Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC of Daughter of Chaos by A. S. Webb.

I love Greek mythology, so requesting this one was a no-brainer for me.

Whilst I enjoyed the book, I lost some of the Greek-ness of it that I look for in other retellings. I think this was because the book is a hybrid of mythology and fantasy, and whilst I love that in books, with this one, I ached for more accurate lore.

I think the author is on to a great series here, and I would be interested in re-reading this book after its publication to see if the book finds more of a steady voice.

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Daughter of Chaos
By A.S. Webb
Narrated by Lucy Walker-Evan’s
4 ⭐️

If you want a book that will light a fire in you to storm the patriarchy, the first 25% of this one will do. Webb worked me into a frenzy in those first few chapters; I found this to be good even if I did have to put the book down for a minutes to calm down. After I simmered down, the story did as well. It’s very heavily themed on basic human injustices that are directed towards females and the have nots. I did find some of the storyline to get a tad muddled but not excessively so. I combo read this via ebook and audiobook. The audiobook was good. The narration was good, and I found it easy to follow. I’m usually always team audio, and this book is no exception.

Thank you to NetGalley, A.S. Webb, Harlequin Audio and Harlequin Trade Pub for the audiobook ARC and eARC 🖤

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Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
I loved this book and the main female character. This book has magic, and gods. Danae is the main female character and she is the daughter of a fisherman. She lives with her parents and sister in a small home. Her sister becomes pregnant and the town banished the family and does not want to trade with her father and his fish or sell items to the family. (will not spoil how or the father of the baby is is)
After a death in the family Danae has to go on an independent journey that is very difficult. Along the way she finds out she is the key to a prophecy. The problem is the gods want her dead!

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Daughter of Chaos by A.S. Webb
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Danae is a fisherman’s daughter on the island of Naxos. After a tragedy involving her sister, she is forced to leave her home believing she is somehow cursed by the Gods. On her journey to find answers she meets up with several other characters and learns how everything she has ever known might be a lie.
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My thoughts:
-First of all the audio was outstanding! I loved the narrators accent and all the voices she gave to the characters. Most excellent.
-This is definitely more of a high fantasy book. We don’t get all the answers to our questions because the book is just the first part of our journey in the world. So settle in for the long haul, here.
-I loved the elements of Greek mythology that were weaved in, and yet this book was entirely it’s own story.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Danae really caught my attention and I’m very interested to see where her story takes us in the next installment.

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Daughter of Chaos is a captivating debut that blends Greek mythology with a fast-paced adventure. Danae, a young girl from the small island of Paxos, faces disaster when a religious ceremony goes wrong, forcing her to flee. She stows away to Delphi, hoping the Oracle can uncover if she’s been cursed. The story is refreshing in its simplicity, avoiding overly complicated language while vividly portraying each setting. Danae encounters legendary figures and becomes entwined in a prophecy about the fall of the Gods. Though her confidence and luck sometimes seem improbable, the novel remains an engaging, modern take on an ancient tale.

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I adore books books about mythology . So this was perfect for me .I was instantly captivated. Despite the main character's naivete. The world building was well done. In addition, it was quite an interesting and unique take on Greek mythology. Although the ending was quite unexpected , I enjoyed it . The audio was done very well.

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I love mythology retellings and I really like when there is a twist or additional fantasy element and this one delivered. With that being said I knew I was going to enjoy this and to no one’s surprise I did! Once I picked this up I could not put it down and I cannot wait for the next one! The audiobook was wonderfully done, the narrator did an amazing job bring the story to life. I really enjoyed the world building as well as the action scenes! The characters and secondary characters were so fun to read! If you like mythology, fantasy, quests, and/or the heart vs destiny trope this is definitely for you!

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Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ARC Copy!

When I saw the cover of this book I just knew that I would have to get my hands on it. I am thrilled to say that the cover is a perfect representation of the feeling I got from the book. Action packed, suspense, beautiful, and filled with magical beings. Danae the daughter of fisherman teams up with the most unlikely of a crew and goes to defeat the gods.

I absolutely love reading mythology, but sometimes it can feel like it drags or focuses too much on the prose and less on the plot, but Daughter of Chaos has a really good mix of both, and being high paced I never really gave you a chance to get bord.

