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The Myth of June
When Juniper Georgian's father gazed into the face of divinity without flinching, the last Titan God, Typhon, took it upon himself to offer lifelong protection to the newborn girl.
Years later, with Typhon away and June now a grown woman, she is viciously attacked by someone she thought she could trust - resulting in yet another God stepping in with a gift of their own.
Blessed with extraordinary power, June is thrown into a battle against one of the most powerful gods in existence. Through her fight for justice, she will have to uncover deep secrets that her father has withheld, and take on the terrifying monsters and angry immortals that she'd always believed to be a myth.
Will she be able to stop a war of the gods before it begins? Or will all fall to Chaos?
Please read TW/CW on author website
While this series is loosely inspired by Greek mythology, it is set in an alternate universe/timeline from ours and touches on real world issues, LGBTQ+ themes, and is a dark fiction read meant for adults. Expect to explore an entirely new take on the titans and gods in this series.
Years later, with Typhon away and June now a grown woman, she is viciously attacked by someone she thought she could trust - resulting in yet another God stepping in with a gift of their own.
Blessed with extraordinary power, June is thrown into a battle against one of the most powerful gods in existence. Through her fight for justice, she will have to uncover deep secrets that her father has withheld, and take on the terrifying monsters and angry immortals that she'd always believed to be a myth.
Will she be able to stop a war of the gods before it begins? Or will all fall to Chaos?
Please read TW/CW on author website
While this series is loosely inspired by Greek mythology, it is set in an alternate universe/timeline from ours and touches on real world issues, LGBTQ+ themes, and is a dark fiction read meant for adults. Expect to explore an entirely new take on the titans and gods in this series.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 22, 2022
72 people are currently reading
1875 people want to read
About the author
A.B. Daniels-Annachi
5 books52 followersAri is a trans author and editor from Oregon. Writer of mythology and fantasy
novels, he spends his free time reading, listening to nerdy podcasts,
and playing board games. Follow him on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok
@darkmythauthor to stay up to date. To learn more about him and his
books, visit his website
novels, he spends his free time reading, listening to nerdy podcasts,
and playing board games. Follow him on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok
@darkmythauthor to stay up to date. To learn more about him and his
books, visit his website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
March 22, 2022
I was provided a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
A few things that immediately turned me off from this book was the sexual assault right off the bat and then followed up with domestic abuse.
**Edit*** I saw the author make a tiktok stating there was trigger warnings. I did NOT find them in the book copy that was provided to me and went back to check to make sure I wasn’t crazy. The only thing I could find that hinted at this was this was a Medusa retelling which if you don’t know that story is not a good warning. They are listed on her website.****
The story is set in the 1920s but all the characters read as modern men and women from the dialogue to their actions. June rolls her eyes a lot and It felt very juvenile to have her reactions to things be downgraded to mild annoyed sighing and eye rolling. I felt like there could have been a bit more research for that time period to make it feel more authentic. Plus there was an over explanation on things like diner maintenance, or creating a receipt for “art”. **Edit** I get that this was set in an alternate universe. I’m not looking for “Gatsby” style writing but if you’re going for a particular vibe and set it in a particular time frame I would expect more to make it feel more like that actual time period.
The pacing was just very off for me. I really wanted to like this story. I love anything to do with mythology, but it was lacking and I’m not exactly sure where to pinpoint it. Plus I hate anything to do with a pregnancy troupe, even more so when the pregnancy happens from rape. I also had a hard time with all the women hating vibes, especially when they were geared at Eris and basically called her a floosy for no reason other than she went on a date with Henry… **Edit** I am responding to the review that happens to be taking on my review point for point now. There was women hating vibes geared towards the mother too for “moving on too fast” after the father disappears. It was small comments like these that felt more like internalized Misogyny than anything else. I’m not disagreeing with the fact that times were hard for women back in the 1920s but you can’t have it both ways. It can’t be oh alternate universe that’s why this feels more modern and then oh it’s just how it was back then. **Edit end*** That was part of the pacing problem too.
The potential is there, it just didn’t deliver for me. That doesn’t mean it won’t be someone’s next favorite read. These are just the issues I had with the book and I’m also going by Goodreads stars meant for books. 2 is I liked it.
A few things that immediately turned me off from this book was the sexual assault right off the bat and then followed up with domestic abuse.
**Edit*** I saw the author make a tiktok stating there was trigger warnings. I did NOT find them in the book copy that was provided to me and went back to check to make sure I wasn’t crazy. The only thing I could find that hinted at this was this was a Medusa retelling which if you don’t know that story is not a good warning. They are listed on her website.****
The story is set in the 1920s but all the characters read as modern men and women from the dialogue to their actions. June rolls her eyes a lot and It felt very juvenile to have her reactions to things be downgraded to mild annoyed sighing and eye rolling. I felt like there could have been a bit more research for that time period to make it feel more authentic. Plus there was an over explanation on things like diner maintenance, or creating a receipt for “art”. **Edit** I get that this was set in an alternate universe. I’m not looking for “Gatsby” style writing but if you’re going for a particular vibe and set it in a particular time frame I would expect more to make it feel more like that actual time period.
The pacing was just very off for me. I really wanted to like this story. I love anything to do with mythology, but it was lacking and I’m not exactly sure where to pinpoint it. Plus I hate anything to do with a pregnancy troupe, even more so when the pregnancy happens from rape. I also had a hard time with all the women hating vibes, especially when they were geared at Eris and basically called her a floosy for no reason other than she went on a date with Henry… **Edit** I am responding to the review that happens to be taking on my review point for point now. There was women hating vibes geared towards the mother too for “moving on too fast” after the father disappears. It was small comments like these that felt more like internalized Misogyny than anything else. I’m not disagreeing with the fact that times were hard for women back in the 1920s but you can’t have it both ways. It can’t be oh alternate universe that’s why this feels more modern and then oh it’s just how it was back then. **Edit end*** That was part of the pacing problem too.
The potential is there, it just didn’t deliver for me. That doesn’t mean it won’t be someone’s next favorite read. These are just the issues I had with the book and I’m also going by Goodreads stars meant for books. 2 is I liked it.
March 7, 2024
I received a free copy as an advanced reader in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to love this book. The premise was so engaging, and the cover was beautiful. Alas, this was just not for me. This book is the first in the series, so hopefully, I can come back to this when the sequel comes out and try again, right now? No.
On-Page SA:
Let me start by warning you that this book has an on-page sexual assault almost as soon as you start reading, and the handling is less than delicate. This could have been handled off-page and still gotten the point across without losing impact.
The Gods:
The story has potential, but I think they were trying to do too much, and the world-building is just not that good. When writing about the Greek pantheon, there are many creative licenses you get to take. This book claimed to be loosely based around homer and Ovid's mythos, and they very much got the "loosely" part correct. It feels like the author was throwing random numbers around with the gods and their timelines (This is nitpicky of me, yes, but REALLY, they implied that the city of Atlantis was lost in what would have been early 1600???)
Pacing:
Continuity, in general, is something I pick up on immediately because I like having a timeline in my head, but this story jumped from days to hours to weeks passing, and I had to re-read some passages to keep things straight.
Language and Dialogue:
The language in this book is very...modern. I understand this is a story about the gods, but the suspension of belief asked of me in this book was taxing. I kept getting pulled out of the story because I would think to myself, 'was that phrase even in use yet?' The dialogue was okay but a bit awkward.
Overall the entire vibe of this book feels like a very sweaty and unpleasant fever dream.
I wanted to love this book. The premise was so engaging, and the cover was beautiful. Alas, this was just not for me. This book is the first in the series, so hopefully, I can come back to this when the sequel comes out and try again, right now? No.
