Queen of Tempests and Sin

by Helena M. Craggs

Where myths are rewritten—and gods pay the price.

They told the stories their way.
They made women the victims.
They were wrong.

In Brothers of Olympus, women don’t fall… They bring gods to their knees.

And now—Poseidon will kneel.

* Possessive god x stabby mortal assassin
* Forced proximity & explosive chemistry
* “Touch her and drown” energy
* Morally grey lovers
* Ancient god falls first (and harder)
* Greek mythology Romantasy

Love wasn’t part of the mission… until him.

No heart. No mercy. No mistakes.
That’s how Cordelia Sinn has survived as one of the world’s deadliest assassins.
Her latest assignment should be seduce the target, eliminate him, and disappear.

Except the target is Poseidon. The sea god with a temper legendary even among immortals. A deity who hates humans, avoids attachments, and believes love is a weakness reserved for fools.
Her blade found his heart.
It just didn’t keep him down.

He rises furious, alive… and fixated. Not on vengeance—but on her: the mortal who ignited something buried and broken inside the god of storms.
When an ancient enemy rises, Cordelia becomes the only person Poseidon can’t let go of… and the only one who can destroy him.
She was trained to kill.
He was born to rule.

Together, they’re a storm waiting to happen—and a love story written in the bones of the sea.

Perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent , Jennifer L. Armentrout , and Laura Thalassa—Kill Bill meets dark Greek mythology romance.

Author’s
Queen of Tempests and Sin is a New Adult mythological romantasy. Expect slow-burn heat, enemies-to-lovers bite, mature themes, and steam that intensifies throughout the book. Trigger warnings available in the table of contents.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology

472 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2026

About the author

I’ve been a voracious reader ever since I was a little girl wandering the library aisles, letting my imagination run wild in fantastical worlds. These days, I’m still a devoted bibliophile, forever enchanted by the escapism of swoon-worthy romances and faraway realms. I believe books hold infinite possibilities—and mine are no exception. In my NA series, expect magic, sharp banter, morally grey heartthrobs, fierce and witty heroines, and more than a little passion. My YA urban fantasy has magic, danger, and super-hot supernaturals.


I live in rural West Yorkshire, England, with two ridiculously gorgeous pups, two perpetually cynical cats who very much run the household, a chicken with attitude… and a husband. When I’m not writing, I’m either devouring fantasy novels (the more romance, the better), laughing with friends, or rambling through the countryside with my dogs.

I'm mainly on Instagram, where I'm ready to talk fictional crushes and nerd out over books. (Okay, okay. And I've also been known to share snippets and teasers from my upcoming novels, if you're into that sort of thing...) Please feel free to chat with me there @craggshm. I love talking with fellow authors and readers.

Reviews

[DevonReader39 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queen of Tempests and Sin is the second book in the Brothers of Olympus Series.

I absolutely devoured this book, I couldn't put it down. It was so compelling from the start and has you gripped and pulled in right to the end.

The story follows Cordelia a badass assassin who has been given a job to kill Poseidon, only for there to be attraction and off the charts chemistry that is full of tension and incredibly hilarious banter between them but it doesn't end up going the way it should.

Overall, this was an incredible read and I can't wait to read more from this author.

[Chelsea-anne Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second instalment in the Gods of Olympus series and this book follows Poseidon finding his soulmate.

Poseidon is exactly what you would think arrogant, bossy, a walking red flag. Yet Craggs manages to give him some softer moments that let you warm to his character. Our FMC is Cordelia an assassin sent to kill Poseidon. She is witty, sarcastic and fierce, I loved getting to know her backstory and how she was brought up to become this killer assassin. The whole book they have great banter and witty back and forth. I appreciate the true love of the ocean that Poseidon has, and his focus being on protecting the eco system and stopping overfishing. This is an enjoyable read and has very spicy scenes so be warned. This is a very different pace and tension from the first book. Hades and Persephone are an undying love, meant to be together, whereas Poseidon and Cordelia are a fiery, possessive, fighting for control kind of love.

[Rachel | Raesbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second instalment of the Brothers of Olympus series!
I loved this one just as much as the first one! Focusing on Poseidon, the God and the Sea and Cordelia an assassin who’s also known as the Black Dahlia.
I love that a strong and fierce main character and Cordie is exactly that! I felt the romance really worked and didn’t feel rushed. The romance really blossomed throughout the story.
I actually gasped out loud and was ready to throw my kindle at one part of the book 👀
Getting to see Hades and Persephone again throughout this books was also so much fun!
Highly recommend!

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book and was not paid for my review.

***
Cordelia Sinn is a ruthless mortal assassin whose latest assignment is simple: seduce her target, kill him, and vanish. The complication is her mark is Poseidon, the temperamental god of the sea who hates humans and effortlessly survives her lethal strike. When an ancient enemy rises, they are forced into a deadly alliance, sparking a dark obsession in the storm god who suddenly refuses to let her go.
- Possessive god x stabby mortal assassin
- Forced proximity & explosive chemistry
- "Touch her and drown" energy
- Morally grey lovers
- Ancient god falls first (and harder)
- Greek mythology romantasy
***

I I read this book whilst on holiday by a pool. I agree a beach may be better, but it’ll do for me! Because what better way to read about the hotter than hades King of the Seas than lounging in a pool?

This is book two, and it did not disappoint. We have the same level of fun, spicy times that’ll leave you fanning yourself, hilarious sarcasm and teasing, found families that’ll make you jealous, oh and plenty of danger and stabby hijinks. It was a perfectly fun read!

We follow Cordie, Cordelia, the best assassin in the human world, as she is forced into a job that is way above her pay grade. Taking down a god. But despite not quite knowing what she is in for, Cordie doesn’t back down because her sister's safety is on the line. Cordie is a fantastic FMC, full of attitude and not afraid to put even the scariest god in their place. She is also a total softie for her sister and able to keep up with the big boys and girls in the training ring.

