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Oath of Fire #2
Daughter of the Hunt
When a God falls for her sacrifice, can their love survive in this lush, haunting reimagining of the myth Iphigenia and Artemis, sure to enchant fans of Katee Robert and Rebecca Kinney!
Iphigenia Pelops lives to serve her family. It is her responsibility and privilege as the Heir, as well as the only safeguard against the family curse. So when Artemis, queen of the Court of the Wild, demands a sacrifice in exchange for her blessing in a dangerous power struggle, Iphigenia is the natural choice.
However, Artemis is horrified that Iphigenia's family, and not Iphigenia herself, made the final decision. As recompense, she takes Iphigenia under her wing and teaches her the ways of the hunt—and soon, the ways of the body, as feelings blossom between them.
But can their bond survive the weight of the Pelops curse?
Iphigenia Pelops lives to serve her family. It is her responsibility and privilege as the Heir, as well as the only safeguard against the family curse. So when Artemis, queen of the Court of the Wild, demands a sacrifice in exchange for her blessing in a dangerous power struggle, Iphigenia is the natural choice.
However, Artemis is horrified that Iphigenia's family, and not Iphigenia herself, made the final decision. As recompense, she takes Iphigenia under her wing and teaches her the ways of the hunt—and soon, the ways of the body, as feelings blossom between them.
But can their bond survive the weight of the Pelops curse?
352 pages, Paperback
Published March 17, 2026
7 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
K. Arsenault Rivera
20 books462 followersPuerto Rico born and New York raised, K is a lifelong fan of all things nerdy. She drew on her love of tabletop gaming for her debut novel, THE TIGER'S DAUGHTER. An out and proud queer, she lives in Brooklyn with her partner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 24, 2026
2.5 / 5 stars
Well, this was an odd book. I thought this was going to be a relatively standard Greek myth retelling with a sapphic romance. This is actually a modern retelling, but the blurb is very clearly written to disguise that fact. Which is certainly a choice, not sure if it’s a good one though.
So, here’s a less misleading blurb: Iphigenia is the heir to her family’s multinational billion-dollar corporation. She has lived her whole life in their high-rise headquarters because of a curse passed down through her family line that promises bad fortune for Pelops-Corp should the first-born of every generation ever leave the bounds of their home. However, trouble is brewing and if Iphigenia’s father wants to keep their family’s immense wealth, he must sacrifice what is most dear to him. So he hands Iphigenia over to the Queen of the Wild, expecting that his daughter will be killed to complete the sacrifice. That is not what happens. For the Queen has other plans for her.
Okay, now to the actual review. There were a lot of weird choices that went into this book. First off, it is set in Australia. Which wouldn’t be a problem, except that in the beginning of the book, Iphigenia explains that the land on which their high-rise, in downtown Sydney, stands was ‘allotted to her family by the gods’. If the book had been set in Greece, or anywhere else in Europe honestly, that would have been fine, but given that the land on which the city of Sydney stands was violently stolen from Aboriginal Australians by European colonisers, this just feels very wrong. The fact that the land allotted to their family is stolen land could have been critically examined as a part of the plot, but nope. I don’t think the author meant any harm with this, and maybe I am overreacting - I am not Aboriginal, I’ve never even been to Australia - but I just feel like this could have been so easily avoided.
Another strange choice was the way Greek mythology was incorporated into this story, starting with the fact that I don’t think the pantheon was ever actually referred to as Greek in the book, even though it very clearly is Greek. The gods are also never referred to by their actual names - with the one exception being Artemis, the Queen of the Wild - and are instead called ‘Queen of X’ or ‘King of Y’, because using their real names makes them aware that you’re speaking about them (or something along those lines), which is bad.
On top of that, it is somewhat unclear whether people actually know about Greek mythology. The myth of Iphigenia is obviously not known, since the main character is genuinely surprised when her father, Agamemnon, decides to sacrifice her to the gods. She also does not know the story of Tantalus, who is the ancestor responsible for her family’s curse, and needs to be told it by Artemis. But then at one point there is a reference to Heracles, so his stories apparently do exist.
Now, to the plot, which just felt… flimsy? The heart of this story is supposed to be the romance between Artemis and Iphigenia and I did not get it at all. It’s basically insta-love, which would kinda make sense if it’s just Iphigenia falling for a goddess, but it’s actually the other way around. Iphigenia is attracted to Artemis from the get-go, but only starts falling for her later. Artemis, on the other hand, seems to already be in love with Iphigenia when her father sacrifices her, even though that is the first time they’ve met face-to-face. I honestly just do not understand why Artemis cares so much for this random mortal girl, to the extent where she is willing to risk the wrath of the other gods for keeping her alive. She promises to make Iphigenia into one of her handmaidens (we never see a single other handmaiden), thereby ‘killing’ the old version of her, which still fulfils the sacrifice requirement.
To become a handmaiden, Iphigenia needs to undergo a trial, which, once it came around, hardly felt like a trial at all. The way it was set up, I thought the trial consisted of Iphigenia fighting and killing a hydra. But she doesn’t actually have to fight it at all, but just assist Artemis (and a bunch of other gods) in slaying the beast - not by fighting alongside her, but by standing at the sidelines, a good distance away from the actual fight. Iphigenia does end up landing a hit, but she wasn’t required to and it still feels anticlimactic.
Really, as far as the plot goes, the beginning and the end were fine, but the whole middle part just felt slow and pointless. I really debated how many stars to give this, because it wasn’t amazing and had a good number of issues, but it never annoyed me (which is the main reason I rate books less than 3 stars) and the audiobook production was great. So 2.5 stars, rounded up for goodreads it is.
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Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC
Well, this was an odd book. I thought this was going to be a relatively standard Greek myth retelling with a sapphic romance. This is actually a modern retelling, but the blurb is very clearly written to disguise that fact. Which is certainly a choice, not sure if it’s a good one though.
So, here’s a less misleading blurb: Iphigenia is the heir to her family’s multinational billion-dollar corporation. She has lived her whole life in their high-rise headquarters because of a curse passed down through her family line that promises bad fortune for Pelops-Corp should the first-born of every generation ever leave the bounds of their home. However, trouble is brewing and if Iphigenia’s father wants to keep their family’s immense wealth, he must sacrifice what is most dear to him. So he hands Iphigenia over to the Queen of the Wild, expecting that his daughter will be killed to complete the sacrifice. That is not what happens. For the Queen has other plans for her.
Okay, now to the actual review. There were a lot of weird choices that went into this book. First off, it is set in Australia. Which wouldn’t be a problem, except that in the beginning of the book, Iphigenia explains that the land on which their high-rise, in downtown Sydney, stands was ‘allotted to her family by the gods’. If the book had been set in Greece, or anywhere else in Europe honestly, that would have been fine, but given that the land on which the city of Sydney stands was violently stolen from Aboriginal Australians by European colonisers, this just feels very wrong. The fact that the land allotted to their family is stolen land could have been critically examined as a part of the plot, but nope. I don’t think the author meant any harm with this, and maybe I am overreacting - I am not Aboriginal, I’ve never even been to Australia - but I just feel like this could have been so easily avoided.