On-Page SA:
Let me start by warning you that this book has an on-page sexual assault almost as soon as you start reading, and the handling is less than delicate. This could have been handled off-page and still gotten the point across without losing impact.
The Gods:
The story has potential, but I think they were trying to do too much, and the world-building is just not that good. When writing about the Greek pantheon, there are many creative licenses you get to take. This book claimed to be loosely based around homer and Ovid's mythos, and they very much got the "loosely" part correct. It feels like the author was throwing random numbers around with the gods and their timelines (This is nitpicky of me, yes, but REALLY, they implied that the city of Atlantis was lost in what would have been early 1600???)
Pacing:
Continuity, in general, is something I pick up on immediately because I like having a timeline in my head, but this story jumped from days to hours to weeks passing, and I had to re-read some passages to keep things straight.
Language and Dialogue:
The language in this book is very...modern. I understand this is a story about the gods, but the suspension of belief asked of me in this book was taxing. I kept getting pulled out of the story because I would think to myself, 'was that phrase even in use yet?' The dialogue was okay but a bit awkward.
Overall the entire vibe of this book feels like a very sweaty and unpleasant fever dream.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2022
Thank you to A. B DANIELS-ANNACHI as well as Pacific Publications for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Myth of June is the first book in The Violents series. The book is based on the story of Medusa and follows Juniper Georgian as she is thrown into the world of the Greek gods after her encounter with Poseidon.
First off, please check the CW's for this book before reading.
I really wanted to love this book. It has all of my favorite things: Greek gods, female lead, retelling of a tale we know. Unfortunately, the book did not live up to my expectations and that is because the world-building is not strong enough to carry the story. There is supposed to be a war brewing, but nothing in the book gives off the feeling of a war between the gods. There are gods thrown into the story with no back story and how they came to be in the mortal realm and banished from Olympus. There is too much left to the assumption that the reader should know the stories of these gods and their motivations.
June's story and character is also not developed enough for me, even though I knew her motivations I still could not stay with her and feel alongside her. There are hints that June is a woman of colour, but I'm not too sure because there is not much said in that regard.
Myth of June is the first book in The Violents series. The book is based on the story of Medusa and follows Juniper Georgian as she is thrown into the world of the Greek gods after her encounter with Poseidon.
First off, please check the CW's for this book before reading.
I really wanted to love this book. It has all of my favorite things: Greek gods, female lead, retelling of a tale we know. Unfortunately, the book did not live up to my expectations and that is because the world-building is not strong enough to carry the story. There is supposed to be a war brewing, but nothing in the book gives off the feeling of a war between the gods. There are gods thrown into the story with no back story and how they came to be in the mortal realm and banished from Olympus. There is too much left to the assumption that the reader should know the stories of these gods and their motivations.
June's story and character is also not developed enough for me, even though I knew her motivations I still could not stay with her and feel alongside her. There are hints that June is a woman of colour, but I'm not too sure because there is not much said in that regard.
March 16, 2022
I got an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to like this book and finish it but I didn’t like it and couldn’t finish it. There were many things I felt were confusing about this book. The first thing I found confusing was the language used. The book is set in the 1920-1930s and the language doesn’t match. I don’t think young ladies would use the word “shit” and other similar phrases then. And the fact that June was living on her own during this time period. It’s another thing that wouldn’t have happened. One more thing that bothered me was June’s reaction to the trauma she endured. I have not had to go through what June went through but I feel like June’s reaction to the situation wasn’t realistic. Also the scene where June lets a snake into her apartment and goes to bed then wakes up and doesn’t react to a snake in her sink baffles me! Again, I wanted to like this book but there were so many times I felt it was unrealistic that I couldn’t like it and couldn’t finish it.
I wanted to like this book and finish it but I didn’t like it and couldn’t finish it. There were many things I felt were confusing about this book. The first thing I found confusing was the language used. The book is set in the 1920-1930s and the language doesn’t match. I don’t think young ladies would use the word “shit” and other similar phrases then. And the fact that June was living on her own during this time period. It’s another thing that wouldn’t have happened. One more thing that bothered me was June’s reaction to the trauma she endured. I have not had to go through what June went through but I feel like June’s reaction to the situation wasn’t realistic. Also the scene where June lets a snake into her apartment and goes to bed then wakes up and doesn’t react to a snake in her sink baffles me! Again, I wanted to like this book but there were so many times I felt it was unrealistic that I couldn’t like it and couldn’t finish it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2024
I discovered The Myth of June from a tiktok, that I only now realize was from the author, describing this as “Percy Jackson for adults.” While that is true, it also seems to pull some of the YA elements with it. The writing and pacing read like a YA novel that is stuffed with adult themes, not necessarily a bad thing, just an interesting observation I had. My biggest gripe with this are the titular June and the general vibe of the whole work. It feels very Tumblr, Wattpad, fanfic. Everything is dreamy and romanticized, told to you through the eyes of the smarmy, tough, infallible protagonist. While these traits in themselves aren’t bad, the pacing of the story is so rapid that there is no time to process anything before moving on. After June gets raped followed by the acquisition of her powers, she gets a page or so of processing before less than 24 hours later she is planning her statue gallery. Without enough time spent on her feelings and focusing on moving the story forward, some of that slips through the cracks and leaves June feeling more like a perfect protagonist than a real person living this situation. The story itself is fine if not a touch cyclical. There’s a very structured “event, return home, event, return home” which gets a bit repetitive but does serve a localized story. While I’m generally not a fan of origin stories/book #1s, this was a pretty enjoyable start for the series. It stands on its own as a story well enough and also lays the groundwork for the rest of the series. I’d certainly recommend it for anyone that likes female protagonists, 1920s New York, Greek mythology, or supporting up and coming authors.
February 28, 2022
The Myth of June is the first book in A.B. Daniels-Annachi’s first book in the three-part series called The Violent's. I was fortunate to receive an ARC copy of this book in exchange for a review. This book is great for readers who enjoy fantasy, Greek Gods with a twist, 1920’s alternate universe NYC, and fast-paced reading. If that fits your fancy add it to your cart ASAP! The writing style is fast-paced and consistent throughout the 392 pages which makes it easy to consume after getting hooked in the first chapter. A note to potential readers: Be sure to read the CW/TW about the book and the author’s webpage! In my personal opinion as a reader the TW/CW featured in the story propel the story and are not overly graphic in nature.
While The Myth of June is written in the third person the reader will get an important perspective from the characters including and centered around Juniper aka June. The introduction is smooth and envelopes you into this alternate version of the 1920s where the Greek Gods move among humanity. The story balances the show and does not tell aspects of the story; Sight, smell, and sound sensory intact. June begins as a young, innocently naive new adult woman with big dreams in the big city. Her connection to one of the Greek Gods, Typhon, since infancy gives whimsical notes as we find her fresh in adulthood. Unfortunately for her, the naiveté leads her to unexpected trouble. She endures an attack (again see TW/CWs) that leads to further unexpected changes in her life. From more involvement with the gods, some supernatural abilities, to chaos ensued revenge-seeking this book will whisk readers along for the ride.
In her quest for revenge, June struggles with her own moral compass. This lends to the slow but believable character growth that I suspect will be ongoing through the series. I also enjoyed that it was not an instantaneous process. During her quest, she encounters several characters (gods and humans alike) who have their own agendas and individual personas. The cast of characters that are encountered read as diverse without overt character descriptions. This leaves the perfect amount of room for readers to visualize without detracting from the story with excess fluff. Some are non-human as well, which plays into the alternate universe readers will become emerged in. All of which tie back to her father’s secrets that now plague her life and get her further involved with the Gods. Myth and legend become reality as a war between the gods of Olympus and the Gods residing on earth begins boiling point that could potentially be haunted by June herself.
