All-grown-up Percy Jackson meets Hunger Games in this action-packed tale of discovery, deception, and destiny.

Things I loved:
-Alexis and Nix’s friendship
-Fluffy Jr
-Mythology as an apocalypse

I’m not always a YA fantasy person, but this was so well done. Alexis’s snark and adaptable spirit not only made the story possible, but it continually kept things hilarious. If you’re looking for a book about a strong FMC coming into her own, this is it!

Thank you to The Hive and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I am a sucker for anything Greek/Roman mythology and was so excited to dive into this and boy am I glad I did! This was so good! While the beginning was a little slow, it picked up quickly and I couldn’t stop listening! It was addictive. Jasmine really makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of all of it. I loved the ending! It even surprised me a little and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

2.5 stars.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I absolutely binged it in less than 24 hours, but also really did not enjoy most of it. I do think that is has potential and I found the overall premise to be really interesting, but there were some significant pacing issues and the characters were uninteresting and lackluster to me. The training part (aka torture) that took up a lot of the book was extremely repetitive. It got more interesting towards the end of the book, but was just kind of chaotic overall. The only character that I actually liked was Nyx. I found the love interests to be highly unbelievable; there was exactly zero chemistry between Alexis and anyone else. The forced wedding and ceremony were basically sexual assault (and that wasn't the first time something assault-like happened in the book).

I listened to the audio and enjoyed the narrator who brought plenty of emotion to the story and differentiated the characters voices.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the advance listening copy.

5/5 is a beautiful twist to Greek Mythology set in a futuristic post-apocalyptic world! I had the privilege of listening to this novel's Audio ARC book, and it was so amazing! Not only is the writing just stellar, but the narrators are phenomenal. The main female narrator has the perfect tone and inflection for Alex; the level of sarcasm and snark in her voice is ideal for the internal monologue throughout this book. The male narrators are just mind-blowing! Sexy, raspy voices make you sit up and pay attention to every word they have to say. I highly recommend it!

Synopsis: Alex has grown up poor in a post-apocalyptic world ruled by the gods and threatened by the Titans, like living in a cardboard box forgotten by society-level poor. At the same time, struggling to keep herself and her foster brother Charlie alive. When she turns 19, though, her whole life changes; a simple blood test on paper shows she is descended from the gods, yes, the Greek gods, but how can that be? They are famous and wealthy, and she is a nobody with a stutter. Now, she is whisked away from the only "home" and "family" she has ever known and forced to compete in a brutal competition to prove she is suitable for immortality, something she never wanted to begin with. She wants to go home to her brother, not be caught up in the rivalry between the two god factions or fight Titans, especially when two of the most powerful and brutal of all the gods set their eyes on her.

This new fantasy series is one to watch! Set in a post-apocalyptic world decades in the future, where the world had been invaded by Titans and Spartans are fighting them. Humans are suffering and only a Titan attack is worth bringing the Spartans to help. We meet the protagonist, Alexis—who is as sarcastic as she is badass—when she is only ten years old, getting a glimpse of her awful childhood. Fast forward to the day of the test where the truth comes out—Alexis is not human. She’s Spartan. She is thrust into the world of the Spartans where she is the only female. Enter the men, Spartans really—and they are as possessive as they are psychotic. The plot is nonstop action and intrigue. I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook with its varying narrators that added an extra dimension to this well-written story.

If you like the Zodiac Academy, you'll love this new series!

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook! Can’t wait for the next one!

This story's world building experience and backstory is fantastic. I listened to the audiobook version of this story. In part of the story, during the FMC's training, she has numerous experiences with an altered consciousness. Not only was this well written but the female narrator did an amazing job conveying this. The dialogue and inner thoughts of these characters had me often laughing out loud. I can't wait for the sequel since this one ends with a cliffhanger.

The audiobook has a bonus chapter at the end that is fun to listen to also. The only feedback I would note about the audiobook is that each of the male characters were narrated by different people. I have listened to some of the narrators in other books and they are outstanding and could have easily done all the voices. This was a little confusing to me as a listener but doesn't affect my rating or desire to continue to the series.

I received this audiobook for free as an advanced copy. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this experience. All of this review is my own opinion.