Another strange choice was the way Greek mythology was incorporated into this story, starting with the fact that I don’t think the pantheon was ever actually referred to as Greek in the book, even though it very clearly is Greek. The gods are also never referred to by their actual names - with the one exception being Artemis, the Queen of the Wild - and are instead called ‘Queen of X’ or ‘King of Y’, because using their real names makes them aware that you’re speaking about them (or something along those lines), which is bad.
On top of that, it is somewhat unclear whether people actually know about Greek mythology. The myth of Iphigenia is obviously not known, since the main character is genuinely surprised when her father, Agamemnon, decides to sacrifice her to the gods. She also does not know the story of Tantalus, who is the ancestor responsible for her family’s curse, and needs to be told it by Artemis. But then at one point there is a reference to Heracles, so his stories apparently do exist.
Now, to the plot, which just felt… flimsy? The heart of this story is supposed to be the romance between Artemis and Iphigenia and I did not get it at all. It’s basically insta-love, which would kinda make sense if it’s just Iphigenia falling for a goddess, but it’s actually the other way around. Iphigenia is attracted to Artemis from the get-go, but only starts falling for her later. Artemis, on the other hand, seems to already be in love with Iphigenia when her father sacrifices her, even though that is the first time they’ve met face-to-face. I honestly just do not understand why Artemis cares so much for this random mortal girl, to the extent where she is willing to risk the wrath of the other gods for keeping her alive. She promises to make Iphigenia into one of her handmaidens (we never see a single other handmaiden), thereby ‘killing’ the old version of her, which still fulfils the sacrifice requirement.
To become a handmaiden, Iphigenia needs to undergo a trial, which, once it came around, hardly felt like a trial at all. The way it was set up, I thought the trial consisted of Iphigenia fighting and killing a hydra. But she doesn’t actually have to fight it at all, but just assist Artemis (and a bunch of other gods) in slaying the beast - not by fighting alongside her, but by standing at the sidelines, a good distance away from the actual fight. Iphigenia does end up landing a hit, but she wasn’t required to and it still feels anticlimactic.
Really, as far as the plot goes, the beginning and the end were fine, but the whole middle part just felt slow and pointless. I really debated how many stars to give this, because it wasn’t amazing and had a good number of issues, but it never annoyed me (which is the main reason I rate books less than 3 stars) and the audiobook production was great. So 2.5 stars, rounded up for goodreads it is.
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Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC
March 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC.
This was a horny modern retelling and no one warned me :((( And to make matters worse, nothing happened in this book. Like, there's the beginning where stuff happens, and the end where stuff happens, and then a VERY brief episode in the middle where stuff kind of happens but not really and before you know it it's over, and then the rest of this novel is just Iphigenia in Artemis' gardens chillaxing about and sometimes getting tied up (that's where the horny comes in). It's disappointingly boring, and the story is kind of inconsistent with how much people know about Greek mythology, for example, and it also just kind of changes the myth of Iphigenia to fit the narrative, which, power to the author, but I feel like you should also mention that somewhere. Then the fact that this White family owns some "Gods-given" land in Australia, a country with a long history of land theft and colonisation of the Indigenous population... Yeah.
Also, where are the other handmaidens??? Why is there only Iphigenia?? And why is Artemis super mega in love with Iphigenia literally the moment she sees her?? She's a GOD.
The narrator generally did a great job, but the inconsistency in pronouncing Greek names (sometimes quite Greek, other times VERY anglicised) annoyed me a bit.
This was a horny modern retelling and no one warned me :((( And to make matters worse, nothing happened in this book. Like, there's the beginning where stuff happens, and the end where stuff happens, and then a VERY brief episode in the middle where stuff kind of happens but not really and before you know it it's over, and then the rest of this novel is just Iphigenia in Artemis' gardens chillaxing about and sometimes getting tied up (that's where the horny comes in). It's disappointingly boring, and the story is kind of inconsistent with how much people know about Greek mythology, for example, and it also just kind of changes the myth of Iphigenia to fit the narrative, which, power to the author, but I feel like you should also mention that somewhere. Then the fact that this White family owns some "Gods-given" land in Australia, a country with a long history of land theft and colonisation of the Indigenous population... Yeah.
Also, where are the other handmaidens??? Why is there only Iphigenia?? And why is Artemis super mega in love with Iphigenia literally the moment she sees her?? She's a GOD.
The narrator generally did a great job, but the inconsistency in pronouncing Greek names (sometimes quite Greek, other times VERY anglicised) annoyed me a bit.
Did not finish
March 15, 2026The premise sounded so promising from the blurb, but sadly the execution didn't land for me. The narration style wasn't my favorite, the FMC came across as younger and more naive than I expected (which honestly irritated me more often than not considering she was 26), and everything moved at such a breakneck pace that there was no time to really sink into the story or process the scenes. I won't be finishing this one, but I can see why others might enjoy the fast-moving energy. Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the eARC and the honest-review opportunity!
March 23, 2026
There are many things I enjoyed about this novel - it was a unique twist on a story that's literally ancient (the protaganist has spent most of her life trapped in a high-rise building in Australia), clever writing in several places, and the plot itself was compelling.
Unfortunately I found that I wasn't emotionally invested in any of the events. I finally decided it's because many of the in-story motivations appear to be plot driven rather than character driven. And some of the character behaviors just didn't make sense to me even when they were explained within the context of the story.
I should note that this book is quite spicey in places (for better or worse, depending on your preferences). It's interesting considering Artemis' vow of chastity, which is mentioned later in the story. There's a lot of rope play, some light BDSM, and ultimately people attend to their own needs, but the scenes are explicit (not appropriate for people under 18)
As a side note, I really appreciated that the author mostly referred to characters by their roles, so it fortunately did not feel like a pop-quiz on mythology. They'd refer to people as"god of the seas" or "goddess of war" and limited the name-dropping to just characters that were relevant for the story. (The protagonist of this book is Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon.)
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NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review expressing my personal opinions.
Unfortunately I found that I wasn't emotionally invested in any of the events. I finally decided it's because many of the in-story motivations appear to be plot driven rather than character driven. And some of the character behaviors just didn't make sense to me even when they were explained within the context of the story.
I should note that this book is quite spicey in places (for better or worse, depending on your preferences). It's interesting considering Artemis' vow of chastity, which is mentioned later in the story. There's a lot of rope play, some light BDSM, and ultimately people attend to their own needs, but the scenes are explicit (not appropriate for people under 18)
As a side note, I really appreciated that the author mostly referred to characters by their roles, so it fortunately did not feel like a pop-quiz on mythology. They'd refer to people as"god of the seas" or "goddess of war" and limited the name-dropping to just characters that were relevant for the story. (The protagonist of this book is Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon.)
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NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review expressing my personal opinions.
