About the Book:
Before the men of myth and legend, there was Otrera, first Queen of the Amazons.
It wasn’t until the prince’s blood coated Otrera’s hands that she realized she’d sentenced herself to death. In her darkest hour, Artemis offers her a second chance at life and freedom. But in return the goddess commands unwavering loyalty and sends her on a formidable quest.
Joined by women who swiftly become sisters along the way, Otrera’s journey is tangled by prophecy and unexpected discoveries, and she is faced with a decision that will alter her life forever.
Fleeing from men and monsters alike, Otrera and her companions travel across Ancient Greece in search of what was promised. Each day she learns more about herself and the dangers of her world. Yet the closer she gets to fulfilling her quest, the further Otrera drifts from her pledge to Artemis.
Pursued by a vengeful king and his relentless champion, Otrera discovers how far she’ll go to keep her sisters safe. But nothing, not even a divine weapon, can protect her from the wrath of the gods.
So begins the story of the tribe feared by heroes and kings alike.
My Thoughts:
I generally enjoy mythological retellings and the premise of this story intrigued me. The story follows Otrera, a slave who escapes from unwanted advances by a prince and is forced to go on the run. She is blessed by Artemis with some special powers and we follow her journey as she grows from a demure person into a strong warrior, fiercely protective of her friends and the people she comes to consider her family.
The premise of the story was quite interesting, but I found the plot to be quite slow and at some stages I could not fully understand what was going on. The actions of the characters were not clear and it was hard to connect with them at times.
However, I like the fact that the characters were strong female characters who were there for each other through the ups and downs. There were some meaningful themes touched upon through the story that stood out. The ending was abrupt but will leave the reader wondering what happens next. Overall, this was a good debut attempt by the author and I am grateful for the opportunity to have read the book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.