Those Who Wait

Rise & Ruin #1

by Georgia Spearing

SHE HOLDS THE POWER OF A GOD, BUT WILL IT COST HER EVERYTHING?
Lena's life changes forever when she discovers a mysterious amulet on a dig in Greece. One touch binds her to Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft— who is, shockingly, a devastatingly handsome Greek god named Hector. Her newfound power makes her a target for gods and monsters eager to control fate itself.

Forced to team up, Lena and Hector race to break the curse tethering their lives together, but uncover a chilling Lena is destined to die by Zeus's hand. As enemies close in and sparks fly between them, Lena and Hector must can love defy the will of the gods, or is destiny inescapable?

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Mythology, Greek Mythology

285 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2025

About the author

Writing has always been my escape, helping me through life’s challenges, including living with fibromyalgia for over a decade. Despite the daily struggles of my chronic pain getting worse, I continue to pursue my dreams while being a full-time mum to my daughter, Iris—my greatest inspiration.

Before publishing, I sharpened my skills by ghostwriting 16 books in a year for Urban Writers, which gave me the confidence to tell my own stories. My upcoming series, 'Rise and Ruin', delves into Greek mythology retelling with a twist, with the first book, 'Those Who Wait' exploring destiny, power, love, and adventure.

From working security at elite London events to switching to retail during the pandemic, my life has been anything but ordinary. Every experience, challenge, and triumph has shaped my storytelling, proving that no matter what life throws at you, it’s always possible to chase your dreams.

Reviews

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟹.𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚗 ⊹
╰ ✦ •

This was unique and I did enjoy it, but the pacing was so strange; weeks go by in 1 chapter. We're first introduced to Hector in chapter one, by the third chapter... days go by - she talks about him as if she's known him longer

I'm not even sure how to review this one tbh

rtc

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

⊹ 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 ⊹
❥Ancient artifacts with deadly powers
❥ 7 Greek gods causing chaos
❥Enemies-to-lovers
❥Advertised as "slow burn" but the pacing makes it seem insta-lovey
❥Epic magical battles and high-stakes adventure
❥A fierce heroine who refuses to back down

Thank you for the ARC, Grorgia♡


_________________________________

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[Anshika (ia) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice Level: 🌶🌶

Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A fabulous Greek tale filled with epic battles, ancient prophecies, and the actions taken to fulfill them, Those Who Wait follows the story of Lena, an archaeologist who discovers a mysterious amulet. This amulet introduces her to newfound power and the man who possesses that power—Hector. However, this connection makes her vulnerable to the gods, who are now after Hector's powers.

The story is a bit too fast-paced. Weeks pass in just a few paragraphs; Lena discovers the amulet and meets Hector in the very first chapter. It feels as though I'm skimming the plot (even when I'm not). While this can be frustrating at times, it also works in favor of keeping the narrative engaging since I often lose interest in lengthy, descriptive passages (10 dull pages can lead me to avoid a book for a week). Regarding Georgia's writing, I was quite impressed. As a new author, her language is accessible, the descriptions are on point, and the characters are well-developed (except for Lena).

---

What to Expect?
- Greek Mythology with a Modern Twist 🏛️🔄
- Fated Soulmates 💘🔗
- A grumpy god who's secretly a softie 😠➡️🥺✨

---

The Characters

I often struggle with how most fantasy female main characters are portrayed, and Lena is no exception. Stubborn and fragile, she seems to forget that she's a mortal and boldly confronts the gods, resulting in considerable harm (a big round of applause for her courage!). I feel for Hector, who constantly watches his love get hurt.

I’m definitely adding Hector to my book boyfriend list. With his black curly hair and striking purple eyes, he looks fantastic. The conversation between him and Lena in the second chapter was so captivating; when they were close to each other, it had me swooning. He made such a lasting impression on me that during my teacher's lessons on Macbeth at school, I imagined him instead of the original witch, Hecate. Hector consistently stands by Lena, fully aware that this puts him at odds with every god in Olympus.

Personal Reaction: It was good
Recommendable: YASSSSS (bonus: you'll see Hades)

Overall, this book has its merits and demerits, as most do. However, this time, the merits outweigh the demerits, so congratulations to the author for earning a 4.5-star rating!

[Amara F · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I was given this book as an eArc but my review is based solely on my own thoughts and opinions*

I give this book a 3 because I feel like there could have been more (notes on what I’m talking about below), however the story is very compelling and different than most of the Greek books out there right now. I’m intrigued. It’s great if you’re looking for a quick read. Side note, the artwork for this book and on the authors instagram is amazing, just chefs kiss. Whomever did the artwork needs to draw comics or anime, something because their talent is amazing.

Let’s start off with the beginning. I would have loved a little backstory, while I didn’t mind that it started off right into action, I kinda liked that actually, however the days proceeding that event, I would have liked to have known why she was there, why this particular site, what was she doing before this project? I wanted to get to know the mfc Lena more at the beginning so I can have a better understanding of who she is and why I want to go on this journey with her. I would have liked to know why she was keeping the amulet a secret from her colleague, did she not trust him? Did it seem dangerous to her? There was no justification of why and was she just doing this research on her free time, was the excavation canceled because of the flood? It says Hector followed her for days. Was she just in her room for that entire time? I doubt it, so how did she explain Hector to others or did he just disappear when she was out and about? I’m left with a lot of questions which was a little frustrating. I could go on and on but I think you understand, there needed to be a lot more detail and thoroughness of story and events.

