The Rise of Amphitrite

A Trident Trilogy #1

by Savannah L. Zher

Amy-short for Amethyst-has had her life planned out for her since before she could excel at cello, fencing, and academics, attend Oxford early, and take over her father's law firm after her 20th birthday. She's never had much free time for friends, aside from Percy, the boy who washed up on the beach in front of her as a child and hasn't been far from her thoughts since. Percy teaches her about mythology, and sometimes it feels like they've known each other much longer than a few years... When Amy chooses saving the oceans over the family business, moving halfway around the world for a marine biology research position, strange things start happening. The sea and its creatures seem to react to her presence, locals are calling her queen, and she's feeling off, like part of her is missing. Her coworkers are great, but they seem to be taking all of this a bit too in stride. When the research ship is attacked by creatures that should definitely not exist at the same time Percy shows up for a visit, Amy has some serious questions. She's soon confronted with the fact that she may not be in charge of her destiny after all, and more than her own happiness is riding on her choices.

Genres: Fantasy, Ebooks, Mythology, Fiction

258 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2023

Reviews

[Thebookimburiedin · Rating 4 out of 5]

How it starts: “Thinking that I deserve to treat myself after experiencing the ordeal of maybe stumbling upon a dead person, I open my box of chocolates and pop one into my mouth. Oh, how I am so happy that he is alive and not a dead seaweed man.”

This book tells the story of Percy and Amethyst, through Amethyst perspective. They meet when they are younger, and they grow up together. But there is much more to Percy than meets the eye. And there’s much more to amethyst that only she doesn’t know about. No one is who they seem, and she must see if she can stand the test and endure.

“I would choose the same choices all over again if they were to bring me to you.“

I’m ARC reading the next book in this series, and this beautiful person was willing to give me the first one too. An absolutely amazing book and for sure a new favorite author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to a 3.

Spice level: 1.25/5

This story revolves around a young woman named Amethyst (Amy, for short). From a young age, her soul has always been called to the seas. So it’s no surprise to find her out by the docks; but what is surprising is the strange, yet captivating young boy named Percy who just so happens to stumble into her life one sunny afternoon. An unlikely friendship blossoms, and with it comes an even stronger pull to the watery depths just beyond the dock. Fate, or coincidence? Only time will tell.

I had a lot of mixed feelings reading this book.
It is written in a first person/present tense narrative, and I think that started me off on the wrong foot given that it felt a bit stiff and immature. It could just be a matter of personal preference, but I think had this have been written from a past tense perspective this would have been a solid debut novel.

Writing style aside, I also felt that the plot was a bit jumpy. I was grasping at straws trying to understand how the MC got from point A to point B at times; and some of the major happenings were a bit lackluster due to this. Vague, non spoiling example: a powerful character is given a big lead up here, but then is eradicated in 1 sentence there. And that’s that. I needed more elaboration here, and more details there.

I liked Percy and Amy’s relationship, but I would hope to see a bit more of their past explained in the second book. It was a bit muddled, and I found myself not being as drawn to them as I would have liked given the lack of connection/depth between them in the beginning.

All in all, I didn’t dislike the book- I am optimistic about the sequel. The author has a good storyline blooming, it just needs some fine tuning. This book ends on a cliffhanger, so I will be looking forward to see how the story continues on.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily: Thank you to the author and Booksirens for giving me the opportunity to read this.

[Danni Neeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚓⚓⚓THE RISE OF AMPHITRITE⚓⚓⚓

BOOK REVIEW!!!

INFINITY STARS TO THIS BOOK!!! This is the most beautifully written story I have ever read. I don’t even know how to fully express how this book made me feel. I didn’t want it to end. I truly felt that I was able to see and feel what Amy was feeling. I highly recommend reading this book. I can’t wait to see what @savannahzher.writes comes up with next.

This book tells the Story of Percy and Amethyst (Amy.) It is written in 1st person POV from Amy’s perspective. Amy meets Percy on the beach as a small child. They “grow’ up together sharing their love they have for the ocean. Percy tells her stories and teaches her about Greek Mythology. Amy must figure out who she truly is before it’s too late. Follow in Daddy's footsteps OR Follow her Heart? Does she embrace the things she learns about a world she never even knew existed? Does she wait until it’s too late to accept herself for who she really is?

