I ATE this book up.

I am obsessed with the characters in this book and the world.

The audiobook was also fantastic, the narrators were all so good and I think I got really into the book because of how good the audiobook is.

I also CAN NOT wait for book 2. I honestly need it as soon as humanly possible.

The main character was also funny, and the narrator delivers her parts so well

The slow burn in this is also SO GOOD. Like the sexual tension is simply whafting out of the book. And in my opinion- the audio book made the tension even better..

This is a perfect example of an audiobook where the narration and the way it’s performed being done so well that you feel inside the story itself.

I also found myself wanting to have headphones on all the time to listen to this book, and although I also own the physical book, I kept reaching and preferring to listen to the audiobook.

I went into this book completely blind, but the main character Alexis immediately drew me in, her character is so funny and she also has an invisible poisonous snake that only she can hear/speak to as a best friend and the two of them were honestly just so good throughout the entire book.

plus one of the love interests has a racoon protector which is just the cutest thing ever imo…

The language in this book is very current so if you don’t enjoy that in a fantasy book, this may not be for you. I personally enjoyed it because i found it hilarious and very relatable to how I speak.

I am obsessed with the characters in this book and the world and haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished.. I would truly sell my soul to read book 2 right now

I had such high hopes for this book after the wonderful beginning and i was unfortunately let down. The narrator did a decent job with all voices except for the male voices. I LOVED Nix and the funny parts throughout the book. Unfortunately I felt zero connection to any of the characters in the book. The plot didn't seem to move things along and relationships didn't feel genuine.

5 ⭐️

Blood of Hercules was written as if the FMC was an emo 15 year old girl, but I didn’t even care because the vibes were truly immaculate and I had such a great time with it!

Alexis, a 19 year old foster kid-turned-homeless teen, befriends an invisible snake and then gets pulled into training to be an immortal member of Sparta. She’s book-smart and sarcastic and protective and witty, but also extremely shy and is definitely not winning any mental health awards. Her only goal is to make it to graduation day, or maybe just to fall off the mountain when she’s tired and cold - it really depended on the day. Her inner monologues had me cackling so many times because she truly did not give a single fck.

The 4 MMCs - Patro, Achilles, Augustus, and Kharon - were all the broody bad boys I could want. The invisible snake, Nyx, was an absolute delight as she (completely seriously?) offered to bite everyone who came near Alexis. Helen was teenage Spartan Barbie and I loved her bubbly personality.

I am so excited for Bonds of Hercules next October!

The audiobook narration was so good. Meg Sylvan dripped sarcasm like it was melting ice cream and delivered sleep-deprived slurring like a toddler who just woke up from a nap. She was phenomenal as Alexis! Teddy Hamilton, Aiden Snow, and Tristan Morris all had really short parts, but they all sounded just the way a morally grey God should.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the audio ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I was completely hooked on Blood of Hercules! This reverse harem fantasy romance had me listening to the audiobook late into the night, and I’m absolutely itching for the sequel.

Alexis, our resilient FMC, has faced a life of starvation, abuse, and neglect in the human world. Despite the odds, she fights to survive and protect her "brother" Charlie. Her sharp wit and intelligence shine through, and everything changes when a blood test reveals she’s a Spartan—one of the elite few destined for power and immortality.

Thrown into the brutal Spartan War Academy, Alexis must prove her mental and physical strength. Immortality isn’t guaranteed; it’s earned, and failure means death. But after everything she’s endured, what’s another year of hell?

Adding to the intensity are the men in her life—Achilles and Patro, her ruthless mentors, and Kharon, the ferryman of death, alongside Augustus, the son of war, who serve as her terrifying professors. Fueled by obsession, hate, and possessiveness, these men add tension and danger at every turn.

Alexis’s dark, sarcastic humor makes her a compelling lead, and while the story primarily unfolds from her perspective, we also get glimpses into the minds of the four MMCs. I adored all of the magical creatures featured in this book as well. The action-packed ending left me desperate for more, and I’m crossing my fingers for more spice in the sequel.

If you love dark fantasy romance with morally gray characters and intense action, Blood of Hercules is a must-read!

I'm giving this book 4 1/2 stars (rounded up to 5). Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ALC!

I honestly don’t think I can give a fair review of this book. I ended up not being able to finish it. The story line was everywhere and I can’t get passed how this is supposed to be mythology yet everyone acts like mafia hitmen or something with guns and in suits. It just doesn’t make sense.
Also, the constant info dumps without weaving it into the story is just lazy writing.