February 22, 2026
This is not my usual type of read, yet it quickly pulled me in. Iphigenia is heir to the Pelops family, a wealthy family both blessed and cursed by the gods. In her gilded cage she has everything she could ever want, except freedom. If Iphigenia leaves the family compound misfortune and pain will come to her whole family. That is until one fateful day, where her father leads her to Artemis, the queen of the wilds domain and offers her as a sacrifice. She is terrified, but she has been raised to believe she only exists to serve and protect the family, so she regretfully accepts. However, Artemis is furious to learn Iphigenia did not offer to be a sacrifice, and that her family is offering up her life. So, she decides to spare her life if Iphigenia can learn to be her hand maiden. What follows is a mythical tale of bravery, mythology, and learning how to believe in yourself, with some romance thrown in. An interesting, and dark read. I appreciated the trigger warning at the beginning to let people know if they should skip this book. I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.
March 17, 2026
Well I am loving these retellings with modern and sapphic spins! This is the second from this author and I await more! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story is told in Iphigenia’s pov. She is the first born heir cursed to be in one building never able to leave so the rest of the family can live life to the fullest. Well except her father, the heir before her.
When the Queen of the Hunt finds out that Iphigenia is being sacrificed without her even knowing her family’s past or what is happening and she decides to take her as her handmaiden.
Naturally they both have to figure out how to meet that sacrifice and navigate becoming a handmaiden all while Iphigenia is still wanting to protect her siblings.
The story is interesting and powerful. I recommend reading if you enjoy sapphic stories and mythology.
The story is told in Iphigenia’s pov. She is the first born heir cursed to be in one building never able to leave so the rest of the family can live life to the fullest. Well except her father, the heir before her.
When the Queen of the Hunt finds out that Iphigenia is being sacrificed without her even knowing her family’s past or what is happening and she decides to take her as her handmaiden.
Naturally they both have to figure out how to meet that sacrifice and navigate becoming a handmaiden all while Iphigenia is still wanting to protect her siblings.
The story is interesting and powerful. I recommend reading if you enjoy sapphic stories and mythology.
March 28, 2026
2.5 ⭐ rounded up!
The blurb appealed however the modern day Australian setting was not what I expected.
I wanted to like this and while it wasn't hard to finish the book I found the plot and characters to be lacking. The plot did not appear well connected, had bizarre additions and was rushed at the end. The trial which Iphi was supposed to be tested by was also incredibly anticlimactic.
Iphis character was inconsistent although admittedly humourous in a way that felt easy to relate to. The connection between Iphi and Artemis felt none existent.
The narration by Nikki Thomas was good and enjoyable for the most part and the direct addressing was an interesting twist.
By far not the worst book I've ever read but equally not the best.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio and K Arsenault Rivera for the arc.
The blurb appealed however the modern day Australian setting was not what I expected.
I wanted to like this and while it wasn't hard to finish the book I found the plot and characters to be lacking. The plot did not appear well connected, had bizarre additions and was rushed at the end. The trial which Iphi was supposed to be tested by was also incredibly anticlimactic.
Iphis character was inconsistent although admittedly humourous in a way that felt easy to relate to. The connection between Iphi and Artemis felt none existent.
The narration by Nikki Thomas was good and enjoyable for the most part and the direct addressing was an interesting twist.
By far not the worst book I've ever read but equally not the best.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio and K Arsenault Rivera for the arc.
March 18, 2026
I have always loved retelling stories.
However this one just didn't get me hooked.
Iphigenia is a fun character and I liked her for the most part. It was nice to see ace folks in books.
The narration was good and I think is what helped my interest in the story. But I was not a fan of the writing style and felt like I had a hard time following what was happening. The premise of the story is interesting and great, this one just didn't give me that WOW feeling.
I think others would enjoy this and I would definitely try reading something else by this author.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own
However this one just didn't get me hooked.
Iphigenia is a fun character and I liked her for the most part. It was nice to see ace folks in books.
The narration was good and I think is what helped my interest in the story. But I was not a fan of the writing style and felt like I had a hard time following what was happening. The premise of the story is interesting and great, this one just didn't give me that WOW feeling.
I think others would enjoy this and I would definitely try reading something else by this author.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own
March 23, 2026
3.75
An easy listen for this sapphic romance in a mythology retelling story. The narrator has a nice calming voice.
Features a slow burn romance set in a lush mythology setting.
Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy audio book in exchange for an honest review.
An easy listen for this sapphic romance in a mythology retelling story. The narrator has a nice calming voice.
Features a slow burn romance set in a lush mythology setting.
Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy audio book in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2026
On the whole pleasantly surprised by this. Strong plot and very interesting worldbuilding! I'm not sure if I would have gotten more out of it had I read the first in the series, but this works as a standalone. The main character is likeable and easy to root for, and the romance is compelling. The main thing I didn't like was how many current pop culture references this made - it took me out of the story significantly and I just didn't feel this was the place considering this is a Greek mythology retelling. Kind of corny. But worthwhile read on the whole!
Thank you NetGalley for ALC!
Thank you NetGalley for ALC!
Read
March 4, 2026I love a good mythology retelling or inspiration. This book drew me in because it was a Greek myth you don’t always see and the updated setting sounded interesting. That being said, I could not finish this book and stopped about a third of the way through.
While this is marketed as an adult novel and the FMC is 26, it read as juvenile and a little cringe. I understand the FMC’s interaction with the world outside is somewhat limited, but she was still groomed to be the heir/CEO to the family’s big important business. She also had a job and access to social media, so she wasn’t a complete hermit.
The world itself and the premise of how the Gods interacted with the human world felt interesting, but unfortunately this was overshadowed by the FMC’s dialogue.
Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
While this is marketed as an adult novel and the FMC is 26, it read as juvenile and a little cringe. I understand the FMC’s interaction with the world outside is somewhat limited, but she was still groomed to be the heir/CEO to the family’s big important business. She also had a job and access to social media, so she wasn’t a complete hermit.
The world itself and the premise of how the Gods interacted with the human world felt interesting, but unfortunately this was overshadowed by the FMC’s dialogue.
Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 29, 2026
DNF @ 9% with both relish and rage.
As someone who loves a) Greek mythology, b) sapphic love stories, and c) feminism (obvs), I went into this book with excitingly high expectations. I was looking forward to a rich, atmospheric and sexy exploration of the myth of Iphigenia and Artemis. Unfortunately, what I found was a massive bait and switch that left me deeply frustrated.
I hated this book for so many reasons:
1. Complete Disconnection from the Source Material
For readers who have a solid grasp of Greek mythology (specifically the plays of Euripides and Aeschylus), this book feels less like a retelling and more like a total dismantling of thousand year old epics. Taking the profound tragedy of the House of Atreus and the sacrifice of Iphigenia and turning it into a corporate boardroom drama involving a multi-billion dollar Pelops Corporation in modern day Sydney, Australia (wtf???), completely stripped the original myth of its gravity, cultural roots, and atmospheric weight.
2. Arbitrary Lore Changes
The book introduces a curse where the main character cannot leave her home. While a creative choice, to a reader familiar with the actual classics, these artistic license deviations felt like a lazy plot device rather than a clever expansion of the original myth.
3. Vibe Over Substance
After a little research into the author, it appears there is a noticeable trend for this author using rich, complex historical or mythological settings simply as an aesthetic wallpaper for a romance, rather than doing the deep, respectful world building work required to honor the source material.
