Wow, what a magical ride. The beginning is a little slow, but the last half of the book is a whirlwind of suspense and realization. I couldn’t put it down once everything started to piece together and retribution was had.
This story blends Greek mythology with historical fiction and Stokes- Chapman created a flawless, unique story about Pandora’s box.
Any reader of mythology or historical fiction will devour this story and appreciate how the author brought every detail together so seamlessly.

Release date: 1/17/2023!

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Perennial for my eArc in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested copy for review. All opinions are my own.

So this starts out really strong. The tension and the suspense are built early on and really suck you into the story. You also really feel for Dora and Edward who are each stuck in not the best situation and wanting to improve their fortunes. And obviously Hezekiah is just awful. There's also the mystery of the vase! Is it cursed, what is the real backstory? What are we going to find out?
This was a very solid 4 star read for me until the end. Then a couple of things happened that just felt off and then one thing that literally always upsets me in a book. The end tied up really conveniently and quickly. I hate to say the book should have been longer, but I did need a little more development in the romantic relationship. We didn't necessarily need more time on the mystery part though.
So I'm really conflicted on exactly what to rate this. I ended up flying through it, it was really engaging, but there were some things that just didn't work for me at the end.

I'll settle on 3.5 stars rounded up

I had a hard time getting into this book. The characters fell a little flat for me but the overall premise of the story was interesting. The pace of this book was a bit slow as well and I had trouble staying engaged and ultimately couldn’t finish it. I love the cover though.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have no idea how to start this review -- first off, I didn't read the book description before requesting it. My bad -- but I saw pandora (which is one of my fave myths) and couldn't help myself. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but there were some things that I did struggle with.

The writing was good, but I found myself a bit irritated at times with Dora and Edward. I wanted to shake them both. I didn't find their relationship/romance very well written. I think I would have preferred if there hadn't been any romance. I felt that it added nothing to the book.

The pacing bothered me. I feel like we get all the action in the last 20%, and the previous 80% was just nonsense that wasn't necessary. It took a long time to get to the point of the plot, and then by that point I was ready for the book to be over.

I like the idea of the mystery and Pandora's myth and how it was incorporated. I would have loved more of the archaeology side in the book.

This was a good book, but just ended up not being five stars for me.

Pandora
by Susan Stokes-Chapman
Pub Date: January 17, 2023
Harper Perennial
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Mythology
I have to admit that I had high expectations of Pandora, a novel that combined 1799 England with Greek mythology, archeology, and antique shops but I only came across a bland, banal book.

The characters are one-dimensional, especially the uncle, a cartoonish villain.
The plot is predictable from the very start and the ending is laughable at best, very ridiculous.
The writing itself needs to improve: despite its attempts at creating an atmosphere, it feels too modern and doesn't follow any manner, behavior, or speech of the times. And there were so many exclamation points and suspension points that made the prose feel amatorial.

I will not be recommending this debut! 3 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this book early.
I loved the historical setting in 1799 London, the mystery, and the pacing! This was different than the typical Greek Mythology books that I've read lately but I still enjoyed it.

I enjoyed this one! Pandora combines things like archeology, mythology, historical England and more and wraps them up with an intriguing plot told from three POVs from a variety of characters from both sides of the story. This reminds me of Ariadne, weaving mythology delicately through the plot and it makes for a gorgeous tale!

* Received a copy for review.*
There was such promise in this premise. However the choice of tense made this book difficult to get into. I tried really hard but there was not enough for me to stick with.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Overly Simplified Plot;
Set in 1799 London - The story follows Dora as a Greek pithos is delivered to her family’s store. The store is run by her Uncle, ever since her parents died when she was younger. The shop has gone further away from its previously glory and into a more questionable direction! The arrival of the pithos gives her a chance to rewrite her life and work towards restoring the family’s store…while unraveling the “mystery.”

Thoughts:
This historical fiction intertwines three POVs to deliver an entertaining read. It was atmospheric. The mystery, intrigue and romance was an effective mix. If you like all those things then this is the book for you!

