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A review by whatsheread
Daughter of Chaos by A.S. Webb
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
For a debut novel, DAUGHTER OF CHAOS by A. S. Webb isn't terrible. Unfortunately, it's not all that great either. The good barely outweighs the bad. That is not simply because I am a sucker for all things about the ancient Greek Pantheon. Ms. Webb's spin on the Greek gods, their demi-god offspring, and various heroes is refreshing and unique, and that is what got me through its weaker moments.
Sadly, the story has some major weaknesses, the largest being the main character. Danae should be likable. The audience should not just relate to her but root for her as the underdog she is. She loves her family more than anything, and her entire journey is one where her end goal is to get back to them. Except, Danae is flat. She shows little growth other than becoming a little more streetwise. Her inner monologues are boring and bordering on repetitive. She doubts herself, questions her power, and then somehow uses that same power to save herself. I never felt any kinship with Danae, and I never thought her life was in peril, no matter how many life-or-death situations she encounters.
Making that lack of genuine feeling towards the main character even worse is Ms. Webb's writing style. It is clunky but overly simplistic. She spends too much time telling the audience about Danae's world and not enough time showing them. This gorgeous backdrop of Ancient Greece becomes as flat as a scrim and equally boring. The entire reading experience becomes uninspired and something to get through versus an experience of the senses.
What grabbed my interest and kept me reading DAUGHTER OF CHAOS was the minor characters and the glimpses of the gods we get. From the first mention of Demeter and the sacrifices she requires, Ms. Webb hints that there is more than what Danae knows or understands about the gods. Every time Danae runs into someone or something that is famous (or infamous) in Greek mythology, that feeling grows stronger. By the time we meet Heracles, there is no doubt that, from Ms. Webb's perspective, these are not the myths you are used to reading. Whether she shows the gods and goddesses acting in very ungodlike manners or shows the heroes to be more (or less) than their stories of greatness, that interest in the novel grows. Forget Danae and her search for answers. It's Heracles and Jason and Atalanta and Pollux and Castor who are the shining stars of the story.
DAUGHTER OF CHAOS is not the smartest, most well-written, or captivating story you will read, but it is entertaining. The story has numerous issues, but the bones are there for something special. Will I keep reading the series? Yes, I plan to continue with it despite my gripes because the basic plot is good, and it kept my interest. Most debut authors show improvement in their craft with subsequent stories, and that is my hope here as well. While DAUGHTER OF CHAOS is okay, with the right feedback and practice, The Dark Pantheon series could be great.
Sadly, the story has some major weaknesses, the largest being the main character. Danae should be likable. The audience should not just relate to her but root for her as the underdog she is. She loves her family more than anything, and her entire journey is one where her end goal is to get back to them. Except, Danae is flat. She shows little growth other than becoming a little more streetwise. Her inner monologues are boring and bordering on repetitive. She doubts herself, questions her power, and then somehow uses that same power to save herself. I never felt any kinship with Danae, and I never thought her life was in peril, no matter how many life-or-death situations she encounters.
Making that lack of genuine feeling towards the main character even worse is Ms. Webb's writing style. It is clunky but overly simplistic. She spends too much time telling the audience about Danae's world and not enough time showing them. This gorgeous backdrop of Ancient Greece becomes as flat as a scrim and equally boring. The entire reading experience becomes uninspired and something to get through versus an experience of the senses.
What grabbed my interest and kept me reading DAUGHTER OF CHAOS was the minor characters and the glimpses of the gods we get. From the first mention of Demeter and the sacrifices she requires, Ms. Webb hints that there is more than what Danae knows or understands about the gods. Every time Danae runs into someone or something that is famous (or infamous) in Greek mythology, that feeling grows stronger. By the time we meet Heracles, there is no doubt that, from Ms. Webb's perspective, these are not the myths you are used to reading. Whether she shows the gods and goddesses acting in very ungodlike manners or shows the heroes to be more (or less) than their stories of greatness, that interest in the novel grows. Forget Danae and her search for answers. It's Heracles and Jason and Atalanta and Pollux and Castor who are the shining stars of the story.
DAUGHTER OF CHAOS is not the smartest, most well-written, or captivating story you will read, but it is entertaining. The story has numerous issues, but the bones are there for something special. Will I keep reading the series? Yes, I plan to continue with it despite my gripes because the basic plot is good, and it kept my interest. Most debut authors show improvement in their craft with subsequent stories, and that is my hope here as well. While DAUGHTER OF CHAOS is okay, with the right feedback and practice, The Dark Pantheon series could be great.