My only complaint was at times it feels like there was a lot of showing vs telling, but that was not enough to really affect my enjoyment of the story.

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I'm not usually a fan of Greek mythology but this was action-packed and fast-paced. I found I was looking forward to getting back to it. Overall, it was an exciting story.

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This book is a Greek mythology retelling of Danae. In case you don't already know the story of Danae, here is a quick recap (it's not a spoiler for this book as the author has chosen to go a different route with this story): Danae is the daughter of King Acrisius and Queen Eurydice. There is a prophecy that she will bare a son, who will her father. To prevent this prophecy from coming true, the king locks her away, however Zeus impregnates her in a shower of gold. When the King learns of her pregnancy, he attempts to drown her. She is found by a fisherman, who helps her raise her son, Perseus. I feel it is important to at least know this much of her story, before reading this book.

If you know much about Greek mythology, you know there are quite a few versions of a story, each one providing more plot holes than the last. And then there are the Roman versions of the same stories, which also provide more questions than answers. This author attempts to weave a new story, which is quite honestly more believable than any of the originals. I kept thinking to myself, 'if I believed in gods, I would believe that one came to this author and told her the real story'. Danae reminded me a lot of Arya Stark, on her quest to discover herself and what she is meant to do.

I'm not going to lie, it took me a while to get hooked. I think that was because for 99% of the book, the FMC is on a quest that even she knows very little about. None of her adventure was really that exciting and I had a hard time picturing it in my head. The part that did interest me was the theme of propaganda and the erasure/ retelling of history. On her journey, she discovers much of what she thought she knew was a lie. I love these kinds of plots, as we often find ourselves in this same predicament. If you like Ariadne or Circe, you may enjoy this book as well. I do think I will give book two a try, when it is released.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

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As an avid, lifelong Greek Mythology fan, I had to pick this one up. It did not disappoint, we get mythology, legends, Gods, mortals.... A little history mixed in there too. It was a lot more "tell" than "show" which did pull me out of the story somewhat more than once so I never really lost myself in it, never really felt like the characters and I were in sync. That being said, it was an interesting story with an interesting take and while the end confused me a bit, I am planning to read the next book and find out where it goes.

There was character development for the MC and some surprises from side characters, some travel and adventures and the MC had relatively clear motivations throughout, thought that did change from time to time, it was always pretty clear what her goal was and why. I felt like it was missing SOMETHING and I just keep coming back to the telling, the author clearly had a story premise and knew where she wanted to go with it and it was well thought out plot wise it just didn't feel "real". I am going to hope she hones her craft before the next one, though I'll be honest I will read it regardless because I want to see where she's going with it.

I listened to this on audio and the narrator did an excellent job, she has a beautiful voice and gave the characters more depth than I think they would have had on paper, which I appreciated very much. I would absolutely pick up another book with her as my guide.

Thank you as always to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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This is an ARC read from NetGalley. I give it 3.5 stars so I’ll round up to 4 on this app. I really enjoyed the first and middle halves of this story. Unfortunately, I started to get a little bored toward the end. I expected a big finish or perhaps a more enthralling cliffhanger, nonetheless, it was an entertaining story that interwove Greek mythology and fiction to make for a fun YA read.

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DNF @ 35%

First, thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review. I received this just a few days ago, though it's already available to purchase if it sounds like your jam. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Set in Ancient Greece, Danae is a fisherman's daughter who's life is turned upside down when her sister goes missing during a tribute to the Gods. What follows is a dark, dangerous, mysterious adventure that highlights the harshness of both the Gods and the mortals they exploit.

The writing is engaging and occasionally dreamlike, and I suspect you'd enjoy this if you like Greek mythology retellings with a dark bite to them. The narration of the audiobook is very well done! Alas, this one just wasn't for me. I have never not finished an ARC before, but I really wasn't having a good time with this one.

This story has some very grim content that isn't obvious from the official blurb and wasn't what I was expecting. Some minor spoilers ahead (beware!) but within the first 15%, we have human sacrifice, k*dnapping and r*pe of a side character, unwanted pregnancy, child k*dnapping, and s*icide. Things don't really get much more cheerful from there, so be prepared for that going in.