The book will take you on a wild ride with some twists and turns you aren't expecting. I highly recommend reading this book. 😍🤯

Thank you Savannah for allowing me to ARC read this book for you.

[◜♡* little lavender · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I would choose the same choices all over again if it were to bring me to you.”

In the beginning of the book it is a bit slow-going but it doesn’t take too long for the unforeseeable action to come. When it did, the book became hard to put down. Only a little ways in I became attached to Amethyst (also known as Amy) and her bravery and independence as she broke away from the life she had planned for her.

There is a mysterious vibe around her childhood friend, Percy, that held my attention even more so after their complicated relationship and feelings began to unfold. I was definitely gripping the book at times with all sorts of different emotions. Confusion, intrigue, frustration, sadness, and longing for my questions to be answered.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Katharina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rise of Amphitrite is the first book in the Trident Trilogy by Savannah L Zher. It's about Amy, a young woman who always had a special connection to the sea. As a child she met Percy at the beach and the two soon became best friends. He's a mysterious person, keen on teaching Amy about Greek Mythology. As Amy leaves her family and Percy to become a marine biologist, strange things start to happen. Are the stories about gods and war Percy told her really just stories or is it possible for them to be true?

The Rise of Amphitrite is a really good book! I absolutely loved how Greek Mythology was built in and how the gods were portrayed in this book. I lost myself in it and couldn't stop reading! Can't wait to read the next book in the series!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[T.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5
Slide: 1.5/5

First of all, thank you Savannah for allowing me the chance to receive and review this book via ARC for my honest opinion.

I absolutely love Greek mythology retellings and modernizations. This book is no exception! It’s a fast paced read that follows Amy, short for Amythest, as she uncovers information about herself and her past that she never imagined possible. It’s fast paced, a 1.5/5 for spice, and includes the tropes for friends-to-lovers and slow burn.

The characters were wonderfully written and Percy’s love for Amy was just *chef’s kiss*. The ending, though. It got me. I’m already in need of book 2!

[Chantel · Rating 4 out of 5]

We first meet Amethyst (Amy) as a child who plays the cello and loves the sea. Fast forward 13 years and Amy has made a career with the sea. We meet her again on a boat tracking whales, in what we later found out is somewhere in Europe but it’s not disclosed really what country in Europe she’s in. After helping rescue a boy from the water, an older lady claims Amy is “Lady of the Sea” which confuses Amy as she is no lady

Flashbacks occur, which does make the book feel a bit scattered and all over the place.

Amy always claims to feel warm in the water and misses an entire storm coming when some of her other team members start acting strange which to me on one hand checked out to continue the plot but also feel like it was forcing the plot.

Once I was about 65% through the book everything started to come together and made more sense to me, almost like a cake mix fully mixed together.

The ending differently hooked me and I’m so excited for the next book now!

[Katie Killian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story of Amy’s past and how she learned of her true meaning and existence. The writing could have use a bit more fine-tuning and a lot of the story felt rushed and there were explanations thrown in haphazardly. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and had caught myself rolling my eyes at something they said or did more than once. I may continue the series because it ended on such a cliffhanger that I want to see what happens to Amy and Percy in the next chapter.

Overall, I gave this 3 stars because there is a chance I’ll continue reading the series, but I had a hard time overlooking some of the consistency issues and writing errors (there was one part where the father’s housekeeper was referred to as both Rose and Rosa on the same page). I think this author has great potential, though, and I’m excited to see where she goes next.

[Kaycee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Percy and Amy as they grow up and learn about life. Amy has to make a tough decision whether she wants to work for her father company or choose to be a marine biologist and work with the ocean where her heart truly belongs.

For only being 250 pages, this book was amazing. It was beautifully written and made you feel like you were right there with Percy and Amy going through the motions. I loved everything about this story, but my favorite part was interactions with the whales. I can't wait for book two!!

Definitely pick this book up if you love:
🔱Greek Mythology
👫Friends to Lovers
🔥Slow burn romance

[aureliervlnbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

o be honest, this book didn’t have a good start... I even thought about DNFing it after the first sentence. But I was still intrigued by this Greek mythology retelling set in a modern world, even if the writing didn’t really make me want to stay.

