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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Wow...
The way I went from "GODS!! I LOVE THIS BOOK!!" to "GODS!! I HATE THIS BOOK!!" back to "GODS, I LOVE THIS BOOK!!" and so on during the whole time I was reading it.
I can't even find the words to write this review! Not only the story of Daphne and Apollo but of so many others. Losses and fears and victories and courage.
The battles were epic, the story had me hooked since I read the first sentence and I don't think my neighbours appreciated just how much I'd talk with the characters. The ending... Wow. I can't find the words, it had costs and it hurt but it was perfect! And, to be fair, I too would've shoved either of them off the mountain in that moment, but alas (If you read you know, if you didn't read you should, then you'll know).
This was a lot of nothing in a lot of words, huh? But I don't wanna give spoilers even though I wanna gush about every little thing! So, go read the book, it's great!
In the meantime, the Garden must have balance... Will you answer the call?
The way I went from "GODS!! I LOVE THIS BOOK!!" to "GODS!! I HATE THIS BOOK!!" back to "GODS, I LOVE THIS BOOK!!" and so on during the whole time I was reading it.
I can't even find the words to write this review! Not only the story of Daphne and Apollo but of so many others. Losses and fears and victories and courage.
The battles were epic, the story had me hooked since I read the first sentence and I don't think my neighbours appreciated just how much I'd talk with the characters. The ending... Wow. I can't find the words, it had costs and it hurt but it was perfect! And, to be fair, I too would've shoved either of them off the mountain in that moment, but alas (If you read you know, if you didn't read you should, then you'll know).
This was a lot of nothing in a lot of words, huh? But I don't wanna give spoilers even though I wanna gush about every little thing! So, go read the book, it's great!
In the meantime, the Garden must have balance... Will you answer the call?
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A good ending to this series!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
1.5
I didn’t really enjoy the second one but since not finishing something is a problem of mine, still picked up the third one. Honestly there was nothing I was invested in, not the plot,the characters or even the romance. Don’t even get me started on the worst and most useless love triangle ever. My advice is honestly to just read daughter of Sparta and treat it as a stand-alone.
This only gets 1.5 because of Persephone.
I didn’t really enjoy the second one but since not finishing something is a problem of mine, still picked up the third one. Honestly there was nothing I was invested in, not the plot,the characters or even the romance. Don’t even get me started on the worst and most useless love triangle ever. My advice is honestly to just read daughter of Sparta and treat it as a stand-alone.
This only gets 1.5 because of Persephone.
What an excellent ending to the series! I laughed, I cried, I wanted to throw my book at the wall, and I smiled like crazy. I also think the alternative title could have been “Women Killing Their Abusers”
Loved this conclusion to the Daughter of Sparta trilogy and the way Andrews twisted the concept of the Hesperides and the way the Titans and Gods became immortal to connect with other mythologies. If you're looking for authentic Greek re-telling of stories you might have learned in a Greek classics course... no. You won't find that here, or in her previous books, but I think it's so much more interesting to read new interpretations of myths and Andrews way of writing is so vivid, her characters so real that it's an immersive experience to read this series. I also appreciate that the pace of this book is quick, with lots of action, but it's not rushed.
However, I will say that Hermes and Daphne's flirty vibes never felt natural to me. I wasn't ever convinced about the love triangle between Apollo, Daphne and Hermes and it just doesn't make sense or add much more than a jealous Apollo to the plot. Also, when we learn the reason Apollo is still bound, and then somehow twenty pages later or so Daphne remarks that he's fully unbound, it might've been nice to have some dialogue in there to see Apollo fully accept that he loves and trusts Daphne. Maybe Hermes could have encouraged him to accept it and we could have seen both Apollo and Hermes realize that Daphne only ever loved Apollo and was never going to truly be more than superficially interested in Hermes.
