The Wine-Dark Daughter

by Damien J. Coluccio

History is littered with the fates of mortals who rose too close to the gods.

Returning triumphant from the cursed city of Urruc — where even the divine dare not tread — Desma has brought wealth, power, and victory to her home kingdom of Apasa. Among the treasures is the revered Belt of Turan, said to have adorned the hips of the Goddess of Love herself.

Desma’s mother, the High Priestess Timothea, calls for a celebration in the temple to honour the priceless find. But when unwanted visitors attempt to lay claim to the treasure, the High Priestess is brutally slain. To save her distraught father from eternal shame, Desma commits an unforgivable sin that saves his soul — and damns hers.

Pronounced unclean by the King and banished from her home, Desma is forced to live by a punishing set of rules that set her apart from society. Her only hope of reclaiming her life is to be cleansed by a merciful kingdom.

But Desma’s path to redemption is littered with the dark truths of love and power…

The Wine-Dark Daughter is the first in The Wine-Dark Series, an epic fantasy saga inspired by ancient Mediterranean mythologies.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy

351 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2024

About the author

Damien J. Coluccio is an Australian epic fantasy author living on the South Coast, NSW. His writing is inspired by mythology and faery tales, creating epic worlds filled with magic and adventures. During his forays back to the real world, Damien spends his time visiting botanic gardens, throwing ridiculous parties for his friends, and seeking out little adventures.

Reviews

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We forget at our peril. Nothing is more vicious than Love that is jealous or thwarted or betrayed. Nothing can be more vengeful or spiteful or hateful."

What a debut by Damien J. Coluccio! I am so happy I got to read and experience The Wine-Dark Daughter, Book 1 in The Wine-Dark Series, releasing on August 28th. If you grew up reading and loving Greek & Roman mythology, this book is for you! But, keep in mind, the story & the pantheon are loosely based on these mythologies, but Damien has made the world-building his own & unique. He has created such a deep and intricate world with its deities & stories without it being overbearing.

I don't know what I enjoyed more—how he toyed with the idea of the passage from Greek to Roman gods or how he meticulously inserted short mythology stories throughout the book to keep us entertained and to offer a glimpse into the world's lore. I loved the story of the goddess (and gods) born in one place only to abandon them and find a new place to reside, a place that can offer them something they were maybe missing, making it the perfect homage to the shift from Greek to Roman pantheon. I could go on and on about this, but you get the brilliant idea behind it all.

The story is a true high fantasy—we follow Desma, daughter of the High Priestess of Turan, Goddess of Love, on her quest to find & bring back home ancient relics. Desma is not alone; she has her boat and crew, a vividly painted found family, each with their own peculiarities. But, when Desma is found guilty of a horrific crime, everything changes, and she is set on her path of seeking redemption for what she's done. Still, her crew is there to follow her as she embarks on a road of repentance, eager to find forgiveness in some other kingdom or from some other god. But, the road is full of dangers, and I was fully immersed during their quests.

There are still so many questions to be answered, mysteries to be solved, and roads to be taken. Not to mention the predicament Desma has found herself in one of the kingdoms. Or is it a predicament? I loved how this story is slowly unfolding, and I can't wait to see where Damien will take us next.

The Wine-Dark Daughter will offer you
- deep & intricate world-building
- a unique take on Greek & Roman mythology
- enraged & meddling gods
- profound story
- love & family
- found family
- epic quests & journeys
- monster fighting
- relics & treasures
and a story so vividly told & so interwoven with mythology & lore that you will love every single page!

[Henry Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good red wine, to this reviewer’s mind, is lush, velvety, and smooth with a bold profile. The layers of rich, nuanced taste should unravel slowly, with each sip revealing a new depth and complexity. This is the reading experience one can expect from Coluccio’s debut novel, The Wine-Dark Daughter , which captivates the senses and immerses readers in a story suffused with only the boldest of flavours.

“History is littered with the fates of mortals who rose too close to the gods.”