Si, our King of the Seas, Poseidon, is ever the grumpy and withdrawn eco-warrior who is quite literally about to bump into his life’s greatest obsession. He also has no clue what he is getting himself into, but when a fiery little mortal enters his world, she is about to turn him completely upside down. He might take a minute to get his head out of his, well, you know, but he is determined to make sure that Cordelia knows he isn’t going anywhere.

As if trying to deal with the baggage these two carry wasn’t enough, their relationship doesn’t really get off to the best start. You know. Since she was hired to off him. But they also have to deal with the sneaky and deadly Ixion rebels who are still hanging around, causing all sorts of trouble.

This book was really good fun, with plenty of yearning, teasing and dirty talk to keep you entertained. As well as just straight-up spicy moments. But it was also a great read seeing two prickly characters fight through their own thorny walls into each other's hearts.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I only want more. Pretty please.

[Kristel Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed book one in the series, as I adore Hades/Persephone retellings, so I wasn't sure if I would like the Poseidon/Cordelia storyline as much, but I ended up actually loving it even more. Cordelia is a feisty, independent, and skilled assassin sent to kill Poseidon (Si), but she has an innate attraction and connection to the broody, possessive, and seemingly arrogant God that she doesn’t follow through on the specific steps needed to properly kill him. When Poseidon finds Cordelia ready to end her life, this once taciturn, detached and lonely God ends up protecting her and the sister she is desperate to keep safe from the forces determined to kill them for Cordelia’s failure to complete her mission to murder Poseidon.
 
The chemistry between Cordelia and Poseidon is super intense, incredibly sexy and immensely sensual. Their every interaction is emotionally charged, filled with hilariously sarcastic banter, toe curling and tempting seduction as well as angsty moments as Cordelia tries to remain closed off to prevent herself from falling in love with Poseidon while he fights his nature to possess and control everything about her (this side of him brought out his ‘touch her and die’ tendencies which I loved so what’s not to like). 
 
I also loved that the characters we got introduced to in book one such as Hades,  Persephone, and Hecate are all nosying into their relationship and encouraging Cordelia to embrace the bond with Poseidon while slagging and niggling Poseidon for being whipped and head over heels for Cordelia leading to some very funny scenes.
 
The background story added extra tension to the evolving narrative of the mortals wanting to take down the gods and the ending had me on the edge of my seat with how the dangers to Cordelia‘s life and the consequences of her actions played out. Overall, this was a brilliantly delicious instalment to the series and now I need to have the Zeus book STAT!

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queen of Tempests and Sin by Helena M. Craggs is a modern-day urban fantasy romance with gods, humans, mythological vibes, and plenty of tension. This was an easy, fast read, and I really enjoyed the overall setup. I’m always here for a possessive MMC, forced proximity, explosive chemistry, and a good “touch her and meet your doom” trope. I also loved the MMC’s nickname for the FMC, such a small detail, but those always get me. For me, this leaned much heavier into the spicy romance than the fantasy side. With this level of spice, I personally need the storyline and world-building to feel just as developed, especially in a book centered around gods and mythology. I found myself wanting more depth from the fantasy elements, the gods, and the world itself. At times, the characters could have almost been powerful humans rather than mythological beings, and I wanted that godly, larger-than-life feeling to come through a little more. That said, it was still an enjoyable read with fun tropes, strong chemistry, and an easy flow. I think readers who love spicy urban fantasy romance with possessive god energy will have a good time with this one.

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second installment of the series, focusing on Poseidon (Craggs) and Cordelia, a stabby FMC, sent to supposedly eliminate him.
I enjoyed learning both characters backstory and how they became what they are. I really appreciated how arrogant and obsessive Poseidon was on the outside, but how super caring and endearing he was regarding his true love of the ocean and its ecosystem. Cordelia was very clever and amusing. Her refusal to be tamed and her independence made her a very fierce FMC, which matched well with Craggs' dynamic. Together they are a power-hungry couple, always fighting for dominance and control which in turn, made their banter extremely satisfying to read.

This book was fun on many levels, there were sarcastic remarks, innuendos, much teasing and plenty of hot moments. It was a great mixture of everything.

[Ams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are staying spicey on my end 🌶️

Queen of Tempests and Sin by Helena M Craggs follows Cordelia, the worlds best assassin, who’s been hired to kill an unknown man. She has his name and his face, but no clue as to why she is being paid so much to kill him. Maybe he’s a demi-god… maybe something more…

Truly could not put this one down! I love Greek mythology and I especially love to see what writers do when they bring it into the modern age. And who doesn’t love it when they throw in a bit (or rather quite a bit) of spice.

I haven’t read the first in the series but you can COMPLETELY read this as a stand alone without feeling alienated or that you’re missing out on anything.

Thank you to the author and LBT for sending me this book! Truly 😘

[Kalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so fun and it had such great vibes. The MMC is a grumpy god while the MMC is an assassin hired to ☠️ him, and it was just so delicious. This book was a little cringey at times but somehow in the best way? Idk but I had so much fun reading it. The banter between these two was SO good. I mean she stabs him not once but twice, and spoiler alert… he likes it. Outside of the romance, I really enjoyed the found family in this book and revisiting characters from book 1. Also, the setting! I want to live in a palace under the sea so bad! Anyway, I’m excited to continue this series with hopefully Daddy Zues’ in the next book?

Thank you so much to the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Miss E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen of Tempests and Sin
I love a fierce fmc and thats exactly what we get with Cordelia who is the best assassin the human world has to offer,the fact that the king of the seas Poseidon falls hard for the human sent to see him off? Pffft as if that will stop him keeping her.

There is lots of 🌶️ and dirty talk and everything we love in a smutty book but there is also great banter and some softer moments to round out the read.

This had some mythological elements and we get a real feel of the importance of the eco systems etc but i do feel it leans heavier on the romantasy side than anything else and thats a win for me.

