In a dystopian world, Spartans rule while Titans ravage the mortal lands. Shy foster-child Alexis gets dropped in the middle when she is entered into the Spartan War Academy. I went into this mostly blind and enjoyed it even though it was not at all what I thought it was going to be. There is a why choose aspect to it that I wasn’t expecting that really takes off towards the end of the book. Will I check out the sequel? Probably.

Respectfully, this is not good.

This book, like me, says a lot, but nothing of substance. But at least I'm self aware. I fear this book...is not.

I guess it's supposed to be funny? But it's too heavy handed with the sarcasm and the jokes, and it's every single line and it's exhausting and really ruins the story.

Nothing actually gets explained. Like nothing. At all. And it's 16 hours long. Plenty of time to give me some world building but alas. Or hey, even character development, but double alas.

Why are they in togas? Why do they have guns? Why are they all obsessed with her? She hasn't actually done anything to create any kind of intrigue. Like, she doesn't even have conversations with anyone.

There are, genuinely no conversations in this book. At one point they call her a spoiled human who is at the trials of her own free will. Only that's totally wrong and she doesn't correct them at all. She never brings up her brother or does anything to get back to him. Her mentors literally don't do any sort of mentoring. They just bring her back to their house every couple of weeks, act exasperated with her, and then slink off to hook up. Her professors are also very interested in her, but why? She, again, hasn't even really talked to them. She gets good scores in class, but that's it. Not really enough to make FOUR men want to commit to her. She has a snake, but no one else can see it or hear it. And apparently that's not HER creature she's bonded to, but we also don't know any background about Nyx the snake, and it's just this...weird friend she has. She also then bonds with some weird dog thing which she annoyingly names "Fluffy Jr" sorry, who was Fluffy Sr? I must have missed that. She's in some type of trial, but again, those aren't explained really....or if they are, not well. Also, she's constantly deteriorating. It's well done with the narrator, but I was also constantly thinking, why are you falling apart NOW? Just exhaustion? And why are you falling apart so much worse than the others? Aren't you supposed to be just as strong? Or like...stronger? She is literally falling out of her chair...constantly. Like, genuinely, actually falling out of her chair. Not hyperbole. And what is the Carl Gauss obsession? Okay, she likes math, but then we hear 0 about math in the story. We hear about it in a very uninformed vague way. I would have loved some real math happening in the book, even if I didn't understand it. We never really get an explanation about why she's obsessed with Carl Gauss, except she likes math. But like, why is she writing Carl Gauss fan fic. Also, it's like 1000 years from now, and we're still...talking about fan fic and calling it that? These men are all happy to share all of their lovers, and even share her, but also if anyone talks to her they are wildly jealous and territorial? But we get ZERO CONTEXT FOR THIS. Every now and then there are some chapters from the male perspectives and it would have been great to hear more from them because we actually get a tiny bit of context for things and why they like her or relate to her.

She's also being threatened and being told to leave, and yet all she does is complain about how much she wishes she could leave and go back to being a homeless orphan living in a cardboard box with her brother. But...then she never...literally ever....tries to leave.

And the twisted manipulation of the men at the end. Like, there is definitely a way to get to point X without hitting the A, B, and Cs of toxicity. Maybe go L, M, and N, ya know?

This book is a lot of yap. And it's too much. It's supposed to be a dystopian book, where it's the real world, but the Spartans and Titans have shown up in like several centuries. Yet she's using very very modern, TikTok style language.

This just...isn't that well written at all.

Audio rating - 4⭐

Thank you to Harlequin Audio, HTP Hive and NetGalley & Jasmine Mas for providing me with the ALC copy of the audiobook. All opinions in this review are my own!

This was my first introduction to Jasmine Mas's work in 'Blood of Hercules,' but I have to say that upon listening to the first few minutes of the audio, I had already linked this book to the Gladiator movies, as it was giving me the same type of vibes. The story is Greek mythology as we are introduced to Zeus and other gods, who are prominent in the plot.

Adding onto that, the narrators of the audio are Meg Sylvan, Teddy Hamilton, Aiden Snow, and Tristan Morris, who did a fantastic job in bringing the characters from Blood of Hercules to life. The different voices used by each narrator in the story made the characters so distinguishable for me to know who is who in the story. Moreover, I had an enjoyable experience getting to live in a different period via Jasmine's story in Blood of Hercules. By the end of the story, we are left off with a cliffhanger, which I believe was a great point in which it puts the reader to think of what might happen next in the follow-up book.

I really loved this unique premise of putting Greek gods in a dystopian world. Alexis’s inner monologue and sarcastic comments are some of the funniest and wittiest writing I’ve read in awhile. I love that she is a math nerd and outsmarts her competition. The author does an excellent job writing Alexis’s trauma experience and how it influences her thoughts, choices, and behaviors.

While this is marketed as a why choose, it’s still unclear which of the four (or all of them) will be the ultimate love interests. I’m still undecided on if I even like some of them, as they are on the furthest side of the morally grey scale. I am excited to see how the story develops!