If you are looking for a high society, modern corporate romantasy with a sapphic relationship and don't care about Greek mythology, you might enjoy this. But if you are a mythology buff expecting a story rooted in the spirit of the ancient classics, this book is an assault on the brain and you should avoid at all costs or risk a literary aneurysm. It goes without saying that I could not bring myself to finish it.
As a rule, I like to be kind to authors because writing a book is akin to plucking your heart, soul, and imagination out and putting it on display, but this felt like a strangely entitled, offensive plagiarism. I went from frustrated to genuinely mad, and that is saying something for someone who has probably read thousands of books in her lifetime and has great love and respect for the art of creative writing.
I did love Nikki Thomas' narration though! From what little I listened to, she has a great way of bringing warmth to a character who deserved so much more respect than she got from the source material.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio (🖤 ), and the author for providing an ALC in exchange for my honest opinions.
As someone who loves a) Greek mythology, b) sapphic love stories, and c) feminism (obvs), I went into this book with excitingly high expectations. I was looking forward to a rich, atmospheric and sexy exploration of the myth of Iphigenia and Artemis. Unfortunately, what I found was a massive bait and switch that left me deeply frustrated.
I hated this book for so many reasons:
1. Complete Disconnection from the Source Material
For readers who have a solid grasp of Greek mythology (specifically the plays of Euripides and Aeschylus), this book feels less like a retelling and more like a total dismantling of thousand year old epics. Taking the profound tragedy of the House of Atreus and the sacrifice of Iphigenia and turning it into a corporate boardroom drama involving a multi-billion dollar Pelops Corporation in modern day Sydney, Australia (wtf???), completely stripped the original myth of its gravity, cultural roots, and atmospheric weight.
2. Arbitrary Lore Changes
The book introduces a curse where the main character cannot leave her home. While a creative choice, to a reader familiar with the actual classics, these artistic license deviations felt like a lazy plot device rather than a clever expansion of the original myth.
3. Vibe Over Substance
After a little research into the author, it appears there is a noticeable trend for this author using rich, complex historical or mythological settings simply as an aesthetic wallpaper for a romance, rather than doing the deep, respectful world building work required to honor the source material.
If you are looking for a high society, modern corporate romantasy with a sapphic relationship and don't care about Greek mythology, you might enjoy this. But if you are a mythology buff expecting a story rooted in the spirit of the ancient classics, this book is an assault on the brain and you should avoid at all costs or risk a literary aneurysm. It goes without saying that I could not bring myself to finish it.
As a rule, I like to be kind to authors because writing a book is akin to plucking your heart, soul, and imagination out and putting it on display, but this felt like a strangely entitled, offensive plagiarism. I went from frustrated to genuinely mad, and that is saying something for someone who has probably read thousands of books in her lifetime and has great love and respect for the art of creative writing.
I did love Nikki Thomas' narration though! From what little I listened to, she has a great way of bringing warmth to a character who deserved so much more respect than she got from the source material.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio (🖤 ), and the author for providing an ALC in exchange for my honest opinions.
March 16, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-ARC!
'Daughter of the Hunt' is a queer reimagining of the myth of Iphigenia's sacrifice to the goddess Artemis. The story is instead set in the modern day with Iphigenia not only being sacrificed to Artemis but also fighting a curse on her family line. Artemis spares her life in return for Iphigenia acting as her handmaiden and learning how to hunt in the wild. But Iphigenia soon learns its not so bad to be the one that is hunted by the goddess.....
Between 'Oath of Fire' and 'Daughter of the Hunt', I am now officially ride or die for K. Arnesault Rivera. She has created such a unique modern interpretation of the Greek pantheon that feels both new and timeless. I loved the descriptions of Artemis and Apollo the most in this particular story. They are awe inspiring in a good way but also in a horrific one which is a nice change of pace. (In that the gods aren't just 'hot', they have shades of eldritch horror to them, as they should!)
I also appreciate that Rivera puts a fresh and queer spin on the romantasy genre (idk if this is really romantasy but I'm rolling with it). Artemis and Iphigenia are Ace. And technically Artemis does not break her vow of chastity but that doesn't keep the spicy scenes from being super hot and wholly unique! The relationship between Artemis and Iphigenia was super sweet and I adored all of their interactions. Their dynamice is nicely balanced with Iphigenia bringing out the humanity in Artemis and Artemis bringing out the godhood in Iphigenia. The romance definitely takes up the majority of the plot but I like that Iphigenia goes on her own journey to prove that she is different from her ancestors. She's a great main character who doesn't fall into the typical romantasy main character tropes.
Loved the ending and definitely didn't see it coming haha. If Rivera continues this series.....I'm all in!
'Daughter of the Hunt' is a queer reimagining of the myth of Iphigenia's sacrifice to the goddess Artemis. The story is instead set in the modern day with Iphigenia not only being sacrificed to Artemis but also fighting a curse on her family line. Artemis spares her life in return for Iphigenia acting as her handmaiden and learning how to hunt in the wild. But Iphigenia soon learns its not so bad to be the one that is hunted by the goddess.....
Between 'Oath of Fire' and 'Daughter of the Hunt', I am now officially ride or die for K. Arnesault Rivera. She has created such a unique modern interpretation of the Greek pantheon that feels both new and timeless. I loved the descriptions of Artemis and Apollo the most in this particular story. They are awe inspiring in a good way but also in a horrific one which is a nice change of pace. (In that the gods aren't just 'hot', they have shades of eldritch horror to them, as they should!)
I also appreciate that Rivera puts a fresh and queer spin on the romantasy genre (idk if this is really romantasy but I'm rolling with it). Artemis and Iphigenia are Ace. And technically Artemis does not break her vow of chastity but that doesn't keep the spicy scenes from being super hot and wholly unique! The relationship between Artemis and Iphigenia was super sweet and I adored all of their interactions. Their dynamice is nicely balanced with Iphigenia bringing out the humanity in Artemis and Artemis bringing out the godhood in Iphigenia. The romance definitely takes up the majority of the plot but I like that Iphigenia goes on her own journey to prove that she is different from her ancestors. She's a great main character who doesn't fall into the typical romantasy main character tropes.
Loved the ending and definitely didn't see it coming haha. If Rivera continues this series.....I'm all in!
March 25, 2026
Daughter of the Hunt is a modern retelling of the myth of Iphigenia and Artemis, reimagined as a queer love story set in a contemporary world where the Greek gods still exist. One of the strongest aspects of the novel is how it portrays those gods. They remain alien, dangerous, and fundamentally difficult for humans to understand or rationalize, which preserves the unsettling power they hold in mythology while placing them in a modern context.
I also appreciated how the curse surrounding Iphigenia’s family was handled. It adds weight to the narrative and reinforces the sense that the past is inescapable, even when the setting shifts to the present day. These elements gave the story a strong foundation and a lot of narrative potential.
