At almost 30% I feel good about saying I really just could not make myself listen any further. I'm not sure if it was the narrator's voice that just didn't fit right with it being a 19 yr old protagonist or if it was the plot that felt really juvenile but it was just not working for me, the plot and voice felt too young for the more mature dialogue and theme that was being presented.
Maybe if I would have listened further this would change, but 30% in is pretty far to not be rooting for the main character or really care about any of the side characters that have been introduced as well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Read
🎧⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Listen
🌶️🌶️ Spice

Y'all... this book DEVOURED me! 😮‍💨 And let me tell you, the audio is TOP TIER! 📚

Our girl Alexis is serving major "I'd rather do calculus than deal with your drama" energy, and honestly? MOOD. 🧮 She's out here getting kidnapped to Spartan War Academy (rude), dealing with mentors who have more red flags than a parade (looking at you, Crimson Duo 👀), and somehow maintaining the most delightfully unhinged internal monologue I've ever read.

The spice is mild but the tension? ELECTRIC ⚡️ And can we talk about how this book said "Who did this to you?" and made it fresh again?? 😭

Quick hits for the vibes:
✅ Morally grey men collecting emotional damage like Pokémon
✅ Sarcasm as a love language
✅ Modern Sparta but make it ✨spicy✨
✅ Math girl meets murder boys
✅ Everyone needs therapy (especially Kharon)

The way Jasmine Mas wrote this, it's giving dark academia meets Greek mythology meets "what if we took Hercules and made it actually good?"

Currently, I am manifesting book 2 because of THIS ENDING! I am unwell. 🫠

TW: child abuse, blood, gore, psychological torture, homelessness, murders, bullying

If you love morally questionable men who go from "ugh, who is she" to "if anyone breathes in her direction, I will unalive them," THIS IS YOUR BOOK! 🗡️

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an advanced copy!

This has lots of good in it! The narrators did a great job with the audiobook. I loved the humorous tilt and the Greek mythology base. I didn't like the "why choose" component of the relationship. Overall, it wasn't for me, but I think it has lots of great things that will be liked by different types of readers.

ARC REVIEW: If there’s one book that absolutely blew me away this year, it’s Blood of Hercules. This is an infinity-star read for me—truly a masterpiece that blends Greek mythology with a futuristic world, morally gray heroes, and a war academy setting. I devoured this book from start to finish, and I already need more! Like this is a book I would reread... and I don't reread books.

The main character was everything I could ask for: relatable, powerful, and unapologetically fierce. Her journey gripped me from the very first page, and by the end, I was left in awe and kicking my legs with delight. The line—“The three of us will be the villains of this new age”—hit like a punch to the gut in the best way possible, like I need that framed now. It’s rare to see a story that lets its leads embrace their villainous sides, and I loved every single moment of it. The villains getting the girl- I am here for it!

Can we talk about her snake? Cause she was cracking me up the entire time! Perfect sidekick! I need more of the snake, plus the fan art in the front cover of her and the snake is perfection!

The reverse harem trope here? WOW. Just...wow, wow, wow. ...tbh I don't read reverse harem tropes cause I usually don't like it but this was perfect and steamy and makes me want to explore this trope more. It was handled so well that it felt natural, electrifying, and utterly addictive. Both men worship her and love her!!! The men in this book were the perfect blend of sexy, complex, and absolute delights that stole my heart. (plus have you seen the fanart? **swoon!**)

Let’s talk about the romance interests: Kharon and Augustus. The fact that they’re her professors added a layer of forbidden spice that had me giggling. Every interaction with them crackled with tension, and the “Who did this to you?” moment? Literal chills. This book delivers some of the best enemies-to-lovers I’ve seen, with Kharon and Augustus embodying those dark, morally gray alpha vibes that are simply irresistible.

The world-building in Blood of Hercules is another highlight. I loved the way the author reimagined Greek myths in a futuristic setting. Seeing familiar Greek names woven into a new-age war academy, with Achilles and Patro as her mentors (takes me back to The Song of Achilles *cries in 2016*... also I need to know more about these two in this story they were so mysterious!!), was a brilliant and delightful twist that I didn’t see coming. It added depth to the story and grounded the futuristic elements in something mythic and timeless.

