This was so fun! It is the origin story of the Muses from Disney's Hercules.
In this story the Muses are teens who find out that their mother is actually the Titan Goddess Mnemosyne who has been hiding from the Olympian Gods for years. Minutes later, Mnemosyne is kidnapped. Now the sisters have to travel to Thebes and solve the clues she left in her journal to find and rescue their mother.

This is a CLEAN read combining adventure, mystery, fantasy and Greek mythology.

I am definitely purchasing this one for my library.

"Hercules" is one of my absolute favorite Disney films, and the Muses are one of the reasons why. They're brassy, sassy, and just plain fun. (Admittedly, the best part has always been that the heroine is named Meg, but I digress.) So, I really wanted to love this book, but...I didn't. Frankly, I struggled through the first hundred pages until I finally admitted that I just couldn't do it anymore, and DNFed it. The dialogue is positively TEDIOUS, and tries too hard to make the characters sound ~lofty and ~erudite, when part of the fun of the Muses in the film is that they're totally down-to-earth and colloquial. I just wasn't feeling it, and there are too many other things to read.

Overall, I thought this was an interesting look into the origin of some largely underutilized characters from the Hercules movies.

I love the recent trend of Disney story to YA book. Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read this early!

Prose was pretty wordy and felt like it was trying harder than necessary to tell me what it wanted to say. Not as approachable for the YA audience.

Bemused is a Disney origin story of the Muses from Hercules. I have found these stories to be hit or miss in the past, not living up to the charm of the movies they are based on, but this one was stronger than others. I liked the story of their goddess mother and the five daughters each with their unique gifts. I wish a little more time was spent on each one and I would love to know more about their future as well outside of just singing for Hercules.

Hercules is my favorite disney movie ever. Like, I have a tattoo of Meg permanently inked onto my body kind of favorite movie. So when I heard there was a book about the Muses coming out I immediately requested it, no further information needed. And I think was definitely a fine story, but I probably would have enjoyed it more if I read it as a teen. And yes, this book is aimed for teens - so it did its job there! It's definitely a me problem, it just read a little too juvenile for me. That is totally my fault, which is why I'm still giving it a 3 star. I believe people will really enjoy this book, it just wasn't for me

Thank you NetGalley and Disney press for the eARC of this novel in exchange for a honest review.

I love the concept of this novel. I was hopeful this was something I could use for my classroom when we talk about mythology- but it did not interest me the way I was hoping it would. For something to work in the middle school classroom, it has to be engaging from the first chapter, and this book did not do that for me, unfortunately. I really did want to love this!

I really wanted to like this book... I love Disney re-tellings! I love Hercules! I love stories about women! I love Greek mythology! The way the muses were written Bemused, however, just fell so flat. I actually DNF-ed this one... not my cup of tea. I am sorry, Farrah Rochon!

Thank you to Disney Books and to netgalley for the ARC.

As a self confessed Disney Kid, I was so excited to receive a copy of this book, taking the classic Hercules but retelling it from the Muses POV. This gave a very clever way of looking back at the story that will introduce this tale to a whole new audience.

I enjoyed this retelling of Disney's Hercules but from the point of view of the 5 Muses. And this retelling makes a reader look at the original story in a new light.

This was a 3.5 rounded up to 4, I'd say... as a huge fan of Hercules (favorite disney movie growing up, and still to this day), I have always loved the muses and appreciated a book dedicated to their backstory. Something in the end didn't make sense to me, given how many times I've watched the movie so that irked me but for the most part, it was a good story (especially for actually-young-adult readers. I am an almost 40 year old who still loves YA, but I appreciate when they can still appeal to an older audience. I think this one leads to an actual younger audience and nothing wrong with that. I think I could get behind it more as a fan of the movie, but may have been less invested otherwise. Overall, good story. Thank you for the opportunity to have an early copy!!

I'm very picky with Greek mythology (my culture) and unfortunately this one didn't land. The mythological aspect wasn't too bad compared to others--with the caveat that this IS Disney, after all, not original fiction per se--and my main issue lay with the actual sisters. Most of them felt the same whilst the author/Disney not giving them enough time to flesh them out. The writing was passable, but not standout in YA. At times the plot dragged whilst also feeling very shallow. An entertaining read for some, but recommended for those who aren't likely to look too close when it comes to culture and mythology. Would've liked Disney to have chosen a Greek author for this to do it justice properly.

To start Rochon. Can she write a bad book? no.

Hercules? Are you kidding me? I know this isn't about him but a pre-part of the story that brought us his story.

THE MUSES?? Shriek and dance! yes!

So I love all of the above and we get a story on the not so well known muses. This book has already been ordered and will be on my HS library's shelf as soon as possible.

I loved this book, getting to dive in and get more of a back story on the sisters and what they had to go through after their mother had been taken by Hades. All the things they had to face as sisters.

If you love Disney, Greek mythology, back story, sisterhood, and beautiful writing THIS book needs to go on your TBR list today. Or just forget the TBR and read it today.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

This was a story that didn’t really need to be told, and I don’t think it was told well either. I’ve really enjoyed some of Farrah Rochon’s other work, but this was a miss. It has the feel of an after school special, and the character voices are all over the place (with the exception of Thalia).

Farrah Rochon does it again! I loved her previous Disney books so I knew this one would be excellent. It’s so fun, and each muse clearly has her own personality and character. Pain and Panic were perfect too! I know I would have been obsessed with this as a kid.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Easily a new favorite Disney book!

Rochon perfectly captures the muses we know and love from Hercules the movie, and let's us see them in a new light. When their mother is taken by Hades, the girls have to work together to get her back. They face trials and tribulations where they will need each of their unique gifts to succeed.

I adored this story and related the most to Calli. Being the eldest sister, having to become the leader, the parental figure at times and most of all a role model - I understood her. Each of the sisters had such bright and vibrant personalities! I loved getting to know each one. I really hope Disney decides to add more books for these beautiful young women, there is so much more story to tell!

This was a cute throwback to my childhood, however I'm not sure the book could stand on its own. The story was rather predictable and the characters were pretty basic. While it was and nostalgic I'm not sure it really added anything to the original movie's storyline.

I don’t think I could have asked for a more beautiful book. Taking five beloved characters that there is very little known about and giving them such a dynamic story is just perfection. I love Greek mythology so getting to learn a little bit more about the muses was something I was really excited about, and this book didn’t disappoint. I love how each sister’s voice comes through so distinctly, and how they find out they are stronger together, but find ways to still be unique and true to themselves and talents. I hope readers fall in love with this book just as much as I did.
Thank you to Disney Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

A titan and the goddess of memory, Mnemosyne erased the gods’ memory of her. She created five daughters: Calliope the storyteller, Clio the inquisitive history buff, Mepomene the empath, Terpischore the dancer, and Thalia the comedian. For their mother’s birthday, the five daughters stage a public birthday performance for their mother. As Mnemosyne tries to explain the danger, they are all in, Panic and Pain, Hades’ minions, kidnap her. Putting aside their differences, the five sisters must use their strengths and their mom’s special journal to ask the gods for help. Why did Hades take their mother? Why did Mnemosyne not want the gods to know where she was? Can the five sisters save their mother?

The plot is well developed, engaging, and full of adventure. The characters are well developed with distinct temperaments. The author’s writing style and narrative does a great job of bringing a lesser-known mythology story to life. Readers who like mythology, Hercules, fantasy, and adventure will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections. 4 stars, Gr 7 and up