Athena: The Warrior Queen of Yavdolo

by Helen R. Davis

Damlol is a planet located outside the reaches of Earth and the solar system, a peaceful world from which many colonists from Earth left centuries ago, fleeing a worldwide caliphate. But all is not as it seems. Athena, the princess of a country known as Yavdolo, is growing up in a turbulent time. The kingdom of Avodla desires to crush all other nations and cover the world in an oppressive dictatorship—similar to the one the colonists fled from so many centuries ago. This is the story of a girl of great courage and her many adventures, the first in a series.

140 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2017

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing combination of various genres a science fantasy with very real links to the real world in a futuristic sense. A future world where much of humanity from earth has escaped to other planets to escape an Islamic Caliphate that rules the earth and wants to exterminate those of other faiths,

THe story of the Princess Athena and her growth into a powerful force, dealing with love, betrayal and loss, and striving with friend and foe to defend her planet Yavdolo and others from forces of evil, that have reached these places.

Excellent and highly recommended.

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a first of many adventures, Athena proves to be a worthy servant of her people. She has an inner strength, determinations, belief and courage. The world of Yavdolo has depth and distinction. The world posses dilemmas for this young princess and her understanding of the situation that she finds her people in. She grows with each turn of the pages. She finds that she can do this. She will do this. She will continue on until she stands tall and proud for her people. She was a strong, courage young child that grew in to an even stronger and more courage determined future ruler of her world. This adventure was full of much that one would love a bit of the sci-fi, fantasy, historical coming of age. The read was engaging and quick.

[Carolina Casas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parallels universes, alternate timelines, post-apocalyptic futures, and a light at the end of the tunnel. There is no shortage of sub-genres within science fiction and that is because science fiction offers us a world of endless possibilities!

But amidst all of the chaos that these sub-genres contain, a great number of them always contain a light at the end of the tunnel. And that is what this novel offers. Staring on a grim note, hundreds of years after the exiles of Earth fled their world which had once been a beacon of hope and freedom, the novel evolves into a tale of growth, love, and loss as we are introduced into an unforgettable heroine.
These themes remain universal and likely will until the end of time, or at least as long as mankind exists. And this is why this tale will resonate with everyone because more than being a simplistic tale of good and evil, it is a coming age of story about a woman who refuses to bend over against the obstacles put in her path.

Athena's journey is far from over. With every step she takes, she grows stronger. Doubt doesn't enter her mind because she keeps her focus on what truly matters. Her will power, the ferocity (which she shows to her enemies), and belief in herself are what make Athena into one of the strongest people her world has ever known.

Fantasy and science fiction lovers will fall in love with her character, rooting her until the very end. In this, Helen R. Davis, like fantasy giants, has created a new world full of wonders and mystique which will leave you have stepped into another realm that by the end of it, you won't want to leave.

A highly recommendable read!

[Andrea Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of Helen's alternative histories so I was excited to read Athena, because I wanted to see how she wrote in this genre.



I'm really happy to say, she crafts just as great a story for other worlds, as she does the Queens of our world.



In Athena, she has created a princess who is just as strong as the human counterparts she has written about.



I loved watching Athena grow in strength as the book progressed. She starts out in the book as a very young girl of five, just learning what she needs to know to become Yavdolo's Queen. She's smart and very spunky, as you learn when she manages to go on the mission to rescue her mother in Havla.



If you have read Helen's other books, you'll definitely enjoy this book, even though its a different genre. Earth history plays a part in it and there are mentions of royals such as Henry VIII in this book.



Another thing that I liked was how religion and beliefs and conflicts were a part of this story as well. I found the setting to be an interesting mix, with parts of Damlol's countries being backward, even for our time, and other countries feeling much more futuristic.



The book is action packed from start to finish and really a great read, that will have you reflecting on things happening in the here and now



I look forward to reading more of Athena's adventures.

[Reviewing Nerds · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some great elements in the book such as the world it is based in. The amazing world of Yavdolo and their matriarchal traditions. It gave the book a fresh perspective and made it an easy read. The book is a great mixture of various colors, traditions and religions that makes it intriguing for its entire length. I was able to finish the book in one sitting and enjoyed Athena's character as a strong woman and ruler. Even as a child, she had strong opinions and had the courage to stick to them. I had my wager on Athena from the beginning and it seemed to be justified as she proved to be a warrior.

http://reviewingnerds.com/2018/05/29/...