Publishers Weekly
05/13/2024
Lynn (the Grecian Women series) frames this vibrant retelling of the myth of Demeter and Persephone as “the story of a mother’s loss.” After Demeter is raped by her brother Zeus, she gives birth to twins Core and Iacchus. While Iacchus emulates his father’s violence, Core becomes the center of her mother’s world. Zeus again devastates Demeter by killing her mortal lover, Iaison, with a lightning bolt, prompting Demeter to take Core from Olympus to her home on Earth. There, Demeter allows Core to roam freely, leading to her abduction by the love-starved Hades, who’d misinterpreted Core’s friendliness to him during a brief encounter centuries earlier. Lynn impresses with her ability to make her divine characters come across both as impossibly powerful and deeply vulnerable, portraying Demeter’s anguish at the loss of Core, who renames herself Persephone in the underworld, and Core’s despair over being separated from the open air and greenery she’d reveled in. This stands out from the pack of feminist takes on Greek mythology. (July)
From the Publisher
"Vibrant...This stands out from the pack of feminist takes on Greek mythology." — Publishers Weekly
"With vibrant prose and decadent world building, Daughters of Olympus is a magical feast for the senses. This stirring retelling peels back the layers of myth surrounding Demeter and Persephone to touch upon their most human core. It is a stunning testament to the destructive and healing power of love to move the very earth." — A.D. Rhine, author of Horses of Fire
"Hannah Lynn takes an old tale and makes it new with her brilliant retelling of Demeter and Persephone. A novel that is at once tender and rage-filled, this story delves deep into the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship in a beautifully rendered world of gods, monsters, and mortals. This is a book you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve finished the last page! A must-read." — Megan Barnard, author of Jezebel
"With her latest novel, Hannah Lynn demonstrates her deep knowledge of mythology and mastery of storytelling. Her rich, vivid details transport readers to an ancient world, one alive with danger and great magic. Although they are goddesses, both Demeter and Core/Persephone are still women, desperate to forge their own paths and make their own choices in a patriarchal world that stymies them at every turn. Daughters of Olympus is both a celebration of women, and a testament to the importance of perspective—the untold and underappreciated stories." — Lauren J.A. Bear, author of Medusa’s Sisters
"A gripping exploration of love, loss, and the power of rage, Daughters of Olympus teems with the fervor of a mother, the devotion of a daughter, and the passion of lovers. Twining through these surprisingly human relationships, readers will discover a brew of gods intent on ownership and connection and, for some, growth. This story will keep you turning pages and leave you wanting more." — Malayna Evans, author of Neferura
