Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood

7 reviews

abi_lowe's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.25

A powerful retelling of the inner thoughts and choices women face, that is still poignant today. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Abandonment

pippling's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

I loved this retelling of the myth of Perseus told from the perspective of three women, his mother Danae, his wife Andromeda, and his victim, Medusa. This is a Greek myth brought to life by realism and without the intervention of gods or monsters. The story is medium-fast paced, and full of emotion and beautiful scene-setting. For a fairly short novel it’s full of heart, if often heartbreaking!

beetdirt's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

i mean it was interesting and well written but it was appalling seeing this man violently enact his mommy issues the whole book and then be forgiven with very little effort on his part. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Murder, and Abandonment

chelly_reads's review

adventurous reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

savvyrosereads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective fast-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

5.0

Out now! [Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a gifted copy!]

Rating: 5/5 stars

Told from the perspective of three women—Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda—The Shadow of Perseus is a feminist reimagining of the myth of the Greek “hero” who founded Mycenae.

I usually enjoy a retelling, so I had high hopes for this book, and when I tell you it still BLEW. ME. AWAY. I was a bit nervous that the structure (each part focusing on a different protagonist) might make the novel feel disconnected, but instead the different characters wove their stories together PERFECTLY and I was so deeply drawn to all three of them and the tales they had to tell. And it’s not just the protagonists that are well-written…the villains in this book are perfectly rendered and deeply, magnificently hatable in parts as well (I may have wanted to google “does Perseus die a violent death???” a few times—sorry, not sorry).

Heywood does so much here with regard to commentary on stories/myth, the voices of women, and how history is remembered and passed on, but the best part is that she manages to pack all of this into a book that is also extremely entertaining, fast-paced, and simply fun to read (though also emotional and heartbreaking in more than a few parts). I have a feeling she’s just become an auto-buy author of mine, and I need to go get my hands on Daughters of Sparta asap.

If you enjoy retellings, PLEASE go read this one.

Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Greek mythology; feminist retellings; vibrant characters

CW: Sexual assault/rape; confinement/kidnapping; emotional abuse; murder/blood/violence; suicidal thoughts

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Slavery and Pregnancy

livthebooknerd's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

smagzisreading's review

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Abandonment

Minor: Death and Rape