[Kerry Garrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well the second book in this series did not disappoint! Where do I sign up to get myself a god? This series is HOT!

I really am loving this series. As with book 1, I absolutely love everything about the characters. The humour is on point with my own.

The storyline from the beginning had me captivated. Bad ass FMC before she even got herself tangled with the gods.

I am really looking forward to book 3!

[midnightblue | Baraah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 💫
Helena, you DID it again, and I am so obsessed and thankful for another opportunity to dive into this series, and I can’t wait for Queen of Starlight and Salvation to be out, too.


The black Dahlia is given speacial a special blade and put on assassinate mission. She doesn't know who her target really is, but if she can't kill him, she will not only be at risk of being killed, but her little sister will be in danger too!

Then she meets him, the one with blue-green eyes of the ocean, with "tinges of grey and silver." Cordelia knows how to challenge a man, knows what she wants, and she will not let a man own her.
Poseidon meets her, his little Red, and she rattles his world and heart! and OURS.

She gets what she wants and what every woman wants to feel in a safe relationship.
״if choice is what you want… I’ll fight every instinct I have to give it to you״

The tension and the spice between both are so gooood! I loved that the story continued from where it was finished in the first book, "Queen of Shadows and Roses". We get to see what happens next in Persephone and Hades story, and we enjoy the developments of the series.
And I'm obsessed with the found family trope, too, the friendships that were built.

Quotes I loved:

‘Listen, Cordie—love isn’t perfect. It never is. It needs tending, like a plant needs sun and water. People can learn. People can adapt. And when it’s worth fighting for—when it’s real—true love doesn’t shatter; it bends, it twists, it reshapes itself until it fits. That’s what makes it endure.’

‘Even if I am bound in chains beneath the sea, I will tear through the depths until the water remembers the shape of your soul.’

‘In every tide that reaches the shore, in every whisper of salt that lingers on your skin, I will find you; we will cling like the sea and the moon, bound by a pull older than the gods themselves.’

‘You are the sea I drown in, and the shore I crawl back to.’

[Kayla Schmitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ - This series is just so fun! This story brings us a mortal assassin, Cordelia (Cordie), who unknowingly has her hardest target to date, Poseidon (Si). From the start there is sooo much tension and lust. These two are extremely attracted to each other and Poseidon is all in. He just has to get Cordelia on the same page. It is slow burnish as in there is lots of spice between our main characters but the feelings portion takes awhile to accept. I loved going back to the underworld where we get to see Hades and Persephone again plus all the other support characters from the previous book. We also get some new characters i really enjoyed especially Cordie’s little sister. She is a spitfire just like her big sister.

Si is definitely an alpha male. He is bossy and thinks Cordie is his. Cordie on the other hand has had enough with men and possessing her. Even when Si thinks he is protecting her, all she sees is another chain. It was fun to have Cordie stand up to Si and not take his shit. Lots of good angst in this one. Who doesn’t love a bit of rough intense spice? Their relationship is very much the hate to love. As they their is a fine line between love and hate.

Thanks to the author and her team for the ARC!

[Krista Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A possessive MMC who cares about the climate and animals and a badass assassin FMC who refuses to bow to him (unless she wants to), all set in the modern world but with Greek mythology!

You pickup right after Persephone and Hades story has finished, but this time you’re following a mortal FMC who’s been raised by her abusive stepfather to be his assassin, and she keeps doing it to keep her younger sister safe. When her latest mission is to assassinate someone related to the Greek gods who currently run the world, she takes the job because she has to, but not realizing she’s signing up to kill the alias of Poseidon! She meets him and feels an instant attraction, and when the time comes, she’s unsuccessful and he ends up enchanted by her and wants to keep her even after she tries to kill him, but now shes in danger!

I loved the raw attraction the characters had for each other which made their complex feelings even harder to deal with and a fun thing to see from both sides due to the dual POV. I like a possessive MMC, and how broody he is but slowly accepts that she’s capable and compromises on her coming along. I also liked the little found family amongst the gods that the FMC slowly immersed herself into and all the lesser known gods and Demi gods in the story from mythology that got introduced! I can’t wait to see how Zeus’s story goes next! My rating 4.6/5!

Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!

[Janet Guzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg loved book 1 buttttttt OBSESSED with book 2… the rollercoaster was worth it and can’t wait for 3!!!!!!!

[A Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craggs did it again! 5 stars, I love this book so much! The sass, the banter, the yearning. The spice! It is all there! This is once again one of my favorite books of the year. Queen of Shadows and Roses was one of my favorites for 2025 and Now Queen of Tempest and Sin is one of my favorites for 2026. Craggs is a master with words. I can’t wait for her next one! And let me just say… Chapter 10 😱 🤤

[Marcia - itsabookthing2021 · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Queen of Shadows and Roses I was really looking forward to reading Queen of Tempests and Sin.
I love how Helena M Craggs creates her stories and worlds. The worlding building in this book is full of lavish descriptions from the colouring of the sky (which sounds beautiful) to the buildings and rooms the characters are in. All of this creates a great visual whilst I'm reading and I feel immersed into the world.
The creation of the new characters I felt were great, Cordelia the assassin, felt to me had a softer side underneath that bravado.
I did feel at times the language used for a 24 year old is a little jarring but it does fall inline with Sephy from book 1.
I liked the creation of Poseidon/Si for me he's a love/hate character, he's cocky and arrogant but he has all the swoony traits worthy of the touch her and die trope.
The storyline developed well and I really felt it picked up at chapter 34, it felt like the action was packed in from then on and I was hooked until the end. I know there's a book 3 and I can't wait to see what we have coming.

[Sara Prince · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always loved Greek mythology, and she did an amazing job of bringing these Greek gods and goddesses to life!

A well written plot, throw in some spice, and adventure and intrigue, and you’ve got yourself an amazing story. Grab your beverage of choice, all the snack, turn your phone on do not disturb and deep, dive into an amazing world!

