Books & Audiobooks
Written by Guest Blogger: Allie G. (Summer Student, Eastside Branch)
Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas is a dark fantasy romance rooted in Greek mythology. Think Camp Half-Blood from Hell, with morally grey men and villains, and a strong-willed and witty main character. Alexis Hert is a survivor. She has endured the unthinkable, growing up in an abusive foster home and carrying a traumatic past. She is forced to participate in the Spartan War Academy, and fight for her right to become an immortal through both physical and mental trials.
I think this book is written for a younger adult audience, and I, personally, as an 18 year old girl, found Alexis highly relatable: “Mental note – physical exertion makes me homicidal. Avoid anything above a brisk walk.”
Some readers may not enjoy this writing style, but the dark humour and dry sarcasm, combined with a fast-paced plot and intense character dynamics really hooked me. This was the first book that I’ve read in a really long time where I actually chose to close TikTok and read, instead of just scrolling BookTok videos.
Blood of Hercules is definitely on the darker side of the romantasy world, filled with “who did this to you?” moments and a rather extreme enemies-to-lovers theme. The men are as ethically complex as they come, with an added sprinkle of possessive psychopathy. Even if this type of book isn’t for you, the gorgeous collector’s edition with gold foil sprayed edges is worth a trip to the library to admire.
Finishing this book left me with a Blood of Hercules hangover, and I’ll be waiting on the edge of my seat until October when the sequel is published.