DNF’d before finishing the first chapter. Can’t remember anything about this book other than I wasn’t interested in reading it. Hopefully others enjoy it more than I did.

3.75 Stars

"Daughter of Chaos" is my first foray into A.S. Webb's writing, and I must say, it certainly won’t be my last! As a lover of mythology, I was captivated by how seamlessly Greek mythology and fantasy intertwine throughout the story. Webb’s ability to weave these elements together creates a rich tapestry that feels both familiar and fresh.

The characters are well-developed and their journeys are engaging, drawing me deeper into the world with each page. I was particularly intrigued by the magic system, which felt innovative and integral to the plot. It added depth and complexity, making the stakes feel real and the challenges formidable.
I look forward to exploring more of Webb’s work in the future and cannot wait for book 2 in the trilogy!

I love anything that's a Greek myth retelling, or even adjacent to that! This was very fun, and I enjoyed all the plot twists thrown in. Our female main character goes through a lot, and I can't wait to see where the next step in her journey takes her!

Daughter of Chaos is the first book in The Dark Pantheon Trilogy and it’s basically a fantasy set during Greek mythology. I honestly loved it so much! The book begins with a flash forward that reveals several plot points and alludes to a major event in our main character, Danae’s, past. Chapter 1 begins 3 years before the flash forward and I was almost certain I knew what was going to happen but I had no idea how or when. So the first part of the book was like watching a train wreck in slow motion I kept thinking “this is it” but it wasn’t “it” yet. Things go from ok to bad to worse to even worse and the “event” still hadn’t happened. When it finally did it was more terrible than I imagined and I found myself wondering when Danae was going to catch a break. She did not, in fact, catch a break for quite some time and even when she did it was a complicated victory.

Her progress is pretty realistic and although I found the beginning a bit slow, once things started happening they didn’t stop. There were a number of plot twists, several I was shocked by and some that were foreshadowed. When we finally reached the end I wasn’t shocked by the “reveal” but I was shocked by almost everything else that took place during the scene.

This is one of those books that I finished and immediately (literally immediately) wanted to read it again so that I could interpret it with my new knowledge. I can’t wait to read book 2 in this trilogy!

"The Daughter of Chaos" by A.S. Webb is a compelling blend of fantasy, mystery, and adventure that captivates readers from the first page. The novel introduces us to a richly crafted world filled with complex characters, ancient secrets, and a plot that is as unpredictable as it is thrilling.

The narrative is fast-paced, filled with twists and turns that keep the reader on edge. Webb's writing style is both poetic and precise, effectively painting vivid scenes that pull you deeper into the story's universe. The world-building is detailed without being overwhelming, and the author balances action with moments of introspection and growth, allowing readers to connect emotionally with the characters.

Okay, okay. This was gooooooodd. The pacing was great and the characters were memorable. How do I get the chance to stay in this book forever??

Loved it and I couldn’t put it down.. it got me out of my reading slump. It immediately grabbed me. I was fascinated with the world building and loved the characters. Thanks for letting me read an early copy.

I think this book has a lot going for it, as it's premise is extremely intriguing. Though, I found that it simply was not for me!

"Daughter of Chaos" by A.S. Webb is a spellbinding masterpiece that breathes new life into Greek mythology, intertwining it with epic fantasy in a way that is both familiar and refreshingly original. Danae, a fisherman's daughter, becomes an unforgettable heroine whose journey from a simple life to god-hunter is both believable and inspiring. Webb's vivid world-building, intricate character development, and expertly balanced pacing create an immersive narrative that captivates from start to finish. The interactions between Danae and legendary figures like Heracles are written with depth and authenticity, making this novel a must-read for fans of mythology and fantasy alike. This is a powerful and thought-provoking tale that sets a new standard for retellings, earning a well-deserved five stars.

Full review posted to socials, retailers, and my website.

5 stars! Thank you for allowing me to read your book!

Thank you netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read!

This was a great read. The characters were well developed, the world building, the execution, the magic system and writing all added up to amazing. I always love to read anything based off of mythology and this read was no exception. Everything had me wanting to know more!

4.5 stars

Finally, for the first time this year, I found a book that truly grabbed my attention from beginning to end. When I had to put Daughter of Chaos down, I found myself wishing I could listen to the audiobook so I could continue with the story. The book starts off strong with where the MC is currently in her adventure, then takes us back to the beginning to set the story up. The beginning is slower, but the book quickly picks up. The start is the introduction of the character and setting up the world.

There is a lot packed into one book. Danae is forced from her home island and has to travel to the end of the world to figure out what a prophecy means for her future. This is a Greek mythology retelling, and I liked the overhaul that the author did. I liked the reveals about the Gods in the end and following Danae as she journies with famous Greek heroes was so interesting. There was even some non-binary representation. I'm sad that Manto did not get as much page time because they were cool.

I really enjoyed this book and am sad I have to wait for the next one. I highly recommend Daughter of Chaos to those who like a Greek retelling fantasy book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade for the ARC.

Now I’m a sucker for Greek mythology, and I went into this knowing a good chunk of the lore. I was blown away with the twists that happened!!! The magic system intrigued me so much that i had a hard time putting it down that last 200 pages or so. I already want to read more and cannot wait to see where this series goes!!!

