I read this book like I binge watch tabloid reality TV shows.
THE DRAMA, MY GOD!
Blood of Hercules by @jasminemasbooks will definitely keep you entertained with its witty banter and references to birds as government drones that clearly only exist to spy on you. In reality, this is a mix between a Greek mythology retelling and the hunger games (add in a touch of a dramatic reality TV show) set in a futuristic dystopian world where humans get shit on for the benefit of the gods.

I am BEGGING you to read this story and send me your thoughts, because I am left utterly bewildered and flummoxed...

If you like...

✨ Greek Mythology ✨
✨ Who did this to you?! ✨
✨ Multiple POV ✨
✨ Slow Burn RH ✨
✨ Enemies to Lovers ✨

This one is for you! Personally I really liked all the monsters and animals in this story! Especially the snake and sirens! Make sure to pick this one up when it releases later this month!!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. There wasn’t enough detail about the characters or their world for me. The book is well narrated but I was confused at times, because a lot is unexplained. This is no reflection on the author and I’m still grateful for the opportunity.

Attack on Titans meets Greek mythology meets war camp meets dark romance.
I am so conflicted because this was brain rot fun… until it wasn’t?

Alexis has a poor, abused, and traumatic childhood in a world infested by monstrous Titans and barely protected by mainly uncaring Spartans - immortals with god-like powers who rule over a world.
Life can’t get much worse. Then, Alexis is discovered to have Spartan blood and she is forced to attend the Spartan War Academy, the only and first girl to face the gruelling tests (pure torture). Somehow, it is worse than high school.

For some reason, the Chthonic families seem weirdly obsessed and possessive with her. That’s not good as Chthonics had powers that only hurt others, such as torture, mind control, pain. They are the ones forced to fight Titans to keep them in line against the Olympians.

Alexis is allocated to the Crimson Duo - Patro and Achilles. They are hot. They are dangerous. They hate how weak Alexis is. She appears powerless. There is no way she will survive. She concurs and regularly comes up with creative ways she could off herself.

As you can tell, this isn’t my usual read. Dark, possessive romance. Reverse harem seemingly. A heroine who has the most annoying and cringy inner monologue.

Saying that, I had an UNDERWORLD of a time. This was like brain candy. It was so fun. Alexis is the reason this is so addictive. Her sarcasm and dry stream of conscious was extremely entertaining.

Plus, Alexis has a homicidal and sexually frustrated snake best friend that only she can see, understand, and speak to. Nyx is the best wing girl. Also, quite disturbing.

<b>Blood was everywhere.
She screamed in my face—I screamed back.
Oh, look, we're harmonizing. Mozart would have loved this.
</b>
Okay, admittedly, I wasn’t a fan of the possessive, psychotic, overbearing alpha a-holes. And the lack of understanding and communication between them and Alexis FRUSTRATED me so much.

Also, Alexis’s naivety for a 19-year old was crazily unbelievable. If she were maybe 15 years old, I could understand some of her thoughts, jokes, and reasoning. But at 19?!

Finally, I just have to mention without delving into spoiler territory, the last part of the book was my least favourite. That ending was like one star.⭐️ I am glad the rest of the book was not like that, but I am now not sure if I would be inclined to pick up the next one. It for sure became dark romance DARK and messed up.

Overall, a very mixed back. Was I seated and addicted? Up until the last part, YES! Would I recommended it? I think if you like books like the Zodiac Academy or Broken Bonds, yes. Or if you can deal with my complaints which are more to do with the genre (which I don’t typically read). Otherwise, probably not.
For me, this is between three and two stars…🌟

Thank you to Harper Voyager for sending me a physical arc in exchange for a review!

Thank you NetGalley for this audibook ARC.

Honestly, I don't know what crack Jasmine puts in her books, because I consumed this book in a day! This audiobook really takes the story to the next level and the narrators absolutely smashed it out the park,

This is book 1 in a new Roman mythology-inspired story set in a monster-invested apocalyptic future realm.

Our FMC Alexis Hert, finds out at the age of 19 that she is in fact, a rare female demi-god spartan 'mutt and is immediately thrown into a Spartan trial called a crucible.

Here she meets her new two Mentors Paro and Achilles, her professor Augustus and her trainer Kharon who all are infamous for being powerful but evil billionaires.

There is a loads of politics and government plotting happening in the background, all while Alexis is trying to survive the crucible and these four Spartans who seem to be obsessed with her.
I can't wait for more books in this series!

If you enjoyed Jasmines previous series, Psycho Shifters , this has a similar vibe of strong FMC and hot-obsessed dark love interests with a lot of fighting and dark politics.

Alexis is 19 and lived her whole life trying to survive in a Titan infested world.
The Spartans, immortals with god-like powers, rule over all. After a blood test reveals she is at least part Spartan, she is forced to attend the Spartan War Academy and if she passes the test she will become immortal.
Achilles and Patro, two scary warriors, are her mentors and Kharon (the ferryman of death) and Augustus (the son of war) are her professors.

I listened to the audiobook and Meg Sylvan does a great job with multiple characters. Her voice sounds different depending on the character. And she managed to transport me in Alexis’ mind. Most of the book is told from her POV and depending on her mental and physical state, Meg changed her voice to enhance the situation.
There are also a few chapters from Kharon, Augustus and Patro’s POVs and the fact that there are different narrators helped. They are narrated by Teddy Hamilton, Tristan Morris and Aiden Snow.

Even if the book is inspired by Greek mythology, it is set in the future in a post apocalyptic world. The beginning is a bit slow, but the pacing is faster after Alexis gets in the War Academy.
She suffers a lot there and it is clear that she is depressed. There is a lot of self deprecating inner monologue that she uses to cope with the situations she encounters. Also, she is obsessed with Carl Gauss and maths.

The love interests are villainous, unhinged and possessive. The romance is a slow burn and there is only a bit of spice at the end.
I wish there was more chapters from their POV, I especially want to know more about Patro and Achilles.

I received an ALC from Netgalley and HarperCollins UK Audio. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.