Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews is a young adult, Greek mythology, fantasy. Daphne has been training her entire life so she can accepted by the Spartans. When Artemis, the Goddess of the hunt and moon, turns up with a mission to restore the nine stolen items from Olympus, Daphne has no choice but to accept. If she fails, the gods will lose their powers and Daphne’s brother will lose his life. Alongside Apollo, Daphne begins an empowering journey filled with action, Gods, and mythological legends.

Going into this, I had low expectations. I love Greek mythology but rarely do I find a retelling or mythology inspired book that I thoroughly enjoy. But Claire M. Andrews understood the assignment. This reinterpretation of Daphne and Apollo was so well done.

The entire journey was exhiliarating and I was so invested. This is a fast paced story filled with action, that hooks you from the start and never lets you go. I loved the characters we met along the way, to the allies we made and to the foes we fought.

The characters were all lovable and multi-faced. Daphne is a complex character that felt real. I cared about her and was so scared for her in so many scenes. I was really happy with her development and the direction her character went in. Apollo’s character was also handled really well. It was a great combination of the sinister actions the Gods are known to make and a refreshing take on his character.

The romance between Daphne and Apollo was swoon-worthy. The slow burn, hate to love arc was die to for. The tension was described really well and I was really happy with its development.

The banter was really funny. Not just between Daphne and Apollo, but with all the other characters we meet.

I loved how the story wrapped up and I was really satisfied with the ending, despite all the questions I have. I’m so excited for the sequel and I can’t wait for it. Why does it have to be so far away?

I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a fast paced fantasy with a badass heroine. If you love Greek mythology, you need to pick this one up.