4.5. I really really enjoyed this. I won't lie the colonial america parts can be tough at times because knowing the history, this story really glosses over certain facts.

However, with both past and present mixed together this made for a very interesting and fast read.

Thank you netgalley for the eARC.

This book truly surprised me and I am so thankful for reading it. Initially I had a hard time connecting to the stories and characters, but at about the halfway point I was hooked. It was beautifully written and touched on the universal experiences all women across time and place have shared. The jumping between timelines wasn’t my favorite, but in this case I do feel like it was necessary for the story being told. At times the writing was a little dense, but I feel like that is also the appeal of reading a mythology retelling. The attention to detail while cumbersome at times, was truly breathtaking and beautiful at others.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was a very unique premise but hard to get through for the first 80% and only engaging in the last 20%.

The writing was well-written but overly dense in the exposition. To be fair, I was also trying to figure out what parts of the myth were being retold and kept and was overly analyzing as I read. There definitely was more gore than I expected and I don't think it's all that necessary. The romances in the book were kind of oddly thrown in and didn't land right to me, but I am glad to see Sapphic fantasy elements.

I'm not sure how the author landed on mixing ancient Greece with the Roanake Colony while choosing to exclude the indigenous tribes from the Roanoke side of the story. The author's note explains that the indigenous people were not her story to tell, so she intentionally excluded them. I don’t really understand that explanation- why choose a colonial setting and exclude colonialism? There are, unfortunately, plenty of settings with violence and oppression against women to choose from. I was also confused at the mix of Greek and Roman names in the book, and the author's note doesn't really explain this choice. I'm baffled why, choosing between the Greek and Roman names, the author chose the Roman versions of Persophone and Hades. Most people are not going to immediately recognize Prosperina and Dis (finally that 6 years of Latin pays off), although they'll realize enough with context clues. I would have expected all the names to be Greek because it was the "then" side of the story is set in Scopuli, and the sirens are famous in the Greek epic, the Odyssey.

I think the kernel of the story and general time jumping "then" and "now" narrative structure has promise, but there are definitely issues that would have caused me not to finish this book if it wasn't an arc. The "now" setting needs to change or colonialism needs to be addressed and indigenous people included. The exposition is really tough to get through and could use some reworking.

Thank you Random House for the arc!

dnf at 25%. I really struggled to get into this book. The author is clearly talented but the prose is dense which made it hard for me to get invested in the story and the characters. I think I’m finally burnt out on Greek mythology retellings. Very cool concept but simply not enough excitement or exposition to get me hooked. Thank you NetGally for the ARC. I’m sure readers who are more familiar with Roman myth would get more out of this (or maybe I was too familiar? not sure)

I was drawn into this book by the mention of Roanoke. As a history lover, that’s always gonna grab me. Then I noticed the Greek mythology mention and wondered how the author would bring together two very different times and places in history. It did not disappoint!

If you’re history lover and enjoy a good historical fiction. Mystery, this book is right up your alley! Well, I always enjoy seeing how an author will take history and bring it into a story of their own, it’s rare that I actually enjoy, the end result. This is not the case here. I actually really enjoyed it and would recommend this to anybody who is reading this review.

A sapphic Virginian Greek myth retelling. I don't think this book was for me. I can see why people would love this, but it was cusping on I can see why people would hate it.

Bringing together greek/roman mythology to the disappearance of the Roanoke colony is INGENIOUS! Thelia is banished to the island after she fails to protect Proserpina, goddess of spring (Persephone). This is a sapphic retelling of a woman who is trying to save her sisters and enact revenge for the woman she loves

First of all, I really enjoyed this book!

The book is a split timeline but same character type of format. It gives the reader glimpses into the Greco-Roman island of Scopuli and then the mysterious town of Roanoke in America. I liked the split timelines and how they meshed together in the weaving of this story. Starting with some strong mythology always helps me and the leading into America was fascinating.

I have to warn that there was a lack of indigenous American people in this story and some harshness against women in this book. I tried to get lost in the story for what it was but I know that might be a trigger for others.

Those Fatal Flowers is a unique mythology retelling that incorporates the location of the original story and an unexpected time and location in history. Thelia has been banished to the island of Scopuli with his sisters and cursed to live as sirens luring men to their deaths to please the gods.
The alternate time involves the very unexpected location of the Roanoke colony during their early settlement. When Thelia arrives in Roanoke, barely alive, she sees a community of mistreatment for women. This story is strongly feminist and includes action, mystery, romance, and importantly the survival and empowerment of women. I liked the author's writing and how they created a powerful narrative. The seemingly unconnected dual timelines eventually came together cohesively. I found the story to be a quick read and easy to enjoy. Shannon Ives is a debut author. I will be looking forward to what she writes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Dell for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Greek mythology and colonial America!? Yes please!! I really enjoyed this story and it completely gripped me from the beginning! I hope Shannon Ives writes more like this! Thank you to NetGalley and to Random House for my digital ARC!!

4.25 stars...first off, thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC of this book. I am a sucker for retellings and mythology, so this ticked all the boxes for me. I really enjoyed this book. It was heartbreaking, gory, unsettling at moments, but I am glad with how it ended and the bad guys didn't win. I would definitely recommend if you enjoy mythology mixed with a little bit of American historical ideal.

I want to say thank you Shannon Ives, Random House Publishing, and Net Galley for access to an advanced copy of this book. All opinions of this book are my own.