Returning triumphant from the cursed city of Urruc — where even the divine dare not tread — Desma has brought wealth, power, and victory to her home kingdom of Apasa. Among the treasures is the revered Belt of Turan, said to have adorned the hips of the Goddess of Love herself.
Desma’s mother, the High Priestess Timothea, calls for a celebration in the temple to honour the priceless find. But when unwanted visitors attempt to lay claim to the treasure, the High Priestess is brutally slain. To save her distraught father from eternal shame, Desma commits an unforgivable sin that saves his soul — and damns hers.
Pronounced unclean by the King and banished from her home, Desma is forced to live by a punishing set of rules that set her apart from society. Her only hope of reclaiming her life is to be cleansed by a merciful kingdom.
But Desma’s path to redemption is littered with the dark truths of love and power…

The Wine-Dark Daughter is Coluccio’s debut novel as a self-published author. Unfortunately for the rest of us would-be authors still labouring away at our first novels, Coluccio has set the bar exceedingly high. It is, in all likelihood, a fear that resides deep in the heart of every novelist who wants to pave their own way to publishing that their novel will come across as exactly that: self-published. It is an intrinsic feeling readers can manifest, given how saturated the book market is, that the novel they have in front of them is not quite of the same calibre as a traditionally published work—whether it be something intangible about the language, the pacing, the characters, or the world. And so, I will lay it out in no uncertain terms: The Wine-Dark Daughter does not read as self-published. There is no esoteric layer of meaning, subtext, or response from this reader’s mind attempting to suggest that the work is anything other than its best self or somehow lacking the shaping and professionalism that traditional publishing provides. This novel is a sensation out the gate, Coluccio’s work lovingly infused with the flourish, crispness, and undeniable presence of an experienced author.

“Desma and Cela joined in upon the second cycle of the song. Cela was silver bells and harps. Desma was thrumming strings and echoing halls. The song was a rope flung out to the city and Apasa caught it with both hands, gladly pulling them into her safe shores, always the welcoming mother and protector.”

Coluccio’s greatest strength, to my mind, is the pervasive style and lyricism that underpins the novel. Unafraid of luscious descriptions, Wine-Dark is defined by its vivid details, the sensory experiences of its characters, and a sense of poetry to its prose. From descriptions of hair and clothing to food or the temples of ancient gods, Coluccio does not let opportunities to paint his world in the brightest colours pass him by. This effect is so pervasive and integral to the story that I would even assert that the novel’s sense of pace is tied to these descriptions. They pulled me in and through any given scene, the pages disappearing beneath imagery of incandescent skies or moon-lit temples, scents of rose-water, apple and myrrh, and evocative character descriptions that belong not to the written word but to the artistic renderings of the Renaissance. Here’s but a small description of some food: ‘Soon, the table was filled with a delicious spread. Mint-crusted lamb, soft bread spiced with cassia, eggs boiled with rosemary, the peppery goat cheese, lashings of lemon juice, and honey-soaked oranges, all accompanied by wine that tasted like wildflowers’. Try not to get saliva on your electronic device. How about describing someone’s hair as, ‘the colour of ambrosial wine, of crushed berries, of the deep sea alight with a drowning sun.’ Or, if physical description is not your preference, try this description of being denied entry to the afterlife due to one’s own act of sin: ‘They were locked out and forgotten. Drifting in fog and dark waters, held together by their own memories until they too forgot who they were and faded into a fate worse than death — being forgotten by mortal and deity and earth.’ These are but small examples of Wine-Dark’s compelling prose, filling the spaces between its dialogue and primary plot with gorgeous embellishments, depicting a world only possible inside the heart of classic lore and myth.

And what world it is. Evidently inspired by Greek and Roman mythology but with a flavour all its own, Wine-Dark creates a world and pantheon of gods that simultaneously feels familiar yet distinct. Coluccio makes winks and nods towards the mythology any Percy Jackson or Circe fan would adore—I see you, Phersipnai, wife of the Under-God Aita, and I’m sure you’d get along swimmingly with Cisra’s sister who lives on her own island but has an unfortunate tendency to turn strangers into livestock. Moreover, the map at the front of the novel indicates that the world is, in fact, an alternate universe of sorts to our own, complete with the distinctive boot-shaped peninsula across the Middle Sea from a sharp collection of inlets that Alexander would just love to covet. Beyond these references, however, the depth and breadth of the unique worldbuilding is impressive, especially in the interplay of the pantheon in relation to the cities and societies that sprang from it. Readers will have the pleasure of experiencing three societies in this novel: the sincere and lush portrait of Apasa and its temples dedicated to Turan, the goddess of love; the far-flung shores of Trilos, devoted to the forge god Sethlans; and the towering pines of Koriithos and its harbour of rocky islands, covered in statues committed to the God of the Deeps, Nethuns. These societies, their people, their beliefs, and the look of their cities are all delicately carved. They portray a diverse and textured world that (while born of a shared pantheon) feels lived-in and well-defined.

