Bride of the Sun: Love of Legends, Book 1

by Jes Drew

She flew too close to the sun.

Now he’s claimed her for his bride.

But can he woo her before she flies away forever?

Raised among the secrets and shadows of Crete, Icarus finds escape soaring through the sky with her finest invention, a pair of wings. But when she flies too close to the sun, Apollo finally sees the woman who has haunted his visions for a year. The woman he is certain is meant for him.

She wants freedom. He wants her . . .

So, Apollo demands Icarus as his sacrificial bride, to be given to him on the Summer Solstice. But he doesn’t dare trust his destiny to the Fates. Apollo disguises himself as a mortal to woo his promised bride. The only way he can get close to her, however, is to help her as she prepares to escape Crete— and her unwanted bridegroom.

Falling in love just might mean crashing and burning . . .

Apollo will do whatever it takes to convince Icarus to choose a future with him. But she might not have a future to give. A new prophecy haunts Icarus will fall, but not in love. And mortals are such delicate creatures.

They were always meant to be a tragedy. But maybe that was only the beginning . . .

He falls first.

She literally falls.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Greek Mythology, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published September 30, 2024

About the author

Jes Drew is the author of the Cursed Fae of Orphydice Manor Series, the Sunset at Dawn trilogy, The Samurai's Student saga, the Ninja and Hunter trilogy, the Howling Twenty trilogy, the Kristian Clark saga/The Man on the Run series, the Castaways trilogy, The Dystopian Takeover trilogy, Summers of Yesteryear series, The Clockwork Faerie Tale Novellas, the Legends of the Master Spy series, The New ESE Files series, Tales from Parallel Worlds, Genie and Serena, Accidentally on the Run, This Side of Heaven, and The Death of a Hero.


She has three degrees, including a Master of Arts in Behavioral Counseling. Also, she has about five million houseplants (and counting— the plants and not the degrees . . . unless she relapses). She is still debating if having a fae husband is worth the hassle.


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Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

—This review will be on Goodreads, Amazon, and LibraryThing if book is present on those sites. —

An Icarus retelling!

Sorry, had to get that out of the way first.

I’ve recently jumped back into my Greek mythology hyperfixation, so finding this book was awesome. I particularly love anything relating to Icarus, so a gender-swapped love story with Apollo caught my eye in a second. On that note, I don’t think I have ever seen someone touch on the topic of a gender-swapped Icarus, so I was excited to see that play out.

I adored the characters. Apollo, in particular, I liked reading and hearing about the on-goings of the divine world. The mythology formed in this book isn’t heavily reliant on actual Greek mythology, in my opinion. An example is the fact that the gods (like Apollo, Artemis, Hades) refer to themselves as ‘primordial,’ despite the fact that in Greek mythology the primordials are those who came first like Chaos (Khaos), Aether, and Night (Nyx). It feels like a bit of a mix between Greek and Christian, especially with the use of a ‘Creator’ figure, but it creates a fascinating new world that I am eager to learn more about with the next books.

The only thing I’ll say against the book is that sometimes the writing for Icarus’s POV felt a bit jumbled together and childish. Considering her age and situation, I can concede this would make sense, but I would have liked to see her act a bit older. The Kindle e-book format it was in also might not have helped as it does mess up from time to time. I will certainly still be buying this as a physical copy and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of the author’s books in this series! The epilogue in a certain person’s view point makes me so excited for the next book!

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

[storytime.withb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I really enjoyed this book! This Icarus retelling is so captivating! Apollo’s character really warmed my heart ❤️

Icarus’s need to be free, to have her own choice is so resonating! She has always been around men that think women are their property. And her relationship with her father is so adorable. On the other hand, Apollo, who initially thought he was saving her, ends up becoming her biggest nightmare! I loved Apollo’s character so much! His struggles as a mortal were so fun to read! There were some really really interesting twists and turns which make you gasp! I would recommend this book to everyone!

