I think I read the first book of the original trilogy way back when. I didn't even realise this was a prequel until recently, but I loved it.

The writing, the setting, the inspirations of Greek mythology - I am a nut, indeed - all of which were delightful to read and get stuck into. Although I did enjoy the writing, it did feel quite simple to me, but I feel as if I'm just slowly growing out of this young adult style. I appreciated it nonetheless, but a part of me felt disconnected purely out of my own feelings.

But the 1990s setting and the romance were so classically gripping, nothing could take away my enjoyment of this book.

What would you give up for love?

Inspired by Greek mythology, Scions tells the story of Daphne, daughter of Zeus and Heir to the House of Atreus, and Ajax, son of Apollo and Scion of the House of Thebes, in a forbidden romance between star-crossed lovers. Daphne is a descendant of Helen of Troy, cursed with the face that launched a thousand ships, and the story focuses on preventing another war. With Fate determining the future, Daphne and Ajax must make difficult choices that are seemingly impossible and doomed from the start.

"Tell me your favorite color, Daphne, and I’ll paint the sky with it."

I absolutely swooned over Ajax! Everything from his expressive art to his willingness to sacrifice and fight to the death was so admirable, embodying the perfect hero. I loved how he truly saw Daphne straight through to her soul, always seeing beyond her appearance.

As for Daphne, I felt her struggles in fighting her destiny through losses and pain, finding the strength to challenge everything she was ever taught to believe. I wanted nothing more than for her and Ajax to be together and for her to find the happiness she truly deserved.

While an interesting take on Greek mythology, which I typically love, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I expected. The story often moved slowly and there was too much drawn out detail especially as to the trials and tribulations of high school. I also didn't resonate with the 1993 NYC setting despite being native to the city myself. And as much as I wanted them to be together, I never truly felt the power of the connection between Daphne and Ajax.

With a simplistic writing style, I would recommend this book for younger teen readers, less so for older teens. I believe there are other Greek mythology adaptations that would be better suited for more mature audiences. Although I have not read the original trilogy, I would also think it best to start there or with a basic understanding of Greek mythology at the least. My opinion is more about the fit for myself as a reader and not necessarily about the book itself and I can understand the many positive reviews others have written.

With enemies becoming lovers as Daphne and Ajax try to overcome a predetermined future, bloodlust warring with love, I was invested in the characters and in what seemed like an inevitable end. For me, an ending can make or break a novel, and this one truly shined in the most tragically beautiful way.

"Fate is unavoidable, I know that. But the ending never tells you the whole story. I’m going to make this story about love and not death."

** Special thanks to Sungrazer Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available October 4. 2022. **

Daphne and Ajax's romance was so heartfelt and wonderfully written. I enjoyed this prequel very much! It helped to further bring together aspects of the rest of the series, especially when it comes to understanding Daphne.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the eARC and to Josephine for writing such a wonderful series that definitely deserves a prequel!!

Scions by Josephine Angelini is the prequel to the Starcrossed trilogy and can also be read on its own. This is the story of Daphne and Ajax.
 
Daphne is the daughter of Zeus and a scion. She is really beautiful, but simultaneously has a cursed face. This comes with women being jealous of her and men giving her unwanted attention. She was such a fascinating character, and it was a unique approach to Greek mythology.
 
The story is set in New York in 1933 and Daphne goes to high school, and she must acclimate to it. This entails being bored in class because she already has the knowledge and trying to be a socialite, which turns out to be very complicated. This contrast was fascinating to see.
 
Her mortal enemy is Ajax, and he is the son of the opposing house of Thebes. He is an artist who paints Daphne on murals in the whole city and that’s what brings them together.
 
They are star-crossed lovers with a ton of obstacles in their way and that made the story so intriguing. The plot was fast paced, and I was totally into the story. There were only little bits I wasn’t a fan of like having additional perspectives from other side characters.
 
Overall, Scions is a wonderful take on Greek mythology, and I definitely need to check out the author’s other books after reading this one. 4 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

*Thank you NetGalley for providing an eARC of Scions by Josephine Angelini*

The story starts right off with our main character, Daphne Atreus, facing herself with a new life. She seems like any other girl, except for her face.
Because Daphne isn't normal. She's a Scion from the House of Atreus, one of the three people left, and the Heir of the house. Her Face is the same as Helen of Troy, that makes people fall in love with her instantly.
Daphne tries to keep a low profile in her new life, but being the bearer of the Face isn't an easy way to do so.
So when she finds herself face to face with a Scion from another house and manages to get away from him alive, she's surprised to realize she's thinking about him every minute of her day.
But her curse and a prophecy made a long time ago stand between her and her star crossed lover.

I loved every bit of this book.
Daphne's character didn't seem too bland or too boring, as every Chosen One is expected to be. She seemed like any other teenage girl, having girl problems, even with powers like hers.
Her character evolved throughout the story, growing from the lonely, scared girl she was at the beginning, to a person who accepts herself and has found friends along the way.
The topics of the book are pretty light-hearted, as this is marketed as a YA book, but be aware that there are some delicate scenes here and there.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, giving it a 5 out of 5 star rating, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series "Timeless"!

