Blood of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #1)

by Jasmine Mas

Here’s a crazy idea—if they wanted people to live, they shouldn’t have held a massacre to begin with. Just saying.

Legitimately yes. Their system makes no sense

Girding my lady loins,

I think my life would be better if this book had never been written

His calloused fingers lingered on my arm as he slowly released me, like he didn’t want to let go.

So is she gonna have a romance with..3-4 dudes at once? And all of them are horrible?

He could easily uncover all my secrets.

Genuinely asking here, what secrets do you have

“But we’ve recently...” Achilles shook his head.

Oh it is a romance with 4 guys. And we get a bit of fetishization on the side as a treat. Glad I’m reading this during pride month

Shocked, eyes wide open, it took me a second to realize that he was kissing me. A boy was kissing me.

Why does nobody in this book believe in consent

He’s dead. And for some reason, it’s because of me.

It’s really not. It’s 100% the psycho who’s doing this’s fault

I’d also daydreamed about Carl Gauss shirtless, secretly started writing another fan fiction about him,

Girl when did you have the time

The free the nips (and lips) campaign was a mindset, not necessarily a reality.

You coward. You absolute coward

“Cunt—absolute cunt, served.”

NO

“We’re going to dance now.” There was an edge of violence in his modified voice, something I didn’t like.

He doesn’t understand consent. This has gotta be one of the four love interests

The tension tripled.

Love how she just tells us there’s tension instead of actually building a tense scene

“We’re going to dance with you now,” one of them said. It wasn’t a question. It was a command.

Is this supposed to be hot

“Why the fuck,” said the man pressed against my front, “are these out? You really can’t take care of yourself, can you?”

This is the least sexy thing I have ever read

The man behind me pushed his hips forward—a bulge dug into my lower back.

Ok how tall is he? Or would the better question be, how short is she

Why does that sound so familiar?

I knew who these dudes were pages ago. I fear you’re just stupid

“That was insane—the chemistry,”

Oh so we’re just glossing over the blatant sexual assault? Why am I surprised

Butterflies danced like knives in my stomach.

Danced like knives…?

Just calm down. It’s over now. Don’t think about the men. Worry about it tomorrow after the graduation.

Seriously, am I supposed to think this is hot? Can’t believe I’m once again having the same struggle as with haunting adeline, which is that it’s hard to believe something is intended to be sexy when the female character very obviously struggles with being assaulted. Of course, the writing is so bad I doubt I’d find anything in this book to be anything but cringe, but whatever

The rope was extremely strong.

This writing is just so juvenile

None of it made any sense.

You’re telling me!

I dodged his grip because this was my anger. Not his.

Yeah and that’s why this kind of behavior from a love interest isn’t cute

I was like them. I was Chthonic. No. No. No. No. No. No.

I gotta be honest. I don’t even understand the stakes of this

Hercules was the eight-letter word embroidered on the fabric I’d been found in as a baby. It was a name, not a label.

Awesome. So glad that we foreshadowed this

“Daughter—it’s really you?”

Sure, who even cares about greek mythology. Let’s just do whatever we want. Nothing matters

“Since she’s an honorable heiress who was forced to endure the savage crucible—per our customs, something must be done to right the grave dishonor that she’s suffered... I propose an alliance with my house. A marriage.”

I think he made that rule up because what

Why would Helen be punished for being kidnapped? Why would I be dishonorable when they forced me to participate in the crucible?

Pointing out stupid things in your story doesn’t stop them from being stupid, Jasmine!

“Each box was wrapped in red velvet, and a black silk bow with gold trim was tied at the top—each contained two of the three customary gifts. Symbols of our protection were laid atop priceless heirlooms.”

All of these nonsensical and last minute twists are really giving Lightlark vibes and I can feel myself getting angry

Pure male satisfaction oozed off him, like he’d played the long game and won.

Oh now I’m mad. What does pure male satisfaction MEAN

I’m the fucking loophole. I’m how he gets around the law and doesn’t have to marry an Olympian.

Again, what are the stakes of this. What would this actually mean for characters. Or do I just need to read your mind, Jasmine? Although, I doubt I’d even get anything that way since you probably didn’t even think about it

“Both Chthonic heirs?” someone gasped. “That’s insane.”

Biblical greed. I think.

“It stated,” Augustus interrupted him smoothly, “that we could not marry only one of the ten Chthonic names that were listed in the law. Alexis Hert was not on that list.”

Holy GOD this is SO STUPID

And they’d touched me so...intimately. The worst part? I’d enjoyed it.

I remember you shutting down but sure

They used charisma to hide what they really were.

Awesome thanks for just TELLING ME LIKE IM AN IDIOT

My lower lip trembled as I glared at them, and Augustus’s face fell. He looked shattered.

Boo hoo the woman I manipulated into marrying me isn’t happy about it

If one more man spoke for me, I was going to lose it.

we agree on something for once

Time warped.

I haven’t commented on this until now but good lord what are these scene transitions. If this book was professionally edited I would be shocked. And also think that maybe that editor shouldn’t be a professional

I smiled coldly. “I do. Gladly.”

Ah yes, a sudden 180. Why do genuine character development instead

no human travel across the Atlantic.

Oh I guess it makes sense they were in Greece this whole time. I could have missed mention of it but I did not realize

In that dark of night, we mourned together.

This brother-sister relationship is the only one I have the potential to care about

Four towering men stood in the forest. They wore togas and long furs.

Jasmine’s descriptions are just otherworldly. Really makes me feel like I am in the scene

For now—run away from us again, and we’ll chain you to our bed. Forever.”

How romantic. I’m swooning

War paint completed the pretty (morose) picture: blush colored a corpse’s cheeks, mascara brightened dead eyes, and lipstick kept the screams inside.

This did not eat like you think it did, jasmine

I wasn’t smart enough to see the trap they’d laid.

How in the world were you supposed to know

They were beasts masquerading as men.

Thanks for telling me again. I didn’t know already

Cruel satisfaction flashed in their eyes as they flanked me.

So is augustus glaring at you like he hates you or is his expression one of “cruel satisfaction”? I’m getting a very conflicting image here

this sham of a marriage.

You used that phrase already this chapter. Pick a different one

“Are you okay?” His voice was a throaty rasp. No. I’m cheating on Carl Gauss. I’m an unloyal whore.

You know what? My fault for learning how to read

the butterflies exploded.

Haven’t commented on this yet but jasmine keeps describing the butterflies in your stomach sensation like this and just…idk. It’s so bad

I’d kill him with my blood powers.

I’d kill him with my blood powers.