Thank you to the author for giving me the ARC! I can’t wait to read what happens next 😍

[Addison Michlig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. There are so many words to express how much I loved this and the characters in it. The world building was amazing and helped the readers imagine exactly what Icarus’ home looked like. The descriptions of the characters were also amazing too and any interactions with Apollo and Icarus made me wanting more. I got worried for the couple at the end but when I finished I was happy for them. The epilogue was an amazing plot twist and if the wonderful author were to make a next book I would 100% read it. This story was an overall 5/5 read. Thanks to the author for letting me have an ARC in exchange for a review.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jes Drew has crafted a story that pays homage to several Greek myths while putting her own spin on it. The most obvious is the myth of Icarus, but there also nudges to the Minotaur (which I suspect will be explored further in the next book), Artemis's huntresses, the various names of the Greek gods, and Perseus.

Apollo has been searching for the woman haunting his visions for years, so when he happens to catch a glimpse of her soaring in the sky while he sets the sun on its path in the sky, he jumps to make a bargain with the king of Crete. Icarus is to become his bride in four days or he will drive the sun close enough to Crete to destroy it. Of course, he doesn't bargain on Icarus not being pleased with simply being given away to him and must quickly come up with a plan to win her over.

Apollo's bumbling antics as a human is honestly one of the best parts of this book along with the relationships between all the different characters. This was a great story, and I kind of hate that I'm going to have to wait to see what antics the other characters get into in the coming books. I highly recommend this book.

[Lisa Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably closer to a 4.5 star experience. The story is engrossing, it is a very interesting retelling of the Icarus myth. Icarus is not a myth you often see retold. This was truly unique so many ways. It is well written and nicely paced. I enjoyed the spin Jes Drew put on the story; the gender swap, Apollo's visions, women fighting for freedom and choice and control over their own lives and destiny, the hidden identity trope and much much more all come together to create an intriguing tale. I especially enjoyed the way each character went about searching for, finding, choosing and sacrificing for the future they each truly wanted. The tropes and themes are all woven together in an engaging tapestry. There are plenty of elements that are recognizable from Greek mythology and so many more elements that are brand new and fresh.

This is my first taste of Jes Drew and I am excited to dive into more.

Thank You BookSirens for a free ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Gabrielle (belle.bookcorner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think there’s a lot of Icarus x Apollo retelling out there and I’m not entirely familiar with the original story as well so I was very excited to read this the first time I saw the blurb!

This story is told in dual POV, from Apollo and Icarus – our two main characters.
Easy to read writing style makes the plot flows smoothly.

A few things I enjoy reading about this book are seeing how Apollo’s character grow throughout the story from the pompous and arrogant God to someone who appreciate other people's decision as well as seeing how Apollo try numerous ways to woo Icarus into falling in love with him.

While I like most part of the story, there are some moments that’s slightly repetitive especially during Icarus's POV.
The last few chapters took an unexpected turn but all in all it has a satisfying ending that comes with a small epilogue which serves a teaser for what’s coming next cause things are far from over at Crete…

Overall, this was a fun retelling story. I really enjoy my time reading this story!
I’m looking forward to read the next book in the future and I hope it’ll be here soon.

Thank you to Book of Matches Media and the author for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: The villain forced the heroine to kiss him when she was a child- this is a past event that is remembered/discussed. There is on-screen violence, but it is not graphically described.

[Tee-Hee Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review:

First–I read this book as someone who has never read mythology and doesn’t know anything about the classic or other versions of these tales.😅

So this book took a bit to get into both for understanding, and for interest. The author includes some vocabulary at the front of the book, so that and the synopsis (which I’ll provide in the comments) helped!

In this tale, Icarus is a female (equivalent to a human), and Apollo’s fallen for her. While Icarus desires freedom and to marry for love, Apollo’s determined she will be his bride.👰‍♀️

While mythology isn’t my thing, something I love in the books I read, however, is character development!

Apollo’s character development changes from seemingly arrogant/ entitled, to going the lengths of becoming “a mortal” in order to woo Icarus and discover how she wants to be loved…however, with twists and turns throughout the story and this situation of hidden identity tensions rise.📈

Whether these two’s relationship has a HEA or crashes…I can’t spoil that!💥

I still prefer my fairytale retellings, but this one may interest readers who are familiar with the classics who read mythology books/ retellings.

