Bonds of Hercules (Deluxe Limited Edition): A Dark Romantasy Enemies to Lovers Spicy Romance Novel Inspired by Greek Mythology (Villains of Lore, 2)

This is the most creative/outlandish/atypical reinterpretation of mythological gods into romantasy. Jasmine, what were you on when you came up with us? This book was even better than the first. 4 stars / 3 spice (slow burn but also not) Sarcasm, wit, humor, and banter. FMC has a hilarious inner monologue going on . The familials are entertaining. Plot twist surprises. Action. Alexis’ character ARC is so cool. Creative AF plot. Good world building. MMCs get their unhinged bs together for her. It’s an all around good time. You will be entertained! 4 and not 5 stars bc I got a bit bored like 60% in - which happened in the first book for me too. Also v disappointed we didn’t get any in depth Helen or Charlie action - they were relegated to the benches in this book. not coool.

I really enjoyed Blood of Hercules due to the banter, the hysterical inner monologue and the slow burn/stalking by Team Professors. I enjoyed Bonds of Hercules but not as much. What I enjoyed: 1. Slow burn--enjoyed that the book was about the characters/plot and did not devolve into multiple and overly long s3x scenes as some romantasys tend to do. Instead there seemed to be the right amount of spice and in places that moved the story along. 2. Loved the growth of Alexis and how her powers slowly evolved. 3. The relationship between Alexis and Nyx 4. The surprise introduction of a new character 5. The love interests that Alexis had in the end What didn't work so well for me: 1. There seemed to be inconsistencies in the story, such as other people understanding the Sirens' language and there was one scene which seemed to suggest that Charlie was still not talking and was signing with Alexis (which didn't make sense when their signing ability was supposedly a surprise to Archilles). 2. The 4 MMC seemed to be lost at times, not as scary/strong and, well, maybe even a bit pathetic at times. 3. The different POVs were not unique enough and seemed like they were all the same voice, especially the two female POVs. All in all, I enjoy Jasmine Mas' books and will keep reading them. Hoping the next book in this series goes back to the magical qualities of the first book.

My daughter read Bonds of Hercules first and would not stop talking about it—so obviously I had to know why. Now I get it. This book is intense in the best way. Dark, spicy, emotionally charged, and very much enemies to lovers done right. The tension is constant, the chemistry is off the charts, and the story doesn’t play it safe. It leans into the darkness without feeling messy or gratuitous. The deluxe edition is beautiful, but what really stands out is how gripping the story is. Once it gets going, it’s hard to put down. This is not a light, cozy read—it’s dramatic, immersive, and addictive. If you like dark romantasy with strong characters, high tension, and unapologetic spice, this one absolutely delivers. No wonder my daughter was hooked.

There were a lot of fun elements but it feels like a lot of plot points were dropped. It was fast paced and there were some cool fight scenes. I also liked the development of the protectors and how the fmc interacted with them. The banter between the fmc and some of the other characters was also really fun. However it seemed at the end of the last book, we were going to a meek mannered turned vengeful fmc, but it didn't seem like she changed much. It seemed like she would get more powers and super strength as she had the ability to harm her powerful professors turned husbands with just her thoughts, but it seemed like she just avoided them for a bit and that was the end of her revenge. The emergence of some of her darker and more magnetic personality traits as her character and motivations started to get more complex at the end of book 1 didn't develop as much as I thought it would either. There also seemed to be major character changes with the professors. They seemed like they were becoming more unhinged about the fmc and they were also originally very attracted to the darker parts of the fmc and her power, but they seemed to become much calmer suddenly and their motivations changed. Some of it is understandable as their relationship with the fmc changes, but those darker and more integral parts of their characters disappears. Also things about her like her ability to speak to certain animals (not all?) doesn't seem like a big deal now and not delved into further. The fmc also never really exhibits or further develops the Herculean strength from her namesake she started showing in the first book. Her brother's story and reason for being there never came up and he started to feel unnecessary. Also the most disappointing to me were the mentors. They were built up so it became apparent that they were starting to get obsessed with the fmc and we started getting their pov as mmc's. They seemed like they would get closer to fmc, especially with fmc's ability to use sign language, but then they tried to forcer her hand and then just gave up on the fmc. They seem wishy washy now at the end of book two and abandoned the fmc in more ways then one and are less interesting because of it. The next book seems like it will be focused on a different fmc with the mentors who suddenly become obsessed with her so we won't get the payoff now for all those plot points from before as the plot focus changed. So overall some good things and you can tell I did enjoy it overall as I am already finished with it and am writing a review the day after release 😂 but there were a few things that were disappointing to me especially since I really enjoyed first book.

I absolutely loved it!! I really enjoyed the plot and all of the characters. The characters growth was great! Alexis was again extremely entertaining and her inner monologue was hilarious. There was a lot of talk about having to chose a team, but I found that very quickly it was obvious that there wasn’t really a team vs team situation happening. She was choosing her husbands quite early on. A lot of the scenes with the Mentors we’re frustrating. But in the end I’m a little confused as well. In blood of Hercules, Achilles’s bonus chapter made it seem like more would happen between him and Alexis. They only spoke a handful of times, usually in an argument that Patro somehow started. And he didn’t care for her at all. He only ever care’s for Patro. They’re really wasn’t much more of relationship growth between Alexis, Patro and Achilles. I don’t mind the introduction of a new character at the very end, but I do hope if there’s another book that it doesn’t change main characters. Medusa story would be interesting but I don’t think Alexis’s is done.

Amei essa dark fantasia

Let me preface this review by saying I have never loved a duet more than this one. The characters, the plot, the humour, everything is just perfect. Alexis and Nyx are just ultimate goals. The banter, the violence (mostly on Nyx’s part), the inner monologue. It’s everything you love about every one of Jasmine’s FMC’s rolled into one. “𝙔𝙚𝙨. 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝. 𝙒𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨.” - 𝙉𝙮𝙭. The plot was gripping. I read the book in one go because I just couldn’t put it down. I loved the tests and trials that Alexis went through, because it showed her fierce determination, no matter how many obstacles were stacked up against her. Sometimes by herself, sometimes with Nyx, they never gave up and always powered through. Now, the guys? Well, safe to say, if a man won’t cut off his ear for me, he’s not worthyyyy 😆. Kharon & Augustus have my whole heart. I really felt the redemption arc in this one, and despite the feelings I had towards them at the end of the last book, they really did redeem themselves this time. “𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙚. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡.” - 𝙆𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣. I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about Patro and Achilles. I feel like I have a like/hate relationship with them. I liked them in the first book, but this book? They had me cursing almost every time they spoke. I’m not sure if that was in part due to the redemption part of her husband’s, but they have a lot of growing to do, preferably, away from Alexis 😆. Overall, another 10/10 read. Wondering how soon is too soon for a re-read? Because I miss Alexis already.

This book is so well written! The Greek Mythology is easy to follow once you get into it, it keeps you on your toes and it is honestly hilarious. Alexis’ sarcasm and doom-n-gloom attitude were so fun to read highly recommend if you like your thrillers with a little comedy and some macabre romance.

Jadore ce livre, je voulais cette edition avec jaspage doré