I was very lucky to get an ARC copy of this book, I have always loved Mythology and this book just continues to push my interest! It was a wonderful plot that was very interesting and quick-paced but had a great tempo for the story!

First let me start by saying thank you to NetGalley, author A.S. Webb and Harlequin Trade for this E-ARC of Daughter of Chaos the first in a planned trilogy: The Dark Pantheon series!
4.25/5 Stars
This book needs to be on your tbr coming out January 16th 2025!

The beginning of this book definitely has a lot of world building. It can be a bit overwhelming with not only the amount of character names but also places that are traveled to and just keeping track of this vast world. However, it is all necessary in setting up this story that the author crafted such a beautiful history for. Throughout the whole book you are pulled into this unique retelling of a world of Gods and Titans and power. There were so many parts of this story that had me going I know these characters, but they had a new story to their name that made the story entrancing. I also love a good coming of age story and our female main character Danae does not disappoint in any way. She is thrust into this world of power and with every step has something new challenging everything she knows about the Gods and Titans. Watching her grow as she not only learns more about herself, but about the world, has you on the edge of your seat wondering what could possibly happen next!

For those that want to know I would put this book in the Fantasy category and mainly think of it as a Greek mythology retelling adventure. While there is some romance it is very minimal and it is not a driving force in this first book. However, there are a wonderful amount of supporting characters that have carefully crafted stories connecting to our main character in friendship, family and enemies.

Fans of Greek mythology, adventure with mystery, heroes with unknown powers rising up, this book is going to be for you. My best advice is that if you feel like it’s too much information in the beginning, keep going! The second half of this book takes off on a whole new level of adventure and suspense and had me racing to finish it. The only downside of reading this as an ARC is that it will be longer until the sequel is out, which I think will be even better than the first!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

I enjoyed this book for the most part. I am curious as to where the story goes. It’s a Greek mythology fantasy, with some of its own unique elements. Nothing that was too stand out or super unique takes, but I still enjoyed it and would read the next books as well. Some parts weren’t paced the best, as well as at times I felt I was being told a story versus feeling shown a story, if that makes sense. The characters could use a bit more depth as well. Interested to see where the story goes as I said, however if the next book doesn’t pull me in better I wouldn’t continue reading the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC

In Ancient Greece, Danae our mortal FMC, is a fisherman’s daughter whom was forced to run away to learn and fulfill a prophecy after a tragic event happened to her family. This takes place during the Greek Pantheon when the Gods ruled every thing in their day to day lives. I’m a sucker for Greek mythology and this was a great overhaul.

This was a well written book that was high stakes and fast paced. Feels like I’ve read 3 books with how much is packed in. The way the author describes the world/feelings/anything was beautiful in an easy to understand way and was appropriate for the time. For example:
“The further she traveled from Naxos, the more she felt herself crumbling away, like the stones of the sea buried-temple eroded by the tide”

Tiniest spoonful of romance included that was a bit surprising

Really hoping the FMC can catch a break in the next one 😅

Side characters were well developed and a certain non-binary one I wanted more of 😭

Excited for book 2, as it will be exploring my favorite Greek mythology story and God. This series will be a trilogy.

Hope a map will be included in the published book

"𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑛𝑜 𝑓𝑟𝑢𝑖𝑡, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒. 𝑆ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑑"

Daughter of Chaos is an adventure-filled fantasy based on Greek mythology. The story follows Danae, a fisherman's daughter from a small town, as she embarks on different quests all while discovering her new powers.

A.S. Webb found a way to weave in the stories of Greek mythology while still making them new and entertaining. It was enjoyable to read about Danae's experiences as she left her small town, discovered who she was, and met new people.

While I did enjoy the quest aspect, there were some points in the story that felt a bit more slow-paced, making it read more like a historical fantasy book. Some of the relationships between the characters were lacking a bit of depth for me. I would have liked more interactions between those characters so that there was a stronger foundation.

If you enjoy reading quest-filled historical fantasy books, then Daughter of Chaos is definitely the book for you!\

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC! Daughter of Chaos reminds me that Greek mythology was one of the precursors for an epic fantasy. As an avid myth retelling fan, I thought this would be a retelling of Danae, but this book was more than that - it is a reimagining, drawing from the original myth, with a few mythological Easter eggs (prophecies, Artemis’s hunters, and fire, oh my!) thrown in the mix.

I enjoyed seeing Danae’s growth throughout the book - she started out as the scrappy younger sister to a resilient adult. The other characters were written well too - Webb makes sure that they have similar traits to the original mythological characters but makes them more…human? Relatable? The world building was great and Webb’s descriptions the different islands and such offered an interesting perspective. One gripe I have with this book was that the ending felt a bit too rushed. Danae’s interactions with Hera and Hera’s interactions with Zeus were quite captivating, and I was sad that it ended so soon. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, as it this one ended with a cliffhanger.

Execution was lacking and I felt like the author didn't have their own voice, merely blended other's to form their own. The Show Vs. Tell rule was ignored and frustrating to the point of me almost DNFing. Pacing was slow, Third person POV was a total NO for me. The plot concept was so there for me, but this came down to a premise that was told versus an actual story.