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Council of Myths: Origins
The beginning of an epic saga the likes of A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones, Dark-Hunter, and The Crown.
~
Welcome to The Continent of Myths… For centuries, the species of The Continent have coexisted, held together by the long established Council of Myths, made up of the five kings who rule its nations. Now, the oldest living being on Earth, The Original Vampire, has been found dead without an heir…or so they’ve been told. When a young woman, raised among the mortal world, is revealed to be the long lost daughter of the deceased monarch, her arrival sets forward the course of events that no one saw except maybe her.
~
Welcome to The Continent of Myths… For centuries, the species of The Continent have coexisted, held together by the long established Council of Myths, made up of the five kings who rule its nations. Now, the oldest living being on Earth, The Original Vampire, has been found dead without an heir…or so they’ve been told. When a young woman, raised among the mortal world, is revealed to be the long lost daughter of the deceased monarch, her arrival sets forward the course of events that no one saw except maybe her.
- GenresFantasy
657 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 28, 2022
38 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Renee
2 books39 followersSamantha Renee is a Michigan born and raised author whose dream was to write books since she was twelve years old. Council of Myths: Origins is her first novel. When she’s not writing, she’s usually re-watching one of a half-dozen shows for the infinitieth time, playing World of Warcraft, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, or Baldur's Gate 3 very badly, and spending way too much time in Disney Dreamlight Valley. She currently lives in Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 19, 2023
DON'T MISS THIS BOOK!
This book goes full fantasy with a literal COUNCIL OF MYTHS! I'm talking vampires, shifters, merfolk, valkyrie if you love it... it's probably in this book. Oh plus DRAGONS! Who doesnt love a dragon. There are also so many romances!! The characters are strong voiced and well devolped so the book pulls you into thier lives while still following the main plot. It's definitely building into something amazing and I can't want for the next book!
This book goes full fantasy with a literal COUNCIL OF MYTHS! I'm talking vampires, shifters, merfolk, valkyrie if you love it... it's probably in this book. Oh plus DRAGONS! Who doesnt love a dragon. There are also so many romances!! The characters are strong voiced and well devolped so the book pulls you into thier lives while still following the main plot. It's definitely building into something amazing and I can't want for the next book!
May 2, 2023
Council of Myths: Origins is a fast paced fantasy novel with masterfully crafted twists and turns. Within the darkest depths of secrets and deceit lies the ultimate power of revelations and hope.
We follow a girl called Emilya who pretty much lives a normal life in Michigan. Her parents are in medical fields and she wishes to follow the same path as theirs. Despite an event from her past nagging her, she was trying to move on in her life.
Moving towards The Continent, it is revealed that the species have existed side-by-side for many centenaries. The council of myths comprises five powerful kings however when the oldest vampire is found dead without a successor, chaos begins to break. But what if there is more to that?
Emilya's life will take a dramatic turn which will completely change everything around her. But this will correspond to the perils and stakes becoming higher than ever.
This is the first book in the series and to be honest, it has surpassed my expectations. Undeniably one of the best reading experiences.
The elements of supernatural beings and world building are strongly explored. The readers will be surprised by this fascinating world of vampires, Valkyrie, werewolves, merfolk, elves and more. I am impressed by the high calibre of the author who has completely rejuvenated this genre. The multiple POVs threads together quite well and the story has an alluring magnetic pull that commences as soon as you read. The political intrigues and subtle hints of tussels of countries were absolutely absorbing. The cliffhanger ending certainly has me captivated.
It was definitely worth the reading time and the experience was amazing. I cannot wait to read more books from the author. For all fantasy enthusiasts this is a must read.
We follow a girl called Emilya who pretty much lives a normal life in Michigan. Her parents are in medical fields and she wishes to follow the same path as theirs. Despite an event from her past nagging her, she was trying to move on in her life.
Moving towards The Continent, it is revealed that the species have existed side-by-side for many centenaries. The council of myths comprises five powerful kings however when the oldest vampire is found dead without a successor, chaos begins to break. But what if there is more to that?
Emilya's life will take a dramatic turn which will completely change everything around her. But this will correspond to the perils and stakes becoming higher than ever.
This is the first book in the series and to be honest, it has surpassed my expectations. Undeniably one of the best reading experiences.
The elements of supernatural beings and world building are strongly explored. The readers will be surprised by this fascinating world of vampires, Valkyrie, werewolves, merfolk, elves and more. I am impressed by the high calibre of the author who has completely rejuvenated this genre. The multiple POVs threads together quite well and the story has an alluring magnetic pull that commences as soon as you read. The political intrigues and subtle hints of tussels of countries were absolutely absorbing. The cliffhanger ending certainly has me captivated.
It was definitely worth the reading time and the experience was amazing. I cannot wait to read more books from the author. For all fantasy enthusiasts this is a must read.
December 29, 2023
There are a ton of point of views which normally makes the story line muddy and hard to follow but this author does an amazing job! The story flows amazingly and the point of views keep the story on track!!