So how does this story, with its lush descriptions and profound worldbuilding, actually read? What experience can a reader expect? I think the feeling this novel evokes is best portrayed by my personal favourite descriptions of this world, describing places that are (largely) off-page. Firstly, there is Aventinus: ‘a city of lacework bridges and slender spires, red and pink quartz domes, golden statues, streets paved with white and grey marble and lined with walls of silver and sea glass… known as the City of Birds… the sky was filled with sparrows that flitted and chirped from the first hint of dawn.’ Secondly, the lost city of Urruc: ‘From the shifting sands and howling winds, under the blistering sun and by the untamed sea … they built Urruc … Ruled by Dune-Kings and Wind-Queens who worshipped a Being who was the Light in the Night, a city never before seen and ever after sought, rose from the dust and clay … It was a city that would be the first and be the last. Everlasting.’ And third, but certainly not least, the realm of the Gods, primarily the Forge of Sethlans: ‘She entered the dark, sulphureous workroom, choking on the stench and soot in the air. Following the sound of a heavy hammer falling endlessly, metal ringing on metal, and the fierce crackle of fires that never grew cold … she knew a number of baths would be required to clean the oil and smoke from her feathers. Creation was a messy and dirty business. But a necessary one.’ Each of these descriptions I felt compelled to share, for they highlight just how clearly Coluccio sees and understands his world. These details, combined with rich descriptions teeming with life and nostalgia, means that the worldbuilding of this story does not sit idly by, waiting to be called upon, but boldly declares itself and launches readers into a world of sensory delight.

“Wine as dark as the sea. As dark as Desma’s hair. As dark as her father’s blood.”

I could wax poetic on the author’s prose until the cows come home, settle into their beds of hay, and sit back with a glass of red to read the book I so enthusiastically described. However, we all know beautiful words such as these are nothing without a story. Luckily for us, Wine-Dark does not disappoint. Without getting deep into spoiler territory, the novel is ultimately a story of redemption. Desma, although her acts were committed for all the right reasons, is cast from her society for an unforgivable sin. This ignites a quest across the continent to seek her atonement. However, Coluccio doesn’t let the story stagnate into the familiar or trope-filled quest for personal betterment. Instead, he interweaves nuanced subplots with strong thematic material, such as righteousness, religion and accosted belief systems, meddling gods, found family, greed, institutional corruption and political intrigue. It is so refreshing to read a quest plot and not feel burdened by the often trite or overworked sequence of typical quest plots. The story is alive with Coluccio’s words, crafting something that stands out as new while embracing the familiar.
My only critique of this novel is that some of the storylines didn’t round out as I felt they should have. Primarily, the revenge plot and the corresponding schemes of Bishop Camillus and the Belt of Turan didn’t eventuate as strongly as I hoped they would by the end of the novel. The level of hatred Desma derives from Camillus’ acts and the loss of faith she experiences as a result were the initial drivers of Desma’s quest for redemption. I felt that these plots should have come back in stronger force as the story drew to its conclusion in order to wrap up Desma’s redemption plot, or even only to up the stakes further in preparation for the next book. They don’t quite play out that way, left instead to simmer in the background. However, that groundwork is there—Camillus and the schemes of Aventinus will become apparent as the series progresses, of that I am certain. Moreover, this lack of resolution was not enough to dissuade me from this book, nor even lower its rating. Why? Because the thematic work at play throughout the novel created a layered story that invigorates the reader, even where some things are left unresolved. Desma and her crew are forced into situations that challenge them but also challenge the reader to think critically and see past the familiar to the distinctions that lay beneath. Does a goddess of love only ever use love for good? How does one forgive a person they love for an act of destruction that destroys everything they know? How do you reconcile your faith when your very existence is rejected by the god you had dedicated your life to? There is also a lingering sense of fluidity in sexuality which is diffused through the story, opening the reader’s mind to the normative conditions of the world the story resides inside of. So, while this story is a quest that bears the hallmarks of a tried-and-true plot type (and in my opinion falls slightly short on wrapping up the expectations of that plot), that is my only issue with this story. For all other purposes, Wine-Dark fills in between the lines of its plot with shade and shadow, propelling the characters through a nuanced and satisfying adventure.