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Provided by Helena M Craggs in exchange for honest review.

When the infamous assassin Black Dahlia, aka Cordelia Harmartia, is contracted to kill Si Thalassa, she doesn't expect to find herself having dinner with him on the night she's expected to carry out his murder. Incredibly attractive, she believes him to be a demigod. After she's buried the dagger in his chest, and she's on her way out of the window, she hears someone call him Poseidon - one of the big three. Aware she's failed in her mission, she knows she needs to get to her sister to keep her safe - but Poseidon is on her trail. When she confesses the truth - that they'd threatened her sister's life if she hadn't killed him, instead of taking his revenge on her by ending her life, he claims her. Taking Cordelia and her sister to the Underworld to keep them safe, he is brazen in his desire for her and adamant she belongs to him. Cordelia believes she belongs to nobody but herself. Can they resolve their differences and admit their actual feelings for each other? What exactly will it take for that to happen?

Queen of Tempests and Sin is another smash hit from Helena M Craggs! Following on from Hades and Persephone's story, Cordelia, who is fiercely independent and believes that she will never be anyone's belonging, is thrown into the path of Si Thalassa - her intended target, and the first person she's ever regretted having to assassinate. The attraction to him is instant, shocking her, and even causing her to shed tears when she believes she has killed him. Fully expecting him to destroy her when he catches her, she is stunned when he declares her as claimed, refusing to allow his brothers to enact revenge on her. Cordelia is feisty and sweary, and when she finds out that he has marked her without her consent, her fury knows no bounds - whilst her body is betraying her with her response to him. This war goes on until she finally manages - with the help of Hades, of all people - to show him that she cannot be someone's possession, cannot be owned. She has to be free to be herself - and to make the choice about whether she becomes someone's partner. Once she gets that through to him, the sparks really fly. Alongside her relationship with Poseidon, she loves her younger sister with her entire being, doing absolutely anything to protect her, and she forges a strong friendship with Sephy (Persephone), and to a lesser extent, Bronte. They both help to show her to lighten up a little on her ferocity and anger.

Poseidon... wow. First introduced as Si Thalassa, his alter ego - he hasn't embraced the limelight like his brothers have - he is incredibly hot, bossy and intriguing, shocking himself when he invites Cordelia out to dinner. When he recovers from her stabbing him, his instinct is to destroy her, but when he discovers that the person who took out the contract had threatened her younger sister, he shocks himself again by whisking them both to the Underworld, under his protection - but informing Cordelia that he owns her and will be punishing her. And while yes, the second part is hot, the first part really isn't. He acts like a bit of a douche - admittedly studded with hotness - for quite a lot of this book. He cannot understand her reluctance to be his - not realising it is his arrogance and his approach that is causing her to bristle. Once he finally understands, he softens, and at that point, he melted my heart (and elsewhere!). Poseidon realising he is in love is gorgeous - this big, bad God is brought to his knees for a tiny mortal woman, and it is wonderful. Similarly to Hades in Queen of Shadows and Roses, once he becomes aware of his faults, boy does he become excellent book boyfriend material!

This book is paced really well, with Cordelia and Poseidon's relationship development being the forefront of the plot, whilst things percolate in the background ready for the dramatic final third. You are reacquainted with characters from the previous book through fresh eyes, which is always entertaining, and there is groundwork laid for the relationship that will feature in book three of the Brothers of Olympus series (and I CANNOT wait to see Zeus brought to his knees for a woman who seemingly has no feelings for him whatsoever!) The final third of this novel had my heart in my mouth, absolute rage at the betrayal, tears running down my face, and finally a beautiful sense of joy and tenderness with a single plot point that shows that Helena M Craggs forgets no character's development (even after massive trauma!) and ensures that there is a choice for that character when the time comes. Finally, there is an ending that, especially if you've read QoSaR, will leave you beaming. A bet is remembered, and the outcome is truly joyous for everyone.

The sneak peek at Book Three has got me absolutely salivating for what is to come, and I cannot wait to be deep in those pages - as Queen of Tempests and Sin has proven again what an accomplished and brilliant storyteller Helena M Craggs is. Cordelia and Poseidon's story is a triumph, and will leave you desperate for more. A testament to her writing is that this book contains one of the most beautiful sentences I have ever read - "Everything shimmered, as if a high-end magazine had caught nature mid-laugh, fluttering and dancing on the breeze." Glorious.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this book!

[savage_book_review · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Please note, I was provided with an ARC version of this book by the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review*

I will never stray in my love for Hades as the best of the Greek gods. But, when Poseidon is somehow simultaneously a walking red flag and a complete simp, well, I can't deny that this book certainly has me intrigued at this world's version of the King of the Seas! And where I'm a little less familiar with him as a leading man, this book felt like a refreshing read.

I feel like Cordelia's character in this book is what Persephone should have been in book one. Certainly there are still elements of the character that could perhaps do with development or a little more depth, but overall Cordelia comes across as vivid, strong and fiercely protective, and it was really easy to seat her firmly in the role she plays. In turn, this made it easier to get to know and like her, and feel like you were right there alongside her when she's negotiating her way through this new world. The bonds of friendship she develops during the story also feel incredibly natural, even with the insanity some of the things they get up to, and by the end I'm totally convinced that there will be Goddess Girls Nights going on on the regular, with the boys relegated to awkward brotherly small talk over a beer or five.

Poseidon is probably a bit too overprotective and possessive for the majority of the book, and I can't say that he truly endears himself to me via his personality alone. It's his softer moments that sell him, mainly because so often Poseidon (and indeed Zeus) are portrayed as arrogant, egotistical and self-absorbed... he still is absolutely all of these things, but somehow the author has managed to give him layers that help cut through the rubbish to the heart of a God. You have to love Persephone's needling of him, and I love that they feel close as siblings-in-law no matter how much Poseidon tries to deny it. But mostly I like that there is this three dimensional feeling to the character - he isn't just the absolute tool he is usually portrayed as, and neither are his demigods (for the most part). It feels so refreshing to have a set of characters that are actually likeable when all is said and done!