By the end of the story, this part of the tale is wrapped enough that it could be read as a stand-alone. HOWEVER, there are the interwoven subplots and overarching series storyline that will have fans of this story ready for the next book in the series. This is not a Gatsby read, and there are details and some speech patterns that reflect upon the time period setting. It is important to remember that this is an alternate universe with the main character coming from a working-class family. The gangsters and glam are reserved for those in power in this tale so we catch glimpses of it via appropriate portions of the story. My favorite part is how the lore is artfully woven into the storytelling. Personally, I am super excited to see more work from this author. By the end of the book, I had some theories of my own, and am excited to see if any of them play out in the upcoming books of the series. I recommend this story to New Adult readers who enjoy the Fantasy genre with pulls from mythology into an alternate universe.
While The Myth of June is written in the third person the reader will get an important perspective from the characters including and centered around Juniper aka June. The introduction is smooth and envelopes you into this alternate version of the 1920s where the Greek Gods move among humanity. The story balances the show and does not tell aspects of the story; Sight, smell, and sound sensory intact. June begins as a young, innocently naive new adult woman with big dreams in the big city. Her connection to one of the Greek Gods, Typhon, since infancy gives whimsical notes as we find her fresh in adulthood. Unfortunately for her, the naiveté leads her to unexpected trouble. She endures an attack (again see TW/CWs) that leads to further unexpected changes in her life. From more involvement with the gods, some supernatural abilities, to chaos ensued revenge-seeking this book will whisk readers along for the ride.
In her quest for revenge, June struggles with her own moral compass. This lends to the slow but believable character growth that I suspect will be ongoing through the series. I also enjoyed that it was not an instantaneous process. During her quest, she encounters several characters (gods and humans alike) who have their own agendas and individual personas. The cast of characters that are encountered read as diverse without overt character descriptions. This leaves the perfect amount of room for readers to visualize without detracting from the story with excess fluff. Some are non-human as well, which plays into the alternate universe readers will become emerged in. All of which tie back to her father’s secrets that now plague her life and get her further involved with the Gods. Myth and legend become reality as a war between the gods of Olympus and the Gods residing on earth begins boiling point that could potentially be haunted by June herself.
By the end of the story, this part of the tale is wrapped enough that it could be read as a stand-alone. HOWEVER, there are the interwoven subplots and overarching series storyline that will have fans of this story ready for the next book in the series. This is not a Gatsby read, and there are details and some speech patterns that reflect upon the time period setting. It is important to remember that this is an alternate universe with the main character coming from a working-class family. The gangsters and glam are reserved for those in power in this tale so we catch glimpses of it via appropriate portions of the story. My favorite part is how the lore is artfully woven into the storytelling. Personally, I am super excited to see more work from this author. By the end of the book, I had some theories of my own, and am excited to see if any of them play out in the upcoming books of the series. I recommend this story to New Adult readers who enjoy the Fantasy genre with pulls from mythology into an alternate universe.
February 27, 2022
I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for this book my first time being an ARC reader and Oh my goodness this book had me hooked on the first few pages I couldn't put it down it's that good , breath-taking and thrilling.
It gets strait to the point no drawn out filler & boarding bits ,it is all story and oh what a story it is a twist on what we have been told about this legend/ myth, it had me laughing, it had me in tears happy and sad, it had me falling in love, it made me happy, sad and it even had me yelling at the characters in the book I was so immersed in this book.
I would decently recommend you buy it immerse yourself in it you wont regret it .
I am also dyslexic & found this book really easy to read
It gets strait to the point no drawn out filler & boarding bits ,it is all story and oh what a story it is a twist on what we have been told about this legend/ myth, it had me laughing, it had me in tears happy and sad, it had me falling in love, it made me happy, sad and it even had me yelling at the characters in the book I was so immersed in this book.
I would decently recommend you buy it immerse yourself in it you wont regret it .
I am also dyslexic & found this book really easy to read
March 9, 2022
This is a review of the first 131 pages, since I chose to DNF it.
For me it felt a bit flat, a bit rushed and like the story and characters didn't really get the time they needed to keep me interested.
I found it hard to get a feel of the characters, the world they lived in and the overall dynamic.
Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike it per se, but it didn't have enough to keep me interested.
It may very well pick up and get better later in the book, or even in the sequel, so if you find the synopsis interesting, please do give it a shot. It might not have been for me, but maybe it'll be gold for someone else!
For me it felt a bit flat, a bit rushed and like the story and characters didn't really get the time they needed to keep me interested.
I found it hard to get a feel of the characters, the world they lived in and the overall dynamic.
Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike it per se, but it didn't have enough to keep me interested.
It may very well pick up and get better later in the book, or even in the sequel, so if you find the synopsis interesting, please do give it a shot. It might not have been for me, but maybe it'll be gold for someone else!
February 22, 2022
I was lucky enough to be an ARC Reader for this book! Oohhhh Boy did I love it. Quick off the mark and straight into the action, by the first chapter I was already caught hook line and sinker.
If you like:
Badass female characters, wrathful gods and journeys of self discovery this book is without a doubt for you.
Do yourself a favour and preorder this bad boy.
Seriously. Do it. Now.
If you like:
Badass female characters, wrathful gods and journeys of self discovery this book is without a doubt for you.
Do yourself a favour and preorder this bad boy.
Seriously. Do it. Now.
May 27, 2022
DNF at 78% - this book was generally pretty off for me. I was initially very into the concept, but the pacing was all over the place, none of the characters were especially likable, and it ultimately didn’t hold my attention.
June 13, 2022
This book had so much potential, but it was abandoned by the author’s poor writing and childish style, as well as their inability to make the audience care for these boring, foolish characters.
October 12, 2022
No Spoilers, just disappointment.
DNF. This was easily the worst book recommendation I've gotten from book tok :( I know its a fantasy novel but NO ONE reacts in ways that are normal or believable at all. Its just plain weird. Like someone finds out they're speaking to a god and that the gods are real and theyre like :0 woah for one paragraph, then theyre over it and carrying on. No one ever reacts to anything that happens. It is bizarre and I did not enjoy enough to even finish the book :/
DNF. This was easily the worst book recommendation I've gotten from book tok :( I know its a fantasy novel but NO ONE reacts in ways that are normal or believable at all. Its just plain weird. Like someone finds out they're speaking to a god and that the gods are real and theyre like :0 woah for one paragraph, then theyre over it and carrying on. No one ever reacts to anything that happens. It is bizarre and I did not enjoy enough to even finish the book :/
May 5, 2022
As a lover of Greek Myth, Percy Jackson, etc. when I saw a tik tok for this book I was excited and all in. I was disappointed as I read it because I struggled to understand parts of it, thought the pacing was weird, and felt like I was readying a long piece of Fan Fiction. I wanted to LOVE this book, and even though it is an excellent concept, I just can’t get there.
March 14, 2024
I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader, here is my honest review:
Before i start i just want to make this clear i have absolutely no knowledge of Greek gods.
**SPOILERS**
this book has alot of trigger warnings. If you are sensitive to SA. R*pe, death this book probably isnt for you
My first star i gave to the worldbuilding. When i read, i picture really vivid images in my head and i was able to see what was described every time. Olympus to me was described beautifully and i could tell immediately when i was in Olympus, or back on earth.