[Bookish Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't terribly familiar with Icarus when I first picked this up, and ended up googling the myth while reading this just so I could see where the similarities were. And what a fun, genderbent retelling it was! Icaraus, daughter of Daedalus, wishes she could be a master architect/inventor like her father. She crafts beautiful wings and plans to fly away from all the chains holding her back - the main one being the tyrannical King Minos. But she flew too close to the sun and was spotted by Apollo, who chose her as his bride. Apollo was hilarious while he was trying to woo Icarus! Loved this retelling!

[Ariesy 'Hiariesy' Perdana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Standing ovation for Jes Drew for making me smile, laugh, say aww~ the whole book because I just LOOOVVVEEEE her storytelling. Apollo is just sooo hopelessly romantic, sweet, and I adore his clueless behaviour. I also like Icarus' character that shows woman empowerment in a world full of patriarchists (also, she's smart!). I see that Jes Drew puts a slight sexual harassment issue into our attention here. All the issues that happen nowadays seem to fit perfectly and are well-executed in this book. I'm not going to spoil anything but let's just say I'm curious about Ariadne's story.
.
Highly recommended!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fascinating retelling of Icarus, it had that Greek mythology element that I was hoping for and enjoyed about the genre. I enjoyed the romance element and that it uses Apollo and Icarus in a realistic way. It was a engaging story and thought everything worked as a original novel and still have the original spirit. Jes Drew always does a great job in writing this and I've enjoyed other works by Jes Drew.

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

[Lorrie (Clockworkbookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 Reads #103/250

[Finn Ambrose Mclellan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting take on the story of Icarus . I enjoyed this book more than I anticipated. Would recommend to anyone to give it a read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nesi León · Rating 5 out of 5]

Name: Bride of the sun.
Author: Jes Drew


I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book for free. I wrote this review voluntarily. Thank you to the author for the opportunity.

I absolutely loved this book! I adored everything, every detail and every unexpected twist in the plot. Firstly, it revisits the myth of Icarus, giving this character the chance to tell his own story. However, in this case, Icarus is a woman, and Apollo is in love with her. I really enjoyed the change of narrators throughout the work, and without a doubt, Apollo's dialogues were the best. All the work done with the Greek pantheon of gods was also very interesting, they are known as the Primarius. What can I say about the ending, I was utterly shocked. I'm not going to go into details, but the reality is that it was a truly gratifying read.

The only thing I didn't like was that I felt there was unnecessary padding in some parts. There are descriptions and dialogues that could have been omitted from the book. There were times when I was bored reading Icarus's conversations or her thoughts. I think with an edit, these fillers could be eliminated and the book would be better.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forward-Thinking Heroine Pairs with Naive Mythical Primordial

This intriguing start to a new mythological series, Love of Legends, by talented author Jess Drew retells Icarus’ story. This version is a genderflip; Icarus is the female daughter of Daedalus, the master architect of Crete. Icarus is more of an inventor, with a fascination for creating wings so she can fly. The author sets up what will happen between Icarus and Apollo first with visions that he has of a woman he is fiercely attracted to. Not all these visions are happy or beautiful ones; he imagines her in one plummeting from the sky. Imagine his shock when one day he actually sees this woman flying near him as he is towing the sun across the firmament to start the day. He determines he must have her as his bride and threatens Minos, king of Crete, with the island's destruction if she is not given to him in marriage on the summer solstice, which is just in 3 days.

His sister Artemis soon points out his folly: he needs a willing bride, not a coerced one. Soon, he takes his human form and attempts to woo Icarus. Part of what makes the first part of this book fun is that he is utterly clueless about how to do this! Despite being a primordial who has lived for eons, he is surprisingly naive about how things work in the human world, and in particular, romance with human women. Icarus doesn't know quite what to make of him when she rescues him from the sea. However, she is increasingly charmed by what she believes is just a man named Phoebus while lamenting her forced nuptials to Apollo.

