I love sapphic romances and stories based around myths, so I was really excited for this book. Unfortunately, it fell a little flat for me. The writing style leaned towards juvenile, it reminded me a lot of Percy Jackson, Artemis Fowl, or similar YA series, albeit with more swears.

I also didn't like that Chloe and Helen were obsessed with each other at first sight. This is a bit of a pet peeve for me, I never enjoy the "love at first sight" trope, but I felt it was particularly out of character for Helen. She's a character with such an extensive backstory and baggage, it was weird to see her immediately lusting after a random girl she met once, just because Chloe is "special." I'd expect this from a normal romance novel but not really from Helen of Troy. I would've preferred to see this relationship gradually evolve over time.

On the plus side, I think this book would be very accessible to readers who don't know much about mythology. Like Percy Jackson, readers don't need to be overly familiar with the characters and lore behind the myth to enjoy this modern take on it.

I was expecting this book to be more myth-forward with romance on the side, so I was disappointed when it felt like it was the other way around. But for readers that enjoy a more romance-centric book, I would certainly recommend checking out "Haunted by Myth."

Chloe is reluctantly thrown into the family business of monster hunting due to her sister’s untimely death. Saddled with their TV obsessed family ghost, Ramses (yes, the Egyptian Pharaoh), she has been dealing with an uptick in supernatural activity. While cleaning up these messes, they keep running into a beautiful, mysterious blonde named Helen. The connection between her and Chloe is instant but Chloe struggles to understand Helen’s connection to the supernatural world and monsters. As they learn more about each other, Chloe must decide if she joins forces with Helen and upends everything she knows.

While the premise of the story pulled me in, the characters fell flat for me with the exception of Ramses who truly was a delight.

"Haunted by Myth" is a delightful and captivating journey into the paranormal realm, offering a truly unique and interesting narrative that sets it apart from conventional tales. The author skillfully weaves a wonderfully written story that effortlessly combines elements of mystery, charm, and the supernatural. The book's distinctive charm lies in its ability to be both intriguing and cute, making it a delightful read for audiences of various tastes. The narrative unfolds with a perfect balance of suspense and whimsy, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. With its refreshing take on the paranormal genre, "Haunted by Myth" proves to be an enchanting and memorable addition to the literary world, leaving readers eagerly anticipating more from this talented author.

Haunted by Myth is a quick and fun read, excelling in weaving mythology into the everyday ( I really loved the whale network). I'd also like to commend the gorgeous cover!

The story is told in dual POV of the young ghost hunter Chloe, who was thrown into her family profession after her sister's sudden death, and THE Helen of Troy, who runs a sanctuary for mythological creatures. They are thrown together when the presence of mythological creatures running wild in the human world suddenly decreases dramatically and they find themselves having to investigate that while also exploring their immediate attraction. It is a diverting new take on the genre and if you're looking for a fun and simple read, this is your book.

Personally, I feel the novel would be better categorized as Young Adult, the language and romance do read quite young and I think I would have enjoyed it more not expecting an adult novel. But everyone who is a fan of Percy jackson and Ghost Busters and wants their mythological joy ride served with a sapphic twist will thoroughly enjoy this book!

Thank you to Bold Stroke Books for an advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

A family legacy and a birthright that was never meant to be hers until tragedy strikes. Reeling from the events of her sisters death, Chloe now has access to her families magic, and the family legacy of hunting monsters and banishing ghosts. As the story unfolds it becomes clear that someone is summoning ghosts and protecting monsters and all clues poison two a very familiar face.

One hundred years of running a sanctuary for the last mythical creatures on earth, Helen of Troy, will do anything to protect what she has built. When the two words collide: monster hunter and monster protector, neither of them have tine for each other’s philosophy or to see if their growing attraction will blossom into something more.

This was an intriguing concept that blended so many incredible elements. There were facts of fantasy, reality and mythology that crated an enjoyable and all encompassing read. All the monsters felt like they could leap off the page and devour you whole and the budding romance between the two main characters was bittersweet. A beautiful read for anyone who loves fantasy, romance and mythology inspired tales.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘔𝘺𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘺 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘈𝘯𝘯 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵

Thank you Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC!

Haunted by myth follows Chloe, a semi reluctant monster hunter who only inherited her powers after the death of her sister. We also follow Helen (formerly of Troy) as she runs and maintains a sanctuary for paranormal creatures. Technically their lines of work put them on opposite sides, however their thrown together by a mysterious uptick in paranormal activity.