This book immediately sucked me in and I almost instantly connected with Emilya!! I couldn’t imagine waking one day and all of a sudden myths are reality oh and you’re the queen now! This book is so addictive I can’t even watch tv all I want to do is read!
I think the only chapter I’m not a fan of is chapter 15 when Emilya is listing off members of nobility literally the whole chapter! It literally killed my brain and I won’t lie I skipped most of the chapter because it was just too much!
What the hell man!! That cliffhanger is no joke!! I totally didn’t see that happening!!
This book immediately sucked me in and I almost instantly connected with Emilya!! I couldn’t imagine waking one day and all of a sudden myths are reality oh and you’re the queen now! This book is so addictive I can’t even watch tv all I want to do is read!
I think the only chapter I’m not a fan of is chapter 15 when Emilya is listing off members of nobility literally the whole chapter! It literally killed my brain and I won’t lie I skipped most of the chapter because it was just too much!
What the hell man!! That cliffhanger is no joke!! I totally didn’t see that happening!!
February 3, 2025
Wow!!! So addictive and loved all the world building. Was hard to remember who all the characters were at first but was fine by the end. I really enjoyed all the different POVs and seeing what was going on in all the different places.
January 7, 2024
Actually more like 4.5 stars. Yall need to read this book! It has
👸Court Intrigue
💗 Love
🔪Betrayal
✨Mystical world
🕵️♀️ Hidden Society
🧜♀️Supernatural and mythical creatures
🤯Mind blowing moments
This is the journey of Emilya (Queen of Normandy.) She is plucked out of her normal life and brought into this unknown world, where she learns she is to be queen. There is a lot going on and a lot of characters, but Samantha has a way of balancing it out. This provides us ability to peak in the characters lives. The way everything is explained its like we can see it all played out before our eyes. We also see outstanding growth in our Emilya as she is thrusts this most important roll. As things progress, she grabs the situation by the balls and takes complete control. She could be the best thing to happen to this kingdom. This could be the best book you've read! I say give it a try! (Possible TW mention of pregnancies and miscarriage.)
👸Court Intrigue
💗 Love
🔪Betrayal
✨Mystical world
🕵️♀️ Hidden Society
🧜♀️Supernatural and mythical creatures
🤯Mind blowing moments
This is the journey of Emilya (Queen of Normandy.) She is plucked out of her normal life and brought into this unknown world, where she learns she is to be queen. There is a lot going on and a lot of characters, but Samantha has a way of balancing it out. This provides us ability to peak in the characters lives. The way everything is explained its like we can see it all played out before our eyes. We also see outstanding growth in our Emilya as she is thrusts this most important roll. As things progress, she grabs the situation by the balls and takes complete control. She could be the best thing to happen to this kingdom. This could be the best book you've read! I say give it a try! (Possible TW mention of pregnancies and miscarriage.)
April 19, 2024
So, I tried to like this book, I really did, but I just couldn't. For being such a thick book, not much happens in it. I found myself skimming a lot simply because it was so boring. Apparently every single resident of the Continent had to be introduced in this book, even when they had absolutely nothing to do with the story. There was so much info dumping that I'm pretty certain I forgot most of the info as I read it. And the story constantly jumps from one character to another. As in, you get maybe 2 pages of one character's POV before it jumps to another. There was potential for this book, but it just fell flat from the sheer amount of filler. I mean, was it absolutely necessary to introduce everyone? While there was world building, I felt that's all this book was about, with no actual story progress.
October 14, 2024
Council of Myths: Origins by Samantha Renee is a fantasy that introduces readers to a world where mythological creatures like vampires, Valkyries, werewolves, and dragons coexist. The novel follows Emilya, an ordinary young woman whose life is turned upside down when she learns she is the heir to the Vampire Kingdom and the leader of the powerful Council of Myths.
The book’s use of multiple points of view is one of its key strengths. While multi-POV stories can sometimes become confusing, Renee balances the perspectives, ensuring that each character’s voice is distinct and contributes meaningfully to the overall plot.
Emilya’s character development is central to the novel. She begins as a relatable, ordinary young woman dealing with the loss of her friends and adjusting to her normal life. Her growth feels authentic as she struggles to reconcile her past with her new responsibilities. Readers will easily connect with her.
The novel’s cliffhanger is both shocking and exciting. I can't wait to check out the next book, and I highly recommend it.
The book’s use of multiple points of view is one of its key strengths. While multi-POV stories can sometimes become confusing, Renee balances the perspectives, ensuring that each character’s voice is distinct and contributes meaningfully to the overall plot.
Emilya’s character development is central to the novel. She begins as a relatable, ordinary young woman dealing with the loss of her friends and adjusting to her normal life. Her growth feels authentic as she struggles to reconcile her past with her new responsibilities. Readers will easily connect with her.
The novel’s cliffhanger is both shocking and exciting. I can't wait to check out the next book, and I highly recommend it.