This was a darker take on Greek Mythology with violent trials, traumatic past (and present) and an FMC you keep rooting for and morally black MMCs. It is helpful to have the informational pages at the beginning of the book to use for references as you go through the story. The main character Alexis is one of my new favorites. She was entertaining and really kept me intrigued from the beginning. No matter what was happening I was always rooting for her and I can’t wait for her to continue this story and to become stronger. All the men in the story you go back and forth with hating or liking but their intentions are good, I think, but once again it kept me hooked throughout the whole story. Now for the best part, Meg Sylvan, her narration was astounding! She made Alexis so real to me. She’s also very good at pitching her voice for different characters - sometimes that can distract when listening but not with her, she’s pretty much perfect! Teddy Hamilton and Aiden Snow are pretty good too.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I really enjoyed this book. It was very unique. I will say I would advise to really take the trigger warnings into account, there are some very dark themes. I am excited for book two, without too many spoilers- I can’t wait for Alexis to kick some butt and see what some other people do to help her out. One thing I felt was overly done is the classes and crucible. Sometimes it felt very monotonous. Loved the protectors and the humor!

This book was so fun. Alexis is in a post apocalyptic world who is thrust into a new dynamic at spartan war academy. There she meets our main guys. Patroclus, Achilles, Augustus and Kharon all absolutely vicious and definitely a dark dark mortally grey. This is true enimies to lovers. Alexis finds herself caught in the midst of many schemes with twists and turns at every corner. This does end on a cliffhanger, and is not complete so keep that mind. I know this was labeled as dark, but I personally didn’t find it very dark. So if your in the fence, or does read a lot of darker romance .. this would be a good one to read. I throughly enjoyed the audiobook as well. It’s not duet, but even with duel narration I feel that they did a great job and really brought the story to life.

This book reminded me of how The Magicians by Lev Grossman gave us a grown up version of Harry Potter, but this book was like a grown up version of the Percy Jackson series. I listened to this book on audio and I really liked how well developed the world is in the story. I felt like I was on a true journey with our main character Alexis. I really did not see the end coming and I did not really guess who Alexis was in the grand scheme of Greek mythology. And that ending! What a cliffhanger. I cannot wait for the next book to see what happens next in the journey of Alexis.

Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for the audio copy of Blood of Hercules which recently released on November 26th! The narrator’s voice had great inflection and brought the punch of sass that is Alexis to life!

Alexis was a little naive and young so this feels YA. Whoever wrote this book description did a wonderful job because we were SO ready for an only female, Greek gods and Spartan War Academy story. However, the pacing did not do the concept justice and the description was a bit more exciting than the actual reading experience itself. Reaching the end truly felt like “going the distance”.

See description: I’m just a girl. And it turns out, I’m Hercules.

I’m struggling to survive in a Titan infested world where Spartans, immortals from twelve royal families who have god-like powers and obscene wealth, rule over all. A shy-stammering foster child with nothing, I keep my head down, cover my scars, and focus on excelling in school. At least, I try to. Then it happens.

My blood test reveals I’m part of the powerful elite. I’m one of them. A Spartan.

Forced to attend the Spartan War Academy, I undergo the most harrowing test of all time to see if I have what it takes to be an immortal. There’s just a few problems. Achilles and Patro are my scary mentors. Kharon, the ferryman of death, and Augustus, the son of war, are my terrifying professors. Also, I’m pretty sure either someone’s stalking me everywhere I go, or my sanity’s slipping––I have a bad feeling both are true.

I’m surrounded by Villains and they’re smothering me with their hate, obsession, and dark possessiveness. Too bad for them, they have no clue just who they’re messing with.

A Dark Romantasy for readers who love:
* “Who did this to you?”
* Why Choose Romance
* Extreme Enemies to Lovers
* Morally Gray Alpha Heroes
* Zodiac Academy, Quicksilver and When the Moon Hatched

This took a totally different route than I was thinking.

I now need the next one and I am so curious if there is going to be a second set of mates for Hercules. I was not expecting a few of the twists and turns. I still don't understand a few things either, but I couldn't put it down.

The narrator was good and made the story immersive.

If Greek mythology and ADHD had a baby, it would be this book. It was entertaining and fun, lots of funny moments, but also moments that were incredibly hard to follow.

This one wasn’t for me. Maybe it was timing and being overly critical but there were too many unlikable aspects of this boon I couldn’t overlook and it took away from the vibe of the story.

Positive: the ALC narrator was great. Lots of voice inflection and interesting


Struggles:
• the FMC was absolutely insufferable. Her sarcasm was funny sometimes but most of the time she was self-deprecating and one-dimensional.
• the plot….what was it? I don’t understand what the plot of this story was. The purpose of the story is remarkably unclear
• there was no cohesion. The characters all felt like they were part of different genres, the reveal at the end didn’t make sense and was a bit on the nose, and the dialogue was inconsistent - set 70-something years in the future but using todays vernacular which would’ve been out of style by then.


