Imagine a Greek mythology retelling with a fierce female warrior as the main character, add the enemies to lovers trope, and one thrilling adventure, and you’ll have Daughter of Sparta. This book has all the right elements to sweep you off your feet, especially if you’re a reader who loves mythology. Simply put, Daughter of Sparta is a fresh and exciting reimagining of the classic Greek myth, Daphne and Apollo.
Treated as outcasts in Sparta, Daphne and her brothers struggle to earn the honour of being a true Spartan. The Agon in the Carneia was supposed to bring honour and glory to their family, but when Daphne’s brother fails to show up in time for the race, Daphne takes his place. What was supposed to be just a race, jumpstarts the demise of Daphne’s brother, the gods, Olympus, and the world itself. Now Daphne has to go on a quest for Artemis to bring back the nine stolen items from Mount Olympus and restore their powers.
What I love first about Daughter of Sparta is how action-packed it was. The first chapter opens up with both action and intrigue, and that is a consistent element all throughout the rest of the book. The issue for me is this: the first half, though it was action-packed, felt a little lethargic. It was lethargic in a way that I wasn’t invested in the characters or their dynamics yet. Yes, they were going on in this dangerous quest, but I didn’t know much about the characters or felt much about them. And so, I wasn’t too enthusiastic at first. Once I got past that first half though, it got so much better! I got to know the characters a little better, I saw their chemistry and their dynamics slowly form. That for me made the story more enjoyable. I was finally rooting for them, I could understand their aspirations and their personalities. More importantly, they grew on me. Daphne, Apollo, even Theseus and the other minor characters!
The writing style here was also entertaining. With a personal and up close perspective from Daphne, we go through the journey with her. We get her thoughts and emotions, and I love that as the story progresses, we get to dive into her what kind of person she is. I adored Daphne as a main character. She doesn’t want to be a pawn in the gods’ game, but for her family she would risk it. She also has confidence like a storm within her and I love that.
I also love how the author reimagined Daphne and Apollo’s tale. I always found Daphne and Apollo’s tale lacking and melancholic in a way—how Daphne was forced to seek help to escape Apollo’s relentless pursuits, how Apollo never tried to understand Daphne’s side and losing her as a result. However, in this book, we see a different kind of Daphne and Apollo. We see Daphne as a fierce warrior willing to go through incredible lengths for her family. We see Apollo willing to rectify one of his careless mistakes. Throughout their journey, we see them get to know each other and bond despite their differences at first and a few conflicts. We see an incredible new dynamic between them here in Daughter or Sparta and it worked.
Apart from that, Daughter of Sparta also featured several known personalities from classic Greek myths such as King Minos and the Minotaur, Theseus, the Sphinx of Thebes, Hippolyta of the Amazons, and of course, the Greek gods. Some Greek myth stories were also reimagined here in the book and I liked how it helped further plot and give it more life.
Oh and, not to spoil anything, but I adored the overall ending. It was not what I expected, but I thought it was just fitting.
Overall, Daughter of Sparta is a solid read that will take you to a heart-pounding journey along with your favourite classic Greek myths.
Daughter of Sparta is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of June 8th 2021.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Sparta forged her into a deadly weapon. Now the Gods need her to save the world!
Seventeen-year-old Daphne has spent her entire life honing her body and mind into that of a warrior, hoping to be accepted by the unyielding people of ancient Sparta. But an unexpected encounter with the goddess Artemis—who holds Daphne’s brother’s fate in her hands—upends the life she’s worked so hard to build. Nine mysterious items have been stolen from Mount Olympus and if Daphne cannot find them, the gods’ waning powers will fade away, the mortal world will descend into chaos, and her brother’s life will be forfeit.
Guided by Artemis’s twin-the handsome and entirely-too-self-assured god Apollo-Daphne’s journey will take her from the labyrinth of the Minotaur to the riddle-spinning Sphinx of Thebes, team her up with mythological legends such as Theseus and Hippolyta of the Amazons, and pit her against the gods themselves.
A reinterpretation of the classic Greek myth of Daphne and Apollo, Daughter of Sparta by debut author Claire Andrews turns the traditionally male-dominated mythology we know into a heart-pounding and empowering female-led adventure.
