Overall, I enjoyed this slice of life story about a Greek girl growing up and facing the changing times/events in the middle of 20th century. While there are several POVs in this book I felt the description was a bit misleading. The vast majority of the book (what feels like 80-85%) is about Demitra. There are a few chapters from Elena and Maria’s POV, but they were much shorter and rare. To be honest since these chapters were smaller (and randomly throughout the text) I don’t think they end up making as big of an impact on the story as intended.

For me I always felt like something was missing during this story. It didn’t help that the pacing was kind of all over the place. I enjoyed the women around Demitra the most and how they supported her during the good times and the bad. They really brought home the idea of “women make the magic”.

I loved the narrator for the audiobook. She did a great job with the voices and telling the story.

Daughter of Ruins is an epic work of Greek historical fiction centered around Demitra and two other women, whose lives and fates are interconnected in a variety of ways, through much of the past century. It’s a moving and engaging story that will stay with you long after you finish.

Alex Sarrigeorgiou did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Yvette Manessis Corporon, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Daughter of Ruins

° Dual Timelines
° Multiple POV
° Greek History & Mythology

This historical fiction novel follows the lives of three resilient women—a motherless daughter, an Italian prostitute, and a mail-order bride—over several decades in Greece and America.

The story beautifully captures their courage, struggles and determination to rise above pain, blending inspiration with heartbreak. It explores powerful themes of parental love, friendship, loss and advocacy for others’ rights.  While listening to the audiobook on my way to work, I found myself wanting to pull over as I felt deeply connected to the main character's emotions.

The narrative is rich with Greek history, culture and mythology, vividly describing the beauty of Cephalonia and Corfu, making me long to visit Greece one day. The intertwining of the goddesses in Greek mythology, with the women’s stories is skillfully done.

I initially listened to the audiobook, but later switched to the ebook and Alex Sarrigeorgiou’s narration truly brought each character to life.

TW: Physical Abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Illegal Adoption, Human Trafficking

Favorite Quotes:
ᥫ᭡ "Let men think they hold all the power because we know the truth.  We are the ones who give life and bring life.  There is nothing more powerful or important."
"Men think they hold the power, but we are the power, Demitra.  And we bring the magic and the love."

ᥫ᭡  "I know what it is to have a passion in your heart but to be told repeatedly to tamp it down.  I know what it is to want to soar when others are holding you down.  I see this in you."

ᥫ᭡ ".. Show me someone who isn't damaged or haunted in some way.  The only difference is what we do with that pain.  Do we drown in it, allowing it to pull us down further until we disappear into it?  Or do we use that pain, that brokenness to inspire us?" 

ᥫ᭡ "Don't shy away from what haunts you.   Embrace it. Just look around you, look at the magnificence of this place, look at what can happen when you face your pain, the very thing that broke your heart, instead of pretending it never existed."

ᥫ᭡  "..You spent your childhood searching for the magic in the myths, Demitra, when you were the magic all along.  Be the magic.  Create magic and live the life of an artist.."

ᥫ᭡ "She had, for a few brief moments, experienced a pure and perfect love.   And she was forever changed by it, understanding that it would never come again, because she was not who she was before."

ᥫ᭡ "..she knew that despite the pain she felt, it had been worth it.  It had all been worth it.  Because however brief it was, their love was true.  And she knew that together, they had created magic, and the world was a more beautiful place because of their love."

ᥫ᭡  "The tangle of tiny blue flowers woven into Aphrodite's hair would always be a testament of their bond and proof that sometimes only after experiencing pain, longing, and sorrow, can love exist in its truest and most beautiful form."

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Harper Muse and Harper Muse Audiobooks and the author Yvette Manessis Corporon for the complimentary copy of this book.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Daughter of Ruins swept me into a rich, interwoven story of three remarkable women, each navigating their own challenges with courage and heart. The audiobook brought their voices to life, pulling me deeply into their world. Yvette Manessis Corporon’s storytelling is both tender and fierce, holding my attention from beginning to end. This novel will stay with me, no question, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a story that resonates with resilience and connection. This one’s earned a place among my favorites.

This was a well written, researched and emotional book. I loved the 3 stories and how they all were connected. The bonds between women, especially those that are relatives. And the overall uplifting feel to this book, despite it being an emotionally challenging read. The story spans hundreds of years, from Greece to New York City. It is rich with detail, history and family. Over the many years and stories followed, family secrets unraveled and one woman's life was changed forever. I enjoyed this audiobook, I was engaged from the beginning. I found that all the stories were interesting and that it was easy to follow. However, I had very high expectations for this book and I did not feel they were hit. I wanted to continue listening and was invested in discovering the end. So, it is possible that I set my expectations way too high for this one or that it is a better read than audio.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

This is an unputdownable women's fiction. I received the audiobook from Netgalley. The narration is excellent and the accents are in point. The plot was captivating, but I felt that the storytelling was a bit slow. However, this is a must read for those who love reading about the lives of ordinary people, women and children during the time of wars.

