Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook!

Where do I even begin with The Blood of Hercules? Imagine Greek mythology colliding with a post-apocalyptic world, immortal Spartan with god-like powers, and a planet crawling with Titans. At the heart of our story is Alexis, a shy, abused foster kid whose life is upended when she learns she has Spartan blood. Forced to enrol in the brutal Spartan War Academy (as the only girl), she faces grueling trials to prove her worth.

The concept? Super fun and intriguing. The execution? A mixed bag. Mas’s writing is addictive, fast-paced, and reads like fanfiction in the best and worst ways. But while the blend of Greek mythology and a modern world sounded promising, it often took me out of the story. The male narrator of the audiobook was great!

Did I love this book? I’m not sure. But did I devour it? Absolutely.

The premise…
Set in a dystopian future where immortal Spartans are the elite, Alexis finds herself thrust into the Spartan War Academy after a blood test reveals she’s not as human as she believed.
Surrounded by violent, brooding Spartans-her mentors Patro and Achilles and professors Augustus and Kharon-Alexis must survive the academy to claim her immortality.

My thoughts…
I’ll start by admitting I could not put this book down! I was entertained… but also utterly bewildered and unsure if I was actually enjoying it…
My biggest gripe was the lack of character depth or believable character arcs. Alexis is static up until the last handful of chapters where her development all feels a bit sudden and unfounded. That said, Alexis is a wonderfully voice-y FMC and whilst some of the humour veered into the cringe for me, I did laugh out loud more than once!

The audio...
I thought the female narrator was brilliant and I suspect that she's a large part of the reason I found this book as entertaining as I did!

Oh this was such an exciting concept - which makes it so much more disappointing that it didn't pay off. I listened to the audiobook and I think that is what saved it for me and made it possible to actually finish- the narration was fantastic and made really difficult writing <i>almost</i> understandable.

The book starts with a confusing info-dump about earth from 2040-2090. It's a post-apocalyptic world where Titans have returned to wreak havoc on humanity. But not Titans as we know them in Greek mythology - think Titans ala "Attack on Titan". Which, ok, fine, but we rarely get to see them or understand <i>why</i> they are so terrible. When they did appear they were so poorly described I still don't have clear picture.

As a result of the Titans, the gods of Olympus and the underworld have revealed themselves to humanity and offered their protection - and in exchange they control the world and everyone in it. But even with all the info dumping at the start, and continuously throughout the book, I STILL don't know the difference between Chthonic and Olympean spartans (apart from Alexis' take of Chthonic = evil, olympean = good).

Alexis, our FMC, is an orphan with a mysterious past and nasty foster parents. Young Alexis was actually quite an enjoyable POV to read from - it was a believable 10 year old narration, sweet and funny and sad. She meets Nix, a murderous, violent, invisible snake that she can speak to. I liked the continuation of her stutter throughout the book, and her aversion to touch. I wanted more time with Charlie, I feel like we should have had more time with them in their childhood.

Nix was my favourite part of the whole book, even when the rest of it went downhill for me, Nix continued to be hilarious - mostly due to to the skills of the audiobook narrator.

The first of many inexplicable time jumps takes us to Alexis at 19 and surprise surprise she has Spartan blood. Alexis is whisked away to Olympus to compete in some kind of war game to earn immortality amongst the current gods.

And from here on out I honestly don't have a clue what was going on until the end of the book - the action was confusing and difficult to follow, the characters blended together into a blur of "handsome" grumpy gods that I could only distinguish by their animal friends, the infamously dangerous and challenging trials were...school? And climbing a mountain lots? Scenes would cut suddenly with the author actually writing "time jump".

I'm outraged at what was done to Achilles and Patroclus - they were unrecognizable as the mythological heroes they are. And totally pointless as mentors ? Literally no mentoring was done, I'm still confused, they didn't even talk to her, how can they care about her?

Kharon and Augustus had marginally more characterisation but there wasn't enough time spent on building the romance/ tension for the last part of the book to feel satisfying. I'm all for Dark Romance, but this...didn't work. There has to be more tension, more build up - make me feel conflicted about liking the dark characters! Kharon and Augustus are barely any "darker" than any of the other gods, mostly they were boring. The attempts that were made to make them dark were too ambiguous and confusing to be impactful - the "reveals" at the end weren't shocking, they were frustrating, because it should have made me think back to parts of the story and go "oh my god I can't believe I missed that". I was too confused about what was going on because of the poor world building to catch any foreshadowing. There was also no explanation or character development for Alexis being suddenly OK with being touched at the end.

The language was jarring and pulled me out of the story a lot. The odd joke with modern references is fine, but the <i>same</i> jokes were repeated constantly and it was infuriating.