And I would be remiss to write this review and not mention the exceptional cast of characters that Wine-Dark introduces the reader to.
Desma’s perspective is the primary perspective of this novel—a daughter of a high priestess and an adventurer in her own right, her story sees her soaring from the highest highs and plummeting to the lowest lows. Interestingly, the story is multi-POV, but only switches POV when deemed necessary to further the plot. This was not a detriment to me at all, but added much needed clarity and conciseness of plot without having to ‘jump heads’ inside a scene. It gave the main character, Desma, the space to breathe and substantiate her own storyline without bogging her perspective down. This is especially important as her character arc is deeply personal. Redemption is no easy task, especially for someone with an innate level of righteousness such as that which she possesses. But where she is embittered by her expulsion from society, she too also finds her grace and strength of character in the people that surround her. With banter, humour, a level of wisdom, and an unexpected number of boxes full of snakes, the found family surrounding Desma breathe life into this story. They provide a level of comic relief, help push the plot forward in interesting ways, and contribute to the thematic tension, providing contrasting and distinct perspectives. This approach is revitalising in the age of ‘banter for banter’s sake’ friendship groups that pervade a lot of fantasy works at present, forcing character dynamics that make some characters indistinguishable from one another. How does Coluccio navigate a large cast? By way of explanation, let me highlight my favourite side characters. There’s Mynta, a plus-sized, body-positive politician’s daughter who breaks free from societal expectations of her body and her mind. Or perhaps you prefer Cosmas, the humorous and enigmatic quartermaster who disappears for days at a time, only to reappear with a quip and unexpected knowledge on his lips. Then there’s Timothea, Desma’s mother, a conflict-ridden and deceitful high priestess whose god has abandoned her and who would do anything to bring them back. While these are just some of the characters amongst a diverse cast, Coluccio takes great effort to create characters you can believe in.

In all, Coluccio's debut novel, The Wine-Dark Daughter, is a masterclass in immersive storytelling and lyrical prose, showcasing Coluccio's remarkable ability to craft a richly detailed world and intricate, compelling characters. Coluccio has set an impressive standard for self-published works, making this book a must-read for fans of mythology and epic fantasy.

[Kate Quick · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Book Review: The Wine-Dark Daughter by Damien Coluccio: 4⭐️

𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕: Returning triumphant from the cursed city of Urruc — where even the divine dare not tread — Desma has brought wealth, power, and victory to her home kingdom of Apasa. Among the treasures is the revered Belt of Turan, said to have adorned the hips of the Goddess of Love herself. Desma’s mother, the High Priestess Timothea, calls for a celebration in the temple to honour the priceless find. But when unwanted visitors attempt to lay claim to the treasure, the High Priestess is brutally slain. To save her distraught father from eternal shame, Desma commits an unforgivable sin that saves his soul — and damns hers. Pronounced unclean by the King and banished from her home, Desma is forced to live by a punishing set of rules that set her apart from society. Her only hope of reclaiming her life is to be cleansed by a merciful kingdom.
But Desma’s path to redemption is littered with the dark truths of love and power…


𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: This debut by Damien Coluccio was beautifully written and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I loved the FMC, Desla, and her friendship with Cela. She’s a badass and fights for what she believes in. Additionally, there are mythological stories throughout this book that I found really interesting! This book was action packed and I can’t wait for the sequel. Definitely recommend if you’re looking to get into fantasy!

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of friendship, sisterhood, grief and broken faith and I highly enjoyed it! It was engaging and had an interesting ‘magic’ system. I loved the subtle nods to Ancient Roman mythology and the setting of the book was beautiful to imagine.

The story had great characters who are complex and battled their emotions throughout the book. The events that surrounded Desma and Cela were heartbreaking, but I loved that they always had each other’s backs through the grief and challenges they faced.