My second star is to the lore. Chapter 8 is when we finally got some lore about the gods. Olympus and other realms. This was a huge help to me for someone who doesn't know anything about any of the gods and it made what i had already read less confusing
My 3rd star is for the characters. My favourite was typhon and imo he really carried this story for me, i love him hes great lmao, every time he came into the story i was so happy, hes generally a great character, hes knowledgeable, kind, puts others before himself, powerful in his right, and has some baggage himself (i hope we see more about his past and his kind in the future)
Now to explain my missing 1 star:
The main character. I Loved her in the beginning. She had dreams, she wanted to be an artist, she was nice, had a lovely personality and thought rationally. After that traumatic scene that happened to her she found out about gods, she got a godlike powerful ability that can turn men who threaten her into stone, and she found out her uncle was also god all along... This is where she began to irritate and annoy me a little. She started to murder not only bad men but innocent men and tried so hard to justify it. (the man who threw the ball at the park and she thought he was aiming for her but his 3yr old son?) She never had any repercussions or fully took any responsibility. We had one scene where ty told her she cannot keep doing this...and that was it. I was so hoping she would continue and big boss zeus (the god of all gods) got involved and scared her sh*tless until she finally realised and became a powerful hero to the story. Something. ANYTHING. She was NEVER PUNISHED FOR MURDER.
She also found out don was Poseidon. The god who SAd her, KIDNAPPED HER MOTHER and the cause for ALL of this mess...so imagine my anger when she decides its perfect to grow a friendship/ relationship with a man actively WORKING for him and investigating her family?? Going on dates, introducing him to gods and letting him in her house...im sorry but if anyone from my enemy who had traumatically SAd me, kidnapped my own mother and is known for being a really bad dude...you bet your ASS im not going to engage in conversation or tell them jack shite, never mind be in a relationship with him?! ...i still dont fully trust him, maybe hes playing the long game??
the ending:- She has soo much potential to be stronger, her confidence doesn't match her ability's yet imo, i still think shes really weak in this part of the story, like shes strong but i feel she can be stronger, the medusa that we all know... which brings me to Poseidon himself. Poseidon didn't seem strong at all during this whole book and he felt like he needed his mortal henchmen to help him constantly. He should have been much, much stronger and far more intimidating than that, if i took away his henchmen i wouldn't imagine Poseidon being this big intimidating scary mafia boss/ rogue god who's really powerful (but maybe book 2 has alot more war involved that isnt answered here, i know theres a book 2 coming and this book focused more on june and her ability...maybe posidon has alot more about him that meets the eye?, maybe we get to see him being the god that he is and causing mass destruction with the sea)
Overall it was an enjoyable read! im invested in this book now. I need to read all of the books in this series to see how this ends, ty is my main character hes a real one and if anything bad happens to him i swear A. B Daniels ill write a strongly worded letter lmaoo 😂🤣
Before i start i just want to make this clear i have absolutely no knowledge of Greek gods.
**SPOILERS**
this book has alot of trigger warnings. If you are sensitive to SA. R*pe, death this book probably isnt for you
My first star i gave to the worldbuilding. When i read, i picture really vivid images in my head and i was able to see what was described every time. Olympus to me was described beautifully and i could tell immediately when i was in Olympus, or back on earth.
My second star is to the lore. Chapter 8 is when we finally got some lore about the gods. Olympus and other realms. This was a huge help to me for someone who doesn't know anything about any of the gods and it made what i had already read less confusing
My 3rd star is for the characters. My favourite was typhon and imo he really carried this story for me, i love him hes great lmao, every time he came into the story i was so happy, hes generally a great character, hes knowledgeable, kind, puts others before himself, powerful in his right, and has some baggage himself (i hope we see more about his past and his kind in the future)
Now to explain my missing 1 star:
The main character. I Loved her in the beginning. She had dreams, she wanted to be an artist, she was nice, had a lovely personality and thought rationally. After that traumatic scene that happened to her she found out about gods, she got a godlike powerful ability that can turn men who threaten her into stone, and she found out her uncle was also god all along... This is where she began to irritate and annoy me a little. She started to murder not only bad men but innocent men and tried so hard to justify it. (the man who threw the ball at the park and she thought he was aiming for her but his 3yr old son?) She never had any repercussions or fully took any responsibility. We had one scene where ty told her she cannot keep doing this...and that was it. I was so hoping she would continue and big boss zeus (the god of all gods) got involved and scared her sh*tless until she finally realised and became a powerful hero to the story. Something. ANYTHING. She was NEVER PUNISHED FOR MURDER.
She also found out don was Poseidon. The god who SAd her, KIDNAPPED HER MOTHER and the cause for ALL of this mess...so imagine my anger when she decides its perfect to grow a friendship/ relationship with a man actively WORKING for him and investigating her family?? Going on dates, introducing him to gods and letting him in her house...im sorry but if anyone from my enemy who had traumatically SAd me, kidnapped my own mother and is known for being a really bad dude...you bet your ASS im not going to engage in conversation or tell them jack shite, never mind be in a relationship with him?! ...i still dont fully trust him, maybe hes playing the long game??
the ending:- She has soo much potential to be stronger, her confidence doesn't match her ability's yet imo, i still think shes really weak in this part of the story, like shes strong but i feel she can be stronger, the medusa that we all know... which brings me to Poseidon himself. Poseidon didn't seem strong at all during this whole book and he felt like he needed his mortal henchmen to help him constantly. He should have been much, much stronger and far more intimidating than that, if i took away his henchmen i wouldn't imagine Poseidon being this big intimidating scary mafia boss/ rogue god who's really powerful (but maybe book 2 has alot more war involved that isnt answered here, i know theres a book 2 coming and this book focused more on june and her ability...maybe posidon has alot more about him that meets the eye?, maybe we get to see him being the god that he is and causing mass destruction with the sea)
Overall it was an enjoyable read! im invested in this book now. I need to read all of the books in this series to see how this ends, ty is my main character hes a real one and if anything bad happens to him i swear A. B Daniels ill write a strongly worded letter lmaoo 😂🤣
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2024
I received a free advanced copy of "The Myth of June (Revised)" and these are my opinions.
When I first came across "The Myth of June" I was very interested in reading it due to the plot alone. From the start I knew what I was in for because of how much I knew about Medusa's story. A.B. Daniels-Annachi took her story and turned it into a 1920s theme tale that is a narrative completely her own.
The main character, June, has a lot going for her. She is a mess like all humans are, angry, sassy, strong, stubborn, and she's caring. As the book progresses, you get to see how each of these characteristics come into play and by the end of the book she is head strong standing up to the Gods. She discovers that some of the Gods lives among them and she is thrust into their world and possibly more.
June's story, is from Medusa's original story, and we get to see all the emotions that June goes through. It was a very nice concept to get it from her point of view in a more modern day tale. We always hear the bad of Medusa and this book shows the anger, rage, and the acceptance of everything that happened to her through June's story.
If you don't know Medusa's story, please check the trigger warnings before reading this book. Medusa's story was dark and this book goes there and then some.
I enjoyed this book and the re-telling of Medusa's story in her perspective. The book shows the dark, adventures, and lethal ways June goes through to get her revenge. And it makes you wonder if Medusa was doing the same.
Thank you, A.B. Daniels-Annachi for letting me be a part of your ARC team and for this free copy for review!
@darkmythauthor
When I first came across "The Myth of June" I was very interested in reading it due to the plot alone. From the start I knew what I was in for because of how much I knew about Medusa's story. A.B. Daniels-Annachi took her story and turned it into a 1920s theme tale that is a narrative completely her own.
