I find I almost always enjoy books inspired by Greek mythology, and Daughter of Chaos was no exception. I think I actually enjoyed the beginning of the book more than the rest, despite it being a little more slow moving. The characters were interesting, and I enjoyed the depiction of life in this small Greek village. Danae was likable and easy to sympathize with. I really enjoyed seeing the way she loved her sister as well as her interactions with other family members and villagers.

I did find the ending of the book to be a bit odd. It felt a bit disconnected from the rest of the book as a whole despite being the culmination of everything Danae had gone through up until that point. The jump in pace and even tone just ended up feeling a little abrupt, particularly some of the bits with Heracles. Overall though, I did really enjoy the book and will definitely be looking forward to the next one!

I switched back and forth between the eARC and the ALC for Daughter of Chaos, and I did want to say that while I found the narration overall to be good, some of the accent choices were odd. This is true for the male accents in particular. It kind of took me out of the story whenever I heard dialogue in a sort of Cockney accent (I’m not an accent expert so it’s possible it’s not exactly Cockney, but it sounded similar enough to throw me off). I wasn’t expecting heavy Greek accents or anything, but I definitely wasn’t expecting to be transported to London’s East End either. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the audiobook well enough.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing, Mira, and The Hive for both the eARC and ALC of Daughter of Chaos. All opinions are my own!

An intriguing use of characters from Greek mythology to tell the story of Danae, a fisherman's daughter. Retelling of the myths has been a thing for the last several years so those familiar with them either through the originals (so to speak) or the retellings might enjoy this more than those who are coming fresh to it. I found myself googling to check my memory of who's who and how they fit in. That said this could also be read simply as Danae's life, Thanks to Netgalley for the arc. It's an immersive experience and while not my favorite of the genre it's pretty darn good.

Daughter of Chaos is a gripping reimagining of Greek mythology that breathes new life into well-known tales while forging its own unique path. Set in a world where mortals live under the tyranny of the gods, the story follows Danae, a fisherman's daughter with mysterious powers, on a quest that could change the fate of humanity.

I loved the inclusion of characters from various myths—Heracles, Paris and Helen, Theseus, and more—which enriched the narrative and made the story feel deeply rooted in its mythological backdrop. Heracles, in particular, plays a significant role, and it was so enjoyable to see his dynamic woven into the plot.

The twists surrounding the true nature of the gods were fascinating and added an innovative layer to the story. The tone reflected the gravitas of a classic Greek tragedy, capturing the drama, moral dilemmas, and larger-than-life stakes that define the genre.

This book left me eager to see where Danae’s journey leads next. A.S. Webb has crafted an engaging and thought-provoking tale that’s perfect for fans of Greek mythology and epic fantasy. Highly recommend!

Daughter of Chaos had me hooked from the very start!!! It's a unique and refreshing take on Greek mythology (which I adored). It also features some awesome world-building, I adored this read!!

Danae’s growth throughout the story feels genuine as she learns to adapt and survive in a high-stakes, ever-changing world (we love to see it). The twists kept me guessing, and the tension was exactly what you want from a fantasy book. By the time I reached the end, I couldn't stop thinking about what the next book will bring. Overall, very rich storytelling, compelling characters and lots of action! Highly recommend but beware of being in desperate need of the next book once you finish (hehe)!!!

I started this book, got about 60 pages in, and put it down for 2 months. I decided to restart completely to refresh my memory and pretty quickly realized the reason I didn’t finish this when I first started reading it in October. I gave it the benefit of the doubt and let it get its footing to hook me and waited and waited and… nothing. The pacing is quite stagnant and I was so bored for the majority of the book. It would feel like I was reading forever and would look up and see I was only 100 pages in with nothing happening to show for it. The characters are all one note and I almost feel as if they would blend together entirely if I wasn’t already familiar with some of the Greek mythology names. I kept having to backtrack and see who was who for key characters like family members which was annoying that they weren’t established enough after spending so long doing nothing. I think the author spent way too much time building this world that all of the other components needed to entertain me fell short. I don’t know if my minimal, vague understanding of Greek mythology hurt me in terms of liking this but I’ve read multiple Greek mythology inspired books and still managed just fine, so do with that what you will. In terms of the actual story and world building, it just felt so bland to me. The writing isn’t technically bad, but I had such an exhausting time pushing through that I ended up hating the fact that I didn’t DNF this so I don’t think I can give it any higher of a rating.