I love the side characters as well. They make a great rag-tag group and I loved the bonds that they clearly share with each other. I think Cosmas is my favourite. I have a few theories about him, and I’m excited to see if they come to pass in future books.

I’m also hoping to see a bit of redemption for Desma in the next book. She is a great main character and I hope she gets the justice and revenge she is hoping for! I’m very excited to see what happens next!

[Hunter (bookswithbunnies) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is inspired by Greek mythology but set within its own world with its own lore and pantheon of the gods.
The Wine-Dark Daughter is so unique and fresh.
It is a flawless creation.
I absolutely loved that the Gods very clearly interacted with the humans lives and inserted themselves.
I had no idea what was going to happen next in this story and I never could have guessed the storyline. This whole novel was so REFRESHING.
The family, the found family, it was all magnificent. It was such a constant theme and it was so comforting. There was always support and love. Even the "villains" had strong family relationships!
Our FMC really goes on a journey. One of self discovery. Falling down and getting back up. A lot of ups and downs but it was a wonderful ride.
I adored the side characters as much as I did the main ones. Some of them were angels. Some were hilarious and I wanted to be their best friend.
The true stories from the songs/myths were also such a TREAT.
The ending WAS WILD. I'm dying for book 2.
There is no open door spice in this one! Whether you enjoy spice or not this epic adult fantasy is one you should definitely read.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can think to say right now is “wow.”

I went into this book completely blinded, and I was captivated right from the beginning. Coluccio starts the story off with some epic world-building but it wasn’t so heavy that you feel lost. I was immediately impressed by how beautifully the story was being told. I could picture it all happening like a movie playing on the screen. The writing is sooo beautiful. The reader meets Desma’s mother first, and from this initial scene I was hooked on how descriptive it was. It had me asking questions, and I was already wondering how this story would play out. Greek tragedy vibes right from the beginning. Aside from the writing, the characters were enchanting. Desma is a strong-willed FMC who is epic but not overly arrogant. Cela is the best friend who balances Desma out. Their whole crew of diverse personalities just drew me in. I think Cosmas was my favorite! The plot moved along so nicely without feeling too slow or too fast. Coluccio left the ending open for book two to unfold nicely. The reader is left with several plot lines that can be fulfilled in the next book but not a tragic cliffhanger. I loved all of the action, and the plot twists! Some parts surprised me! No romance in this but it’s not needed - this is fantasy through and through. Oh and don’t let me forget about the mythological stories told throughout the book! Sooo fascinating.

[soph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read!! Desma is what I want to see in a FMC! Cela and Desma’s friendship is honestly bestie goals and I loved it!
All the fast action mixed with the mythology made it so interesting and not once throughout the book did I think anything dragged on! I can’t wait to read more!
Thank you for the ARC 🫶

[Riley Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Recommended this by my local book shop.

Bit of a stutter start but becomes very hard to put down in the latter half. Looking forward to the next one.

[Shelves_by_sim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story absolutely intrigued me. When I heard that this book was based on Greek and Roman mythology, I knew I had to read it. Coluccio has a beautiful way of writing that is so atmospheric, it sets the entire mood of the story! I love the world he created, how intricate and complex it is and how wonderfully the story and plot were woven! I really loved the setting, the entire book gives you this old-Greek feel, especially with all the different gods and the lore used! The use of small ancient-Mediterranean details such as temples and triremes made me feel as if I were there, living this story.

I absolutely adored Desma and her crew of misfits. For a daughter of the High Priestess of Turan, I thought it amazing that her mother loved her daughter unconditionally and supported her daughter's career as a "pirate". I love that Desma is such a strong character and is able to fend for herself. She is selfless and self-sacrificing and that sets the tone for her character throughout this book. The beginning of this book was brutal and I did not see any of that coming but it's leads to a grueling yet, amazing journey for Desma and her friends.

I loved traveling throughout these kingdoms, reading about the different sorts of stories that were told about the gods and their followers. I loved the mysteriousness of Cosmas and I really, really loved everything about Cisra - the supposed barbarian sorceress. I also really enjoyed the hunt for the "monster" in Koriithos. While I knew that there was some magic in this world, I did not think it would play such a huge part in the main story! The ending blew me away and I cannot wait to see where Desma's story leads her in book 2!

