jess_segraves's review against another edition
5.0
The mythological execution on this one was perfect.
_rosa_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Perfect for the younger YA reader. Or anyone really!
Things I loved:
REPRESENTATION:
The MCs are Caribbean Afro-latinos. I was especially surprised and ecstatic when I found out Eury is Puerto Rican. As someone who left the island myself, I could relate to her mourning for Puerto Rico and home, yet celebrating its culture and endurance.
MYTHOLOGY:
I read this expecting to see Greek mythology, and I did. But I did not expect the author to mix this with Caribbean and Indigenous mythology as well. I appreciated the references to Taino culture. It was something I have not seen before and liked the mixture of different cultures.
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS:
Mental health is sort of a taboo subject in Latin communities. In this book you see the struggle of accepting the reality of mental health between two generations.
BLM:
The author wrote this book during quarantine at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, right when the Black Lives Matters movement was gaining more and more traction. Without specifically mentioning the movement, Rivera reflects the social climate and the need for change through the experiences of Pheus.
When it comes to subjects and themes, I think the author did a wonderful job. I also like the relationship that Eury and Pheus have and seeing it develop. The only complaint I have is that the quality of writing could have been better. Aside from that, the book was really good.
If you enjoyed Lin Manuel's "In the Heights" you might want to check this out.
Things I loved:
REPRESENTATION:
The MCs are Caribbean Afro-latinos. I was especially surprised and ecstatic when I found out Eury is Puerto Rican. As someone who left the island myself, I could relate to her mourning for Puerto Rico and home, yet celebrating its culture and endurance.
MYTHOLOGY:
I read this expecting to see Greek mythology, and I did. But I did not expect the author to mix this with Caribbean and Indigenous mythology as well. I appreciated the references to Taino culture. It was something I have not seen before and liked the mixture of different cultures.
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS:
Mental health is sort of a taboo subject in Latin communities. In this book you see the struggle of accepting the reality of mental health between two generations.
BLM:
The author wrote this book during quarantine at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, right when the Black Lives Matters movement was gaining more and more traction. Without specifically mentioning the movement, Rivera reflects the social climate and the need for change through the experiences of Pheus.
When it comes to subjects and themes, I think the author did a wonderful job. I also like the relationship that Eury and Pheus have and seeing it develop. The only complaint I have is that the quality of writing could have been better. Aside from that, the book was really good.
If you enjoyed Lin Manuel's "In the Heights" you might want to check this out.
jmendiola1214's review against another edition
5.0
I had never heard of this Greek Tale but I think it made it more interesting since I didn’t know where the plot was headed.
I loved all the culture infused in this story.
I loved all the culture infused in this story.
bamahnken's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best books I’ve read in awhile, it made me wonder why I don’t read YA more often. It’s a retelling of the Greek myth surrounding Eurydice and Orpheus but it’s so much more than that and really holds its own. Each and every character was multi dimensional, you hated a tertiary character one minute, and the next, their story was told and you found all the compassion in the world for them. Despite being a story involving a stalker demon, it was so realistic, because the characters were so well fleshed out, their reactions, their experiences. Ahhh I cannot say enough good things about this book! (But I will because) Oh my god, the way Lilliam Rivera paints a picture with her words!!! *chefs kiss* 5/5
alisoncummins13's review against another edition
3.0
I was really excited about this book because I, like everyone else in the world, love (and hate) the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, and this retelling is such a wonderful perspective to place the story in. I enjoyed this book right up until the Greek mythology really started to begin. It was then that I felt the story got more caught up in the myth than it did the characters and their stories. Maybe that was just based off of my own expectation, where I thought their story would stay based in reality and find a way to incorporate the Greek myth into the everyday lives of Eury and Pheus. I was also a bit disappointed by the ending because, although I liked the message and idea, I felt it could have been done in a more nuanced way. Nonetheless, I did enjoy the book and found myself on the edge of my seat, wondering if this retelling was going to stick with or stray from the Greek myth's ending.
grapie_deltaco's review against another edition
4.0
Such a beautiful retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice story.
With a familiar approach to Spanglish and vivid imagery and PAINFUL truths about grief and acceptance, my only critique is for the amount of pop-culture references and modern slang usage- it dates the book and feels too much at times. Popular slang seen all over social media isn't often used in every other sentence but the writing style, beyond that, felt informal in a fresh and comfortable way.
GIVE ME MORE BORICUA X GREEK MYTHOLOGY CROSSOVERS !!!!
With a familiar approach to Spanglish and vivid imagery and PAINFUL truths about grief and acceptance, my only critique is for the amount of pop-culture references and modern slang usage- it dates the book and feels too much at times. Popular slang seen all over social media isn't often used in every other sentence but the writing style, beyond that, felt informal in a fresh and comfortable way.
GIVE ME MORE BORICUA X GREEK MYTHOLOGY CROSSOVERS !!!!
lapetitepaola's review against another edition
4.0
Not a review per se just me keeping track
This book is pretty awesome. At first it was all chill and that and then it hit that 50% mark and i felt like a was reading a different book.
I love the use of spanish in it... Sancocho is definitely a work i would not expect to see in a book.
The mention of Hurracane Maria and everything referencing Puerto Rice was pretty well done.
The characters were easy to ready and likeable.
At the second half we have visuals of pigs, jawless people, people who keep bleeding and shit. It was pretty crazy.
I dont give it 5 stars as I didnt fully FEEL that relationship between Pheus and Eury but I still accept it.
I would be down to see a story on either of them POV while they spend more tume on the underworld.
Also, that first half has a LOT of mentions of Romeo Santos which was killing me. I'm glad by the second half the aither mentions other names other than Romeo Santos.
This book is pretty awesome. At first it was all chill and that and then it hit that 50% mark and i felt like a was reading a different book.
I love the use of spanish in it... Sancocho is definitely a work i would not expect to see in a book.
The mention of Hurracane Maria and everything referencing Puerto Rice was pretty well done.
The characters were easy to ready and likeable.
At the second half we have visuals of pigs, jawless people, people who keep bleeding and shit. It was pretty crazy.
I dont give it 5 stars as I didnt fully FEEL that relationship between Pheus and Eury but I still accept it.
I would be down to see a story on either of them POV while they spend more tume on the underworld.
Also, that first half has a LOT of mentions of Romeo Santos which was killing me. I'm glad by the second half the aither mentions other names other than Romeo Santos.
imm627's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
anjreading's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful Latinx retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth that does a really nice job weaving together the original story with modern updates. In case you're worried about how this book will end, like I was, let me go ahead and give you a minor spoiler that Rivera manages to give both a faithful retelling and a satisfying interpretation, saving this YA novel from a tragic ending. Pheus and Eury are both interesting characters and the romance between them is very sweet.
emisallbooked's review against another edition
4.0
3.5ish stars rounded up.
Initial thoughts: love me a Greek myth retelling, and I really enjoyed the slight twist on the ending. The second half gave me strong Percy Jackson/Gods of Jade and Shadow vibes. It did take me a little bit to get into, but the second half sucked me in.
Initial thoughts: love me a Greek myth retelling, and I really enjoyed the slight twist on the ending. The second half gave me strong Percy Jackson/Gods of Jade and Shadow vibes. It did take me a little bit to get into, but the second half sucked me in.