3.5 - a very cool book!! This had a bit of everything: mythology, colonial America, dumb men, badass women. It definitely was a more strange plot but I had fun with this read, especially in the context of observing a mythical creature experience colonialism, patriarchy, organized religion. At the same time, the loose navigation of female camaraderie through various struggles, especially against power-hungry and disgusting men, was a nice addition to the plot I didn’t expect. You have to work your way through the beginning for a bit, but it puts into perspective what our society has normalized and let’s you reflect on the danger that our systems and structures have. This definitely has a bunch to impact, but thankful for the chance to experience this read!

the literary world is filled to the brim with greek myth retellings and while this one brings an interesting virginian spin to it all, i can’t help but feel like this has been done before, and better

soooo gorgeous! this was really romantic you guys. i enjoyed the romance and the writing was top tier and for that, i read it in one solid sitting. which leads me to my question of why i found some parts lacking…it felt like maybe the pacing was off? overall a good read though

“Eve’s cursed after all. Her ability to create life is never regarded as a gift. It’s a punishment, a way to make us ashamed of our achievements, heartbroken over the feats our bodies can achieve”

A must read for fans of Roman/Greek mythology!

A sympathetic tale of the curse and fate of the Sirens.

Thelma has found the chance to achieve freedom from the curse she and her sisters bare. Thelia travels to an American colony searching for what she needs to break the curse Ceres placed.

What she did not expect to find was friends or love. Especially love in that Thelia believes it is her fault that her first love, Proserpina, ended up in the Underworld in the first place.

A sapphic fantasy tale that will keep readers engaged.

In Those Fatal Flowers, Shannon Ives has woven a tale of love, betrayal, and perseverance. Inspired by Greco-Roman mythology and basic human nature. Thelia and her two sisters are banished to the island of Scopuli, far away from their home and the woman Thelia loves. Tranformed into sirens, they live as half-birds and half-humans, forced to survive by luring the men of passing ships to their deaths. As the years pass, fewer and fewer boats come until finally there are none, and the sisters' lives are in danger. Sparked by the voice of her beloved Prosperpina, Thelia sets out into the world on a dangerous quest to colonial America in an attempt to save her sister's from certain death.

I enjoyed this story and love the mythological vibes it gives off. It is told in alternating timelines, past Thelia and present Thelia, which I found slightly confusing at first but overall added to the unfolding of the story. I also appreciate that this story acknowledged the difficulties women faced in that time period and focused on survival and the strength of women. Even adding in some unfortunate betrayal by a greedy woman for some added realism.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for an advanced copy of Those Fatal Flowers in exchange for an honest review.

The plot of this book had me a little skeptical, but as a Madeline Miller fan I was intrigued. I got sucked in at the beginning, then felt like it lost me in the middle, but pulled me right back in at the end. Overall, I think this is a great debut novel and I would definitely read more from Shannon Ives! I would recommend to my fellow Madeline Miller fans or sapphic romance girlies.

Immediately, I was impressed by the writing itself and knew that I was going to enjoy the story. There are some beautiful and thoughtful quotes throughout. I also really enjoyed the ending and the main character's development. I think Ives did a nice job tying everything together and wrapping up the story.

I generally prefer more complex villains, which is why it lost me a little bit in the middle. I felt a little confused on their motives. Otherwise though, a pleasantly surprising read!

Thank you to Random House - Ballantine and Netgalley for providing me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

It’s rare to find a feminist twist to ancient myths, but this book did so in a wonderful fashion!

Thelia was charged with protecting the goddess Proserpina and eventually fell in love with her. Proserpina is kidnapped under Thelia’s watch and she and her sisters are banished to an isolated island. Where they once roamed palace halls, they now cursed as sirens. Ships eventually stop coming to the island and Thelia ventures into the world.

She is “rescued” by villagers of the Roanoke settlement and is immediately intrigued by Cora. The two being a tentative friendship that eventually blossoms into something more. The men of the settlement, however, prove dangerous to the women around them.

The book takes place in alternate timelines, but both mirror the same story. Men thinking they are invincible and can take what they want. Men are lured to their deaths in both timelines and they are far from the innocents as they are sometimes portrayed.

Thelia knows how dangerous men can be and won’t let another love be taken from her. Roanoke settler, Cora, is deeply unhappy in the life she is trapped in as a 16th century woman. Thelia at first intrigues her and then captures her heart completely. Despite the very real threats they face, Thelia and Cora also face a future neither thought possible.

An excellent book that proves love always finds a way and always wins in the end.

This book is a Greek mythology retelling blended with the mystery of the lost colony of Roanoke.

I have honestly never read a book that has this mix of times, and yet it worked wonderfully. The integration of these two distinct times in history was seamless and created a very unique story. In my opinion, this has been one of the most captivating retellings that I have read this year.

This book has sisterly bonds, friendships, and feminism, and is also a sapphic romance. These characters were unique and interesting, and I genuinely cared about every single one of them. Ives is also talented at writing villains that anger and infuriate you while also having a terrifying factor to them.

This book was brilliant and such a strong five-star read for me! Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me to read and review this arc <3

I was really intrigued by the idea of combining mythology with early American history, the underlying theme being bad men doing terrible things. I found the alternating timelines easy to follow, and actually adds to the suspense of the story, trying to figure out how the two timelines come together.