I won't go into further plot details. I liked Phoebus Apollo's character, in his several forms, even though at times he was too narrowly focused on his quest and had a persistent inability to pick up clues that would be obvious to a human. I'll admit the heroine drove me more than a little crazy because she became a bit one-note as this story went on. She also seemed to have far too modern ideas of what a woman could do in her society. I'm not a fan of authors looking back 200 or 2000+ years (in real life or mythology) and ascribing modern thoughts to old or ancient characters. That happened here. However, things became fascinating when the heroine started coming around to the idea of marrying the sun god. The author states this series will be “no spice, but that doesn't mean the story lacks passion. The scenes with just kissing or touching conveyed that quite well without “spice.” Things do look dire for one or both of the main characters at different times in the book, but thankfully, the author works things out cleverly and well. I do not feel like I can wholly recommend this book because of how the Icarus character was portrayed for most of it; however, I did ultimately find it a good listen. The male narrator (and this story has both female and male narrators) did an excellent job capturing Apollo's naivete and tunnel vision that came so naturally to him through voice. The cover doesn't seem accurate to the story, the hero was described in both his forms as being blond, radiantly so (naturally!) when he was Apollo.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

I received a promo code for this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.

[Hilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Your spirit burns as brightly as the sun. And the sun is not meant to be limited but to soar freely through the sky"

Bride of the Sun by Jes Drew is a retelling of the tale of Icarus, who wanted to fly but got too close to the sun, with dire consequences.

As I love retellings, I have read a lot of those books, but a story like this one I have never read before! It is a fantastic story and I had a really hard time putting the book down. And when I was not reading this beautiful story, I kept thinking about it and counted the hours until I could read further.

From the very first page I was totally captivated by this story. The writing is fast paced and flowing. Without ging away too much to this story, I can say that I loved Icarus. This character comes across so very well. Icarus is feisty, wants to fly, but has to stay in Knossos, Crete, with her father, who has to do mysterious things for the power-hungry King of Knossos. And those who know, will also know what creature resided in Knossos.

Jes Drew made the tale of Icarus completely her own and mixed some other myths in this story as well, as she mentioned in the afterword of the book. It is a retelling of Icarus, Apollo and Daphne (a story I did not know, but looked up) and Swan Lake (a tale I love very much). She weaves all three into a beautiful engaging and unique story.

As I was reaching the end of the story, there were some 100 pages left and I wondered how those pages would be filled, because I thought the story would be ended very soon. But boy, was I wrong! In those pages there was so much happening. Many unexpected twists and turns made that I was glued to the pages.

I can definitely say that Bride of the Sun by Jes Drew is a beautiful and fantastic magical story, with a fast paced and mesmerising writing style, with unexpected turns, danger, romance, betrayal, magic, some humour, with secret identities and with some fantastic side characters plus two amazing main characters who just belong together. I enjoyed reading this book a lot and I can’t wait to read the next (standalone) book in this series, because at the end there is this epilogue chapter, in which Ariadne, friend of Icarus and Princess of Crete, plays a part. And we all know who Ariadne is (or was), don’t we?

If you want to read an amazing retelling, you just have to read this book!

Highly, highly recommended!!

[funkelbunt.liest · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars rounded to 5

This was a really interesting and quite unique read! I only know a few basics about Greek myths, but of course I once read the story of Daedalus and Icarus in school and a lot of names I encountered in this book were familiar to me.

To make Icarus a woman and write a love story with a lot of twists and turns - and a happy ending instead of the devastating one in the original - made this a completely new story.

But what I loved the most was the Christian perspective of this book. I was a bit skeptical how a book about Greek gods could include a Christian worldview but this does and it made it really compelling to me.

“He is the only God. The others are part of His created order, same as the storms and seas, Minos and us.”

I also loved the redemption arc of Apollo. Even though he started out with the best intentions, he was really oblivious and self centered at first, whereas his love for Icarus became more than surface level and selfless in the end and their love story not only a unique, but a beautiful one.

Still, I couldn’t relate to the main characters as much as I hoped. This might be because they were so much above me - one a god (Primordial, not a human) and the other one so extremely beautiful, considered a goddess among humans because of her beauty. So maybe the part about gods/Primordials made it a bit difficult for me to relate or it was because of the focus on outward appearance. Their love evolves to more, but the physical attraction seems still to be the basis of their interest in each other, at least at first.