February 18, 2023
This book was so good I couldn't put it down. I found myself getting upset with everyday life for preventing me from being able to read more. I would fall asleep while reading it just to wake up in the middle of the night and continue reading until I fell asleep again. Definitely a well written fantasy book that keeps you interested the entire time. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book.
June 15, 2024
I hate that the book ends but can't wait to read the 2nd! The writing is engaging and the character development is great, The author pulls you in and it’s so hard to put it down, I needed to know what happened next, what the next chapter was going to tell!!
The story follows Emylia, he life is turned upside down and she finds herself queen in another world, a leader she never throught she could be.
I love the details of this book, the map at the beginning, it gives it something extra and you can see where they all travel, I love the small details throughout the book, but if you want to know them then you are going to have to read it..
I would recommend this book and would read it again..
The story follows Emylia, he life is turned upside down and she finds herself queen in another world, a leader she never throught she could be.
I love the details of this book, the map at the beginning, it gives it something extra and you can see where they all travel, I love the small details throughout the book, but if you want to know them then you are going to have to read it..
I would recommend this book and would read it again..
August 26, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It was a bit hard for me to keep up with all the characters but was very well written. Multiple povs, numerous mythical creatures, so much plot and excellent world building. Will def be reading the sequel. Def recommend!
February 15, 2023
Such a great book. Read it! I can’t wait for more from this author
April 23, 2023
It was good!
December 28, 2023
This book was a bit slower to get into, but VERY detailed. Multiple POVs in all the different courts, and a unique way to bring in different myths/cultures. Can't wait for book 2!
June 3, 2024
Council of Myths by Samantha Renee is one of the most original and exciting mythological fantasies I have read. Everything about this story felt like a puzzle waiting to be unraveled and unveiled. As a huge fan of mythology I absolutely loved how Renee incorporated both mythology and mythological creatures with their own countries and a “parent” political structure (best I can personally describe it without spoilers). If you haven’t read the overview, the book the FMC has been unaware that mythical beings exist or that she is royalty. The author wrote from a multi-POV perspective which made the political intrigue all the more interesting. While it would have been easy to give the characters surface level personalities and features, every character who had a POV had so much depth and intensity. It’s hard not connecting with and feeling for every character at some point in the book. The secondary characters are also given a lot of love and attention as well. Everyone introduced in the story has a purpose and is not just brought up and then forgotten. I personally enjoy books where you have to break down who is and is not trustworthy. I think the best direct pop culture comparison I could give to the political drama would be Game of Thrones, however I think Renee does it much better (especially because of the mythological characters). The world building was done in a way that provides so much understanding and I felt like it was very in depth and thoughtful. Last point as I know this has been a long review, the plot was fast paced and exciting. Something was always happening and everything was always relevant. The book has chapters that are longer in length and I breezed through them without a second thought needing to know what happened next. The last page had me absolutely speechless. I would recommend this book to anyone and I eagerly await the release of book two.
August 20, 2023
I love it
📚 📚 Book Review 📚 📚
Council of Myths book 1 Origins
Genre Fantasy
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is such a great story, it has heart ache, loss and self growth. It follows story of Emylia where her life is torn upside down as she becomes a queen in another world. I love how it follows how she grows as a queen and as a woman. She is truly a leader even if she hadn’t plan to be. She believes in justice and right from wrong. I also love Vincent. This is book one and can’t wait how’s their story continues to infold.
Cons: only reason I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 is that it introduces to many characters at once and shifts within the chapters too much that you have to write all the names down to keep up. I believe the story is great just needs to work on transitioning character
📚 📚 Book Review 📚 📚
Council of Myths book 1 Origins
Genre Fantasy
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is such a great story, it has heart ache, loss and self growth. It follows story of Emylia where her life is torn upside down as she becomes a queen in another world. I love how it follows how she grows as a queen and as a woman. She is truly a leader even if she hadn’t plan to be. She believes in justice and right from wrong. I also love Vincent. This is book one and can’t wait how’s their story continues to infold.
Cons: only reason I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 is that it introduces to many characters at once and shifts within the chapters too much that you have to write all the names down to keep up. I believe the story is great just needs to work on transitioning character
December 20, 2024
#BookLoungeReviewTeam
Book: Council of Myths: Origins
Author: Samantha Renee
Rating: 2.5⭐️
Genre: Fantasy
✨️✨️✨️ BLURB: ✨️✨️✨️
Welcome to The Continent of Myths… For centuries, the species of The Continent have coexisted, held together by the long established Council of Myths, made up of the five kings who rule its nations. Now, the oldest living being on Earth, The Original Vampire, has been found dead without an heir…or so they’ve been told. When a young woman, raised among the mortal world, is revealed to be the long lost daughter of the deceased monarch, her arrival sets forward the course of events that no one saw except maybe her.
