A promising fantasy novel set amongst and against daring Greek Mythology. An interesting take on popular favorites. I really enjoyed this take. I think there’s a lot of potential here for further books of the series. There were some twists I didn’t see coming which at this point is hard to encounter.

I’d definitely recommend this to others. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

4.75/5 stars

In this mythological reimagining, Danae, a fisherman's daughter, becomes entangled in a prophecy after the kidnapping of her nephew and the death of her sister. Forced from her home, she embarks on a perilous journey through a world of heroes and monsters, forging an unlikely alliance with Heracles and his crew. But Danae’s true destiny goes beyond slaying monsters—she will challenge the very gods themselves, determined to bring them down from Olympus and free humanity from their tyranny.

Let me start by saying that I know very little about Greek Mythology, but I found this take on the typical god/demigod/mortal power struggle to be extremely refreshing. I had a little bit of a hard time getting into the story at the beginning; however, the background that A.S. Webb builds for the FMC is important to the character growth that occurs throughout the storyline. I liked the characters in this world and felt a wide range of emotions when certain decisions were made. The adventures, or sidequests if you will, remind me very much of a Homer-esque story, which is compelling and builds a unique and colorful world as Danae travels to the end of the world to find the key to her role in the downfall of the gods' tyranny. Of course, we don't get all the answers in the first book and I'm dying to see what comes next! The twists and turns make this book a compelling read for anyone looking for an adventure.

A huge thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and A.S. Webb for allowing me access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Really great potential potential but the writing and plot fell flat for me. While the concept was strong, the execution was not - more “telling than doing” style of writing like “this happened, that happened, I felt X,” which made the cadence of the storyline choppy and difficult to feel immersed into. The plot dragged for me as well with the first third of the book being a “x then y then z” plod along of events in the FMC’s hometown. Lots of loose ends with difficult pacing.

Daughter of Chaos is an otherworldly, gripping first book in The Dark Pantheon series. For Greek mythology and fantasy lovers alike, this is a must-read for 2025!

Danae is such a compelling character and I found myself eagerly turning every page completely immersed in her story. The world building, lore, and character development was written very well and I had a hard time putting the book down.

If you like high stakes with a strong female lead, Danae will quickly hold a special spot in your heart. The side characters are also each so unique in their own ways, they all felt like their own and really helped expand on the world.

I will say that this book takes it’s own narrative when it comes to Greek myths and does not follow a set tale. It’s a story that features and draws from interesting aspects but with a completely different world & perspective to be told.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series, there’s so much more to explore!

Thank you to the publisher; Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA, the author; A.S. Webb, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my unbiased opinion and is given with free will.

It took me a little bit to get into this one, but once I did I could not put it down. I loved the adventures the group went on and all of the drama that went down with it. Several twists and secrets revealed… which kept me turning page after page. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment.

3.5* Rounded Up

Overall I enjoyed this and thought it was an interesting approach to a Greek Mythology chosen one fantasy. It sometimes felt like the Odyssey which I enjoyed but then also sometimes it dragged a bit in the pacing. The beginning was very engaging and I connected to the main character and her journey and rooted for her throughout. I think if you are a fan of Greek Mythology then this would be fun but do not go into it thinking it will be super accurate depictions as it is a bit different how some characters are portrayed and their origin stories. Overall I enjoyed this though it did take me a bit longer to read due to the pacing.

Thanks to Netgalley and MIRA, Harlequin Trade Publishing for granting me access in exchange for an honest review.

WHY DID I GO INTO THIS THINKING IT WAS A STANDALONE! THE CLIFFHANGER WHY?!?
Okay, first, huge thank you to @harlequinbooks and @harlequin_audio because this is one of the best audiobooks I've ever listened to. @lyvansker did a wonderful job of enveloping me into the story! There were so many characters in this book and Lucy did a phenomenal job of differentiating between each one. She really was the perfect fit for this story!

This was the Greek mythology retelling that I was craving. The prose of @webbandpen is absolutely phenomenal and cannot be compared to anything that I have read since Odysseus in high school. In fact, there are a lot of comparisons between Odysseus and Daughter of Chaos. You follow the story of Danae who lives in a small town that is cursed by the gods. Her sister falls pregnant by a mysterious being and Danae is thrust into a chaotic, prophecy fulfilling story of travel, disaster, love, and ultimately a story about finding yourself. Danae encounters such fantastical creatures and that is one of my absolute favorite things in writing. The creativity you must have to come up with such unique characters and animals is incomprehensible. This is the type of story I imagine being studied in new high School classrooms for its amazing plot, character development and writing style. I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. I highly recommend this read to anyone who likes Greek mythology, Odysseus, and just all around amazing writing.

#bookreader #bookhygge #hyggebookstyle #hyggeaesthetic #hygge

I didn’t expect to love Daughter of Chaos as much as I did, Greek mythology isn’t usually my thing, but this story was so fresh and action-packed that I couldn’t put it down. Following Danae, a fisherman’s daughter with a wild destiny, the book is full of gods, monsters, and intense quests. Seeing familiar names like Heracles woven into the story was such a treat, and the twists kept it feeling unique.

Danae wasn’t always easy to root for, but her struggles and growth made her feel real, and I couldn’t help but get invested in her journey. The worldbuilding was rich, and the action scenes were everything I wanted. If you love mythology or just need an exciting fantasy escape, I’d definitely recommend this one. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars-
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve never been particularly drawn to Greek mythology but this story was so riveting! Never a dull moment, this was high stakes galore and very action packed! Steeped in Greek lore, we get to meet many gods and characters from the classic tales as we traverse with Danae through countless adventures brimming with danger. From Hercules to the Argonauts, to even Hera and Zeus, this fantasy retelling was peak epic and I can’t wait to meet more mythological characters in the next installment!

It was difficult to like and connect with Danae at times, but I still find myself invested in and rooting for her. Danae is the designated heroine in this story’s chosen one trope, however she’s certainly more of a morally grey individual. Despite having good intentions, we see her lie and manipulate others to reach her goal of ending the gods’ tyranny, and also witness how her inability to check her anger at times left both death and destruction behind in her path. Reading this left me with the age-old question, does the end really justify the means?

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.

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.