However, despite the compelling premise and interesting ideas, the execution felt slow and at times oddly empty. The story lingers in its atmosphere and themes, but doesn’t always move forward in a way that feels purposeful. There were long stretches where it felt like the narrative was circling rather than progressing, which made it difficult to stay fully engaged.
Because of this pacing, I found myself needing to increase the audiobook speed just to push through to the next development. It wasn’t that nothing was happening, but rather that the story didn’t seem to fully capitalize on the tension and possibilities it had set up.
Overall, Daughter of the Hunt has a fascinating concept and strong thematic elements, particularly in its portrayal of divine power and inherited fate. I just wish the narrative had been more tightly structured to match that potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I also appreciated how the curse surrounding Iphigenia’s family was handled. It adds weight to the narrative and reinforces the sense that the past is inescapable, even when the setting shifts to the present day. These elements gave the story a strong foundation and a lot of narrative potential.
However, despite the compelling premise and interesting ideas, the execution felt slow and at times oddly empty. The story lingers in its atmosphere and themes, but doesn’t always move forward in a way that feels purposeful. There were long stretches where it felt like the narrative was circling rather than progressing, which made it difficult to stay fully engaged.
Because of this pacing, I found myself needing to increase the audiobook speed just to push through to the next development. It wasn’t that nothing was happening, but rather that the story didn’t seem to fully capitalize on the tension and possibilities it had set up.
Overall, Daughter of the Hunt has a fascinating concept and strong thematic elements, particularly in its portrayal of divine power and inherited fate. I just wish the narrative had been more tightly structured to match that potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2026
A Breath of Fresh Air and Divine Defiance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Suggested)
The Review:
Daughter of the Hunt is a breathtaking exploration of what happens when the "sacrificial lamb" decides to survive. K. Arsenault Rivera has crafted a world that feels both ancient and urgently modern in its themes of autonomy and self-discovery.
The heart of this story is the protagonist—an ace lesbian whose identity is handled with such care and nuance. For so long, her life wasn’t her own; her family sacrificed her to the Gods, effectively caging her spirit before she ever had a chance to understand it. Seeing her transition from a tool of the divine to a woman learning to live for the very first time was incredibly moving.
The journey from being "caged" to finding true freedom is never easy, and Rivera doesn’t shy away from the struggle. Our heroine doesn't just walk away into the sunset; she has to prove her worth and her strength to the Gods themselves. It’s a powerful metaphor for the internal battles we face when we try to break free from the expectations of family and society.
What I Loved:
The Representation: Seeing an asexual lesbian lead a high-stakes fantasy novel is refreshing and deeply validating.
The Character Arc: The emotional weight of her learning to "live" for herself, rather than for a prophecy or a parent, was the highlight for me.
The Stakes: The tension of proving oneself to the Gods kept the pages turning.
Bottom Line: If you love stories about breaking chains, complex family dynamics, and characters finding their own path despite the heavens themselves standing in their way, you need to read this. It’s a story about the cost of freedom and the beauty of finally breathing for yourself.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Suggested)
The Review:
Daughter of the Hunt is a breathtaking exploration of what happens when the "sacrificial lamb" decides to survive. K. Arsenault Rivera has crafted a world that feels both ancient and urgently modern in its themes of autonomy and self-discovery.
The heart of this story is the protagonist—an ace lesbian whose identity is handled with such care and nuance. For so long, her life wasn’t her own; her family sacrificed her to the Gods, effectively caging her spirit before she ever had a chance to understand it. Seeing her transition from a tool of the divine to a woman learning to live for the very first time was incredibly moving.
The journey from being "caged" to finding true freedom is never easy, and Rivera doesn’t shy away from the struggle. Our heroine doesn't just walk away into the sunset; she has to prove her worth and her strength to the Gods themselves. It’s a powerful metaphor for the internal battles we face when we try to break free from the expectations of family and society.
What I Loved:
The Representation: Seeing an asexual lesbian lead a high-stakes fantasy novel is refreshing and deeply validating.
The Character Arc: The emotional weight of her learning to "live" for herself, rather than for a prophecy or a parent, was the highlight for me.
The Stakes: The tension of proving oneself to the Gods kept the pages turning.
Bottom Line: If you love stories about breaking chains, complex family dynamics, and characters finding their own path despite the heavens themselves standing in their way, you need to read this. It’s a story about the cost of freedom and the beauty of finally breathing for yourself.
March 26, 2026
Daughter of the Hunt is the kind of retelling that feels familiar in its mythic bones, yet softened and reshaped into something intimate and unexpectedly moving. Iphigenia’s story has always been tragic, but here it becomes a tale of rebirth, of a girl discovering the world for the first time and finding herself within it.
Set in a modern Australian landscape, the novel follows Iphigenia, daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, as she faces the fate the myth promises: a sacrifice demanded by the gods at the dawn of the Trojan War. But instead of death, Artemis intervenes with a fierce, quiet grace, spiriting her away into a forest realm that hums with ancient magic and danger.
Iphigenia has never left the walls of her cursed home. She has never touched the earth freely since the heir of the House of Pelops is cursed to forever stay in this building or a terrible fate would await the entire family. Watching her stumble and navigate this new world gives the book an emotional core. Every task is a revelation. Every moment feels like a first breath filled with wonder and frustration.
This retelling honors the myth while offering something gentler and more hopeful: a story about transformation, chosen family, and the quiet, aching beauty of stepping into a life you never imagined you could have.
My only complaint was the mispronounced name of Iphigenia but I'm unsure if that is locally how it is pronounced in Australia. Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator and her ability to really bring the story to life.
A lovely, atmospheric re‑envisioning that left me unexpectedly touched.
A solid and heartfelt 4/5.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this book.
Set in a modern Australian landscape, the novel follows Iphigenia, daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, as she faces the fate the myth promises: a sacrifice demanded by the gods at the dawn of the Trojan War. But instead of death, Artemis intervenes with a fierce, quiet grace, spiriting her away into a forest realm that hums with ancient magic and danger.
Iphigenia has never left the walls of her cursed home. She has never touched the earth freely since the heir of the House of Pelops is cursed to forever stay in this building or a terrible fate would await the entire family. Watching her stumble and navigate this new world gives the book an emotional core. Every task is a revelation. Every moment feels like a first breath filled with wonder and frustration.
This retelling honors the myth while offering something gentler and more hopeful: a story about transformation, chosen family, and the quiet, aching beauty of stepping into a life you never imagined you could have.
My only complaint was the mispronounced name of Iphigenia but I'm unsure if that is locally how it is pronounced in Australia. Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator and her ability to really bring the story to life.
A lovely, atmospheric re‑envisioning that left me unexpectedly touched.
A solid and heartfelt 4/5.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this book.
March 26, 2026
I have no idea how this book has 3 stars, Oh well, I loved it, and I am absolutely here for it.
Daughter of the Hunt by K. Arsenault Rivera delivered exactly the kind of immersive, character-driven fantasy I appreciate. From the very beginning, the writing pulled me in with its rich atmosphere and emotional depth. Rivera takes her time, and that intentional pacing allows the story to unfold in a way that feels earned rather than rushed.
