This was a heartfelt, emotional, and captivating journey through the lives of three courageous women who faced numerous challenges. I was unable to put this novel down and read it in one sitting. I highly recommend this remarkable novel to everyone.

Thank you for this ARC #HarperCollins,#Netgalley, #DaughterofRuins

I couldn't stop listening to this one. I got this as an audiobook ARC (thanks, netgalley) and just lost myself in this beautifully realistic story.

This story mainly takes place in Greece during the time between 1920 and 1953. It follows the life of Dimitra, a young girl whose mother died when Dimitra was very young. Dimitra lives a fairly lonely life with her father, who expects her to behave like a traditional Greek girl where her only value is in that of a wife and mother. When her father eventually remarries, Dimitra learns the value of authentic female companionship. Women lifting up other women and women celebrating women is a reoccurring theme in this story, but it's subtle. As Dimitra gets older, her father's desire to marry her off increases, but Dimitra wants more than to be someone's betrothed. She wants love.

Elena is a prostitute from Italy. Her mother was a prostitute too. She is beautiful and caring. The Italian soldiers she services on the Greek island are kind and gentle, but things change with the German occupation.

Maria is from a small Greek town. Her family gets by, but barely. To make ends meet, her father decides to turn her into a mail-order-bride. She embarks on a journey from Greece to America where she finds that the American Dream looks different for everyone.

These three women have lives that entwine with each other, and Corporon has done a marvelous job at crafting their stories together seamlessly. I want to add all her books to my cart and go lose myself in them. This is a book for the readers who love a good historical fiction novel. There is love, female empowerment, poverty, destitution, character development, found family, and mythology all in a story that centers around three strong women forging their way in life.

The story took me through so many emotions. I laughed, got angry, and cried. I was reminded of my own life and how love looks different for everyone.

I listened to the audiobook put out by Harper Muse Audiobooks and narrated by Alex Sarrigeorgiou. The narrator's use of accents and her clear voice made this a pleasure to listen to. I was fully immersed in my "reading" experience with her as my guide. I would absolutely listen to another audio that she narrates.

Daughter of Ruins is a captivating journey through the lives of generations of Greek women, intertwining past and present in a beautifully woven narrative. Yvette Manessis Corporon crafts a story that effortlessly tugs at the reader’s emotions, ranging from joyful nostalgia to deep sorrow. The characters are wonderfully relatable, with rich development that draws you into their personal struggles, hopes, and dreams.

The emotional depth of the story is further enhanced by the beautiful narration of Alex Sarrigeorgiou, whose tone, annunciation, and character depth bring this multi-generational tale to life. Her performance pulled me into the story, making every character feel vivid and real.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy family sagas, historical fiction, or those with a deep appreciation for stories that explore the complexities of heritage, identity, and the bonds between women across generations. If you’re drawn to narratives that evoke a wide range of emotions and transport you across time and place, Daughter of Ruins will not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley, Yvette Manessis Corporon, and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse for the opportunity to listen and review Daughter of Ruins.