The main threads of this story are woven as Danae discovers the background of the prophecy and all of the shocking truths about her world and the Twelve. Weaving parts of Ancient Greek myth and a young woman's quest to be valued in a world where being a woman makes you property of a man in turn and being mortal means you are a Gods'. This action packed first installment was really enjoyable, I found the start a bit slow, but it's to be expected when setting up an entire fantasy world. I liked sweet relationship between Danae and her father and her protectiveness over her siblings. I wouldn't personally say she was likable and some of her motivations and actions questionable but it made her feel very human and falible, this exploration of humanity was extended to the whole cast of characters. The main thing that stood out to me was how much the motivations of characters hinged on how the Gods interacted with them and how their capricious nature just caused all kinds of unfortunate consequences. I look forward to the next part of this journey and would recommend it to anyone who likes reading flawed heros, epic journeys, twisty propecies and plucky side kicks. Forewarning, you may be gut punched several times.

I wanted to love this book so much! It starts well, and I enjoyed the detailed world-building. Unfortunately, I found the pacing to be all over the place. The events described in the blurb do not unfold until around one-third into the story (160 pages!), and even after that, the story often slows down, giving us detailed and slow chapters that do not bring anything to the main storyline.

While the idea of a girl chosen to defeat the Olympic gods seems fascinating, the novel focuses instead on presenting Greek mythology, and its heroes. The characters are well-known, but they seemed flat and deprived of personality. Denae’s characterisation seemed inconsistent, changing from an independent woman to passive, letting things happen to her. Also, this book has very little romance, which moves from nothing to great passion to nothing instantly.

To sum up, while I loved the setting and the main plot idea, the pacing and characterisation spoiled this book for me.

In Daughter of Chaos, A. S. Webb takes us deep into the heart of Ancient Greece, where the Twelve Gods reign supreme, demanding tributes of food, treasure, and even human lives. Yet, amidst the despair, whispers of a prophecy speak of a saviour who will challenge the gods and set mortals free. Few dare to believe in such hope—until Danae, a humble fisherman's daughter, takes a bite of a mysterious golden apple and her world changes forever.

Danae’s journey is as unpredictable as it is gripping. Fleeing her home with no clear understanding of the forces pulling her forward, she steps onto the perilous roads once walked by heroes. Along the way, she befriends the legendary demi-god Heracles, and together they seek monsters to slay. But Danae’s fate lies not in the slaying of beasts but in a far more audacious goal—she will challenge the gods themselves, dragging them from Olympus in a dramatic battle for freedom.

Webb weaves a tale full of twists and surprises, keeping the reader on edge as the truth behind Danae’s destiny gradually unfolds. The rich portrayal of Greek mythology is complemented by a protagonist whose determination and courage make her unforgettable. The pace is relentless, and the story is infused with tension, mystery, and a touch of rebellion that feels fresh and exhilarating.

I found myself completely hooked from the very beginning. The narrative’s unpredictability and the slow unveiling of secrets made it impossible to put the book down. Each chapter brought new adventures and revelations, leaving me desperate to see what lay ahead.

Daughter of Chaos is a thrilling reimagining of ancient myths that fans of Greek mythology and epic adventures will adore. A. S. Webb has delivered a compelling and fierce tale of rebellion against divine power—a story that lingers long after the final page.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

A very engaging read that keeps the reader turning page after page.

I feel like a little bit of knowledge of the Greek Pantheon is useful going into this book as I found myself needing a crumb of context at times but I also think the more average reader is likely to have more basic knowledge of the gods and Titanomachy. I didn't find this knowledge deficit to greatly detract from my experience.

I really appreciated the way that this story doesn't shy away from uncomfortable truths and it is all the stronger for that being the case. This book is for young adult audience so the on page details aren't as graphic as you might find in an adult book and there isn't the same level of peril.

Overall, an enjoyable read and a great addition to the genre

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me an e-arc of this title.
This book follows Danae, a fisherman's daughter who eats a mysterious golden apple and then her life begins to unravel leading her on a journey that not only includes self discovery in a way she never would have guessed but adds danger and intrigue to boot.
This book is set in Ancient Greece and is a perfect introduction to greek mythologies for the young and/or those who want a fictional introduction. As a reader I am enticed, but also dubious when the description compares the book to other popular books... however, the comparison to Godkiller and Priory of the Orange Tree rings very true to me. The story is well paced, and the world is so vivid and described to perfection. It is written in such a way that the reader can really build that world in their minds eye without specific direction... adding to the feeling that you are in the world watching as these things unfold. I felt the emotions of the characters full range.. from fear to joy to loathing to motivation.
** slight potential spoiler in the next sentence!!!** My only moments that I lost contact with the story was in the moments when random strangers chose to sacrifice themselves for Danae... it makes some sense later but in the moment It disrupted the flow for me and didn't feel very authentic.
THIS WILL APPEAL TO: readers that enjoy a historical fantasy setting, with lovely writing and vivid description and world building. This may also appeal to people who don't usually read historical fiction or ya but are intrigued by the description... I would recommend this title!!!

