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.

Daughter of Chaos was a fun and fresh take on Greek Mythology. While we have very familiar characters from epic tales of the past taking important roles here, our MC and her journey offers a unique take on their stories.

We follow Danae through the book, a young girl who starts out as just a fisherman's daughter, overshadowed by her sister. However after tragic events, something unlocks within her, and Danae is thrust onto a path of magic, gods and heroes. She quickly has to learn about the harshness of the world and how to fend for herself, a journey that I enjoyed following along for. Her growth through the book is steady but strong and by the end she has become a force to be reckoned with.

The plot itself was captivating from the start. I had no idea where the story would go from Danae's humble beginnings but I was very surprised and not disappointed! I did feel that it could have been a little shorter overall, but ultimately I had a great time reading the entire way through!

Daughter of Chaos is an impressive debut.
Greek mythology is reimagined in a unique and fun way. I loved the depiction of the characters, the chaos, feminine rage and the mystery of prophecy. This was a YA Kaos (Netflix show - sadly cancelled after the first season), which is dark, funny and gritty.
I did find the pacing a little inconsistent, there were definitely points I was flying through and immersed fully but then others I wasn’t really connected. The main character is the most fleshed out with everyone else very much a side character. Towards the end there is a hint of a sapphic romance that had some tender moments and you see more of this side character, which I liked.
Overall an enjoyable and fresh take on Greek myth full of adventure. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

I loved this book from the start. It was fast-paced and action-packed. This combined with great and intriguing characters made for the perfect story. I also enjoyed the character growth throughout the story. I can't wait to read the next instalment. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an E-ARC of the book.

An incredibly unique debut novel full of female rage, friendship, power and mystery. Daughter of Chaos is a fantasy set within the world of ancient Greek mythology - the book features well known Greek mythological figures in addition to those created by Webb. I really enjoyed this novel and found myself immersed in the tension, rooting for Danae as well as disturbed by some of the gore. Daughter of Chaos features the adventure of Atalanta by Jennifer Saint and the female rage of Medea by Rosie Hewlett.
I would honestly recommend this book to both lovers of Greek mythology and readers new to the genre! I can't wait to see the love this book is about to receive and I'm so excited to read the second installation in The Dark Pantheon series.

Quotes I love:
"'Time is kind. It may bring pains to the body, but it heals those of the heart.”
"'Be wary of men, always go about your tasks with your sister, never alone,’”
"'Right. I bet you all slaved away to produce offerings and pay her temple tithe. But despite your devotion, all your piety and sacrifice, people still died and starved and joined the Missing, and your goddess did fuck all about it. The gods aren’t as powerful as people think.”
"Her destiny was greater than her desires, — And no matter how much it hurt, she couldn’t let anything or anyone, stand in her way."

I didn't know what to expect from this story, but I loved what I got! Danae's epic quest boldly reimagines the world of Greek mythology, and brings the stories of gods and heroes into a whole new light.

Often there was a sardonic quality to the narration, but it didn't sacrifice the emotional impact of Danae's story. Her experiences of love and loss and confusion at such a young age are key to the plot, and make her a consistently compelling protagonist. I particularly enjoyed this version of the ancient world - where the gods are objects of fear and respect, even as the world they have created begins to crumble.

It's a real challenge to get a mythology reimagining right - especially one that differs so greatly from source material. But this story markets itself as a fantasy, using ancient Greece as a fun and innovative setting. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the sequel!

Books with similar vibes - Hera by Jennifer Saint, The Trials of Hercules by Tammie Painter, For the Most Beautiful by Emily Hauser, and Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane.

So I am quite against re-tellings. Usually I steer clear of any mention of 'shakespeare re-imagined' or 'greek myth inspired' and ESPECIALLY 'fairytale re-tellings', but I was drawn to this one because it wasn't a story I knew. And I have to say I was very impressed. The writing was really high quality, I felt like there was really good pacing throughout. There was never any waffling (like quite a LOT of popular re-tellings) and the characters felt fresh and easy to relate to, even though they aren't of this time. Danae is a really interesting three dimensional character, and I felt like I was experiencing this world for the first time with her. At times I almost felt like I was playing a video game of the story, discovering new places and new side quests while still trying to complete the main goal. It was very vivid, interesting, yet easy to follow.

4 stars from me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, PRH for a free review eARC!

An epic reimagining of Greek Mythology that had me hooked from the very beginning, this was such an imaginative and enjoyable start to what is set to be a truly captivating series.

This novel takes you on such a journey that you cannot take your eyes off the page. I hesitate to even label this as a retelling, as it takes such a twist on the Greek mythology we all know and spins it on its head. This is a tale of tragedy at its heart, spun by manipulation and blind faith, and all it needs is someone brave enough to challenge it all.

A story of found-family brought together by tragedy and fate, getting to know these characters left me simply begging for more. The cast of characters is composed of a medley of figures inspired by infamous heroes of mythology fleshed out to weave the path through the story for our FMC, a hero who not only fits seamlessly in like the glue between these legends but captivates you immediately. The FMC, a fisherman’s daughter named Danae, was such a powerful character to follow throughout as she unravelled the world around her. You can feel her very emotions through the page, and you cannot help but root for her as she has so much courage and love coursing through her despite constantly being thrown into the unknown and grappling with her own grief. This is a truly action packed tale of destiny and discovery as it sets our characters on a path that will change the whole world as they know it, seeking to pull back the curtain of deception they have all unknowingly been forced to live under and avenge those lost to the tyranny ruling it all.

Thank you to A. S. Webb and NetGalley for allowing me advanced access to review this book. This was such an engaging read for me, gaining a 5/5 star rating and I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on it too as I am simply itching with anticipation for the remainder of this series!

Based on Greek Mythology, parts of this book felt familiar even though overall it was a new take on the stories. It started strong and the plot felt well paced, but I must admit that by the middle I was finding it difficult to stay engaged and had to force myself to finish as nothing really felt like it was going anywhere interesting. Not sure I'll bother with the sequel.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I do love a book with elements of Greek mythology.

The only thing I would say is there were constantly characters changing which became hard to keep up with.

Great for anybody who loved Ariadne and Medea but want something a bit more epic

This book had me hooked so fast, I genuinely couldn't put it down. I had no idea what the next twist or adventure would be and the slow unravelling of the truth kept me frantically turning pages.

It is an incredibly interesting and unique take on Greek mythology, featuring many of the names from popular stories but not as you know them. The take on the gods of Olympus is fascinating and I can't wait to see where it goes.

Perhaps most importantly, seeing as the story follows her journey, Danae is not annoying at all. She is naive at the start after being raised in a fairly sheltered environment but she quickly realises what she has to do to survive and doesn't get all mopey about it.

Usually I wish that books are standalones rather than being the start of a series, but the world created in Daughter of Chaos is so rich and the story is so captivating, I'm glad this is a series and I really can't wait to sink my teeth into the next installment.