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whatyoutolkienabout's review against another edition
5.0
As always I want to start by saying that I was given a copy of this to review as part of a @lovebooktours book tour. My review is honest and left voluntarily. #LBTCrew #Ad #Gifted #LoveBooksTours #GodofFire #HelenSteadman
I have to say I absolutely adored this audio book. I was definitely one of those children who loved ancient history, particularly myths and legends about Ancient Greece and Egypt which are my favourites. Helen Steadman manages to retell myths surrounding Hephaestus and bring the god to life in such a brilliant way. The narrator, Christopher Swift, is fantastic. Swift's reading really brings the world and gods alive, and I found their tone and narration just wonderful.
I was swept into the land of myths and legends by the wonderful narration. It was so smooth and flowing and the perfect pick to read this novel. The story itself is well developed and really shows Steadman’s skill at retelling old tales to make them their own. You cannot help but feel for Hephaestus who has been cast out of Olympus by his mother Hera and is raised beneath the sea. With Steadman’s skill and Swift’s narration we follow the God of Fire as he comes into his own, dealing with his half siblings and all the pettiness that the gods and goddesses offer.
This is not just a retelling of the myths of the God of Fire but the story of a underdog learning to claim their legacy and show just what they are truly made of. If you adore Greek myths and legends and are looking for a new retelling in the vein of Circe or The Song of Achilles this is definitely for you.
I have to say I absolutely adored this audio book. I was definitely one of those children who loved ancient history, particularly myths and legends about Ancient Greece and Egypt which are my favourites. Helen Steadman manages to retell myths surrounding Hephaestus and bring the god to life in such a brilliant way. The narrator, Christopher Swift, is fantastic. Swift's reading really brings the world and gods alive, and I found their tone and narration just wonderful.
I was swept into the land of myths and legends by the wonderful narration. It was so smooth and flowing and the perfect pick to read this novel. The story itself is well developed and really shows Steadman’s skill at retelling old tales to make them their own. You cannot help but feel for Hephaestus who has been cast out of Olympus by his mother Hera and is raised beneath the sea. With Steadman’s skill and Swift’s narration we follow the God of Fire as he comes into his own, dealing with his half siblings and all the pettiness that the gods and goddesses offer.
This is not just a retelling of the myths of the God of Fire but the story of a underdog learning to claim their legacy and show just what they are truly made of. If you adore Greek myths and legends and are looking for a new retelling in the vein of Circe or The Song of Achilles this is definitely for you.
thessie's review against another edition
4.0
Having read Helen Steadman's previous works and knowing the extensive research she undertakes before writing, I was confident that “God of Fire” would be rich in historical facts (or myths), complemented by her exceptional writing and vivid imagination.
I've always had a fascination with Greek Mythology, and this book encapsulates everything I love about it: the diverse gods, their complexities, and their powers, all woven into an entertaining and lively narrative.
The story centers around the lesser-known 'God of Fire' - Hephaestus. Cast aside from his mother Hera, he constantly longs for parental love. His adventures are a mix of humor, danger, and emotion, and it was a delight to read about his journey presented with such enthusiasm.
All the familiar gods are part of Hephaestus' tale, including Aphrodite, Athena, Zeus, Achilles, and Poseidon. It was fascinating to see how the knowledge I already had about these deities was integrated into the story.
From start to finish, I was utterly captivated, and deeply engrossed in both the immortal and mortal realms (there's even a story about the origin of the mortal world). Now that I've finished it, I wish I could still be a fly on the wall of these intriguing characters and their lives. “God of Fire” is immensely entertaining and enjoyable. If you have even a passing interest in Greek Mythology, you will thoroughly enjoy this book, which I will definitely revisit for pleasure.
I've always had a fascination with Greek Mythology, and this book encapsulates everything I love about it: the diverse gods, their complexities, and their powers, all woven into an entertaining and lively narrative.
The story centers around the lesser-known 'God of Fire' - Hephaestus. Cast aside from his mother Hera, he constantly longs for parental love. His adventures are a mix of humor, danger, and emotion, and it was a delight to read about his journey presented with such enthusiasm.
All the familiar gods are part of Hephaestus' tale, including Aphrodite, Athena, Zeus, Achilles, and Poseidon. It was fascinating to see how the knowledge I already had about these deities was integrated into the story.