I absolutely love full cast narration and all of the narrators did a wonderful job (Meg Sylvan; Teddy Hamilton; Aiden Snow; Tristan Morris). The audiobook is about 16 hours long.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the audiobook. This review is voluntary, and all opinions expressed are my own.

OOh this was one of my favorites so far this year. I struggled a bit with Alexis's internal monologue as I felt that it was repetitive and pulled me away from the story. As the story progressed, that manner of dialogues settled a bit and I was able to focis more on the story but that might have been me getting used to the authors writing style. Regardless, I loved all the characters and the roles that they played in Alexis' story. I think Nyx was my most favorite character. Her dialogue had me laughing so hard. The world building was great and the twist that came towards the end of the book had my jaw on the floor!!!! I actually cannot wait for the release of the second book!

3 stars

Okay, I have a few thoughts on this book. I ultimately enjoyed it, and I’ll check out book 2.

HOWEVER, I feel like this book dragged on for so long. When the storyline was moving, I was at the edge of my seat. The characters were complex and quite intriguing. I also loved Alexis’s and inner monologues add sarcasm. Listening to the audiobook version definitely made this book better. I don’t know if I would have liked enjoyed it as much if I just read it.

I just wish there was not as much unnecessary filler. It felt almost like a chore to get to the more interesting parts, and that is not something I want to feel when reading a book for enjoyment. The storyline was so promising. I was just hoping for more.

I will say that this book surprised me a lot. It’s very different (in a good way) from a lot of Greek Mythology retellings. I’m interested to see how this series continues. Hopefully book two has a bit more substance.

“Blood of Hercules”—where muscles, mythology, and mayhem collide! Imagine Hercules on a caffeine binge, punching his way through history. Action? Plenty. Logic? Optional. But hey, it’s a wild ride, and I had a blast. 5/5, would wrestle a lion for a sequel!

I loved being able to have this as an audio book. Between work and slow times I was able to just turn it on and listen to the story being told to me. It was a bit different then I was expecting but I love a good ol' mythology style story. I did find myself chuckling to myself more than a few times as Alexis was in her head. But there were times I wish she would have spoken up. Being dark and why choose, made sense with it being mythology. Though some things went well and some felt like they fell flat for me. But given the chance for book two, I would happily read it as usually book one is setting up for something more.

Jasmine Mas’s Blood of Hercules is the kind of audiobook that pulls you into a world where mythology collides with dystopia, wrapping you up in a story that’s equal parts action, intrigue, and slow-burning tension. Narrated by Meg Sylvan, Teddy Hamilton, Aiden Snow, and Tristan Morris, the audiobook delivers an experience that feels immersive and cinematic—I could practically see the crumbling world around the characters, hear the echoes of ancient gods, and feel the weight of destiny pressing down on them.

The story follows a heroine who discovers she carries the blood of Hercules, throwing her into a dangerous, power-fueled conflict in a world teetering on the edge of collapse. There’s something gripping about the way Mas weaves Greek mythology into a dystopian setting—it feels familiar, but fresh. And the romance? A slow burn with just the right amount of tension. If you love the kind of dynamic where you’re waiting just for the moment the sparks ignite, this one delivers.

The narrators deserve a special shoutout because they brought it. Meg Sylvan especially nailed the emotional beats of the heroine’s journey—her strength, her doubts, her determination all came through so vividly. Teddy Hamilton and Aiden Snow brought the kind of gravelly-voiced intensity that made the male leads compelling without feeling overdone. And Tristan Morris? He rounded out the cast beautifully.

That said, the pacing did drag in a few places, especially in the beginning. There were moments where I wanted things to pick up a bit faster, but once the action got going, I was in. I also think the "morally grey" aspects could have been pushed further—I was expecting something a bit darker, but it leaned more into the tension of the slow-burn romance than anything truly ruthless.

Overall, if you love mythological retellings, strong heroines, and romance that simmers before it ignites, Blood of Hercules is absolutely worth a listen. Just maybe don’t expect full darkness—this one plays more in the realm of tension and intrigue rather than outright villainy.

War academy ✅
Why choose ✅
World building ✅
This was really good! I thoroughly enjoyed it on audio and the narrator cast was perfect. The banter was really fun and this was a great mix of fun, sexiness, and fantasy badassery.

This book is brutal in his descriptions of fights and violence!

Alexis became one of my favorite heroines, I loved her sarcasm and innocence and resilience.

As for Achilles, Patro, Kharon and Augustus... sign me up for that!! I would go through the Spartan War Academy for them!!

The banter, the funny scenes were amazing and compensated for how graphic the descriptions were.. but at the same time I feel like we needed them to be that way to fully appreciate Alexis's strougle and her victories.

This is definitely more fantasy than romance, but these toxic, manipulative men were so good, fun and interesting, that I'm more than interested to see where this new aliange will go.

I'm so curious for the next book and really want to get to know what happens now.

3⭐️

I am 100% sure this book is OVERHYPED.

It was SO funny for the first 50% but then it just became so repetitive. Did we actually need to spend so much times knowing the main character was tired and near dying????