It's such a shame because I loved the concept, I just don't think the vision was executed well.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Blood of Hercules. I got so invested in Alexis’ journey and all she went through. There were definitely some difficult scenes but there were also lots of moments that made me laugh. I look forward to the sequel.
The narrators definitely elevated the reading/listening experience and really hooked me into the story. I would definitely listen to this again and recommend this book and audiobook to others.

*Audiobook ARC*
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.75

‘Trust is a dangerous game & she didn’t know who was hunting her until it was too late.’

‘There are only three strategies. F✖️ck them, kill them or beat them.’

Tropes: Slow Burn, Stalker, Powers, Spartans, Greek Mythology, Multiple POV, Academia, Touch Her You 💀, MMF, Slow Burn

Alexis’ whole life has been a struggle, living in poverty & suffering despite being very intelligent. That is until one test causes her to discover she’s not just a human girl… she’s a spartan!
Which isn’t as great as it seems.. Alexis is thrust into a new world, a new academy & is tested in every way to prove her worth.
Stalking, trials, titans & numerous plot twists this book has it all!

I really wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one, because I have seen a lot online & it has been very mixed, however I have to say I think some of the negativity seems unwarranted. I understand not all books are for everyone but this book is certainly a competent solid 4 ⭐️ book.
Overall I enjoyed listening & the quality of the voice cast was great. Alexis & Helen can be a bit annoying at times, but I feel like that’s accurate to their characters (sorry to any other 19 year olds & 16 year olds out there, no offense).
The male voice acting was great as well, I just wish we got to hear more of it!
Although this is multiple POV it is predominantly from Alexis’ POV.

Overall a decent read, I will most likely read the next book ‘Bonds of Hercules’ because I’m interested to see where the story goes. The think I might enjoy the second book more as we have established characters, lore & budding relationships. Hopefully some more spice too!

There were a few things for me that stopped this book being a 5⭐️ that being the way information was delivered (especially at the start), also that it’s labelled as dark romance but it felt more like modern fantasy romance to me (maybe that’s a me problem though😂)… and WARNING.. dog death! Sorry it’s unforgivable 😅😢

Thank you Jasmine Mas, HarperCollins UK Audio & NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hum... So I enjoyed some part of this more than others.

Alexis doesn't really get the world's she's thrown into and we have to figure it out with her as we go. She has no clue what most of them are talking about as she doesn't know their world. That I found interesting.
Is it considered dark romance? While it isn't getting smutty until ... Late in the book, the mind games and the partly dubious consent made me categorise it this way in my head. This is going dark places, so please make sure to read trigger warnings if you need them.

The pets / companions are funs.

I listened to it as audio and it was really nicely done.
It was fine but not mind-blowing. If I understood it write it is a duology, if that's the case I will probably pick book 2 to see how she is navigating the situation she landed in.

*Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for access to the audiobook against an honest review.*

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this story was not at all for me. The humour was so very repetitive, the characters so unlikable, and any love (or just lust even) so unbelievable. The pacing was odd, and our main girl seems to spend half the book unconscious. I also never need to hear about Carl Gauss again in my life.

Someone will not be continuing the series. It’s me.
(Honestly editors - this joke works once - and only once).

First off I’d like to say how much I enjoyed the narration on this audiobook! It gave perfect sass levels for a teenager who has had so many hurdles to overcome and been constantly beaten down literally and figuratively.

So we start off following our main character as a 9 year old girl living with foster parents who are basically drug addicts who abuse and starve her. In the space of a year she gains a foster brother and her “parents” each die and are jailed for life. So after that a 10 and 9 year old are just abandoned to starve faster and their caravan taken and destroyed. Cut forward to our FMC Alexis being 19. Apparently she’s super smart and has graduated from school but hung around an extra 3 years so she can participate in a ridiculously difficult exam with unclear benefits.

As part of this exam you have to add two drops of your blood to the exam paper and lo and behold when Alexis does this her paper fizzes then turns to ash which means she is a descendant of a Greek god. At this point she is sent to live with two murderers and has to go to train at the crucible where she is again starved, dehydrated, exhausted while also being taught ethical mathematics equations. Again I’m very confused about why or what the point is supposed to be.

Anyway she discovers her power, every male in the book decides she is the bees knees and all decide to take advantage of her when she’s just been reunited with her birth parents and found out her true identity. So that was great. Also if you’re only in for the spicy scenes there is one half an hour before then end of the book so I’d take that into consideration!

So yeah a lot of suspension of disbelief required and more of the same promised for book 2!

Alexis Hert grew up in poverty within a violent step family. During her exams a blood test will change her life completely. Now she will attend the Spartan War Academy where she will need all her physical and mental strength to survive. Can she do it and become immortal?

Well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Great characters in this well paced, adventurous novel. Gods, villains, heroes, students, monsters and physical deprivation. Good luck to Alexis trying to survive!

