I received a copy of this book via Lady Amber's Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Curse of the Sphinx by Raye Wagner is the first book in this urban mythology series, and I have to say, it blew me away! Hope is the daughter of the Sphinx, and like her mother, cursed by Apollo to change into the mythical monster two days and one night a month. As a monster, she and her mother live their lives on the run, constantly in danger from Skia and other demigods who would kill them if they were found. When Hope’s mother is killed, she has to learn how to survive on her own for the first time while trying to figure out what happened.

I really liked Hope! She’s a strong character. The author shows her through the grieving process and learning how to figure out life on her own. It’s truly a remarkable way to show this character’s growth. She starts the book as a sullen teen, never had a friend, never been kissed, always on the run. She’s bitter and wants a change. After her mother’s death, she’s lost. She understands why her mother had all the rules and reasons behind their constant moving. She makes mistakes, but she learns from them.

Then there is Athan, a demigod son of Hermes. He’s first introduced in the prologue when his father gives him the task of finding the Sphinx’s daughter after they witness her death. They promise her they will find her daughter and protect her. When Athan reenters the book as a new student at Hope’s school, I was on the edge of my seat. Athan is kind, charming, and he was a bit hard to figure out. I wasn’t sure if Hope could trust him or not. I wanted to trust him though….does that count?

The plot centers around Hope and the reasons behind her mother’s death. At 16, Hope never thought she’d have to live on her own so young. Her mother was immortal as long as she didn’t break the rules of her curse. So why was she killed? Hope has to learn to live on her own. Her “aunt” Priska is off searching for answers behind her mother’s death so Hope’s by herself.

The world-building is phenomenal! I’m a sucker for urban fantasy and this one really blew my expectations out of the water. Raye Wagner created an alternate reality in which the Greek gods are real, are still worshipped and their children live among us. Everything in the mythology is fair game for the book which was a real treat! If you enjoy mythology, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book! And BONUS it’s a clean read ♥︎