Obviously the focus is on the characters and their developing relationship, but it does mean that the underlying plot does feel like it suffers a little for lack of attention. It's a great story thread, don't get me wrong, but the pacing did feel a little uneven in places and there are certain moments that felt like they deserved so much more time. There are a couple of moments which feel quite high stakes and are compel you to keep turning the page, but they end up being wrapped up and moving on very quickly rather than building on that delicious tension. But I will say that it builds up a nice set of stakes for the next story in the series, and actually engaged me more than the Hades and Persephone arc from book one.

The women in this book are all incredibly strong, and as mentioned above I love the sisterhood they seem to be building. I do want to see more of Guinn, especially when I'm sure she's going to give all of Poseidon's demigods the run around! My only concern is that, despite all of her skills and attitude, somehow she came across more as a child prodigy than a teenage girl on the cusp of womanhood. It may well just be me, but while there are moments where she absolutely acts her age and beyond, there was just something that meant I couldn't help but picture, like, a 10 year old with pigtails and a tweens sense of self confidence. Which in turn feels a bit awkward when she is around said demigods. I want to see her blossom and transform in the next book (or even her own book later on!) if nothing else so I can get a proper image of her in my mind!

Overall, I found this an enjoyable, quick read that made me smile, roll my eyes and swoon, just a little bit.

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen of Tempests and Sins is the second instalment in the Brothers of Olympus trilogy. In book one we saw Hades getting Persephone back, and met his siblings, Poseidon the God of the Seas and Zeus the God of the Skies, and Father of the Gods. Both of them are as arrogant as any reader of Olympian tales, old or new, know them to be. So yeah, watching them get knocked down in this book and I imagine in book three is pretty satisfying.

Book two, as the title hints, sees Poseidon find his equal Now, I have a particular hatred for him in the myths, because I always sided with Medusa and in turn her sisters; so I was curious how Helena would make me stop wanting to lock him away with no access to water. Of course, she pulled it off! He still has the arrogance, but he isn't a jerk all the time. Mostly it was his passion for saving oceans and rivers that won me over. A god who knows he's God's gift but loves the Earth and invests in environmental works? I was indeed swayed to the dark side.

Cordelia is the right match for a god who scorns love. She's jaded by her life and by the things she's done as one of the world's top assassins. The synopsis hinted their meeting would be messy, so I wanted to see how she'd get out of a situation that should have been simple. She's excellent at her work and yet she is deliberately unprepared because she doesn't know what the mark truly is. Plus, Helena loves a little chaos and the assassin who won't let anyone close gets tongue-tied over her mark and rather than wanting to kill him, wants to get *cough* up close and personal with him instead.

The man she's been hired to kill is also the man she is drawn to and has let closer than anyone else.
He's more than she's told. His survival starts Cordelia on a path of discovery, love and freedom.

She’s not used to failure, and now the unknown client, who paid a small fortune for a god's head wants Cordelia dead; and very quickly the hunter becomes the hunted. She along with her little sister are pulled out of everything they know and into the very real world of the gods. I really liked how we get to see familiar faces from book one, and others from legend as they show up to protect and distract the mortal stuck in the centre of the gods’ mess. Being back in the Underworld we of course see Persephone again and The Goddess of Spring along with her friends brings some light relief and warmth to tense moments, just like the first spring winds after winter.

Queen of Tempests and Sins is tense from the get go, and for a few reasons which I love because there’s so much to keep you engaged and immersed in the story. Poseidon and Cordelia clash because she won't be ‘claimed’ and she refuses to be known as "belonging" to him because she craves her independence. Admittedly, when she or rather they compromise; the tension takes a slightly different direction and the heat between them is tangible. (Side note, the spicy moments are evocative, and yet it feels natural and not added for the sake of it which can happen.) Then there is the wider tension among the Olympians; with a threat that could end their reign over Olympus and Earth if it succeeds, and they don't know where it's coming from? The gods are very much on edge and I confess to liking seeing these somewhat infallible beings falter and not know what to do. Cordelia too is burdened with expectation and is in truth held captive, you can practically feel how tightly wound she is by how controlled she’s been and I loved seeing her gain her freedom with a little help from some new friends..

I adore Cordelia. She's a warrior and she protects the people who matter most to her. Her circle grows as she realises the gods fighting for justice might not be as bad as she thought. I loved book one because I always fall for a Hades and Persephone tale. I was wary about this one because of my feelings about the Sea God — even the Poseidon in Percy Jackson annoys me. But Helena did it again. She made me like a god who cares for his oceans, and I loved seeing him fall first for the woman who could still kill him if she wanted. After all, she knows where she went wrong the first time.!

Queen of Tempests and Sin is a story about an assassin and her sea god, but the threads that were woven in book one continue and we as a reader can something forming in the background. These arrogant gods might be brought down by love. But it sounds like something else could make them all lie down in the dirt. Only book three, Zeus's book, will give me the answers I want.

[•*•*•Erin•*•*• · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advanced reader copy sent by the Author.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐stars

What to expect:
🔱 Possessive god x stabby assassin
🌊 Forced proximity & explosive chemistry
🔱 Mythological romance
🌊 Touch her and drown
🔱 Slow burn
🌊 Morally grey lovers
🔱 Found family of gods

Yesss this was fantastic. I flew through this book!
I absolutely loved the first book and wasn't sure going into this one as I'm not the biggest fan of Poseidon but boy was I proven wrong.

We follow our FMC Cordelia Sinn she is one of the world deadliest assassins, and her latest assignment is to, seduce and then assassinate Poseidon, at the time she had no idea who the target was but once she 'completed' her task she founds out who it was and now knows she in trouble so she flees. As this god is not that easy to kill.