The protagonist is layered and compelling, growing in a way that feels natural and grounded. The relationships carry real weight; nothing feels shallow or thrown together just for effect. There is a clear sense of care in how every interaction is developed.
What truly stood out to me was the narration and descriptive writing. It allowed me to fully envision what was happening, as if it were playing out on a movie screen. That level of clarity and immersion is not easy to achieve, but Rivera does it well. You are not just reading the story, you are experiencing it.
The worldbuilding is equally strong, detailed, vivid, and thoughtfully constructed without becoming overwhelming. It complements the story instead of overshadowing it.
This is not a fast, action-heavy read, and it does not try to be. It is deliberate, immersive, and emotionally grounded. If you appreciate strong prose and storytelling that takes its time to develop, this book absolutely delivers.
A solid 5-star read for me. Engaging, cinematic, and worth every page.
Daughter of the Hunt by K. Arsenault Rivera delivered exactly the kind of immersive, character-driven fantasy I appreciate. From the very beginning, the writing pulled me in with its rich atmosphere and emotional depth. Rivera takes her time, and that intentional pacing allows the story to unfold in a way that feels earned rather than rushed.
The protagonist is layered and compelling, growing in a way that feels natural and grounded. The relationships carry real weight; nothing feels shallow or thrown together just for effect. There is a clear sense of care in how every interaction is developed.
What truly stood out to me was the narration and descriptive writing. It allowed me to fully envision what was happening, as if it were playing out on a movie screen. That level of clarity and immersion is not easy to achieve, but Rivera does it well. You are not just reading the story, you are experiencing it.
The worldbuilding is equally strong, detailed, vivid, and thoughtfully constructed without becoming overwhelming. It complements the story instead of overshadowing it.
This is not a fast, action-heavy read, and it does not try to be. It is deliberate, immersive, and emotionally grounded. If you appreciate strong prose and storytelling that takes its time to develop, this book absolutely delivers.
A solid 5-star read for me. Engaging, cinematic, and worth every page.
March 25, 2026
This is the second book in Rivera’s Oath of Fire series of contemporary retellings of Greek myths. You don’t need to read the first book to enjoy this book, although some familiarity with Greek mythology would help. Rivera has set this retelling of the myth of Iphigenia and Artemis in contemporary Australia, with Agamemnon as current head of the Pelops Corporation, and Iphigenia his heir.
Iphigenia is a character I was happy to root for, and her slow-burn relationship with Artemis gave me chills in the best way. I loved that Iphigenia is asexual, and Artemis is obligated to remain a virgin, yet they find ways to enjoy sexy times together. I don’t think I’ve ever read a sexier description of light BDSM. I also enjoyed the depictions of the various gods, especially Apollo.
The story moves slowly, focusing more on Iphy’s journey of self-discovery than external events.
The audiobook production was excellent, and I enjoyed Nikki Thomas’s narration. Her narration suited the story, with good pacing, clear pronunciation, distinctive voices to suit each character, and the ability to convey mood and emotion effectively. She brought the characters to life, and the story works very well in audio.
Thanks to Hachette Audio and Forever for providing me with a free advanced review copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.
Iphigenia is a character I was happy to root for, and her slow-burn relationship with Artemis gave me chills in the best way. I loved that Iphigenia is asexual, and Artemis is obligated to remain a virgin, yet they find ways to enjoy sexy times together. I don’t think I’ve ever read a sexier description of light BDSM. I also enjoyed the depictions of the various gods, especially Apollo.
The story moves slowly, focusing more on Iphy’s journey of self-discovery than external events.
The audiobook production was excellent, and I enjoyed Nikki Thomas’s narration. Her narration suited the story, with good pacing, clear pronunciation, distinctive voices to suit each character, and the ability to convey mood and emotion effectively. She brought the characters to life, and the story works very well in audio.
Thanks to Hachette Audio and Forever for providing me with a free advanced review copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.
March 9, 2026
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I had a blast reading this. Iph is so relatable and funny, I couldn’t put it down.
Can you imagine living your entire life trapped in your own home, even if your home is a high rise? Never leaving the property at risk of cursing your family? That’s what Iph lives with every day. The heir of Pelops has to remain on property to appease the Gods, that is their curse. Iph quickly realizes just how “important” she is to her father when she is sacrificed to Artemis. Artemis has a slightly different idea of sacrifice though…
The plot is interesting enough to keep you invested for sure, but the things that come out of Iphy’s mouth is what kept me reading 😂 I love how loyal she is to her siblings and mother, it’s really wonderful to watch her develop and plan. I also appreciated the asexual character in here; I’ve read far too many LGBTQIA+ books and only 2 or 3 characters have been ace. I also LOVE how towards the end of the book, the author navigates her knowledge that her character’s light skin offers her a privilege that some people aren’t afforded. It was a refreshing moment seeing that called out.
All in all, a really fun read. 4.25⭐️
I had a blast reading this. Iph is so relatable and funny, I couldn’t put it down.
Can you imagine living your entire life trapped in your own home, even if your home is a high rise? Never leaving the property at risk of cursing your family? That’s what Iph lives with every day. The heir of Pelops has to remain on property to appease the Gods, that is their curse. Iph quickly realizes just how “important” she is to her father when she is sacrificed to Artemis. Artemis has a slightly different idea of sacrifice though…
The plot is interesting enough to keep you invested for sure, but the things that come out of Iphy’s mouth is what kept me reading 😂 I love how loyal she is to her siblings and mother, it’s really wonderful to watch her develop and plan. I also appreciated the asexual character in here; I’ve read far too many LGBTQIA+ books and only 2 or 3 characters have been ace. I also LOVE how towards the end of the book, the author navigates her knowledge that her character’s light skin offers her a privilege that some people aren’t afforded. It was a refreshing moment seeing that called out.
All in all, a really fun read. 4.25⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The thing that worked the least for me about this book is the device with which it's setup, which just meant I overall struggled with the book unfortunately.
Daughter of the Hunt is a reimagining of the story of Iphigenia, who is sacrificed to the goddess Artemis. In this version Iphigenia is telling the story to Psyche (the protagonist of the first book) and this is what doesn't work for me. I don't generally love a book with a lot of fourth wall breaking or cheeky asides of 'you might think i did xyz' or 'let me tell you's and this book has a lot of meta commentary.
It was the relationship between Iphigenia and Artemis that kept me reading though, and when she's not offering tongue in cheek asides Rivera weaves some really lovely prose into their developing relationship. I also liked that Iphigenia is ace and the ways in which that intersects with Artemis' identity as the unsullied maiden. And even more so I enjoyed the ways in which they incorporate bondage kink into what that relationship looks like.
The care that Artemis shows for Iphigenia throughout the book was absolutely swoon worthy to me, and truly the element that kept me reading through to the end.
Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for this review
Daughter of the Hunt is a reimagining of the story of Iphigenia, who is sacrificed to the goddess Artemis. In this version Iphigenia is telling the story to Psyche (the protagonist of the first book) and this is what doesn't work for me. I don't generally love a book with a lot of fourth wall breaking or cheeky asides of 'you might think i did xyz' or 'let me tell you's and this book has a lot of meta commentary.