[Shannon (enchantedfiction) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5/5*
Thank you for the gifted copy!

I have a lot of feelings on this book. It is written well, has a complex world with a lot of different things to keep track of, and is a very interesting depiction of mythology. I did enjoy this story, as I thought the storyline was interesting, I really liked the mini stories sprinkled throughout and the glimpse into the world of the gods.

I don't know if it just wasn't the right time for me personally to read this story or if I had expected something different than what I got, but I found it easy to set down and wasn't as excited to start reading again as I have been with my favorite books. I wanted more action and maybe more interaction with the gods than what was given. There were little things here and there that laid the path for obvious communication with the gods, mainly warnings and unrest, which I really liked. And I really loved the last 45 pages of the story, when I feel like all of the action really happened, and we got to delve a little deeper into the workings of the world. I was really interested in Cosmas as a character, as I have a theory revolving around him, but I wasn't in love with any of the characters. I think if I were to read this again, which I might in the future, I would enjoy it more knowing more of what I was about to get into.

I would be interested to see where the story goes and how things will unfold. I feel like there is a lot of groundwork done to really make this more of a fantastical story, and I would love to see how the characters develop.

[Jessica Bunge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fun take on both Greek and Roman mythology. Those familiar with those mythologies (and don’t mind a little looser interpretation) will likely enjoy this read, though you can definitely enjoy it without that back knowledge.

For a debut and the word number, I was expecting this to be quite so epic! I love love LOVE a good long and winding adventure tale with a group of found family, so I was already predisposed to like this one.

The worldbuilding was fresh and unique, even though it is set in the times of the gods that we’re already familiar with. And the little myths and stories sprinkled throughout added a lot of variety and backstory that kept me engaged as a reader.

I was gifted an advance copy of this book and unfortunately unexpected moving and illness prevented me from reading it before the release, but I’m glad I settled in enough to get back to it!

[Alexandra Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely addicting, rich with mythology, and action-packed, Damien J. Coluccio delivers a story that’s incredibly hard to put down. These characters will live rent-free in my head and heart for a long time to come. Coluccio created characters that you can wholly get invested in; Desma was so complex and strong; she fits the role of badass FMC perfectly, and with a tribe of side characters that are sure to steal your heart, the found family trope has never been done better. I was utterly invested the whole way through, and I cannot wait to see what Desma does next. The Wine-Dark Daughter is perfect for anyone who loves rich, unique world-building, Roman/Greek mythology, a strong female main character, strong bonds/found family, lore galore, and action in each chapter.

Thank you to Author’s Own Publishing and Damien J. Coluccio for the arc and the chance to read and share.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5
I received this eARC for my honest opinion.

This book is full of heartbreak, sadness, grief, friendships, sisterhood and facing challenges to overcome discussions made. You will meet Desma, she has come back to her home and brought with her a lot of wealth, power and the victory that her team was the first to bring back the treasures that belong with their Goddess of Love. With the treasures back where they belong the High Priestess Timothea calls for celebration, but we all know what can happen when you have someone that others want… death. With the death of Desma’s mother, you will see that her father starts to decline, and he finally takes his life but with that Desma knows that he will not be able to see her mother if he commits suicide and instead helps him but by doing that, she has damned her own self. The King banishes her from her home, and she is forced to find someone in the kingdom or outside the kingdom to forgive her and have her cleansed. She sets out on a mission to do so but on the way, she learns a lot.

I thought this story was well written and complex. You will get to see how Desma and Cela deal with the loss of their family but at the same time you will get to see how these characters handle the process of trying to cleanse Desma. I loved that even though you will see some heart-breaking moments you will see some beautiful ones with these characters as well. I loved getting to see the bonds that those two had, and with the other rag-tag group of misfits from the boat helping her out and getting themselves in situations. I found the side characters to be just as great as the main character. I also loved that there was so much mythology throughout this book, and I found them to be interesting and a few to be some that I hadn’t heard about. I found the action in this book to be paired with fantasy to be on a different level that I have not read yet.

I can’t wait to see what book two will bring.

I want to thank the author for the opportunity to review this book.