I loved Cordelia, she is one tough cookie, she is witty and confident, fierce and won't be pushed around. She won't claimed or owned by anyone without her permission. And she will protect her sister at all costs.

Our MMC Poseidon, is a walking red flag. He is self-absorbed, hates humans, avoids attachments and believes love is a weakness and foolish.
But Cordelia has managed to work her way through his rough exterior and then drugs and stabs him. He rises after being healed and is a man on a mission, fixated on her... the woman who has made him feel something after all this time. He wants her and no one else can have her.

Now normally I'm not a fan of Poseidon I think he is an assh@le. But the Author has brought out a side of him I never imagined. He is caring and sweet, the love he has for Cordelia 😍 and this man has a mouth on him! Loved his nickname for Cordie.

Wow the chemistry and yearning between these two was next level.
Poseidon claims her without her permission and soon learns he fu@ked up and backs off and lets her come to him on her own terms 👏🏽

The banter between the characters was one of my favorite parts.
Cordelia's inner monologue was soo good! Especially when it was regarding Poseidon and her naughty thoughts 🤣🤣

Loved that we got to see the friendship bloom between Cordelia, Sephy and Bronte. Love the found family element of this book.

The character development in this book was fantastic. Loved seeing the growth within Poseidon, trying to be a better man for Cordelia. And Cordelia, learning to open up and let people in.

There is always something plotting away in these books, your captivated by the romance but in the background, something is aways happening and keeping them on their toes. This book was action packed.

I loved the world building in this book. Very descriptive and well written. I loved getting a look into Poseidon's kingdom, I could picture everything I was reading, and it was beautiful.

We get a little sneak peek into the next book and I cannot wait! Zeus needs to be put in his place.

Highly recommend this book.

Thank you so much to the Author for sending me a copy of your book.

[Bianca Duthie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhh I need book 3 now!!! This is book 2 in the Brothers of Olympus series. Book 1 told the story of Hades and Persephone, this one tells the story of Poseidon - king of the seas, and human assassin Cordelia who manages to turn Mr grumpy-pants frown firmly upside down!
We get to see so much of the characters we grew to love in book 1, Hades, Sephy, Bronte and wee peeks of some of the demi-gods and friends. I love a sequel where we get to carry on catching up with previous characters lives. We meet new characters Cordelia and her sister Guinn. These ladies are kick-ass and I hope we see more of fifteen going on fifty year old Guinn because she is a hoot!
We find out a little more about Ixion, and the big bad that is causing trouble for our favourite Greek God's, but there is still secrets galore to come out and it seems to be ramping up to an epic conclusion in book 3!
As I said, Cordie is an absolute spitfire, well versed in how to bring Mr Sea Man to his knees.
Speaking of being on his knees, fair warning, he is one heck of a book boyfriend. I love how these Greek God's would absolutely rip the world apart for the protection of their mates. The spice ratings are off the charts!! I thought books 1 was hot, but it had a real slow burn to it, book 2 turns the heat dial up quickly and nobody turns off the gas! I love it!!
I love the relationships throughout, they are ride or die for each other, though honestly, Bronte was a little annoying to me here, I get she has beef with the gods but she almost seemed to relish baiting Poseidon with putting Cordie at risk, and came off as a bit of a douche at times. I am hoping she can redeem herself in my eyes in the next instalment.
I couldnt put this down, I started it and 5 hours later with a couple of enforced breaks I had finished it, I was completely engrossed in it! There is something really special about this series. It has completely hooked me and I dont want it to stop. I appreciate that it is about the three brothers, but can we just carry it on and have a story for every Greek God - that way it will carry on a long time!! Please?! If not, and the next one is the grand finale, I genuinely have no idea how its going to conclude. I feel like there is still a mole in the camp somewhere, I just dont know who it is or how things are going to play out. I do know, however, that I am absolutely here for it, and cannot wait to sink my teeth into it - I shan't claim it as a mate though, my fangs won't puncture as easily as a Greek God's would!
I loved it! I would absolutely recommend reading this, but it has to be as part of the series. Its been great.

[123_Romantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
3.5🌶️

Thank you to the author for an e-arc of this book! I gobbled this up in a day!

Book 2 of the Brothers of Olympus series (book 1 followed Hades x Persephone), we now shift to Hades’ brother, Poseidon.

Poseidon claims he will never love. Never let love weaken him. Even has a bet going with Persephone about it! He keeps his anonymity in the world by using a different name and seeks to rid the world of Ixion and those who look to destroy the planet and Earth’s resources. That is…until a red headed assassin walks into his life.

Cordelia has trained her whole life to become the world’s best assassin. Under the thumb of her stepfather, all she wants to do is save enough to get both her and her sister away from the life. Her next target would go a long way to achieving that goal. But when that target doesn’t end up being a Demi-god as she expected but instead, one of the Big 3 themselves, Cordie finds herself in a hole she can’t dig herself out of. Even more infuriating is her said target now calls her his and Cordie is anything but someone’s possession. But when a common enemy takes something precious from her, she finds that maybe there’s more to the Gods than the horror stories she’s heard.

We all thought Hades was down bad for his woman in book 1?? Poseidon is a total simp for his! 🤣 The yearning and possessiveness of this man had me kicking my feet! And his inner circle of friends teasing him up a wall about it all? Perfection! I love the little found family of gods we have in this series!

Cordelia did get a biiiiit on my nerves sometimes. We get it: you belong to no one. It was said a few too many times for me. It’s why I knocked this down a star mostly, because I couldn’t stand her at points. I LOVED Poseidon’s POV chapters though!

