Really good way of retelling a myth. Great world building and interesting plot. I don’t normally like Greek myths but this one was a winner!

I adore this book and won’t stand to hear a bad word about it. The Corr sisters just have a way of creating worlds that draw you in, characters that capture your heart and whom you’d fight for, plots that have you turning page after page and not to mention the emotional damage they put me through every time I pick up one of their books.

Daughter of Darkness is their latest YA release and start of the House of Shadows series and it has everything I love most in a YA Fantasy novel!

Expect:
- A badass female lead
- Secrets and betrayal
- Mythology and magic
- Found Family/ Friendships

Really thought I’d love this book considering I love the myth it was based on but it wasn’t for me. I found the amount of characters, at least in the beginning, confusing with so many names and roles to remember. Wasn’t sure what was going on or why half the time.

Daughter of Darkness

3.5 stars

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGallery for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

I initially found this book very difficult to get into, and then once I got into it still found it difficult to keep my focus and carry on reading. I can tell that it is a very well thought out and well written book, however just found my mind straying to other things when reading.

Found there to be an abundance of characters alongside the main character, which was confusing given the complex world building and storyline (especially within the first couple of chapters).
Felt like I would have enjoyed it more if it just didn’t feel so big at the beginning and could have gotten my head around it easier

I honestly don't know why I put this book off for so long it was definitely a great read.

If you want to read a book which features:
Greek Mythology
Adventure
Sarcastic Characters
Mystery

This book honestly ticks all the boxes for a great fantasy read. It has characters that are on a journey to the underworld on the behalf of a tyrant ruler Orpheus. He has handpicked several Soul Severer to enter the Underworld and collect his Bride. The problem is not all is as it seems and the group might not be the only ones on the quest. This caught your attention right?

The characters are well written but this book mainly focuses on Deina, a Soul Severer from the Hades home. She along with Chryse, Aster, Theron and Drex have to complete several tasks before they can complete the quest they are on, but not everything is as it seems. People will be lost along the way and others will betray them for the price of a fortune.

We also get to meet a couple of Gods along the way and I love how Hades is written in this book. This was such a great first book in the series opening up so much for the rest of the series. The characters are well written and I was definitely cheering on Deina and her Soul Severer.

I just have to say the Korr sisters as well know how to write, I love their style of writing and honestly once you start you don't realise that you have read half the book. The story flowed and I didn't feel that I had. They have 100% done their research which I love when reading a retelling or books that touch on history or mythology.

I am very excited for book two and I need to know what happens next!.

First of all, thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you love Greek Mythology with a hint, and only really a tiny hint, of romance, but also super high stakes than this book is for you.

It took me a little while to wrap my head around a lot of the terminology used, but I haven't read a fantasy book in awhile.

This book was fantastically descriptive and I had no trouble picturing the places and people in my mind. I loved the bickering in the group that made it's way to friendship.

Unfortunately for me, I did predict various plot points, but it didn't really take away from the story at all. I really need Book 2 now, but will unfortunately have to wait until July or if the book is released on NetGalley.

DNFed at 37%.

Given how much I'd enjoyed Throne of Swans and love Greek mythology I really thought this book would work for me. However, as much as I thought the concept of the plot was incredible, something was lacking. I think the relationships were all so tenuous and fraught for too long and that made it hard to connect to the characters. It may pick up later on but I just can't bring myself to have the energy to read on unfortunately.

Rating 3 stars here on Netgalley because as much as this wasn't for me I do think others can and will enjoy this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me early access to this book in return for honest feedback.

Unfortunately I began this book through a reading slump and sadly never got round to finishing it (I am going to return to it when I'm back in the swing of things)

From the amount that I did read, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, hence why I am keen to return to it) the world building was immersive and it felt like such a new and different environment than that of other books I've read. I love the premise of the plot and the characters felt well thought out.

Given that I haven't completed the book, it's hard for me to truly give a rating at this time. Note that my reason for DNF was NOT due to the book itself. From what I did read of this book I can tell it will be loved by many and I can assure you that I will be picking this book back up (can we also appreciate the beautiful cover?!)

If you love Greek mythology with a sprinkle of romance and high stakes, then Daughter of Darkness is for you!

‘Desitny is for heroes, not thieves.’

Deina is a Soul Severer serving Hades by separating the souls from their body to help move the dead onwards into the afterlife. Each time a soul is successfully separated, each Severer earns time of their sentence. Deina is given the chance to sever the soul of someone important, but it goes wrong when a mysterious figure appears in the between place, someone who keeps appearing where they shouldn’t. Orpheus, the ruler of their kingdom, is desperate to be reunited with his dead wife, Eurydice, so offers freedom to those who successfully retrieve her from the Underworld. A team of Severers volunteer to go, including Deina’s nemesis and ex-lover, Theron. Only four survive the initiation task, leaving Orpheus’ champions to be Deina, Theron, Aster, and Drex. This group of Severers aren’t initially friends, but this journey forces them to get comfortable with each other quickly.

‘I went into the Underworld just wanting freedom for myself. But before we were halfway done, I realised that my freedom would be worthless without you, Unless you were there to share it with me.’

The world-building was magnificent. I could picture each scene with ease and could easily fall back into the book after putting it down. So much went down in the Underworld and there were a few betrayals I did not see coming at all! Deina and Theron had me on the edge of my seat. Forget the one bed trope, these two had to share a coffin whilst being transferred across the river Styx. There was a lot of tension and history between them both and I loved seeing it play out over the course of the book.

‘You – all of you – have shown me where honour truly lies. Not in rank or wealth or bodily strength, but in friendship.’