Title: Daughter of Chaos by A.S. Webb
Genre: Fantasy/Retelling
Pub Date: January 14, 2025
📖 400 pages

✨️ The Chosen One
✨️ Greek Mythology Retelling
✨️ Perilous Journey
✨️ Demigods and Titans
✨️ Ancient Prophecy
✨️ Lush World Building

📖 Danae, a fisherman's daughter, gains extraordinary powers after eating a golden apple. Forced from her home, she joins forces with Heracles to battle monsters and gods. A prophecy reveals her true destiny: to overthrow the gods and free humanity.

💬 My Review:

IF YOU ONLY READ ONE BOOK THAT I RECOMMEND, READ THIS ONE!

This might be my new favorite book, ever. There's so much that happens, from a hostile island full of dangerous women, to a city being burnt to stop our FMC. We get pirates, gods and demigods, harpies, griffins and shades. This story was INCREDIBLE, I devoured it in a matter of two sittings, and my only complaint is that it's not longer and I was lucky enough to read it early so I have to wait a very long time for resolution. Unlike many of the current booktok recs, there are no annoying clichés or pandering with overused tropes!

Daughter of Chaos is a unique, must-read fantasy novel, possibly the best I've ever read. A.S. Webb will now be added to my auto-buy authors list.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for the digital review copy ❤️

#DaughterofChaos #NetGalley #ASWebb #Bookstagram"

I don’t even know where to begin with this book. First off, thank you SO MUCH to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. The way the author weaves our heroine’s story through the classic Greek myths we all know and love is done in such a seamless and eloquent manner that Danae’s quest just slots right in effortlessly.

As someone who’s obsessed over all things Greek mythology and history, this was such a unique and refreshing spin on a story focused in this realm. Our heroine just simply cannot catch a break, but she keeps pushing through and becoming all the stronger for it. The bits of found family along with high stakes adventures and side quests kept you on your toes and really made this an enjoyable read. I loved how everything just fit together so well at the end.

Although it was not the focus, and we just got tidbits of it, the small doses of romance we did get was so satisfying and heartwarming. I really do hope we get more of it in the next books, because I can’t bear the idea of not seeing Danae and Heracles again.

The revelations at the end left me absolutely floored, and I am anxiously waiting for the next two books to see where this goes and how it will be resolved.

All in all, this was such a fun and beautifully written book that brings up so many emotions. What an amazing debut and a captivating introduction into a new series.

Set in a world where Greek gods rule with cruelty and mortals live in fear, this story follows Danae, a fisherman's daughter who discovers her connection to a mysterious prophecy. Her destiny is more significant than she ever imagined, and her journey is nothing short of epic as she teams up with Heracles to face gods, monsters, and the terrifying truths behind her powers.

It was slow at first, but the initial setup was essential. It laid a strong foundation for understanding Danae's character and made her growth throughout the story even more compelling. Her transformation from a simple island girl into a figure of resistance against the gods is an adventure. Once the action starts, it never stops. I hope we see the romantic subplot develop more in book two.

There are breathtaking depictions of the places Danae visits, each steeped in Greek mythology and seamlessly woven into the story. It does offer a fresh twist to familiar tales that readers will appreciate. What truly elevates the story is the tension and moral complexity. Her inner conflict adds emotional depth to the high-stakes action. This book is about an adventure, brimming with tension and plot twists, driven by an evolving heroine. I can't wait for the next book.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA

This was a great book and I think Webb's world building and characters were fun, dynamic, and engaging. It was a great read and I am excited to see more from Webb in the future.