Thank you to Susan Stokes-Chapman, Harper Perennial, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

I liked a lot of elements of this book. I enjoyed that it combined elements of things I am interested in: historical England, mythology, archeology, antiquing., a bit of romance. The plot was enjoyable and I actually like that it was told from three different perspectives, including the villain's.

I with mythology was woven into the story more. Based on the summary, I thought mythology would come more into play. There were hints throughout the novel of mythological figures being involved but I wanted more. The tie to mythology really just comes from the archaeology of a Grecian site.

Definitely worth the read, especially if you like archaeology and antiques. This is a good debut and I am interested in seeing more from this author.

It is the very end of the eighteenth century, and Pandora Blake—known as Dora—lives at the edge of London society. Despite the opposition of her obnoxious uncle Hezekiah and his live-in housekeeper/mistress Lottie, neither of whom has much interest in their orphaned charge, Dora has a dream. She wants to sketch jewelry designs that will appeal to the beauties of the haut ton, in the process earning Dora a livelihood sufficient to free her from her family’s antique shop, now in decline due to Hezekiah’s mismanagement. To that end, Dora spends hours in her attic bedchamber drawing with only her beloved magpie, Hermes, for company.

Even before we meet Dora in this enchanting yet troubling tale, we have encountered an unnamed diver bent on retrieving the cargo from a scuttered ship somewhere in the Mediterranean. It soon becomes clear that the mysterious cargo includes a massive Greek vase (more properly, a pithos, used for storing wine or grain), which Hezekiah acquires, together with a shipment of Greek pottery. Dora at first believes this is an attempt to save the store, but her uncle’s behavior raises questions—not least whether he obtained the pithos legally. To find out what Hezekiah has in mind, Dora enlists the help of a bookbinder, Edward Lawrence, setting them off on a journey that will lead deep into Dora’s past.

This is a novel of many layers, as intricately plotted as Dora’s jewelry designs, which seem to have inspired the book’s gorgeous cover. The characters and setting are Dickensian, yet the themes are modern and the reconsideration of the mythical story of Pandora’s Box rings true. Definitely a book worth reading.

I will be interviewing this author for the New Books Network (link below) in January 2023.

I initially thought this would be a little more fantastical, but it wasn’t. I can’t say I’m mad at there result though.

Pandora is a story about finding yourself despite the darkness that surrounds you. It’s about the love of family and abuse. There were also some very good observations of class and gender.

I loved Dora’s character. She’s determined, intelligent, and passionate.

I would not classify it fantasy or recommend it to someone looking for a fantasy read. The plot only really skirts the idea of "bad luck" and the contents of Pandora’s box without outright naming the box as the cause explicitly. It is mostly historical fiction with an underlying hetero-romantic plot.

Pandora was a unique, intricately written retelling of the Pandora myth that was riddled with Grecian culture and lore. Personally, I don’t tend to read too much historical fiction, but I think I need to start because I found myself completely drawn in by the setting of this story and the archeological perspective surrounding the antiquities.

While the story itself wasn’t the most “exciting”, it was still very intriguing. At times, thing felt a little slow, but I still really enjoyed the interweaving of the characters and the clear research that went into developing this story. I enjoyed the characters, though I’ll admit I shipped the MMC with a different person.

I think I’d try another book by this author in the future. I’m curious to see how their writing continues to grow in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own.

Pandora is an incredibly atmospheric read, blending 1799 England with Greek Mythology. I'm a sucker for Greek Mythology! It is told from 3 different viewpoints, which I'm not usually a fan of (*cough* Lucy Foley *cough*), but I did not mind with Pandora. I actually felt it was necessary and added much more to the story than just a linear view.

Pandora will you draw you in and you will be losing sleep to finish it.

Grab it ASAP - you won't be disappointed!

First line: He had not allowed for the weight.

