I am relatively new to greek myth novels but this one has made me want to read all that are available!
This story follows the mother & daughter godesses Demeter & core (later known as persephone) & the betrayals, loves & losses they endured. The story is so well told that you are gripped & want to know more about these characters & other characters you briefly meet along the way. Some of the content made me gasp as I thought no that can't of really happened but I have been told by a Greek myth fan that these things did actually happen!
I would highly recommend this book & if you've not read greek myth before I feel this is a good starting point as the story has a bit of everything & is not hard to follow.

The Daughters of Olympus by Hannah Lynn is a beautifully crafted retelling of the myth of Demeter and Persephone, rich in emotion and vivid in description. We are in the heyday of mythical retellings and Lynn proves herself to be a skilled storyteller, weaving the threads of ancient tales as expertly as a textiler.

Core’s journey from a devoted daughter to the Queen of the Underworld is both compelling and transformative, highlighting the parallels and contrasts between her and Demeter.

One of the strengths of this book is its memorable and well-rounded characters. Despite the numerous players in the world of Greek gods, Lynn’s vivid characterisation ensures that each deity stands out, making it easy for readers to follow and invest in their stories. The lush and vibrant descriptions bring the mythological world to life, making every scene feel immersive and full of colour and painting my world beyond the book with the same strokes.

The relationship between Demeter and Persephone is particularly poignant, exploring themes of love, loss, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her daughter as well as identity and selfishness. Their responses to the events that unfold are thoughtfully depicted, providing insight into their motivations and emotions.

It's both captivating and thought-provoking. I look forward to adding more of Lynn’s works to my TBR list in the future.

Wow this was heartbreaking, but really interesting! I love Greek Mythology retellings and this one definitely lived up to my expectations.

Daughters of Olympus is a Hades and Persephone retelling, however Hannah Lynn takes this and puts a unique twist on it by including Persephone (or Core in the book)’s mother, Demeter.

Rather than paint Demeter in a bad light as an overbearing mother like some other retellings, this story focuses on her sorrows and the abuse she faced from Zeus and her siblings, and the consequences that follow, and it pulls at your heartstrings. You really feel Demeter’s love for her daughter and her worry that she’ll face the same abuse that Demeter went through, and her anguish when at Zeus's abuse and also when Hades enters the story.

Core/Persephone is an absolute badass, from the get go she’s incredibly headstrong against Zeus and stands by her mother through thick and thin. She's highly independent, and like her mother she faces love, loss and devastation, yet we see how they both deal with these emotions differently.

This book will make you HATE Zeus. Even more than you already should. He’s pure evil and the pain and suffering he leaves in his wake will tear your heart in two.

The novel touches on a lot of heavy subjects (as I am sure you’ve already guessed if you know anything about Demeter’s life) of sexual assault, death, and abuse.

If you’re a fan of Greek Mythology retellings then definitely pick this up; this is my pick up of Hannah Lynn’s and it won’t be my last.

Excellent writing and a well paced story.

Pros:
Impossible to tell what content is from original myth and what is added to the story
Both main characters had personality, felt distinct (especially when you get the same events from the other side), and had realistic motivations and reactions
It’s nice to have a feminist retelling where the male characters aren’t just complete arseholes (except Zeus of course)

Cons:
Since they live in isolation for hundreds of years, it’s odd they both seem aware of other women from Greek myth such as Danae

Knowing little of Demeter and Core/Persephone beyond their basic story so I was keen to dive into this retelling from Hannah Lynn.

The breaking of Demeter’s spirit was heartbreaking and difficult to read. She was reduced to a shadow of her potential yet found a kind of solace, albeit tightly wrapped in trauma and fear of being found. As the story developed I felt for Core, a prisoner of her mother’s love and fear. The book covered really well the emotions of both Demeter and Core - with parts told from each of their perspectives. The story then switches mainly to Core when she is taken by Hades, seeing her later become Persephone.

