Review: Daughter of Sparta

4.5/5

For fans of: Greek mythology, strong female characters, ancient Greece, hero’s journey, gods, adventure, romance, retellings, slow-burn romance

Synopsis: In the brutal world of ancient Greece, Sparta stands out. Strong women, fierce warriors, wary of outsiders, it is not a welcoming place for Daphne and her brothers to grow up. Orphaned at a young age and adopted by a Spartan politician, she and her brothers will never truly belong but must do what they can to survive. Enter the gods and their meddling ways. The goddess of the hunt, Artemis, cruelly forces Daphne on a quest along with her shameless flirt of a brother, Apollo, to gather information on items stolen from Olympus. This journey is only the beginning as Daphne finds herself on a quest across ancient Greece not only to save the lives of her brother and friend, but life for all, mortal and immortal alike.

Review: It’s been a good year for Greek mythology retellings and Daughter of Sparta is hands down my favourite release. Daphne is a strong main character with a good head on her shoulders. She is logical, not easily distracted, and understands the weight of the quest ahead of her. A classic hero. Unlike typical Greek heroes, however, she isn’t proud and boastful. She has learned from the stories of the past and wishes no glory, a very un-heroic trait. Her dynamic with Apollo is *chef’s kiss* I love the push and pull of this relationship throughout the story as it grows. The constant war within Daphne to not allow herself to fall for the charisma of the god of broken hearts and Apollo’s constant desire to prove her wrong is the tension we all deserve. Their relationship is hard fought and the fight is just delicious. The plot is excellent as well, the typical elements of Greek mythology are on full display without feeling reused. It’s refreshing to revisit classic tales such as Theseus and the Minotaur and the Oedipus and the Sphinx. The journeys to see Prometheus, Knossos, Thebes, and the Underworld are full of action and banter. I had a lot of fun with these characters and I am excited for their next adventure releasing in 2022, Blood of Troy.