dakotabagley's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
thebookwormadventures's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
I love historical mythological retellings, and this one absolutely delivered for me.
It’s the story of Perseus, as told through the eyes of three of the key women in his life - his mother, Danae, his wife, Andromeda, and Medusa. Rather than focus on any mythological elements, it paints a darker and more realistic version of the events of his life. It casts him as less of a hero and more as a troubled villain, consumed by the idea of the dark destiny awaiting him, foretold by the god Apollo.
Each of these women are horribly wronged by Perseus in a myriad of ways, yet he sees himself only as their savior. His delusions of grandeur and self importance are so incredibly frustrating to read, I was horrified and anxious to see how much more tragedy would befall these women because of him. The perseverance and strength, and at times, cunning, they exhibited in the face of his evil, was riveting.
This was a masterful work of fiction, and one I’ll be thinking about for a very long time.
oracle_of_madness's review
4.5
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!
There are always different perspectives to a story, different ways for it to be told. In some cases, Perseus is held up as a hero. However, this story of Perseus is told from different women's points of view and is a different story altogether.
Danae's father, a king of Argos, learned of a prophecy that his daughter's son would be his death. So, of course, he locks his daughter away so she will never become pregnant. Yet there is a hole in the ceiling that is the perfect size for a handsome young man to climb through. Danae falls in love and a bit later, after many visits, she becomes pregnant. When her father finds out, he tosses her in a boat covered in boards nailed on like a lid and pushes her out to sea for the gods to decide her fate. (All of this is very normal in Greek mythology)
Fast forward, and Danae has her son on a distant island, doing everything she can to raise him with love and gentleness. Now, this story can be taken as Perseus was born evil, and that's that. But by the end of the book, after hearing the tales and seeing through the eyes of Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda, I realized that it's not so simple. Every aspect of Perseus's life, including himself, created the man he became. It was no one's fault at all. It's just the story of how evil becomes so evil. And, the answer is usually by a thousand different things.
I really enjoyed this. I thought the story was told really well from the different perspectives. I think the author did a brilliant job sculpting Pereus's character, and I definitely recommend this to fans of mythology.
Out February 21, 2023!
Content warnings for sexual assault, murder, and some gore.
There are always different perspectives to a story, different ways for it to be told. In some cases, Perseus is held up as a hero. However, this story of Perseus is told from different women's points of view and is a different story altogether.
Danae's father, a king of Argos, learned of a prophecy that his daughter's son would be his death. So, of course, he locks his daughter away so she will never become pregnant. Yet there is a hole in the ceiling that is the perfect size for a handsome young man to climb through. Danae falls in love and a bit later, after many visits, she becomes pregnant. When her father finds out, he tosses her in a boat covered in boards nailed on like a lid and pushes her out to sea for the gods to decide her fate. (All of this is very normal in Greek mythology)
Fast forward, and Danae has her son on a distant island, doing everything she can to raise him with love and gentleness. Now, this story can be taken as Perseus was born evil, and that's that. But by the end of the book, after hearing the tales and seeing through the eyes of Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda, I realized that it's not so simple. Every aspect of Perseus's life, including himself, created the man he became. It was no one's fault at all. It's just the story of how evil becomes so evil. And, the answer is usually by a thousand different things.
I really enjoyed this. I thought the story was told really well from the different perspectives. I think the author did a brilliant job sculpting Pereus's character, and I definitely recommend this to fans of mythology.
Out February 21, 2023!
Content warnings for sexual assault, murder, and some gore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Sexual assault
whatjillreads's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence
cpalmisanod's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
In this version, Perseus is a giant man child with a delicate ego. If not stroked just right he demolishes people. Like a modern day incel, if you will.
Now the most interesting part of this retelling is not just the perspective of the women, but the inclusion of the huge variety of cultures. There are different languages, customs, dress, etc. Many mythological stories are mostly white washed and homogenous in culture. This was fascinating!
Now the most interesting part of this retelling is not just the perspective of the women, but the inclusion of the huge variety of cultures. There are different languages, customs, dress, etc. Many mythological stories are mostly white washed and homogenous in culture. This was fascinating!
apmcmullen's review
3.5
Initially, I was disappointed at the way Heywood chose to leave out the fantasy elements of this novel, choosing to make it one about human decisions rather than mixing those with divine interventions. I see the merits in that, to a degree, but I also felt like parts of the story that added depth and even power for the women in it (thinking particularly about Medusa) were stripped from it. Potential spoiler, but if Medusa didn't hold any power, why carry her head around for MONTHS as just rotting piece of flesh and bone?? By the end, though, I think the story came around and it felt like a satisfying retelling.
The writing is beautiful, but it felt disconnected. Medusa's section felt too short and a bit underdeveloped, while Andromeda and Danae kept me hoping there would be added layers to their characters that just never came around for me. I ended up skimming the majority of this because I wasn't fully able to connect to the story the way I hoped to. So, this lands somewhere in the middle as far as retellings go. A good addition to what's being published these days, but not my favorite.
This was an advanced reader copy, so thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group/Dutton for giving me access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This title publishes on February 21, 2023.
The writing is beautiful, but it felt disconnected. Medusa's section felt too short and a bit underdeveloped, while Andromeda and Danae kept me hoping there would be added layers to their characters that just never came around for me. I ended up skimming the majority of this because I wasn't fully able to connect to the story the way I hoped to. So, this lands somewhere in the middle as far as retellings go. A good addition to what's being published these days, but not my favorite.
This was an advanced reader copy, so thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group/Dutton for giving me access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This title publishes on February 21, 2023.
dgrachel's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Well-written, but so hard to read. The Perseus of Heywood’s reimagining is no hero. He’s a spoiled, emotionally fragile, immature, narcissistic man-child, who turns violent whenever he feels disrespected. He’s abhorrent and his actions towards all three of the female protagonists (his mother, Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda) are disgusting and the ending was unsatisfying. I wanted justice. Instead, I need a shower. That said, this is a fascinating study in how a story differs depending on the perspective of the storyteller. The men who told the original myth, were just that, men. Clearly, they are going to be biased towards Perseus and building up his legend. But what about the other side to his actions? The women who are so often glossed over, named but not studied? Heywood gives them agency and a voice, and that is what I loved about this book, even while I shuddered with rage and revulsion. TW for domestic violence, and rape.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Rape
kassidylara's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
paperbackbish's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
oceanwriter's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Of all of the Greek mythology retellings, The Shadow of Perseus has been my favorite. I am inexplicably drawn to these stories even though they make me realize how little I actually know of their origins.
The book follows Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda all relating to and interacting with Perseus in one way or another. Through their stories, a different picture of the epic hero is painted. Was his story truly one of heroism, or was it merely ego? Each of the women are presented in a different time of his life, starting with his mother Danae and with Medusa and Andromeda following in ways that haven't been seen before from what I can gather.
I liked that each of the women had their own section of the book rather than it completely jumping around. It made it a smooth read and there wasn't any confusion. As has been the case with all of the other mythological retellings I've read, I'm realizing this is best appreciated with an extensive knowledge of the characters and their connections. The writing was engaging which kept me interested despite this. I found myself wanting to learn more about their backstories rather than waiting for the book to end. I was definitely still lost, but that is on me and not the story itself.
A huge thanks to Dutton for reaching out and offering me a free ARC of this book through NetGalley to read and review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Kidnapping
Moderate: Toxic relationship