Hector is fun and amusing. It was an interesting take making this character a man. I like that he’s more of a fun god but you know he can mess you up if you do something wrong. He flirts with the Lena from the beginning so it’s not really an enemies to lovers. I like seeing the transition from him calling her mortal to Lena. I wish I got to see more build up of their relationship. Their relationship is fast in the beginning, they’ve been with each other for weeks training because I’ve been told they were but because the writing says they trained for those weeks but didn’t go into their relationship further, I didn’t get to see or read them getting closer, stealing those glances and subtle touches, etc, I didn’t get a sense of their relationship, their journey together, by chapter 7 he’s saying he would never let her die and that she cares for him but it seemed off given what little relationship they had up to this point. I think everything just seemed so fast, interactions, timelines, etc, I wanted it to slow down in some parts. This book only 220 pages, I feel like I would have liked it to be longer, they would have more opportunities for story as mentioned. While brief, I enjoyed the side characters and getting to know them, I wonder who else we shall see. Ending ends on a cliffhanger but not a big one so I appreciate that lol.

Overall, I think with some tweaks and additional storyline, this author could have something magical on their hands. The author should be really proud of themselves for the work that they did. Greek Fantasy books are hard to write because we’ve read about these specific gods throughout school, we are familiar with them, so to change it up and add a story is an amazing feat. I just thank you for giving me the opportunity to read your book.

[Lucy Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesss to anything Greek mythology!!! Hector (Hekate) and Lena their relationship is everything the tension, the banter, the tug towards each other was 🥹 also if you love a power that could save or destroy the world and a prophecy that they try to defy this book is for you🥰

[Ahana M Rao (Heart’s Content) · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can find this review of Those Who Wait on my blog, Heart's Content!

A big shout out and thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review! Thank you.

The thing that both drew me and made me stick to reading Those Who Wait is that is has a very interesting theme it is rooted in. Boasting a mix of archeology, Greek Gods, high stakes, prophecy and action, TWW is a ‘quick bites’ read that you can easily consume in a few hours.

TWW begins with an intense moment and remains hovering near that energy level for the most part, through the whole book. To me there are both merits and demerits to this. When a book remains in a constant state of near-tension, it can either be extremely gripping or saturate a reader. This could result in the important moments not possessing the level of impact they should. I think for me personally, the book remained in a grey area that existed between both of those consequences. But the pace benefited a lot from this, because there was a general flow to the story that remained consistent throughout and was easy to follow through and stick to the story as a reader.

The length of TWW works greatly in its favour and also sometimes not. The plot in this story unravels swiftly, and it’s usually all quick and purposeful step after step. It was definitely super exciting to see so many of the Greek Gods together in one book. However, I do feel the demerit of this, is that the character development and relationship arcs didn’t have as much time or scene space. This resulted (in my mind) a large gap in my experience as a reader watching characters I had not even had time to understand or witness connect to one another, wanting to risk their lives and declaring deep feelings for one another.

The book follows a simple single person perspective narration and while it doesn’t delve deep into the details of the main characters’ life or emotions (as already mentioned), it does depict—in the best way it can with the little time there is—every sharp in-moment reaction with some banter, tension and action.

The world building was set up to succeed as most of the characters that appear are well known—Greek Gods and all. So the only new aspect was perhaps the author’s take on their personalities and their own unique influences on the plot. As mentioned earlier, the world wasn’t hard to understand and navigate and greatly aided the reader’s progress of the story.

The writing was extremely simple and easy to follow. There was something interesting I perceived, where a certain important information mentioned in the first few chapters in the book, as a reader I completely forgot about until a word was later mentioned that triggered the memory. It wasn’t brought up again in this book, but if it was intended by the author to hide that particular plot line, then I was pleased to have forgotten about it! I was surprised it never came up again but it makes me wonder if maybe it’s a set-up for the next book.

I was quite surprised by many of the things that happened in this book and it didn’t all always fit together or feel like it was explained wholly. It felt to me, like there were a few disconnected ideas that were set beside one another to form a story with some tropes ticked off. Or perhaps the lack of time to explore, explain and understand anything came off in this way to me.

Those Who Wait is a fun, fast paced and tension filled quick read with lots of Greek Gods! If these are things you enjoy, do dive in. However, if you’re looking for a deep dive into the psyche of the characters, their pasts and present connections, then maybe this might not be the book for you right now.

Three stars! As always please check trigger warnings before reading as there are themes in this book that can be difficult for some. Happy reading!

[Next Chapter Mama · Rating 3 out of 5]

Modern day Greek mythology fantasy that falls flat in character buy in. The story starts very quickly and I had very little time to get to know the FMC before the introduction of the MMC. It felt rushed and upon learning more of the FMCs backstory, I feel I could have connected so much better if some time had been spent on that in the early stages of the book. I wasn’t thrilled with the story of the MMC either with the gender bending of the Greek Gods original story, especially one so beloved by witchy women of the world.