The main character, June, has a lot going for her. She is a mess like all humans are, angry, sassy, strong, stubborn, and she's caring. As the book progresses, you get to see how each of these characteristics come into play and by the end of the book she is head strong standing up to the Gods. She discovers that some of the Gods lives among them and she is thrust into their world and possibly more.
June's story, is from Medusa's original story, and we get to see all the emotions that June goes through. It was a very nice concept to get it from her point of view in a more modern day tale. We always hear the bad of Medusa and this book shows the anger, rage, and the acceptance of everything that happened to her through June's story.
If you don't know Medusa's story, please check the trigger warnings before reading this book. Medusa's story was dark and this book goes there and then some.
I enjoyed this book and the re-telling of Medusa's story in her perspective. The book shows the dark, adventures, and lethal ways June goes through to get her revenge. And it makes you wonder if Medusa was doing the same.
Thank you, A.B. Daniels-Annachi for letting me be a part of your ARC team and for this free copy for review!
@darkmythauthor
May 5, 2024
To start off this book had a lot of potential. For me, a lover of all Greek books this book felt very flat. I take it was supposed to be a new version of Medusa. Which is great because I wanted a new look at her story but this wasn’t it. June, the main character was too all over the place. She went through a very traumatic and detailed rape to domestic violence all within the same day that she then skipped over and practically moved on from it within a page. Having been through something like that myself I could not grasp how her character could practically stop caring about it for so long right away. It took away the severity of what happened. She often rolled her eyes in annoyance, sighing, and huffing when talking to any other character which made it difficult to view her character as something other then an annoyed teenager who didn’t get her way when she was supposed to be a working adult mixed up with very powerful Greek gods.
This book also was super repetitive which isn’t always bad but quickly got old. From phrases to the whole “I went to work, then I went to my house, to work, back to home” all within the same two pages and Things such as “I felt nauseous and like I was going to vomit”. That type of sentence was repeated in one page alone 8 times. Another thing was how things flowed. It was very frustrating how I couldn’t tell if one hour passed or weeks? How are we supposed to understand the timeframe if it kept changing with the perspective?
Overall it had potential. For me however I will not finish the series. I almost couldn’t finish the book but made myself to know how it ended.
This book also was super repetitive which isn’t always bad but quickly got old. From phrases to the whole “I went to work, then I went to my house, to work, back to home” all within the same two pages and Things such as “I felt nauseous and like I was going to vomit”. That type of sentence was repeated in one page alone 8 times. Another thing was how things flowed. It was very frustrating how I couldn’t tell if one hour passed or weeks? How are we supposed to understand the timeframe if it kept changing with the perspective?
Overall it had potential. For me however I will not finish the series. I almost couldn’t finish the book but made myself to know how it ended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2024
I was provided with access to an Advanced Reader Copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review, so. As some of the other reviewers have stated, the book does have flaws. It is not all flaws, however, as other readers have stated. I think there is potential for this author, but there are growing pains still.
I always start with the bad because I like to be able to build someone back up... so I hope as/if the author reads this, presenting it in this order will do that.
The growing pains:
There were not trigger warnings in my copy (though, there may be in the final print run) regarding some very heavy topics that happen fairly early on in the read. Not having trigger warnings would not necessarily be cause to reduce stars, but the author had mentioned that he would have them. So in this instance it was a factor for me. This is a fairly easy fix as far has difficulties go.
Next, there are definitely parts of the novel that read very modern, despite it intending to be set in the 1920's. A lot of it is done in the way characters communicate and the description of how things are described. All in all, I think this is also able to be addressed as the author continues to move forward in his writing, he will just want to do a bit more research into communication and linguistics during that period.
Finally, I was hoping for more world-building to draw me into this alternative reality, but I didn't feel it achieved that. There were bits and pieces to the world as they became relevant, but not the interwoven bits that permeate the entirety of a novel and breathe life into the alternate world. I wanted to be sucked in, but it just didn't grip me most of the time. I will say though, despite not feeling completely sucked into the world, I can honestly say that I enjoyed my time spent in it on the bits that managed to pull me in.
The mixed:
The book is fast-paced. I find that I have to be in the right frame of mind for books that move this quickly. So on days where I was in the mood for that kind of action it really landed well. But on days where I couldn't mentally keep up, I found myself rereading paragraphs to make sure I hadn't missed something that caused things to escalate. I don't think it's a good or bad author trait to write a fast paced (or slow-paced) novel. But it's worth mentioning for those readers who have preference.
The good:
I think the idea for the book and series is intriguing and there is a lot of room for the series to grow into something really great if the author can take the feedback and use it to refine his works moving forward. He has left enough open-ended things to have me curious, while wrapping up enough that it did feel like a complete novel.
The characters, for me, were intriguing and though perhaps a little unrelatable at times (some of the emotional--or lack thereof--responses were, to me, something I couldn't conceive of during that situation, but I'm unwilling to go so far as to say *nobody* responds in that way), overall I enjoyed getting to know their personalities. Watching June struggle and grow was a highlight, in my opinion. But even more so was watching the diverse cast of characters that she got to interact with.
Conclusion:
As this book is part of a series, there is still room and time for the author to grow and develop things to address the areas that could do with a bit of polishing. But all in all I am interested to see where things go and would continue to read the series.
I just might, personally, hold back recommendations to others until I see how everything plays out.
I always start with the bad because I like to be able to build someone back up... so I hope as/if the author reads this, presenting it in this order will do that.
The growing pains:
There were not trigger warnings in my copy (though, there may be in the final print run) regarding some very heavy topics that happen fairly early on in the read. Not having trigger warnings would not necessarily be cause to reduce stars, but the author had mentioned that he would have them. So in this instance it was a factor for me. This is a fairly easy fix as far has difficulties go.
Next, there are definitely parts of the novel that read very modern, despite it intending to be set in the 1920's. A lot of it is done in the way characters communicate and the description of how things are described. All in all, I think this is also able to be addressed as the author continues to move forward in his writing, he will just want to do a bit more research into communication and linguistics during that period.
Finally, I was hoping for more world-building to draw me into this alternative reality, but I didn't feel it achieved that. There were bits and pieces to the world as they became relevant, but not the interwoven bits that permeate the entirety of a novel and breathe life into the alternate world. I wanted to be sucked in, but it just didn't grip me most of the time. I will say though, despite not feeling completely sucked into the world, I can honestly say that I enjoyed my time spent in it on the bits that managed to pull me in.
The mixed:
The book is fast-paced. I find that I have to be in the right frame of mind for books that move this quickly. So on days where I was in the mood for that kind of action it really landed well. But on days where I couldn't mentally keep up, I found myself rereading paragraphs to make sure I hadn't missed something that caused things to escalate. I don't think it's a good or bad author trait to write a fast paced (or slow-paced) novel. But it's worth mentioning for those readers who have preference.
The good:
I think the idea for the book and series is intriguing and there is a lot of room for the series to grow into something really great if the author can take the feedback and use it to refine his works moving forward. He has left enough open-ended things to have me curious, while wrapping up enough that it did feel like a complete novel.
The characters, for me, were intriguing and though perhaps a little unrelatable at times (some of the emotional--or lack thereof--responses were, to me, something I couldn't conceive of during that situation, but I'm unwilling to go so far as to say *nobody* responds in that way), overall I enjoyed getting to know their personalities. Watching June struggle and grow was a highlight, in my opinion. But even more so was watching the diverse cast of characters that she got to interact with.
Conclusion:
As this book is part of a series, there is still room and time for the author to grow and develop things to address the areas that could do with a bit of polishing. But all in all I am interested to see where things go and would continue to read the series.
I just might, personally, hold back recommendations to others until I see how everything plays out.