Hearing the story from both women was a really powerful way of telling their respective tales and I was really satisfied with the ultimate resolution to their stories. Seeing Persephone grow into her powers and potential with a respectful and devoted Hades (once you move past the initial kidnapping he’s actually very considerate of and besotted with Persephone). I really liked Hannah’s depiction of Hades, showing his vulnerable side (as well as Persephone, Demeter and Hecate).

I really enjoyed this book - Demeter finding her power during the loss of Persephone and finally standing up to Zeus, Persephone finding her power while separated from her mother, Hades earnestly repairing what began badly and Zeus realising he can’t always have his own way (always satisfying). I’ll be reading more of Hannah Lynns Greek mythology retellings. Highly recommended.

Two days …I read this in two days! I have always loved Greek myths and I knew the story of Demeter and Persephone. Hannah Lynn’s book tells the same story but with twists. It is a story of rape, love, abduction and more. It is told from two points of view . Demeter, who is raped by Zeus her brother and bears two children, one of whom survives. I am not going to spoil the story but Demeter desperately tries to protect the surviving child, Core, from the world around her
The other point of view is Core’s. Feeling suffocated by her mother, she works on her to gain a little bit of freedom. She meets someone and falls deeply in love. But Core is immortal, her lover is not and in time dies. She is aware that grief has turned her mother into the goddess she is and like most daughters, does not want to be like her mother. Moving on, Hades kidnaps her and teaches her that she is powerful in her own right, thus Core becomes Persephone.

Well written, as a mother I could emphasise with Demeter’s desire to protect her daughter and having been a daughter too, I could understand Persephone’s desire to be herself. Hannah Lynne also portrayed Hades in a more forgiving light which I quite liked.

"Daughters Of Olympus" by Hannah M. Lynn is a fresh take on the myth of Hades and Persephone (Core). What sets it apart from other retellings is the inclusion of perspectives from Persephone's mother, Demeter, and the story of her lover, Ione, which enriches the narrative.

This novel is valuable to contemporary mythology retellings, providing ample opportunity to delve into complex relationships, the errors made out of love, the sorrow of loss, and the concept of free will. It sparks many thought-provoking discussions!

I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this book, especially the mother-daughter dynamic between Demeter and Core/Persephone, the sapphic romance between Core and Ione, and the intricate relationship between Persephone and Hades. If I had one critique, it would be that I wished Persephone's part was longer. I would have loved more scenes of Hades and Persephone, and I am curious how Lynn would expand their story in this context.

I was OBSESSED with this book! I read it in like two days but if I could I would have done so in one.

The storyline was beautifully written. Exception depiction of emotions of grief, love, hurt… it was as if you were the one going through the character’s experiences. I was roughly familiar with the story of Demeter but this was beyond what I could have hoped for. I was extremely surprised to see Persephone’s POV too, and although at the start I was a bit confused why is the story being retold from her POV when we already saw it from her mother’s POV… it was necessary and to see her emotions and thoughts too was very insightful.

Persephone’s story was even more moving - being stuck under her mother’s grief, being restricted in the eternity that she has to live, her love… it was all unbelievable. She might have actually became one of my all time favourite book characters I must say. Also, I think it was refreshing to see Zeus as the bad guy and Hades as the good guy for once… ay least that’s my take on it.

The dynamic between the Olympian siblings was quite disturbing but I understand that that is the mythology behind it.

I was so intrigued in the book I just want more and more of it! I absolutely fell in love with the writing

Daughters of Olympus is a new and innovative retelling of Hades x Persephone. We get to explore Demeter’s birth, trauma, experiences that all moulded her into the mother she is today. I adored having Demeter’s PoV first to get into the nitty gritty of why she is the overbearing, controlling mother she is.