I thought overall this book was lovely! I quite liked the supernatural/mythic elements and the whole "what counts as a monster". The relationship between Helen and Chloe and their respective besties was cute!

Where it falls over for me is the conflict/plot. I don't feel that the action scenes were clear nor the reasoning behind the 'villains'. Some things got resolved very quickly!

One to read if you like myth interpretations a la Percy Jackson

I have stalled out 12% into this book for a while and at this point I feel like it would be better that I did not continue. The tone of this book is not for me. I feel like the modernization of historical figures throws me out of the story . I would say that's just a personal preference though as I can see how other people would like it. I'd rather just give a more private response here than give the book a poor review on a more public site.

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley

Haunted by Myth by is a Sapphic contemporary fantasy novel that shifts POVs between Chloe, a monster hunter similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural, and Helen of Troy, a demigod who has been roaming the world and protecting mythical creatures.

Chloe comes from a line of monster hunters who are descended from the Pharaoh Ramses and his ghost follows the hunter around to assist them. Ramses and Chloe have an interesting dynamic as Ramses has always been part of her life and he loves modern TV, but Chloe is kept in the dark about certain parts of her role as a monster hunter and her heritage.

When Chloe and Helen meet, it’s an almost instant attraction that eventually develops into a romantic relationship as they team up to destroy a much larger enemy.

I really liked the sea creature network and that different whales have different habits when it comes to information. I also liked the idea of a ghostly ancestor who is bound to their family tree and assists them in hunting down ghosts and other supernatural beings.

I would recommend this to fans of Buffy and Supernatural, to those looking for Millenial slang in their contemporary fantasy, and readers who want Greek mythology reimagings with a Queer twist.

Thanks to bold strokes books and netgalley for the arc.
I really enjoyed this book! Chloe is a monster/ghost hunter. Her sister was supposed to get this power but when her sister dies she gets the power and task to hunt ghosts and monsters. She gets connected with the family ghost, Ramses, and with his help she banishes other ghosts. On one mission she meets Helen (of Troy), a demigod still on earth who is making a sanctuary for monsters. They seem to have opposite missions, but feel attracted to each other. How o how will this end...

You read from both their pov which I always like! You get to know them both and immediately know how they feel about themselves and each other. I love the connection between Chloe and Helen. Ramses is also a very good side character, he brings a laugh to the story.
If you are not familiar with Greek myths it can be a little bit confusion what each monster/mythical creature can do. I had to Google the Lamia for example. But once I knew what she is it reads easier.
A fun story with action, a laugh and romance (without the smut).

The mythos aspect of the story was not as in-depth as I anticipated, most of the references found in the book were rather superficial. This novel just failed to resonate with me personally, it felt too immature for an adult novel. I found the writing style simple and not as engrossing as I would have liked. Moreover, the sapphic romance felt one-dimensional and not very compelling.

Mythical and magical adventure

When Chloe’s sister dies suddenly she finds herself thrust from her boring life and into the excitement of her sister’s job of hunting monsters and ghosts. Helen of Troy has an established sanctuary for mythical creatures on earth, but when Chloe tries to shut it down, Helen is determined to stop her for good. But this is bigger than both of them, and the attraction they cannot fight, when some of the creatures just won’t go without a fight.
Such a unique and intriguing idea for a story. Chloe and Helen had a connection that was determined to get in the way of them being a nemesis to one another, which just made the whole thing so much more fun. There were darker mythical beings playing on both Helen and Chloe’s strengths and weakness for their own agendas but trying to work out who and why was the mystery that had me as puzzled as our leading ladies. Chloe was really thrown in at the deep end, whereas Helen was just facing the unexpected.

For a long while Chloe and Helen are fighting their attraction, using it almost as a weapon against themselves and holding them back from finding out the truth, but when they can’t deny it anymore, they end up making the best team. There is a whole cast of characters that help make the story exciting, all the mythical creatures and there different purposes, and even Chloe has connection to mythical creatures, who in themselves make the story just from the way they interact with her and Helen.

I really enjoyed the story. It captured my imagination, gave me pause for thought, and allowed me to indulge in an otherworldly adventure.

First off I wanted to say WOW! I really enjoyed the premise of the book and Barbara has a very strong voice. Each character was distinct and I loved the dual POV we get from Helen and Chloe. The story was very cohesive, I loved all the twists and turns the story took and I was always surprised. It was a very fun read and I enjoyed how the author incorporated many different monsters and creatures into the story and how we saw Chloes perspective on them slowly change. The character growth and development was really well done, I did not feel as if any characters just jumped ahead or that their opinion changed too quick.