I still enjoyed this book a lot and am looking forward to other books in this series. You might enjoy it most if you’re familiar with mythology, but my lack of knowledge in this department didn’t spoil my reading experience. On the contrary, it piqued my interest and makes me want to look a bit into the originals.

* Thank you to the author for letting me read an copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own. (I received an eARC via BookSprout.)

[theromantasybookcorner._ · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗨𝗡 𝗕𝗬 𝗝𝗘𝗦 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪

➳❥༻☀️🪽☀️༺➳❥
➳༻❀☕️🅱︎🅾︎🅾︎🅺•🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆☕️❀༺➳
Bʀɪᴅᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ Sᴜɴ ʙʏ Jᴇs Dʀᴇᴡ

📚📝✨𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊•𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒✨📝📚
☀️𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟷 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝙻𝙴𝙶𝙴𝙽𝙳𝚂 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂
🪽𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴
☀️𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: 𝙹𝚄𝙽𝙴 𝟸𝟶𝚃𝙷 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺
╰┈➤𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄✨
🪽𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗬 𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘𝗦: 𝙻𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚃𝙴𝙳; 𝙼𝚈𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙾𝚄𝚂; 𝙰𝙳𝚅𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙾𝚄𝚂; 𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙴; 𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙻𝙻𝙴𝙽𝙶𝙸𝙽𝙶
☀️𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗡𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥: 𝟹𝟼𝟷 𝙿𝙰𝙶𝙴𝚂
🪽𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘: 𝚂𝙰𝙲𝚁𝙸𝙵𝙸𝙲𝙸𝙰𝙻 𝙱𝚁𝙸𝙳𝙴; 𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙰𝙻𝙻𝚂 𝙵𝙸𝚁𝚂𝚃; 𝚃𝙾𝚄𝙲𝙷 𝙷𝙴𝚁 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙳𝙸𝙴; 𝙸𝙲𝙰𝚁𝚄𝚂 𝚁𝙴𝚃𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶𝚂
☀️𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
🪽𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦

➳❥༻☀️🪽☀️༺➳❥

✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to 𝐉𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐰 & 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 for my Advanced Reader Copy of 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐧! This review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.

I haven’t read many Icarus retellings, and I absolutely loved this one! Bride of the Sun is a beautiful story about Icarus and Apollo, and there was SO much about their story that I loved! One of my favorite twists in this retelling was that Icarus was female - this was a fun twist and I absolutely loved her need to feel freedom and to make her own decisions in a man’s world. This was captured so beautifully and it made me connect with her character on a deep and emotional level.

This was also one of my favorite adaptations of Apollo! I loved seeing his struggles in the mortal world and they really added a lighthearted feel to this book that balanced so well some of the heavier themes. The chemistry between Icarus and Apollo was so good and it kept me wanting more of them! I craved when they were on page together.

Overall I thought this was a really great book and an even better retelling! I think this is perfect for fans of Greek Mythology and fantasy romance, and everything blended together to create a really amazing and beautiful story!

……..

➳❥༻☀️🪽☀️༺➳❥

[Jozie | Cozy Romantasy Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Greek mythology and the way this story gave me goosebumps and butterflies. This story was sweet and lighthearted, with a few tense, "I can't put this book down" moments. 


Bride of the Sun is a romantsy retelling of Icarus and Apollo. Icarus dreams of freedom, and with the wings she and her father have created, her freedom becomes possible—until Icarus flies too close to the sun, catching the attention of Apollo. Every night, Apollo is plagued with dreams and visions of dancing with a woman whom he believes the Creator will gift to him. When he spots her flying like a bird, he takes his destiny into his own hands, entering into an unbreakable bargain with King Minos: his new bride on the day of the Summer Solstice for a couple of locks of his golden hair. Taking away Icarus's choice and freedom was not his intention, but can he make her freely fall in love with him within three days?

While reading the first chapter, I was instantly hooked. I knew I was going to love this story. Jes’s writing was so descriptive that I could visualize the characters and the scenery perfectly. I adored both Icarus and Apollo. Icarus was strong-willed, stubborn, and intelligent. She was far from the damsel in distress Apollo originally believed her to be. Apollo was charming, and his innocence was adorable. His initial actions regarding their betrothal were impulsive, but his intentions behind it were sincere, and he did everything he could to fix his mistake.


