Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas
Fun read
When all else fails, sometimes you just need to pick up a book based on a pretty cover and a promising blend of Greek Mythology. That impulse buy paid off spectacularly: I don’t have a negative thing to say about this one, and it was the perfect change of pace I desperately needed from thrillers and true crime. This book absolutely blew me away and instantly became one of my favorites of 2025 so far!
The premise immediately grips you: In a shattered, post-apocalyptic world overrun by monstrous Titans, power rests with the immortal rulers known as the Spartans. Alexis, our protagonist, only wants to survive—until she discovers she harbors forbidden Spartan blood. Forced to enlist in the deadly Spartan Academy, she must navigate harrowing training challenges to master her newfound immortality.
Imagine the high-stakes, competitive atmosphere of the Fourth Wing Academy combined with the modern-day mythological twists of Percy Jackson, and you’ve captured the vibe of this book. I couldn’t put it down; the pacing was incredible with no slow spots, making the entire novel a thrilling, action-packed ride.
The world-building is excellent—creative, expansive, and unlike anything I’ve encountered before. I loved the seamless genre blend of post-apocalyptic survival and romantasy. A pleasant surprise was the humor laced throughout the narrative, which lightened the intensity without sacrificing the stakes.
Crucially for a romantasy, the book is a definite VERY slow burn. If you’re looking for instant gratification, be aware: the romance here is a subtle, delicious sprinkle, but it does an excellent job of building serious anticipation for the future books. My only small quibbles were some of the modern slang choices and the main character falling into a predictable “chosen one” archetype—but these issues didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the overall journey.
If you enjoy academy tropes, mythologically-inspired fantasy, or action-heavy world-building, I couldn’t recommend this more. Five stars all the way for this brand-new author! I’m already planning to buy the physical books just to have these pretty covers on my shelf.
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