Thank you Netgalley and Stargrazer Publishing for the chance to read an advance copy of Scions by Josephine Angelini. This is book 4 of the Starcrossed series, but it is actually a prequel to the original trilogy that came out 11 years ago. I fell in love with this YA series which started me on my path of loving Greek mythology fiction. While the original trilogy talked about the star-crossed love between Daphne and Ajax and what happened, Scions brings that story front and center and sheds new light on what happened, and adds new dimensions, and some new surprises...I originally worried that after so many years the Starcrossed world would not be as exciting as I remembered but it was just as exciting and as magically as before. With not only characters we met before but who are young and full of life, and new characters that throw some new light on the original story. Do we really know the truth? I truly recommend reading this book, and the original trilogy (but read the trilogy first)!

I read Starcrossed when I was in high school and devoured the series as all the books were released and I couldn't stand Daphne but now as a mother and after reading Scions I get it, I totally get it; not the way she treated Helen though, I'll never forgive her! Throughout Starcrossed we kept getting a glimpse into Daphne and Ajax's forbidden love but I was so immersed in the plot (since Josephine is a phenomenal writer) I didn't really care lol but when I saw this I had to get a copy! It's a very easy read, it has a plot and we get insight into the Scion world. I really hope this book takes off because I would love it to be picked up as a TV series! I think it would be amazing!!

Scions follows Ajax and Daphne who are scions from different lineages that are meant to hate each other as a curse from the Fates but a freak accident brings them closer to each other. This doesn't sit well with the families since only bad things can happen when bloodlines intermingle and defy the Fates. (view spoiler) I love books connected to Greek mythology so true to the first installment we get mythology mingled in organically throughout the novel. I think this book can be read before or after reading the other books set with the Delos clan since Josephine really does have an amazing writing style!

I loved this. Unashamedly. I read the Starcrossed trilogy when it first published, and thoroughly enjoyed it, though as a kind of guilty pleasure. When I realised that Josephine Angelini had written a prequel about Helen's mother, I was delighted, and instantly wanted it.
This is set in the early 90s in New York, and tells the story of an earlier generation of star-crossed lovers as Daphne and Ajax try to deal with the love-hate relationship that comes of being Scions inexorably drawn to each other.
Cameo appearances from characters in the original trilogy were delightful to deal with the whole way through, and there's an interesting layer of darkness to this story that wasn't as clear in Helen's - seems like Daphne's way of dealing with being a Scion involves a lot more death than Helen's experience in the Starcrossed trilogy. Going back another generation, we see the grandparents of our original trilogy Scions and the generational conflict that's intertwined between the houses. We don't see much of the other two houses, but there's another sequel coming which will bring together this prequel and the later timeline. I actually can't wait.

Also, the cover for this is gorgeous. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and am now off to read the original trilogy in preparation for the fifth book!

I received a digital ARC of 'Scions' by Josephine Angelini from NetGalley and Sungrazer Publishing. I initially requested this book because a student asked if I knew anything about the upcoming book, and if I had read any of her other books - I hadn't... so the 'prequel' seemed like a good place to start.

I initially looked through Goodreads at the descriptions of the books, and based on that the premise they seemed interesting - book on Mythology are always one that students enjoy. The series seemed to be highly reviewed, but this book was an struggle for me to get through. The characters were not ones I did not immediately fall in love with, and the writing style felt very simplistic, and content seemed repetitive. I can see how this is a book that would appeal to a younger audience, but it's not a book I would recommend to high school or upper level students.

2/5

Daphne’s face is cursed. She is the heir to the Scion House of Zeus and must wear the legendary face of Helen of Troy. She tries to hide… she doesn’t want to go around starting wars between mortals or the Scion families. But when her face shows up in street art mural, she knows she’ll have to track down the artist, Ajax, and see how he knows her. Surely nothing bad will come of it? Let’s find out.

Read if you like: Classic YA, Greek mythology, retellings, paranormal romance, star-crossed lovers, enemies to lovers, make your own fate, prequels, a little steam in your slow burn romance.

The Scions, demigod families of Olympus, are locked in an unending conflict that began with the war of Troy. Daphne is the current bearer of The Face. Her one true fate is to rekindle the war of her descendants and reawaken the gods. But when she meets another Scion from a rival family, Ajax, it appears that the Fates have another thread woven into the tapestries of their lives. Can they survive their families and follow their own path away from destruction?

This book was a lot of fun. I have a feeling if I would have read the Starcrossed series before picking up this book for fun then I would have possibly rated it 5 stars. Maybe it’s just my own neurosis from knowing there were more books, but I could tell that this was leading up to something that would not be resolved quickly or easily. Also, I was expecting a much more depressing ending. So that was a positive surprise. I mean, bad things happen, it’s a book, but overall, pleasantly surprised.