I appreciated Hera's moment of remorse with her comment about the goddess of marriage being unable to inspire love, but her death was satisfactory. Daphne's focus on the laurel tree at the end, a harkening to the original myth where she is turned into one to escape Apollo's advances opened up the possibility of re-creating that ending with her giving herself up, but Andrews way of rebirthing the laurel did create more of a fairytale ending and it felt right for Aphrodite, Athena and Artemis to leave the pantheon. The whole arc does, for the most part, fit the original myth. Apollo wanted Daphne from the start, Daphne didn't want Apollo and fought her own emotions, then accepted them, and rejected and accepted a few times before, finally, they both allowed themselves to feel love for each other and that's part of what allowed Olympus to survive. The main difference is Daphne survives and is more than a pawn of the gods and her parents. I also think Daphne is a good example, through her powers being unleashed by feeling her emotions, for people today. It's okay to feel everything from pain to anger to joy and everything in between, but we need to control our emotions and not let them control us. In general, I think my favorite aspect about these books are that they give women more power in their own myths and legends and for that I'll be re-reading this series at least once a year.
However, I will say that Hermes and Daphne's flirty vibes never felt natural to me. I wasn't ever convinced about the love triangle between Apollo, Daphne and Hermes and it just doesn't make sense or add much more than a jealous Apollo to the plot. Also, when we learn the reason Apollo is still bound, and then somehow twenty pages later or so Daphne remarks that he's fully unbound, it might've been nice to have some dialogue in there to see Apollo fully accept that he loves and trusts Daphne. Maybe Hermes could have encouraged him to accept it and we could have seen both Apollo and Hermes realize that Daphne only ever loved Apollo and was never going to truly be more than superficially interested in Hermes.
I appreciated Hera's moment of remorse with her comment about the goddess of marriage being unable to inspire love, but her death was satisfactory. Daphne's focus on the laurel tree at the end, a harkening to the original myth where she is turned into one to escape Apollo's advances opened up the possibility of re-creating that ending with her giving herself up, but Andrews way of rebirthing the laurel did create more of a fairytale ending and it felt right for Aphrodite, Athena and Artemis to leave the pantheon. The whole arc does, for the most part, fit the original myth. Apollo wanted Daphne from the start, Daphne didn't want Apollo and fought her own emotions, then accepted them, and rejected and accepted a few times before, finally, they both allowed themselves to feel love for each other and that's part of what allowed Olympus to survive. The main difference is Daphne survives and is more than a pawn of the gods and her parents. I also think Daphne is a good example, through her powers being unleashed by feeling her emotions, for people today. It's okay to feel everything from pain to anger to joy and everything in between, but we need to control our emotions and not let them control us. In general, I think my favorite aspect about these books are that they give women more power in their own myths and legends and for that I'll be re-reading this series at least once a year.
A great ending to the series. Daphne’s story is truly a hero’s journey and to see her battle against gods, titans, and humans in this epic finale was fulfilling. I liked the expansion of the of the gods as Daphne, Apollo, and Hermes searched for allies. The battle was truly epic and it did not shy away from the loss that happens in war. The through line to the whole plot is always the Daphne and Apollo love story and the beats they have in the story are powerful and full of their established love. I really liked the ending and how it stayed true to Daphne’s feelings throughout. I really loved the characters in this series, especially Hermes. It really grasped the trickster nature always associated with the god. A truly enjoyable take on the Greek myth that goes in ways that are unexpected but satisfying.
Well written reimagining of the stories and characters of Olympus. Can't recommend enough!
A worthwhile trilogy to enjoy — and one I’m looking forward to adding to my bookshelf someday soon.
While the addition of the Norse gods in this third installment initially felt a little confusing, it played well into this twist on the “legends of old” stories. The Interludes felt a little awkward too in the pacing of the story, but that may be better in a physical book form.
The trio of Daphne, Apollo, and Hermes was interesting and a little confusing, and I’d look forward to hearing what my reading friends would say about their crossed stories.
Overall, a beautifully woven tale and enough of a change from the old gods’ stories that the whole series felt fresh.
Thanks to my local library and Libby for providing this audiobook. 5/5 stars to all of the audiobooks as well.
While the addition of the Norse gods in this third installment initially felt a little confusing, it played well into this twist on the “legends of old” stories. The Interludes felt a little awkward too in the pacing of the story, but that may be better in a physical book form.
The trio of Daphne, Apollo, and Hermes was interesting and a little confusing, and I’d look forward to hearing what my reading friends would say about their crossed stories.
Overall, a beautifully woven tale and enough of a change from the old gods’ stories that the whole series felt fresh.
Thanks to my local library and Libby for providing this audiobook. 5/5 stars to all of the audiobooks as well.