✨️✨️✨️ REVIEW: ✨️✨️✨️
This isn't my usual choice of book. I dont know if I would have finished it as quickly if it weren't for the review I was supposed to leave. That being said, it was a GOOD story, it was just very slow paced. It started off strong and kind of exciting: Emilya finds out she was adopted, her real father was a vampire king who is now dead, and now she's being whisked away to a different continent to become the new vampire queen. Talk about traumatizing. Once she arrives, however, it slows right down. It's never boring, but none of the story feels... urgent. She's learning about The Continent, the other countries, the other royals and there are soooooo many characters. I actually applaud the author on the constantly switching POV to keep them all fresh in my head, so there was minimal confusion.
Of all the characters, I think there were 6 ot 7 pov (I should have took notes) and some of them and their storylines just didn't seem important. Now maybe they will pick up more in book 2, but in this book it just felt like filler. There was relationship drama, pregnancy drama (x2... or 3?), and honestly I just wanted more surrounding Emilya, Aleksander, Bastian, and the dragons.
Now, regarding those characters. Emilya was exciting for obvious reasons, she's still human and learning about her court and country. The people directly surrounding her are all interesting: Vincent, Lucille, Callum, Contessina... they all added their own drama and I always looked forward to her pov (or any pov from her court).
Aleksander, also exciting. He's the werewolf/shifter king, he has a temper, is suffering from some medical condition causing pain/headaches, and the people surrounding him bring even more drama than Emilya's crew. There's mistresses, secret mistresses, doctors, enemies? Is everything as it seems? Doubtful.
Bastian was one of the most intriguing characters to me. I feel like he could be an excellent villain with his current mindset, but he could have a change of heart and become a good dude. Also, he has his own secret that if it comes out could cause a big upset in The Continent.
And the dragonnnnns! They're just beebies right now and don't have much of a role at all, but I am curious if they'll get more spotlight later on.
All that being said, I will probably grab book 2, because by the end of this all the drama has been laid out, but absolutely nothing was resolved. Emilya is even still human. Lol. I feel invested though, to find out some answers. I guess, I wish it was broken up in to separate books. Book one could have focused primarily on Emilya and her court and issues and resolved things, then book 2 could have focused more on Aleksander, etc... it just felt like there was a LOT going on even though not a lot was actually going on.
✨️✨️✨️ RATING SYSTEM ✨️✨️✨️
5⭐️ Could not put down and will think about for days or weeks to come. Will definitely reread.
4⭐️ Could not put down, would probably reread
3⭐️ Great story, but could set it aside and take my time with it
2⭐️ Good story, feel the need to finish and know what happens, but not the best
1⭐️ Probably should have stopped reading, but didn't for some reason and here we are. Very rarely used.
Book: Council of Myths: Origins
Author: Samantha Renee
Rating: 2.5⭐️
Genre: Fantasy
✨️✨️✨️ BLURB: ✨️✨️✨️
Welcome to The Continent of Myths… For centuries, the species of The Continent have coexisted, held together by the long established Council of Myths, made up of the five kings who rule its nations. Now, the oldest living being on Earth, The Original Vampire, has been found dead without an heir…or so they’ve been told. When a young woman, raised among the mortal world, is revealed to be the long lost daughter of the deceased monarch, her arrival sets forward the course of events that no one saw except maybe her.
✨️✨️✨️ REVIEW: ✨️✨️✨️
This isn't my usual choice of book. I dont know if I would have finished it as quickly if it weren't for the review I was supposed to leave. That being said, it was a GOOD story, it was just very slow paced. It started off strong and kind of exciting: Emilya finds out she was adopted, her real father was a vampire king who is now dead, and now she's being whisked away to a different continent to become the new vampire queen. Talk about traumatizing. Once she arrives, however, it slows right down. It's never boring, but none of the story feels... urgent. She's learning about The Continent, the other countries, the other royals and there are soooooo many characters. I actually applaud the author on the constantly switching POV to keep them all fresh in my head, so there was minimal confusion.
Of all the characters, I think there were 6 ot 7 pov (I should have took notes) and some of them and their storylines just didn't seem important. Now maybe they will pick up more in book 2, but in this book it just felt like filler. There was relationship drama, pregnancy drama (x2... or 3?), and honestly I just wanted more surrounding Emilya, Aleksander, Bastian, and the dragons.
Now, regarding those characters. Emilya was exciting for obvious reasons, she's still human and learning about her court and country. The people directly surrounding her are all interesting: Vincent, Lucille, Callum, Contessina... they all added their own drama and I always looked forward to her pov (or any pov from her court).
Aleksander, also exciting. He's the werewolf/shifter king, he has a temper, is suffering from some medical condition causing pain/headaches, and the people surrounding him bring even more drama than Emilya's crew. There's mistresses, secret mistresses, doctors, enemies? Is everything as it seems? Doubtful.
Bastian was one of the most intriguing characters to me. I feel like he could be an excellent villain with his current mindset, but he could have a change of heart and become a good dude. Also, he has his own secret that if it comes out could cause a big upset in The Continent.
And the dragonnnnns! They're just beebies right now and don't have much of a role at all, but I am curious if they'll get more spotlight later on.
