While the premise was nice, the writing was... not what I expected. I wanted more from the characters because I felt that what was on the front cover and the front flap was not what we were given.

This was a DNF for me. The writing was too dry which was upsetting since I was so interested in the premise and Dionysus is my favorite Greek god. But I couldn't bring myself to finished and got bored way to quickly.
The bit I did get throught was a bit confusing and clunky.

I don't think this was the book for me. Parts of the books dragged on and some of the more contemporary language took me out of the moment. The characters were well-written, but I think the plot fell apart. Maybe one day I'll have to give it another try.

Unfortunately this eARC is a DNF for me, but not for any reason related to the book itself, or Pulley's style. Much like the way I felt about The Kingdoms, Hymn to Dionysus makes me feel like I need to have it in-hand, so I can re-read and backtrack to trace what's going on and actually immerse, lol.

Otherwise, I really do love Pulley's style (and the cover designs!) Excited to get my hands on a physical copy.

Its a bit of a messy go in terms of pacing but overall a decent story. I would not compare against Circe due to the non-poetic writing. Also the names of the characters were used messily and not tied to the Gods they reflected

I really don't know how to rate this one, because the vibes were GREAT, the story idea was WONDERFUL (we don't get enough Dionysus representation!!), but the execution was just not it for me.

One of the first things that bothered me IMMEDIATELY was the use of the names of the Gods for just random people--Helios was the most immediate and confusing example. It was totally unnecessary and weird, and it took awhile to figure out that it wasn't *THE* Helios. Then we have the random time jumps with no real notice. We start the story with the MMC at 4 years old for a chapter or two, then we blink and he's aged up a few years, blink again and repeat. The problem? You don't realize there's been an aging up (or how many years) until the middle or end of the chapter it happens in. What's the purpose of that? No one knows. Especially since the entire 4yo POV could honestly have been cut and I don't think it really would have changed anything.

The vibes were vibing, but I also wish there had been more of a commitment to the vibes--it felt like the author didn't want to fully commit to a world with true magic and rules she needed to stick to, but also didn't want it to be set in a world with NO magic, so it comes and goes when it's convenient in a way that just felt....off to me.

Overall the story was good once you figured out what was going on and adjusted to the writing style, but I think that this author just isn't for me if this is representative of her writing style. I understand the comparisons to Circe and Achilles, but if you LOVED those and think this is going to be similar--stylistically, you're going to be disappointed.

This was a wild ride from start to finish. It was a bit confusing, but I did enjoy myself. I think that all queer stories are meant to be told and I do not regret getting an ARC copy of this book.

This is my first book by Natasha Pulley and I can guarantee it will not be my last. I did not want for this story to end. I was fully immersed into the story and the world, Thebes and Phaidros' life. The characters were the best part of this entire book. There were certain times I was utterly confused by the sentence structure and chaos, but I pulled through just to be able to experience this story with Phaidros and Dionysus. All the characters were so well fleshed out that it felt like I knew them intimately. Retellings are often difficult to depict and to make original when they have been done so frequently, but I do not think Pulley struggled with this at all. It felt like you were reading a Greek tragedy with the beautifully written prose. This book felt human and real. Definitely think anyone that who loves Greek mythology and retellings will love this!

Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.

Classic Natasha Pulley, but this time in ancient Thebes! While I would describe this a slow building story, it's one that I read very quickly because I became deeply invested in Phaidros. Like Pulley's other novels, Thebes is not the Thebes we know from history and legends, but is far stranger and more magical. There, ancient and wondrous marvels - giant bronze, clockwork-powered statues of the gods - keep watch over the city. It's a city beset by drought and famine, and ruled by a queen who is determined to stay in power no matter the costs. Phaidros, a lifelong knight in the Theban legion, is at the heart of the novel. He is fully committed to his duty and serving with honor, not matter what it costs for him and his withering soul. He's charged with training the teen knights and leading them on violent missions, but he also does what he can to keep them safe and from veering into madness, a formidable challenge as the city is plagued by madness from an unknown origin, but one that Phaidros fears he's invited in.

The character work in this book is amazing! Phaidros is a mess of a man, struggling to live with the heavy weight of loss, trauma, and grief. He's also haunted by the memory of the blue eyed boy he saved. He's caught between the cherished memory of the commander he loved, and the newly arrived, mysterious and beautiful witch who offers comfort and companionship. As the story progresses, Phaidros finds his allegiance to his queen sorely tested, even as the mysteries surrounding him become more dangerous. Deeply moving, full of intrigue, and bittersweet, The Hymn to Dionysus is a fantastic story, and one I know I'll come back to again and again!

