Tension, Titans and a Twist on Greek Myth

Book Review: Pawning Pandora by Willow B. Dawes

Genre: Romantasy, Greek mythology based

Series: Not confirmed, but there better be another one.

Extras:

• Pretty map

Blurb:

Pandora has lived her entire life among the gods and goddesses at the base of Mount Olympus, the first mortal woman to exist. For twenty years, she’s wondered what she was created for, what her purpose is, and why Zeus has always treated her as such an object of importance. She’s never fought the Olympians’ control, fearing exile outside the borders, which would surely result in her death. But as the Centennial Celebration of Man approaches, Zeus demands Pandora trade the one thing she always swore she’d never give—her heart.

Epimetheus never expected to return to Olympus, but when he and his twin brother, Prometheus, are invited to a celebration held in their honor, the Titan twins have no choice but to return to the realm that was once their home. As an unknown poison plagues their people in the Realm of Man, and with whispers of a rebellion outside the walls of Olympus, the last thing Epimetheus wants is to fall for the raven-haired beauty Zeus has promised to his brother. But it seems this celebration is about to challenge everything.

In a world where friends are family and family are foe, who’s to say the rebellion has not already arrived? It’s a war of hearts and hate—who will rise and who will fall? *

My Thoughts:

If you’re a fan of Greek mythology, slow-burn romance, and underappreciated characters getting their time to shine, then Pawning Pandora should definitely be on your TBR. This mythological romance blends political tension, forbidden love, and emotional depth in a way that feels both fresh and timeless.

What I loved most about Pawning Pandora is that it doesn’t retell the same old myths. Instead, it focuses on characters like Pandora and Epimetheus—figures often overlooked or misunderstood in traditional Greek myth—and gives them real voices, agency, and depth. Dawes reimagines Pandora not as a naive bringer of doom, but as a thoughtful, cautious woman trapped in a gilded cage of divine expectation.

Her internal struggle is compelling—she’s spent her life surrounded by powerful gods, always under watch, never free to ask too many questions or step out of line. The way she slowly begins to question her purpose and power is handled with care, never rushing her growth.

Epimetheus is also a standout. He’s weary, skeptical, and burdened by past mistakes, but deeply loyal and layered. His return to Olympus alongside his brother Prometheus (yes, *that* Prometheus) adds another layer of political tension to the story. And when he starts to fall for Pandora—the woman promised to his brother by Zeus—everything becomes that much more complicated.

The romance here is a true slow burn, and it’s soooooooo satisfying. Dawes builds the emotional connection between Pandora and Epimetheus with real care—nothing is instant or overly dramatic. It’s all about the subtle glances, charged conversations, and emotional restraint. Their chemistry builds slowly, but when it clicks, it really clicks.

This isn’t just a love story, though—it’s about freedom, identity, and the quiet rebellion of choosing your own path, even when the gods themselves are telling you otherwise.

The setting feels both ancient and modern, with Olympus portrayed as a closed, powerful society slowly beginning to crack under the weight of its own politics. There’s a creeping sense of unease and rebellion that builds as the story progresses—whispers of unrest, a mysterious poison, and questions of loyalty that kept me turning the pages.

The secondary characters also feel fully realised. The dynamic between gods, mortals, and Titans is explored with a lot of nuance, and the mythology is woven in naturally rather than info-dumped.

The only part that didn’t quite land for me was the ending. After all the build-up and emotional investment, it felt a little rushed or muted compared to the strong pacing earlier in the book. It wasn’t enough to ruin the story at all, but I did feel like it could’ve had a bit more of a punch emotionally or narratively.

That said, it still wrapped up well enough to leave me satisfied—just not quite as wowed as I’d been earlier in the story.

Pawning Pandora is an atmospheric, emotionally rich story full of yearning, ancient grudges, and quiet defiance. Willow B. Dawes has taken familiar myths and reworked them into something compelling and romantic, with a focus on characters who rarely get center stage.

If you love mythology with a twist, forbidden love, slow burns that actually pay off, and heroines learning to take control of their own destiny, this book is 100% for you.

*Blurb from Amazon

Want the book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4ft6q6j

Want the cute tarot cards from my pic? You can get those here too: https://amzn.to/4muaDsz