We follow Amethyst, a young woman who drops everything, hat everyone thought she would do, taking over the family business, to engage herself in a sea protection sanctuary in the southwest of France.
Her best friend Percy, whom she’s been friends with forever, has secrets of his own. But Amethyst could’ve seen something was off with him for a long time if she simply asked herself the right questions (Why is a kid alone on a beach? Where does he live? Why hasn’t she met his parents or guardians?).

I was really engrossed in this little adventure, even if it was a bit predictable. But there were a few things that really bothered me—like the romance. Well, more like this cringe tension that appears at the worst moments ever.

I’ll be continuing this series—there’s too much mystery to uncover, and you can feel the evolution in her writing during this first book.

[Razzle Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚ARC REVIEW📚

The Rise of Amphitrite by Savannah L Zher

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/3
Genres: New Adult, contemporary fantasy
Tropes: secret identity, different worlds, hidden powers, mythology retelling

Amethyst has always been interested in the sea, and the life within it. As a child, she was fairly isolated from the world. She had a strict upbringing, curtesy of her parents, to prepare her to take over her father’s law firm. Throughout her childhood, she occasionally plays with her friend Percy (who she meets by the water and knows virtually nothing about). He is a constant in her life and is a needed reprieve from her strict world.

When she turns 20, she decides to accept a research position doing marine biology instead of taking over the firm. This takes her across the world to France, where she begins to notice her weird connection to marine life, as well as odd comments made in passing to her by strangers.

When a storm hits during a research expedition on the water, Amy’s life completely changes. She learns secrets about Percy, his identity, and even her own identity. Throughout the book, she battles with her memories of her “past” and who she is supposedly meant to become.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think the concept of this book is interesting and pretty unique. I personally really enjoy mythology retellings, as it leads to fun “oh I know who that is!” moments. Amy chopping off all her hair to signify “cutting ties” with her old life was very Mulan-esque and I was here for it.

Due to my differing opinions on the first half of the book and the last half, I will rate both separately.

The pace of the beginning of the book, mainly the events involving Amy or the flashbacks from her childhood with Percy, did not feel accurate to me. It is odd to me that she would feel such a connection to a boy that she really didn’t get to see that much, and when she did, he was super secretive about himself. There were too many things that she just accepted with little to no explanation, which did not feel realistic to me. The timeline of her and Percy’s relationship also felt both too short and too long; they went from not seeing each other for months to immediately being in a relationship with no discussion.

The world building in the beginning felt a bit inconsistent and out of order as well. I will say that by the end of the book, some of that was explained (based on secrets/knowledge that Amy wasn’t supposed to know, and therefore the reader also didn’t know); however, the confusion in the first part of the book due to this could be enough to cause people to DNF.

I felt that the first half was 2.25⭐️; I think there were some things that could have been more clear and possibly more “realistic” (this is such a subjective term in fantasy books, but I do like to see the characters behaviors being believable/realistic). I do really enjoy Amy’s character as a whole though; she’s very funny and snarky.

The second half I would give 4.0⭐️. Some of the details about the world became more clear, and there were some plot twists I did not expect. The relationship between Amy and Percy becomes a little more believable, and we get to see more personality of the other characters.

I didn’t dislike this book; I am happy that I got the chance to read and review it, and I’m genuinely excited to see what else the author comes up with for this series. I think that if you enjoy mythology retellings or mythological lore in general, that you should check out this book for yourself.

[Brandae Grein · Rating 1 out of 5]

Definitely needs editing and cultural education

There are some good nuggets of what could be a great series here, but there are a few issues that might have been caught by an editor and some character plot choices that ruined it for me. Warning for spoilers.

First, the smaller issues. The main character is BIPOC but the author clearly isn’t, which leads to some less than stellar choices. Not to mention, if you’re writing a BIPOC Asian character, why give her green eyes? The main guy clearly grooms the MC, which is awkward enough but no one, not even the MC, questions it. Third, there’s a lot of “telling” and not a lot of showing, which might be fine if the dialogue surrounding those moments was decently done. Instead, we get stilted conversations that need some serious revising—especially the one where one character is telling our MC about their tragic backstory. The whole thing is more awkward than emotionally charged and feels like the author is telling us about this really tragic scene they had in their head, and instead elicits the reaction of, “why are you telling me this?” Instead of an emotional response.

Now for the unforgivables—which you’d think would be the whole grooming issue, but isn’t.

