Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman is a truly immersive historical fiction, for anyone intrigued by Greek mythology. I’d ask for a sequel just because it’s so well written, but Susan has ended this so satisfyingly! I really think this is a gem of a book; you can bet I’ll be following Susan on social media to make sure I never miss any future book releases!

Antiques, Mythology, history. What's not to love, right? I wanted a bit more Mythology because that's my jam lately, but still an enjoyable read!

Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman and narrated by the mesmerizing voice of Olivia Vinall is the perfect overall literary experience. This is a fascinating story of a young woman who is trying to make her way in the world after the manner in which her now deceased parents did. However, living in Georgian England means that there are many obstacles facing a girl under the guardainship of her uncle and with her own limited means. Driven by the memory and talent of her Grecian mother and the decline in the family business, caused by her uncle’s mismanagement, Dora Blake is determined to succeed no matter what the cost. Fate seems to introduce her to Edward Lawrence, a young man stymied by societal contrstraints but trying to follow his dreams into antiquities, at the same time a large Grecian vase is delivered to the antiquities store. Their meeting initiates a partnership to solve the mystery of the vase, but those same fates seem to have more in store for them personally as they dive deeper into this enigma.


Pandora is a richly written tale with a fascinating setting, well-fleshed out characters, and a mesmerizing plot. It is a seamless melding of Greek mythology and a fictional reality that opens all sorts of imaginative possibilities. Dora and Edward are characters that are easy to like and get behind as they struggle with their own personal insecurities and ambitions to be better. Together they begin to realize that they can be even more complete with the other in their life and that they can overcome obstacles that had seemed insurmountable when faced alone.

[THE LOVER’S SEAT: SHELLEY AND MARY GODWIN IN OLD ST PANCRAS CHURCHYARD]
signed and dated l.l.: W P Frith. 1877
I was intrigued with the premise Pandora from the start and that enthusiasm for this story was solidfied by the narration of Olivia Vinall. She has the perfect voice to fit with an English setting and a range of accents and pitches that make you forget you are listening to only one person and not a cast of characters. One of my biggest hang-ups with audiobooks is when the narration becomes a distraction from the story-telling because the narrator doesn’t have a number of distinct sounds or the ability to voice different genders, ages, or dialects characters very well. There was never any doubt the further I got into the experience of listening to Pandora that this would be a five star review!

This happens to be the second audiobook narrated by Olivia Vinall I have listened to this month and she is phenomenal! She is able to evoke the emotion in her voice to bring the text to life and made it a must listen. I will definitely be looking for audiobooks narrated by her in the future.

Pandora is Stokes-Chapman's debut and I would classify it as a historical fiction with mythological undertones (perhaps even a visit from Greek Gods?) It is 1799, and Pandora Blake wants nothing more than to leave her conniving uncle who has run her parents' antiquity shop into the ground by selling cheap forgeries and open her own jewelry shop. But what Pandora doesn't know is her uncle has a secret and the delivery of a mysterious Greek jar will be the key to learning the truth of her past. When an antiquities student, Edward Lawrence stops by the shop, Dora works with him to investigate the jar and why her uncle is hiding it in the shop's basement. Overall, I enjoyed the story, although there were definitely pacing issues - it was very slow to start but I was glad I continued. While most of the story is focused on the mystery of the jar and Dora's past, there is a romance, however it was minor to the story. You do not need to know Greek mythology to enjoy the read, although I found it interesting how the author incorporated mythology into the story and how the story paralleled the myths. I don't know if it was intentional but Pandora's mother's name led me to guess about her uncle's behavior (and I was correct, but I don't know if that was intentional on the author's part or not.) I would recommend to historical fiction readers, but if you are a fan of Circe or Stone Blind, do not expect a retelling, more like an inspiration.

While I usually adore anything have to do with Greek/Roman mythology, I found it hard to truly concentrate with this book. I did enjoy the fact that it wasn't just a classic retelling of a myth, but instead the myth was the basis for the story. I unfortunately just don't think I connected with the author's writing style on this one.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I started this book. I liked the name, loved the cover, and was hoping for Greek Mythology.

I was pleasantly surprised by the historical setting (because it wasn’t what I was imagining) and I loved the mystery plot. The romance was fun as well and I loved the banter between the main characters.

I’d love to see this turn into a series with other artifacts or mysteries to be solved by these characters but am happy with the conclusion. This was my first book by this author but I’d gladly read more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one just fell a little flat for me. It was really hard to keep up with the different points of view. Overall, I think I would of enjoyed it better if it was executed differently.

*Thank you @harperaudio for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*

Based on the title, I initially thought this was going to be another one of those mythological biographies in novel form, but this is a historical fiction mystery with elements of a conspiracy involving magical archeological items.

Excellent audio narration

This had the potential to be really interesting, but it just fell flat. The characters weren't super interesting, the story dragged on for far too long, there were too many POVs, and the parts that were super interesting and intriguing were just glossed over. The parts that included exploring Greek myths, the society of antiquarians or whatever it's called are all super interesting, but we barely got to see any of it. I feel like this book could have used a better editor to help the author with their ideas, because she did have some great ideas, I just don't think they were executed as well as they could have been. Overall, I would be interested in reading more by this author, because I do think they have the potential to improve, but it would depend entirely on the synopsis/themes of their next book.