From start to finish, I was utterly captivated, and deeply engrossed in both the immortal and mortal realms (there's even a story about the origin of the mortal world). Now that I've finished it, I wish I could still be a fly on the wall of these intriguing characters and their lives. “God of Fire” is immensely entertaining and enjoyable. If you have even a passing interest in Greek Mythology, you will thoroughly enjoy this book, which I will definitely revisit for pleasure.
lisajayne_02's review
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
a789's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
suannelaqueur's review against another edition
4.25
I am a sucker for good myth retellings and I loved this one!
booksbybindu's review against another edition
4.0
I am a big fan of Helen’s books and I was very excited to read this one as I am also a sucker for a good retelling of ancient mythology! Helen manages to make history or mythology easily accessible for the reader and it was certainly the case with this book. ‘God of Fire’ follows the life of Hephaestus (Hephaestus) and he was a god I didn’t really know too much about. To say I was fascinated is an understatement.
Heph, the God of Fire, was thrown out of heaven as a baby by his mother Hera. He was found and raised by the sea witch Thetis. When he is older he returns to Olympus to learn about the god and to find out what he can about his father.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the God of Fire and how all the others gods and their stories interjected with Heph’s. I have always been fascinated about ancient mythology and this book only further ignited that spark of interest. Helen managed to make what can be seen by some people as a dull and dry subject into something exciting, tender and it was thoroughly well written.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
Heph, the God of Fire, was thrown out of heaven as a baby by his mother Hera. He was found and raised by the sea witch Thetis. When he is older he returns to Olympus to learn about the god and to find out what he can about his father.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the God of Fire and how all the others gods and their stories interjected with Heph’s. I have always been fascinated about ancient mythology and this book only further ignited that spark of interest. Helen managed to make what can be seen by some people as a dull and dry subject into something exciting, tender and it was thoroughly well written.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
paperbackghosts's review against another edition
3.0
Cast down from the heavens and maimed as an infant, Hephaestus, God of Fire, found his place amongst the Gods by becoming a talented blacksmith. Bestowing incredible gifts upon the divine and aiding Prometheus in the creation of man, the God of Fires immortal life is full of trials and tribulations. Known best for his marriage to Aphrodite, there is much more to the God behind the flame.
I was only vaguely familiar with Hephaestus’ prior to reading this, and this was a really incredible telling. His story is so intertwined with the more familiar myths and Gods, and he holds a very interesting perspective. If you’re a fan of Greek myth retellings, this is an absolute must read! It ended rather abruptly and didn’t give the story much resolution, which brought my rating down a touch. Available on Kindle Unlimited.
I was only vaguely familiar with Hephaestus’ prior to reading this, and this was a really incredible telling. His story is so intertwined with the more familiar myths and Gods, and he holds a very interesting perspective. If you’re a fan of Greek myth retellings, this is an absolute must read! It ended rather abruptly and didn’t give the story much resolution, which brought my rating down a touch. Available on Kindle Unlimited.
meingee's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Audiobook review
This is an interesting tale of the Greek god Hephaestus. I am an avid fan of Greek mythology and was excited to see a retelling of the life of Hephaestus. This story is told from the viewpoint of the god himself. The author takes liberties and reimagines the stories as their own. This tale is about many of the high and low points in his life. The author gives the listener more of a personal take on the gods and goddesses and not the exact stories from Greek Mythology. I was not a fan of all the shortening of the gods’ names as they spoke to and about each other. If you enjoy Greek mythology, you will recognize many of the things that happen and the characters in this book. Narrator Christopher Swift speaks clearly and keeps the narrative flowing.
amothersmusings1's review
5.0
Having read books by Helen Steadman before and knowing the amount of research she puts into her books before writing them, I knew that “God of Fire” would be packed with historical facts (or myths) together with her brilliant writing skills and vivid imagination.
I’ve always had a secret love of Greek Mythology and this book covered everything I like about it; the many unique Gods, their intricacies and their powers, all tied into an entertaining and frolicking story.
The premise is based on the little-known ‘God of Fire’ - Hephaestus, who after being cast away from his mother Hera, constantly yearns for parental love. He often finds himself embroiled in numerous adventures, some humorous, some dangerous and some emotional but it was an absolute pleasure to read about his story in such an enthusiastic manner.
All the familiar Gods are embroiled in Hephaestus' life story; Aphrodite, Athena, Zeus, Achilles and Poseidon to name a few and it was very interesting to see how the knowledge I already knew about these deities, played out in the story.
I was held captive like a slave from start to finish, utterly engrossed in the immortal and mortal worlds (there's a tale included about the origin of the mortal world too) and having finished it, I wish I was still a fly on the wall of these fascinating characters and their lives. So entertaining and full of fun, if you even have a passing interest in Greek Mythology, you should thoroughly enjoy “God of Fire” and is a book I will definitely read again for pleasure.
#GodOfFire - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️