Everything about this book is amazing! The world-building is incredibly immersive, the characters are rich and well-crafted, and the plot is thrilling! The stakes are high and the pace is fast.

Danae, the main character, is very realistic and relatable.
You feel as though you are growing with her as you experience all the events and actions that shape her over time.

In terms of side characters, I love a big, mixed group and that’s exactly what you get in Daughter of Chaos. Ariadne, Jason, Apollo, Ganymede, and Hercules are just a few of the side characters you can expect.

The book was full of plot twists, some of which left me shocked while others were cleverly foreshadowed. The author's storytelling made it incredibly engaging and impossible to put down.

If you love mythology or just fantasy in general, I’d definitely recommend this book. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

PS. There is hardly any romance for those who prefer their romance light.

What the genre needed!

A. S. Webb's Daughter of Chaos is unlike anything in its genre right now! Webb blends Greek mythology with an original narrative and characters! This is what the retelling genre was missing! Though it took me a little while to get into it, I kept returning to this world and Danae and her story. I wanted to see how it ended, how she would set up for the trilogy and marvel at the blend of myth and original thinking.

Watch out fantasy retelling authors, A. S. Webb is here.

A fantastic, strong start to a fantasy series! I always love a Greek myth retelling, and Daughter of Chaos took this to the next level. The world building is brilliant and the characters, especially Danae, are well thought out and realistic (even while having magical powers).
I’d highly recommend this for fantasy and Greek mythology lovers, especially if you want something completely new (which is rarely done now).

Where do I even begin with Daughter of Chaos? This book had me hooked from the very first page, and putting it down—even just to sleep—felt like a struggle.

Set in a reimagined Ancient Greece, this story was great in blending mythology with a fresh, modern twist.

There’s never a dull moment as Danae’s path unfolds with twists, battles, and unexpected alliances (Heracles is a standout—familiar yet revitalised in this retelling). The descriptions of the world are vivid without ever feeling heavy-handed, striking that perfect balance between immersing you in Ancient Greece and keeping the story accessible and modern.

What I loved most was how the book treated its mythological elements. The Gods and heroes we think we know feel both recognisable and brand-new, with their stories woven seamlessly into Danae’s quest. They never overshadow this plot but instead add depth to the world she’s fighting to change.

It’s an emotional read too, the stakes feel personal and raw. The ending has me desperate for the next installment in the series.

After taking my time reading this book I am still not entirely sure how well it is was written. Following the Greek mythology and throwing twists into it. I just feel a little confused I guess

I love, love mythology, but I have to admit I struggled with this book quite a lot. The narrative suffers gravely due to the constant “telling”. So many scenes are too long and don’t add anything to the plot, which makes the pacing exceptionally slow for such an action-centred novel. The narrative is bare-boned and repetitive, with the same descriptions over and over (i.e. leaves and twigs “crunching underfoot”) and Danae constantly running. Once again, I blame the editing process because this book would have been much better had it been 100 pages shorter. Give these debut authors better feedback, please.

Daughter of Chaos is the first instalment in The Dark Pantheon Trilogy and is a fantasy retelling of Greek Myth that follows Danae, a fisherman’s daughter who, after eating a golden apple, is led on a dangerous path where she is fated to defeat the gods. What follows is a story of adventure and intrigue, featuring a full cast of characters ranging from the powerful demi-god Heracles to famed warrior Atalanta and the revered Argonauts. Danae is a complex and enjoyable main character to read with great motivations that we see develop as the story progresses. The worldbuilding was fleshed out and I loved the quest style format of the story, the references to other myths interwoven throughout, and the unique twists the author has spun on what we think we know. The book concludes with an ending that has left me eagerly anticipating the next instalment. I would recommend Daughter of Chaos to fantasy and Greek Myth enjoyers looking for a refreshing twist on well-known tales and a thrilling story.

*Thank you to the publishers for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*

4 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2025/01/06/review-daughter-of-chaos-the-dark-pantheon-no-1-by-as-webb/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Greek Mythology and Ancient Prophecies

I had a really good time with Daughter of Chaos. For a debut novel the pacing is good, I liked the MC and the story moved forward constantly.

We start the story on Paxos where we meet Danae. Danae’s father is a fisherman and their life is a simple one but full of love. Until disaster strikes. We follow Danae and her mother and sister as they attend a ceremony to the Gods. Everyone is nervous, if the Gods are not happy sacrifices will be called for. Anyway, the ceremony descends into chaos for reasons that I won’t go into and from here disaster strikes the family – again, sorry to be mysterious but I don’t want to give away spoilers.

Long story short, Danae finds herself being blamed for certain outcomes and has to flee the island. With a little help from her father she becomes a stowaway, intent on reaching the Oracle of Delphi who she believes will help discover if she’s been cursed and this is really where Danae’s adventures begin linking her to many well known names from Greek mythology plus revealing her role in a prophecy that foresees the fall of the Gods.

What I really liked about this.