This was my first Natasha Pulley book, and I had a great time. This book had a slower start, but a really strong finish. I wouldn't necessarily say that this is for fans of Greek retellings. Though I think people who like those stories could enjoy this, I would more say that this story is for fans of Natasha Pulley and of books that examine the human condition.
The slower start in the first 3rd of the book is the only reason I didn't give this 5 stars. The last 2/3's of the book were great, especially once Dionysus really came in to the story. I loved the relationship between Phaidros and Dionysus.

Thank you Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for giving access to an advanced reader copy of this book. At first, it was a rough start for me to get through the beginning of The Hymn of Dionysus, but once I got through the first of the story I was sucked into the chaos that was beginning to unfold in Thebes and Phaidros' life. I found myself being just as confused as Phaidros at times and others not only questioning Phaidros' choices but question his sanity just as he was. The story was dark and dove into the not-so-pretty times in Greece that can sometimes be glossed over. That being said, it read like a Greek Tragedy but had you on your toes as the events unfolded. There were plenty of times while reading this book that I thought I knew what was going on, got proven completely wrong and flipped upside down just as Phaidros was and then flipped right side up, my earlier suspensions coming true but not in the way that I had thought. I ended up really enjoying this story and there were times when I had to step away because of some of the heavy content but I still came back.
Favorite quote:
"What you say will matter. Negotiate. Be Persephone. If you see Death coming, say, fantastic, you're coming with me, and I'm Queen.".

Just wanted to say thank you for the early read. I did like this book and the characters were well done. I as very happy to keep turning the page. I did feel at times that it was difficult to read and I am not sure why. I don't know if it was the writing or just my brain at times. I did feel like there were some scenes that didn't make sense and that did not need to be included. I feel like this book was longer than it needed to be. Overall the characters and the story were human and relatable and overall this was well done.

This was a bit of a challenge to read, and I'm not sure why. I haven't ready any of Pulley's other work, but have read innumerable modern takes on myths and at times I felt my brain getting scrambled with some of the sentence structure. However, the characters were more than enough to keep me going on this journey. I was never entirely sure where things were going and I enjoyed where it landed us immensely.

I want to love this book so much more than I do because Phaidros and Dionysus are excellent characters with amazing chemistry. Genuinely, that aspect of the book was incredible and very well done. I loved watching their relationship develop and really do think this is one of my favorite depictions of Dionysus. Honestly, I think it is actually a compliment just how much I love these two and feel invested in them despite finding the rest of the book a little lacking.

Which…yeah. I think advertising it to fans of Song of Achilles and Elektra is really shooting the book in the foot. Those books are retellings of the mythology that inspired them, whereas this book is just…loosely inspired by Greek mythology as a whole picking out bits and pieces. If you go in expecting an experience like Song of Achilles or Elektra, you’re going to be disappointing. What’s all the more disappointing to me is that I don’t even feel like the book itself knows what it wants to be. I genuinely can’t tell if Natasha Pulley went into this wanting to write a fantasy world loosely based in Greek Mythology or write a book based in Greek Mythology like the previous two mentioned. It almost feels like she’s trying to do both and it just doesn’t work because it means she pulls neither off successfully. Adding onto that, the way in which she writes her characters just doesn’t fit in with the setting she’s trying to create. They all come off as whimsical modern English people and feel just wildly out of place in their own book.

Last point, and I’m usually not one to say this, but this book is probably 100 pages too long. There was not enough relevant plot to justify over 400 pages. I feel like a lot could have been trimmed off in editing and the book would have stayed functionally the same.

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Hymn to Dionysus
Author: Natasha Pulley

Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for this ARC! This releases on 3/18/25! This was a wild ride. The focus centers on a knight named Phaidros, who discovers a baby boy in a fire that he is instructed to abandon at a temple.. and then years later he starts training a battalion and they all become at risk of going mad. In addition to this, he becomes tasked with finding the prince who has ran away from his arranged marriage. During this search, he runs into a witch named Dionysus and once this happens the book becomes borderline an acid trip you are riding and don’t know how to come off. But not in a bad way? Also, it’s fitting as Dionysus is the god of mayhem, wine making, insanity, and theater? That’s exactly what reading this book felt like. It was a bit chaotic and confusing at times, but overall it was really beautifully written and I loved the Greek mythology? I think lovers of Greek mythology need to give this a try. Just be prepared for a mind F**k!