This book is packed with elements I adore:
✨ Morally gray men
✨ Both villains get the girl—because yes, we love it when the bad boys win
✨ Enemies-to-lovers romance that’s intense, SO SO spicy, and unforgettable

I was completely blown away by this world and the characters in it. The blend of myth, war, romance, and tension was perfection, and the story had me on the edge of my seat until the very last line. I’m already counting down the days until the next book in the series because I need more of this world, these characters, and this deliciously villainous trio. I'm also preordering a special edition for my shelf! I need them all!!!)

⭐ Infinity Stars ⭐

This was a damn fun time. We get a greek gods and spartan mash up. I enjoyed that it was set at a war academy... that is definitely one of my favorites. It was unexpectedly funny with great tension. The amount of times I cackled a litle bit 😂 I love they why choose vibes and ranges in sexuality between the characters. I absolutely adore Nyx because she was such a great addition to this book. The audiobook was very good as well 😏. They even gave us some professor student which I ate up. Im interested in seeing where this goes.

This was one of my favorite reads of this year. This book was so freaking good! A 10 star read! Alexis's inner thoughts literally changed me I loved them so much. And then the men in this book. Woahhhh real enemies to lovers over here. I can't wait to see what happens after that ENDING OMG.

This book was way funnier than I was expecting in the best way! I honestly did not know it was supposed to have a comedy element (I very rarely read other reviews or descriptions before reading a book) and it pleasantly surprised me. This book was super unique and I found it super easy to get into and consume. I can't wait to read the second book!

📖 Book Review: Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas

‘It wasn’t about women being as tough as men; it was about the fact that they shouldn’t have to be.’

My thoughts 💭

Please check for trigger warnings. ‼️

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Jasmine Mas for providing me with an ALC of this book. As always, all thoughts are my own.

Incredible, give me 14 more. Harry Potter (if he was a girl) adopted by the Malfoys (evil family) add Sparta. That is all I feel I need to say to get you to pick up this book. Oh, also WHY CHOOSE AND TOUCH HER AND DIE. Need I say more?!?!?! This book was incredible. The FMC was hilarious, she has not one, not two, but three animal pals! AND she is a serious bad a**! Go pick this one up, you won’t regret it. 5/5 ⭐️

This was alright, but it was fun and the story was interesting. Did I like the writing? Absolutely not but it did keep me entertained.

Addicting!! It didn't feel like Greek mythology to me with it being set "in the future". That being said it also didn't really feel futuristic to me, but I loved the vibes.
I loved all of Jasmine Mas's FMC characters, hilarious and secretly a BA! The narrators were splendid and I felt like they really brought a lot to this story!

4.5 stars!! Chaotic & funny with a side of possessive & obsessive gods.

This was a ride, and I enjoyed every second of it. I could not stop thinking about this book, every second I wasn’t reading it, I was obsessing over it. All the dynamics and characters kept me constantly on edge. I just needed to know how things were gonna unfold. The sad part is I have to wait until March to see how this story continues…

Loved Kharon, loved Patro, loved Alexis (even tho she was definitely very naive, I loved her inner monologues and how negative she is, truly relatable). But the best of them all is hands down my slithering queen NYX. She keeps it real and the way she hungered after all the “evil” gods was beyond relatable.
Who doesn’t want a strong, possessive, morally grey god that is obsessed with you?

Loved everything except the ending. Kinda?! I know there is gonna be more books ofc but still hated where we left off. I feel so unsatisfied. All that slow burn…for what??!

I was able to get and audio ARC from the publisher and NetGalley for my honest review and here we are.
I will say it took me 20% to get into this book. I really couldn’t stand the main character the first few chapters and then she was still pretty annoying to me. I will say it took me awhile to like her but after a while I did thankfully. I will say dark romance is something I find hard for me to get into and I like dark rom coms more but once I was into this I did like it. I also loved all the twist and turns that this book took us through. The pacing was odd in some parts but since it wasn’t the whole book I was able to get over it. I also loved that all the main characters had different voice actors. I think it made the story so much richer and helped me remember who was who.

I don't think I've ever laughed out loud so many times while reading a book! The characters are sarcastic and witty, and while the narrator is not my favorite, she does execute well. Looking forward to the sequel!

Going into this book I didn’t really know what to expect, I saw mixed reviews so I was apprehensive about it.

I actually enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. While I have read Greek mythological books already, this is completely different than any I have read.

I will definitely be continuing this series when it comes out. I’m very interested in seeing where this story goes. It’s a good first book in a series.

