Daphne, a Mothakes (stranger) to the people of Sparta, is a well-trained fighter determined to prove to King Menelaus and Queen Helen that she is as good or better than any other. During the festival of Carneia, when the city competes to renew the blessings from the gods, Daphne's brother Pyrrhus fails to run at a game, so she impetuously takes his place. In the dark forest, she comes across the goddess Artemis, who tasks her with seeking out the source of the Olympian gods' powers and return them. If she fails, she'll be turned to solid gold and her brother forever transformed into a stag. While accepting this quest will mark her as a Spartan deserter, and even more of an outsider, Daphne is determined to show the goddess d all of Sparta r worth. The Daphne of myth was a naiad stalked by an ensorcelled Apollo, and she transformed into a tree to escape him. This twist on the narrative is great for readers aging out of Rick Riordan's books.

Gr 7 Up-Nonstop action, drama, and an unforgettable female warrior will keep readers turning pages in this reimagining of the Greek myth of Daphne and Apollo. Seventeen-year-old Daphne Diodorus has been considered an outsider her whole life. Born outside of Sparta but adopted by a senior magistrate family along with her two brothers, Daphne is trained to be an extraordinary warrior. Despite her skill, she must constantly fight for the recognition and respect of her adopted people. An encounter in the forest with the goddess Artemis changes her life when she learns that the Gods of Olympus are weak and losing their power due to the theft of important items belonging to Zeus. Artemis tasks Daphne with recovering what was stolen to save Olympus and the mortal world, which will collapse into chaos if Olympus falls. Artemis binds her with the Midas Curse, a painful golden seal around her body that will kill her if she fails. Daphne also learns that she will be accompanied on this quest by Artemis's brother, the god Apollo, and her love interest and fellow Spartan, Lykou, who has been turned into a wolf. Daphne is an awesome protagonist: fearless, tough, and unforgiving in battle. Her banter and growing feelings for Apollo don't quite make for a swoony romance, and mostly pale in comparison to the never-ending danger, excitement, and ferocious fights. Readers will thrill at appearances from the well-known denizens of Greek mythology, including gods and goddesses, centaurs, the Minotaur, gryphons, and the Sphinx of Thebes, as well as awe-inspiring landscapes like the underworld and Mount Olympus. A glossary proves helpful in deciphering the many terms and objects used throughout. Apollo and Daphne are white and other characters have various skin tones. VERDICT Recommended for all YA collections, particularly where action and adventure stories are in demand. Kristy Pasquariello, Westwood P.L., MA