Blood of Hercules is a thrilling, adult reimagining of Greek mythology that had me completely hooked! The story follows Alexis, a girl who discovers she's a Spartan and is thrown into a brutal academy where survival means enduring deadly trials. Which aren't so much trials as it is hardcore academy courses. The world-building is epic, blending dystopian vibes with Greek myth, and Alexis’ hilarious, sarcastic POV makes her so relatable—she’s the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for because her thoughts are so on point to someone in that situation.

There wasn't much romance at first, so it's definitely a slow burn. But it is intense, with possessive, morally gray male characters who will keep you on edge. Be sure to read the trigger warnings so you know what you're getting in to. The action, the twists and the dark humor had me addicted from start to finish. Besides the romance aspect of it, I loved reading Alexi's relationships outside her mentors and professors. While she isn't a very open person, the author did a great job showing Alexis slowly open up to a couple of different characters through her year.

This is not your typical Greek myth retelling, but rather a wild, fast-paced adventure full of drama, humor, and slight romance. If those sound up your alley, Blood of Hercules will have you hooked. Can’t wait for the next book!

🌟🌟🌟.5
🌶️
Blood of Hercules is based in a post-apocalyptic world with Greek mythology. The FMC, Alexis, grows up in an abusive foster home, living off food vouchers and fending for herself and her foster brother. Her life is changed when she is found to be a Spartan, powerful elite to be immortal at the age of 20. She is forced to join the Spartan War Academy to prove that she has what it takes to be an immortal. You meet Achilles and Patro, her mentors for the academy and also Kharon and Augustus, her professors. The story takes some twists and turns that I did not expect with these 5 characters but it was entertaining and I enjoyed reading it. Alexis is sarcastic, funny and very loyal to her brother. The book is mostly in the FMC’s POV, and a few times do we see it from someone else’s perspective. I wish there was more character development in the MMCs but maybe it’s in the next book.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Blood of Hercules is a fast-paced, adventurous tale that blends mythology with modern flair. As a reader, I had high hopes going into it, but I ended up with mixed feelings. While the story was undeniably fun at times, it didn’t quite match what I was expecting.

The premise itself is intriguing, with the protagonist facing off against the legacy of Hercules and diving into a world of ancient gods and heroic feats. The adventure is action-packed, and the author does a great job weaving mythological elements with the contemporary world. The pacing is quick, keeping things engaging enough to stick with it, even if at times it felt a little predictable.

However, one of my main issues was with the narrator. While I understand the importance of a narrator’s voice in setting the tone, I found this one a bit grating at times. There was something about the tone and delivery that felt immature, almost like a teenager trying to sound deep, which didn't always fit the intensity of the story. This made the experience a bit less enjoyable for me, especially during key emotional or dramatic scenes, where the voice just didn’t have the gravitas I’d hoped for.

Another element that didn’t sit well was the romance. It was very predictable, following a formulaic “will-they-won’t-they” path that, while not terrible, didn’t offer much in terms of surprises. The characters’ chemistry felt rushed and, at times, a little forced. Plus, the dialogue and interactions between the characters often came off as very TikTok-coded—meaning a lot of trendy, almost meme-like language that felt more like a social media post than a natural conversation. If you're into that kind of thing, maybe you’ll enjoy it more, but for me, it distracted from the story at times.

That said, despite these flaws, I did enjoy Blood of Hercules. The overall concept is fun, and there were moments that made me smile. It's a good pick if you're looking for a light, easy read with some mythological intrigue—just be prepared for some cringey dialogue and a narrator that might not hit the mark for everyone. If you go into it with low expectations for depth, it can definitely be a fun ride.

2.75⭐️
I went into this thinking it was an arranged marriage book—that’s on me.

This felt like a story about Alexis suffering… and suffering… and, well, more suffering. For at least 80% of the book, that’s all that happened, and then the ending felt rushed and thrown together.

I enjoyed Alexis’s humor, but humor can only carry a book so far. Her serpent friend was funny too, but overall, this just didn’t meet my expectations.

I was also excited about the narrators, but unfortunately, they didn’t get much to work with.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️/5

I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommend for fans of Fourth Wing. Some the dialogue was a little …. Interesting? But I still overall enjoyed the book. It is not as good as fourth wing or TOG but still found myself enjoying it. Can’t wait to see what else the author has in store.

Wow, this audiobook was easily a 6 star listen for me. The narrators did an AMAZING job. Alexis’ character was so freaking funny and honestly a little relatable with the way she didn’t think she was good enough and just wanted to survive the day. When it was the MMCs POVs I swooned every single time, these men adore her. The ending was a complete whirlwind and I cannot wait for the next book! This was so good and I’m so grateful to have gotten an ALC thank you so much Harlequin audio!