I was excited to know the MMCs but all we got was the FMC tired inner monologue..

There was 0 characters development and the smut at the end made no sense.

However.. I admit I’m curious enough to read book two so 🤷🏽‍♀️😂

This was so fast paced and crazy, I just couldn’t put it down. It was filled with so much excitement and mystery that it truly was the page turner that I didn’t know that I needed.

It is unlike any other Greek re-telling that I have read and I gobbled it up. Such an interesting take on Hercules and the world of Greek gods. I loved Alexis and her back story and there is definitely more to it that I hope we learn about in the next book. The dark themes were also a surprise and I am intrigued.

As of right now, this isn’t really a romance….yet. I am sooo interested to see where this goes.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Read this if you like:
🏛️ Stalker romance
🏛️ Hidden Identity
🏛️ Dark Greek mythology

Wow. I absolutely loved the storytelling in this book. The narrator is fantastic, and the story itself is so rich and engaging that I was genuinely lost in the world. I did stop halfway through and wasn't sure if I'd pick the book back up. This was not a reflection of the book or author but my problem with a certain trope. I became annoyed with everyone being so awful all the time, especially since I couldn't find compassion for the characters being jerks. I'm so glad I finished the book! The ending was perfection. And I can't wait for the next book.

An unusual take on Hercules. The book is a little slow to start, but finishes strong. Meg Sylvan; Teddy Hamilton; Aiden Snow; and Tristan Morris do a phenomenal job as narrators. If you're looking for hot scenes, it is a little lacking until then end, then jasmine Mas knocks it out of the park. I will say it's probably one of the hottest scenes I've ever read. I hope book 2 has a lot of the same

I am not usually an audio girly because for whatever reason, I tend to check out when I listen to a book. But there was something about this one that just clicked with me. Interestingly enough, it took me a bit to get into (around 20%). But after that, I was completely obsessed and incapable of setting it down for even a minute and ended up binge listening to it in one day. Suffice it to say, I was obsessed.

Having read and absolutely LOVED Jasmine's Cruel Shifteverse, I was so excited for this new world and I was not disappointed. I love Mas's combination of self depreciating humor, wit, and world building. And I especially love how she crafts these fierce FMC who survive hell to become legends. And Alexis has definitely survived hell. As an abandoned baby, she grows ups with abusive foster parents who she finally escapes at a young age when her foster mother brutally dies at the hands of a mysterious entity and her father is blamed for the death. Being left homeless with her foster brother, she is desperate to finish school so she can place herself in a situation to provide for them. But then she receives the shock of a lifetime when a standard school test finds her to have spartan blood and placed in the midst of a grueling challenge.

I enjoyed the narrator bringing Alexis to life with personality and found it fun and engaging. But I especially loved when we finally get the small trickle of POVs from 3 of the 4 men. We have Alexis's two mentors; Achiles, who doesn't speak because of his voice powers and muzzle and Patro. And then we have Augustus and Kharen, who we get the most of. There's a small snippet of Patro's POV in the end which I definitely devoured.

The story and world building was deliciously enchanting and gripping. And the romance is very much slow burn. If you've read anything by Jasmine, you're already familiar with her brand of humor. And I for one enjoy it thoroughly.

I hope book two brings us more of the male POV because I am absolutely dying to hear Achiles. If you're looking for a slow burn romantasy with unique spin on greek god mythology, this one hits just right.

A dark fantasy romance with a dystopian twist, this reimagining the Hercules myth held my interest and left me with all sorts of feels. Alexis, a desolate foster care teenager, is chosen to attend the Spartan War Academy after finding out she has royal blood. Along with its coming of age vibes, lots of action, a ton of mystery and deceit, classic villain vs hero vibes, I appreciated that Blood of Hercules also broached tough topics and the extremes one would go to protect those they love. Although the overall story was captivating and it was a retelling like I’ve never experienced, and most likely due to my inexperience in fantasy reads, I did find myself a bit confused with the numerous characters, forced romance, and a somewhat rushed plot line.. but I’ll definitely read book two !
The full cast narration was spectacular, especially the narrator voicing Alexis, with each having a depth of emotion particular to the scene(s) and their heroic or villainous character.
3.75 stars
Thanks to HarlequinAudio and NetGalley for the listening copy. Thoughts are my own, honest and voluntary.

I went into this book more or less blind so I found a lot of the story surprising. I loved Alexis's character, and her inner banter had me laughing out loud. There were bits in the middle that were slow for me tho and I wasn't a fan of the ending. I do plan to continue this series, and the audio narration was terrific!

I really jived with this book. It's exactly my brand of humor and usually I don't connect with books written in this style but it scratched the itch for me. I 100% can see how this isn't for everyone but it is incredibly entertaining for the right person. I highly recommend either print or audio (I did a tandem with both).

This was not terrible, but it wasn’t good either. At no point did I actually like the FMC, she doesn’t do anything to further the plot. The story had pacing issues and felt repetitive more than once. The most interesting characters, Achilles and Patro, aren’t given any purpose besides shock value.