It's also a slow burn in terms of plot. I DNFd at the 35% mark and while a lot had happened, we still hadn't met Heracles and the main plot points promised in the blurb hadn't really got going.

While this book wasn't for me, don't let that put you off if it sounds like something you'd enjoy. Based on other reviews I've read, I know it's a hit with the right audience.

Rating 3 "Not For Me" stars because I have to give a rating on here.

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A.S. Webb's Daughter of Chaos is a captivating debut that immerses readers in a world where mortals rebel against the gods of ancient Greece. The protagonist, Danea, discovers her mysterious powers tied to a golden fruit-bearing tree, which sets her on a perilous journey. Webb's storytelling is rich with mythological elements and non-store action, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. The character development, especially Danae's growth through her struggles, is both satisfying and compelling. The book's blend of historical and fantastical settings adds depth to the narrative, making it a thrilling read.

Overall, Daughter of Chaos is a promising start to what looks to be an exciting series!

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🏺 BOOK REVIEW 🏺

DAUGHTER OF CHAOS by A.S. Webb
4.5/5 🌟
Pub date: Out now!

So along with being @caffeineandlegends February book of the month, I also recieved an Audio ARC. It was fate that laid this at my feet twice because it was incredible. It was a unique take on Greek mythology, giving the world a unique magic system while paying homage to the myth.

The book follows a young woman living on a small island in the Mediterranean off the coast of ancient Greece. We follow her on her journey as she learns what her true destiny is. Please read if you like the following:

🚣‍♀️ Marginalized characters from Western culter getting their own stories
🚣‍♀️ Unknown forces controlled by the 'Gods'
🚣‍♀️ The brutal reality of being a woman during this time period
🚣‍♀️ Meeting mythical figures and figuring out the person behind them

Please use ANGLER10 at @caffeineandlegends shop for 10% off!

And thank you to @_mira_books_ and @htp_hive
For the audio ARC!

🔖 #fantasy #mythology #bookstagram #books #booklover #book #bookstagrammer #reading #bookish #bookaddict #booknerd #bibliophile #readersofinstagram #booksofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookreview #instabook #bookrecommendations

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pice 0.5 🌶️

I feel this book was like a combine of the Odyssey and The Lightning Thief, but like....not in a good way. The story took FOREVER. I feel there was no real point of everything?

I also don't understand the relationship between Heracles and Danae...because there was none? Sure, she had a mini crush on him, but they barely really interacted to each other. Or if they did, it wasn't implied if it was off-page or not.

I don't understand the magic in the world? How Danae was even able to control her powers almost instantly, there was no 'training arc.' I hope book two explains more becauseeee....I don't get it.

I do not like Danae, at all. Out of all FMCs I have read, she was the most pointless and useless character. I'm pretty sure without her, the book still would have been the same just with different characters.

I will give props to the narrator, I think she did a good job.

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Chosen One
Epic Fantasy
Prophecy
Greek Mythology
Girl on the run
Destiny
Coming of age

“You alone are the last reckoning”

Danae, an ordinary girl in Ancient Greece’s sister is SA’ed by Zeus, gets pregnant, which leads to a sequence of events that makes her the champion of humanity destined to unalive all Greek Gods.

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This is a crazy action filled Greek mythology retelling, and I loved it! This is perfect for anyone who grew up loving anything Greek myth related. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one at first, but I absolutely loved it and can't wait for the next one! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my audio ARC!!

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As a big Greek mythology fan, I loved this story! Danae is not a character I’ve read about, so that was a nice change to be rooting for a new character. There were also nice cameos by some of my favorites- Ariadne, Jason, Hercules, Atalanta.

Danae goes on an adventure away from home to set free the mortals and take down the gods. Lots of fun battles, a little romance sprinkled in, and the storytelling was great !

The narrator was excellent and expressive to bring the story to life!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. The first of a series, I’ll definitely be looking for more !

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I liked the premise of this book and how it used mythology to develop the story. I wish there was more Heracles in this story and that he was more of the main character. I honestly didn't love any of the characters and had a hard time connecting with them or caring about their story.

Danae's story is about overthrowing the Gods. I felt that alot happened that didn't help develop the plot. There was plenty of action scenes but yet each one felt underwhelming. I don't think I will be continuing this series.

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