The Curse of King Midas reimagines a well-known myth through a modern, emotionally rich narrative. When Kayla, a teenager with a complicated past, inherits the Midas curse, her life becomes a waking nightmare. Everything she touches begins to change, not just physically but in ways that expose long-buried secrets and hidden motives. As Kayla searches for a way to break the curse, she must confront the legacy of greed, the meaning of control, and the cost of transformation.

Colleen M. Story fuses classical mythology with contemporary storytelling, resulting in a novel that feels both timeless and urgent.

Analysis
Strengths:

Original reinterpretation: The Midas myth becomes more than just a cautionary tale. Story treats it as a living force, exploring how inherited burdens affect identity and choice.

Character depth: Kayla is a strong, complex lead with real agency. Her evolution is earned, not handed to her, which keeps the reader invested.

Tight pacing: The story keeps momentum without relying on filler. Every chapter has weight and direction.

Emotional resonance: This is not just a fantasy novel. It's also about grief, family legacy, and the hunger to be more than what fate has dictated.

Minor Weaknesses:

Some side characters are introduced with promise but don’t get the space to fully develop.

A couple of plot resolutions feel slightly convenient, though the emotional core remains intact.

Bottom Line
The Curse of King Midas offers more than myth retold. It delivers an engaging story about power, choice, and the haunting echo of the past. Colleen M. Story brings freshness and intensity to a classic theme, creating a novel that speaks to both young readers and anyone who’s ever struggled to outrun a legacy. Thoughtful, gripping, and emotionally sharp, it is well worth the read.

this book felt like watching a movie. sweeping, epic, and full of drama. i am familiar with the mythology of king midas, but less of the actual history of the real king midas. i enjoyed all of the characters, and i think the huge cast of characters was a pleasant surprise for me. two warring kings, their respective factions of supporters, and how alliances shift so quick was fun to read and kept me on the edge of my seat.

“The Curse of King Midas,” by Colleen M. Story

Karem wants revenge against King Sargon II, who killed his mother and took his sister. He makes a deal a goddess of the underworld to be powerful and have a loyal army, which led him to be crowned King Midas. When the deal he made goes wrong he tries to get help. He now has the power of golden touch which has turned into a curse for his family.

This is a good book for those who love Greek mythology retellings like Song of Achilles and Circe. It was a good book though I didn’t like how many POV’s there were. I feel like it made it unnecessarily confusing in some parts. I usually read a lot of king Midas retellings where he is super evil, so it was interesting to see him written as a character that has a lot of love for his family and his people. 3 out of 5 stars.

-King Midas Retelling
-Multi POV

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

Interesting tale of Greek mythology. It is a well researched novel. I enjoyed it. Looking forward to Colleen Story's next book

I really enjoyed this story! I grew up loving the myth of King Midas, so I knew I wanted to read this when I first saw it. The author did an amazing job weaving the classic story of King Midas with the historical story of the real King Midas. I was hooked from the beginning! There’s adventure, love, heartbreak, and magic. What could be better? Highly recommend if you love a historical fantasy!

Engaging and fascinating Greek mythological retelling! Very enjoyable, extremely well-researched, and absolutely enthralling! Thanks to NetGalley and Michannel Press for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

LOVELY BOOK. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I READ THIS YEAR. SO SO SO GOOD. I RECOMMEND EVERYONE TO READ THIS BOOK ASAP.

This was such a cool take on the King Midas touch of gold story. This book combines the different historical elements of Midas into a book of goddesses, magic, and war.

The characterization is very interesting. A man and a goddess so bent on revenge that they destroy everything. Anither goddess so determined to protect her grandfather that she causes so much damage and then perpetuates the cycle.

I'm definitely looking forward to the next one.