If you are looking for a romantsy retelling without the spice, I would definitely give this book a read! 


Thank you, Jes Drew, Boo’s Books Publishing, and Booksprout for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lumie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Jes Drew for the free copy.

Plot 3.75/5
Characters 4/5
Ending 3.5/5
Interest 4.5/5

Overall 3.75/5

-The premise was interesting. The visions of a real girl to him actually being infatuated with her and her not having a clue who he is and then not wanting anything to do with him. What I disliked is how things came to be. The story started off quite odd and the marriage proposal was kind of ridiculous and it felt like the author knew as they integrated the characters acknowledging it being stupid in the story itself. It really like they didn’t know how to make things happen. I also really didn’t like the lies that accumulated in the story how everything was built on a lie and on a whim. But other than this elements, I actually quite enjoyed myself.

-It felt like Apollo didn’t think things through very often. From the forced proposal to the lying about his identity there were lots of irritating moments from his part. But I still enjoyed his character at times, he truly was very sweet to Icarus and together they had a very cute relationship. Icarus was also sometimes a little irritating since she kept repeating herself and I get it’s part of her characters but I understood it from very early on. But same as Apollo, I still liked her despite this.

-The ending fell very flat for me. He saves her, she saves him it was all nice and sweet but them I noticed how there was around 80 pages left. The ending had dragged on for way too long, there were scenes which were necessary for instance when Icarus revived the Kiss but other than that the ending was too long and a lot of it could have been cut out and I would have preferred it.

[Lisa Conant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5
Spice: 🌶 out of 5

Tropes:
🪽Icarus x Apollo Retelling
💫Gods and Humans
😄"Fish Out of Water" Antics
🤐Secret Identity
🤯Plot Twists

Review:
A fun retelling with sharp dialog but also a solid drama at its core. It takes the story of Icarus, her wings, flying too close to the son and weaves a highly entertaining story filled with lushly defined characters.

Apollo has visions of Icarus and strikes a deal with King Minus to make her his betrothed on the Summer Solstice. Being a Primordial, Apollo cannot renig on any bargain otherwise he will die. Icarus is intelligent, beautiful but high spirited. She wants to marry for love, not a deal with who she believes is an entitled and possessive God.

Good hearted Apollo disguises his human form to woo her properly in the 4 days he has. This invites some humorous circumstances for the newly human God as well as some tender moments of self discovery for them both.

I was smitten with Apollo! His intentions are meant well, he's just trying to learn what it is to be human and how Icarus wants to be loved. The tension created from her finding out who he truly is, was meaty stuff that I clung to every word on! Almost rom-com at times but then there are moments of tenderness and intimate character reveal that quite moved me.

This story has heart, humor, but also action, high stakes and suspense! An impressive array of emotions but also principles ( hubrous, freedom, love, sacrifice, vows) makes this a very highly recommend tale!

[Belinda Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautifully paced, heartwarming read that focused deeply on the evolving relationship between Apollo and Icarus.

What truly stood out was the way their love blossomed in such a natural, authentic way. Apollo's attempts to woo Icarus were not only adorable but felt incredibly real due to their mutual hesitancy. Despite their struggles with vulnerability, their affection for each other shone through in every interaction, making their bond feel both relatable and touching.

Apollo's character arc was particularly notable. He started off as a god who carried himself with that same divine air but gradually transformed into a man who was deeply in love. The shift was subtle and heartwarming, especially as he learned to put Icarus first and helped her come to terms with her own needs.

Meanwhile, Icarus’s growth was just as compelling. Her past trauma was handled with care, and the way she opened up​, thanks to Apollo’s support, was both cute and deeply satisfying. Their love story was simple but effective, and the emotional resolution was beautifully done, making the ending feel just right.

Overall, this was a feel-good read that centered on their relationship. The pacing was perfect for anyone looking for a comfortable, one-sitting story with just the right amount of sweetness and lightness, without any heavy topics to weigh it down. Thank you so much to the author and BOMM for sending me an ARC to review.