Summary: Dora, an orphan and aspiring jewelry designer, has spent the last several years living above her uncle’s antiquities shop. Then one day a special delivery comes that sparks her interest and creates new ideas for her designs. She sneaks into the basement she finds a pithos but with little knowledge of its value she invites a young scholar, Edward Laurence to examine it. And what he finds is astounding. But since the arrival of the pithos Dora’s uncle has been acting strangely and she starts to fear that something dangerous is on the horizon.

My Thoughts: This was an enjoyable debut novel. I liked its time period and setting. However, the characters did not seem to be complete. I saw one review where Dora’s uncle was described as cartoonish and I believe this is an apt assessment. The mystery did not seem too hard to figure out. I think my favorite part was Hermes the magpie. I also loved the cover. It is a good start for a new author.

This is a cozy fantasy of deceit and intrigue with our protagonist. Dora (Pandora) who works at her uncles antique store. Who dreams of making ornate jewelry and is often met with negativity from her uncle. When Edward comes into her life, a whole new journey begins to unfold for Dora. Uncovering a web of lies and treachery along the way. Yet, mega cozy vibes. Cup of tea book vibes.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc

Set in Georgian England, this is a lovely little historical mystery that ties into Greek mythology. Pandora Blake is a young woman, orphaned then raised by her uncle when he took over her father's antiquities business. He is, unfortunately, kind of terrible, so Dora has been hard at work on her jewelry designs so that she can support herself and get out from under her uncle's thumb. When her uncle acquires a large antique Greek pithos, he hurriedly locks it in the basement and starts behaving strangely. Dora, of course, can't resist the challenge so she and a friend start sneaking into the basement to sketch the vase and catalogue the other antiquities languishing in the dark cellar. The vase, however, holds a secret that threatens to destroy everything Dora holds dear.

I really enjoyed this story! Hermes the magpie is, as all fictional magpies are, enchanting. Pandora is realistic and relatable, as is Edward, while Dora's uncle makes a perfect villain. I'd consider this book well-paced, not too fast or too slow, and I thought the reveal of the family secret was built up perfectly. I also loved all the historical details that were included, and the author's note sheds light onto the liberties she took with specific dates and "real" persons.

Highly recommend this one! Thank you to Susan Stokes-Chapman, Harper Perennial, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

I have been anticipating this book ever since it released in the UK; and now that ARCs are available across the pond, I can unreservedly say Susan Stokes-Chapman’s “Pandora” did not disappoint me. The story feels like “The Mummy,” Greek mythology, and the vibes of “The House at Vesper Sands” got mixed together in a Greek pithos to make this wonderfully engaging tale of antiquities, curses, coming of age, and young love. I blazed through this book in less than 24 hours and I highly recommend it. Also, on a “lesser” note, the cover is to die for, whatever country you purchase it in.

Pandora. This work of fiction is based in Georgian England and is interspersed with Greek mythology, specifically that of Pandora and her pithos. It tells of Pandora Blake, orphaned at a young age by her antiquitarian parents and under the care of her dodgy uncle who is running the shop her parents left into ruin. Edward Lawerence is thrown into the mix by a bloke who knows of the Blake's to help get him into his Society. And then there's Hermes, Pandora's trusty magpie.

This is told through Pandora, Edward and Hezekiah's POVs. You get a taste for her uncles greed immediately but the further you delve into this mystery, the more you get into just how far he will go in his greed.

There is a light romance and love triangle in it. There is a good amount of detail in the book and I liked that. The pacing stayed consistent throughout and Dora was quite likeable.

I'd only like to know more about this sparkling blue eyed bloke with the grey beard...

This is the story of Dora - her parents have died under mysterious circumstances, and she is now under the care of her shifty uncle and working alongside him at her parents antique shop. The setting was so atmospheric; this combined with the different POVs makes for an intriguing story. When a Greek vase ends up at the shop, Dora and antiquarian Edward Lawrence begin to dive into its history. What Dora finds brings her own history colliding with the vase’s! This book was so engaging and beautifully written, it’s difficult to believe this is a debut novel. I will certainly be keeping my eye out for more from this author in the future.