Thank you MIRA and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’m a big fan of Greek mythology and always appreciate different takes on it, but Daughter of Chaos fell flat for me. I have to praise Webb for the book’s strong start and the way she used mythology we know and made it something original and fresh. Though I struggled with liking the characters, I thought they all felt pretty realistic and their reactions and actions, while frustrating, made sense in context. I quite enjoyed the first third or so of the book, where Danae was living (and suffering) in her village and when her adventure started, but my interest started waning once she met figures from mythology we do know, like Heracles and Jason.

So much of the plot is driven by the search for truth, and for the most part I liked unraveling the secrets of the world with Danae. The final mystery and the way this ends is too goofy for me to tolerate, though. The beginning is genuinely strong if a touch slow, and I was very sure that this would be a slam dunk for me, so I’m a little sad that I ended up bouncing off of it very hard. For me, things went downhill once familiar names and faces started popping up (outside of the gods) and I thought the quality of writing ended up suffering a bit as well.

If you’re looking for something different that still utilizes Greek mythology, this will probably be something that interests you at least a little bit. The final twists aren’t interesting to me, but I think that’s more a matter of personal taste than execution, and while I didn’t like this I’m positive it will find its audience.

A different twist to Greek mythology. I loved reading about the Greek hereos and the worship of Greek gods. I also enjoyed the quest aspect. I liked the main character but, sometimes, I was not sure about her decisions or personality. An imaginative retelling with a lot of potential.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for ARC.

Not 4 full stars…maybe 3.5-3.75

There’s a lot to like here. This is a really interesting take on Greek mythology, with a compelling FMC, and high stakes. I think if you are unfamiliar with Greek mythology, you’ll really enjoy this as a fantasy quest story.

I’m not a purist for my retellings, but there are definitely characters I have strong opinions about. And the author’s choices here for some of them were not my fav. I think this could have been a much better story if Danae hadn’t joined the Argonauts because of the changes needed to make that happen. I will say I constantly get a kick out of the fact that no one can make Jason into a likeable person though!

Other nitpicks would be that the pacing is uneven, and some motivations or reasonings didn’t make sense to me. But this is a compelling story, and it definitely makes you want to continue. I just think the less you know about Greek mythology the better for your enjoyment of this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for Daughter of Chaos by A.S. Webb.

I thought this was pretty good. It was definitely a different take on greek mythology and I hadn't read one quite like this before. I wouldn't necessarily call it a retelling. It was more fantasy with a lot of greek mythology elements. It covered a LOT of the myths we know but added a completely new character and perspective. It took me a bit to get into it, but once I hit about 40%, I couldn't put it down because the stakes were so high. I liked Danae's character and her relationship with her family, especially her sister. I really liked Atalanta and the rest of the crew that traveled with Heracles. Jason was despicable, like always. I did think it took some liberties to make characters and timelines match up and it was a little unbelievable at times. But, it didn't take me out of the story too much.

Overall, I gave this four stars and I would love to read more of the series.

Interesting and well written story. The characters and storyline where engaging and entertaining to read, definitely recommended!!!

A very interesting concept. This is set in a world of greek mythology, but it is not a retelling. Instead, it is a fantasy story happening while various greek myths play out in the background. I loved that set up. This is definitely a very dark story, filled with all sorts of violence and suffering from the very start. Danae and her family are put through nearly everything you could possibly imagine, shunned at every door step, violated, beaten, captured to be sold into slavery. For a good portion of the book, it felt much more like events were just happening to Danae than that she had any kind of agency in her own story. Eventually, the pacing picks up and Danae starts to team up with various other characters (including Heracles) to work towards fulfilling her destiny. While I did enjoy showing a side of greek gods that highlighted their cruelty and capriciousness, at times this was difficult to read due to the relentlessly dark nature of it. It did not always feel like a story with any sort of hope.

I was a Greek Mythology special interest kid, and this book just hit a special spot for me. I do think it's a little bit of a marketing scheme to say the main character joins up with Heracles. Danae is on her own journey, and it runs tangentially to Heracles and several other larger Greek heroes.