[Katherine StGelais · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review

What a stunning debut novel by Damien Collucio! Inspired by Greek mythology but with its own unique gods and goddesses! I’m a sucker for anything divine and this book delivered. There’s something about the writing that sucks you right in and transports you to another time. It’s so poetic and beautiful and the characters are strong & unrelenting. I did think it started off a bit slow but after 30 pages I couldn’t put it down. The characters are so unique and funny, I found myself rooting for them or gasping out loud and grieving with them. I hope to read more from Damien in the future 🤞🏼

[Andrea Marquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky to have read this ARC. I really enjoyed it. Heavy on mythology and light to no romance but what I liked is that it tackles friendship, adventure, grief, and I think also self love and finding one’s self. It’s action packed with an intense plot and descriptive world building. The writing is beautiful and at times even difficult but in a way that makes you feel as if you’re reading something serious. In a good way. I had to put this book down at times due to specific scenes that were hard to read and I needed a palette cleanser. I recommend for anyone who likes a fantasy adventure with complicated characters that you’ll fall in love with. Hoping there’s a second book in the works for this one!

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story full of adventure. Similar to a Greek retelling but it’s a world all of its own, where equality is closer.
It’s a bit Xena crossed with Brave, scattered with perfectly placed myths and legends. I loved the quests, the unravelling and the twist of fate at the end.
Looking forward to the next instalment.

[Georgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book. It is very Greek mythology coded but with different goddesses and gods etc. I’m always a fan of Greek Mythology so that’s a definite win.

I really liked the premise of this book. Desma, daughter of the High Priestess, kills her father to save his soul, and gets banished for it. She embarks on a journey to be cleansed in order to live her life.

This book tackles grief, love and friendship all in one. There’s no romance which did take me by surprise in my very “romantasy” era at the moment haha and as such it did take me a hot minute to read this book as I had other series drawing me in more.

Overall, it’s a bloody solid debut novel and those wanting a mythological fantasy book, this one may be for you!

[Julie]

I honestly just could not get into the story too much mythology and felt like a history book. I tried my best to read this book for book club and to support local authors but it wasn't for me sorry.

[Elissa_a22 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great story about gods meddling in everyday life! In school mythology was my favourite subject and I love how this book shares stories of the gods meddling with the humans!

Our FMC was such a great character and would truly do anything for her friends and family, & a found family group that would do anything for her 💖

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. It is a well polished piece from debut author Damien J. Coluccio.
The introduction is all about immersing the reader in this diverse mythological world full of gods and goddesses. Coluccio is very creative, each character is such an individual, with their own distinctive look, personality, and strengths.
About a quarter of the way into the book things really start to happen. The story takes off and continues on that trajectory, it was at that point that I didn't want to put the book down. I especially enjoyed the unique idioms and phrases that pop up in conversations, they are so clever. There are also short mythological tales throughout the story that add depth to the world and the people and their beliefs.
I was not prepared for the ending, so much happened in such a short time, and new exciting magic appeared. I keep thinking about the main character, Desma, and her crew, and I want to know what they get up to in the next Wine-Dark book!

[Emma Gerts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally enjoyed this book overall, though there were a few small improvements that I think could have really elevated the concept.

Essentially, this is basically the Odessey, but Odeseus is the daughter of the High Priestess of Aphrodite (Turan in this).

Clearly this book is heavily inspired by and based on Greek mythology, which is fine, however it is a fantasy world as far as I can tell - all the names of the gods have been changed, there are different names for the cities, and the map sort of looks like if someone tried to redraw the mediterranean by memory. Unfortunately I did just feel like it was a little . . .too close. The analogies were almost exact to the actual Greek mythology, the clothing was the same, the city-states had exact matches to real Greek city states . . . it felt a little as if the author just did a find+replace with new names and called it a day. I don't mind a heavy inspiration or re-imagining of an existing mythology, but this was just too close. Perhaps to someone unfamiliar with Greek Mythology it wouldn't have been so jarring, but even Cirsa mentioning she was going to live on an island with her sister who turns tresspassers into animals was just . . . it's all such a 1:1 conversion that these mentions don't feel like nods but just making sure we all know it's Greek. Yes, we got it.