[Reader_for_LifeTLG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apollo and Icarus - A great retelling that takes the tale of Daedalus and Icarus to new heights. Intricately woven with King Minos' legendary minotaur and the darkness that feeds its appetite, Bride of the Sun is a tale about choices and the duplicity of man. Apollo quickly learns that his bride-to-be is no more willing to succumb to his godly presence than to the lecherous mortals who would claim her. A lesson he takes to heart, seeking to woo her under the guise of an errant traveler. Phoebus slips into Icarus' heart with relative ease, his gentle and protective nature non-threatening to the young woman who suffers the unwanted attentions of a ranking male. When faced with the option to wed her godly beau or claim his power for the good of Crete (AKA King Minos), the choice Icarus makes will set her on a path of no return. Can Apollo save her from the nightmare that plays before his eyes each night? Or will he lose his love before she allows him to claim her?

Much darker than the myth in my opinion, though the king's madness and Daedalus and Icarus' desire to escape his hold remain. A good read with fear and tension interwoven with stolen moments of joy. I look forward to revisiting Crete's fate. One thing that remains unresolved for me - Why didn't Icarus deduce what Asios and the others were up to the night she met Apollo in his true form? Hmmm.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cathryn Melani (cat.inspired) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First a moment to appreciate this cover design! Stunning right!

This is an Apollo and Icarus retelling, with a twist, in this one Icarus is a FMC, smart, strong and determined to keep her freedom. What ever the cost.

An Apollo is just as determined to have her for his bride!

Enjoyed this one!

A cute twist on the Greek mythology story. Loved Icarus and how she was represented in this.

An Apollo, who started out as the selfish MC, was portrayed in a cute, willing to learn and change way.

This worked REALLY well as a duel POV #retelling enabling the reader to connect with both characters.

Loved that this had Ariadnne in to, again with a twist!

The author did a great job of taking a classic mythology story and shaping it into something different while still keeping the traditional mythological vibes

Because of the twists, it was hard to know how this was going to end, which I loved. Kept me engaged till the end to see.

Did they get a HEA? Read and see!

This is book one in the Love of legends series and I'm excited to see what comes next!

Off now to check out this author's back catalogue.

I was gifted a copy of this by Book Of Matches Media. All thoughts are my own.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite part of the book is Apollo and how he develops over the story. He makes arrogant choices in the beginning because he thinks he knows what’s best, but changes when he gets to know Icarus. I also liked Icarus’s fierce independence and determination, although her dialogue was a little repetitive. Mentioning that she flew to close to the sun would be fine once or twice, but ten times was a bit much.

The worldbuilding in this book was a little uneven to me. The gods are not gods but “primordials” created by the Unseen God that Icarus and her father worship. To be honest, every time the Unseen God was brought up, it took me out of the story because it feels like this world has Christianity forced into it to avoid being blasphemous. I liked the idea that the primordials can make mortals immortal, but I don’t know why the transition is called a “kiss” when it appears to be more like a werewolf bite!

Overall, it’s a cute romance to get your Greek mythology fix where the man drinks his “respect women” juice. Just be prepared to skim over the homebrew lore.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sweet Suriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this retelling of Icarus and the gender-swap. This dual POV (Icarus and Apollo) was captivating, entertaining, and well told. Apollo catches sight of Icarus after seeing her in his visions for a year. He immediately demands her a sacrificial bride, or he will destroy Crete. The story mainly follows the few days leading up to the wedding, with Apollo struggling to woo Icarus. Icarus, being the strong independent woman she is (as she should be!) yearns for freedom from the demands of men.

My favorite thing about this book was Apollo’s character growth. He starts off knowing nothing of the wishes and wants of mortal women, but learns and adapts for her. I would swoon for him! I found Apollo’s character to be very funny in terms of his inexperience and personality. This story has it all, and made me feel all the feels. I look forward to reading more by Jes Drew, and recommend this book to anyone who’s a fan of mythology retellings with a twist.

Thank you Booksirens and Jes Drew for this review copy!

[Andreea Ratiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me something I never thought I’d see: Apollo as a sweet, innocent protector instead of his usual “I’m too shiny for my own good” self? I’ve read plenty of myth-based stories, and Apollo is usually busy being a golden-haired narcissist with control issues. But in Bride of the Sun, he’s basically a cinnamon roll dipped in stardust. Total novelty for me.

