Reviews with content warning for Death - Daughters of Olympus

Reviews tagging 'Death'

Daughters of Olympus by Hannah Lynn

8 reviews

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.

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murphiicreates's review

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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.

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rosietomyn's review

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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.

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shay43geek's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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gaby_readsbooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I have always loved Greek mythology and I love a good retelling. This book reminded me of one of my favorites, Circe, in that it explores the women goddesses and their existence in this male dominated ancient time. I loved the exploration of immortality, love, grief and humanity that this book provided. I also enjoyed how it was split pretty evenly between Demeter and then Core’s POV’s which made it tie together nicely. I wished it had been a tad bit longer as it was pretty slow in the beginning and then rushed towards the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for granting me access in exchange for an honest review.

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bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced

4.5

Thank you netgalley and sourcebooks for the eARC! Number 4 in Grecian Women series but they’re more interconnected, stand alone books that can be read separately/out of order.

I loved Lynn’s Athena’s Child and was so excited for a Demeter and Persephone story. Love getting Demeter’s story and some justice for her! She’s one of my favorite goddesses and doesn’t get enough love 💗 I also enjoyed getting to know other gods and goddesses too, like Hephaestus and Hecate!

The story is told through Switching POVs from Demeter and Core (Persephone) which I always love in my books! I was engaged most of the book, there were times it slowed a little in the middle but overall the pacing was well done. Atmospheric writing made me feel like I was in the Underworld and traveling the islands picking flowers with Core!

So far Lynn has done an amazing job of retelling myths and stories of Greek goddesses! This is only my second from her and I’ll definitely be reading her other books!

I loved the explorations of grief and love! The book could be dark at times given some of the topics but they were handled well in my opinion.

Characters are complex and flawed and multi dimensional! I could connect and feel for most of them (🖕🏻Zeus and Poseidon). I didn’t completely hate how Hades was portrayed? He was a bad guy but had a soft side so it felt weird but I’m not mad about that choice. I did however get a little upset by the last few chapters. I HATE when Persephone and Hades are romanticized and being put into this view of love when he KIDNAPPED AND IMPRISONS her?! It was a 5 star read up until this point and I’m kinda mad that Lynn took the same direction that everyone does with their story. I wanted Persephone to stay upset with begrudging respect for Hades not fall for the guy!!!

I think Hannah Lynn handled this retelling very well for the most part. Such an emotional, moving story of mother-daughter relationships, womanhood, grief, freedom, and claiming your power/voice.

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daniellereadslikealot_'s review

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emotional medium-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

WOW. I am completely blown away by this book. For how much I love the myth of Persephone and her mother Demeter, I’ve not read a book that focused on them as main characters before. I’m so glad this was my first. The way Lynn showed the contrast of the pain and horrors of Demeter’s life and how protective she was of her daughter against Core’s loneliness and isolation because of her mother’s grief and fear was absolutely beautiful. You really empathize and understand both characters so well. Like any Greek mythology book, there are some truly heartbreaking moments, but this book really showcased resilience, female power and independence. Also, I LOVED how Hades was written. There was so much complexity within him, but he never overpowered Persephone’s story. I HIGHLY recommend this one and I can’t wait to read the rest of Lynn’s books!

TW: rape, death of a child, violence, kidnapping, death, grief

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

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cneighbors36's review

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adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

From the very first page, Daughters of Olympus hooked me with its captivating writing style. Hannah Lynn created a vivid atmosphere that draws you deeply into the story. Additionally, the author did a great job of using multiple points of view of the same events, allowing you to gain a richer understanding of the events and develop a deeper connection to each individual. Each character's voice was distinct and authentic, offering unique perspectives on the story. While the initial chapters focus on establishing the characters and setting, the pace picks up as the story unfolds.

Overall, Daughters of Olympus is a compelling retelling of a classic myth that explores themes of love, loss, and the complexities of family bonds. It's a must-read for fans of mythology and strong female characters. Before reading the book, I would recommend checking trigger warnings. I would rate it 4.5/5 stars, and I will definitely pick up more of Hannah Lynn's books in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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