Review copy was received from Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Daughters of Olympus by Hannah Lynn on July 9, 2024
Genres: Historical Fiction
Pages: 445
Format: Paperback
Source: Author
Goodreads
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A daughter pulled between two worlds and a mother willing destroy both to protect her...
Gods and men wage their petty wars, but it is the women of spring who will have the last word...
Demeter did not always live in fear. Once, the goddess of spring loved the world and the humans who inhabited it. After a devastating assault, though, she becomes a shell of herself. Her only solace is her daughter, Persephone.
A balm to her mother's pain, Persephone grows among wildflowers, never leaving the sanctuary Demeter built for them. But she aches to explore the mortal world--to gain her own experiences. Naïve but determined, she secretly builds a life of her own under her mother's watchful gaze. But as she does so, she catches the eye of Hades, and is kidnapped...
Forced into a role she never wanted, Persephone learns that power suits her. In the land of the living, though, Demeter is willing to destroy the humans she once held dear--anything to protect her family. A mother who has lost everything and a daughter with more to gain than she ever realized, their story will irrevocably shape the world.
When it comes to tales about the Greek gods, the expectation is dark and dysfunctional all the way if one sticks close to the original. Hannah Lynn first caught my attention when I noticed this title, Daughters of Olympus sharing the tragic tale of Demeter and her daughter, Persephone. I’ve read one other of her books and her empathetic, but clear-eyed take on her women characters made me certain she’d handle these female goddesses’ stories with care.
Daughters of Olympus is a dark tale, but there are light notes of love and hope as well. The book is written in three parts and told in first person point of view drawing the reader deeply into the mindset of Demeter and Persephone. Demeter tells the first part and her daughter, Core, later to be called Persephone, has the second and third portions.
Outside of a book of Greek Myths, I’d never read a book telling Demeter’s story from her point of view. I didn’t remember much more than her name so I was all agog when the tale started with her birth when her cruel and crazy father, the Titan Chronos and her suffering mother, Rhea set in motion her story and that of the other Olympians. My heart broke for Demeter who was abused by her father, thought she found freedom, and then was cruelly sexually abused by Zeus and treated badly by others. She chose to live apart from the others for centuries having love and children. When Core is taken, she is a mom on a mission and finds her agency to act like a goddess.
Core’s life was protected when living apart with her mother, but eventually her conniving father Zeus’ manipulations and dirty dealing affect her and she is taken. She is plenty angry and bitter about this, but Hades, god of the Underworld has more light and goodness in him than the gods in the above realms. He wisely gives her time, shows her respect, and wants her for a partner. Slowly and painfully, she comes to realize this and a powerful goddess emerges.
Daughters of Olympus stays close to the original painful stories of these goddesses, but through all they are forced to endure, they come out stronger and stand tall among the Olympians, finding love as well as their place. I ended up hating Zeus and Poseidon so hard even while adoring Hades. So, not a light tone, but triumphant, all the same. A heavy hitting mythological tale from the female perspective. Those who appreciate fiction set in the classic myths should give Daughters of Olympus a go.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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The Greek mythology is dark, dysfunctional and a lot of times so tragic! Not a favorite for me. Happy to see you enjoyed this story.
Yeah, I definitely have to be in the right mindset to appreciate these darker tales.
Hades is always my favorite in these types of stories because he is usually not as bad as the others are
He was such a cinnamon teddy bear type, but with power that he was the perfect male for an abused Persephone.
This sounds really good. I’ll have to add it to my TBR list.
It’s a heavy hitter, but I really loved it.
I like the different POV and the mythology tie-in. I’ll have to pick this one up. Great review!
Yes, getting both mother and daughter who thought and acted so differently was interesting. Hope you enjoy it, Katherine. 🙂
I would definitely read this, as I am fascinated with Greek mythology.
It was good stuff, Nadene. A heavy hitter on the emotions, too.
I’ve a soft spot for well-told Greek myth retellings. Especially those who feature the women involved, as the Greeks weren’t interested in women taking centre stage. So thank you for sharing this one with me:).
Absolutely! Girl Goddess power!!! You’re welcome. 🙂
The first person POV might be something that would get me to read a book like this. Great review!
Yeah, its a little something different. 🙂
Fascinante 💯
Oh yes!
You are welcome to my blog 💯 thanks
Greek mythology is so dark and twisted. It’s more fun to have the Disney versions, isn’t it?!
Oh man, you made me giggle-snort with that one. Can’t say that I disagree. Hehe!