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emmakchapman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
anniehayez's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I thought this was unremarkable. Pretty well written. It was often repetitive and slow for my taste. I also felt that a lot of the trauma suffered by all of the characters went unresolved or at least brushed away. I wish there was a bigger push back from Persephone towards Demeter. She speaks of seeking freedom and then accepts being possessed. I feel like Demeter was never chastised for never seeing her child as the grown being she was and wanting to own her. I get that’s from her own trauma but I was hoping this story would touch more on breaking cycles. I also just don’t love a lot of the creative choices that were made. It was fine but not for me. The StoryGraph AI did try to warn me I wouldn’t like this book and I should have listened.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Incest, Rape, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
harley08212008's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
ceraphimfalls's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Medical trauma
farmpaws's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Absolutely incredible. So beautifully written, and the way that Lynn writes the complex relationship between mother and daughter is like nothing I have ever read. She writes a version of the gods that makes them both relatable but so alien in the way that they experience the events of the book and also express their own emotions.
Lynn’s descriptions of the world around the characters was so lush and atmospheric, perfect for this story.
Demeter and Persephone had such individual voices and the way their versions of events contrasted made this a book I couldn’t put down.
Lynn’s descriptions of the world around the characters was so lush and atmospheric, perfect for this story.
Demeter and Persephone had such individual voices and the way their versions of events contrasted made this a book I couldn’t put down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Rape
Not graphic as in on page description but prevalent and repeating throughout the bookkowalskepie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
srm401's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
rae91rae's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
murphiicreates's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I had issues connecting with the first half of the book. I’m not sure if it’s my lack of being a mother or what, but Demeter is an ignorant woman who never takes responsibility for any action. The second half, which is about Core / Persephone was much more relatable and relied heavily on the journey to finding one’s self.
I did notice something that bothered me about the writing style…a handful of times, the author reused word for word certain lines. They didn’t seem to relay anything to make me think this was done on purpose. I didn’t notice it in the first part. That’s ultimately why I lowered my score as it seemed more of an “let’s add some fluff for word count” versus having meaningful or more varied descriptions, etc.
I did notice something that bothered me about the writing style…a handful of times, the author reused word for word certain lines. They didn’t seem to relay anything to make me think this was done on purpose. I didn’t notice it in the first part. That’s ultimately why I lowered my score as it seemed more of an “let’s add some fluff for word count” versus having meaningful or more varied descriptions, etc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
rosietomyn's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Daughters of Olympus by Hannah Lynn is one of my favorite reads this year. With mythological retellings currently en vogue, there are many versions of the Demeter/Persephone/Hades story being published of late. Though many focus more heavily on the love/hate/romance, Lynn's retelling is more nuanced, balanced, and focused in on the transformation arcs of the ancient myth.
Lynn's choice to have Demeter and Core/Persephone share the spotlight created a skillful window into their individual transformations from beginning to end. Readers are given an opportunity to question the characters' perceptions and reliability, and through that get a better picture into their real motivations.
I really enjoy mythological retellings that center the female experience, and breathe life into so many characters who have been silenced throughout history. Done well, they create amazing opportunities to reflect on the power of womanhood, community, and equality. The power and gift of voice.
Much like Circe by Madeline Miller, Ariadne by Jennifer Saint, and A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes (to name a few), Daughters of Olympus by Hannah Lynn is a compelling, dimensional, and engaging mythological retelling.
Lynn's choice to have Demeter and Core/Persephone share the spotlight created a skillful window into their individual transformations from beginning to end. Readers are given an opportunity to question the characters' perceptions and reliability, and through that get a better picture into their real motivations.
I really enjoy mythological retellings that center the female experience, and breathe life into so many characters who have been silenced throughout history. Done well, they create amazing opportunities to reflect on the power of womanhood, community, and equality. The power and gift of voice.
Much like Circe by Madeline Miller, Ariadne by Jennifer Saint, and A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes (to name a few), Daughters of Olympus by Hannah Lynn is a compelling, dimensional, and engaging mythological retelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Rape