We then get to explore Core’s side. The prose and story telling makes this book stand out, and having Core not fall in love with Hades first; I adored. There are a lot of Hades x Persephone retellings, but this one stood out the me. The way in which Core doesn’t just automatically warm up to hades, there’s hatred, understanding, friendship, loss, love; it was just breathtaking.

Having read this, I’m really excited to read more by Hannah Lynn. The prose was beautiful and I am pro short chapters. I felt captivated throughout and finished this in a day.

A Greek mythology retelling of the story of Demeter and Persephone!
Demeter protected her daughter Core from
everything and everyone until Core found a way to start making her own adventures. While she was on her own adventures Core caught the eye of a god who wanted her for his own!
Once in the underworld Core finds herself and with Hades help becomes Persephone queen of the underworld. Meanwhile in the upper world Demeter has finally found her strength to fight against her brother Zeus!
While the story was entertaining it did just feel like another retelling and nothing set it apart from the lots of other retellings out there!
🌟🌟🌟

Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC copy. My thoughts are my own.

Hannah Lynn has done it again, another wonderful Greek mythology retelling, but this time from the perspective of the Gods.

Every retelling she does is just pure gold. I love the way her story's are till from the female perspective instead of the men being centre stage all the time.

I read a lot of mythology based books and everything I pick up Lynn's books I still learn something new. She has produced yet another book you don't want to put down. I Loved the portrayal of Demeter as the overbearing and restricting mother but your learn to understand why she is the way she is ....and Cores development from a sheltered young goddess to the empowering queen of the dead Persephone.

If you want a book that you can't put down that will have toy saying just one more chapter, this is your book.

My review is published to Goodreads

I really enjoy an olympian retelling, I especially liked that the story didnt begin from Core/Persphone’s point of view but started from Demeter’s then flowed into her daughters story.

This was mythology in its raw honest form and maybe the sides of the tale we don't usually acknowledge. This was interesting and moving, its a tale as old as time but it was definitely told in a new way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth with a focus on the relationship between Demeter and her daughter Core.

The start of the book had the most emotional impact for me with the SA of Demeter by her brother Zeus and the impact that this has on her. I was less sympathetic to her devastation over Iasion and found the middle of the book to be a slower read due to this.

Telling the same story from the two perspectives worked reasonably well. The addition of a romantic interest for Core with Ione was lovely.

I know this book was meant to be focused on the relationship between the women but I would have liked more of the interaction between Hades and Persephone. The final part of the book between the two of them was the most enjoyable part to read.

Somehow knowing the tale already never seems to matter. I am always ready to read the myths with a new twist.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

This beautiful retelling of the myth of Core/Persephone starts with the birth of Demeter. I enjoyed finding out more about Demeter's past and how it influenced her reactions. The story alternates between Demeter and Core/Persephone's point of view, providing a feminist twist on a classic tale.

The writing is beautiful. Hannah Lynn is particularly skilled at conveying the characters' emotions in just a few words.

Highly recommended for fans of Madeleine Miller and Natalie Haynes!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks UK for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a beautiful retelling of the Greek goddesses, Demeter and Persephone (Core). Unlike in many books, we get the unique POV of mother and daughter and we get to witness their bond unlike any other. A mother who would do anything to protect her child, and a daughter who would do anything to please her.

Both Demeter and Core had amazing character development over the centuries. There were so many similarities between both of their stories but at times there were things that set them apart. Demeter wanted safety and security whereas Core wanted freedom and adventure. After everything they both experience, they become their most powerful version of themselves. Demeter, who can create winters so merciless it can kill all those on earth and Persephone, Queen of the Underworld.

I loved how this book portrayed Hades; he was powerful yet kind. He offered Persephone everything she had never had, a throne and freedom to go anywhere in the underworld she wished. Hades even brought flowers to the underworld to please her.

I really loved how everything was described; the flowers, the meadows, the ocean was so beautifully described, it felt real. Since this story was through the eyes of two goddesses of spring, these vivid descriptions are there throughout and really made this book as beautiful as it is. I also loved how this book portrays time, so quick to pass, that they don’t always realise when centuries have passed.