Our MC discovers the world isn’t as she thought, immediately fights her way through an entire wave of enemies until she is legitimately covered in blood, and stops when she comes face to face with her childhood friend, now known to be a god.

She gets angry (by telling us she’s angry) and the scene is as awkwardly stilted as the dialogue. Then she realizes one of the party is dying in who is basically her best friend’s arms as her friend desperately tries to shove his guts back into his body. Horrible, harrowing stuff.

So when the life leaves his eyes, what does she do? She runs to her cabin, showers, hides under the covers, and waits until someone ELSE comes and grabs her for the funeral. Doesn’t offer anything to her grieving friend who just lost her lover, instead claiming “woe is me” rights. Incredibly selfish, likely written by someone who has imagined going through shared trauma but has never actually gone through it.

Then, the funeral happens, her boy pulls off some magic, and they head back to the boat and suddenly are super horny for each other? Less than an hour after? Like… what? Still, she hasn’t even once checked in on her friend. She can’t claim trauma is the reason she’s horny when that’s not how it’s written, it’s just that she’s so attracted to him she “can’t help herself.”

This is where I stopped. I gave the book my best shot, but this is beyond believable character flaws until it legit kills any libido I might have had. It’s not hot, you’ve just traumatized both your audience and the MC, give us a bit of breathing room between graphically describing murder and death and being horny for the man who groomed you from childhood to maybe check in on the friend that was just glaring at you during HER lover’s funeral.

Hope the author keeps writing, because there are decent nuggets in here for a first run, but please, no more grooming. It’s not cute, it’s creepy.

Also, side note: blue whales don’t swim in groups. It would make far more sense if you used humpback whales, instead. That kind of grouping of blue whales would have hundreds of scientists all over it, since blue whales are rare and mostly solitary creatures outside of mating season (which is always done in the warm, tropical waters where there are no predators).

[alison lirio · Rating 1 out of 5]

0.5 stars

I had picked up this book when I was browsing for free fantasy ARCs to read and the premise of it sounded very interesting. Though I wasn’t expecting it to turn out like that.

The premise of the book made it seem like it would open the reader up a new fantasy world for us but that was not the case. It suddenly became a Greek Mythology reimagined type of scenario. I’m not too well-versed in the myths and the tales so I’m not sure of this is a retelling of some sort or it’s something like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play where it’s written by a different person but the ideas and the concepts it originated from was by another author.

The pacing of this was incredibly slow and our protagonist was in constant contemplation. I gander that 75% of this book consists of her thoughts and speculation and not really the telling of events from her perspective. I was not entirely a fan of how the only progression in plot occurred when something would render her unconscious and then she wakes up in this completely new place and situation. Very rarely is the plot of the story influenced from her decisions and it seems we were just bearing witness to her reactions. I was not a fan of these fish out of water scenarios to say the least. I’m hoping in the next two books in the series, Amethyst gains a sense of independence and strength that truly gives main character vibes in tales similar to this.

I will also say that there’s information overload and not enough interrelationship-dialogue where it’s easily digestible. All the conversations felt transactional, like people only spoke to her (or vice versa) so that the reader can play catch up with what’s going on around her. It wasn’t easy.

I think this story has great potential and the ideas are very intriguing but the execution needs adjustment. The first book’s’ to series are always difficult so I can understand that whatever is being established will be difficult in trying not to reveal too much. But I would have liked to see this character build these relationships other than just automatically jumping to a point in time where okay it looks like she has new friends and they seem to get along or wow it looks like they’ve known each other for awhile. I think the only thing I actually saw getting developed is her attachment to Hades.

Is this a good read? I’m not sure. I can tell you how I didn’t enjoy my time with it but I’ve read other reviews and other’s fairly liked it. Maybe you’ll like it too!

[Bevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75/5

CW: death, gore, attempted suicide, self harm, torture
Spice Level: ~3/5?

A huge thank you to the author for allowing me to be a member of the ARC team!

Amethyst, Amy, is off studying whales in France when her entire world is upended. Percy, a boy Amy’s loved for years, is not who he says he is, and there’s a whole lot more to the world than Amy ever expected.

First of all, I love retellings and spin-offs of myths and fairytales. It’s my absolute favorite sub-genre, so when I read the blurb for “The Rise of Amphitrite,” I knew I had to read it. While it isn’t taking over as my number one favorite, this was an entertaining story focusing on deities I haven’t seen nearly as often in my readings.