Such a fun addition to the Victorian mystery centred around Greek Mythology corner of historical fiction. While nothing is particularly surprising or genre-bending, the characters are lovable and do a good deal of growing together, the mythology is well researched, and the stakes feel personal enough to get readers invested. Overall a great retelling of a myth often glossed over.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Audio for an advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to listen to this Advanced Audiobook copy of Pandora by Susan sStomes-Chapman. This is my honest and unpaid review.
I am not an audiobook listener. I have listened to a few of Jane Austen’s classics and that’s about it. I enjoyed this story very much and I really liked the narrator’s voice. For myself I still find audiobooks hard to focus on. If I’m doing something else I tend to not follow the story as closely. I think I’d like to re-read this as a book because I think I missed some of the details. Still a great story but it took me a bit to get into it.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the advanced copy. I enjoyed the narrator, setting and premise, I just wish the plot moved along a little faster. I had a hard time finishing the book because the setting and MCs backgrounds could have been covered in the first 10% or so of the book rather than 25%. The characters fell a little flat for me because of this. Definitely a character driven plot, slow burn, and atmospheric.

A mystery/fiction book set in Victorian times. Characters are as they seem. No real surprises. I listened to an audio version. I would listen to this narrator again. Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

This book taught me that I may just not be a fan of this era, maybe even historical fiction as a whole. My favorite character was Hermes and, well, that didn’t end well for me. Great writing style, smart and sophisticated just not a book for me.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen and review Pandora! Greek mythology was my favorite subject in high school so I was excited to read this one. Mythology is one of the genre's I am trying to get more into reading this year. I loved the take on Pandora and her battle with dealing with her uncle. I thought that the narrator did an awesome job with this book. Overall, I recommend!

When I read the description of this book, I knew I had to read this one! (Well, in this case, listening to this one!) Historical Fiction with a splash of mythology and a smidge of romance? Count me in! Dora was alluring with her passion and love for her art and jewelry; she also lived with her uncle after the passing of her parents. Dora was not told much about her parent's death, which bothered her. The aroma of mystery surrounded what she was told about the death of her parents. Dora did live with her uncle, and they ran an antique store. Then, we have Edward, a man who wanted to be acknowledged for his work, and it was not happening to him. So the paths of Edward and Dora meet, leading them on an extraordinary adventure that takes many twists and turns through a dangerous web of fraud and deception. While this journey is unraveling for Edward and Dora, this leads them down a road where Dora might not be ready to face some hard truths.
This book was a treat! I enjoyed how the author created a mystery with a bit of fantasy and historical fiction added to it! I recommend this book to anyone who loves Historical Fiction with a splash of mythology and mystery! The plot and storyline were intriguing and easy to follow. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator fit the story amazingly! I want to express my gratitude to Harper Audio and Netgalley for the phenomenal opportunity to listen and review this one!

“How much easier it is for those with money to achieve what those without it cannot.”

London, 1799. Dora Blake, an aspiring jewelry artist, lives with her uncle atop her late parents’ once-famed shop of antiquities. After a mysterious Greek vase is delivered, her uncle begins to act suspiciously, keeping the vase locked in the store’s basement, away from prying eyes—including Dora’s. Intrigued by her uncle’s peculiar behavior, Dora turns to young, ambitious antiquarian scholar Edward Lawrence who eagerly agrees to help. Edward believes the ancient vase is the key that will unlock his academic future; Dora sees it as a chance to establish her own name.

But what Edward discovers about the vase has Dora questioning everything she has believed about her life, her family, and the world as she knows it. As Dora uncovers the truth, she comes to understand that some doors are locked and some mysteries are buried for a reason.

First of all this cover is STUNNING! 🤩 I absolutely devoured this story! As soon as I saw that it was recommended by the author of The Apothecary (5 stars all the way) I knew I had to read it! Dora is such an amazing and strong character and I loved following along as she tried to unravel the mystery that her life had become. She is intuitive and strong and I was rooting for her throughout!

The audio was simply fabulous. The narrator was truly able to capture the emotion of the characters and I found myself quickly lost in the story.

Thank you so much to @tlcbooktours and @sstokeschapman for the #gifted copy for this tour and to @netgalley and @harperaudio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this but I just don't think it is for me. I really believe that this book is going to excite and thrill some people but It just didn't work for me.

The beginning of this book was a bit slow for me, but I kept with it and it quickly picked up and held me captive. The narrator was fantastic, the story mysterious, intriguing, and whimsical.

I don't think I've read a lot of novels that incorporate the Pandora myth. It's partly why this novel is such a highly anticipated release for me. Set in London in the late 1700s, Dora lives above her uncle's antiquities shop crafting jewelry and trying to make her own place in the world. A mysterious vase shows up and her uncle starts acting weird.

That's just the start though. This story blends historical fiction and myth alongside the paths of family mystery and romance. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and the beautifully atmospheric writing style of the author. I had the pleasure of receiving the audiobook before Harper Perennial gifted a gorgeous copy my way. The audiobook is eloquently narrated by Olivia Vinall at an immersive pace with emotion and tone. She captures the essence of Dora with spirit and heart. It was done so well.

The historical aspects and how the myth was tied into this book were some of my favorite parts. The family history that surrounds Dora and her almost Cinderella existence make her easily relatable. Each character has a depth I didn't expect at the level it was.

The romance isn't overpowering and the mystery elevates the overall storyline. I'd highly recommend this novel to those who love historical fiction and the old myths. Thank you Harper Audio and Harper Perennial for the gifted audio and physical copies in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.