I had to do some research after reading to see if Ione was really Core’s lover in Greek mythology, apparently she was not. Although I was a little disappointed in this, I loved the addition she brought to our view on Core. Demeter thought she was young and naive playing in the fields while in reality she was spending time with her lover for centuries and then grieving without her mother's knowledge. I felt that this gave a more mature view on Core, one that her mother would never know about.

The only reason I felt I could not give this five stars was because I felt the end was a little rushed. I understand this is a story of mother and daughter but there was so much leading up to the love between Hades and Persephone, I just had hoped we had a little more time with them.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks UK for this ARC.

This was an enjoyable book based on Greek Mythology. I have not explored the genre as thoroughly as I’d like, having only read ‘Circe’ previously. To me, this was better!

At its core, it is a tale about parents and their relationships with their children. It explores these complex relationships through characters in a way that grasps emotions and makes you think.

The story is told in three parts. The first is from Demeter’s POV, from her birth. I enjoyed how this character developed her strength throughout the story, through it was clear how greatly her past affected her. Finally being able to leave the island once Core disappeared showed the depth of their bond.

The second part is where the story becomes more interesting, yet a little confusing at first. From Core’s POV we are opened up to a whole new angle of the story already told. this adds a lot of depth and new characters which I really loved, though I had a vague idea of what was to come.

A lot of what is mentioned in the description of this novel occurs during the third part, and I felt as though I shouldn’t know what would happen so late in the story, but it worked all the same!

Despite being fairly new to the genre, I enjoyed this book and am confident fans of Greek mythology will adore it!

"You have done so much for me. You gathered the gods for me. You transformed the world for me."
"But it is not enough."
"It will have to be."

I first came across Hannah Lynn's work during a university module, and was very excited to come across this one on Netgalley!

This is a beautifully written story that really captures the nuance of the Greek gods. Demeter and Persephone both make compelling protagonists, and their struggles between divine strength and complete powerlessness are emotionally captured.

At first the switch in POVs felt a little jarring to me, but I quickly fell in love with each character. Both Demeter and Persephone are difficult characters to write - particularly Persephone's relationship with Hades, which is often romanticised far beyond the scope of the original myth! But Lynn does a really satisfying job of exploring the ancient stories and enhancing them with new details.

If you're a fan of Greek mythology, this one will definitely appeal, and I'll be keeping an eye out of more of Lynn's books in the future!

Books with similar vibes - Hera by Jennifer Saint, Winter Harvest by Ioanna Papadopoulou, The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood, and Circe by Madeline Miller.

I absolutely flew through this book! A totally unique and compelling story that I adored and cherished.

I've obviously read this story hundreds of times, but Hannah Lynn's take felt entirely refreshing and perfect for a contemporary audience. I think I might be slightly too old for the target demographic, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story nonetheless. I would recommend this to my 21 year old sisters.

Beautifully written with interesting characters and stories. A good addition to any Greek mythology lovers library

I am always apprehensive about Greek retellings. Although I love them, they have to be done right. But this book? It was everything I could have wanted and more! It was a whirlwind of emotions that had me both hating and loving Demeter, as well as in no way seeing the plot twist (PERSOPHONE?). Maybe that’s common knowledge, but I’m not well versed in Greek mythology which is partly why I find them so enjoyable.

This book brought the tragedies of Greek mythology to light, in such a way that had you feeling for each character. The power in which the original God’s have and how they misuse said power had me feeling empathetic towards the female characters. And the way the book started?! Didn’t see that coming! In fact, it’s fair to say, I didn’t see a single thing coming within the plot. I was surprised at the turn of each page, which is exactly what I need from a book.

My favourite quotes:
“How could anything as perfect as you possibly be mortal?”

“If this is not love, then I fear I will never know what is”

Loved this book and would highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in return for an honest review!