As I was reading I found myself wanting to be a lot more invested than I was. I didn’t feel much of anything as the MCs went through trials and tribulations until passed the halfway mark. At that point I should have felt a lot more emotional connection and reactions to events as they occurred. The bright spots for me were the interactions with the other Greek Gods and Goddesses. They had more wit and personality than the MCs. A lot of what should have been major epic chapters felt very rushed and short. Blink and you miss it action.

I really loved the idea of this book being a Greek mythology enthusiast, but I wish the characters had been flushed out a lot more in the opening chapters so that the story could have unfolded in a more dramatic and meaningful way. I would read the next book to see if it connects better but this book was just ok for me.

I received an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Rachelle Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Those Who Wait | Georgia Spearing✨
Spoiler Free!
ARC Reader and review.

Wow! This book was so fun, exciting, full of adventures and twists. Just as you think you know things about Hector and Lena, Georgia comes in and adds another layer to these characters that makes you want to shake them with questions.
The plot and characters were so fun to immerse myself in. The world and her use of Greek Mythos(with a twist!👀👍🏻) really lends to being able to feel you’re right there with these two as they take on the challenges set before them.
Who knew that one archaeological dig site would throw our FMC’s entire life into chaos? Ha! 😂
Hector is the protective MMC we have all come to enjoy reading. He’s broody and moody but underneath it all he’s a big softy especially for Lena. I truly enjoyed getting to know his character and I’m so looking forward to the next book as I want more. (I have questions!!!! So many!!! 😄)
Lena is a strong, stubborn and independent FMC that brings depth to the whole story and is the glue to two worlds merging as the book takes her through so many ups and downs, leaving the readers wanting to know more about her and her past. Lena’s fierce spirit drives her and add in Hectors determination you have a gold mine of banter, sarcasm and character depth that we come to love in a fantasy romance. These two bring the slow burn and tension with each chapter and yes there is spice and it’s sooo worth the wait! ❤️‍🔥🌶️👌🏻
You are introduced to an array of Greek Gods but Georgia has way of not overwhelming the reader with information about them while still letting you know who they are and their purpose to the storyline. Hello Persephone and Hades! 😍
I 100% recommend picking this beauty up and letting yourself get lost in their adventure as the world of the Gods and Mortals starts to merge and fate hangs in the balance!
It is the first book in a series and it does have a bit of a cliffhanger for an ending so be aware you will be left wanting more just as you’d expect. 🤞🏻
Overall:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, and I did, but not enough.
There are large gaps throughout and the more I read, the less of a connection I felt for either of the main characters and the more I found myself wanting to know some background on Lena, the MFC.
I assumed (stupidly) that these gaps would be filled later in the book.  They were not, so despite the really good premise,  I just found myself becoming more and more frustrated.

Having said all of the above,  I think that the author is on to a winner with this, and I don't doubt that the rest of the series will be stronger.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for providing a spoiler-free review.

And sorry that I suck at reviews 😅

Overall this book is a good start to a series. I give it a 3.75 but goodreads don't review like that, so Georgia, you get a round up

The story starts off with our FMC basically giving White Lady FAFO vibes (as a very pale white Canadian chick, I feel like I can accurately call it out).
Lena finds some anciet relic in a storm, and basically, all ancient cultures are somewhere screaming, "Put. IT. BACK!"

By Chapter 3, we grt to the Find Out of the previously mentioned FAFO.

Of course, things get crazy. Like strap in, blink and ya miss it fast-paced.

I enjoyed this book and I am very curious to see where Lena and Hector end up and what crazy gods tier shenanigans they'll get into and out of in future books!

[Moo · Rating 2 out of 5]

thanks for the arc Georgia

I want to start by saying that this book was in no means bad, I just don't think the pacing worked well for me.
Also for the author, I think there is an error on the early pages that Hector is introduced because he is called by his name before we know what it is. I'm not sure if this was on purpose or not but it confused me when I first saw it.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. I do love the concept of the Greek gods with the focus being Hecate. I felt the story was rushed especially in the beginning, it was like boom she found the amulet then met Hector and found out about Greek gods in the first chapter. I wish there was more buildup.Overall the story was interesting but I felt I needed more.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book as an ARC and I was extremely, pleasantly surprised! The writing and overall pacing could use some editing but this was a very fun read and I’m excited to see what else this author does

[E.J. Lindell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was an advanced reader for Those Who Wait. This was a great intro into Georgia's writing style and the different views on the Greek gods was refreshing to read about. After I closed the final page of the book I was left wanting to know more about what was going to happen!

[Manvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got the recommendation of this book from a friend of mine. Please don't mind my poor reviewing skills coz this is my first review on Goodreads, maybe I'm doing this coz I really liked this book. The first four to five pages just passed by. At the beginning I thought that I'll give up reading this book as I'm interested more in reading manhwas and all but I was really attracted to the idea of Hector who is supposed to be the queen of witches and of course an old woman.
The way this story proceeds slowly and the details of each scenes....were all the key points why I finished this book in just 5 days(like man, as a beginner I think I should be praised) even before my friend who recommended me. I love the chemistry between Hector and Lena, the way he supports her and indirectly(of course directly when necessary)gives hints to her and also the flow of emotion between them, he even proves in some moments that he knows her even better than herself....ugh I don't know what to say.
And what to say about Lena's character....She is soo good. Like she gives off that young, beautiful and strong female vibes. She is so powerful, hardworking, self-motivated and most importantly STUBBORN. She really never gives up. Even after going through that Hera's trap and all...She finishes it all after nearly dying.
Ngl I really thought at sometimes that I could finish it off in one go..Like it was really interesting for me. After reading more than half of it, when Lena also fell for Hector, she started to notice the tiniest things(like dimples and all) and yeah, it was making me more and more interested that what is going to happen next,
I also liked the twist in the ending about her eyes and so on. I loved the fact that the author brings the beginning and the ending altogether by mentioning about Lena's parents.

Overall I really liked this book as a real beginner. Already looking forward to the next part :)

[GrimmDantes · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚[RESEÑA]📚 "𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁" de Georgia Spearing.

[CALIFICACIÓN] ⭐⭐⭐

"𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝐺𝑜𝑑𝑠 𝑑𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚."

𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗔𝗦:

Out of deference for the author, I will post the review in English first:

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 is the first part of author Georgia Spearing's The Rise and Ruin bilogy, which will be fully available this year. First of all, I would like to thank the author for the opportunity to read the ARC. Now, I dive right in with a spoiler-free review until the official release.

This book is very easy to devour. Spearing has a dynamic and easy to understand pen (knowing that English is not my first language), which makes the pages fly by.

The plot provides an appealing proposition for Young Adult readers, vaguely reminiscent of Rick Riordan's fast-paced books, with their numerous references to Greco-Roman mythology, and the challenges faced by Lena, our protagonist. With her stubbornness as her banner, she ends up with Hector (if you don't read the full synopsis, it's a surprise to find out who he really is, and I thought it was a very original twist), and the two must cooperate in order not to perish in the chase they are subjected to.

I like the chemistry between the two, although it did suffer a bit because much of the plot development seemed rushed to me. Although it was mentioned to me that it was an ‘enemies to lovers’, I see it more as a typical ‘haters to lovers’. A mechanic that in turn seems to me to be very short-lived.

Like other climactic moments, I get the feeling that they are resolved too easily and too hastily. I would have preferred the book to be more extended and to emphasise the lore and the relationship between the main characters and also with the secondary characters.

Nevertheless, it is one of those books that leaves you wanting to know what will happen in the next part. Many doors close at the end, but one remains open that will undoubtedly lead to an apotheosic closing of the bilogy.

********************************

Vale, ahora en español:

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 es la primera parte de la bilogía The Rise and Ruin de la autora Georgia Spearing, cuyas dos partes estarán disponibles este año. En primer lugar, quiero agradecer a la autora la oportunidad de leer el ARC. Ahora, entro en materia con una reseña libre de spoilers hasta la publicación oficial.

Este libro se devora de manera muy fácil. Spearing tiene una pluma dinámica y fácil de entender (sabiendo que el inglés no es mi primer idioma), que hace que las páginas se pasen volando.

La trama trae una propuesta atractiva para lectores Young Adult, recordando vagamente al ritmo trepidante de los libros de Rick Riordan con sus numerosas referencias a la mitología grecorromana, y los desafíos a los que se enfrenta Lena, nuestra protagonista. Con la cabezonería por bandera, acaba vinculada a Héctor (si no leéis la sinopsis completa pilla de sorpresa saber quién es en realidad, y me ha parecido un giro muy original), y ambos deberán cooperar para no perecer en la persecución a la que se ven sometidos.

La química entre los dos me gusta, aunque se ha visto un poco afectada debido a que buena parte del desarrollo de la trama me ha parecido apresurado. Aunque se me mencionó que era un 'enemies to lovers', yo lo considero más bien el típico 'haters to lovers'. Mecánica que a su vez me parece que dura muy poco.

Al igual que otros momentos de clímax, me da la sensación de que se resuelven de forma muy fácil y apresurada. Hubiera preferido que el libro se extendiera más e hiciera hincapié en el lore y la relación entre los personajes principales, y a su vez, con los secundarios.

No obstante, es uno de esos libros que dejan con ganas de saber qué pasará en la siguiente parte. Muchas puertas se cierran al final, pero queda abierta una que sin duda dará paso a un cierre de bilogía apoteósico.

¿𝗤𝗨𝗘́ 𝗣𝗨𝗘𝗗𝗘𝗦 𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗥?

· Mitología griega.
· Dios x mortal.
· Fated soulmates.
· Profecías.

[Prateekee Chatterjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

* ARC Reader & Review *
* No Major Spoiler *

*Those Who Wait* is a masterful blend of mythological intrigue, emotional depth, and gripping adventure. Georgia Spearing’s debut novel grips the reader from the first page and doesn’t let go, delivering a tale that is as emotionally resonant as it is fantastical. With its strong-willed protagonist, mythological undertones, and compelling romantic tension, this novel stands as a remarkable contribution to the fantasy genre.