Overall I had a lot of fun reading this book! The pacing was done very well, I did not feel as if the story lagged in any spots and it held my interest the entire time.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

It felt a little rushed & superficial, particularly the characters. I love Greek mythology, but this just wasn’t for me. The concept was interesting it just didn’t deliver in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Haunted by Myth is a very fresh concept for a book, an adult version of the Percy Jackson series. It was a super fun read with zingy humor, a broad cast of characters, and lots of action. The universe is diverse and interesting, including ancient characters from different strands of mythology.

Main characters Chloe, a ghost hunter with Egyptian Pharoah Ramses as her undead sidekick and immortal Helen of Troy team up in an unlikely alliance to protect a myriad of mythological creatures. The idea of Helen’s magical sanctuary was fascinating. I wish the reader was introduced to more of the inhabitants – it could have added another fun layer to the story.

I loved the LGBTQ+ romance element between Chloe and Helen and thought Ramses’ presence in their dynamic was cleverly dealt with. I did however find their feelings for each other to be a bit rushed and superficial. My frustration with that was lessened due to the fact their romance was not 100% of the plot. I did appreciate their individual character development and the way they were able to align their goals in the end.

The rest of the cast – such as Chloe’s mother, Damian the demon, and even the Lamias – held huge potential that I wish had been explored more. We also lost track of Ligeia three-quarters of the way through the plot.

The writing itself is well-done and compelling but does pull a little towards the YA genre for a book labeled for adults. An easy and fun read, especially if you focus on Ramses!

I was drawn to the name of the book and I also thought that the cover was gorgeous! The blurb intrigued me and I thought this book was going to be a mix of a Greek myth retelling and the TV show Supernatural. Both things that I love! Even though there was monster/ghost hunting, the myth aspect of the blurb was not as I initially expected as the mythological references in the book are very surface-level. Unfortunately, this book just did not work out for me. Given that this is an adult novel, the writing pulled very young and it just didn’t click with me. This novel is also meant to include a sapphic romance, but I found the relationship between the MCs a little one-dimensional and not very compelling. I had a hard time connecting to the story. That being said, the writing itself is not bad and it is definitely a quick read. So if you want something quick, fun, and unserious to read on a rainy weekend this might work for you.

Overall, a very cute, interesting and entertaining read. I mean, who doesn't enjoy a good well written paranormal story.


Thank You NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.










b

I really liked the idea of greek mythology merging with the modern world but this book was so boring and honestly a tad bit confusing. Definitely not for me.

2,5/2,75⭐️

First of all, thank you Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

“Haunted by Myth” by Barbara Ann Wright is a fantasy book with romance elements.
This story caught my attention as a fan of Greek mythology, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me.

The concept was interesting and I liked the writing, but sadly, I didn't find the characters particularly appealing, except for Ramses.
I also found the romance between Helen and Chloe a bit superficial and rushed.

Ghost busters meets old familiar mythologies in this sapphic reimagining of Helen of Troy. Haunted by Myth takes a new approach to renowned tales where familiar stories, myths and creatures make appearances throughout.

I found this book a bit hard to get through and couldn’t really get into it in the beginning. Didn’t really relate to the characters, which is an important aspect of the reading experience for me. In this instance it might just be a me-problem, because both the story and writing was overall well done. It had a humoristic twist that made it more enjoyable to read. The relationship between Chloe and her ghost Ramses was one of the best aspects of the book. We love entertaining banter with ancient Egyptian ghost pharaohs with big personalities! Further, I really liked that we, the reader, got to learn about Chloe’s past at the same time as her as it prevented a huge info-dump in the beginning. The only thing I actively disliked about the book as the insta-love between the main characters from the moment they met. It felt a bit forced and not like a natural attraction. Would have loved some more world building and for the myths to have be explored more in depth.

Overall a good love story - it was amusing to see how Chloe and Helen fell into each others orbit. Would recommend it to people who like sapphic books and ghost hunting but not if you have something against insta-love.

Mythology and history collide when a ghost hunter named Chloe and Helen of Troy fall in love. Yes, the Helen of Troy. And she runs a sanctuary for mythical creatures. Chloe has a lot to balance on her plate, with both monsters and mayhem added to the mix.

I loved the premise, though I would note it happens before the story begins. It’s a contemporary paranormal spin on some fan favorite figures in history, my favorite in this story being Ramses the II, Pharaoh of Egypt. If you like a fun read with lighthearted dialogue, this book is for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC.