
Member Reviews

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and the author for an advanced reader copy of this book.
I found this book to be enjoyable while reading but pretty forgettable afterward. I found myself going back a few times to try to piece together some of the storyline because I don't feel like it flowed very well.
That being said, I am hoping that since this is the first book, more will be explained in the next books. Would recommend to those who enjoy greek mythology.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
3.25 stars
I really thought this would be a 4 star. The first, like, 40% is honestly pretty slow, but there were a lot of things sprinkled in that had me super excited. Who was the nephew's real father, what was going on with the Shades, all the set up with the lost daughter, the dark portrayal of the gods we received given what we see one of them do to a city.
But in the end, that slow build up felt like it didn't lead into anything. It was more like "this is what all happened, and now Danae is here, starting the story at about 40% in". I can't say the first stretch is pointless, but it didn't lead organically into the stuff that happens once Danae meets Heracles. The part I was most excited to see pop up felt like it turned Danae into a tag along. She was extremely passive and experiencing the story. Sure, she put in her input and stuff, but rather than a whole original adventure with Heracles and his crew, we tagged along for another tale that is well known and loves featuring another well-known Greek hero.
I think that's a huge part of my issue. It stopped feeling like Danae's story and more like an OC insert in a fanfic where you closely follow the plot, but also, your character is there and adds some awesome moments, but oh, we can't take from the canon characters, so she can't really do much in the actual big canon events.
I personally think this would have been a lot better without following along with this established journey and just gone on its own original thing. Would have opened up so many more interesting avenues and probably given Danae a larger role.
I will say, though, that what Webb does with the gods REALLY had me in its hold. This is probably because I do something very similar in a story of my own, but I just... I loved it, okay? XD I do think it left a few things that needed explained, but this is a series, so that's understandable.
Also, an important point. This is much more inspired by Greek mythology. There are so many changes from the actually mythology and history, so please do not go into this expecting it to be accurate. It isn't, and I don't think it was wanting to be. Makes me wonder if the book would have honestly thrived more without the direct Greek connection but instead making its own mythos inspired by it and such.
So, overall, a decently good book, but so much of the potential it set up just fell flat for me v_v

Daughter of Chaos by A.S. Webb offers a fresh and immersive take on Greek mythology, weaving a story that brings the gods' influence and the mortal experience into sharp focus. What I loved about the book was how it captured the raw emotions and complex relationships that come with worshiping and fearing the gods. Webb's exploration of the power dynamics between mortals and deities provides a unique, tragic perspective, one where the characters are not only caught in the web of fate but are deeply intertwined with divine will.
Through the lens of the protagonist, we get a personal, almost visceral sense of what it means to live under the constant threat and awe of these omnipotent beings. The fear of angering the gods and the tension between devotion and resentment is palpable, giving the narrative a sense of inevitability and tragedy reminiscent of the best Greek tales. The tragedy comes alive through Webb’s vivid prose, where every choice feels like it could tip the balance between survival and destruction. It’s a fascinating and thought-provoking read for anyone who loves Greek mythology and enjoys a deep dive into the psychology of those who must live in its shadow.

Daughter of Chaos by A.S. Webb starts strong, drawing readers in with its intriguing premise of a mortal rebellion against the gods in ancient Greece and a heroine with mysterious powers tied to golden fruit. The early chapters brim with tension, as Danae is driven from her home and sets out on a journey of self-discovery and prophecy. However, the story quickly unravels, losing its focus amidst a whirlwind of underdeveloped characters, rushed events, and an overly complicated plot. While the mythology-inspired world has potential, it often feels underexplored, leaving readers craving more depth and cohesion. Despite its flaws, the book offers moments of excitement and creativity, making it an ambitious, if uneven, debut.

I love Greek Mythology, so I thought this would be a slam dunk read for me. At first, I was excited that the author said Heracles instead of Hercules, and I knew it would be an accurate fantasy tale. However, I didn't expect it to be so slow paced. I couldn't find myself invested in the storyline or the characters. The author's accuracy gets them 3 stars, but I wasn't in love with this story.

3 Stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the ALC! 💖
Okay, so Daughter of Chaos is definitely an interesting ride, but I’m not sure if I’ll be continuing the series. The premise? 100% up my alley—Greek mythology, gods, and prophecies? YES PLEASE! But, the execution didn’t quite live up to the hype for me.
First off, let’s talk about the plot. Danae’s journey of overthrowing the gods (and saving humanity, no biggie) has all the potential to be EPIC. But… there’s just too much telling and not enough showing. I wanted to feel the tension, the action, the chaos (heh, get it?). Instead, I felt like I was reading about it rather than experiencing it. Some parts dragged on, and others felt way too rushed. It was like the pacing couldn’t decide if it wanted to be fast or slow. It left me kind of confused? 🤔
Now, Danae. Hm. I wanted to love her, but girl just felt kinda flat. She has this huge, world-changing mission, but I didn’t really feel invested in her as a character. Her inner monologues? They felt repetitive, and honestly, I wasn’t worried for her even when things were supposed to be life-or-death. I think I was waiting for some major character growth, but it didn’t quite land for me.
BUT, I have to give credit where credit is due—the secondary characters, like Heracles, Jason, and Atalanta, were chef’s kiss. 😍 Every time they showed up, I was like, “YES, THESE ARE THE STARS!” The gods and heroes were reimagined in such a cool way, and I was totally hooked on that part of the story. I would read more just for them. 💥
I really do think this series has potential. It has the foundation for something great, but it needs some work—especially with pacing and character development. I’m intrigued enough by the world and the twist on mythology to keep an eye out for the next book, so... who knows? 🤷♀️
Overall, this debut was a mixed bag for me, but I’ll be rooting for the next installment. Fingers crossed for improvement! 🤞
And one last thing—Lucy Walker-Evans absolutely nailed the narration! 👏 She really brought the story to life and gave the characters a bit more depth, especially when things got intense. Her voice was the highlight of the audiobook for me, and I can totally see myself enjoying her narration in future books. 🙌
Happy reading, y’all! 📚🖤

I loved this Greek mythology retelling! It was such a different concept and I was expecting something completely different but was pleasantly surprised. I loved Danae. The struggles that she overcame while also being a strong female character was so powerful especially in the mythology realm. The way the gods and goddesses were portrayed in this to me were the best representation of what they would’ve been like. I loved the viciousness of the gods and goddesses while also sometimes the sweetness. Such a great mix.
I highly recommend the audiobook of this. I loved the narrator, they really brought out the emotion with Danae and I could feel everything she would’ve felt. Wonderful job!

The audio narrator did a wonderful job. The story on the other had fell a bit flat to me. I adore anything based on myth so always jump to read them but this one just wasnt it. I got bored. Which is weird because it does have exciting moments which are what let me finish it but not quite to a 3 star. I can for sure see others loving this and there is an interesting plot developed for the remainder of the series. I will have to check out the sequel and see if this is one of those authors I just need to give a bit more time to develop a series.

Okay I am a HUGE greek mythology fan, like an insufferable nerd who doesnt stop talking about it and correcting people. And I love how this was done! When the FMC hitched a ride with the Argonauts I started panicking about how the author would handle the original story line and she did an amazing job, kept it true to the myths (with some slight acceptable variations) but did so in a way that made it so I didnt know what was going to happen to the main story line of the FMC. It was super enjoyable and I ate it up in one sitting. Will definitely be looking forward to book 2!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this audiobook ARC in exchange for my review.
I came into this story with rudimentary knowledge of Greek Mythology, so that aspect of this story doesn't add or take away from my experience reading Daughter of Chaos. I loved the characters, especially the FMC, and the overall plot was easy to follow and keep up with. The pacing was a little off, with some moments that fell a bit flat within the action and story. Overall though, the plot was interesting enough to keep me glued to the pages. I will definitely be picking up the sequel, and would recommend this to anyone interested in fantasy!