The story centers around Hena, an archaeologist whose discovery of a mysterious amulet in the Greek ruins sets off a series of supernatural events. The artifact, etched with a labyrinth and forged with horsehair and silver, becomes the catalyst for her entanglement with Hector—a being of godlike power, ego, and danger. As her reality begins to unravel with visions, whispers, and inexplicable phenomena, Hena is forced to confront truths about the artifact, its origins, and her own fate.

Spearing does an excellent job weaving ancient mythology—specifically Greek myth—into a modern narrative without relying on clichés. Hector, who reveals himself to be an embodiment of the goddess Hecate, defies conventional gender norms and deific depictions. The idea that gods choose how they appear, and that Hecate’s power is fluid, is a refreshing and contemporary take on mythology that adds depth and complexity to the character. The gender-bending divinity plays beautifully into the book's broader themes of identity, destiny, and power.

One of the novel’s strongest elements is its emotional honesty. Hena is portrayed with nuance—intelligent, skeptical, and emotionally guarded due to a painful childhood. Her gradual unraveling, both in her belief systems and emotional walls, feels organic. Her reluctant alliance (and growing attraction) with Hector is laden with tension—part banter, part vulnerability, and part simmering chemistry. Spearing’s dialogue is snappy, full of wit and bite, making their interactions both entertaining and meaningful.

Stylistically, the novel balances action and introspection well. The prose is vivid and cinematic, with intense sequences like earthquakes and magical visions feeling immediate and immersive. At the same time, Spearing does not shy away from quieter, more reflective moments, which ground the narrative emotionally and thematically.

If there’s any critique to be had, it might be that the exposition around the mythos occasionally veers into heavy-handedness. At times, the novel’s pacing pauses to accommodate lore dumps that could be more seamlessly integrated. That said, the richness of the world Spearing is building more than compensates for this.

I will no doubt be eagerly awaiting the sequel.

[Ihsan Baca Buku · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this. The premise had potential—Greek mythology, ancient powers, a buried prophecy, purple-eyed morally grey men—but the execution didn’t quite land for me.

There’s a lot that could have worked here, but it felt like a forced enemies-to-lovers setup right from the start. Lena is inexplicably angry at Hector in the beginning, which felt unearned and confusing. The "training montage" arc doesn’t help either—Hector calls her mortal and weak, yet expects her to perform like one of them? The logic was fuzzy.

Speaking of fuzzy: the magic system. It’s... kind of everything and nothing at once? Hector’s power within the amulet seems to do whatever the plot demands, but even he seems surprised by it, which makes no sense since it’s his. Then we throw in some vague soul bond, telepathic conversations, and a prophecy that’s only two lines long (seriously?), and I’m just left blinking. It's also unclear why Hector is... in a different form than his Hecate persona, and ... we don't know why, or how it happened and... I mean, that's pretty important. Why only him, and not the other gods?

Also, Lena is supposed to be leading an archaeological dig and yet has barely any knowledge of the Greek gods. There’s some serious dissonance there. And Hector—while I'm always here for purple eyes and brooding men—keeps throwing out empty threats like he’s a villain in a first draft.

The writing itself also didn’t help. There’s an overuse of certain phrases (how many times can someone "smirk" or “soften their tone” in one book?), awkward phrasing, and some repetition that slowed the pace.

The romance, unfortunately, lacked development. One minute they’re hostile, and the next they’re in love. Then suddenly, we’re told they’re soulmates? I needed more buildup, more emotional depth, and less insta-love vibes.

By the time Hera’s trial came around, things were feeling a bit cringe. The vibes just weren’t it. And then suddenly she's battling Zeus and by then, I don't know what's going on and ... probably don't care to. Like, why is he even trying to kill her, I don't know... The only good thing was this wasn't too long of a book so I didn't have to suffer through it too much.

I received this as an ARC and I... don't think I will be continuing the next book in the series. You may still want to give this a try if you like This might be for you if you like insta-love romances with fated mate tropes, Greek god reimaginings with a modern flair (wasn't for me, tho I do enjoy Greek mythology), light fantasy where magic isn’t fully explained.

[Matthew Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚✨ 442/400 ✨📚
Those Who Wait by Geoegia Spearing

Well, Georgia Spearing has completely blindsided me in the best way. I went in knowing almost nothing (my favorite way to read), armed only with a love for historical elements, archaeology, ancient artifacts, Greek mythology, and a whispered promise of unhinged, powerful magic. I truly never stood a chance. From the opening pages, Spearing crafts an atmosphere steeped in mystery and reverence for the past, blending history and myth so seamlessly that the story feels both ancient and urgently alive. I trusted my intuition, picking this one up, and thank the gods I did. I fell hard.

This was my first experience with Spearing’s work, but it won’t be my last. Her writing is quietly confident, immersive, and deceptively subtle in how it captures your attention. She doesn’t demand focus; she earns it. Much of that success lies in her characters, especially the FMC, who is an absolute force, intelligent, resilient, and deeply human. A true badass without ever feeling contrived. Spearing has a gift for crafting characters that are instantly endearing, making it impossible not to care deeply about their fate.