The spice 🌶️ was definitely spicing in this book! 🥵 they may have an instant connection and maybe some oral situations happening but there’s still this slow burn tension throughout the book. A different kind of tension than you had in book 1 with Hades/Persephone

We have 1 more book to go in this series, Zeus’s book, and we see that story her get set up in book 2. I think it’s gonna be a good one 🤣🤣

I like that while each book may focus on a different couple, you still have an overall plot happening in the background it’s following and how each brother contributes to pushing that story along. And the characters from the previous book don’t just disappear. They’re still very active in this book and will be in book 3 as well.

[Read, Read, No Sleep, Repeat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devour everything Helena writes, but this little beauty might just be my favourite yet! Queen of Tempests and Sin is the second book in the Brothers of Olympus series, and I was so excited to return to this world of ruthless gods and the fierce women who bring them to their knees.

We first met Poseidon in Queen of Shadows and Roses and, as you'd expect from the God of the Sea, he was arrogant, cold, and seemingly untameable. Helena had her work cut out for her making me fall for him, but three chapters in and my pulse was already spiking!

This is a true enemies-to-lovers romance featuring two wonderfully morally grey characters. Assassin Cordelia Sinn is sent to seduce and kill Poseidon, but when her mission goes spectacularly wrong, the two are thrown together in a dangerous world of gods, enemies, secrets, and undeniable attraction.

The chemistry between Cordelia and Si was absolutely unreal. I loved the tension, the constant push and pull, and the way neither of them was willing to back down. Cordelia is my favourite kind of FMC - snarky, capable, fiercely independent, and completely unwilling to be controlled. Watching her clash with the possessive, protective, and utterly obsessed Si was endlessly entertaining.

And Si? Oh, I LOVED him. Morally grey, filthy-mouthed, powerful, and completely gone for Cordelia from the start. Helena absolutely nailed his character growth, and I am always here for a man who falls first and falls hard.

The pacing was relentless from start to finish. Every chapter seemed to reveal a new twist, betrayal, or piece of intrigue, and I found myself constantly saying "just one more chapter” beauty sleep be damned! Alongside the romance, the plot is packed with action as the characters race against time to defeat an ancient enemy, and I was completely invested in every second of it.

The found family element was another highlight for me. Cordelia's friendship with Sephy and Brontë brought so much heart and humour to the story, and their chaotic antics and banter had me cackling!

This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster. It made me laugh, raised my pulse, broke my heart a little, and then put it back together again. Add in some seriously good spice, fantastic character development, and a world that seamlessly blends mythology with the modern day, Helena didn't just write a story — she created a world I completely lost myself in.

Now excuse me while I impatiently wait for Zeus's story because after this book, I need to know what Helena has planned for the King of the Gods!

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I have loved Greek mythology since I was young, so when the stories are reimagined and/or modernized I completely geek out. Queen of Tempests and Sin is book 2 in the Gods of Olympus series. Helena Craggs does a spectacular job bringing her characters to life and pulling readers into her stories. Mixing passion with action, the story of where our MCs start and where they end, her writing is hard to put down.

Cordelia is a trained assassin, infamous within some circles. When she is given her latest assignment, her sister’s safety depends on her carrying out the job. Upon completion, she is leaving, but then she finds out who her target actually is. One of the largest gods around she knows she has failed bigger than ever before. Coming clean to the god about her situation, he agrees to protect them both. Except protection quickly turns into him saying she is his. Cordelia is fierce, protective, and independent. She belongs to no one!

Poseidon is written in a way that you try so hard to dislike, but it is impossible. He is cocky, overbearing, and incredibly good looking. When his dinner date ends up being an assassin and he is her job. When he recovers from her attempt, he is out for revenge. But hearing that she is trying to protect her sister, something comes over him and he decides to protect them both instead. But he now feels he owns Cordelia and sets out to make her his. He is beyond arrogant in the beginning, but slowly becomes someone you can’t resist. And neither can Cordelia.

Helena knows how to write characters that grab a hold of you and don’t let you go. The tension between Poseidon and Cordelia is so thick for most of the book, until it finally snaps and they are even more amazing. I really enjoyed watching Cordelia make Poseidon work for her affection. She doesn’t make it easy, but once he wins her over, she is his completely and fully. I am so excited to read book 3 and just know that Zeus is going to be an amazing read.

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🔱Enemies to Lovers
🦋Grumpy x Sunshine
🔱Forced Proximity
🦋He Falls First
🔱Found Family
🦋Ruthless Gods
🔱Mythology Reimagined
🦋Touch Her and 💀

[Jennifer Amaral · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Queen of Tempests and Sin* was fierce, addictive, and completely impossible to put down 👀🌊⚡🖤

A stabby assassin sent to kill Poseidon? A god who should want revenge but becomes completely obsessed instead? Yeah... I was hooked immediately.

What I loved most about this book was Cordelia. She's strong, ruthless, and unapologetically dangerous. As one of the world's deadliest assassins, she's spent her life relying on her skills, her instincts, and her ability to keep people at a distance. Watching her navigate a situation she can't simply fight her way out of made her such a compelling character.

And then there's Poseidon.

This is not the calm ruler of the seas from the myths. He's powerful, volatile, possessive, and absolutely unprepared for the chaos Cordelia brings into his life. The moment she enters his world, everything changes, and I loved watching him fall harder and harder while trying to pretend he wasn't affected.

The chemistry between these two was incredible. Every interaction felt charged with tension, whether they were arguing, plotting, or trying not to acknowledge the connection growing between them. The forced proximity only made everything more intense, and I found myself looking forward to every scene they shared.

I also loved the way the mythology was handled. Rather than simply retelling old stories, this book takes familiar myths and twists them into something darker, bolder, and far more empowering. It felt fresh while still giving me everything I love about Greek mythology.

The romance was another highlight for me. It's a slow burn, but the emotional payoff is worth every second. Beneath all the tension, danger, and banter is a relationship built on understanding, trust, and two people learning that vulnerability doesn't always equal weakness.