Each Severer had their own role to play and I loved their individual character development. I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did and am now desperate for the next instalment!

Deina is one of the many spending her life serving Hades, god of the Underworld. She longs for freedom and so, no matter what the stakes are, allows herself to enter his domain in search of whatever it will take to grant it to her. Taking on the gods will never prove an easy feat however, and none can be trusted to deliver truth or to become her saviour.

I found this an exciting and fast-paced read. The trajectory of the novel took its characters ever deeper into the Underworld, with darker aspects about their nature revealed as their adventures turned increasingly sinister. This never became an altogether eerie read, but it did prove to contain exciting elements and action-dominated throughout it.

It was thrilling to read of how many mythology figures and facets were build inside this narrative, which also managed to retain something unique and entirely of its own. This author duo crafted a solidly enjoyable, well-paced, and informative novel, steeped in ancient lore and adventure.

I enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to carry it on!
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the early access to this book.

Ugh I absolutely loved this book! I was immediately immersed into some beautiful storytelling. It did take a little bit of time to get into hence the 4 star but other than that, I’d highly recommend this book!

The premise of this book was appealing - young adult fiction drawing upon Greek myth, with Deina, a spirit severer being called upon to try and return Orpheus's dead wife Eurydice from the underworld. I'm not sure what it was about this book though, I just couldn't get into it and ended up skim reading quite a lot of it. It wasn't that it wasn't well-written and I'm sure many other people would enjoy it - sometimes you're just not in the right place for a book at a particular time and I can't help but wonder if that was the case here. I definitely didn't hate the book - I quite liked the writing style itself - so perhaps one for me to return to at a later date

I liked the Corr’s witch trilogy so I was keen to give this a go. The world building was fantastic and I enjoyed the referenced Greek myths. The characters just didn’t quite land for me though and I saw early on where the story was going. A good book but perhaps not quite for me.

I enjoyed this book, it was easy to read and held my attention. I will be reading more from this author :)

3 .5 rounded up ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Bonnier Books and Hot Key Books and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book

I really enjoyed the precious duology written by these authors so was so happy to get an arc for Daughter of Darkness.

I love Greek myth, and reimaginings and this one did not disappoint. This was for me a really original take of a few aspects of Greek Myth and history, which made for a really interesting world and world of gods and their powers.

The MC is also really likeable, a bit naive at times and a bit to quick to forgive imo, but on the whole a nice strong female MC.

Definitely recommend this one to all and sundry!

Absolutely brilliant, the writing was so captivating and I adored how the authors worked together to flesh out the characters. I am looking forward to see what is next from Katharine and Elizabeth Core

I thought I was going to love this book! A Greek mythology inspired quest with a female lead sounded right up my alley
Unfortunately I really did not enjoy this book and I should have DNF’d it
I kept putting it down because I just didn’t care about what happened to the characters. They all felt very one dimensional and flat. They bickered so much that I just wanted them all to get caught just so that they’d stop moaning about who was in charge or who could pee the highest (they didn’t argue about that but boys in my primary school did and that was the level of maturity of these main characters)
I felt quite bored as this book should have been exciting and thrilling but it really did nothing for me
The star is for Nat being fun and Hades being sassy

💙💙 BOOK TOUR REVIEW 💙💙

Daughter of Darkness by @katharinecorrwrites and @lizcorrwrites

Thanks to Vic & Bex at @instabooktours , @hotkeybooksya and Katharine and Liz for my #gifted copy of this fab book and my spot on the tour.

Our main character Deina is full of hope and plans to escape her life of servitude as one of The House of Hades Soul Severers. She’s lightning quick and has nerves of steel.

So it comes as no surprise that she volunteers for a special mission that if successful could see her win her freedom. Along with others from her home and a couple of new faces along the way we follow Deina on their quest.

This takes stories from the Greek myths and weaves them together to build the fabric of the story.

I love Greek Mythology and it was inevitable that I would fall in love with Daughter of Darkness.

I loved getting to know the characters and deciding who was my favourite which changed throughout apart from Deina - I loved her from the off.

The story is well detailed with snippets from the characters past throughout.

Safe to say I cannot wait for the next book 💙💙

#DaughterOfDarkness #HouseOfHades #GreekMyths #GreekMythology #Underworld #SoulSeverer

Daughters of Darkness

Amazon Summary - Deina is trapped. As one of the Soul Severers serving the god Hades on earth, her future is tied to the task of shepherding the dying on from the mortal world - unless she can earn or steal enough to buy her way out.

Then the tyrant ruler Orpheus offers both fortune and freedom to whoever can retrieve his dead wife, Eurydice, from the Underworld. Deina jumps at the chance. But to win, she must enter an uneasy alliance with a group of fellow Severers she neither likes nor trusts.

So begins their perilous journey into the realm of Hades. . . The prize of freedom is before her - but what will it take to reach it?

My Review

I really enjoyed this EArc book. It was such a unique take on the greek mythology story of Orpheus and Eurydice.

I sometimes struggle reading Greek Mythology retellings but this had me gripped from the get go! The world building was beautifully intriguing and immersive. I felt the story started off a little slow but once they were on their quest to the underworld the plot was fast paced and full of twists and turns.

I really like some of the characters but others fell flat especially Chrysse and Theron. I am looking forward to seeing where Deinas adventure takes her in books 2.

This is a really solid 3.5 stars for me, I am looking forward to reading the next book but probably wouldn’t read this one again. (I only rate a book 4 stars if I would read the book again and 5 stars if I wanted to read it again straight away).