I didn’t go in with high expectations so I’m not disappointed but it’s not a book I emphatically recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to listen to advanced listeners copy.

What a way to start off the New Year!!! This book is soooooo good! First completely funny, heartbreaking and triumphant.

I’m in love with these characters and I was not expecting it. Fantasy is my first love but wow this really exceeded my expectations. I cannot wait to read book 2! I need it stat.

OMG! Just finished this book and it was fan-flipping-tastic! I am obsessed with the FMC and all her inside thoughts! Morbid humor at its absolute best! I was absolutely delighted with the audio version of this book . I really enjoyed the voice actors and cannot wait for the release of the next book!

4 stars for the laughs. The female narrator was highly entertaining and fantastic. The FMC’s inner monologue was hilarious and I hope she starts verbalizing more of her thoughts because the banter would be top notch. Nyx was my favorite part, the best snake best friend a girl could ask for, ready to bite people at the first insult 😂. The romance? There really wasn’t any other than in the MMCs heads. It’s a super slow burn, which I didn’t really mind. But I’m guessing it’s coming in the next book? I really hope they all talk to each other before it jumps to the spice.

If you like the tone and vibes of Zodiac Academy, you’ll like this.

Thanks to HTP Books and Harlequin Audio for the ALC.

Jasmine Mas needs to have more hype and she needs it now!!!! I fell in love with her writing when I read the Cruel Shifterverse series -- specifically the second half that follows Aran's story. It felt so fresh and new, so when her new book, Blood of Hercules, came out, I was hoping I would get the same feeling. And I did.

Blood of Hercules not only feels fresh, but it makes you laugh so hard. The characters are so funny and horrible and you root for every single one of them.

I was lucky enough to receive an audio copy from NetGalley and Harlequin Audio, which was perfect for my reread. I have to mention that this audio is stacked with some of my favorite narrators and made the story even more immersive.

I cannot wait for the second book in this series to come out.

I was provided an audio copy of this title for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“A story of dark romance and darker obsession.”

Blood of Hercules is the first book of the Villains of Lore series by Jasmine Mas. The introduction calls this “a story of dark romance and darker obsession,” which absolutely proves true, but if that’s not quite enough to catch your attention— hang around a sec.

Alexis gets the shock of a lifetime when she sits down for what she expects to be a simple blood test, and learns that hers is special and going forward things are going to be anything but simple, as evidenced by the two men who appear in her classroom to escort her away from her brother Charlie and immediately to her new reality.

At the Spartan War Academy, initiates endure a series of brutal trials and tests of sorts meant to weed out the weak, leaving those who survive |succeed to graduate and become immortal gods. Alexis has found herself an initiate, the only female in her class, and dropped immediately into a massacre.

“The Crucible or Death, there is no third.”

The only girl in her entire initiate class, and least educated about her alleged Spartan heritage, she’s living in a world of disadvantages— not the least of which being that the vicious and deadly Crimson Duo has been assigned to mentor her, and they’re less than happy about it. And even more than the trials provided by the academy are the ones provided by her peers, not to mention her professor, or the ferryman of the dead.

“Remember you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

You know I love me a reimagining, but this was my very first ever Hercules retelling, and it had absolutely no business being so good and SO funny! It was twisty and turny the whole way through with heaps of comedic relief even in the tense moments— of which it should be noted there are many. The narrators did an incredible job, Teddy Hamilton and Aiden Snow are always stellar choices! Meg Sylvan and Tristan Morris were new to me, but truly an immaculate job all around. This was easily my best read/ listen of December.

“My eyes were bone dry because emo girls didn’t cry.”

Read if you love:
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn, heavy on the BURN
Morally gray characters
Dark romantasy
Who did this to you?
Portal fantasy
Gods | mythology
Animal companion
Woman in a man’s world
Sassy snake sidekick
Professor x student
Touch her and unalive
Age- gap
Unlikely friends
Masked men
Mistaken identity
Twisty and turny
Virgin FMC
Slightly feral FMC
& SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you so much to the author, The Hive, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted audio copy!

4/5 Stars

Let me start by saying that while this is not a must read, it is a fun read.

The book has a very unserious tone with a lot of trendy lines that some may find cringey. I found myself laughing a lot and enjoyed the FMC's inner monologue. The plot kept me interested, however I felt somewhat confused by the end. Most of the reveals were fairly obvious to me, while others left me perplexed. I'm also unsure of the romance situation going on. It is marketed as RH and Dark Romance, which makes sense, and maybe it's too soon in the series to have an opinion on it, but I don't know how I feel about any of the MMC's. I'm curious to read the second one to see how it plays out.