I think I would have enjoyed the story immensely more if I’d been able to click with the FMC sooner. She’s humorous, a little awkward, and definitely not useless, but through the first part of the story I found her to be a little flat. There was just something missing that didn’t quite click for me. She’s quick to anger, which is not an inherently bad trait, but I found her responses to border on childish tantrums instead of an otherwise justified emotion. Throughout the story, though, she seems to start recognizing her responses and trying to level them out when necessary, so maybe it’s just growing pains. Some of the other characters also felt a little out of sync at first, but by the end of the book it was definitely easier to connect with them and care about them.

The overall plot was interesting, and once the action kicked off I found myself significantly more engaged with where things were headed. The start of the book bounces around between current events and memory flashbacks, but instead of building a bond between Amy and Percy, which I think was the goal, it mostly felt disjointed and slightly disruptive. As I said, once things got going everything flowed a lot more smoothly and the story as a whole took on its own life. The book definitely ends on a cliffhanger, and despite how abrupt it felt I really did find myself looking forward to reading book 2 and seeing what happens next.

[Annika (insanebookperson) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC for free and I´m leaving this review voluntarily.
Title: The Rise of Amphitrite
Author: Savannah L. Zher
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 258
Book 1/3
What to expect: Magical Realism, Romance, Adventure, Friends to Lovers, Chosen One, Mythology

Blurp: Amy - short for Amethyst - has had her life planned out for her since before she could excel at cello, fencing, and academics, attend Oxford early, and take over her father´s law firm after her 20th birthday. She´s never had much free time for friends, aside from Percy, the boy who washed up on the beach in front of her as a child and hasn´t been far from her thoughts since. Percy teaches her about mythology, and sometimes it feels like they´ve known each other much longer than a few years...When Amy chooses saving the oceans over her family business, moving halfway around the world for a marine biology research position, strange things start happening. The sea and its creatures seem to react to her presence, locals are calling her queen, and she´s feeling off, like part of her is missing. Her coworkers are great, but they seem to be taking all of this a bit too in stride. When the research ship is attacked by creatures that should definitlely not exist at the same time Percy shows up for a visit, Amy has some serious questions. She´s soon confronted with the fact that she may not be in charge of her destiny after all, and more than her own happiness is riding on her choices

Opinion: The Cover and the title of this book were very intriguing and I was not disappointed. I liked this book a lot, especially the banter between Amy and Percy. Sadly, I could guess part of the plot twist early on and Amy was, in my opinion, at times a little too naive for an NA novel, which is why the book gets 4 instead of 5 stars. ´m already looking forward to the next book!

Trigger Warnings; Death, Sexual Content, Torture, Vomit, War, Gore, Injury/Injury Detail, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Cursing, Death of a parent, Grief, Murder, Panic Attacks/Disorders

[NikkiReads365 · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔱 The Rise or Amphitrite by Savannah Zher 🔱

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️

Characterization: 4/5
Plot/Storyline: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5

🔱 - Amy grew up side by side with the ocean and always felt drawn to the beach near her family home. In childhood, after discovering a young boy, Percy, on shore, she soon had another connection in the form of friendship develop. Fast forward to her young adult life, Amy maintains a tenuous connection with Percy, until an act of violence challenges that, and Amy is thrown headfirst into Percy’s life — his REAL life. Amy is more connected with Percy than she first realizes, and must embark on a war with him against — his… 🤫

🔱 - Amy is a rounded character, and while the story starts slow in the beginning with her characterization, as the story develops, the peeled back layers of the story begin to merge more and more. Percy is quite a character as well, putting it mildly. Without spoiling too much, some characters are lost throughout, and it’s heart wrenching.

🔱 - The writing style felt drawn out and then rushed at times. It was oscillating between too much and too little at times, but as the book nears to a close, it’s clear how this book sets up an entire trilogy and the world building books always read differently than the sequels that follow. I’m excited for the sequel - the ending of this first book made me audibly gasped.

Final Recommendation: If you love Greek mythology and love retellings, absolutely read. It’s a good take!

