Review: The Athanatoi and the Star of Inanna by Janine Baranski

June 1, 2026

Review The Athanatoi and the Star of Inanna by Janine Baransky+

Synopsis:

Born of gods, betrayed by love, and hunted by destiny.

Ida Morawski’s freshman year at Lake Haven University should be picture-perfect. She’s starting college with her high school sweetheart, and has just pledged her mother’s elite sorority. But Ida has a secret. Her great-grandmother is Athanatoi—the immortal race once worshipped as gods.

Under the guidance of her enigmatic mentor—the latest incarnation of Aphrodite herself—Ida must navigate a world of powerful magic, ancient rivalries, and dangerous secrets, unaware that a dark prophecy has already set forces in motion, threatening everything she holds dear.

When Ida’s hidden world drives a wedge between her and her boyfriend, a mysterious stranger offers her the Star of Inanna, an enchanted necklace that promises to lead her to true love. With the gift in hand, Ida looks toward the future with hope, but soon finds herself torn between the boy she’s loved since childhood and the intriguing stranger who sees her for who she truly is.

But Ida will learn there’s more to that decision than meets the eye as she discovers what it truly means to live among the Athanatoi—facing manipulation, betrayal, and enemies who will stop at nothing to unlock the secrets buried in her bloodline. In a world where gods walk among mortals and love can be both weapon and salvation, the wrong choice could cost her everything…including her very soul.

Review:

When I first read the synopsis, I was immediately intrigued. Greek mythology is becoming more popular again, and I was excited to see a fresh take on it. The story begins with an interesting setup, briefly introducing the history, magic, and several characters early on.

However, I would have appreciated more time spent building this foundation. A deeper exploration of the mythology, and what exactly happened in the past and how it connects to the present. Especially the college setting and how it fit into the world – would have helped me feel more connected in the story.
As the plot progresses, we receive small pieces of information, but they felt somewhat fragmented to me. The main focus seems to shift more towards the romantic relationships and everyday experiences of young adults. Given that some characters have lived multiple lives, I found it difficult to understand why their behaviour and interactions still felt very much like those of teenagers more often than not.I do understand, that overall it was a New Adult book.

Overall, the book is very easy to read, and I moved through it quickly. Still, I was left wanting more, as I never fully connected with the characters or felt fully invested in the direction of the story.
If you like your stories a bit more easy to consume and don’t mind not going too deep, this might actually be a good one for you.

🌙 Recension: The Athanatoi and the Star of Inanna (The Athanatoi #1) by Janine Baranski
📚 Genre: New Adult, Mythology, Urban Fantasy
📅 Release Date: June 1, 2026
📱 Read as: Kindle
📗 included in Kindle Unlimited
💸 I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 432
⭐️ 3.5/5