I really enjoyed The Women of Artemis. Otrera’s story grabbed me from the start. Married off at fourteen, facing abuse, and forced to navigate a world that constantly tells her she’s less than. Watching her grow from a terrified young wife into a fierce leader of the first Amazons was incredibly satisfying. Her journey feels both epic and grounded, and the way she rallies other women around her is inspiring without ever feeling unrealistic.

The world-building is rich, and I loved getting to know the women of the community alongside Otrera. Each character has her own voice and struggles, which made the story feel full and alive. I especially enjoyed the small details, like the training, crafting, and strategies the women use to become self-sufficient—these moments really made the Amazons feel like a real society rather than just a myth.

The book doesn’t shy away from darker, more violent moments, and that gives the story weight. At the same time, the emotional arcs (Otrera’s desire for family, her personal losses, and her leadership responsibilities) kept me invested in her as a person, not just as a legendary figure. By the end, you can really feel how much she’s grown and how her choices shape the future of the Amazons.

Overall, this is a gripping, empowering retelling of Amazonian history. It’s immersive, intense, and full of strong, complex women who take their destiny into their own hands: a must-read for anyone who loves mythology with grit and heart.

“The Women of Artemis” is a compelling tale of women in Ancient Greece taking back their lives for themselves. These women have been abused by their husbands and the society they live in. It only takes one to rise up as a leader. This was difficult to read at times, please check the trigger warnings. As always, Hannah Lynn does an excellent job of bringing these characters and the mythology to life.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Greek mythology has always been a favorite of mine, and Hannah Lynn’s continued exploration of it has kept me fed and wanting more.

The Women of Artemis is no different. I enjoyed my time with this one. The feminine rage kept me reading, the action was done well and our characters were great.

I hope Lynn continues her journey through Greek mythos

4 Stars!

Thank you NetGalley for the free eArc.

I’ve been diving into Greek mythology lately and as a raging feminist...I’m obsessed with the Amazons. Getting their origin story through Otrera made my whole day. I already knew her as the founder and first queen of the Amazons, and was aware of how her story would end, but Hannah’s take brought her to life in a way that felt fierce, bloody, and full of feminine rage, but still managed to show tenderness and heartbreak. I related so hard to the puking after being put through the ringer as the leader.

I devoured this in one sitting. The battles were done well, and the emotional moments wrecked me. I cheered, cried, and clenched my fists in fury. Hannah’s writing was fantastic and kept me engaged. Definitely read the trigger warnings because this story doesn’t shy away from tragedy and heavy subjects.

So good. More feminist rage mythology, please.

This book was absolutely amazing! It pulled me in completely and I read most of it in one sitting. I'm giving it a four star review out of five only because I was taken aback by the mythological insert into the plot -- I was really hoping for a non-magical story -- but other than that it's absolutely fantastic.

This retelling of the Amazons’ origin story absolutely gripped me. 💪🏹 It’s fierce and tender all at once — a story of women fighting for survival, finding their voices, and redefining power. What really stood out was the balance between strength and vulnerability: the battles are thrilling, but the heart of the book lies in its themes of feminism, motherhood, and unbreakable friendship. 💜

Both heartbreaking and empowering, this is a myth retelling that lingers long after the last page. If you’re into feminist spins on mythology, you’ll want this one on your shelf! 🔥👑

I had mixed feelings about this title, but it doesn’t have much to do with the book itself. I loved the way Ortrera was written, especially being so young. I usually have a disconnect when younger characters are written because it feels obvious it was written by and adult attempting to think like a child. It’s a bit insulting usually, but Ortrera seemed very well flushed out and real. The best part of all was the women and their relationship to each other. The death of Alina made me sob, and I think my overall rating was brought down because the subject matter was heavy and it brought down my mood when I was reading.

I am a girls girlie to the max so this was a must read for me!! Mixed with Greek mythology, the different Greek Gods, and I’m obsessed til the end.