Thematically, Those Who Wait explores patience and perseverance, legacy, destiny versus free will, and humanity’s enduring relationship with the ancient world. The past isn’t just a backdrop. It actively shapes the present, haunting and guiding the characters in equal measure. There’s also a sharp examination of sacrifice, obsession, and the cost of forbidden knowledge, all of which drive the narrative and raise the emotional stakes.

Spearing weaves these elements into a beautifully paced story filled with suspense and moments of raw emotional intensity, twisting your heart and daring you not to feel it. The balance between mythological intrigue, archaeological mystery, and visceral magic is expertly handled, resulting in a story that feels both intimate and epic. Those Who Wait is haunting, thrilling, and deeply affecting, and I’ll be fiendishly hunting down the rest of this series, and Spearing’s entire backlist, without hesitation.

[Zahra (Bookish_Platypus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

This book was very Indiana Jones meets Percy Jackson in the best way!

Read this book for:
✨ Mythology
✨ Fated Mates
✨ Chosen One
✨ Touch Her and Die

Hector is introduced with a dark and brooding personality that quickly evolves into something so loveable. He has these strong "touch her and die" vibes that gripped my heart.

Lena has a whole cute and nerdy thing going on but she's also fiercely independent and pretty relatable.

I had a good time with both of our main characters. Those Who Wait definitely falls in the category of Romantasy with Greek Mythology and Romance themes. We primarily follow Lena and Hector and I couldn't get enough of them together! Their scenes and chemistry are written so well. I do personally wish I got a little more build-up in their early friendship -> relationship but omg who cares that much when you get all that tension and lust and LOVE later. ✨ There is some mild spice too ✨

The story set-up with the Greek Gods and the powerful artifact is such a cool concept, I honestly could not get over how awesome it was. I loved getting a look at Lena in her Indiana Jones element and Hector barging into her work and life was pretty funny.

There are several side characters that get introduced throughout the book. They're all fun and interesting but I wish we got to know them more. The story has some time jumps that help to move the plot along but I honestly wish we didn't jump and instead got more of those little stories within the big story. There is also some lore set-up that we don't exactly get a pay-off with and I was hoping to get some sort of reveal relating to Lena's backstory towards the end of the book. It also would've been cool to expand more on her power and abilities. That being said I am so ready for more of this story! Between the awesome premise and the amazing writing, this is a book you won't want to miss.

I would absolutely recommend this book to fans of Divine Rivals!

[LitAndLustful · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those Who Wait
Georgia Spearing


I devoured this book so quickly! It is a perfect story for those that like Mythology fiction that is rebuilt.

My initial thought on this book is that it's a female badass Indiana Jones mixed with Percy Jackson themes for adults. It is filled with action, adventure and romance.

The minute you start the book you are pulled into excitement and suspense. It is a quick read that never leaves you bored.

Lena is a great main character , not putting up with anything from anyone and is an awesome female empowerment example. Her story shows strength, resilience, and just enough sarcasm. In this story she is constantly being challenged and you root for her the whole time.

Hector comes stampeding in, in that hot confident God way. You want to hate him , but you just know he's too hot and important right away. He starts out cocky and closed off, then he ends up being supportive and loving. This isn't a story of a damsel in distress though, and that makes me like him even more.

Hera is a presence, and I want more.

Daddy Hades, no reason, but he gives Daddy Hades feels , and he's cheeky

Everyone needs a Persephone bestie.

Plenty of nods to places and artifacts in Greek Mythology

I have so many questions and can't wait until the official release to ask them! No spoilers for now!

You can tell that Georgia Spearing is starting to build up her own world and a lot more is to come. I hope! There has to be! Because I want more!


-Slight enemies to lovers.
-Strong side characters
-Training montage
-Safe and cozy together
-Slight Cliff-hanger
-🌶️🌶️ Spice is not a main theme of the book, but it is in there!
🔱🏺📜🦉☁️⚡👩‍❤️‍👨♥️


Fate is truly the main theme of this book.

[Kryssi · Rating 3 out of 5]

* I was given this e-book as part of an ARC with me giving honest review for reading it early. This review is only my opinion * (spoiler-free until release day)

I gave this book 3 stars because I liked it, the story was interesting and I love Greek Mythology. However, I left feeling underwhelmed and wishing there was more to the story for me to really connect with. (I like starting with cons and close on pros to end my reviews with a good note)

Personally, I am only a fan of fast storylines if it was detailed enough, world-built enough, and I felt connection to the characters. This story is incredibly fast-paced and I felt there wasn’t enough time to actually get to know Lena and Hector before their journey together. It just didn’t feel organic between them. Also everything was just too rushed and I found myself re-reading important paragraphs trying to decipher what was actually happening.

The FMC and MMC also lacked personality to me. Not enough time was spent on their interactions with each other or their backgrounds to make me feel any connection to them.

What I really liked was the side characters. Their personalities were strong and fascinating to me. Even though there was minimal time spent with them, they held my attention more than the MC’s did. I think the storyline at its premise is really good which is what drew me to sign up for the ARC in the first place. The ending, although rushed and quick, left on a cliffhanger that makes me believe the power was grossly understated throughout the story.