March 13, 2024
I received a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to AB Daniels-Annachi and Pacific Publications! SPOILERS BELOW!
Overall I give this book 3 stars. I love greek mythology and retelling stories, so this book had the potential to be great. The overall concept was exciting- a retelling of Medusa in the 1920s. The general storyline was my favorite part. The relation of Olympus to the mortal realm and introduction of titans and mythical beasts was fantastic.
Unfortunately the pacing and focuses of the book are what kept it from getting more stars. The pacing is strange in that it is very light on personal character details, but in depth with odd things like the inner workings of a diner. For the length of the book, I wish it had focused more on character development rather than background details. I never felt a connection to any characters, especially the FMC, which is for me the most important part of a fantasy book. I never felt like I knew quite what was happening which likely came down to the lack of elaboration surrounding important plot points. Overall I would describe this book as speedy Homer-esqe with a modern fantasy twist. The overall language read more like the Odyssey where you are reading a narration rather than the inner thoughts of the FMC's mind.
Be sure to read the TWs before getting started. There are some dark themes (SA, domestic abuse, etc) right off the bat. There is very little emotion reflected in these scenes (similar to the rest of the book), which may make it easier or harder for some people to read depending on your background. There is also a pregnancy trope which is one of my least favorite tropes. The pregnancy is the result of SA and none of the characters seem to acknowledge that fact or even really acknowledge the pregnancy. I can see that it will be an important piece in the remainder of the series, but I really hated it in this book.
Overall I give this book 3 stars. I love greek mythology and retelling stories, so this book had the potential to be great. The overall concept was exciting- a retelling of Medusa in the 1920s. The general storyline was my favorite part. The relation of Olympus to the mortal realm and introduction of titans and mythical beasts was fantastic.
Unfortunately the pacing and focuses of the book are what kept it from getting more stars. The pacing is strange in that it is very light on personal character details, but in depth with odd things like the inner workings of a diner. For the length of the book, I wish it had focused more on character development rather than background details. I never felt a connection to any characters, especially the FMC, which is for me the most important part of a fantasy book. I never felt like I knew quite what was happening which likely came down to the lack of elaboration surrounding important plot points. Overall I would describe this book as speedy Homer-esqe with a modern fantasy twist. The overall language read more like the Odyssey where you are reading a narration rather than the inner thoughts of the FMC's mind.
Be sure to read the TWs before getting started. There are some dark themes (SA, domestic abuse, etc) right off the bat. There is very little emotion reflected in these scenes (similar to the rest of the book), which may make it easier or harder for some people to read depending on your background. There is also a pregnancy trope which is one of my least favorite tropes. The pregnancy is the result of SA and none of the characters seem to acknowledge that fact or even really acknowledge the pregnancy. I can see that it will be an important piece in the remainder of the series, but I really hated it in this book.
April 5, 2024
I was able to read this book for an honest review as it was being republished. Overall, I liked the concept of the Gods living among us. I enjoyed the writing for the most part and how the worlds were becoming intertwined. I enjoyed how some of the Gods were humanized and how they weren’t. The writing was very easy to fall into and get lost in (my favorite things about books) and the characters felt well rounded. I love how June was realistically questionable. For instance, her choices after tragedy struck forced her to acknowledge and admit that she was jumping the gun to be a victim when she wasn’t. In addition, she was forced to see how she was victimizing others as a result. It’s a realistic outlook on how someone with June’s trauma could react after years of abuse.
On the other hand, after a while, the timing of when everything happened kind of confused me. I’m sure it’s because I’m not aware of the laws and rules from back when this story is set. In addition to that, I was unsure of the setting until about midway through when they mentioned what city/state they were in. Not a huge deal, but it changed the image I had in my mind.
There were some moments where I think the summary took me out of the story. SPOILER ALERT: for instance, when June was fighting a suit turned monster in front of the club and she gets hit with the green goo. I was hoping for more description of the pain instead of being told she was in more pain than she had ever felt. Again, that’s not a huge deal, it just took me out of the story.
One of the goddesses that is mentioned was kind of discarded. She was mentioned, but doesn’t show back up and I would assume she’d want to have revenge instead of the random goddess that was introduced once the action started. I think if she had been an enemy for Poseidon because of her exile, it would have been interesting to see how her and June reconnected.
On the other hand, after a while, the timing of when everything happened kind of confused me. I’m sure it’s because I’m not aware of the laws and rules from back when this story is set. In addition to that, I was unsure of the setting until about midway through when they mentioned what city/state they were in. Not a huge deal, but it changed the image I had in my mind.
There were some moments where I think the summary took me out of the story. SPOILER ALERT: for instance, when June was fighting a suit turned monster in front of the club and she gets hit with the green goo. I was hoping for more description of the pain instead of being told she was in more pain than she had ever felt. Again, that’s not a huge deal, it just took me out of the story.
One of the goddesses that is mentioned was kind of discarded. She was mentioned, but doesn’t show back up and I would assume she’d want to have revenge instead of the random goddess that was introduced once the action started. I think if she had been an enemy for Poseidon because of her exile, it would have been interesting to see how her and June reconnected.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2024
I received a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. Thank you!
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I loved Greek mythology but I just couldn't really get into it. The book is told from 3 POVs June (main character), her mother Hellen, and Typhon (a titan). The basic plot point is her dad's a POS who abuses the mom and owes a mobster a bunch of money. Said mobster Don who is actually Poseidon who he has pissed the hell off. June runs into some problems when Don decides he is going to SA her as punishment from the debt her father owes. June is blessed by the gods with a power that will turn any person who wants to harm her to stone. And so sets up the plot. From here the book tends to throw plot points and gods with very confusing descriptions and plot points. I felt like I had to reread so much and write notes just to keep everything somewhat sorted out and even then I was left pretty confused.
Characters were labeled with one thing and then later on it was different. Somebody goes from being a self-proclaimed uncle to being labeled with they/them pronouns which is fine but a little explanation that the character identifies as non-binary would have been a little clearer.
Descriptions were all over the place. I felt gods powers, labeled, descriptions were just not concrete and just a little confusing. Things were glossed over and then a chapter or two more embellished. The timeline skipped and then I was trying to figure out what happened.
The general premise of The Myth of June was so interesting and I could see what Daniels was going for but didn't quite nail it.
I think the story is there but just the execution was a little lacking. With some more polish and general embellishing I think this could be a solid read. I like getting immersed in a story and felt more confused than enjoyment.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I loved Greek mythology but I just couldn't really get into it. The book is told from 3 POVs June (main character), her mother Hellen, and Typhon (a titan). The basic plot point is her dad's a POS who abuses the mom and owes a mobster a bunch of money. Said mobster Don who is actually Poseidon who he has pissed the hell off. June runs into some problems when Don decides he is going to SA her as punishment from the debt her father owes. June is blessed by the gods with a power that will turn any person who wants to harm her to stone. And so sets up the plot. From here the book tends to throw plot points and gods with very confusing descriptions and plot points. I felt like I had to reread so much and write notes just to keep everything somewhat sorted out and even then I was left pretty confused.
Characters were labeled with one thing and then later on it was different. Somebody goes from being a self-proclaimed uncle to being labeled with they/them pronouns which is fine but a little explanation that the character identifies as non-binary would have been a little clearer.
Descriptions were all over the place. I felt gods powers, labeled, descriptions were just not concrete and just a little confusing. Things were glossed over and then a chapter or two more embellished. The timeline skipped and then I was trying to figure out what happened.
The general premise of The Myth of June was so interesting and I could see what Daniels was going for but didn't quite nail it.