I was very pleasantly surprised at this book. I read a lot of historical fiction but I don't think I have read one with Greek background.

I am truly amazed how greatly structured this book with lots of great analogies to Greek mythology (which I love). Besides, all sorts of emotions were evoked by the novel: hope, passion, grief and sorrow, love, pain, betrayal, and so much more. A perfectly built characters (both positive and negative), wonderful descriptions of the environment, great story with turns and twists. My only critique is that the novel started out a bit slow, but fortunately things picked up afterwards so much so that it became a real pageturner.

I listened to the audiobook version, which was very good.

The audiobook of Daughter of Ruins by Yvette Manessis Corporon was a courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. Thanks so much to all for this opportunity.

Unfortunately this audiobook was really tough to follow. I had a hard time keeping up, especially since chapters are not labeled in the audio file. The narrator is great, but as a listener, we need more help to keep up.

Daughter of Ruins (audiobook) by Yvette Manessis Corporon
Brave women of history have had to exert great courage to change the course of their existence, many had no voice until someone gave them one by telling their stories.

This story tells the tale of 3 women, a motherless daughter, an Italian prostitute, and a mail order “picture bride” from Greece.
Demitra was born in America and was taken back to Greece when her mother died. She spent her childhood buried in mythology looking for her mother in the stories of goddesses. As a young woman she refuses an arranged marriage and instead has an affair with a forbidden man who ignites her passion for art. In her art, she brings new Greek goddesses to life.
Elena was raised around Italian brothels and failed to escape becoming a victim to that fate. When Italy occupied Cephalonia, Greece, she was sent to entertain soldiers. Her life changed when the .Germans arrived in 1943.
Maria was from a poor Greek village, where her father struggled to feed the family. He sent her to America to marry a stranger as a”picture bride”. At 18, she was terrified of the life she was forced into and mourned the one she left behind.

This story is steeped in culture and history with a compelling tale of resilience and survival. Our fates are often shaped by the struggles we endure. I enjoyed reading about these extraordinary women who had no voice until someone put pen to paper and gave them one,

This was an outstanding book! I was captivated with the stories of the three women.
The narrator did a phenomenal job of telling their story from the pages of this wonderful book! This was a slow burn initially, I honestly had a little bit of a struggle connecting with the story and characters in the beginning. Once I got a feel for their interconnections and the story line, I was completely captivated and I wanted to listen until the end!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins focus for the opportunity to review and ARC of this book!
4/5⭐️

This book was beautifully read and one I enjoyed coning back to. I liked the different timelines and how this story was intertwined. The Italian setting was also an added bonus. I didn't know much about mythology but I liked how it was weaved into the story with the beliefs and life of the women as well.

This compelling dual-time novel intricately weaves the stories of three strong Greek women: Demitra, an orphaned daughter raised by her Baba; Elena, a beautiful Italian prostitute navigating wartime challenges; and Maria, a poor mountain girl sent to America as a mail-order bride in search of a better life.

Set against the backdrop of Greek mythology, the narrative unfolds in both the 1930s and 1943, exploring themes of love, loss, and resilience. Demitra grapples with her mother’s death and her father’s absence, while Elena faces the harsh realities of war, and Maria seeks her place in a foreign land.

The author sensitively portrays each woman’s struggles, highlighting their courage and determination to discover their true selves amidst societal expectations. With a rich cast of supporting characters and a deep appreciation for Greece's history and myths, this emotional read resonates deeply. A beautifully crafted story that deserves a five-star rating!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins | Harper Muse for the opportunity to listen to this advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest opinions!

Daughter of Ruins
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Less than 8% in and I’m crying at Stella’s speech about being a step mother to Demitra. As a step daughter myself, I think that connection is more than I could ever ask for and one I know so well.

This book is absolutely amazing! It has really grabbed my attention. I will say that the shifts in point of view can be a bit tricky to keep up with. The heavy themes surrounding the treatment of sex workers, trafficking, and slavery are clear but handled with such sensitivity. I can't put it down! Demitra’s speech to her father about her mother hit me hard—I’m in tears at work.
It may be the narrator or maybe recent historical fiction I have read but there were often parts where I forgot this takes place in Greece and not Mexico or Spain. This story is so beautifully done and so beautifully sad. I immediately had to send a physical copy of this book to one of my friends.

