores how far a mother will go to protect her child, the destruction love can cause to all involved, and how life's traumatic experiences can empower us and lead to significant transformations.

The author successfully executes emotional depth by adding complexity to the characters and their relationship. Their writing humanizes divine characters, making their emotions and motivations relatable. You can feel the pain, anguish., loss, and love. It is a new take on a timeless myth. If you like mythological retellings and character-driven stories, this book is for you.

I received an ARC ebook copy from Netgalley and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.

Thank your NetGalley for my copy of Daughters of Olympus by Hannah Lynn.
The genres for this book are listed under mythology, fantasy, retelling,historical fiction, and romance.
I was super nervous reading this book after the horrible ending in the Amazons of Themiscyra but I’m glad I did.
My love for a good hades and Persephone retelling is just as strong as my King Arthur retelling. Maybe more so.
What I loved most about this book is the fact we get to see a whole new side of Demeter. The first part of the book is her side of the story, seeing what she had to go through with Zeus and Poseidon and how Core (persephone) came to be and how she’d do anything for her daughter.
Then it switched to Persephones point of view and her getting abducted by Hades and the author just gives it a whole new vibe. Shows us that Hades isn’t really the bad guy in the story.
I think everyone should give this book a chance, especially if you were hesitating after reading any of her previous works.
I’d give this a 3.5 stars.

I want to start off with a trigger warning for r*pe and SA. Because, though it is known that Greek mythology is ripe with these aspects of the god’s tales, readers need to be aware that this story does not hesitate to stay true to those stories.

Hannah Lynn does it once again with her retelling of Demeter and Persephone’s stories in Daughters of Olympus. She captures the raw emotions of her characters and does a fantastic job contrasting mother and daughter. The way she intertwined all the little pieces of Greek mythology that cross both goddesses paths was so well done. Lynn made me fall in love with Hades, and not in the typical morally grey or comedic portrayal we often see. The depth of Demeter’s love, loss, grief, and pain was poignant and unabashed. The growth of both characters was so admirable. I would say that this is Lynn’s best story yet in the Grecian Women series!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Daughters of Olympus in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this! It was my favorite retelling that incorporated Persephone X Hades but it was really the story of Demeter. I was shocked at how little I knew about Demeter's story after reading so many Persephone retellings. And what a sad story it was... The author explored a lot of heartbreaking topics with care and accuracy including Demeter's grief after Iasion and her multiple SA's, family TRAUMA, how she wanted to protect her daughter from what she went through but just ended up keeping her caged in, Core being stolen, the loss of her nymphs and her home. Persephone had fantastic character growth. It was so cool to see her gain freedom in increments, fall in love, grow in her powers, and become a queen. On top of all of that, I want to comment on how I think this book will have the power to resonate with a large audience. I think just about every woman who reads this book will be able to relate to Demeter and Core and can draw strength from their experiences.

There were only 2 things keeping me from rating this 5 stars. First, the pacing did feel a little off. A lot of this book had a very meandering tone and then it all felt rushed at the end. I wanted to learn more about the Underworld and see Persephone and Hades relationship grow more. The descriptions of the Underworld were vivid and imaginative and I wanted more of that. But, I also understand that this was really a book of Demeter and her daughter not Persephone and Hades. Second, the relationship between Demeter and Iasion didn't feel believable enough to cause centuries of grief. Their meeting was such a small chunk of the book but then her grieving was the rest of the book. I think another chapter on their relationship before his death would have helped.

Overall, I gave this book 4 stars. This was my favorite Hannah Lynn book so far and an improvement from Queens of Themiscyra . The only book I have left is Athena's Child and I'm very excited to get to it soon!

I find Greek Mythology fascinating and love a retelling so I knew this was going to be a book I enjoyed. I haven’t seen too many retellings centred around Demeter so it’s was great to explore a fresh take on the Gods. As to be expected, Greek Mythology is bloody and brutal and this one was no exception. The trauma Demeter experienced was horrendous. Seeing her transition from victim to survivor was really well done but I did find her sections of the book a little slow. I loved Core’s story, her zest for life, adventures spirit and strength of character was beautiful. I really enjoyed Hade as a character. I would love to read a book by Hannah from his perspective. Overall a wonderful retelling, would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys the Greek Gods and is interested in a retelling with a new perspective.

Daughters Of Olympus by Hannah M. Lynn is a Hades and Persephone (Core) retelling. What makes it unique to most other retellings is that it brings in the perspective of Persephone's mother, Demeter, as well as the story of her lover, Ione. This adds so much to the story.

I love Hannah M. Lynn's books and this one is no different! Check it out!