Well, it has a refreshing simplicity to it. The author doesn’t try to make this a real period piece with olde worlde talk and elaborate descriptions. Instead I felt like each section was brought easily to life on the page. Naxos, small and simple, the families there quick to judge and shun others. Everyone sits in fear of the Gods and their punishments. Then Athens, a bustling city and port, merchants and nobles and more wealth and people than Danae has ever seen before. Her own path takes her on a strange journey and we begin to see that fate is taking a strong interest in her journey. The Gods can be very cruel and this novel certainly highlights some of their worse qualities.

We go on a real adventure with our MC. She makes friends and is fortunate to receive a good deal of help along the way from some most unexpected places. You could be forgiven for thinking that sometimes things fall into her lap a little too easily but at the same time I was happy to let things run their course without being too judgemental. In fact I was genuinely curious at points about how Danae was ever going to get anywhere. Disaster and bad luck trail her relentlessly.

I liked Danae, like I said, she has some good fortune where things fall in her lap but this is offset by a good deal of misfortune to balance things out. I would say that the one thing that I did feel was Danae came over much more confident than I would have expected, particularly when it came to mixing with demi gods, princes and renowned heroes. I think I expected her to be a little more timid in parts, although, at the same time she is playing a role and she was never scared to speak her mind even when on Naxos. She, also sometimes seems very well spoken for a young girl who has led such a sheltered life on a small island – but, I was enjoying the story and this was only a tiny little niggle.

In a nutshell, I had a good time reading this. The story is quite captivating, it’s fresh and told with a modern tone that makes it easy to get along with. I enjoyed the inclusion of so many characters from Greek mythology and I’m genuinely curious to see how Danae’s tale pans out.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publishers, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

4.5 stars
Really enjoyed this book.

Great world building. The plot had me gripped, as I didn't know what would happen next. Looking forward to the rest of this series.

From the beginning, this book draws you in and keeps you wondering about what's going to happen next. While it's not a Greek mythology retelling, it does include all the fun people. The main character's well-thought-out character is actually making me like her. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

Not what I was expecting and enjoyable.

Danae came from humble origins. A poor fisherman’s daughter on the isle of Naxos. She didn’t expect to be the bearer of Prometheus’s ancient prophecy. Fighting monsters and the gods, Danae goes on a perilous quest to bring mortals out from under the rule of gods.

I actually really did enjoy this. I love the concept and it’s full of the themes we’ve come to expect from the Ancient Greek reclamations: anger, unjustness, female rage. I enjoyed the many cameos of our ancient heroes and as someone who has had her nose buried in Greek mythology, I love the way these figures were brought to life. It was refreshing for a new character to be brought into the story, rather than retelling a tale we already know. (Although saying that, Madeleine Miller’s books are still the best).

This was very book one. A lot happened but there was a lot of setup and the more interesting questions haven’t begun to be answered. I think book two could be quite strong if it keeps up the pace.

Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph for my #arc

DAUGHTER OF CHAOS is an action packed, Greek-mythology-inspired tale of fate and taking on the gods.

While this book is inspired by and incorporates Greek mythology, it is not a retelling in the usual sense. It takes myths and weaves its own story around them, bringing heroes and gods and monsters into a tale of deception and prophecy. It is an interesting take on it all, a different lens to look at the tales through.

I liked that it wasn't a standard retelling as I've seen a lot of those of late. Instead, this felt different, like bringing Greek mythology into a chosen one storyline and running with it, giving familiar touchstones to the tale.

A lot happens in this book (and it's quite a chunky book) but the pacing is rapid, keeping up quite the clip as Danae desperately tries to stay ahead of the gods and monsters, all while trying to protect her own identity. It keeps the book moving - and me turning the pages.

I liked that there were deaths in this book. Danae leaves a trail of bodies behind her, unintentionally. People are hurting just being around her and it helped make it feel like she was in danger and also highlight the power of the people she was up against.

I can't recommend this book enough to fans of mythology retellings with a twist! We follow Danae, a young woman who has discovered that she has magic powers and finds herself mixed up with the Gods.

I can't believe this is a debut novel?! The writing is brilliant and the plto was perfectly woven to create a story that is both exciting but also carries emotional impact.

I don't even know where to start here. This book was incredible. It was an experience, I was completely hooked from start to finish. I don't know what kind of crack was in this, but I genuinely couldn't put it down. I loved Danae so much, she was such a refreshing character and I could feel her pain. I just want to know when the next book is coming out because that ending????

Definitely recommend for anyone looking for a greek-inspired fantasy adventure!

In this Greek mythology retelling with a twist, we follow Danae, a fisherman's daughter who starts exhibiting strange powers and finds herself at the heart of a conspiracy involving the Gods.

The book starts out slowly but soon picks up pace as Danae finds herself joining Heracles and other mighty heroes from the Greek legends. I enjoyed the writing style and found that the characters were well developed. Overall, this was an entertaining take on Greek myths centered on a woman's perspective. I look forward to reading the sequel in due course!

A recommended read for fans of Rosie Hewlett's Medea, Jennifer Saint's books, and female-centered mythology retellings with action.

Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.