“Men think that they hold the power but, we ARE the power, Demitra, and we bring the magic and the love.”

Daughter of Ruins alternates between the 1920s, 1950s, and 1970s while following the stories of multiple women in Greece. It's one of those books that is difficult to read but leaves a lasting impression. This is a result of the subject matter's difficulty. The women in the book experience a variety of hardships, such as manipulative women, violent men, and natural disasters that permanently alter their lives.

As a fan of historical fiction, I can attest to the originality of this book's content. Although it takes place during World War II, the conflict is not the primary subject. It does, however, highlight the ongoing sacrifices that women had to make in a society and era where being a submissive housewife was expected of them.

I made it approximately 40% before I DNF'd the book. I thought the narration was good, but I had a hard time really getting into the story so I wanted to move onto something else.

I started getting into historical fiction last year and am so happy I have found this genre! Daughter of Ruins is a captivating story following three women as they fight for what they want. I really, really enjoyed Demitra's character and how her story interconnects with the other two women. I am an art therapist so I loved how Demitra used her art for self expression and it inspired me to draw myself.

This is a coming of age story woven with love and loss and rich Greek history explored that made me feel so deeply and learn so much at the same time. Yvette’s writing is so detailed and thoughtful making the characters really leep of the page and I really enjoyed that too.

I also did an immersive read of this one and really, really enjoyed Alex Sarrigeorgio’s narration. The way she translates the characters emotions so well was very gripping and I really couldn’t wait to get back to listening to the story.

Once again, I am thrilled to be a fall ambassador for @booksparks. My book line-up is fantastic, and we are kicking it off with an atmospheric, vibrant historical fiction novel.

A motherless daughter

An Italian prostitute

A mail-order bride

This is a brilliantly crafted novel. It is a beguiling journey through the generations of three Greek women. Their stories are those of heartache, abuse, loss, and grief as they struggle to find their place and reach for their dreams.

While I found the writing beautiful and the scenery rich and descriptive, I was captivated by how the author wove Greek mythology into the narrative. The mythological characters became a parallel or an analogy to these women and their lives. And yet, the story is still firmly rooted in humanity—the range of emotions and the need for connection and love are skillfully conveyed.

Set some time aside for this beautiful novel - you won’t be able to put it down.

Thank you #partner @booksparks and @yvettecorporon for a gifted book. #FRC2024

Thank you @harpercollinsfocus for the gifted audiobook.

I enjoyed this historical fiction audiobook for the deep character descriptions, weaving of family history and mythos. There were times the story dragged a bit, but it is great for fans of A Woman is No Man and similar.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this advanced audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.

My Quick Takes:
- 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Language 🤐 mild, 2 instances
- Spice ❤️‍🔥 closed door
- Content Consideration 🤔 parent death, infant loss, infidelity, domestic abuse
- Target Audience 🎯 Adult

Wow. I don’t know what I expected out of this book but it surprised me in the best way. Following three greek women over the course of 60 years, Daughter of Ruins plumbs the depths of the hardships everyday Greek women faced in the mid 20th century.

I could not put this book down as I cried my way through the pages of heartache, triumph, setbacks, devastation, and the trials that women can endure during their lifetime. I enjoyed the coming of age narrative and the bits of history woven into the timeline, like WW2 and other lesser known historical events in Greece. It made me think of books like Pachinko, and A Thousand Splendid Suns. A must read for fans of Kristin Hannah or Marjan Kamali.

Daughter of Ruins follows the stories several women in Greece and jumps back in forth in time spanning the 1920's, 50's, and 70's. It's one of those books that tough to read, but sticks with you for life. This is because of how difficult the subject matter is. The women in the book go through many trials, including abusive men, manipulative women, and natural disasters that change their lives forever.

As a historic fiction lover, I can confirm this book is unique in it's content. Even though it spans the time of WWII, the war isn't the main focus. What it does focus on is the sacrifices women had to constantly make in a time and culture where they were expected to be meek homemakers who defer to the men in their lives.

I highly recommend this book for any historic fiction or women's fiction lover!

Thank you to NetGalley and HaperCollins Focus for the ARC

A moving historical fiction novel. I think you'll enjoy Daughter of Ruins if you've previously liked The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley. I got the same vibe. Unfortunately I found the pacing a bit off. At times I found it really slow-moving and almost boring. There were a lot included that I didn't think was necessary. It got better towards the end and I did get a little emotional.