FMC is very goofy, the best way I could explain her. I loved her inner monologue. She’s literally just trying to get through the day and I can relate to that lol I found it very entertaining, I enjoyed all the emotions that the character went through and how it was explained. I liked the way she portrayed the trauma responses of what she went through and how she copes in daily life. I still have so many questions regarding the snake? Brother gives me vibes he’s got something going on? What’s up with the connection to the duo? & sweet god let her submit to “them” (avoiding spoilers) Also, loved the mult. POV.

The audiobook narrators were good.

Giving 5 stars because I couldn’t put It down. I received the audio ARC on NetGalley and went that day after a few chapters to purchase the paperback since I was enjoying it so much!

I really had a good time reading this book! Is it the best written thing ever no? Did I roll my eyes sometimes yes? And there is some weird slang.
But was it so super fun especially on audiobook and true enemies to lovers witty banter and total ridiculousness. The FMC you have to remember is 19 and it makes the book a lot more fun if you just embrace it. I’m also a sucker for anything mythology based so this was up my alley! The audio was super great and I think it is a book that would be better as an audiobook.

“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕.”

I don’t want to sound dramatic, but I became absolutely FERAL over this book! 🔥 It has EVERYTHING I love OKAY! Intense trials, dystopian world vibes (modern society mixed with Greek mythology?! YES), sarcastically hilarious inner monologues, and possessive men who will be up to your standards.

Jasmine Mas, if I ever meet you IRL, prepare for me to bow 🙇‍♀️ because this audiobook was pure perfection! The world-building? AMAZING. The FMC? YES. I’m already planning my reread before book two drops. Okay, enough fangirling.. let's get into the book

This is a reimagining of Hercules like you’ve NEVER seen before. Titans roam freely, and the only ones powerful enough to stop them are the Spartans who are immortal warriors with god-tier abilities. The twist? They rule the world now. Enter Alexis Hert, just a girl trying to survive… until a blood test reveals she’s Spartan. Before she can even process it, she’s shipped off to the Spartan War Academy, where survival means enduring trials that will test everything she’s got.

“𝑨𝒍𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒕, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝑾𝒂𝒓 𝑨𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒚...𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒆. 𝑴𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑲𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒔.”

When I say I was addicted, I mean I couldn’t stop reading. Alexis is everything her POV chapters are packed with hilarious, sarcastic commentary that makes her feel so real and relatable. She’s the kind of FMC you root for from start to finish.

“𝑨 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒔𝒐 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈.”

NOW let’s talk about the dark romance vibes. 😈 This book comes with trigger warnings, so pleaseee check those first, but OMG. The male characters? Possessive, morally gray, strong-willed, and fully committed to the “Who did this to you?” energy. AGHHHH! GIMME GIMME

“𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒍𝒚, 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔, “𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚.”

I won’t spoil the details of the trials or the romance because you NEED to go in blind for the full "omg what is happening" experience. Trust me you’ll be just as dizzy but as obsessed with all of them.

If you love fantasy worlds, deadly trials, and the kind of romance that burns like wildfire, do yourself a favor and pick this up. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT! 🔥✨

tropes
🗡️ greek methodology society
🗡️ academy + trials
🗡️ multi pov
🗡️ who did this to you
🗡️ cliffhanger (so worth it tbh)

How to review this book/audio. This was a like/hate book for me. Parts were really good and parts were just aggravating. I think maybe it could have been shortened and possibly better. I enjoyed the male narrator in both roles. He was able to change his voice and make himself sound like two distinctly different people. The female on the other hand just didn't sound right. She sounded a bit to young and when she did different voices they usually dragged and sounded annoying. At least to me. As Alexis she did ok but as Nyx and a couple of other not main characters it was awful. Dragging so bad. I had to increase the audio speed to tolerate it.

Alexis was a very abused foster child living in Montana. Her "father and mother" were cruel beyond words. Then a boy was brought to them and things went from bad to worse. This book is set way into the future, 2090 and later. You would think that things would have improved by then. They didn't. They only got worse. Alexis and her brother, Charlie, live in a cardboard box after the death of their foster mom and imprisonment of the foster dad. Then Alexis is taken away to a whole other life to endure all kinds of horrors just to survive. She literally has to fight. She has to spend hours, months, enduring whatever to become immortal. She didn't choose this but it is what it is.