Daughter of Chaos by A.S. Webb is a fun, fast-paced fantasy read that really grabs your attention. The story follows a girl who discovers she’s not exactly ordinary—she’s got powers tied to chaos, which leads to all kinds of trouble and adventure. Webb does a great job with world-building and making the characters feel real, especially the main character, who is strong and relatable.

Thank you NetGalley for generously sending me an arc audiobook edition of Daughter of Chaos! Just to do a quick review of the story itself, I couldn’t really find a lot of redeeming aspects to it. This was just epically long. The beginning started off really interesting, but early on, it lagged. I felt like it was a lot of story but not a lot of actual content. The action was there, but unfortunately there wasn’t much of anything really happening . I’m personally also over the young FMC who comes from poverty, has randomly acquired a world saving power, and can randomly fight like a badass. I felt like the gore was misplaced and some of the battle or action scenes were really graphic but the story felt closer to YA….The Greek mythology genre is really interesting to me, however, this wasn’t for me.
As for the audiobook, I always enjoy a brit narrator and I think she did a really good job making the story feel action packed and high stakes. I do think that there were so many characters that it seemed hard to differentiate between some of them after a while. I’m happy I was able to listen to this, because I think if I was reading, I’d probably quit early on. All in all, I do think that this will find its target audience, but I wasn’t it

This was a glorious, deep, epic adventure with tons of Greek mythology creatively woven in! The spice level is .5 but it deserves all 5 stars for the world building, plot, and character development. The FMC learns to embrace her true self and her destiny, and finds a new family along the way. I loved this epic journey so much and can't wait to see this story continue, as it is the first in a trilogy. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC, which I also read along with in a physical book copy, in exchange for my honest review.

I wasn't sure what to think of this novel right after I listened to it. After reflecting on it. I think I loved it. This was an epic adventure fantasy that is slated to be a trilogy. The main character, Danae, a fisherman's daughter develops strange powers and is driven away from her home. She goes on a quest to figure out what is happening to her and to potentially get answer. I loved that this was an epic adventure story Greek mythology. The ending was really interesting and I really which this was standalone so I could have gotten all the answers at the end. But, I guess I'll have to read the next book in the series to get context on that ending.

DAUGHTER OF CHAOS by A.S. Webb takes place in ancient Greece, where the people live and die by the will and whims of the gods…and those who claim to speak for them.
The story follows Danae, who is forced to flee her home after gaining mysterious powers. Wanting answers about these strange abilities, she embarks on a dangerous adventure to find the titan, Prometheus.
This book was a good experience on audio because it is so plot forward. I enjoyed Danae’s adventure, especially once she joined up with Heracles, Jason, and the Argonauts.
I do wish there was a bit more character development, however. I enjoyed seeing Danae’s spunky side in the first chapters where she still lives with her family. Once the action started, she still had her impulsive moments, but I wanted to see more of her personality.
I’m not sure if The Dark Pantheon will be a duology or trilogy, but I am curious about book two. Daughter of Chaos had a great reveal at the end, so I’m interested to see where the author takes this story next. Given the choice, I would opt again for the audiobook.

If you read Percy Jackson as a kid then I know, you've been looking to fill that hole for the rest of your adult life. We'll take Greek mythology any way we can get it. There have been ancient retellings, a generation's worth of Hades x Persephone romances and every take on urban fantasy possible. But "Daughter of Chaos" is the first book I've read that truly scratched that itch by implanting a totally new character into the heart of Ancient Greece.
Danae has grown up in her small fishing village learning all the ways they had to appease the gods. She's heard all the tales of the heroes and demigods. These are real people to her, actively changing her world. Then the unfathomable happens - Danae is having visions! And her average joe village does what average people do - they turn against her. She goes on the run for her life and looking for answers, but discovers a plot to overthrow the gods and somehow she's supposed to lead it.
I pounced on this audiobook and found it incredibly helpful to navigate this adventure. I felt immersed in Danae's small world and then swept away in her grandiose adventure. The narrator Lucy Walker-Evans does a phenomenal job with Danae's personal transformation from an angry to teen, to a frightened fugitive and finally as a vindictive and powerful player. By the end, Danae is in full beast mode! She meets iconic legends and a lot of monsters but her powers and the lore behind it is totally new and absolutely fascinating. The author is going to totally reshape what we think it means to be a god. I cannot wait for the sequel!

