Alexis has been studying for this test for over a year, since a good score will secure her a spot in the most prestigious college in the post-apocalyptic world of gods and titans in which she resides. Her goal is to make a better life for her and her adopted younger brother, Charlie, the two of whom have been homeless since their abusive parents died when they were young. After the longest test of her life, Alexis is required to drip her blood on the page. Instead of only staining the page red, the paper begins to disintegrate, revealing her blood is not what she thought. She is whisked away to the land of the gods and is forced to participate in a coming-of-age competition to the death. She and her counterparts are not allowed to eat, sleep, or talk back to their professors, and are required to study every day for hours. If they fail to follow the rules, they will be put through the circuit, a gruesome and rigorous training course. Her mentors, Patroclus and Achilles, aka the Crimson Duo, guide her through each horrible trial. As people start to die and two dangerously interesting men get closer to Alexis, she realizes how much her autonomy matters and how important her independence really is.
I love, love, love Blood of Hercules. One of my top reads this year so far, which is saying something. The world-building was incredible, and the character development, while slow and frustrating at times, got to the point it needed to in the end. I feel like there could have been more clarification at parts, but that’s my personal opinion. This book had an interesting take on the future and mythology at the same time, creating a combination I rarely see in books today. This is definitely a book for adults, and I would recommend this book to people who enjoy mythological stories and fantastical tales with danger, romance, and intrigue. I rate this a five out of five stars, since I truly could not put the book down and highly enjoyed every second of it. I can’t wait to read the sequel in October.