It was the relationship between Iphigenia and Artemis that kept me reading though, and when she's not offering tongue in cheek asides Rivera weaves some really lovely prose into their developing relationship. I also liked that Iphigenia is ace and the ways in which that intersects with Artemis' identity as the unsullied maiden. And even more so I enjoyed the ways in which they incorporate bondage kink into what that relationship looks like.
The care that Artemis shows for Iphigenia throughout the book was absolutely swoon worthy to me, and truly the element that kept me reading through to the end.
Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for this review
March 21, 2026
I went into Daughter of the Hunt with really high hopes! While the premise had so much potential, and it immediately caught my attention, unfortunately, it just didn’t fully land for me. This could absolutely be a personal preference thing. This isn’t my usual reading style, and as someone who really loves Greek mythology (like… enough to name my children after goddesses 😅), I think my expectations may have been a little specific going in. It just didn’t quite align with what I was hoping for.
That said, I did really enjoy the narration by Nikki Thomas, her voice is genuinely beautiful and engaging. For me personally, though, the tone she used for the 26-year-old FMC felt a bit too youthful, which made it harder to fully connect with the character.
Overall, the concept was strong and the blurb delivered on intrigue, but the execution didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I can definitely see how this could work really well for other readers, and I truly hope that others don't take my review into consideration for reading the book if the premise hits for you too!
Thank you so much to K. Arsenault Rivera and NetGalley for trusting me with this ALC! I am wishing you all of the love!
That said, I did really enjoy the narration by Nikki Thomas, her voice is genuinely beautiful and engaging. For me personally, though, the tone she used for the 26-year-old FMC felt a bit too youthful, which made it harder to fully connect with the character.
Overall, the concept was strong and the blurb delivered on intrigue, but the execution didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I can definitely see how this could work really well for other readers, and I truly hope that others don't take my review into consideration for reading the book if the premise hits for you too!
Thank you so much to K. Arsenault Rivera and NetGalley for trusting me with this ALC! I am wishing you all of the love!
February 16, 2026
Daughter of the Hunt pulled me in much faster than I expected. From the very first chapters, the atmosphere feels heavy with danger, myth, and old magic. This story leans hard into its folkloric roots and I loved how grounded and wild the world felt at the same time.
The FMC is fierce, stubborn, and deeply shaped by her past. She is not perfect, which made her easy to root for. Her connection to the hunt and the land felt earned and authentic, not just a title slapped onto her name. The pacing stayed steady, with enough tension to keep me flipping pages while still allowing quieter moments for character growth.
The romance is more of a slow burn, driven by tension and longing rather than constant interaction. When the chemistry does surface, it feels intentional and emotionally charged. I do wish we had a little more development between the leads before certain moments, but overall the payoff worked for me.
The world building was immersive without being overwhelming, and the mythological elements added a darker, almost primal edge to the story. If you enjoy fantasy that feels rooted in ancient traditions with morally complex characters, this one delivers.
4.25 ⭐️ 2 🌶
The FMC is fierce, stubborn, and deeply shaped by her past. She is not perfect, which made her easy to root for. Her connection to the hunt and the land felt earned and authentic, not just a title slapped onto her name. The pacing stayed steady, with enough tension to keep me flipping pages while still allowing quieter moments for character growth.
The romance is more of a slow burn, driven by tension and longing rather than constant interaction. When the chemistry does surface, it feels intentional and emotionally charged. I do wish we had a little more development between the leads before certain moments, but overall the payoff worked for me.
The world building was immersive without being overwhelming, and the mythological elements added a darker, almost primal edge to the story. If you enjoy fantasy that feels rooted in ancient traditions with morally complex characters, this one delivers.
4.25 ⭐️ 2 🌶
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I will admit I had no idea this was a second entry in a series, but aside from a couple lines towards the end, I feel like this is more operating in the same world and I didn't have a problem reading it as a stand-alone. It does, however, rely on having some knowledge of Greek mythology - most of the gods aren't ever mentioned by name, and are instead referred to by things that fall under their domain, which makes keeping them straight difficult at times. This is a retelling of something that happens at the very beginning of the Trojan War, so knowing some of the mythology around that helps as well in keeping motivations and actions straight. Even though this pulls the characters into the modern age, the parallels are still there.
As a retelling, I feel like Rivera picked a myth ripe for one, getting basically free-range to play with Iphigenia and Artemis' histories and actions and put them in her own world.
I did also really appreciate the fact that while Iphigenia is asexual, and Artemis has to remain chaste, this book doesn't shy away from the topic of love or sex and talking through boundaries.
As a retelling, I feel like Rivera picked a myth ripe for one, getting basically free-range to play with Iphigenia and Artemis' histories and actions and put them in her own world.
I did also really appreciate the fact that while Iphigenia is asexual, and Artemis has to remain chaste, this book doesn't shy away from the topic of love or sex and talking through boundaries.
March 20, 2026
3.5 stars
This book was a modern mythology retelling. A Greek story transported to Australia. The story follows Iphigenia, cursed by the Gods and sacrificed by her father to the Goddess Artemis. But she doesn't kill her, she takes her as her handmaid, teaching her the ways of the hunt.
The story is told by the FMC in a conversational way, as if she is telling the reader the story so there are 4th wall breaks throughout. I understand that this is the second book in a series so the story is actually being directed to the protagonist of the first book, but, having not read the first book, wasnt detrimental and I dont believe it necessary to get some enjoyment from this story.
I did find that out of all the Greek mythology retellings I have read that this one is one of the less gripping tho that may be due to my lack of knowledge and familiarity with the source material.
I will say, the narrator, Nikki Thomas, does a lovely job with the immersion into the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC of this book.
This book was a modern mythology retelling. A Greek story transported to Australia. The story follows Iphigenia, cursed by the Gods and sacrificed by her father to the Goddess Artemis. But she doesn't kill her, she takes her as her handmaid, teaching her the ways of the hunt.
The story is told by the FMC in a conversational way, as if she is telling the reader the story so there are 4th wall breaks throughout. I understand that this is the second book in a series so the story is actually being directed to the protagonist of the first book, but, having not read the first book, wasnt detrimental and I dont believe it necessary to get some enjoyment from this story.
I did find that out of all the Greek mythology retellings I have read that this one is one of the less gripping tho that may be due to my lack of knowledge and familiarity with the source material.
I will say, the narrator, Nikki Thomas, does a lovely job with the immersion into the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC of this book.
March 25, 2026
I have to be honest—this one just wasn’t for me. The way the story was told felt really off, and I struggled to fully get into it from the start. The writing style was a bit strange and disconnected at times, which made it hard to stay invested in what was happening. It actually reminded me a lot of The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig, which had a similar vibe and also didn’t quite work for me.
The premise had so much potential—I love myth retellings, especially something centered around Iphigenia and Artemis—but the execution just didn’t land. The pacing felt uneven, and I never really connected with the characters or their relationship. The emotional depth that should have been there just didn’t hit the way I was hoping.