This book is absolutely a young adult story—perfect for teens 14+ (and those of us who still read like teens at heart). The first half is kind of like the "getting-to-know-you" stage of a crush. It’s cute, like a slow dance at a school prom—cute, mild, and full of stolen glances and filled with those little moments where you go “aww” 😍.

But the second half? Now we built up some emotional storm. Trials! Fears! Feelings! I was invested. Buckle up, because that’s when things get real. Emotional battles, fears, sacrifices, and the romantic tension our myth-loving heart lives for.

Highly recommend if you're a fan of mythology retellings with a YA twist and open heart ☀️💘

[TheAudiobookReviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bride of the Sun is a Christian retelling of a combination of "Icarus and Daedalus" and "Apollo and Daphne" with a hint of Swan Lake/Swan Princess thrown in there. And somehow it works.

First off, the writing is VERY engaging. You won't be able to put this one down. Except maybe at the end. I was ready for the book to end with the final confrontation, but there was at least another hour of listening afterwards. But overall the plot was great and it was really easy to immerse yourself in. Also the narrators did a good job. Except at the end even they sounded a little bored. They did a unique thing where the male narrator did ALL the male lines (even when it's Icarus's perspective) and female narrator did ALL the female lines. I think it worked quite well.

Apollo is ADORABLE but also wholly unrealistic. His pursuit of Icarus (who's a woman in this retelling) is so innocent yet passionate and so single-minded. His innocence and selflessness were adorable. I can totally understand why Icarus is in love with him, but why on Earth does he STAY in love with her?


Apparently I have a different definition of "clean" than the other reviewers on this book. Sure, as far as I can tell, there was no actual sex either closed door or open door (though you might call it fade to black at the very very end after they're married). BUT there was a LOT of VERY passionate kissing. There was one scene that just went on and on and ON. I believe there was a lot of what older generations call "necking and petting". Like, these were not quick, heartfelt kisses. This was full on foreplay-level kissing. I ended up skipping through MINUTES of their passionate kissing. So no, personally I would not call this a "clean read". There's also some sexual harassment and a somewhat brief description of what I would call sexual assault (really creepy rape kissing) and threat of actual rape.

If I'd realized how sexual this book was, I probably wouldn't have started it in the first place. Which is a shame, because I was really looking forward to reading Ariadne's book, but I'm guessing it's going to be the same or worse.

[ToriLynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greek mythology retelling

I appreciated the dictionary at the beginning. The book did not grab me at first and it was a difficult mindset to enter the story world, not least of all with Icarus being female (I didn’t understand what was going on at first), but once I fell into the story and got caught up in it, about chapter 3-4, I quite enjoyed myself and didn’t put it down until I finished. The retelling and combining went well, and I quite like how the story played out with Apollo and Icarus and Daedalus. I’m actually looking forward to the sequel and the intricacies involved. The first chapters are necessary for the setting, but I had a difficult time entering the world. Once I did, I didn’t want to let go!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting concept

The premise of this book holds promise. A retelling of the tale of Daedalus and Icarus with original additions. The plot moved at a good pace. Some mystery with clues dropped in is good for drawing me in. Icarus is very stubborn but for good reason. Phoebus Apollo was fun. While a closed door romance, it’s still a little more physical with some slightly more adult innuendo than I expected. Typos are noticeable here and there, but it’s mostly fine. Not my favorite, but not terrible. While I wouldn’t read it again soon, the originality still places it among a list of myth retelling for older readers, and I will give the other books in this series a chance. I am curious to see what happens next since this is the first of a series.

[Ninette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into it, and when I got into it, it was swinging in an out of me being so interest that I could not put the book down to me nearly dnfing the book. I don't now if this is because I'm in a reading slump or what, because when I read the resume of the book, I was sure it would be a 5 star.

I really like Icarus, from her defience of the hole marriage to her falling in love with Apollo. I like the interaction between Icarus and Apollo both when he is a god and when he disguise himself as a mortal. And really loved Apollo and how we see him struggles with woman and being a mortal.

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