I think the story is there but just the execution was a little lacking. With some more polish and general embellishing I think this could be a solid read. I like getting immersed in a story and felt more confused than enjoyment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2024
If I could give this less than a star I would. The book opens up with a pretty heavy scene and then goes on for the next 370 pages (out of 375) to read like it’s intended for somebody in Jr High. The book is set in New York in the 1920’s and is a creative version of Medusa, but I’m hesitant to even use the term “creative”.
There are Greek Gods that the author just decided to make transgender which I’m pretty certain is not historically depicted in Greek mythology nor would be prevalent in the 1920’s. Seemed like a desperate attempt to appeal to the liberal crowd.
The repetition of phrases throughout the book goes from frustrating to down right comical (my favorite being that every person June speaks to she pulls “within an inch” of her face). There are also random emotions/expressions written during scenes that smiling or laughing make zero sense in. It seemed like we were just trying to hit a word count.
The story ends with June (a small 19 year old girl) bossing around Poseidon and physically over powering him after she just got acid blown into her eyeball 5 minutes earlier. Her plan to take care of him goes wrong so she shoots him. With a gun. A 19 year old girl shoots Poseidon, the God of the Sea, with a hand gun.
You then get 2.5 pages to wrap up every remaining plot point that had been dragged on since the middle of the book, which as you may guess is not even close to a satisfying resolution.
The only reason this has a star, asides from the fact that I can’t give it below that, is because it’s a quick read so it was helpful in hitting my book goal for the year.
In the off chance the author sees this review - I’m sure you’re a solid person so no offense here but truly baffled this was a published work. Good for you I guess - can’t say I’ll be finishing the series though.
There are Greek Gods that the author just decided to make transgender which I’m pretty certain is not historically depicted in Greek mythology nor would be prevalent in the 1920’s. Seemed like a desperate attempt to appeal to the liberal crowd.
The repetition of phrases throughout the book goes from frustrating to down right comical (my favorite being that every person June speaks to she pulls “within an inch” of her face). There are also random emotions/expressions written during scenes that smiling or laughing make zero sense in. It seemed like we were just trying to hit a word count.
The story ends with June (a small 19 year old girl) bossing around Poseidon and physically over powering him after she just got acid blown into her eyeball 5 minutes earlier. Her plan to take care of him goes wrong so she shoots him. With a gun. A 19 year old girl shoots Poseidon, the God of the Sea, with a hand gun.
You then get 2.5 pages to wrap up every remaining plot point that had been dragged on since the middle of the book, which as you may guess is not even close to a satisfying resolution.
The only reason this has a star, asides from the fact that I can’t give it below that, is because it’s a quick read so it was helpful in hitting my book goal for the year.
In the off chance the author sees this review - I’m sure you’re a solid person so no offense here but truly baffled this was a published work. Good for you I guess - can’t say I’ll be finishing the series though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2024
I would like to start this review by thanking A.B. Daniels-Annachi for allowing me to be an ARC reader in exchange for an honest review.
I had high hopes for this book, as I love mythology and the concept of a Medusa re-telling with Poseidon as the bad guy piqued my interest. However, this book was slightly disappointing. To start with, the setting is supposed to be in the 1920’s - however the world-building and “more modern times” doesn’t fit this aesthetic or time period. Like ‘smoothing gel’, realistically wasn’t a thing in the 1920s. I get it’s supposed to be an alternate universe, however I feel this book would’ve been more suited to modern times based on the plot of the book.
Furthermore, the on-page rape at the beginning of the book and the future pregnancy as a result of this REALLY turned me off. Although ‘sexual assault’ is mentioned in the TW, rape is not and I feel like that is a BIG problem. Also, while I understand the 1920s was not big for women’s rights, the casual misogyny with branding Eris ‘the whore’ God, and Helen’s domestic abuse subplot added nothing to the story aside from a reason to kill off William.
Also, June going a bit paranoid and killing ‘dangerous’ men to create a gallery?? 🤨. And the jump from Henry being a cop on Don’s payroll, to then June having a crush on him, but a few pages later “doesn’t fully trust him” yet tells him all of her plan? I just feel as though the writing and the plot is a bit inconsistent.
Having said that, I am sure someone will LOVE this book and will devour it, unfortunately, the rape and pregnancy trope just ruined it for me.
I had high hopes for this book, as I love mythology and the concept of a Medusa re-telling with Poseidon as the bad guy piqued my interest. However, this book was slightly disappointing. To start with, the setting is supposed to be in the 1920’s - however the world-building and “more modern times” doesn’t fit this aesthetic or time period. Like ‘smoothing gel’, realistically wasn’t a thing in the 1920s. I get it’s supposed to be an alternate universe, however I feel this book would’ve been more suited to modern times based on the plot of the book.
Furthermore, the on-page rape at the beginning of the book and the future pregnancy as a result of this REALLY turned me off. Although ‘sexual assault’ is mentioned in the TW, rape is not and I feel like that is a BIG problem. Also, while I understand the 1920s was not big for women’s rights, the casual misogyny with branding Eris ‘the whore’ God, and Helen’s domestic abuse subplot added nothing to the story aside from a reason to kill off William.
Also, June going a bit paranoid and killing ‘dangerous’ men to create a gallery?? 🤨. And the jump from Henry being a cop on Don’s payroll, to then June having a crush on him, but a few pages later “doesn’t fully trust him” yet tells him all of her plan? I just feel as though the writing and the plot is a bit inconsistent.
Having said that, I am sure someone will LOVE this book and will devour it, unfortunately, the rape and pregnancy trope just ruined it for me.
March 16, 2022
I received an advance copy of this book aa an ARC reader in exchange for my honest review.
Please check the book listings and author’s website for CW/TW information.
I’m the first to admit that fantasy isn’t my usual genre, but I was really excited to give this book a read.
You can tell straight off the bat that the author loves to write and knows her characters inside out.
This book is an original story telling of the Greek Gods and how their legends intertwine with mortals. Not having much knowledge of any Greek Mythology, I started this book off on the back foot, but it has me inspired to do some more reading to learn more about it.
It’s incredibly easy to get caught up in the plot twists, and I found myself skim reading to find out what happens and then have to go back to reread things in a calmer fashion.
I would’ve liked to have learned a bit more about the universe the author has us delving into, and characters that we’re being introduced to - it’s clear that the author knows her universe and each person inside out, so having more of that backstory and information to build a stronger emotional connection to each character and their stories would have been great.
Refreshingly, this book ticks a lot of representation boxes and is published in such a way that it assists any neurodivergent readers in having a smooth experience.
I’m really looking forward to seeing where this series takes us and am glad that book two is only a few months away!
Please check the book listings and author’s website for CW/TW information.
I’m the first to admit that fantasy isn’t my usual genre, but I was really excited to give this book a read.
You can tell straight off the bat that the author loves to write and knows her characters inside out.
This book is an original story telling of the Greek Gods and how their legends intertwine with mortals. Not having much knowledge of any Greek Mythology, I started this book off on the back foot, but it has me inspired to do some more reading to learn more about it.
It’s incredibly easy to get caught up in the plot twists, and I found myself skim reading to find out what happens and then have to go back to reread things in a calmer fashion.
I would’ve liked to have learned a bit more about the universe the author has us delving into, and characters that we’re being introduced to - it’s clear that the author knows her universe and each person inside out, so having more of that backstory and information to build a stronger emotional connection to each character and their stories would have been great.
Refreshingly, this book ticks a lot of representation boxes and is published in such a way that it assists any neurodivergent readers in having a smooth experience.
I’m really looking forward to seeing where this series takes us and am glad that book two is only a few months away!