Blood of Hercules is going viral and I can see why, it’s fun and bingeable. For me I liked the pairing of dark romatasy themes with humour. The FMC is totally unhinged, although her portrayal was more YA for me. For someone with a background of trauma she had that added edge and sass, but then sometimes was just immature. I did have some issues with her background generally, why does she end up living in a cardboard box. How does she still manage school like this?
I appreciated the humour overall but there were some cringe moments for me. The possessiveness and the stalking vibes were done well, but something else was missing.
I think my main criticism is the writing style. This book is definitely no masterpiece, which I think made it feel again it should be YA. There’s a lot going on in terms of prophecies, deadly trials, academies, Titans, Spartans, immortals and animal companions. So a lot to get stuck into as a fantasy enthusiast. At times I didn’t need the stats of certain people, this felt a bit like the hunger games. I would say the audio version is great at bringing it to life and getting across the drama. Definitely a binge of a read. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

Blood of Hercules follows Alexis as a blood test at school leads to her admittance at the Spartan War Academy. What ensues is a thrilling journey filled with dark romance, ancient prophecies, and animal companions—both adorable and fiercely sassy. I had an absolute blast with this book!

While the beginning felt a bit slow for me, once Alexis arrives at the academy, the story really picks up, and I found myself completely hooked. The Spartan War Academy is a brutal, unforgiving place that pushes its recruits to their absolute limits, and this intensity is brilliantly conveyed in the audiobook. Not only does the writing capture the raw exhaustion of the experience, but the narrator does an exceptional job bringing it to life with a voice that conveys the weariness and disorientation of the characters. The way the narrator captures Alexis’ erratic, almost drugged thoughts—complete with slurred words—immerses you in the chaotic, physically and emotionally draining world of the academy. It was so effective, it felt like you were right there with her, experiencing everything firsthand.

I'm eager to see how the story unfolds in the upcoming books and will definitely be returning for more—especially since the narration was absolutely fantastic!

Thank you to Harper Collins UK Audio and Netgalley for this audio ARC to review.

The narrators on this were amazing, especially Meg Sylvan. She brought Alexis to life. This book kept me guessing to who Alexis was the whole book, and the plot was great. The whole world building brilliant! I love Mythology and this was awesome

3.5 ⭐️

The book started to pick up around the 40% mark and it was hilarious. There was a lot going on but It did make me laugh. There were some memorable characters in this. My favourites had to be The General, NYX and Petra. I started to warm up to his character.

There was so much wailing which was REALLY dramatic. A good touch to the humour. Especially in the audio book. If you’re expecting a lot of spice this isn’t really it but if you want a good laugh it’s this book right here.

Looking forward to book 2

My favourite quotes:

“What you want is some real man that wants to slaughter for you”

“Actually don’t tell me, I’d rather shoot first then find out”


Thanks to @Netgalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for access to this audiobook ARC

Wow, where has this been all my life?! This was everything I loved in a book- all the tropes, the characters and the story itself. I’m also a sucker for anything Greek mythology so this was a real winner for me.

I got SO sucked into the story and the audiobook was absolutely fab. Narrated by a great cast, it absolutely blew the assignment out the water when it came to bringing the book to audible life.

And the writing. I loved it and Alexis’ self deprecating humour was hilarious and she was completely raw, real and genuine. It made for super entertaining reading.

I not only loved Alexis immediately but fell in love with the world the author created. And ugh - the bad boys you hate but secretly want to know more about…! Resurrect me for the next book please.

I first experienced this book in its audiobook format (which was perfection. The narration was absolutely fab and acted so well. I could actually feel Alexis’ tiredness through the headphones) and I loved it so much, I actually went out and bought a physical copy.
Waiting until the next instalment will be a wrench.

So the beginning of the book had my attention right away, I really enjoyed the authors writing style and it had me smiling and completely wrapped up in the story.
I found the middle a little lacking, it felt quite monotonous and as the main character was slogging to get through the crucible I found myself slogging through the book.
There was no great romance that I could root for, I love a morally grey man but they all felt black with no banter or redeeming features, I get from the end that this may be the point but it just wasn't quite my cup of tea.
The end was good but didn't quite feel rewarding enough for the long middle.
All that said I really liked the author and although this book wasn't quite for me I would definitely pick up another book from her.
Narrator was excellent.