The Hymn to Dionysus is a captivating portrayal of one of Greek mythology’s most complex gods. The depiction of Dionysus is thoughtful and multi-faceted, perfectly capturing the contradictions that make the Greek gods so fascinating. The hymn explores his power, joy, and wrath in a way that feels true to the mythological tradition. It’s refreshing to see Dionysus presented with such depth and nuance, highlighting both his divine nature and his human-like flaws. Overall, it’s a compelling and engaging read for anyone interested in the richness of Greek mythology.

Greek retellings are becoming almost commonplace these days but in Pulley’s hands the story is anything but common. I can trust her to be strong on both plot and character. Here she reimagines the story of Dionysus in a way that feels impressively ancient and thoroughly contemporary.

2.5 stars rounded up

I want to YELL. The Hymn to Dionysus has SO MUCH GOING FOR IT and then SO MUCH THAT'S JUST BAD. Natasha Pulley, fire your marketing team. Whoever marketed this as a book for fans of Song of Achilles was WAY off the mark and I think you're gonna end up with a lot of people like me, very confused as to why there's essentially no romance until the last third of the book. This book has been a roller-coaster and I'm like...pretty sure I like it but it's hard to pin down.

Ok let's start with the stuff that drove me nuts.
This book is 150 pages too long. There are parts of this story that don't need to be in here. There are filler scenes that don't move the plot and don't capture the attention. Pulley's writing can get bogged down and downright confusing at points.
The worldbuilding is flimsy. Pulley can't decide whether the setting is fantasy or science fiction. The blending of the two would make for an interesting narrative but she was unable to neatly pull that off. On top of that the contemporary British slang was jarring and pulled me out of the fiction.
The liberties she takes with the Greek myth of Dionysus isn't the most interesting. Not only that but when the "big twist" is revealed at the end it kind of falls flat because the writing makes the audience already figure it out.

Ok the cool stuff.
The characters are funny, flawed, and very human. Phaidros is an incredibly likeable character despite his bad temper and melancholy nature.
The morals in this are incredibly well fleshed out. The themes of over-consumption, corruption, misogyny, and the way that Dionysus's madness combats them is refreshing in our current political climate. The way that Phaidros is constantly at war with himself over sense of duty vs. the sense of human nature is incredibly empathetical.
The story really picked up at the last 50 pages and I'm really happy with the ending. It's hopeful and strange and fresh.

Overall, this book is definitely cool and worth reading, but I think needs to be marketed differently and also I wish it was edited down more.

As someone who enjoys reading books about Greek mythology, this caught my attention. Dionysus is usual only mentioned in other tales, so I loved that Pulley gave us a story focused on him through the eyes of Phaidros. This book was a wonderful journey about duty, honor, doing what you’ve been told. Can't wait for others to enjoy this story.

Have you ever been nervous to read a book due to how much you've hyped it up in your head? That was me with The Hymn to Dionysus by Natasha Pulley. My thoughts on this are complex and also there's a lot of them, because I am such a fan of Dionysus. But honestly, no books ever paint him well. They make him hyper-masculine, basically like he's one of the other greek gods– which he's not. And even if he was, I'm not interested in reading one of a thousand greek myth retellings that is just Circe in a different font.

I can happily, with much relief and joy, say that I really think this book GOT Dionysus. The characterization felt complex and rich, and it didn't put Dionysus into a modern day box by any means. The character of Phaidros was a really fantastic foil to Dionysus, as well as being a wonderful character in his own right. Their romance swept me off my feet and made me feel just magical. This was a really fascinating reimagining of Euripides' Bacchae, which is already a work that I love. Despite this, I think my biggest issues with this book comes in the form of the pacing and the worldbuilding. I don't think Natasha Pulley could decide whether or not she wanted this book to be set in a magical world or a realistic one, so instead of blending it, she oscillated between the two. Sometimes the world we were understanding was a wholly realistic one, sometimes it was wholly mythological and magical. And my final, very nitpicky, critique, is the consistent use of names that exist in other myths just as normal characters. Helios and Circe are two characters that come up a few times, and these are not gods or witches or anything like that, they're just people. It feels as though Pulley sacrificed the storytelling for historical / mythological accuracy. But I loved this book and I really hope others find it and enjoy it even more than I do.

In the best greek mythology retelling since Madeline Miller's Circe, Natasha Pulley takes on Bacchae, a play by Euripides, with expert artistry. Readers will get lost in the ecstasy that is Dionysus and become caught up in the world Pulley paints that it will begin to feel truer than reality.