All that being said, I will probably grab book 2, because by the end of this all the drama has been laid out, but absolutely nothing was resolved. Emilya is even still human. Lol. I feel invested though, to find out some answers. I guess, I wish it was broken up in to separate books. Book one could have focused primarily on Emilya and her court and issues and resolved things, then book 2 could have focused more on Aleksander, etc... it just felt like there was a LOT going on even though not a lot was actually going on.
✨️✨️✨️ RATING SYSTEM ✨️✨️✨️
5⭐️ Could not put down and will think about for days or weeks to come. Will definitely reread.
4⭐️ Could not put down, would probably reread
3⭐️ Great story, but could set it aside and take my time with it
2⭐️ Good story, feel the need to finish and know what happens, but not the best
1⭐️ Probably should have stopped reading, but didn't for some reason and here we are. Very rarely used.
September 11, 2023
This book was an absolute rollercoaster. It's weird because many of the things I disliked about it I also liked.
First, if you are looking to get into fantasy novels for the first time, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU. This is not a beginner level book. There's a lot of information and an absolutely enormous cast of characters. Read a few fantasy series first and then come back to this one after you've been wading in the fantasy waters for a while.
I am SO FREAKING IMPRESSED by the editing of this book. It is written in snippets from multiple characters POVs so we get to experience a linear timeline across multiple locations with different characters. How Samantha managed to keep everything straight and consistent, I will never understand. One thing I wish was automatically included in this book is a cheat sheet of who everyone is, who they're related to, where they're from, etc. Especially reading it on a kindle, having some kind of reference would be helpful in keeping everything straight in your head. I would highly recommend annotating or at least tabbing this book for your own references.
There were a few instances of absolute info-dumping. I think I counted roughly 3-5 pages (hard to tell on a kindle) of nothing, literally nothing, but character introductions as they are presenting themselves to the Queen. Honestly, I quit paying attention after a while and only focused on characters that I knew at that point. It was just laborious and too much info at once.
Lastly, the worst part about this book is that there is no trigger warning anywhere on it. Not at the beginning of the book, nor on the Amazon page to purchase it. It was in the author's bio when submitted for reviewers and I somehow managed to overlook it, but for readers that are simply purchasing the book off of Amazon, they will have no way of knowing that this book contains heavy references to infertility, miscarriage, and child loss.
All of that aside, I hate that this isn't a finished series because now I'm invested and I need to know what happens!
First, if you are looking to get into fantasy novels for the first time, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU. This is not a beginner level book. There's a lot of information and an absolutely enormous cast of characters. Read a few fantasy series first and then come back to this one after you've been wading in the fantasy waters for a while.
I am SO FREAKING IMPRESSED by the editing of this book. It is written in snippets from multiple characters POVs so we get to experience a linear timeline across multiple locations with different characters. How Samantha managed to keep everything straight and consistent, I will never understand. One thing I wish was automatically included in this book is a cheat sheet of who everyone is, who they're related to, where they're from, etc. Especially reading it on a kindle, having some kind of reference would be helpful in keeping everything straight in your head. I would highly recommend annotating or at least tabbing this book for your own references.
There were a few instances of absolute info-dumping. I think I counted roughly 3-5 pages (hard to tell on a kindle) of nothing, literally nothing, but character introductions as they are presenting themselves to the Queen. Honestly, I quit paying attention after a while and only focused on characters that I knew at that point. It was just laborious and too much info at once.
Lastly, the worst part about this book is that there is no trigger warning anywhere on it. Not at the beginning of the book, nor on the Amazon page to purchase it. It was in the author's bio when submitted for reviewers and I somehow managed to overlook it, but for readers that are simply purchasing the book off of Amazon, they will have no way of knowing that this book contains heavy references to infertility, miscarriage, and child loss.
All of that aside, I hate that this isn't a finished series because now I'm invested and I need to know what happens!
May 15, 2024
For this being the authors first book it is very well done. This story is told from multiple POV's so it took me a while to really get in to the story and to understand how it all tied together and the significance of the characters the POV's were written for.
Emilya was just a normal 22 year old girl enjoying her life grieving two of her best friends when everything changed and she found out she was the only living Heir of the Vampire King of Normandy and leader of The Council of Myths. At times reading so many different points of view it felt like Emilya's story got lost as she doesn't have the origin history as many of the other characters so occasionally she fell flat for me and other times there were so many extra details about things happening around her that I found myself skimming trying to get back to the story itself, because it is an interesting story.
Some of my absolute favorite characters are Callum and Vincent and I can't help but wonder if a romance will unfold amidst all of the kingdom intrigue and huge changes coming to the kingdoms of Myth.
Overall a great read and definitely something I would consider reading sequels of as the Saga unfolds. I feel this entire realm and story could go so many places that I am very curious what will happen next. Absolutely worth the read.
