Pandora is ok and better than not reading anything at all but falls just short of being a really great book. I was kind of bored through the whole thing and probably wouldn't have paid much attention to it if I hadn't been stuck driving. I liked the characters but the story was pretty predictable. Olivia Vinall does a great job of narrating.

I have a special sweet spot for historical fiction that takes place in winter and involves a bit of magic, so you can definitely bet that I loved this story. It was slow at times, which affected my readability, but overall, I loved the mystery of the pythos and its relation to the Blake family. Having the three perspectives of Dora, Hezekiah, and Edward was perfect too because reader's get the distinct differing perspectives of Dora and Edward, and then, Hezekiah came in to just throw caution to the wind and piss me off throughout all of his chapters. Only Dora and Edward's sweetness could counteract the knee jerking reaction to want to suffocate Hezekiah's chapters every time they showed their ugly self. I saw a couple reviews say that Hezekiah felt like a cartoony antagonist, but I didn't experience that sentiment. He was more a bitter old man than anything, and I've had plenty of experiences with those sorts of men who teeter on that line of nearly doing anything for their own selfish, twisted desires.

The romance between Dora and Edward was another great part of the story. I enjoyed its gradual slow burn pace, and then, when it did become a reality for the characters, it didn't overwhelm the main plot in any way. It just altered the course a little, and the story continued like nothing happened. Also, because this involves romance of a different sort, I did not expect in any way for LGBTQ+ rep to be a part of this book at all. It is a side character, and that character doesn't receive a happy ending for their love, but it grabbed my attention to see a gay character represented in 1799 England. I'm hoping in the future any LGBTQ+ characters can be main characters or even have happier endings where they find their partner. I'll always be rooting for historical fiction LGBTQ+ rep!

Overall, if you're a fan of historical fiction with some magical elements, then, Pandora is perfect for you. It reminded me a lot of The Golem and the Jinni, The Binding, and Once Upon a River. Just like antiquities, Pandora will make its round to its destined readers, and I'm so excited to read more of Susan Stokes-Chapman's works in the, hopefully soon, future! And I do highly recommend the audiobook because the narrator had a great tone to match the 1799 era.

Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for this ARC audio! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Pandora is a book that left me on the fence. On one hand it mixes two of my favorites together: historical fiction and Greek mythology. On the other, it's entirely too long and lacks the character growth needed to help me feel invested in the characters. I also really disliked the romance aspect of this book, it wasn't forward enough so by the end it left me feeling empty.

I'd almost use the word cozy mystery to describe the actual mystery plot itself but with a touch of psychopathy.

I also felt Pandora suffered from having entirely too many characters that were intertwined together but waited too long to explain the connections. Maybe it would read better on paper or even on a screen, but the audiobooks was difficult to follow.

Thank you for the ARC.

I really wanted to love this book. It features two things I’m a sucker for; historical fiction set in London and Greek mythology. And the story is good! The who, what, when, where, how and why, add up to a brilliant tale.

It’s the delivery that fell flat for me. It is a very slow burn, which I often don’t mind. But in this case, it felt like a veeerrrry long time for the story to gain momentum and move forward. Once it did, my mind still seemed to wander due to the narration. There just wasn’t enough emotion in the performance. I’m not sure if I would have liked this more had I read the physical book or not, but if this sounds like one you want to try, I would definitely recommend trying a physical copy or ebook.

This book made no sense to me. It has many decisions that seem made by 5-year-olds, the whole plot is convenience to the maximum, you forget the main objective of the story because it goes off the deep end, the characters only have one characteristic and that's it, they don't develop any more. At least it reads fast but nothing really happens for most of the book, and the things that do happen are very cute and convenient, they don't explore the serious issues, and the drama is very soap-opera like.
The main plot/problem is presented to you as something super mysterious that no one can know and in the end it's all for THAT...make it make sense. It just wants to paint you a non-ideal and super difficult world but everything works out for the main characters in the ends. Also, I feels it puts a trauma on the male character and exploits it when it suits the story just to make him more mysterious and cute idk.
The romance has zero chemistry and it begins out of nowhere. These people meet and betray each other in less than a week and get offended when the other hides things from them NOR DO THEY KNOW EACH OTHER WELL ENOUGH, WHY THEY ARE SO INTENSE.
On top of that, they killed off the only character I liked: A BIRD. The only other smart character appears very little and has an interesting story but his presence felt very forced like ?
Anyway, this book has a mystery that tries to reach something but never gets there.

