This Chick Reads: Blood of Hercules
Review by Claire
I first came across Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas while searching for something dark and mythological, with just the right mix of fantasy and romance. The idea of a modern twist on Greek mythology set against a backdrop of trials, danger, and a sharp-witted heroine was impossible to resist. This book seemed like a fresh spin on the classic Hercules story, focusing on a young woman grappling with her newfound legacy.
What’s it about?
Blood of Hercules follows Alexis Hert, a young woman whose life takes a dramatic and dangerous turn after a routine blood test reveals that she is one of the Spartan elite. Raised in foster care and enduring a harsh childhood marked by trauma and neglect, Alexis has learned to bury her emotions and survive by keeping her head down. She’s an ordinary high school senior on paper, but beneath the surface lies a sharp mind and a biting sense of humor that hint at her hidden strength.
When Alexis is whisked away to the Spartan War Academy, she is thrust into a brutal world ruled by ancient traditions and merciless competition. The academy is no ordinary school—it’s a training ground for immortals, where young Spartans must prove their worth in the Crucible, a deadly initiation test designed to separate the weak from the strong. Those who survive the Crucible emerge as gods; those who fail do not survive at all.
Thrown into the academy without any prior training or preparation, Alexis faces seemingly insurmountable odds. Her mentors, Achilles and Patro, embody the duality of her challenges: they are both her potential allies and her greatest threats. Achilles, with his stoic and battle-hardened demeanor, and Patro, whose charm masks a more unpredictable side, add layers of tension and complexity to Alexis’s journey.
The academy itself is a dark and dangerous place, filled with Titans, rival Spartans, and ancient beings who see Alexis as an anomaly—and perhaps a threat. As she navigates the treacherous landscape of survival and power, Alexis begins to uncover secrets about her lineage and the mysterious bloodline that ties her to Hercules, one of the greatest heroes of Greek mythology.
Amid the brutal trials and deadly rivalries, Alexis finds moments of unexpected camaraderie and even romance. However, her sharp tongue and refusal to back down earn her both enemies and admirers. As the stakes rise, Alexis must confront not only the physical challenges of the Crucible but also the emotional scars of her past. Her journey is one of self-discovery, resilience, and learning to embrace the power that has always been within her.
The narrative combines elements of Greek mythology with modern sensibilities, exploring themes of identity, survival, and the cost of greatness. Alexis’s journey is filled with danger, humor, and moments of vulnerability that make her a protagonist you can’t help but root for.
What This Chick Thinks
Diving into Blood of Hercules felt like stepping into a gritty and action-packed reimagining of Greek mythology. Jasmine Mas does a fantastic job blending ancient mythological elements with a modern, sarcastic protagonist. Alexis’s dark humor and sharp wit made her an instantly relatable and compelling character. Her journey from an ordinary girl with a traumatic past to a warrior discovering her potential was both emotional and inspiring.
The Spartan War Academy was richly imagined, with its deadly trials and cutthroat dynamics adding layers of tension and intrigue. The Crucible, in particular, was a standout element—it was brutal and suspenseful, keeping me on edge as Alexis fought to survive. The mythology woven into the narrative felt fresh and engaging, especially as it explored the darker sides of power and legacy.
That said, the pacing occasionally felt rushed, especially in the development of some character relationships. While the romantic elements added emotional depth, they sometimes lacked the build-up needed to make them fully convincing. I would have loved more moments of connection and dialogue between Alexis and her potential love interests to make those dynamics more impactful.
Despite these minor critiques, the story’s themes of resilience and self-discovery left a strong impression. Alexis’s growth and determination to carve out her place in a world that seemed intent on breaking her were deeply satisfying to witness.
Final Thoughts
I’d rate Blood of Hercules a solid 7 out of 10. It’s a fast-paced, action-packed story with a snarky and resilient heroine, perfect for fans of dark fantasy with a mythological twist. While some aspects of the romance and pacing could have been fleshed out further, the compelling protagonist and unique take on Greek mythology make it a worthwhile read.