Emilya was just a normal 22 year old girl enjoying her life grieving two of her best friends when everything changed and she found out she was the only living Heir of the Vampire King of Normandy and leader of The Council of Myths. At times reading so many different points of view it felt like Emilya's story got lost as she doesn't have the origin history as many of the other characters so occasionally she fell flat for me and other times there were so many extra details about things happening around her that I found myself skimming trying to get back to the story itself, because it is an interesting story.
Some of my absolute favorite characters are Callum and Vincent and I can't help but wonder if a romance will unfold amidst all of the kingdom intrigue and huge changes coming to the kingdoms of Myth.
Overall a great read and definitely something I would consider reading sequels of as the Saga unfolds. I feel this entire realm and story could go so many places that I am very curious what will happen next. Absolutely worth the read.
June 26, 2024
Welcome to the Continent of Myths
This is a brilliant supernatural read, with a great collection of characters (Vampires & Valkyrie, Werewolves & Shapeshifters, Merfolk & Sirens, Elves & Faeries, Satyrs & Nymphs and Dragons🐉). The first in the series it's full of murder, action, drama, political intregue, betrayal, mystery, secrets, found family, multiple romances and plenty of twists.
The story revolves round Emylia who discovers she is the only living daughter of the murdered Vampire King. She's taken to the continent of myths (in the Pacific) and begins to learn how to be Queen of the vampires and valkyrie. Her father had been the first Vampire and only king for their country but as she learns more about her people she wants to make changes and bring the kingdom into the modern world. Though not everyone is happy with the changes, both in her council and elsewhere on the continent.
It's written in multiple POVs which thread really well together, taking you deep into the lives of the many different species on the continent. If you love mythical creatures I would recommend this as I couldn't put this down and can't wait for the next after the way this book finishes.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a brilliant supernatural read, with a great collection of characters (Vampires & Valkyrie, Werewolves & Shapeshifters, Merfolk & Sirens, Elves & Faeries, Satyrs & Nymphs and Dragons🐉). The first in the series it's full of murder, action, drama, political intregue, betrayal, mystery, secrets, found family, multiple romances and plenty of twists.
The story revolves round Emylia who discovers she is the only living daughter of the murdered Vampire King. She's taken to the continent of myths (in the Pacific) and begins to learn how to be Queen of the vampires and valkyrie. Her father had been the first Vampire and only king for their country but as she learns more about her people she wants to make changes and bring the kingdom into the modern world. Though not everyone is happy with the changes, both in her council and elsewhere on the continent.
It's written in multiple POVs which thread really well together, taking you deep into the lives of the many different species on the continent. If you love mythical creatures I would recommend this as I couldn't put this down and can't wait for the next after the way this book finishes.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 13, 2025
When I say I'm shocked that this is Samantha Renee's first novel it is because it is an amazing fantasy read. I give it 5⭐️
This is an epic saga that reminds me of Game of Thrones and Pricess Diaries combined. If you loved the idea of Princess Diaries but wanted darker...here you go.
I loved how it had so many mythical characters such as vampires, satyrs, werewolves, merfolk, elves and even fairies! But with fun urban references to popular movies, TV shows and music that we all love.
This author does an amazing job of keeping track of all the different characters and storylines. She spends so much time with each one that I felt like I was really getting to know them. I do wish there was a guide or something we could reference until we got all of them down. I did have to keep going back to check my notes.
If you love fantasy then you will love this! But be warned...there is a lot of world building at first which is the cornerstone of fantasy series. Don't get bogged down in that and quit reading. It does get easier to read and more exciting as you go. I found myself reading all night because I needed to know what happens.
I'm ready to read the next one.
This is an epic saga that reminds me of Game of Thrones and Pricess Diaries combined. If you loved the idea of Princess Diaries but wanted darker...here you go.
I loved how it had so many mythical characters such as vampires, satyrs, werewolves, merfolk, elves and even fairies! But with fun urban references to popular movies, TV shows and music that we all love.
This author does an amazing job of keeping track of all the different characters and storylines. She spends so much time with each one that I felt like I was really getting to know them. I do wish there was a guide or something we could reference until we got all of them down. I did have to keep going back to check my notes.
If you love fantasy then you will love this! But be warned...there is a lot of world building at first which is the cornerstone of fantasy series. Don't get bogged down in that and quit reading. It does get easier to read and more exciting as you go. I found myself reading all night because I needed to know what happens.
I'm ready to read the next one.
August 27, 2023
🤍 𝕽𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖌 🤍 : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🤍 𝕽𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜 🤍
I am utterly obsessed with book and this world !!!
I cannot believe this is the debut book of this author and she managed to create such a masterpiece !!! If you’re a fantasy reader then DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK!! it literally has everything and i mean EVERYTHING like vampires, werewolves, dragons , valkyries , fairies ….. all presented in the most perfect way 🤩 ..
the world building and the plot twists are just soooo fascinating which made a pure fantasy seem so realistic 😍.. i love emilya and how despite the circumstances surrounding her she is really strong .. her character development is so on point and glorious 👌👌 and i can’t wait to see her as the badass leader she’s meant to be in the next book .. idk what’s with me and these deadly cliffhangers but i am in desperate need for book 2 🥹
PS : it does contain many of characters ( and i thoroughly advice having your notebook beside u and writing the names down while reading the first chapters because that will help enjoy the book even more ) ..