The other nitpicky thing is a lot of the plot happens to Danae vs. her being an active participant in the story. So much is painted as luck or fate, it's a little frustrating to me. I hope she has more agency in the next book. Even with my qualms, I really liked this book. I thought it was a fresh take on popular Greek mythos. The author was also very good at making you care about the characters. There are a lot of secondary characters that really enrich the story. It doesn't feel like there are a slog of names and backstory, it all feels organic to me.

In a story about the Greek Pantheon and Titans, Danae feels human. She interacts with fantastical creatures, Gods/Goddesses, and other magical entities, but never uses her humanity. She is always thinking about her family and her losses. Again, I wish she had more agency or backbone, but I enjoyed following her as she searches for answers.

I definitely recommend this book for fans of mythology and fantasy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin MIRA for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Daughter of Chaos is an intriguing blend of mythology, mystery, magic, and self-discovery. The story follows Danae, a fisherman’s daughter, and her quest to learn the truth about herself. She is a strong-willed, funny, and relatable protagonist who navigates a world where ancient forces and her seemingly ordinary life collide. From the very beginning, Danae’s chaotic life unfolds before us, introducing many unanswered questions.

I really enjoyed Danae’s character development. She is resourceful and determined, but also carries the burdens of her past. She confronts her own fears with an added complex of bravery. The supporting characters are also well-developed (I love Atalanta so much), the book offers enough information to keep readers interested, but leaves some character’s backstories relatively untouched, setting a great foundation for further books.

The suspenseful moments and action scenes had me in a chokehold, however I did find the pacing to be interesting. The side quests were well planned and thought out, but at times I did feel like I would get wrapped up in them and forget about the main plot of the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys twists on mythology, fantasy with magic systems, and strong female characters. All in all, this was a great book! I really look forward to reading more of Danae’s story, and learning more about her allies.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this review copy.

“Daughter of Chaos” was unlike any other Greco-Roman myth retelling I’ve read so far (and I’ve read a lot), and massively enjoyable. We meet Danae, the daughter of a fisherman on the isle of Naxos (not to be confused with Perseus’s mother). She loves her family, especially her sister, but when that beloved sister is impregnated against her will and shunned by the village, Danae tries to defend her family. A series of catastrophic events force her to leave Naxos and seek the oracle at Delphi, because she has been told she is under a curse that only the oracle can tell her how to break. We encounter many figures from mythology along her journey including Theseus, Phaedra, Ariadne, Atalanta, the rest of the Argonauts, and the Amazons. What quickly struck me as setting this book apart is that the gods are the enemy here: the Twelve Olympians are using mortals as pawns in their games, and Danae becomes involved with people who want to topple them. I really appreciated the care with which the narrative was elaborated, the heart wrenching passages describing Danae’s inner journey, and the complexity of the characters she meets along the way. This book was a stunning journey, I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys myth retellings, and I’ll be eager to read the sequel!

Thank you NetGalley and harlequin for the opportunity to read this e-arc

This book wasn't for me. It has an interesting story line with Greek heros and gods but getting to the point of the story was taking forever. The background of Danae is very well made but her personality did nothing for me and I didn't really want to continue reading. If you are q Greek mythology lover this story may be more for you but to me it was meh. I personally think I read this book at the wrong time and may retry in the future.

4.5/5 ⭐️
Daughter of Chaos by A.S. Webb
Release date: January 2025

Thanks Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing the ARC!

Daughter of Chaos is a fantasy adventure novel set in greek mythology. It is the first book in The Dark Pantheon series and authors debut novel!

This has to be one of my favorite books I've read this year! I want to say so much about this book, but I don't want to give out any spoilers lol. The characters are well written, and it been an absolute joy to read about characters that we know from greek myths, but with a twist to their story lines. I absolutely love our MFC, Danae. She is naive to the world at first, but strong, and she gets strongers the more she sees the world. I love her journey and I can't wait to read what happens next!