GrimDark magazine Reviews Blood of Hercules
Reviewed by Carrie Chi Lough
An original twist of alternate history and reimagined Greek mythology collide in Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas - In 2050, the world collapsed. Monstrous beings known as Titans appeared and destroyed the Earth. Immortal and impossibly indestructible, they laid waste to cities and civilization. History repeats with Spartans rising and rescuing humankind. A new age dawns with Spartans now as ruthless gods…
Even by post-apocalyptic standards, Alexis Hert is dirt poor. She has nothing to her name, save the cardboard shelter she and her brother live in. Besides school, she spends her days stealing food vouchers and trying not to smell homeless. Both are equally futile endeavors. Her one hope is to score high enough on the Spartan merit test to secure a better life for her small family.
As per usual, fate stomps on her humble dreams. And then on her: Alexis’s life is turned upside down when she is discovered to be an abandoned Spartan mutt. She is forced into the Spartan initiation test called the Crucible. Participants will either survive and become a god or die. Alexis has no known powers and no training. Her body is broken from abuse and starvation. She fears people, let alone gods. To top it all, Alexis’s assigned mentors may just kill her themselves. Alexis is doomed.
The opposite of the Mary Sue trope is a well-balanced character. Jasmine Mas achieves that with Alexis Hert in Blood of Hercules. Alexis’s viewpoint is incredibly fun to read. She is 100% grim snark in the best of ways. She has the right dose of dark humor to rebel against her stark reality. Jasmine Mas made Alexis feel like a real person. Mas isn’t afraid to show some of Alexis’s naïve side or her vulnerability.
Jasmine Mas stacks a devilishly entertaining and rather deranged cast of characters in Blood of Hercules. Nyx is Alexis’s best friend. As a snake, she is one of the best animal companions one can read in a book. She is sadistically hilarious and equally endearing. Their banter is a top highlight.
While Alexis is the main character, Mas offers glimpses of other characters’ perspectives. Kharon and Augustus are guest professors in this year’s Crucible. Their reputation is death. Their chapters tease some dark plan directly involving Alexis. Alexis’s mentor Patro also has his own chapters. More time could have been spent between Alexis and her two mentors, Patro and Achilles. Hopefully more to come in book two. The romance in Blood of Hercules is more of a slow burn until everything is on fire and delightfully crashes down.
Mas’s worldbuilding, thoroughly detailed and sparking curiosity, proves romantasy can rival standard fantasy works. The book starts with an introduction to Spartan history - while not long, it may feel like a dense start to some readers. While Blood of Hercules is set in the future of an alternate historical timeline, the laws and some of Spartan culture are archaic. Women are not viewed as equals. Meanwhile, sexuality in this world is open and diverse.
Amidst all the bloodshed, Blood of Hercules is an unapologetic dark romantasy. It is sure to delight readers looking for characters far beyond the morally gray fence post. As the first book in the Villains of Lore series, readers can hope life becomes progressively worse for Alexis Hert.
The Fantasy Hive Interview with Jasmine Mas
Welcome to the Hive, Jasmine. Let’s start with the basics: tell us about Blood of Hercules – what can our readers expect?
Thanks for having me :). Blood of Hercules is a sarcastic enemies to lovers, modern reimagining of the Hercules myth with Alexis Hert as Hercules. A gritty fantasy romance novel set in a post-apocalyptic modern world, Alexis deals with the moral themes of good and evil, and what it truly means to be a hero or a villain. The Greek Gods are also reimagined as powerful supernatural families. This is a true slow burn and perfect for someone who loves powerful morally grey men and women.
Your protagonist, Alexis Hert, has plenty of her own trials to face; can you tell us more about her?
Alexis Hert is a quiet introspective nineteen-year-old math prodigy who uses humor to cope with the intense traumas that she has faced in her life. She has heroic strength in her ability to persevere but still struggles physically and mentally. When her blood test reveals her acceptance at the Spartan War Academy, she must fight to claim her immortal birthright. The traumas she faces at the Academy don’t define her, but they also don’t leave her unscathed, just like her indifference and obliviousness to romantic situations, doesn’t change the fact that villainous men are interested in her. Her story is about resilience and self-discovery, yet at the same time she is a character who struggles and can be unaware. Alexis represents the duality of women.