June 25, 2025
A Complex, Multi-Perspective Fantasy with Great World-Building
3.5 ⭐️
The novel takes readers on a deep dive into a well-crafted world with an impressive level of detail. The multiple POVs added an engaging layer to the story, giving us a broader view of the kingdoms and the intricacies of The Continent. The world-building itself was fantastic, with each kingdom feeling distinct and thoroughly developed. I really appreciated the effort put into creating such a rich, detailed setting. It added a lot to the story.
While some parts were a bit wordy, the plot moved at a good enough pace that it didn’t feel like a hindrance. I’m a fan of hefty books, and this one didn’t disappoint in terms of depth and scope. The ending really surprised me, and I’m definitely curious to see where the story goes next. I’ll be reading the second book!
If you enjoy complex worlds, and character-driven plots this book is for you. It’s well-written, high fantasy. The Song of Fire and Ice vibes were definitely present, and that’s something I really enjoyed.
3.5 ⭐️
The novel takes readers on a deep dive into a well-crafted world with an impressive level of detail. The multiple POVs added an engaging layer to the story, giving us a broader view of the kingdoms and the intricacies of The Continent. The world-building itself was fantastic, with each kingdom feeling distinct and thoroughly developed. I really appreciated the effort put into creating such a rich, detailed setting. It added a lot to the story.
While some parts were a bit wordy, the plot moved at a good enough pace that it didn’t feel like a hindrance. I’m a fan of hefty books, and this one didn’t disappoint in terms of depth and scope. The ending really surprised me, and I’m definitely curious to see where the story goes next. I’ll be reading the second book!
If you enjoy complex worlds, and character-driven plots this book is for you. It’s well-written, high fantasy. The Song of Fire and Ice vibes were definitely present, and that’s something I really enjoyed.
October 21, 2024
When reading this, I saw the influence of many different stories, (Some are even referenced by the author themselves) but while the inspiration is there, the story itself stands apart as something special.
Fascinating opening, catching your attention immediately. Lots of different directions, but the author does a fine job of keeping you adequately informed along the way, so you never truly feel lost.
Good mix of humor and dire seriousness. Political intrigue was very well-done. Can really tell the author did their homework on researching older civilizations and their structure.
Fascinating explanation and representation of supernatural creatures in a modern world.
Not normally a fan of romance, but I enjoyed the chemistry and build up with the main characters.
Author is extremely skilled in using their characters to draw out an intriguing plot. They make manage to turn mundane ideas and locations into fantastical and magical.
Fascinating opening, catching your attention immediately. Lots of different directions, but the author does a fine job of keeping you adequately informed along the way, so you never truly feel lost.
Good mix of humor and dire seriousness. Political intrigue was very well-done. Can really tell the author did their homework on researching older civilizations and their structure.
Fascinating explanation and representation of supernatural creatures in a modern world.
Not normally a fan of romance, but I enjoyed the chemistry and build up with the main characters.
Author is extremely skilled in using their characters to draw out an intriguing plot. They make manage to turn mundane ideas and locations into fantastical and magical.
August 20, 2023
📚 📚 Book Review 📚 📚
Council of Myths book 1 Origins
Genre Fantasy
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is such a great story, it has heart ache, loss and self growth. It follows story of Emylia where her life is torn upside down as she becomes a queen in another world. I love how it follows how she grows as a queen and as a woman. She is truly a leader even if she hadn’t plan to be. She believes in justice and right from wrong. I also love Vincent. This is book one and can’t wait how’s their story continues to infold.
Cons: only reason I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 is that it introduces to many characters at once and shifts within the chapters too much that you have to write all the names down to keep up. I believe the story is great just needs to work on transitioning characters
Council of Myths book 1 Origins
Genre Fantasy
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is such a great story, it has heart ache, loss and self growth. It follows story of Emylia where her life is torn upside down as she becomes a queen in another world. I love how it follows how she grows as a queen and as a woman. She is truly a leader even if she hadn’t plan to be. She believes in justice and right from wrong. I also love Vincent. This is book one and can’t wait how’s their story continues to infold.
Cons: only reason I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 is that it introduces to many characters at once and shifts within the chapters too much that you have to write all the names down to keep up. I believe the story is great just needs to work on transitioning characters
February 28, 2024
Such a great fantasy novel!
I’m more than happy to follow multiple characters/POVs so the comparison to Game of Thrones was spot on. I enjoyed the level of detail and intricacy, there are so many subplots happening I was definitely kept on my toes.
There was a lot happening at a steady, comfortable pace. Even with so much going on, nothing felt rushed. All the information was presented well but by no means was it an info dump. It was a perfect balance.
