Thanks so much for the chance of reading this book, Net Galley and Mediterra Press,
I love a book about mythology, there was a part that I felt it was a bit cliché missing mom and secrets but it really end up surprising me because while the FMC is on this search she end up developing character and that is very important, I also liked the fantasy part I can understand that some people won't relate to that but I did liked it

Alex is living a life that has become too planned out and predictable. When she discovers the diary of her mother who disappeared 10 years ago, Alex can't resist following the clues to try to find out what really happened. Alex drops everything, school, job, relationship, to travel across the country and get answers. She discovers a mythical world beyond imagination tucked inside an unassuming academic library. Through her journey, Alex meets new friends, makes powerful enemies and learns more about herself in the process.

The main and supporting characters were numerous and diverse in personalities. The plot was a bit wayward at times but I think it all came together in the end. In contrast, the villain did not have much dimension or depth, but was also seen very little in the story despite playing a big role in advancing the plot. The atmosphere was well done--from Harvard to a border town in the California desert to the Greek crossroads of Helena. I enjoyed the taste of Greek mythology, learning some stories that were unfamiliar. Despite the depth of emotion the group of protagonists experienced I had a hard time connecting with them, feeling like an outsider watching a movie rather than being in the shoes of the main character, Alex. Overall this was an enjoyable read, well worth your time if you enjoy Greek mythology.

4.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Mediterra Press, and the author for a digital copy of The Song of Gaia in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about a college student, Alex, who feels as if her life is planned out for her. She starts to feel trapped by her studies at Harvard, her long-term boyfriend (Warren), and her expected future. Alex's mom disappeared mysteriously when Alex was a young girl. Alex never let herself think about her mom and why she left her family until she finds some of her mom's belongings that give her more questions than answers. Alex suddenly feels pulled in another direction from the life she currently knows.

Wow, this book was highly detailed and very intricate. I appreciate the author's commitment to the story and I have no doubt that much time and thought went into creating this world. This book is broken into 6 parts. While Part I did not engage me as much as I would have liked, I was pretty invested starting in Part II. The characters are well developed and all of them ended up surprising me at different times. These characters had flaws, and I could definitely see myself butting heads with Alex. She is selfish at times, but also lost. She cares for people, but has trouble showing it and communicating. The other characters have their own "issues" but ultimately they all come together for a common cause. I really enjoyed the found family aspect.

The book did leave me with some questions, and I can tell I will be thinking about this one for a while. I noticed the title says (The Realm of Emmeson, #1), which gives me hope that these characters will be re-visited, however, I'm not unsatisfied at the ending.

Read this book if you are a fan of Greek mythology, adventure stories, and fantasy.

I was initially drawn to this book's intriguing premise, but the execution fell short. The excessive detail and lack of focus made it difficult to discern what truly mattered. The characters, including the protagonist, felt flat and stereotypical. I struggled to connect with her, as she seemed to only come alive after discovering the mysterious box.
The choppy pacing, with numerous short chapters, disrupted the narrative flow. The abrupt transitions between scenes and conversations hindered the emotional impact. The writing style felt unfinished, as if the story lacked a cohesive structure.

While I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC, I must admit that I would have likely abandoned this book had I purchased it. I hope future works by this author will address these issues.

Thank you NetGalley and Mediterra Press for the ARC.

“Only search for answers if you are willing to find them.”

Zoë has written an amazing story that beautifully winds together myth with reality set in a novel where the main character struggles with figuring out who she is, what she wants and the mysteries of her mother’s disappearance. There were a few things that stopped it from being a 5 star read for me: some areas that were a bit of a info dump that were overwhelming, some parts where I had to reread to make sure I understood because I felt it was edited weirdly (may have already been corrected since I read the ARC) and finally the story is mainly revolved around various ancient Green mythology and stories there are random other pantheons introduced and we never found out why.

Her characters are fully realized with no one people being all good or all bad which I think can sometimes be missed in fantasy books where there is usually a good guy and a bad guy. This book is the first in a new series and I can already think of four additional stories I need to know. To avoid spoilers: what happens after the end for the FMC, Chloes story, Penelopes adventure and does Owen find love (intentionally vague but once you read it you will now exactly what I am referring too). I also wouldn’t mind a prequel with Alex’s mother’s story.

The Song of Gaia is such a good read!!! I recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

What doesn't work: Info-dumps, boring descriptions of the hum-drum, and repeating of information from only a chapter or two before with no more style or emotion than there was the first time.

Usually I love long books, but not when they seem this tedious.

My time-saving rule now is that if I'm annoyed by 10% into the book, I quit. Life is too short for mediocre books, particularly when there are so many possibly good books one will never live long enough to read.

What works: The concept of a family mystery, in a modern, yet esoteric and mystical setting.

Zoë Tavares Bennett does a fantastic job in writing this book, it was a strong start to the Realm of Emmeson series. The characters had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall story being told. It uses the ancient Greek elements in this perfectly and thought the characters had that overall feel that I wanted. It left me wanting to read more in this series and from Zoë Tavares Bennett.