Thoroughly enjoyed the brisk pace of the writing and the increasing levels of familiarity and empathy with a truly lovable heroine.

The story of a young woman prophesised to destroy all of Mount Olympus? It's a killer premise and Webb does it justice. I've read and enjoyed a number of retellings of stories from Greek mythology, but this is certainly the most original.

Let's start with the name of our protagonist. In Greek mythology, Danae was impregnated by Zeus in the form of golden rain, and gave birth to Perseus as a result. The Danae of this novel is not the same character, though her namesake is mentioned in the novel, as a fitting nod. Though this Danae's story does not relate directly to the Danae of mythology, this choice of name was intensely clever as a reference to the experiences of women in this universe.

I don't want to give too much away about this sprawling epic, but I must say that Danae is a wonderful protagonist. She starts out as a plucky, scrappy kid and grows into a resilient adult, moulded by unbelievably difficult circumstances.

I very much related to the deep love she has for her family, especially her older sister, and how throughout her incredible adventure, her home is never far from her mind. The side characters are very well-drawn, and I especially enjoyed Webb's portrayal of Atalanta and Heracles.

I'm massively looking forward to the next novel in 'The Dark Pantheon' trilogy.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book!

I did feel like it was a kinda slow start but once it got going I couldn't put it down. I'm really excited for more from this series.

There was a few bits that I think seemed to be kinda glossed over but part of me thinks (hopes) they might be answered in a following book and this was just part of the building of the series.

Thanks for sending me the arc!

Wow!

This book is exquisite.

I don’t usually fawn so much over a book and a 5 star from me really has to be earned. That said, this was the perfect escape for me, and I completely fell in love with it.

A Greek retelling doesn’t really cover it in my opinion, it is more of a Greek overhaul and it’s exactly what this genre was missing. I have plenty of experience with Greek history being a self proclaimed ancient history sponge, so I am always apprehensive when heading into fiction based in that world. I needn’t have worried.

What is exciting with this book is that A. S. Webb managed to create a world which is both faithful to myth and legend whilst also creating a narrative which reconstructs those myths in a satisfying, gripping and believable way. This is Ancient Greece in a whole other light and it is so refreshing.

World building is passionately done and is truly absorbing, descriptive sections are concise and clear without being tedious and overwhelming.

Characters are sturdy, relatable and engaging. Danae is everything you want in a heroine, a normal girl with a feisty flare. She deals with the testing situations in the book in a way that feels natural. Webb artfully avoids falling into the ‘look how normal she is, (ten page montage later) unbeatable warrior’ trap, which so many fantasy heroines lose all credibility in.

Romance in the book is dosed in small measures, it's sweetly navigated and the relationships between characters are natural and convincing.

The pacing in the majority of the book is pretty spot on, though I felt it was maybe a little too fast towards the end … having said that I did start reading faster (greedy for what happened next) so that may have been a me problem.

Around eighty percent through the book my book hangover was already fogging up the corners of my mind. I didn’t want to have to leave the world behind.

Suffice it to say I loved every part of this book, I am desperate for more and thank the author and the publisher for the privilege of reading an ARC.

You can get the book on 25/01/2025 and frankly if you are a fantasy/greek retelling fan you will seriously be missing out!

A must read for fans of Greek mythology. The plot is gripping, with a good pace and keeps you engaged throughout. World building is great and overall a really good read. Would definitely recommend!

Exquisite writing and really immersive storytelling. The plot is interesting and brilliantly paced. Absolutely loved this book!
#DaughterofChaos #PenguinRandomHouse

Actual Rating: 4.75

Fans of Greek mythology retellings should add ‘Daughter Of Chaos’ to their wishlists immediately. Fans of fantasy should check this series opener out too as with Gods, monsters and an array of heroes it’s the sort of narrative that is utterly impossible to put down. This book promises to be ‘the most epic, sweeping and jaw-dropping fantasy novel of 2025’ and in all honesty it absolutely delivers on that. Needless to say you should run, and not simply walk, to grab yourself a copy of this once it’s out.

Over the last few years I’ve grown rather addicted to Greek mythology retellings and always seem to fall head over heels in love with them. Set within their time period and world, referencing many of its heroes and monsters, and spending some of it’s time travelling along their established paths it’s impossible not to recommend ‘Daughter Of Chaos’ to fans of those retellings. The vibes, elements and general feel of those stories is naturally found within this novel yet it simultaneously manages to stand apart from the crowd too. To be fair I never seem to find these kind of tales repetitive – every one gives them their own unique twist and approach – but this novel certainly has more standout features than most as it creates its own central heroine and adds in her own seemingly impossible mission.

Promise me a novel where someone has to take on the Gods and I’m going to devour it in an instant. Surely the same sentiment applies to the majority of other fantasy fans too. If you’re intrigued by ‘Daughter Of Chaos’ due to its fantasy promises over its Greek based ones then this is still undeniably worth checking out. The danger and tension that you’re surely searching for is constantly running riot throughout. The characters are intriguing and a joy to meet. The Gods offer a seemingly insurmountable threat; Danae gives you a fascinating central character with mysterious abilities to uncover; and the mysterious ‘missing’ will keep you guessing too.

If all of that somehow isn’t enough to entice you then let me just say that there are also plenty of twists and turns throughout this narrative; some of which will shake up everything that you think you know. Needless to say I was hooked. In all honesty there’s only one element of the ending that I’m uncertain about and that I can’t truly judge until I get a chance to devour the sequel which I will undeniably be picking up.

So it truly does go without saying that I recommend ‘Daughter Of Chaos’ and can’t wait to watch other readers fall in love with it. If you’re looking for an action packed novel with heroes, monsters, ominous Gods and intriguing powers then this is the epic fantasy offering that you’ve been waiting for. And if you enjoy Greek mythology then this will be truly impossible to resist.