March 26, 2024
This book is the first in the series and I think it's a different and good retelling of the Greek gods. Myth of June had three points of views, June, Ty, and Helen. After graduation June is excited to start life and her passion for art. She's also a waitress at a small diner. After an incident at the diner after hours June realizes the gods are real and 2 of them have gifted her. One god gave his protection since birth the other the power to protect herself after her attack. Her father is the cause of everything from seeing a god during her birth to getting in major debt with a crime lord due to gambling addiction. June learns to use her gift and more and is still learning how intertwined the gods are with her. There is more to Ty the family friend and a few other friends she meets along the way.
This book is more set in the 1920's in New York. Where religion is still set more with the pantheon than our current beliefs. Learning of the gods in school June knew about their myths already. I enjoyed the different take of religion and yet the historical feel of the 1920's. A somewhat modern retelling of Medusa in its own way. There is also SA in a few moments of the book. I received this book as an advanced reader copy.
This book is more set in the 1920's in New York. Where religion is still set more with the pantheon than our current beliefs. Learning of the gods in school June knew about their myths already. I enjoyed the different take of religion and yet the historical feel of the 1920's. A somewhat modern retelling of Medusa in its own way. There is also SA in a few moments of the book. I received this book as an advanced reader copy.
March 10, 2024
I received the revised addition of this book as a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is written in third person but changed character on each chapter, for me personally this made it choppy and frustrating to read. I know some of the reviews of the original version of this book discussed the on page SA and that was removed, however it felt as if the author just deleted the couple of paragraphs including the details so the entire scene was very confusing it states she falls down and then immediately jumps to the goddess scene no eluding to the events happening or anything until after the event where it’s consistently referenced as an event that happened. There did not seem to be any flow to the book the chapters just pick up in new places and new scenes and end without finishing the previous events. I ended up DNFing the book at 62% I just couldn’t keep myself reading it when it was so choppy and hard to follow. I really wanted to like this book but I almost wish I had been provided the original version because I feel the revisions may have made it even choppier and hard to understand.
October 27, 2022
This was the absolute worst book I have ever had the misfortune of reading. I am a huge mythology fan, specifically Greek, and I guarantee I could have written a better story in high school. Not only was the plot - using that term very loosely - an absolute train wreck, but the story telling was choppy and incoherent.
I genuinely believe this “author” was attempting to show a badass girl overcoming trauma and power struggles while using mythology as a metaphor. This feminist theory is totally unfounded, however, when you look at the blatant misogyny in almost every female character (i.e. Helen, Eris). The attempt to use rape as a method of overcoming challenges is in abysmal taste here.
At best, I would recommend this to parents trying to teach their toddlers how to read. Other than that, this book should not have a sequel or rave review. I would never recommend this book or author to anyone ever.
I genuinely believe this “author” was attempting to show a badass girl overcoming trauma and power struggles while using mythology as a metaphor. This feminist theory is totally unfounded, however, when you look at the blatant misogyny in almost every female character (i.e. Helen, Eris). The attempt to use rape as a method of overcoming challenges is in abysmal taste here.
At best, I would recommend this to parents trying to teach their toddlers how to read. Other than that, this book should not have a sequel or rave review. I would never recommend this book or author to anyone ever.
April 3, 2024
Starting this book I didn’t have much hope for this book with a female main character written by a man.
I did like the list of key terms in the front of the book, except that Hades was listed as the god of thunder and that oceaniads were listed as fresh water nymphs.
The pacing was terrible. The first third of the book covered 24hrs. Then there was a three week time jump that wasn’t mentioned until the end of the chapter it happened in.
This book was advertised as for adult Percy Jackson fans, reading with this in mind the greek characters read very oc fanfiction like.
The book claims to be based in 1926, yet all the characters act and speak very modern. The prologue claims that Atlantis sank in 1626, this indicates that the author did no to very little research on Greek mythology or math.
The ending was so abrupt that it didn’t feel like a complete end to the narrative. No research was done on firearms or architecture.
I did like the list of key terms in the front of the book, except that Hades was listed as the god of thunder and that oceaniads were listed as fresh water nymphs.
The pacing was terrible. The first third of the book covered 24hrs. Then there was a three week time jump that wasn’t mentioned until the end of the chapter it happened in.
This book was advertised as for adult Percy Jackson fans, reading with this in mind the greek characters read very oc fanfiction like.
The book claims to be based in 1926, yet all the characters act and speak very modern. The prologue claims that Atlantis sank in 1626, this indicates that the author did no to very little research on Greek mythology or math.
The ending was so abrupt that it didn’t feel like a complete end to the narrative. No research was done on firearms or architecture.
April 10, 2024
I was provided an Advanced Readers Copy for free for my honest review.
This book has a beautiful storyline and concept. There was in-depth detail and information about situations and characters. The character reference in the beginning of the book was perfect, because I know I would mess up some names otherwise. I appreciated that this was not a telling where Athena was painted as a villain too, but rather as the caring deity that she was in that situation. I also appreciated that this telling showed how Gorgons were not supposed to be women with snakes for hair that were just monsters. The author did a great job in telling Medusa's story in a more modern concept. I do wish there had been CW and TW in the book itself, for the SA, DV, and sexual scenes, but there are warnings on the website. If you prefer a more accurate telling of mythology stories, this book may not be for you.
*Please read with caution and keep your mental health safe.
This book has a beautiful storyline and concept. There was in-depth detail and information about situations and characters. The character reference in the beginning of the book was perfect, because I know I would mess up some names otherwise. I appreciated that this was not a telling where Athena was painted as a villain too, but rather as the caring deity that she was in that situation. I also appreciated that this telling showed how Gorgons were not supposed to be women with snakes for hair that were just monsters. The author did a great job in telling Medusa's story in a more modern concept. I do wish there had been CW and TW in the book itself, for the SA, DV, and sexual scenes, but there are warnings on the website. If you prefer a more accurate telling of mythology stories, this book may not be for you.
*Please read with caution and keep your mental health safe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2024
I was an ARC reader for this book. I received it before its release in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful for the opportunity to read it before its release.
However, it was a little more juvenile for my personal tastes. I believe the book has potential. Had it of been a longer book I believe she could have conveyed the main character June better. I found her character development lacking. To be set in an earlier time period it felt a little too modern and I didn’t get the excitement of “a war is coming” like I normally do. I believe with a longer book she could have been able to truly make the reader connect better with June and the story. This may be someone’s “Roman empire” but it is not mine, and that is okay. Also, please read the trigger warnings before diving into this book or you will be in for quite a shock.
However, it was a little more juvenile for my personal tastes. I believe the book has potential. Had it of been a longer book I believe she could have conveyed the main character June better. I found her character development lacking. To be set in an earlier time period it felt a little too modern and I didn’t get the excitement of “a war is coming” like I normally do. I believe with a longer book she could have been able to truly make the reader connect better with June and the story. This may be someone’s “Roman empire” but it is not mine, and that is okay. Also, please read the trigger warnings before diving into this book or you will be in for quite a shock.
April 22, 2024
I was lucky to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. First if you’re not familiar with the story of Medusa please make sure you look at the TW for this book, while not graphic there’s still situations that could be triggering to some readers. Now the story is a bit faster paced than I normally like however I love the concept. The fact that it’s a Medusa retelling set in the 1920s was an interesting concept. I also enjoyed the idea that Poseidon was the one at odds with Zeus rather than Hades and had been banished. Having gods/goddesses either willingly or unwillingly be in the mortal world and almost all of the titans imprisoned in a sentient version of Tartarus worked well for this story as well especially since the author was able to make these ideas work and also help drive their plot along.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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