I’ll admit the beginning was really slow and hard to get into, but once Otrera started to come out of her shell and growing her backbone, I was hooked.

When Aina and Myrina died, it shattered my heart. She was such a beautiful character, and her bond to her horse was brilliant to watch and learn from.

Uhhhh and the ending!!!!! After years and years of imagining life with children, Otrera finally got what she wanted. A bonus was that she had them with Ares, God of War!

Plot 4/5 ⭐️
Spice 1/5 🌶️

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark Publishing, and the author for the e-ARC.

3.75 stars rounded up!

A solid retelling of the famous Amazon women, and more specifically the FIRST queen of the Amazons. They are some of the only characters of Greek mythology that I know little about, so this was very eye-opening! Perfect for readers who love a book with a strong female lead (which goes without saying), and likeable at that. I was rooting for Otrera and her women the entire time.

The plotline is strong, and the characters are very well fleshed-out. My only complaint is that it's LONG. I think the book could have been shorter, but it's truly a very well-done book.

Also - Didn't realize this is the 5th of Hannah M. Lynn's "Retold: The Grecian Women" books. I will definitely be reading the others!!

The Women of Artemis is a powerful and captivating story that brings the legend of the Amazons vividly to life. Otrera’s journey is inspiring and filled with strength, resilience, and courage, making this a compelling read from beginning to end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and rated it five stars.

Hannah Lynn has done it again. I never really found books about Greek Mythology that I liked or didn't bore me when reading, that is until I discovered Hannah Lynn. The way she tells a story, captivates you from the very first pages. The Women of Artemis was another strong tale of a woman in Greek Mythology, Otera. I didn't know much about Otera before reading this book and did some research. While the story doesn't completely align it was still such a good read. I highly recommend this book, as it was entertaining and such a good story.

Married at the age of 14, Otrera's dreams of happiness are destroyed when she finds herself destitute at the age of only 18, thanks to her abusive husband's addiction to gambling and drinking.

Supported by her elderly maidservant and still very much at her husband's mercy after they are forced to move to the outpost of Ninniya to escape her husband's creditors, Otrera discovers a different way of living through the mysterious older woman Phile and her lover Hirtus.

As she is introduced to an entire community of women through Phile, Otrera begins to question not only why so many women are brutalised by their violent husbands, but also whether she herself may have an altogether different destiny than she had expected...

Weaving together myth and mystery, and introducing interesting characters like Aina and Iphinone, Hannah Lynn brings us a feminist retelling of Greek mythology in this story about the rise of the Amazons. Dealing with some difficult issues, this story will inspire as much as it entertains. It is well worth reading.

Perfect for fans of Natalie Haynes and Madeline Miller. This is a story about the creation of the Amazons and the rise their first queen. This Book is more than just a retelling of greek mythology. It is a book about the strength to overcome an abusive marriage, about freedom, about love and the things that bring you joy.

A fab story full of feminine power and will. Artemis has always been a favourite of mine so I loved this book and how it empowers females

I didn’t know much about the main character going into this book but Lynn managed to flesh her out and give her a backstory in a way that let her learn and evolve at the same time as the reader

This is the mythology retelling I have been waiting for: the Amazon warrior women. And it did not disappoint!

Ortrera was just fourteen when she was married off to an abusive drunk. She was eighteen when her husband gambled away all their money, forcing them into exile in a remote village filled with abusive drunks who beat their wives. And she was not much older than that when she decided enough was enough, that it was time. That the women would rise.

Otrera was so well written, avoiding the pitfalls many young protagonists fall into (their youth making their character shallow or simple, their strength not being believable). Her youth felt genuine, but also, so did the spark that grew into a bonfire inside her.

I also really enjoyed getting to know the women of the village. Althea, Damaris, Aina and Iphinone, and so many others who came into their own alongside Otrera. And the horses! They were loveable characters alongside the women.

The handling of the sons of the village was an interesting conundrum to see them work through. As the mom to a baby boy, I couldn't help but put myself into the shoes of the women on that side of the debate. I think the author tried to capture some of the complexity they felt, but Otrera was the first person narrator, and she had her own string opinion in the matter.

