Cover Image: All The Blues Come Through

All The Blues Come Through

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

If you are looking for the next Percy Jackson series, I don't think that this is it. This book lacks Riordan's amazing dialogue and constant supply of danger. BUT, if you are looking for a new series about demigods, then this book might just fit the bill. Ryan is a great awkward, smart, didn't know she was a demigod character who provides the appropriate responses when she learns about her identity. The rest of the demigod crew and Ryan's mortal friends provide good banter, just not Riordan level banter.

The author did follow Riordan's approach of finishing up a small arc with the story, while leaving larger questions to be explored in future books. I am intrigued to see where Ryan's adventures take her, and I would read a sequel.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I wanted to love this book so badly. The description painted a picture of a semi post apocalyptic world marred by climate change, and this combined with the addition of Greek gods and their descendants made me believe that the tone of the book would be serious and mature. This was not the case. Between the strange word choices and descriptions, the unnecessary actions and choices Ryan makes for the sake of making her quirky and awkward, and the convoluted and confusing magic system, I spent most of the book in a state of "huh, okay i guess". The strange word choices make it feel as though the author spent a good portion of time inputting words into a thesaurus so no "normal" word choices were used, and it makes the book choppy, as you're constantly stopping to wonder why "bellowed" was used instead of "yelled" when yelled makes more sense in the context. It felt like Ryan was written to be quirky and awkward and relatable, but the way in which her character presents throughout the book makes her intensely unrelatable. For example, the scene where she stops what she's doing to randomly teach a group of kids how to do the Madonna vogue pose? Why is that necessary to add in? And that she just goes about her day and it isn't mentioned again? It feels like the author just added in these random scenes to prove how quirky she is, but they do absolutely nothing for her character, her relationships with the other characters or the plot. And alllllll of the chapters involving her failed training debacles include random unnecessary tidbits like this. The characters in general were flat and one dimensional, including her love interest whose only two emotions are romantic and brooding.
The magic system also left me confused. The powers that the descendants have don't make sense given which god they're descended from, Ryan especially. For a descendant of Artemis, why would she have the ability to control the weather? Especially when it's mentioned that other descendants also have that ability? Furthermore, the idea that she somehow managed to heal her friend's aggressive cancer because of her powers (when one of her training exercises involved her attempting to heal people in the infirmary, which she failed at immensely) is absolutely ridiculous.
Overall, the concept of the book has such incredible potential but the writing style and execution leaves so much to be desired.

Was this review helpful?

I tried with this book, but it was sadly a DNF for me.
I was drawn to this book because of the description and the gorgeous cover. I have been on a kick of reading Greek Mythology retellings and I was excited about this one. I liked the concept of how the Greek Gods would approach something like climate change. And with the current news filled with reports of climate emergencies, the plot feels incredibly timely.
Ryan Bell is a 28-year-old botanist who has created an incredible air-purifying flower that can possibly save mankind, the only catch is that she is the only one who can grow it. She is contacted by a group in Greece who has been able to reproduce the flower, and she rushes off to meet them. When she arrives on their island, she discovers that they are all Descendants of the Olympians and Ryan is the missing piece to help rescue the exiled Olympians.
I made it to about 34% of the book before I put it down and after two weeks, I still have not been able to pick it back up. I just found Ryan to be tiresome and so much of her dialogue was cringey. I love a book with good dialogue and banter and this was lacking. Everything felt repetitive. The pacing felt slow and I was just not excited for Ryan to discover her powers.
I felt disappointed because the concept is extremely original and an interesting take on a modern retelling of Greek Myths, but it lacked depth and consistency.
Honestly, this book gets one start just for naming the cat Lester, after Lester Holt.
1.5/5
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of the book.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this title.

Ryan Bell has become a preeminent botanist after a lifesaving flower of her creation hits the scene. However, she is the only one who can create it. As her career is beginning to tumble, she receives an invitation to a mysterious island where they can duplicate her flower...but what's the catch?

This book is cute. It's a light, fun read, but there are times when I wanted it to delve more deeply into the story and expand. It's an interesting concept, one that I think mostly works, but it needs a little more depth. Still, overall, it was a nice read.

Was this review helpful?

This was my first book to read by this author and I can't wait to read more! The characters are amazing and the story flows so well. Really cannot recommend this one enough!!

Was this review helpful?

Set in a toxic world, our botanist heroine, Ryan, has developed a flower that will create clean air but no one else can seem to get the plants to grow. She's worked to the bone trying to keep up with demand and is thrilled to find out that a group of scientists on a remote island have also been successful and accepts an invitation to visit their facility.
I had a bit of trouble connecting with some of the characters at times and understanding their motivations. This book would be a great next step for YAs who have outgrown Percy Jackson but still love the theme of mythology.

Was this review helpful?

