An enchanting and sometimes sad story about the founding of the Amazons from the anger and pain of an abused wife that transformed into a Queen.

Otrera finds herself married, too young, to a miserable and abusive man. He's a drunk with a gambling problem and a mean streak, and his excesses plunge them immediately into distress. The story essentially opens on her having to entirely upend her already unhappy life thanks to his terrible choices, but as she tries to make sense of what's next she connects to someone very interesting in her new town and an entirely new sort of life begins for her.

I was immediately pulled in by the writing style and the story, and it was maybe a chapter before I cared deeply about what might happen to this group of women fighting so hard to not just survive but even find some joy. There's a sense of magic in the book even though, by a quarter of the way through, no actual magic was introduced.

I really enjoyed getting to follow Otrera as she grows from a fearful, abused woman to someone owning her own power and encouraging others to do the same. By the halfway point, Otrera has become a hero in the mythological sense, and is navigating all of the burden that comes with it. She grows into leadership as the women continue to grow closer and more of a true community while trying to work through the shock of freedom and the guilt of how they won it.

They stick together, though, and are fiercely committed to their cause. They story, and their fight for true freedom, had me in tears more than once. By the end of the book, everything is tied together in a beautiful story of an exceptionally brave young woman willing to give everything for the people she loved. This retelling of the myth of the Amazons is really fantastic.

This may be the most intense and graphic retelling I’ve read before. It’s a story of womanhood, standing up for yourself, standing against the patriarchy. It’s empowering and important.
It also grapples with personal struggles like hopes and desires around motherhood.
Something that absolutely hit home with me personally.

It’s very well written.

Fierce Sisters: A Fresh Take on the Amazon Legend

Hannah Lynn’s The Women of Artemis takes the myth of the Amazons and breathes new life into it, following Otrera as she claws her way from an abused, impoverished wife to the founder of a legendary band of warrior women. The story kicks off in ancient Greece, where Otrera’s childhood dreams of love are quickly crushed by a brutal marriage. But she doesn’t break. Instead, Otrera escapes, and in the process, builds a sanctuary for women desperate for a way out, laying the groundwork for a society where mothers and daughters become warriors and outcasts turn into sisters.

The heart of the novel is Otrera herself: tough, wounded, and relentlessly determined. As she pulls others into her orbit, their solidarity becomes a quiet rebellion against a world built to keep them powerless. Lynn’s writing taps into the rawness of abuse, the lifeline of friendship, and the cost of leadership, never shying away from the emotional toll but always finding moments of hope.

Lynn’s style is sharp and evocative, weaving historical details into a narrative that feels both timeless and urgent. She’s got a knack for making ancient struggles feel heartbreakingly real, and her Amazons are anything but mythic stereotypes, they’re complicated, believable, and impossible not to root for.

Readers drawn to myth retellings or stories with unapologetically strong women will find plenty to love here. The book’s emotional punch is undeniable, and while the pace lingers at times as the Amazon community forms, the payoff is worth it, especially for anyone who’s ever wondered what it really means to fight for freedom.

The Women of Artemis isn’t just another myth retold. It’s a rousing, deeply human story about survival, found family, and the stubborn hope that can thrive even in the harshest conditions.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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.