Daughter of Sparta Book Review
Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews Book Review and Recommendation.
Date: 1-25-25 Post Written By: MK Overall Rating: 6.2/10 Buy on Amazon: Daughter of Sparta
Book Cover Rating: 9.4/10
(My personal opinion)
Author: Claire M. Andrews
Pages: 375
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Subplots: Mythology, Romance
Series: Daughter of Sparta #1
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson Books
Published: 2021
Number of Editions: 19
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, Audio
Awards Won: No Major Awards
Goodreads Rating: 3.8/5
Amazon Rating: 4.4/5
Movie/TV Show?? : No
Book Type: Standard
POV Type: Single, First Person
Pacing: Fast
Generally: Classic Mythology With A Twist
Hook:
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.
My Review
Going Into It:
Going into this book I didn’t have many expectations, given I had never heard any other reviews/opinions about it.
Characters:
Daphne- Daphne is the main character of this book. She is a ‘Mothakes’, meaning a member of a specific social group, lower than that of Spartan citizens. She is bold and defiant. Her character is based off of Daphne from Greek Mythology, but a significantly bolder and braver version of her.
Apollo- Apollo is the Greek god of music, poetry, healing, archery, light, the sun, and more. He is notoriously arrogant and self-centered.
Lykou- Lykou is a Spartan soldier. He is smart, but more brute force focused than Daphne.
I see how these characters could definitely be seen as super likable, but they didn’t quite work for me. I just couldn’t get past the fact that one is considered a literal GOD and rubbed me the wrong way from the start. That being said, I do think there was a GREAT amount of character development and focus.
Character Rating: 7.1/10
Setting:
This book takes place all across Greece. It starts in Sparta, but after that, the setting is constantly moving.
This setting was constantly moving around. I would have loved a bit more description and time spent in each place, but then again, the setting changed so much that maybe that would have gotten confusing…
Setting Rating: 6.0/10
Plot:
Hmm…. If you're not looking for anything too in depth, then this was a solid-good plot. It was action PACKED and entertaining, but felt a little cliche to me. It was the classic overcoming one ‘impossible’ task or another. It did mix classic greek mythology aspects with excitement and adventure well. It didn’t end up being my absolute favorite or anything, but I can definitely see how some people could love it
Plot Rating: 7.8/10
Writing:
This book’s writing mixed the Greek mythology aspect with plot and characters SEAMLESSLY. The writing was also FULL of energy.
Writing Rating: 8.1/10
Ending:
Given that this book is part of a series, I was hopeful for a good cliffhanger that convinced me to read the next book. I feel like the ending did a good job of wrapping up just enough to satisfying while still leaving room for another book. But, once I finished reading I didn’t run to the bookstore to buy the next one or anything (I am guilty of literally running to order the next book of a series in the past, but this didn’t do that). I still haven’t bought the next book, and I’m still not sure if I will…
Ending Rating: 6.4/10
The Overall:
Overall, this was an average book for me. I loved the fast pace and exciting adventure. But, I didn’t love how much the setting moved around, and the ending wasn’t good enough for me to be dying to read the next book.
Overall Book Rating: 6.9/10
I would maybe recommend this book
Buy on Amazon:
ChatGPT’s Opinion: Daughter of Sparta is an engaging, action-packed read, especially for fans of Greek mythology with a YA twist. It brings a fresh perspective to the character of Daphne, turning her from a passive figure in myth into a strong, determined protagonist. The book combines adventure, mythology, and personal growth as Daphne embarks on a dangerous journey to prove herself. The pacing is quick, and the world-building is solid, pulling you into an immersive ancient setting. If you're into stories with mythological elements, powerful female leads, and plenty of action, it's definitely worth checking out.
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I grew up hopping the pond between Alaska and Scotland, and have the privilege of calling both magnificent places my home. Though I am currently enjoying life in Vermont, I would love to move back to Scotland with the occasional foray to Juneau, Alaska. Right now I am content to stay in Vermont with my lovely boyfriend and two cats (and hopefully some dogs soon!). I am a 2014 graduate of the University of Alaska Southeast with a degree in Social Science, with an emphasis in history, archaeology and anthropology. Driven by my fascination and affinity for Greek history and mythology, I have sought to breathe new life to the forgotten and often underappreciated Greek myths. Much to the frustration of my archaeology professors and mentors, I would often focus on Greek archaeology over themes or subjects close to home. This has allowed me to give depth and historical accuracy to my retelling of Greek myths through the eyes of a young woman in a time and society where women are allowed few liberties.
Blogging does not come easy to me, but I do like to think that I have a wicked imagination and am fully up to the task.
As the books (hopefully) become more popular I will take the time out of swimming and hiking in order to write more about them and my inspirations. In the meantime, my life is adventurous enough.
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ChatGPT.com (ONLY for specified “ChatGPT’s opinion” portion of review)
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