Ryan is a botanist who creates a new breed of plant, the Weaping Diana, that provides clean air for humans and animals alike. Earth is in trouble due to increasing climate change and Ryan’s plant is a major step in proving a livable climate. One catch-nobody else can seem to grow these life sustaining plants. 🌿

When Diana is invited to a remote island that claims they have the ability to reproduce her plants she heads off, and ends up in a world that is much more than she ever expected. Will Diana’s new acquaintances be able to help humanity and Mother Earth? Is she the answer to all the problems plaguing both societies? 🌦

This Fantasy book has a MC with a cheesy sense of humor, a feisty best friend and gorgeous demi-gods. It’s a lighthearted, quick read for summer. I felt like some of the world building was all over the place, but the characters are likable and I always appreciate any book that addresses climate change. 🌎

Thank you to NetGalley, Independent Book Publishers Association and the author, Metra Farrari for this free, digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The plot was clever and I enjoyed the world building within this book. Unfortunately, I didn’t love the main character Ryan. She was a bit too quirky for my liking and felt she could have been portrayed stronger. Give me more Greta!

If you are looking for a light beach read with a mythology twist I would suggest giving this book a try.

I want to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for the e-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

Ryan has finally found a way to battle the CO2 levels polluting the earth! Her seemingly magical Weeping Diana’s are the only way for humans to breathe clean air - the problem? She’s the ONLY one that can get them to grow! Frustrated by the media playing her out as a cheapskate and by the disappointment of no other scientist being able to duplicate her process she is THRILLED when a postcard comes to here filled with pictures of her flowers! A mysterious island full of people that dress differently than she does and she can’t quite put her finger on what’s different about them……..but there IS something possibly magical going on here.

Really good story and writing, I’m looking forward to a sequel!

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book for the most part. It just had elements that I struggled with a bit. The beginning was a bit slow but things moved once Ryan got to the island. Then it stayed pretty slow until the near end before suddenly going warp speed and leaving the story feeling rushed.

The Good

I really liked that Ryan’s gifts were from Artemis. Having Artemis as the focus of Ryan’s powers was a change from the usual Zeus or Poseidon and put her abilities in the spotlight which was creative and much appreciated.


I really liked Greta too. She wasn’t the typical young BF and offered a different type of dynamic than I usual see in side characters. She was funny, supportive and a lot of fun to read.

Melina was cool and was kind to Ryan even if she missed most of Ryan’s humor.

The Issues

Ryan was annoying. Yes, down to earth but also really stubborn. Most of the book was spent trying to convince her that she was the descendant and getting her to hone her skills. Sometimes she seems like a normal 28 year old with references to Sex and the City and other times she comes across juvenile like when she covers her eyes when swimming with Kosta. The story spent so much time convincing me she couldn’t do any of the training tasks that when it finally came to the ending I didn’t believe she could have done all that. This is the same girl that still got lost going to her room a week after her arrival. By the time the reasons for why she is able to accomplish all these tasks (that no one else has) is given it just felt way too unbelievable. We should have seen more potential in her from all the time she spent there.

Kosta just felt like a guy she was attracted to. It was touch and go the whole time and I didn’t understand why she was so upset over a guy when nothing really happened between them.


Overall, a cool story. Just wish it was less juvenile and prepared us to believe in Ryan and her abilities instead of convincing us she was a normal girl only to switch it up at the end and suddenly make her something that’s hard to believe.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I had a hard time connecting to the characters. I found most of them to be annoying and obvious in their pursuits. I love a good hate to love character but unfortunately I almost just hated the characters. As a character driven reader I always rate lower if I can't connect to the characters.

The plot overall was decent. I found the mystery slightly intriguing but overall I just wondered when I would be done with the story so I could move onto the next book on my tbr

Was this review helpful?

2.5 / 3 stars

This was good and entertaining.
The whole idea in this book was fantastic and the mix between real life problems and Mythology was the main reason why I wanted to read this book.
I just wish Ryan was a better main character.
I liked her and her quirkiness but often it became too much and I cringed with things she did or said and that bad.
Now the start of this book was Greta... I loved her!
There were some lines and dialogue that I wasn't a fan of but overall this was a good book nothing more and nothing less.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Looking for a light YA-esque read about climate change, botany, or mythology? This may be the read for you. Granted, its light-hearted tone and narration may leave you wanting more, it's central premise is a great foundation for more books to come.

Was this review helpful?

A modern-day take on the descendants of the Greek gods-it read a bit like a semi-grown-up Percy Jackson tale. I say semi-grown-up because of the choice of words used to describe things. It's very...young? It read like YA, (which isn't bad) if I'm totally honest. Every time I was reminded the heroine was 28 years old, it was a bit of a shock.

I really enjoyed the imagery as far as the worldbuilding went. It was easy to picture all of the beautiful scenery and creatures. However, there were plenty of times I could tell where the story might go and I'm pretty sure what drove me to decide it wasn't for me was the reveal at the end....it was just a bit much.

SO! A light, funny take on demigods in modern times. Not bad, by any means, just not quite what I was hoping for, I guess?

Was this review helpful?

This was an interesting read. I liked the environment aspect of the book! I will be buying it for a colleague that loves anything Greek myth related.
Thank you to Netgalley for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The tone was light and humorous, but all of the characters had fully fleshed out backstories that made me feel connected with them.

Was this review helpful?