Overall, I think this is a good intro to fantasy-mythology and I would recommend it to people that have Not read fantasy or mythology books before. And I still would read the second book.

Sincerely,
Kryssi @bookedbykryssi

[Jo ThreadsAndFiction · Rating 2 out of 5]

Greek mythology meets modern day in a whirlwind blink and you miss what's happening adventure. Short and easy enough to follow, probably one for YA mythology lovers and Percy Jackson fans.

There is a lot of story packed into the just under 250 pages book and unfortunately I think the romance struggled to keep up with the pace. We fall head first immediately into action which was exciting and captured my interest. Unfortunately, there's huge time skips early on over periods that would be important for the relationship growth, and as a result it feels a bit of a shallow insta-love as we miss a lot of what could be key bonding moments. Also the story is advertised as enemies to lovers but at what point were they enemies? There was some dislike but never enemies.

The choice of the gender switch could be fun, however it seems a bit weird that it is, so far, only the one goddess that is used on? It feels like it was forced in purely to have this particular deity as a straight love interest as it's not repeated with any of the others. Further thoughts, a very much a questionable choice to change the gender of an iconic goddess and attribute her powers to a man? But perhaps I am thinking too deeply into it with that one.
I think it's also worth noting that the FMC is an archaeologist working in Greece yet struggles to identify the gods/goddesses from simple clues which I understand is likely for the tension and build up for readers who perhaps aren't familiar with them, but broke my immersion in her character a little.

There's a lot of potential and the series could be amazing, but it's a slight stumble off the start line - I look forward to seeing where it goes.

Thank you to Georgia for the ARC <3

[Sophie Hutchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Those eyes- those perfect, impossibly purple eyes- held me captive. They were mesmerising.”

This is everything I want from a romantasy story!

It’s fast paced, full of drama and action. There’s so much mythology packed into this and I love the unique characterisation of all the gods.

Lena was story and smart, she kept hector on his toes for sure. She goes through such a journey in such a short amount of time and her ending had me sobbing.

Hector was cheeky and crafty and full of smirks, exactly what you’d expect from a witchcraft god. I loved the way even when he was safe in the ‘I don’t like Lena’ zone he was her protector. He was always there’s for her.

I truly got their hate to love relationship it made sense, and I liked the way they would banter and bicker with each other.

“We can’t change what’s ahead, but we can hold onto this, to us- let’s make every heartbeat, every second, ours.”

It was so nice to see a Greek gods story based on different gods than the normal big three. I liked that this one was based around Hecate or as he’s called in this Hector. I quite often see stories based around the big gods, so I really liked getting to see one about Hecate/Hector.

This book had me crying, and although it’s not a huge cliffhanger, even when you think it will be, it has you ready for the sequel to see where Lena and Hector end up and what other trials they must face.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

“I don’t care about anyone else but you. I would never use you. You mean something to me- something real.”

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shout out to the author for including a playlist at the back of the book. I love when authors include little fun extras like that. It's like getting a little special insight into their minds. This book was fun but could have been a little bit longer. I would have liked to see more relationship building conversations between Lena and Hector. Most of their relationship seems to be built on her learning to use her power and him being tied to her.

When Lena first find's Hecate's Wheel, she is working with a team on an archaeologist dig. I do wish there would have been more clues to the time period, because for like the first 25% of the book I couldn't figure out if the book was taking place in modern day or in the 50s. Lena immediately has a surge of power when she finds this mysterious object. Over the next few days, she is scouring texts trying to find anything about it when Hector finds her. Hector is smarmy grump. I liked their banter, but like I said I felt like there could have been more relationship building.

Hector let's Lena know what the artifact is, and that God's are now trying to find her to control its power. Oh, and Lena is now bonded to Hector; if she dies, he dies too. From here the book moves fairly quickly and there is a kind of written training montage as we watch Lena learn her powers while meeting some notable Gods and Goddesses along the way.

This is a fun adult romance fantasy book and I'm excited to see where the story goes.

Thanks to Georgia Spearing for the advanced reader's copy. All opinions are my own.

[Aria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Those Who Wait is a slow-burn, Greek-myth-inspired fantasy and the first book in the Rise & Ruin duology, and it landed at 3.5 stars for me. Set in a world shaped by meddling gods, old prophecies, and fraying oaths, it follows characters caught between what they were sworn to protect and what they are now desperate to save—blending destiny, political tension, and aching, complicated relationships. The tone is atmospheric and emotional, with a strong focus on inner conflict and the weight of past choices rather than constant action.I really enjoyed the mythological twist and the way the story explores loyalty, grief, and duty versus desire, especially through morally grey characters whose decisions don’t have easy answers. The writing has a lyrical, thoughtful quality, and when the emotional beats land, they land hard. The romance (and potential romance) threads feel very much like a true slow burn, simmering beneath all the gods-and-mortals politics.Where it sits at 3.5 rather than higher for me is mostly pacing and density: the worldbuilding and emotional focus are rich, but at times the story felt a little too slow and introspective, and I occasionally wanted clearer forward momentum and sharper clarity around the stakes. That said, as the opening to a duology, it lays compelling groundwork, and I’m interested to see how the second book pays everything off. I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kati Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book, and I waited to post for many reasons. I’m not fully sure how to rate this one. I’d say 2.5/3? So I rounded up.