That said, I did really enjoy the narrator. They did a great job with the material and were honestly the highlight of the audiobook for me. They added more life to the story than I felt was on the page.
Overall, this ended up being a 2-star read for me. It had an interesting concept, but the storytelling style and lack of connection made it a miss.
The premise had so much potential—I love myth retellings, especially something centered around Iphigenia and Artemis—but the execution just didn’t land. The pacing felt uneven, and I never really connected with the characters or their relationship. The emotional depth that should have been there just didn’t hit the way I was hoping.
That said, I did really enjoy the narrator. They did a great job with the material and were honestly the highlight of the audiobook for me. They added more life to the story than I felt was on the page.
Overall, this ended up being a 2-star read for me. It had an interesting concept, but the storytelling style and lack of connection made it a miss.
March 25, 2026
Well, I didn’t enjoy a single thing about that. The blurb gave me such high hopes! A modern day, reimagining with Greek gods, but make it sapphic. Sounds good right?? Well this wasn’t. The FMC was insufferable, and a walking contradiction. We started the story with such a strong FMC, who was selfless and would go to the ends of the earth for her family, and then she did a 180 and was so helpless and naive. And her internal monologue was PAINFUL! The romance made no sense and was kinda weird tbh. It was more of a motherly dynamic due to the FMC turning so childish and the love interest being a super old, all knowing goddess. And then there was odd sexual “tension” out of no where?? It made me uncomfortable to be honest. Then the plot, and lack there of?? There was no actual stakes to be seen even tho there was supposed to be??
Another huge problem I saw was, why would this take place in Australia when they’re GREEK gods?? Like huh??
Good news is the narrator did great with what she had to work with
Another huge problem I saw was, why would this take place in Australia when they’re GREEK gods?? Like huh??
Good news is the narrator did great with what she had to work with
March 28, 2026
I loved this book!
I found it was less action packed, more a wholesome (ish) fantasy and I really liked that about it.
This retelling of the greek myth of Iphigenia and Artemis follows Iphy after she is sacrificed to the Goddess of hunting, wilderness, childbirth and a bunch of other things. Artemis decides that she will not sacrifice Iphy, instead training her to be her handmaiden (an assistant essentially). Training her to hunt and clean animals (but only when it's necessary for food), shoot arrows and much more. They both soon discover they are falling for the other and make the forest their home... until Artemis' brother turns up with a potentially lethal quest for them.
This book kept me gripped and I inhaled it! The narrator was great: engaging, clear and passionate about what she does.
It was also cool that an ancient greek retelling book was set in Australia!
I'd definitely recommend this to people who like myths and greek history and more "chill" fantasy that still has stakes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ARC audiobook.
🏺🌳🏹
I found it was less action packed, more a wholesome (ish) fantasy and I really liked that about it.
This retelling of the greek myth of Iphigenia and Artemis follows Iphy after she is sacrificed to the Goddess of hunting, wilderness, childbirth and a bunch of other things. Artemis decides that she will not sacrifice Iphy, instead training her to be her handmaiden (an assistant essentially). Training her to hunt and clean animals (but only when it's necessary for food), shoot arrows and much more. They both soon discover they are falling for the other and make the forest their home... until Artemis' brother turns up with a potentially lethal quest for them.
This book kept me gripped and I inhaled it! The narrator was great: engaging, clear and passionate about what she does.
It was also cool that an ancient greek retelling book was set in Australia!
I'd definitely recommend this to people who like myths and greek history and more "chill" fantasy that still has stakes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ARC audiobook.
🏺🌳🏹
March 18, 2026
This is a low stress calm sapphic fantasy. I loved the premise of this story. A curse placed on a past family member where the oldest child is forced to suffer the curse. When Iphigenia is sacrificed for her family to the Goddess Artemis she has to learn how to survive in the forest with no survival skills. Artemis feels bad for Iphigenia and helps teach her how to survive. The story is captivating and the magic of it is beautifully written. I love how their relationship slowly builds and feels so genuine. The spice is exquisite and so powerful. I read the first 80% of this from the ebook and got a copy of the Audiobook so I finished with that. The narrator Nikki Thompson did an amazing job. The story was already so amazing but the narration just brightened it up in my mind. The soothing tone of Nikki’s voice was so easy to listen to. The chapters transitioned smoothly with no lags in quiet space. Very enjoyable narration.
March 30, 2026
This had such an interesting premise—a modern sapphic retelling of the story of Iphigenia and Artemis. But sadly for me the execution didn’t fully land.
There were definitely things I appreciated. The portrayal of the gods felt powerful and a little unsettling in a way that stayed true to Greek mythology, and I liked the idea of exploring Iphigenia’s curse and her complicated connection to Artemis. That said, the pacing felt pretty slow and I sometimes struggled to stay engaged with what was happening.
The romance also didn’t fully work for me. The relationship between Artemis and Iphigenia felt very insta-lovey, and I had a hard time understanding why Artemis (a literal goddess) would become so quickly enamored with Iphigenia. I wanted more development there to make their connection feel believable.
Overall, I think this book has some really cool ideas and I can see it working well for readers who enjoy slower, mythology-inspired stories. It just didn’t quite hook me the way I hoped it would.
Thank you to K. Arsenault Rivera, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the ALC.
There were definitely things I appreciated. The portrayal of the gods felt powerful and a little unsettling in a way that stayed true to Greek mythology, and I liked the idea of exploring Iphigenia’s curse and her complicated connection to Artemis. That said, the pacing felt pretty slow and I sometimes struggled to stay engaged with what was happening.
The romance also didn’t fully work for me. The relationship between Artemis and Iphigenia felt very insta-lovey, and I had a hard time understanding why Artemis (a literal goddess) would become so quickly enamored with Iphigenia. I wanted more development there to make their connection feel believable.
Overall, I think this book has some really cool ideas and I can see it working well for readers who enjoy slower, mythology-inspired stories. It just didn’t quite hook me the way I hoped it would.
Thank you to K. Arsenault Rivera, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the ALC.
February 12, 2026
Thank you Forever and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.
This was not at all what I expected based on the synopsis, but the story and characters intrigued me nonetheless.
Iphigenia is an interesting main character. She’s clever and kind and incredible sheltered. She’s definitely the kind of character teenage me would have related to a lot.
I really liked her story of survival and her romance with Artemis. Their relationship was lovely to watch unfold.
The writing style didn’t really work for me, though. Iphigenia is telling you, the reader, a story, and the amount of times she says “let me tell you” and other little things like that really grated on me. I’m sure this works for some readers but definitely not for me. The tone was just all over the place.
This was not at all what I expected based on the synopsis, but the story and characters intrigued me nonetheless.
Iphigenia is an interesting main character. She’s clever and kind and incredible sheltered. She’s definitely the kind of character teenage me would have related to a lot.
I really liked her story of survival and her romance with Artemis. Their relationship was lovely to watch unfold.
The writing style didn’t really work for me, though. Iphigenia is telling you, the reader, a story, and the amount of times she says “let me tell you” and other little things like that really grated on me. I’m sure this works for some readers but definitely not for me. The tone was just all over the place.
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