So, what do you get? A really great throwback YA PNR. And not just because its set in the 1990s. (So on brand, rn.) 😊 The MC teens are teenagery yet totally OP with their special demigod status. And they actually know what they’re doing, so, there’s not that annoying learning curve… “oh I have powers, oh em gee! What now?!?” There’s a lot of great tension and background information within the Scion Houses and you feel the connection to the Greek myths while having space to be its own thing. The romance is so classic YA. Its so good. And yes, you get a happy-ish ending. My only problem… I now need to add 3 more books to my ridiculously long TBR. So yeah, thanks Josephine Angelini! 😉 It’s not like I’ll ever be close to finished anyway…

Thank you to NetGalley, Sungrazer Publishing, and Josephine Angelini for a copy of this book for my honest review.

Preliminary 5 star review as I am 2anting to read her other books in the series first. Even though this is a prequel I prefer to read the other way around as usually the prequel is more impactful when I do.

Thankyou for netgalley for this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for providing an eARC of Scions, by Josephine Angelini.

As a reading, coming this this book, having not read the Starcrossed trilogy, all the characters and concepts were completely fresh for me. Despite this, the book so so well written, that I had no confusion, and feel it could easily be the novel you being the series on, rather than reading it through publication order.

Daphne, as the protagonist, allows for a lot of mythological parallels to be drawn, and used for inspiration, which Angelini does very well. Having Helens Face, and being stalked in the same was that the original Daphne experiences, gives hints of irony for readers who are family with greek mythology.

In a lot of ways, this narrative reads like Romeo and Juliet, featuring themes of forbidden love, familial rivalries, and the continuous build of drama. I would like to note, that this book is not a retelling of any story or myth, but there is clear inspiration, and symbolism in names, like using Daphne, Ajax, Talus, etc.

After finishing Scions, I am very inclined to read the original trilogy that this comes from, having fallen in love with the characters, and I do wonder what happens to Daphne, post her story and into Helen's.

Daphne is in possession of The Face - the one that launched 1000 ships in Ancient Greece. Embroiled in a battle over 3,000 years old, she finds herself tested and pushed to her limits as she falls for a boy on the other side.

Although Scions is a prequel to the Starcrossed Trilogy, I think it can be read without needing to read them first (although some things definitely mean more if you have!). Just like when I read the original trilogy as a teen, this book sucks you in and weaves a brilliant take on the ancient Greek myths. Definitely a recommended read!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, publisher and author for sending me a copy for an honest review.
Firstly, I am really excited to get this ebook on my ereader- for several reasons. Firstly, the Starcrossed series is one of my favourite series. It follows a modern day Helen of Troy. And what I feel this series has done better than the rest of the fantasy series is the main character has human faults and she faces something that we all can relate - what is her purpose here? While Scions follows another main character, the character still shows human faults, which is something I love to see. Genuine and trying to figure who she is today. A solid 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a stunning prequel and was wonderful! Prequels are always so fun.

The dazzling prequel to the Starcrossed series, the #1 international bestselling trilogy. Perfect for fans of great storytelling.

This book was the prequel to her series, which I haven't read, but after reading Scions, I am dying to read the rest of her books. This book combines a few of my favourite things - NEW YORK, 1990's, Greek Mythology and Enemies to Lovers.

This book was amazing with its tropes and everything. I do think that despite being almost perfect, this book was missing something (ANGST). The book was missing the angst that comes with Enemies to Lovers. Maybe if I'd gotten a bit of angst, I would rate it five stars, but yeah, for now, four stars will have to do. The plot-building and the world-building were amazing, and I have to praise the author for them. Most fantasy books take too much time to develop the world, and it just confuses and bores me, but even though this was the first one I read, I was easily able to get the world.

Ajax is the cutest ever MMC. He's an artist, and he literally painted the sky with her face (well came pretty close to it) Daphne is also such a great FMC which I honestly didn't expect her to be in the starting because the first chapter daphne was cringe for me while rest of the book daphne was amazing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Sungrazer Publishing for an early copy of this book :)
I preface this by saying that I have not read the previous books, so I don’t feel like I can rate this.
The books and the explanations of what’s happening are very rushed, the writing is action focused and almost feels like it’s done in an hurry. The main character is almost immediately drawn by the love interest without any explanation, and everything happens very quickly.
It also kinda of feels like a wattpad story, with literally the first quote being:
‘ I’ve always hated the first day of school. I don’t know for certain that it would be easier if we didn’t move so much,…’
I would not recommend reading this before without having read the entire Starcrossed serie.
x/G

Scions was a light and easy read, that I really enjoyed.
Although I haven't read any of the other books in the series, I found this book extremely enjoyable. The character were relatable and had beautiful relationships with each other. Ajax and Daphne's forbidden love was swoon-worthy, and one of the only forbidden loves that I liked. It has inspired me to take up the rest of the series. I would recommend it for lovers of lore by Alexandra Bracken.

I received an e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Rating : 4.25

Review : NO SPOILERS

I loved returning to Josephine Angelini's world of demigods and houses. Daphne has always been one of the most conflicting and interesting characters in books 1-3 and to read more about her and Ajax was amazing. I did expect certain characters to behave in a certain way and when I got something completely different, I was really surprised and loved the book more. Few of my own idiosyncrasies aside, this book is a must read for all Greek Myth fans and I cannot wait for Timeless next year