This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Definitely worth the read!

As a classicist, no matter how many Ancient Greece/Greek mythology-based stories I read, I somehow always end up wanting more! I was thrilled when I saw that Daughter of Chaos was an Ancient Greek tale that interweaves Greek myth and life in Ancient Greece in some truly exciting ways. I thought that Daughter of Chaos had a slighlty fresh take on a Greek myth-based story and it felt like something I hadn't read before, which is hard to do. I appreciated the many placed we visited throughout the book and how much vibrancy was present in this world-building. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of the Herakles plotline, though I do feel like that since Herakles didn't show up until nearly halfway throguh the book, mentioning him int he synopsis was slightly spoiler-y, haha. Regardless, I still enjoyed this one and had a good time with all of the different plot beats I thought the author captured a lot of personalities and attitudes of the gods/demi-gods really well, which I always most appreciate and look for in these types fo books. I listened to the audiobook version of Daughter of Chaos and thought the narrator did a truly exceptional job! Overall, I had a really fun time with this one and I think anyone who enjoys Ancient Greece, Greek mythology, or any historical adventure would appreciate this one.

Set in a world where Greek gods rule with cruelty and mortals live in fear, this story follows Danae, a fisherman's daughter who discovers her connection to a mysterious prophecy. Her destiny is more significant than she ever imagined, and her journey is nothing short of epic as she teams up with Heracles to face gods, monsters, and the terrifying truths behind her powers.
It was slow at first, but the initial setup was essential. It laid a strong foundation for understanding Danae's character and made her growth throughout the story even more compelling. Her transformation from a simple island girl into a figure of resistance against the gods is an adventure. Once the action starts, it never stops. I hope we see the romantic subplot develop more in book two.
There are breathtaking depictions of the places Danae visits, each steeped in Greek mythology and seamlessly woven into the story. It does offer a fresh twist to familiar tales that readers will appreciate. What truly elevates the story is the tension and moral complexity. Her inner conflict adds emotional depth to the high-stakes action. This book is about an adventure, brimming with tension and plot twists, driven by an evolving heroine. I can't wait for the next book.
The audiobook was so engaging and I was totally absorbed into the story. I felt the tension and every emotion adding the the reader's experience.
I received an ARC audiobook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley

I received a free copy of Daughter of Chaos (The Dark Pantheon series) by A.S. Webb via NetGalley.
Overall, this book was a quick read/listen, that had enough action that kept me going through. Listening to this book I felt like I was watching the movie Jamaji. The story follows the female lead character start at point A, with the goal of getting to point C. However, during this journey, she goes to point Z, then M, followed by E and then L, which included the strangest creatures and weather. The different experiences the main character had included some relevant to the main plot, whereas others were fillers that did not add much, if any, to the main plot and were very random. A couple times I would start to lose interest in the story, quicken the pace of the reading of the book, and then slow it down when at a more meaningful part of the story started.
What I enjoyed:
- The Greek mythology and the author’s personal twist to that mythology.
- Strong female lead character that did not live the whole book in denial. A current trend in fantasy books that I hate reading about includes female leads who live the whole book in denial of the truth, despite clear evidence. This book includes some main character denial, but she works that through the more evidence she is presented.
- Ends on a cliffhanger.
- Multiple parts of the book are unanswered, which sets up well for a second book to answer the mysteries still left.
At this time, I am on the fence if I will read/listen to book two. I enjoy reading books that don’t have a linear path, yet this book was just so random, had too many coincidences that I rolled my eyes at, and I am not thinking much about it since I finished it.