I went between reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook. I thought the audiobook was really well done because it starts with Alexis being a kid and the narrator does well with Alexis at all ages and stages.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Audio and Jasmine Mas for giving me an advanced listener’s copy of this book!

“Blood of Hercules” by Jasmine Mas is an enthralling fantasy that blends gripping mythology, dynamic characters, and an action-packed plot into an unforgettable experience—and the audiobook format elevates it to new heights. With the incredible narration by Meg Sylvan, Teddy Hamilton, Aiden Snow, and Tristan Morris, this audiobook becomes an immersive masterpiece that pulls listeners into its world from the very first word.

The narrators deliver stellar performances, each bringing a unique voice and emotional depth to their characters. Meg Sylvan’s portrayal of the heroine is especially compelling, capturing her strength, vulnerability, and determination with nuance and authenticity. Teddy Hamilton, Aiden Snow, and Tristan Morris round out the cast with equally captivating performances, embodying their roles with distinctive tones and intensity. Together, their voices create a seamless and engaging listening experience that makes the characters and story feel alive.

The story itself is a thrilling dive into mythology, with Jasmine Mas expertly weaving ancient legends into a modern, fast-paced narrative. The pacing is perfect, with moments of heart-pounding action balanced by emotional and introspective scenes that resonate deeply. The vivid world-building and richly detailed settings come to life through the narrators’ expressive storytelling, making it easy to get lost in this epic tale.

For fans of audiobooks, “Blood of Hercules” is a standout. Jasmine Mas has crafted an extraordinary story, and the powerhouse narration team enhances every aspect of it, making this a must-listen for lovers of mythology, fantasy, and immersive storytelling. Highly recommended!

Voice actor did a good job on this but I did not finish it as it was just not really my cup of tea. The worldbuilding was good, and maybe I will revisit it sometime.

🄱🄾🄾🄺 🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆:

ᵁⁿʰⁱⁿᵍᵉᵈ ᵀʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗˢ:
🏹 The Theories that are already going around in my head when I’m only at chapter 13 are insane!

🏹it’s not on a kid to protect another child just damn if Alexis isn’t amazing for doing it.

🏹Tell them how you really feel Alexis. Don’t hold back… ever.

🏹internal dialogue is a chefs kiss.

🏹we could all use a friend like Nyx in our lives.

ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ:🌶️🌶️


🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆:

Witty, sarcastic and fun new take on the gods. When I say I burst out laughing I mean it. I read passages aloud to my husband when I was physically reading and even replayed portions of the audio to confirm I heard things right the first time.

This is one of my favorite books I’ve read in a while. When I started it I didn’t watch any reviews or read anything about it trying to go in as blind as possible and due to this is I didn’t realize it’s a brand new series. I can’t wait to read/listen to more of this series but I’m sad I have to wait so long.

I received an ALC of this in exchange for my honest review and it’s my honor to say it was five stars. Thank you @ and @


The narration was perfect, the character development was spot on, the twists were wonderful and Nyx will leave rent free in my head for eternity with her comments.

If you love mythology, sarcasm and slow burn romance this is for you. If you haven’t read or listened to this book you need to.

Favorite Quote:

“𝑨 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈” - 𝑨𝒍𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔 “𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒔”

I really really enjoyed this book, and the narrators were amazing! I cannot wait for book 2 because I flew through this one! 4.5 stars!

Omg was this fun!
I was a little skeptical at first. Ngl.
The intro chapters didn’t necessarily draw me in right away and there is something about the “i hate you for no good reason” bit in a bullying romance that reallyyyyyy irks me. BUT Meg Sylvan’s narration was PHENOMENAL and I’m honestly really excited for book 2!

I haven’t read a ton of Greek Mythology retellings but I kept hearing how 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘖𝘧 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 was done so well and a true enemies to lovers. I had to listen to a few parts over only because I’m not 100% familiar with the names so I had to keep remembering who was who. Besides my lack of knowledge the book was really good! I loved the twist on how it was the Spartans, Titans, and humans in a modern-ish world with all their Godly powers. Alexis, the FMC, has the BEST inner dialogue and I loved her dry sarcastic humor in her head. There are many enemies in this book and just as many potential lovers which kept me guessing the entire time who would be the MMC. Alexis is a strong FMC and has overcome so much in her short life and is working through her trauma everyday. The writing was great and the characters are all so good! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!