✨ Read this if you love:
• Greek mythology romantasy ⚡
• morally grey characters
• assassin FMCs 🔪
• possessive gods
• enemies-to-lovers
• forced proximity
• slow-burn romance
• powerful, unapologetic heroines

This book had everything I wanted—action, tension, mythology, romance, and characters I couldn't stop thinking about. I was completely invested from beginning to end and couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

An easy 5⭐ read for me and one I'll be recommending to every mythology romance lover I know 🖤🌊⚡

[Ariel Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helena M. Craggs has created a story that feels like standing in the eye of a storm. Beautiful, dangerous, passionate, and impossible to look away from. Every chapter pulled me deeper into a world where gods are just as flawed as mortals, love is both a weapon and a refuge, and every choice carries consequences.

Cordelia continues to be one of my favorite heroines. She is fierce without losing her heart, compassionate without sacrificing her strength, and courageous enough to stand toe-to-toe with a god without ever losing herself. I admired her resilience just as much as I admired her vulnerability.

And Poseidon…

Watching one of the most powerful beings in existence slowly unravel because of love was unexpectedly beautiful. His journey isn’t perfect, and that’s exactly why it works. Beneath all the pride, power, and possessiveness is someone learning that love cannot be controlled. It must be earned.

The tension between them had me smiling one moment and holding my breath the next. Their banter, devotion, sacrifices, and quiet moments together made their relationship feel earned rather than rushed.

The world continues to expand in the most captivating way. Greek mythology feels alive again, woven together with rich world-building, unforgettable side characters, heart-pounding action, humor, and enough emotional moments to leave your heart aching long after you’ve turned the final page.

And that ending…

I closed the book and simply sat there for a moment, trying to process everything I had just experienced. It left me equal parts heartbroken, hopeful, and desperately counting the days until the next installment.

This series has become one of those rare stories that reminds me why I fell in love with reading in the first place. It doesn’t just tell a story. It invites you to feel every triumph, every heartbreak, every impossible choice, and every wave that crashes between them.

If you love Greek mythology, powerful heroines, morally gray gods, slow-burn romance, found family, and stories that leave your heart completely wrecked in the best possible way, do yourself a favor and pick up this series.

Helena M. Craggs has created something unforgettable, and I already know I’ll be thinking about these characters long after the final book is written.

[Ashleigh Acton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queen of Tempests and Sin by Helena M Craggs Arch review
This is the second instalment to the Brothers of Olympus trilogy. 3 brothers who are gods and used to being obeyed and have power, till one day they will meet their match,
We had hades fall for Persephone, now we have the king of the sea Poseidon, who doesn’t like women, thinks love is like being on crystal meth and kills your brain cells.
And Cordelia who is a badass assassin, has everything to lose and hates all men. She can’t fail.

Till she meets the man she must assassinate.
First encounter they both fell an instant connection, will this connection bring them together or will they kill each other, are they each other match or are they friends or foes.
Queen of Tempests and Sin is a #Spicey,#GreekMyology and #Romantasy will they or wont they, you will just have to see on the 4th of June 2026.
I was so excited to see this in my emails and being apart of the arch team, I loved the first book Queen of Shadows and Roses and reading the second book Queen of Tempest and Sin, it gave me the same excited feeling when you get a new book and you really want to read it, as I was reading, I love both of Cordelia and Poseidon first encounter and what they think of each other. It gives ideas of what’s going to happen, will he fall for her even though it is very cautious of her or will she fell him even though she is super attracted to him, she still has a job to assassinate him, she has too much to lose to not do to it.
I also like that we get to see a little glimpse of our Hades and Persephone are going and being in the book too.
Persephone and Poseidon still fight like siblings which I enjoy their banter, I also enjoyed the sexual tension and banter between Cordie and Poseidon. Also, will Persephone deal with Poseidon come true, will she get to ride a hippocampus? Refer to Book 1.
I also love that Cordelia is a book worm like me and her sister Guinn is cool too, she is such a straightforward kid lol.
I defiantly recommended reading this book when it comes out, if you love gods and them looking for their match, then you will like the Brothers of Olympus.
Enjoy your reading.

[The Book Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two in The Brothers of Olympus series was even better than book one, in my opinion. And that's saying a lot, because Hades and Persephone retellings (book one) are my personal favorite. But apparently I also have a thing for the raging God of the Seas, Posiedon, that was just waiting to be unlocked by Ms. Craggs.

As much as I love Persephone, Cordelia Sinn is an absolute pistol and blast to read. I love a bad ass, smart mouthed, stab first ask questions later FMC, and Helena delivered. I, too, am a smartass who likes to think she takes no shit, especially from smarmy, arrogant men. Which is exactly why I instantly loved her. Right away, she takes absolutely zero shit from Si (aka Posiedon) and you can tell he's definitely not used to someone like her. But there's also, quite obvious to the reader, an instant connection there. QoTaS is definitely a slow burn romance but holy moly once the spice starts... There's plenty of it and it is yummy to read! Not only was it very well written, but the blending of romance, spice and subplot is done masterfully, which is exactly what I expect from our wonderful author.

Some things you can expect to find between these pages...

🗡️ A Stabby, Badass FMC
🌊 An Arrogant & Possessive MMC
🗡️ Found Family
🌊 An Intriguing Subplot
🗡️ Greek God In A Modern Setting
🌊 Banter
🗡️ Mythological Creatures

... and so much more. I highly suggest you check out QoTaS, or that you pick up book one and get caught up on this fun, steamy reimagining of the lives and loves of the Greek gods. While this read was pretty mild, for me, in the way of content and triggers, I cannot in good conscience suggest a book without urging you to first check those lists out. It might be mild for me, but it might not be for you, and no book is worth risking your mental well-being. That all said, as a fan of Greek history and mythology, I cannot recommend this book, this entire series more. It's absolutely delightful and I enjoy reading Helena's stories so much. So, treat yourself, you deserve it!!

🌶️🌶️🌶️
⭐⭐⭐⭐