💕 Special thank you to Savannah for sending me a digital copy of this first book to prepare for the ARC copy of the second book! Again, that ENDING 🫠🫣💕

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I did find most of this book enjoyable, I have a lot of mixed feelings about it. I love books with reincarnation, Greek mythology retellings, and soulmates, so the premise held great promise. Just not quite sure the execution was completely there.

At the very beginning of the book, it was confusing going back and forth between Amy's childhood and her growing up, to her being on the research boat. Some of the timeline was not clear and a lot of the backstory was never really explored. There were one liners deep into the book that tried to explain things, but it just left more questions. Amy just seemed so accepting that a boy washed ashore one day that she thinks could manipulate water, doesn't seem phased by it, and doesn't question where he wanders off to. Amy continues to trust WAY too easily throughout the book. The love story between Amy and Percy also goes from 0 to 100% real fast, with no real development. I wish more time was spent with Amy and Percy growing up and not the brief, vague flashbacks. There seemed to be a rush to get to the main conflict of the story that the background and setting wasn't properly established.

Then when Amy finds out that her soul is part of Amphitrite's reincarnated soul, I wanted to see more memories of her past life or have Percy/Poseidon explain more. Maybe this is setting up for future books, but by not providing hardly any back stories for these characters and just telling us about their great love, it's not creating a connection to them. The plot also seemed very rushed. The build up to Amy recovering the other half of her soul made it seem so complicated, and the task she ended up completing was so simple. Even the rescue mission at Zeus' palace was easy. I just think things needed to be fleshed out a little more.

Some of this may be my personal preference and other people may have no problem with the story at all. This book has a lot of great promise, it just needs some more development.

[Alix Neyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, it’s a solid 4/5 ⭐️ with a 3/5 🌶️ spicy sexy scenes. Giving me Mortal Insterments or Percy Jackson vibes in that the main female character world is turn upside down when they find out they’re part of a fantastically world that you only read about. Although ending on a cliffhanger, it’s allows us the reader sometime to breathe, before trying to find out when the second book is slated to drop.

Checklist time?:

✅Unlike Percy Jackson this book is definitely for a mature audience, with the chemistry between our leads of Amy and Percy so hot 🥵 making this girl blush, although not so descriptive or in every other character that it didn’t feel out of place.
✅ Plan on running the full range of feels with this one. Laugh out loud moments to heart wrenching scenes.
✅ Twists that I didn’t see coming.
✅ likeable secondary characters. Looking at you Hades 😉.
✅ Greek mythology, that doesn’t assume you know everything and anything but also doesn’t talk down to you when referring to the mythology.
✅ easy read, with a focus story. Definitely a weekend read for sure.

Katee Robert’s modernization of mythology and spice with the immersive but accessible world-building of Cassandra Clare.
Available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble

It’s a recommendation from me. Check out the synopsis in the comments and go grab your copy today.

Happy Reading 💜

[Brittney Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free as an ARC from BookSirens to read and review.

For people who don't like having to wait, it ends on a cliffhanger. Just in case you'd rather wait for the whole thing to come out before reading. <3

The good:
- Excellent plot twists. I gasped so many times!
- Really amazing descriptions. At no point did I ever feel like I couldn't picture a person, place, or thing in my head very well.
- Spicy scenes were good and I didn't feel like it was just tossed in there for the sake of it. They felt authentic and well-placed.
- The story itself is so interesting and a pretty exciting take on Greek gods in general. I was expecting it to be something like a Percy Jackson ripoff, but to my pleasant surprise, it was definitely not!

The bad:
- I'm not a fan of all the cussing. It doesn't make the book itself bad or anything, just not my cup of tea.
- I don't think Amy really acted like she was twenty. At times she felt like more of a 16-year-old in a YA series. Sticking her tongue out at people, flicking people off all the time, throwing tantrums, etc. I would have liked to see a bit more maturity from her.
- I didn't see much leading up to her and Percy doing it for the first time. They never so much as share a kiss, but he calls her his woman and throws her on the bed that first time.

Overall pretty happy with it and excited to continue the series!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Friends to Lovers
Slow Burn
Greek Mythology Retelling

I’m a sucker for a good Greek mythology retelling, and this book checks all the boxes. Amy doesn’t know she has a much large role to play in the universe than playing cello and living her life on the sea until one day her and her friends are attacked, and she begins a journey of self-discovery that will change everything she’s ever known. Her best friend Percy is more than he’s appeared to be, and their feelings for each other go much deeper than she could have ever anticipated. I loved the romance and the banter between the two of them, and I am excited to see this relationship grow. The usual suspects are included in this story, but I’m always intrigued to see how different authors and stories portray the characters we know like Hades, Hermes, Zeus, etc. There’s so much more I want to say, but I really don’t want to spoil anything. This book is really worth the read especially if you are a fan of green mythology. I really liked this book, and I can’t wait to dive in to book two!