What drew you in particular to the Hercules/Heracles myth?
Since I was little, I’ve always loved stories about romance, strong heroes, and intriguing Villains. Disney’s Hercules was one of my favorite movies growing up. As an adult, my love of history continued, and I majored in Greco-Roman classical studies at Georgetown University. I’ve always wanted to write a book with my favorite history involved, and a Hercules retelling felt like the perfect way to do it.
Legacies and training academies have quite a strong Rick Riordan association; was he a big influence on your writing?
I remember reading Rick Riordan as a middle schooler and wishing I could be in the Ares camp. Besides the Disney movie Hercules, he was the first person who introduced me to the Greek myths. His stories laid the foundation for how I perceived Greek mythology for the rest of my life, and I’m eternally grateful that he wrote his amazing fantasy books.
Alexis’ mentors are Achilles and Patro – who else can we expect to meet from Greek mythology? Tell us a little more about your side characters!
I can’t say too much because of spoilers (*laughs nervously*) but I’ve always been drawn to Medusa. Her story of survivorship is still hugely important for women today and I think a version of it with a happy ending deserves to be told. Helen, the talkative stylish younger girl who befriends Alexis, is a nod to Helen of Troy and she’s also going to have fun unexpected powers that I can’t wait to write about. Along that same vein, Charlie, Alexis’s younger brother is going to turn out to be an unexpected character from Greek Mythology.
Are there any other mythological Greek Gods or Goddesses you would love to write retellings of in the future?
I’ve always been drawn to Ares—he’s one of history’s first infamous morally gray villains–and I think he would make a very interesting love interest. I’m not sure what that says about me, but I’ve always felt that way.
What was the road from a self-published author to a traditional published author like for you? Can you tell us a few of the highs and lows?
It’s honestly been a very intense, very rewarding journey. I wrote my first book over my law school’s winter break. I decided to self-publish my last semester of law school, because I already had a job offer from a prestigious law firm, and I thought it could be a side job.
My lowest low would be in my second year as a lawyer when I pulled basically four all nighters in a row. I had a 600+ page manuscript that still needed a lot of editing and the deadline to submit it was in four days. Work was blowing up so I could only edit my book from 6pm-4am. Two days into sleep-deprivation, I got assigned a huge legal brief and I called my mom crying because it was all too much. She told me that I could do it (my mom reads all my drafts, and she stayed up with me for all four days giving feedback). I remember sobbing while writing as fast as I could. Two days later, I was hallucinating from exhaustion, but the book draft got done and I met the deadline.
My highest high was a couple months later when I quit my law job to be an author full time and write my next book series. I had no idea if the next series would be a hit, but I decided I was just going to go for it because I didn’t want to live with the regret of not fully chasing my dreams. Coincidentally, I self-published it and Harper Collins reached out the day it dropped to traditionally publish me.
We always appreciate a beautiful book cover! How involved in the process were you? Was there a particular aesthetic you hoped the artist would portray?
I was very involved! I really wanted a cover that seemed gilded with gold because that’s how I envision ancient Greece in my mind. So, I knew I wanted it to be white and gold. But it was also really important to me that it portrayed Hercules as a woman and that it was a romance.
If you could take any Greek God to a dinner party with you, which would you choose and why? (You can’t say Hercules!)
Ares! Help, I’ve always had the biggest crush on him.
I’m definitely sensing a … I was going to say theme but I think obsession is more accurate? Tell us about a Greek retelling you love. Any hidden gems?
I would have to say the Disney Hercules movie! It’s so basic but I love listening to the sound track.
Can you tell us a little something about your current work(s) in progress? Have you any upcoming projects which you can share?
I’m currently working on Bonds of Hercules and I can say that she’s going to get her full Hero moment. She’s also going to fully discover how her powers work and there will be a fun twist with it :).
Finally, what is the one thing you hope readers take away from your writing?
You’re stronger and more impressive than you even know.
Jasmine Mas is an Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestselling author of romantasy. A former D1 athlete with a classical studies degree from Georgetown University, and a law degree, she now spends all her free time writing romance books that make her laugh.
She lives with her husband and fluffy cat in Florida.