It feels important to note that this was more graphic than some other mythology retellings out there (lots of violence and also some spicy scenes).

Thank you toNetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC to read and review.

Thank you SO much to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I’m new to the Greek mythology retelling scene and was very honored to receive this ARC! I’m all here for female rage - and this book contains it in multitudes. We’re here supporting women’s rights and especially their wrongs. There are strong female bonds that stand out as well as the bonds with the horses (animal storylines will always be the best to me).

I struggled with the pacing; parts I wanted to see were summarized or pushed through quickly, while other parts dragged and the ending was fairly abrupt. Even knowing/understanding the mythology, I felt like the ending counteracted a bit of the main theme and goal of this book.

Note: this note has nothing to do with the rating. Please take the theming of this book seriously. This book is heavy and there are triggers aplenty (understandable considering the topic and context of this story!) - just want to make sure you take care of yourself and your mental health!

Thank you so much again for the ARC!

The Women of Artemis is a fierce and emotional retelling of the origins of the Amazons, centered on Otrera’s journey from abused child bride to warrior queen. Hannah Lynn blends myth and history with a deeply human story of survival, sisterhood, and the cost of freedom.

I loved how the novel explored not just physical strength, but the bonds between women—their resilience, loyalty, and determination to carve out a life beyond abuse and oppression. The relationships felt authentic, and Otrera’s evolution into a leader was both believable and inspiring. There are heavy themes of violence and loss, but they are handled with care and never feel gratuitous.

At times, the pacing felt uneven. The beginning was gripping, while the latter sections moved more quickly than I would have liked, with certain key moments passing before they had time to fully land. Still, the story’s emotional core carried through, and the themes of empowerment and reclamation made this a rewarding read.

The narrative focuses on Otrera, the formidable queen of the Amazons, as she embarks on a transformative coming-of-age journey, confronting the harsh realities of male brutality from a tender age. Beginning her tale at merely twelve years old, Otrera encounters a series of formidable challenges that decisively shape her into a heroic figure—not just for herself, but also as a beacon of strength for the women surrounding her. The story skillfully delves into her relationships with other women, emphasizing their collective struggles to break free from oppressive marriages and forge their identities as legendary Amazons, known for their strength and autonomy.

The protagonist is both engaging and relatable, drawing readers into her journey, particularly in the earlier chapters, where the emphasis on character development shines brightly. The initial segments are imbued with a captivating energy, fostering an urgent desire to turn the pages and learn more about Otrera’s fate. As the narrative progresses into its latter sections, it could benefit from a more focused lens. Some chapters begin to lose their seamless flow, and the resolution may feel somewhat unfulfilling. Certain pivotal moments, which could carry significant weight, seem to diminish in impact due to the unfolding of the story, potentially leaving readers wanting more. Regardless, this book comes highly recommended for enthusiasts of mythological retellings, as Otrera’s character resonates deeply and leaves a lasting impression.

Hannah Lynn’s immersive writing style vividly brings Otrera’s perspective to life, allowing readers to establish a profound connection with her emotions and motivations. The thoughtful exploration of Otrera’s backstory adds rich layers to the narrative, showcasing an impressive level of creativity, even in the liberties taken with the source material. While most characters are well-developed, one character, Phile, might elicit mixed feelings due to her intricate motivations, which serve to heighten the overall tension and complexity in the story.

Readers will uncover a rich tapestry of emotions, well-crafted characters, and a compelling journey that is undeniably rewarding. With some refinement in pacing and resolution, this narrative has the potential to elevate its overall impact and enhance reader engagement, creating an unforgettable experience.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me early access to read and review this.

Overall, it was OK. I definitely preferred the second half - the first part of the book I found fairly repetitive. It did pick up as it went through but it wasn't my favourite within this genre. I feel it lacked description at times and I lacked a connection with most of the characters.