I like so many of the characters and can’t wait to find out how all their stories progress. There was a little spice and I was happy with the descriptions, it’s the slow burn that is really getting me and I hope we see much more from 3 particular characters! Looking forward to book 2.
I’m more than happy to follow multiple characters/POVs so the comparison to Game of Thrones was spot on. I enjoyed the level of detail and intricacy, there are so many subplots happening I was definitely kept on my toes.
There was a lot happening at a steady, comfortable pace. Even with so much going on, nothing felt rushed. All the information was presented well but by no means was it an info dump. It was a perfect balance.
I like so many of the characters and can’t wait to find out how all their stories progress. There was a little spice and I was happy with the descriptions, it’s the slow burn that is really getting me and I hope we see much more from 3 particular characters! Looking forward to book 2.
November 15, 2024
Rating: 4.5/5
This book is probably going to be polarizing for many; you are either going to love it or be immensely frustrated.
I'm on the "love it" side of the spectrum. At first, I was a little overwhelmed by the jumping perspectives and world-building. TBH, I thought I should have been taking notes alongside Emilya. However, once I settled into the roller coaster ride, the story was super fun and intriguing. The political intrigue, the range of personalities, the millennial references... The author has clearly and carefully planned the character and story development, and I appreciate that.
This book is probably going to be polarizing for many; you are either going to love it or be immensely frustrated.
I'm on the "love it" side of the spectrum. At first, I was a little overwhelmed by the jumping perspectives and world-building. TBH, I thought I should have been taking notes alongside Emilya. However, once I settled into the roller coaster ride, the story was super fun and intriguing. The political intrigue, the range of personalities, the millennial references... The author has clearly and carefully planned the character and story development, and I appreciate that.
April 3, 2025
Book review: Council Of Myths: Origins
Author: Samantha Renee
Name of book: Council Of Myths: Origins
Genre of book: Fantasy
#bookloungereviewteam
The story of the council of myths takes you on a journey of Emilya’s life but little do we know that she has another life in another land for a way that she knows nothing about. We get to explore world building and plot twists. Let's just say there are many hidden secrets to be told. In addition we find out that it's not just Emilya’s life that changes but so many others as well . I would 100% recommend this book and ( side note totally read this under a blanket with a flashlight) because why not it was that good.
Author: Samantha Renee
Name of book: Council Of Myths: Origins
Genre of book: Fantasy
#bookloungereviewteam
The story of the council of myths takes you on a journey of Emilya’s life but little do we know that she has another life in another land for a way that she knows nothing about. We get to explore world building and plot twists. Let's just say there are many hidden secrets to be told. In addition we find out that it's not just Emilya’s life that changes but so many others as well . I would 100% recommend this book and ( side note totally read this under a blanket with a flashlight) because why not it was that good.
September 1, 2023
Review: The story itself was not terrible. You do need to really concentrate to keep up, a lot is going on in the book. There are a few points that I had some issues with:
•Too many povs and confusing since everyone is interconnected
• It seemed like the author put unnecessary jabs against Christians. I'm a Christian, and it was a little offensive because they were random and didn't need it for the story. They didn't add to the plot
• There is smut in the book, which I was fine with. But, one of the scenes I didn't care about.
• It's weird that everyone just agreed with the new queen, I think there should have been more people disagreeing with the new queen. People don't normally like change.
• It's weird how quickly the main character took her role as Queen and how she randomly didn't have nightmares anymore once she was Queen, except once.
It got better towards the end, the ending was great and it does make me want to read the next book.
•Too many povs and confusing since everyone is interconnected
• It seemed like the author put unnecessary jabs against Christians. I'm a Christian, and it was a little offensive because they were random and didn't need it for the story. They didn't add to the plot
• There is smut in the book, which I was fine with. But, one of the scenes I didn't care about.
• It's weird that everyone just agreed with the new queen, I think there should have been more people disagreeing with the new queen. People don't normally like change.
• It's weird how quickly the main character took her role as Queen and how she randomly didn't have nightmares anymore once she was Queen, except once.
It got better towards the end, the ending was great and it does make me want to read the next book.
June 27, 2024
"Council of Myths Origin" by Samantha Renee is an extraordinary journey into a richly woven tapestry of myth and legend. The intricate world-building and compelling character arcs keep you hooked from the first page to the last. Renee masterfully blends intrigue, adventure, and emotional depth, creating a story that resonates on many levels. Each chapter unfolds with surprises and a sense of wonder, making it impossible to put down. This book is a must-read for fantasy lovers and anyone who appreciates a well-crafted, immersive narrative.
November 15, 2024
This book had a great concept, but failed at the execution. There were some nice moments within that I enjoyed. My main issue is that there is a serious amount of information dumping within this book. I mean a SERIOUSLY large amount. Pieces didn’t make sense in some chapters. I wish I liked this book more. The concept could have been amazing. Nonetheless, I will say this book definitely isn’t for anyone who has a harder time keeping up with characters. There are many.
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