I like the premise of this modern mythology fantasy, and the main character grew on me as the book went on. It ended with lots of potential for the next book in the series. I'm looking forward to it!

Was this review helpful?

I love mythological retellings but was in the mood for a lighter read - this book scratched that itch perfectly!!

In All the Blues Come Through we follow Ryan Bell, a quirky 28 year old botanist whose already complicated life takes an unexpected turn when she finds out she may be a Decendent of Artemis. We meet drool-worthy decendants of Greek Gods and fantastical creatures like centaurs and harpies. But honestly Greta, Ryan's feisty 70 year old landlord-turned-bestfriend, is the highlight of this book. She cracked me up!

This is definitely a "beach read" when compared to other, more in depth, mythological retellings - but with that said I really enjoyed this book for what it was. The tone was light and humorous, but all of the characters had fully fleshed out backstories that made me feel connected with them.

I truly can't wait for book 2 - where will Ryan's allegiance lie? 🤔

Special thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Was this review helpful?

The earth is quickly deteriorating including complications due to poor air quality. Botanist Ryan Bell has been able to grow a miracle flower that is capable of purifying the air but the only catch is that despite her best efforts she is the only person capable of making the flowers grow. When she discovers that a mysterious group has been able to replicate her results and grow the flowers on a distant Greek island Bell sets off to meet with them. She quickly realizes that ll is not as she expected on the island and there is a secondary reason for the group wanting her to visit.

For the most part I found this book to be very entertaining. I have some knowledge of greek mythology but luckily my lack of background knowledge did not detract from reading this.

Overall I found that the book to be great. I was frustrated with the middle of the book because I felt that the plot dragged and was focused too much on Bell’s reluctance to accept that she could be related to a god. But overall this was a fun read and I look forward to the next books in the series.

Thank you Netgalley and Wise Ink Creative Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Stars
**Themes:** young adult, fantasy, Greek mythology, chosen one, 'romance'

*All the Blues Come Through* is a quirky, fantasy tale with an interesting take on Greek mythology. I would recommend this for fans of Percy Jackson and people who enjoy the 'Chosen One' trope.

In a world where climate change has poisoned the air, Ryan Bell is an awkward botanist who managed to breed a flower that has the ability to clean the air and save the world. But the problem is... only she is able to grow it, despite everyone else trying to. When she receives a mysterious letter from a facility on an island in Greece claiming to have successfully grown her flower, Ryan goes to investigate. When she arrives, she discovers that the island is actually inhabited by the descendants of the Greek gods who claim Ryan's ability to grow the flowers means she could be one of them. What's more is that if she is, then she is the key to saving the gods from their imprisonment on Mount Olympus. Sounds cool, right?

**Characters**

I don't mind an awkward or quirky protagonist/narrator as I am a little awkward myself, but Ryan was just too much for me. Even though I'm around the same age as her, I felt very little connection to her (except when it comes to loving our pets too much). She was also a bit all over the place with her motivations and had this habit of disagreeing with what anyone said, even if it contradicted something she previously claim. It was very hard to keep up with her thoughts or intentions.
As for the love interests - yawn. Aside from being attractive, I thought they were all meh and the romance, even more meh and confusing. Kosta was similar to Ryan in that I thought he was a little all over the place; one moment he's yelling at her, then they're suddenly kissing? Also I have no idea which god he is descended from?? Cyrus was just... annoying and oh-so-obvious. I forgot about him basically the whole time until he was mentioned. But, out of all of them, my favourite guy was Nicholas, he was so lovely.
There were a lot of interesting side characters though. My favourite was Melina. I loved her, she was so sweet! Greta was hilarious, I love a good granny character. Elias was also really interesting and I am keen to see how his story develops.

**Plot**

When I read the synopsis of this book, I was hooked before I even started reading. I love Greek mythology and this gave me major Percy Jackson vibes (in a good way!) so I was excited to read it. The first part really captivated me and I fell right into it, but I started getting a bit lost and bored in the second. I love the discovering-your-hidden-power trope, but it just dragged on and the story didn't really move forward. The promise of what was coming kept me excited though, but by the time I got to the final part everything went into superspeed (Kindle was at 80% completion when things start going again). It felt really rushed, which lessened the impact but... I'm still so intrigued to know what happens next???
I will say, if surprise twists and mystery are your thing, this probably isn't the book for you - things are glaringly obvious (Note: this isn't a bad thing, stories don't have to be totally unpredictable, but this is just a heads up).

World-building
The story is set in modern times where humans have destroyed the planet, and I really loved this aspect. I wish it had covered a bit more of how the rest of the world had been effected though, but it was really cool to see this kind of future!
While the locations were well described, there was a lot that wasn't explained at all or was brushed over that I felt needed it. For example, what are Furies, what do they look like, and what exactly do they do? Were they like the police of the island? I know the basics of Greek mythology (i.e. the names of the gods), so anything else needed a little bit more. It seemed like Ryan didn't really know much either, so it would've been cool to learn from her perspective.

Overall, I didn't think *All the Blues Come Through* quite lived up to the hype I had for it, but I still enjoyed it. I am really interested to see what's coming next!

Was this review helpful?