This isn’t a new release, but I was gifted an ARC copy by Savannah L. Zher so I could be caught up with the story for book two. Thank you so much to her for allowing me this honor!

[Cecillia Luper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, BookSirens, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This read is more of a 2-2.5 star rating that I just rounded out to a 3 ⭐️⭐️

This story starts off with a young girl who lives on the coast. She loves music, her parents, and the ocean. She ends up unknowingly befriending a Greek god while walking along the beach, Percy. Her whole life changes when she decides to take a career path in marine biology instead of taking the path her father had lined out for her. She finds herself and so much more on each grand adventure she sets out on with Percy and the crew.

If you like
•Greek Mythology 🌧
•1.5 Spice 🌶
•Easy Going Banter 📣
This might be a good book to add to your TBR

To simplify why this was not a five-star read for me, the storytelling was extremely scattered, and I felt completely indifferent to every single character and their dialogue. This book had a good plot that I personally think could have been executed much better than it was.
Also, I really just keep thinking that Percy groomed Amy (FMC) from the second he met her. I can't find any other way to look at it.

If these things don't turn you away
If you think this is the book for you
If Greek mythology is an immediate YES from you
Snag yourself a copy of this book ✨️

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book, but it was just ok. I honestly don’t know a lot about Greek mythology, and when I read the blurb for this book it seemed like an interesting, modern introduction into this sub-genre of fantasy. But it left me wanting.

The plot of the book wasn’t the problem for me, as it definitely had some interesting elements. But rather I found myself struggling to connect with the main character. I think in part, it had to do with the not truly understanding who she was. As a child, she was written as a sweet, compliant, people pleaser, who cared only about her parent’s approval. But then suddenly as an adult she’s this ‘go to hell’, ‘I don’t give a shit’, spitfire. And we didn’t get to see any character development between the two extremes. I think it would have been a more compelling narrative to watch her struggle to find her strength and independence as a result of her current circumstances.

All that said, the twist at the end caught me by surprise and piqued my interest. I received an ARC copy of book 2 so I will be reading it and I’m hopeful that Amy’s character will grow on me.

[Miranda K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, it was interesting enough to keep my attention all the way through, but it was tough ride... The first several chapters were very confusing going back and forth between the past and present and I was very tempted to quit early on. The plot jumped around and I was very confused. The last 40% definitely picked up though and had me reading straight through, just push through the beginning!

Amy (MC) is way to self aware and she over explains everything way too often. For example, there is a scene where everyone is gathered to discuss a plan. But no plan was actually discussed, instead, Amy just thinks about it and in a couple sentences in her mind, she tells the reader they made a decision. Very little conversation happens in the book, and when there is, it's almost detail overload.

I didn't feel any connection to the characters personally, so even though a couple died, I wasn't upset about it. Amy and Percy's relationship was also way too quick and I wish there was more a build to it.

Overall, it was good. Interesting. But I'm on the fence about reading the sequel or not.

[amanda_coffee_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start off by saying that I received complimentary book. In return for my honest thoughts and my review. I usually never read a book about or has reference of Greek mythology before. This book definitely changes my thoughts on books like this before. I honestly will be adding more books from this author. Can’t wait for book two. This book did take me a little bit longer to finish. Not because I wasnt into it. I just wanted to take my time. Because this is my first time reading a book that had Greek mythology into it. That ending really is a cliff hanger.
Amy is to me strong female character. Who went with her heart. But truly didn’t know what her true future is. Percy is very protected over Amy.
Amy has dealt with a lot this new life and trying to learn everything so quickly. And she is faced a with a lot of death in her life.
This book is amazing is a short read but it packed with so much in it. I highly recommend this book. Again can’t wait for book two.
Thank to the author and rrboooktours for allowing me the opportunity to read such a fun and sometimes spicy.

[Katslovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was AMAZING!! from beginning to end I was consumed with the twist and turns, unexpected surprises and all the mysteries that surrounded Amythest.

