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A review by minareadsallday
Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas has easily become my favorite read of 2025—even though I was a little late to the party since it released in 2024. I’ll admit, I put this book down three times because the beginning is slow, but once I got past the opening info dump (which, in retrospect, I actually appreciated being its own separate chapter to set up the world), I was hooked.
Our main character, Alexis, is the ultimate “no F’s to give” heroine. Her morbid, italicized inner commentary hooked me right away—it’s sharp, dry, and honestly, a little too relatable. Her thoughts mirrored my own more times than I’d like to admit: frank, unimpressed, and always colored with dark humor. Her voice even reminded me a bit of Maisy from Jaymin Eve’s Titan Saga, which made me instantly love her even more.
As a mythology nerd, I was blown away by how Mas wove mythological figures into a fresh, compelling retelling of the age-old war of Zeus vs. Hades (with poor Poseidon just chillin’ in the water). The worldbuilding divides characters by where their power comes from, but at its core, it’s still that eternal Olympian feud—and I was here for it.
One character who completely stole the spotlight for me was Nyx. Too often, familiars are just a side accessory in fantasy books, but Nyx? She shines. I’m dying to see more of her in book two—and hopefully get more of her backstory.
I also have to give a shoutout to the disability rep. If you’ve seen the artwork for this book, you already know what I mean. The story doesn’t shy away from the struggles Alexis faces because of what she’s been through. Instead, we see her grit, determination, and resilience, which makes every victory she accomplishes feel that much bigger.
There are four ridiculously hot guys in this book. That’s not exactly new for the genre, but Mas writes each of them so distinctly that none of them blur together. And yes, there’s a bully romance vibe woven in, but it’s done in a way that feels fresh and a part of the plot instead of tropey.
Bottom line: This book will leave you hungry for more. I’m already impatiently counting the days until book two—so much so that I’ve already taken October 28th off to read it the second it drops on my kindle.
Our main character, Alexis, is the ultimate “no F’s to give” heroine. Her morbid, italicized inner commentary hooked me right away—it’s sharp, dry, and honestly, a little too relatable. Her thoughts mirrored my own more times than I’d like to admit: frank, unimpressed, and always colored with dark humor. Her voice even reminded me a bit of Maisy from Jaymin Eve’s Titan Saga, which made me instantly love her even more.
As a mythology nerd, I was blown away by how Mas wove mythological figures into a fresh, compelling retelling of the age-old war of Zeus vs. Hades (with poor Poseidon just chillin’ in the water). The worldbuilding divides characters by where their power comes from, but at its core, it’s still that eternal Olympian feud—and I was here for it.
One character who completely stole the spotlight for me was Nyx. Too often, familiars are just a side accessory in fantasy books, but Nyx? She shines. I’m dying to see more of her in book two—and hopefully get more of her backstory.
I also have to give a shoutout to the disability rep. If you’ve seen the artwork for this book, you already know what I mean. The story doesn’t shy away from the struggles Alexis faces because of what she’s been through. Instead, we see her grit, determination, and resilience, which makes every victory she accomplishes feel that much bigger.
There are four ridiculously hot guys in this book. That’s not exactly new for the genre, but Mas writes each of them so distinctly that none of them blur together. And yes, there’s a bully romance vibe woven in, but it’s done in a way that feels fresh and a part of the plot instead of tropey.
Bottom line: This book will leave you hungry for more. I’m already impatiently counting the days until book two—so much so that I’ve already taken October 28th off to read it the second it drops on my kindle.