Thank you, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for an advanced readers copy of Daughters of Olympus by Hannah M. Lynn. I was super excited to read it and I already told my mythology book friends to add it to their lists!

Demeter has always intrigued me and this book was a great read to sate my curiosity. Again, Hannah Lynn's writing was a bit slow at times and I had to take frequent breaks.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Daughters of Olympus is a tragic retelling of Demeter and Persephone. The story is full of secrets and despair, as two goddesses navigate their love for mortals. I’m sad I didn’t immediately love this story. The first portion is told in Demeter’s perspective while the rest is in Persephone’s. Demeter’s story is heartbreaking, as a goddess who is stuck in the past and can’t seem to move on. Unfortunately I wasn’t drawn to her character which is why I struggled getting through her part. Persephone’s disappearance snaps her out of her melancholy and Demeter finally leaves her home to search for her daughter. In her anger she plunges the world into a frost.

Persephone’s narration is when I became invested. She feels the need to keep secrets from her overprotective mother, and wants nothing more than to experience true freedom. During her fleeting trips off the island she meets Ione, and comes to understand love and loss. This helps her better understand her mother, even though she neglects to be honest with Demeter. Persephone’s life changes when she’s captured by Hades and taken into the underworld. Her freedom becomes restricted even more, and all she can think is what will her mother do? This story focuses heavily on both Demeter and Persephone coming into their power, no longer feeling belittled by those around them. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advance reader copy.

This book was so good! I finished it in 3 days, which for me is very fast. Once I sat down to read, it was hard to stop. I have quiet a soft spot for Demeter. So, when I found this book, I had to read it. I was not disappointed! This retelling of Demeter and Co0re/Persephone draws us into the love Demeter has for her daughter and how sometimes the need to protect can become suffocating. We are with the Goddess as she experiences loss and heart break, clinging to the one thing (Core) that she believes is all she has left. We see how her desperation to keep Core safe is slowly deny her a life to live. When told in this way, I found the story to be relatable. We get to see the darker side of Demeter, which I loved. It's not spoken about very often. We get to see Persephone come into her own power. This is the first book I have read by this author but will not be the last. I would read this book over & over again and I would certainly recommend it and/or buy for a friend.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc copy in exchange for an honest review.*

!Read trigger warnings before reading this!

‼ Sexual assault
‼ Abuse
‼ Toxic relationships
‼ Child abandonment
‼ Death of a child

This was so so good. I haven't read a ton of Greek Mythology and I've been trying to change that because it's so interesting to me. I didn't know anything about Hades and Persephone's story or anything at all about Demeter so I was excited to see that this is who the story focused on. Most of the stuff I've read has tried to glorify the male gods so I loved the fact that this gave a voice to the female gods.

This book shows Demeter's heartbreaking story and how the love of her child got her through it only to have her child ripped away from her. Demeter would have torn the world apart looking for her daughter, and that intense of a mother's love is so beautiful.

The author did a phenomenal job writing this. The writing style was beautiful and fit so well with the theme of Greek Mythology. It felt timeless. She gave the characters so many layers and conveyed their emotions and traumas so well. I was so connected to each character.

🌸 Grief representation
🖤 Misunderstood "villain"
🌸 Greek mythology retelling
🖤 Heavy topics
🌸 Emotionally charged and powerful

My only "complaint" is I do wish that I got to see more of Persephone and Hades together purely because I didn't know their story and how they came to be so I really enjoyed their story.

This was a new to me author and I am so glad to have discovered them. I will be reading more of their work.

This was so good. I love mythology. I couldn’t put this down. The author did a wonderful job writing this. I can’t wait to see what else they write.

I love Greek mythology and was excited to pick up this retelling of the classic story of Persephone and Hades. This story is unique in that it delves further into the life and history of Persephone’s mother, Demeter, and explains furthers the actions and events that led up to Persephone’s fateful kidnapping to the Underworld.

This novel is split into three parts. Part one is from Demeter’s POV and gives her life history up until Persephone’s disappearance. Part two takes over from the POV of Persephone (Core at the time) and dragged a bit at the beginning as it retold many of the events of part one through a new viewpoint. Part three picks back up with a dual-POV style and wraps up the story.

I really enjoyed Hannah M. Lynn’s writing and felt immersed in the world she brought to life. Despite having read many Greek mythology retellings, I had not read much about Demeter and found her story to be really interesting and fresh to follow. Hades was also particularly interesting as a character and I would have liked to seen even more of his relationship with Persephone after the finale. An extended epilogue would have been a welcome addition!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved reading about the Greek underworld. Persephone and Demeter were fully fleshed out characters. The feminist take on this had me cheering.