Greek mythology retellings are my favorites so when I read the blurb for this book I automatically wanted to immerse into this story. Amy has live her life following her parents expectations but when she decides to follow her heart she stumbles into information about her past and the people that surrounds her that she never expected, especially finding out who her long time best friend Percy truly is.

I really enjoyed the connection Poseidon aka Percy and Amythest had, their love was beautiful and I just adore how Percy was always amazed by Amy talents, she is the queen he is been waiting for for a very long time.

The cliffhanger ending left me wanting more and I can't wait to find out what's next in this incredible journey.

[Casey Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC
Rating: 3/5
Spice 🌶️🌶️
Tropes: found family, found powers

*** May contain spoilers***

Amy or Amethyst is a motivated marine biologist, cellist, and devoted daughter. She finds a boy on the beach as a child and soon becomes best friends with him. On a whale migration tracking trip her life is turned upside down with new knowledge of both friends and family and their relations to the classic Greek gods.

The story building was great, don’t get me wrong, I always have loved Greek mythology. I will always give a new version of any type of mythology a solid chance. There was great foreshadowing with the twists that happened in the later half of the book. The spice of the book did leave s little to be desired though with some of the logistics involved.

I did enjoy reading this book, but I would not be excited to read the rest of the series,

Thank you to Book Sirens for the ARC read and thank you to Savannah for allowing me to read this!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blurb:
This story is about Amy (Amethyst) a girl who has lived a charmed life by the ocean. Amy has a friend named Percy that she meets up with at the beach through the years and they become close. Amy chooses to pursue her love for marine biology in an expedition in France but that’s when things start getting weird. Amy soon discovers that no one is who she thinks they are, including herself.

Review:
Where do I even begin? This book is so good! It is a twist on Greek mythology and it had of me wanting more and more. There are so many mysteries and twists within the story that I gobbled this up. I was graciously chosen to get an ARC of the second book in the series which comes out on November 29th, but I had not read the first book so I was sent both. I am so happy that I don’t have to wait to start reading the next book because I need it now!

Disclaimer: This book does have death and violence.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

MINOR ROMANCE SPOILERS
This story was really gripping! The plot moves very quickly (honestly I felt like the author could have delved deeper into the plot and made this two books) and I was hooked from the very beginning. I really felt for Amy and all that she was going through, and I think the author did a good job of making her relatable. I wish we got to see additional flashbacks of Amy and Percy, but maybe we'll see more of their friendship in future books..? Without that, I feel that their relationship developed a little quickly (based on the flashbacks from Amy's childhood). Without that extra backstory, their love story doesn't seem realistic to me based on what we've seen from Amy's perspective. But even with the speedy relationship developments, I was so into the story and immediately dove into Book 2! I hope we see more Amy/Hades moments in the future too--their interactions are fantastic with both of their tempers!

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rise of Amphitrite follows Amethyst and her childhood friend Percy, whose connection begins by the sea and slowly unfolds into something much bigger as Greek mythology weaves into the modern world. Told in first-person from Amy’s perspective, the story focuses on identity, fate, and the struggle between following expectations and following your heart. I really enjoyed the ocean imagery, the mythological elements, and the emotional pull behind Percy and Amy’s relationship. That said, the pacing felt uneven at times, with jumpy timelines and moments that could have benefited from more detail. As the story moved forward, everything started to click, and I found myself far more invested in both the plot and the characters. Overall, it’s a solid and intriguing start to a series that ends on a cliffhanger and definitely left me curious about what comes next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shia · Rating 4 out of 5]

True rating: 4.25/5

I love anything Greek mythology and it’s been AGES since I’ve read one that’s NOT a Hades and Persephone based myth (getting a bit overdone IMO). I LOVED that Poseidon is the male interest in this!!!! its about time! HOWEVER, I am a bit disappointed that he’s not as mighty in this as I expect from a God…. I really hope we see his brutality in the next book because come on, these are GODS we’re talking about here and so far with the exception of Zeus, all are tame and not as severe as history depicts them.

Idk much about Greek history so a lot of these characters are new to me but I did enjoy them. Alice! girl I knew you were bad! but are you truly bad or just playing us???? Amy is really growing into her new role and I can’t wait to watch her avenge her dad and save Percy!