Alexis is a whinny young lady. She's nineteen and yes she has had to endure a lot but good grief. Every other page she talks about killing herself. She is so sleepy even after hours of sleep. She's starving even though she's suppose to be able to go a very long time without food or water. She just got under my skin in many places. I do admit she was strong in places too. She fought and struggled. She ran and swam when necessary. She had an aversion to being touched, except sometimes. She was threatened constantly.

When Alexis finds out who her real parents are she was shocked. I was shocked. With parents like that you should be able to endure anything. Ok it's a book but still....

The only character I really liked was Charlie and I think maybe somethings will be revealed about him in the next book. He seems to be the only innocent in this story. Although it's a story about mythological gods and warriors, it's also about other things.

I did not find any part of this book funny. It says it's funny but to me it just wasn't. Alexis was pathetic. She went through a lot but being who she was I had to ask myself if it was really necessary. Why didn't she stop it earlier. Do something. I think she was strong enough. At least part of the time. When she wasn't crying, wishing she was dead, killing others. I just didn't much care for her.

I will read the next book because i want to know what comes next. This one was good enough to make me continue and the last few chapters were the best parts. It just seemed to take forever to get there.

Thank you #NetGalley, #HarlequinAudio, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this audio book.

3 stars...

This is my review thanks to a free audio version through NetGalley. I started this book with high hopes, the idea was excellent, yet the follow through was just ok. If you enter this book reminding yourself this is about a 19-year-old who acts and thinks her age (if not younger), you’ll be fine. When I reminded myself that, the book was easier to digest. I struggled because several other books in this genre are about 19 & 20 year olds, yet they function more maturely than the FMC in this book.

What I liked:
- FMC fighting for body autonomy and right to choose
- FMC supporting and protecting vulnerable people and creatures
- The concept of a female Hercules being hidden for a long time and being found
- Multiple morally grey or just flat out dark MMCs that you slowly learn about over the book.
- Taking place in modern times where mental health is acknowledged.
- Great description of what dissociation and/or numbing can look like in someone with a significant trauma history.

Issues:
- I found myself annoyed at all the internal dialogue. Quite immature (again normal for 19 year old) and found myself tuning out.
- The storyline was 50% of her starved, dehydrated, and half lucid while trying to learn, I sped it up to just get through those parts. They were highly repetitive and boring.
- The ongoing, somewhat pointless dialogue with the invisible snake was not that interesting and often didn’t add anything to the storyline.
- The chapter with the sirens felt like it was written from a 15-year-olds perspective.

I throughly enjoyed this audio. The narrator did an amazing job showing when excitement happens, sad moments, or when events were tense.
The plot was all there. The plot twists were amazing, I did not expect half of the things.

This book was sadly a little bit of a let down. The main character, Alexis, goes through a series of traumatic events throughout the book but it just didn’t feel very serious to me due to the constant jokes/sarcastic tone. It’s just also just an instant ick for me when trendy, online phrases are used in books, especially in fantasy. This book was however, pretty entertaining. I listened to the audiobook and I really liked the narrators. Without the audio, I’m not sure if I would have continued. This book just wasn’t the right book for me sadly.

I’m extremely grateful to have received an audio arc of this, so thank you!!

Blood of Hercules was very…different. I just wanna know, why is everyone obsessed with Alexis? In Sparta, females wanted to befriend her and males wanted to marry her. Except she has zero personality outside her inner monologue. Like the ultimate alpha males who can and do have their pick of women want a girl who doesn’t talk. It just doesn’t make sense to me.

Alexis is also forced to participate in the crucible yet people assume it’s her choice?

Don’t even get me started on the word choices/phrases.

I think the only thing that kept me going is Meg Sylvan because I listened on audio. She’s my favorite narrator and always does a great job. If I had to read this, I probably would’ve dnf’d.

Fav quotes
“Let the stalking begin”
“I’m in my emo era” lol

Dark fantasy romance ✅
Greek gods✅
Touch her and die✅
Grueling trials/ training✅
Stalker✅
Multiple men lusting over the FMC✅✅✅


Blood of Hercules has so many twists and turns!
From the very beginning you get sucked into the world and it reminded me of Percy Jackson but make it an Adult version with lots of adult jokes lol
Please check the TW because the fmc goes through a lot of trauma going up and as the story progresses.
I absolutely loved her snake friend! Now she’s a bestie I want to have lol
There were plenty of parts that made me laugh because the fmc and her snake bestie were so funny. I found the fmc very relatable as well. I honestly can not wait to the second book!!!

If you love fantasy and dark romance then I HIGHLY recommend you reading this book.