I give up, ok? DNF at 60%, this was just soooooo bad, and the worst is that this author supposedly has a classics degree? A 7th grader who has read Percy Jackson has a better understanding and knowledge of Greek mythology than her!
Now the book: it's so bad I can't fathom this is getting traditionally published. It has no redeeming quality save maybe for Alexis' humor but even that is just her being sassy in her head, making TikTok references and talking about fanfictions (I don't even know how she ever had access to those but that's not the question). The worldbuilding makes no sense, I mean the work was already half done with greek mythology, you just need to reuse what you've got and either implement it in a modern world or in another universe. And yet, she still managed to fumble that. This book explains to us, in length in the first chapter that's basically just info dumping onto you like a history book (you know the rolling text in Star Wars recapping the situation? yeah you got the idea), how Greek houses (one for each of the 12 main gods) are divided between Olympians and Chthonic, meaning they have different powers (I think? It's explained very poorly) and don't like each other (?). These "gods but not actually called gods" beings can have kids (that's accurate at least) and those kids do their dirty work for them. Now hold on tight: Artemis and Athena ALSO have children. Not the mind children typa thing of Percy Jackson, nope, actual fricking kids. I'm probably forgetting some things but that's what I'm willing to explain of the world and what I actually understood because it's so poorly explained and set up, you can only make suppositions.
Now my big question, what's up with the Latin? Why would Spartan beings speak LATIN?! yeah they migrated to Italy and stuff but like? They're immortal? The fact that everyone speaks latin and not Ancient of even modern Greek just makes no sense whatsoever, and now I'm thinking the author just didn't know any Ancient Greek? But then open a book? I don't know this is so stupid.
Characters wise: the most cliche things you could ever think of when I tell you romantasy love interest. I'm struggling to see the romance in there except when Patroclus was sucking Achilles' d!ck, but that's about it I think.
Just save your time and money, this is beyond bad without any redeeming quality, if you want polyamory and good relationships, read Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao, it's this book but 1,000 times better.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc in exchange for a honest review.

Unfortunately, I was so hyped for this book, it fell short from the start. I was immediately left confused and then wondering "Why is this in here? Why is this relevant?" constantly. We get introduced to our FMC, Alexis, from the start and learn about her tragic past. Unfortunately she uses this past to make snide remarks like 'omg i want to kill myself slay' She is so insufferable its not even worth picking up. Nothing happens for 3/4 of the book and i dont understand how this is a bestseller.

The audio aspect of it was alright. nothing special really

#BloodOfHercules by #JasmineMas is a 5⭐️ read.

My physical book arrived from Waterstones on the same day I got the audio ARC, so I read and listened at the same time.

Oh my god! There is a moment in this book from the first page to the last word that I did not love! Alex and Nix are so bad arse and I am in love…

What if Hercules was Female? How would the world she was thrust into treat her and react to her powers?

This is a powerful modern day retelling of a story you think you know. But Jasmine’s version is one not to be missed!

I finished this book at 3am this morning, and I’m going right back to the first page and starting again!

This is a book I feel you want to read the physical for all the information, however you really want to listen to the audio too! The narrators did such an amazing job with their acting!

I listened to this in two days as it was so addictive. The narrator's do such a good job bringing the book to life. Alexis goes through so much hardship throughout the book and you feel her exhaustion both physical and mentally. The female narrator was my favourite and I'll definitely listen to her again. I listen on 1.75 pace and she was still clear. The male narrator bought his characters to life and I felt the evil under tones.

My favourite character was Nyx, but she seemed to disappear at the end with no explanation. How dare my favourite character just disappear!!!! I wanted to hear her snide remarks during the ceremony!

The thing that bothered me most was that a lot of issues especially at the end could have been resolved by Alexis just telling the truth what has happened. She seemed so sensible at the beginning but she was a different person at the end. I couldn't believe she was the smartest in the class by the end. Her whole character changed. I know she went through a lot but she had been through lots before. She stopped think rationally at the end.

Also, how is she that dumb that she FINALLY remembers where she saw the officiant at her wedding but still hasn't put 2+2 together. Yellow eyes and given to the foster carers by this lady? Mmm does she not think Charlie might be also a stolen baby. I'd be totally questioning if any other babies went missing.

I hope she doesn't end up with her current husband's. The book is blurring the lines in this relationship and I hope people don't see this stalker/ manipulative relationship as healthy because of it. I hope this is building up to them being the bad guys/ enemies in the next book.

I loved that this book was so different from other fantasy books currently. I was going to change genre as I was bored reading the same plot over and over so this book was refreshing.

No, just no. I think i actually lost brain cells listening to this book. Quite frankly, i wanna forget about it, but it's so bad, only a lobotomy would help with that.
I can't fathom that someone read this and thought "oooh, it reads like as if wattpad and tiktok had a child, the fmc is super annoying, the love interests made me gag, let's publish this!".
In all seriousness, do not read this book. Not even for hate-reading. how this book got such a high rating is beyond me.
Alexis (the fmc) has to be the most pathetic, whiny character i have ever seen. she constantly makes "i want to die" jokes which are not funny. the humor in general is just cringe. when the second love interest got his pov, i had to put the book down because i couldn't do it anymore. both mmc seem suuuuper predatory in the worst way. the world building was also bad. the pacing was so weird and up to the 50% mark (where i stopped), nothing really happened.
it's a pitty, because the premise was good.