You’ll be a fan of Pandora if you want a book that is historical fiction with a dash of Greek mythology. I had hoped that there would be more inclusion of a mystical Greek mythology but the plot held up without it. It did take around 50% of the book for me to get fully invested but after that point the pacing was perfect. You root for Dora and her ambitions to be a self-made woman and detest the uncle for basically everything he does. I think the writing is really solid for a new author, there was beauty in their descriptive prose. Solid read

This books captures one's imagination from the start as it tours the reader through Victorian England cleverly tying it to Ancient Greece. The ensuing suspense and mystery are not to be missed!

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.

The narrator was great at differentiating characters even with the changing view points.

Pandora was a wonderfully immersive and enjoyable read, despite having a bit of a predictable plot. The story plays out against the backdrop of 1799 London, and focuses on 20 year old Dora Blake. Dora’s parents were well known and knowledgeable owners of a bustling antiques shop, which Dora has a strong affection for. Her uncle, however, cares more about his own comfort than the reputation of the shop. After the deaths of Dora’s parents, he has taken over the shop and run it nearly into the ground. He is also dismissive of Dora’s dream of being a jewelry designer, where her parents were encouraging. But Dora is undeterred by this--she is a woman living at the turn of the 19th century, after all. Encouragement to pursue any commercial venture isn’t at all common for her. The catalyst of the plot is her uncle’s mysterious acquisition of a large grecian vase. From there, we explore the mysteries of where the artifact came from, how it can possibly be so very old, and what exactly Dora’s uncle’s intentions are, both with the artifact and with her.
I found Pandora to be charming, if somewhat basic. To start with the good, this was a truly enjoyable escapism read. Historical fiction is not a genre that I am usually drawn to, so I was not expecting to fall in love with the setting so much. I love that Pandora’s aspirations are for a traditionally feminine task--designing jewelry. It was refreshing to see an artistic dream so supported by the narrative. Of course, Dora runs into lots of resistance anyway because of the time she lives in, but is able to overcome the critics by befriending the women around her.
Now, my one big gripe about this book. There is one fat character: Dora’s uncle. Throughout the book, the fact that he is fat is used to emphasize how gluttonous, selfish, and cruel he is. This was really off-putting and disappointing to me, and it did affect my overall enjoyment of the book. The characters are also pretty flat, and the story doesn’t require the reader to do any mental work. The plot is nothing unique, and tends toward the predictable. However, sometimes that’s exactly what I’m looking for! A book that will hold my interest while still being a quick, easy read.
Overall, I gave Pandora 3.5 stars out of 5. Thanks to Netgalley for the free audio copy in exchange for this honest review.

the first 60% was boring and then it got good and then it was over. it was a great premise and i enjoyed the three perspectives and greek mythology is always fun. the way that mythology was interwoven into the story helped to keep my interest! the tone was so dark that i had to take a break at times to just give myself a break lol. maybe it’s because i listened to the audiobook idk but i was hoping for more?? also i think i really hate historical fiction but the LETTER WRITING ugh let’s bring that back

thank you netgalley and harper collins/harperaudio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed the plot of PANDORA, but unfortunately I did not care for any of the characters which kept me from loving this novel. The events around the Greek vase were interesting, but I didn't find the romance between Dora and Edward to be believable at all - especially certain events that happen given that this takes place in 1799.

Olivia Vinall does a good job with the audiobook narration.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and HarperAudio in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Greek myth retellings are some of my favorite things to read and I am rarely disappointed but the Greek myth inspired stories like this can be really hit or miss…this one, however, was definitely a hit! It meanders a little setting everything up in the beginning, but by a quarter of the way through it picks up and had me fully invested and on the edge of my seat. It’s beautifully written and I enjoyed the multiple threads of mysteries woven through the story and appreciated that some of them were easy enough to decipher while some remained unclear until their reveals towards the end. It helped maintain suspense but also feel little satisfactions of answers along the way. I really liked the MC, Pandora. She was easy to sympathize with and root for, and I enjoyed the gentle, slow burn romance with Edward. I also like that the story left it a bit ambiguous on whether the vase was cursed or not, like as readers we get to decide if we believe in myth and magic or if there is a more scientific, non-magical explanation. Overall a really fantastic read made even more enjoyable by the wonderful narration!