My second major problem is Desma, the protagonist, the Wine-Dark Daughter. Unfortunately for the "hero" of this book, Desma is a very reactive, passive protagonist. The plot just sort of happens to her, rather than her driving it. The original conflict is caused by her mother, which Desma does nothing to either prevent or cause. Even the main driver that forces her to go on her adventure was her father trying to kill himself. She reacted to his suicide by killing him instead, but she didn't actually initiate that action on her own. It was because of nothing she did that she became cursed. Once she leaves the city, her actions are driven by her crew, her ideas and movements always come from the people around her rather than from herself. They decide to go fight the monster at Cosmas' suggestion, then she is trapped into a marriage because of a prophecy. She doesn't really DO anything. . Perhaps this is meant to reflect the idea that people are just the playthings of the gods, but unfortunately it doesn't really work as the protagonist of the story. I wanted to see her actually taking control of her fate, rather than just being pushed around by the events around her.

With all that said, however, the writing in this book was quite lovely, and the descriptions did adhere well to the type of phrasing and construction that we commonly see in mythology. The cadence of some of the passages meshed well with the source material and gave it a bit of an oral epic feel. I think if there was a little more creativity and distance put between the mythology of the book and its source material, and Desma was a more active character, this would have been a very enjoyable book.

[Madeline Burget · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of reading this beautifully written debut! I'm a painfully slow reader but I really wanted to dive into another fantasy series, and this one was so well developed and immersive that I highly recommend it if you are just branching into fantasy/epic fantasy.

The world-building was incredibly rich, and Damien really knew how to play around with the reader's senses in such a dynamic way. I loved falling into the world and drinking in the familiar yet new culture Damien introduced me to.

If you love soft Pirates (Not hardcore pirates, more like... greek inspired is how I might describe it?), found family, strong female main characters, mythological fantasy lore and storytelling, meddling gods/goddesses, sword fights, a bit of a mystery, and a quest for redemption. This is for you!

I will say, that while this story often feels very cozy and happy in the beginning, later on I found it cozy in a miserable sort of way which was nice. Like the coziness still clung to the story and sort of helped to shelter the reader from all the chaos. As I enjoy misery, and deep dark emotions, I found this book very cozy.

I am excited to see where Desma's story takes her!

[Alis Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wine-Dark Daughter is a Fantasy book and the first book in the Wine Dark Series.
Fantasy books are not my usual genre to read but this year I am trying to broaden my reading material to see if I am missing out on something.
As I read through, one of the first things I notice is there are a lot of players in the book, but the main protagonists shine through so it does not deter from the story but enhances it.
The book is gruesome in parts but the plot is intricate and the story moves at pace. Coluccio’s writing style is vivid, enabling me to fully embrace the story . A few of the earlier scenes felt a little drawn out, but with that being said at 324 pages this is a short fantasy book in comparison to others I have looked at. But I must say that the book is a captivating start, I fell in love with Desma for all of her faults, to what promises to be a promising series.
In conclusion, an intricate story, well written with vivid descriptions and I recommend for those of you who are fans of epic tales and strong characters.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Beautiful prose, with rich mythology and detailed world building.
The characters -- Desma & Cela, plus all the side characters, Mynta, the rest of the crew, and the God's and Goddesses -- were all brilliantly written, complex yet with understandable motives.
I enjoyed the little mythology tales scattered throughout the novel as they came up in conversation.
Mynta standing up to her father was probably the most satisfying scene.
And I enjoyed the couple of twists at the end.
However, this book did drag and feel predictable for the middle third for me, it was only the beautiful writing that kept me reading.

[Evie Pavone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars 🌟
An alright read.
Took till middle of book and end to develop the storyline and at that point it was more readable.
The start and part of the middle of book was very heavy with factual information and descriptive language.
Less of that would have made the plot and story more enjoyable to read. Understandable to cover that a little bit, it was over done in my opinion.
It was a very different story and interesting.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had me hooked!!

Loved this book! I was hooked pretty quickly and although I don’t know much about mythology it was pretty easy to follow. Looking forward to the next book! Can’t wait to see what happens

[Dk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and easy read if you enjoy mythology inspired stories

[Holly Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just wasn't my thing and couldn't get into it