The premise of this was exciting, but from page one I just didn’t feel that expected rush you get from a book you know you’re going to love. The pacing in the beginning is off, the dialogue falls flat and the writing is redundant (use of the same words or phrases over and over).

I lost full interest in the FMC when she didnt put together who the first goddess we’re introduced to was. She’s supposed to be an archeologist, and yet, with the clues she’s given, she still doesn’t put together anything in front of her. Even someone with half knowledge of greek gods like myself could put it together before an introduction, so for the character to be clueless, it just made me lose any small interest I did have in her.

I also did not fully get the idea of the love between Hector and Lena. I get that it was a “unexplainable pull”—a fated situation—but it just didnt feel dynamic to me at all.

I pushed through, though, and the ending twist I actually did enjoy very much. There is a part of me curious about what is going to happen and where the story continues from here, so I may pick up the sequel.

If you like greek mythology, love at first sight, and twist endings, then definitely give this a try!

[Val]

I received an eARC of Those Who Wait — thank you so much for kindly sending it my way! 🙏 Unfortunately, I had to DNF at page 25, and I’m honestly a little sad about it, since this is my very first official DNF. 😔

I went into it with curiosity and an open mind, but I just couldn’t find my way into the story.

The foundation was definitely there: an interesting concept and promising tropes. Sadly, the execution felt a bit rough. I had a hard time connecting with the world and characters, and often found myself wishing for more details or background to help everything click into place.

The writing style in past tense created a bit of distance for me. It felt more like a list of events than a flowing, immersive storytelling. At times, I also found myself questioning the logic behind certain elements. For example, the FMC is 23 and already leading a solo archaeology expedition, which might be possible, sure, but without more context, it felt a bit unrealistic.

Dialogue and pacing felt rushed in places, too, and I just didn’t feel grounded enough to keep going.

That said, I can see the potential in this story, and I’m sure it’ll work better for other readers. It just wasn’t the right fit for me, at least not right now. 💔

[Diamanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello, people!
First of all, let me mention that this book is the first book in the Rise & Ruin series.
When I saw the cover, I saw a strange writing style for most people. But not for me. The font and the letters made it very Greek to me. And that was one reason to read it. Moving on, on the cover, the author's name is quite Greek. So was the back cover, whose names were also Greek, as was the myth. So, this book was something I had to read, since I love Greek mythology, and I don't. In recent years, retellings have been one of my favorite literary genres.
Here it is worth noting that the book is a breathless read. The plot has dynamics, the first-person POV makes reading a race and the writing has passion. The only thing I would have liked and missed is the fact that there was no deepening in the characters. This may of course be due to the fact that it is the first book in the series. I have seen it happen many times and for this reason I would like to read the second book in the series. I have a feeling that it will be stronger and with more character development. After all, the first is a glimpse of the story, usually. So I can't wait for the sequel!

Many thanks to the author and Bookworm Books PR for the eARC!

This is my honest review!

[Chelbie Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a soft spot for Greek God inspired stories & this one made my heart happy 🖤

Lena, the archeologist FMC, starts off as an orphaned woman hardened by abandonment… who ends up with more than she ever imagined. Turns into a little bad ass too!

This story was a desire to belong, coming of age love story! One with ALL the well known Gods and Goddesses, deathly trials, trials that test the goodness in its characters, incredible powers & unbreakable bonds. The MMC, Hector, was witty and had a “touch her & die” attitude by the end of the story. I liked him & their bond was cute!🥰

The only critique (and it’s tiny and more so funny than anything) is the authors fixation of eyes and describing the MMC’s Purple eyes. She mentioned his “purple”, “amethyst” or “violet” eyes about 12 times in the first 10% of the book 😂 and then scattered throughout the other 90%. There was heavy emphasis on eyes in general. Especially when reading the dialogue between characters. All of which I didn’t hate! It’s just an observation. Don’t worry Spearing, I love eyes too! I totally get it lol

If you enjoy Greek Gods, I recommend this story!

[Ravensreadingnest · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I received a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Georgia!

Those Who Wait is a perfect entry into the fantasy/romantasy genre. Georgia has a wonderful way of blending Greek mythology into her storytelling without being overwhelming or confusing. There is no need to be an expert of history in order to enjoy this read. If you’re interested in Greek mythology but don’t know where to start, this book is a light introduction!

The pacing is a bit inconsistent for my reading preferences but if you enjoy a fast paced book with action and instalove between the main characters then this could be for you! The MMC and the FMC are fated soulmates and start off with an enemies to lovers vibe. However, their relationship develops very quickly and seemingly out of nowhere, hence the “instalove” vibe. I would have liked to see more of the relationship form!

I would say this book fits the genre of new adult since there is one mildly spicy scene. However, it is an ongoing series so it may get progressively spicier as it continues! The writing is easy to follow and could be geared towards a younger age group minus the light spice.