An atmospheric story set in Georgian England that combines elements of Greek mythology, with age old treachery, deceit, and greed. A wonderful story full of suspense and intrigue but also charming and delightful, as we take a trip into the fascinating world of antiques..
Both of three POVs kept my interest intact!
you are in for a treat!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a eARC Audiobook of Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman

Set in Georgian London, Pandora Blake helps her uncle run her deceased parent's antiquities shop. The shop was once thriving 12 years ago, but is now disreputable under the care of her uncle and guardian. When Dora's uncle brings home a mysterious Greek vase, he begins act suspiciously.

Curious about the vase, Dora seeks the help of Edward. An aspiring antiquarian. The two soon find themselves wrapped up in the cursed history of the Grecian vase and Dora's own past.

Pandora was a lovely atmospheric read. I love the time period it is set in and the inclusion of Greek myths. This book packs plenty of twists and turns. I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this book. I typically don't reach for historical fiction, but I was interested in the greek mythology element of it. I'm definitely glad I picked this up.

The narrator did a fabulous job with this. She definitely added to the story and made the book even better.

Pandora was a good quick read and I recommend it to anyone who loves Greek mythology or Historical Fiction.

Pandora is a unique mystery story set in Georgian London. The aptly named main character, Dora, strives to be a jewelry designer so she can achieve independence from her abusive uncle who gained custody of her after her parents untimely death. This fast paced coming of age story provides mystery, mythology, romance, and action. I found it to be a likable story, but I can't say that I loved it. The story was great, but I longed for more depth and more mythology in the story. I also found some of the actions of the abusive uncle to be unnecessary to the story line. Despite my misgivings, I couldn't put the book down and I found the narrator very enjoyable.

I listened to the audiobook version. I really enjoyed this book. It's historical fiction with a bit of Greek mythology mixed in. Pandora has been raised by her uncle since her parents died when she was a girl. Her uncle has little to no redeeming qualities and is hiding something from her. She meets Edward while trying to get information about a large vase she finds in the basement. Together they try to piece together what her uncle has been involved in. Each character has a rich history and you want to know more about them.

The author has a way of getting you to feel for each of the characters and it keeps you guessing until the end. My only complaint is how quickly the ending was. The book takes it's time giving information and with amazingly detailed descriptions and the ending felt a bit rushed. I absolutely would recommend this one if you like historical fiction, mysteries, and really just fiction in general.

This was an interesting read. I enjoyed the tie to mythology and the ancient stories. There was so much going on that at times it was a little challenging to follow the audio. As well as not always knowing who the perspective was when the chapters began. I really enjoyed that there was a mystery tied into the whole story line. This kept it intriguing and interesting throughout.

This audiobook was a lot of fun. The narration was excellent and the story was quite enjoyable.
Centered around Pandora Blake, or Dora as she is called, the orphaned daughter of architects/plunderers who desires nothing more than to free herself from her wicked uncle by designing her own jewelry.
Dora is fun, quirky character and I enjoyed rooting for her success. Her uncle was a bit of the "classic villain" stealing and wasting what should have been her inheritance... but forgivable in an otherwise fun story.



I received an audio copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this historical mystery, set around the myth of Pandora's Jar.

Pandora Blake has a dream... that of independence from her controlling Uncle who is slowly driving her dead parent's Antiquities business I to the ground. She has a talent for drawing and design, and sets her sights on designing her own jewelery. But when fate conspires against her, she is pushed to extraordinary lengths to secure her future... causing her to find a secret jar, older than history. Wheat follows is an intriguing mystery with just a touch of the fantastic that we all come to look for in this type of tale.

While the characters aren't very articulated, the plot and its execution was spot on. Well done, Susan!

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review