Quick Synopsis – In ancient Greece, mortals suffer at the whims of the Twelve. But an ancient prophecy speaks of hope, of one who will set humankind free. On the island of Naxos, Danae, a fisherman’s daughter, develops strange powers tied to a mysterious tree bearing golden fruit. Driven from her home, she seeks guidance from the oracle but finds only more question and whispers of a secret network of believers who have long been awaiting her arrival.

Song This Reminds Me Of – Wilder Things by Morgan Clae

Publication Date – Jan. 14, 2024

Content Notes – This book contains a fairly graphic assumed suicide. While it is off page, the main character finds the body. There are multiple mentions and depictions of kidnapping, violence against women, sexism, gore, and general violence. There is off page rape and mentions of past rape.

Steamy Rating – 🌶️

Overall Rating – ⭐⭐⭐.5 out of 5

Overall Review – I was a Greek Mythology special interest kid, and this book just hit a special spot for me. I do think it’s a little bit of a marketing scheme to say the main character joins up with Heracles. Danae is on her own journey, and it runs tangentially to Heracles and several other larger Greek heroes.

The other nitpicky thing is a lot of the plot happens to Danae vs. her being an active participant in the story. So much is painted as luck or fate, it’s a little frustrating to me. I hope she has more agency in the next book. Even with my qualms, I really liked this book. I thought it was a fresh take on popular Greek mythos. The author was also very good at making you care about the characters. There are a lot of secondary characters that really enrich the story. It doesn’t feel like there are a slog of names and backstory, it all feels organic to me.

In a story about the Greek Pantheon and Titans, Danae feels human. She interacts with fantastical creatures, Gods/Goddesses, and other magical entities, but never uses her humanity. She is always thinking about her family and her losses. Again, I wish she had more agency or backbone, but I enjoyed following her as she searches for answers.

I definitely recommend this book for fans of mythology and fantasy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin MIRA for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.