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gabicreads's review against another edition
3.0
Original review at Gabic Reads as part of The Deep End of the Sea Blog Tour.
Heather weaves a creative aspect of the Greek gods in The Deep End of the Sea. There were a lot of little things that were neat and unique (as far as the Greek mythology retellings I've read). Medusa's story was well told and had some unexpected twists. I've was thoroughly surprised with some of the revelations, which is a good thing.
Medusa is slightly naive but also extremely wary towards men. And who wouldn't be after being raped by a man you thought a friend? I liked her best at the end when she gets tough and actually takes a stand for herself. And she took the initiative to learn how to protect herself.
Fangirls, meet your new obsession...I mean book boyfriend. Hermes is adorable. He protects Medusa as best he can. He's also very much in love with her, unbeknownst to her, but known to everybody else. He always had the right thing to say and was just all around sweet.
All the supporting characters were awesome. Aphrodite, Persephone, and Hades were so fun and energetic. I loved how they immediately accepted Medusa because of their love for Hermes. And Granny is freaking awesome!! Every book needs a character like her.
The reason for my 3 star rating is because there wasn't a whole lot of action or even tension build up. It worked for the storyline but I was expecting/hoping for more action. Medusa cried a lot, too. But who am I to judge when she's two thousand years old, has killed multiple people, is the object of obsession for two gods, and has had her life dramatically changed several times.
The Deep End of the Sea is definately one to add to the pile for those of you who enjoy Greek mythology.
Heather weaves a creative aspect of the Greek gods in The Deep End of the Sea. There were a lot of little things that were neat and unique (as far as the Greek mythology retellings I've read). Medusa's story was well told and had some unexpected twists. I've was thoroughly surprised with some of the revelations, which is a good thing.
Medusa is slightly naive but also extremely wary towards men. And who wouldn't be after being raped by a man you thought a friend? I liked her best at the end when she gets tough and actually takes a stand for herself. And she took the initiative to learn how to protect herself.
Fangirls, meet your new obsession...I mean book boyfriend. Hermes is adorable. He protects Medusa as best he can. He's also very much in love with her, unbeknownst to her, but known to everybody else. He always had the right thing to say and was just all around sweet.
All the supporting characters were awesome. Aphrodite, Persephone, and Hades were so fun and energetic. I loved how they immediately accepted Medusa because of their love for Hermes. And Granny is freaking awesome!! Every book needs a character like her.
The reason for my 3 star rating is because there wasn't a whole lot of action or even tension build up. It worked for the storyline but I was expecting/hoping for more action. Medusa cried a lot, too. But who am I to judge when she's two thousand years old, has killed multiple people, is the object of obsession for two gods, and has had her life dramatically changed several times.
The Deep End of the Sea is definately one to add to the pile for those of you who enjoy Greek mythology.
theplantsalivesed's review against another edition
3.0
So this wasn't quite what I expected. I think I read it at the wrong time because I'm at the point where this felt too...I don't know. Simple? For me.
Regardless it is a story of healing and recovery that I would have really enjoyed when younger.
Regardless it is a story of healing and recovery that I would have really enjoyed when younger.
kerrycat's review against another edition
4.0
clever twist on a mythological character always shown in a negative light - and the ending was VERY MUCH a surprise. I know that THAT (and calling the, uh, situation what it is would be a spoiler) isn't a certain fact in mythological canon so there's room to play with it, but this was unexpected and worked well.
desertlover's review against another edition
5.0
This is my fairytale and it most definitely has a happy ending.
After first reading the blurb for this book, I was a little worried. How Heather was going to take one of the most scary/feared characters from Greek Mythology and totally turn it on its head? A love story for Medusa? (I was scared to death of Medusa in grade school.) I should know to never doubt Heather's abilities! She provides her own, very different world of the Greeks.
There are two stories unfolding for most of the story. Of course, there is the "love story" between Medusa and Hermes. To me, the deeper and more intriguing story was self acceptance. Would Medusa be able to love herself, inside and out? I enjoyed seeing her transformation from a shy insecure "monster" to the strong and secure "goddess" she becomes. I would like to have see more of the early years with Medusa and Hermes to give more insight into the relationship. However, that doesn't prevent it from being a fantastic read!
While this story has an "ending", I really hope that Heather introduces us to more characters from mythology! It would be so interesting to read her spin on many of the other characters.
I will wish, however, that someday you will experience love for yourself. Love makes every misery, every struggle, every moment of live worth it."
I decide that I can't be merely treading water in the deep end any longer.
After first reading the blurb for this book, I was a little worried. How Heather was going to take one of the most scary/feared characters from Greek Mythology and totally turn it on its head? A love story for Medusa? (I was scared to death of Medusa in grade school.) I should know to never doubt Heather's abilities! She provides her own, very different world of the Greeks.
There are two stories unfolding for most of the story. Of course, there is the "love story" between Medusa and Hermes. To me, the deeper and more intriguing story was self acceptance. Would Medusa be able to love herself, inside and out? I enjoyed seeing her transformation from a shy insecure "monster" to the strong and secure "goddess" she becomes. I would like to have see more of the early years with Medusa and Hermes to give more insight into the relationship. However, that doesn't prevent it from being a fantastic read!
While this story has an "ending", I really hope that Heather introduces us to more characters from mythology! It would be so interesting to read her spin on many of the other characters.
I will wish, however, that someday you will experience love for yourself. Love makes every misery, every struggle, every moment of live worth it."
I decide that I can't be merely treading water in the deep end any longer.
dvnielletreads's review against another edition
4.0
I don't even know where to begin with this book. I happened upon it randomly and it's one of those hidden gems that I probably never would've have found if I hadn't done slight stalking. To put it short, this book is AMAZING. I read it in less than a day - in really only a couple of hours - and I could honestly read it again just to relive this world. Lyons did such a beautiful job with this that I would not hesitate to re-read it again.
The story is so beautifully interwoven with ancient Greek mythology and modern day that, despite it seeming hard to get a handle of sometime, that it actually flows together effortlessly. Medusa is really such a beautiful character, and she's already one of my favorite protagonists.
I wish I could give a more coherent, more thought out review of this, but for now this is all I have to offer. PLEASE read this gem.
The story is so beautifully interwoven with ancient Greek mythology and modern day that, despite it seeming hard to get a handle of sometime, that it actually flows together effortlessly. Medusa is really such a beautiful character, and she's already one of my favorite protagonists.
I wish I could give a more coherent, more thought out review of this, but for now this is all I have to offer. PLEASE read this gem.
magencorrie's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars!
My Thoughts:
I don’t think I have encountered a book like this before. Of course I have read books based off Greek Gods and Goddesses, but I feel that Heather really took a unique approach to the Greek myths and legends. She made the characters feel fresh and very interesting. And I just got so swept away with her story telling! The Deep End of the Sea was just so fascinating!
I loved the legend she played with. I mean we all know who Medusa is, a goddess you don’t wanna piss off. But Heather turned that myth upside down! And that just brought newness to the book and made me really want to get to know how she built her characters and her story.
Medusa wasn’t what I was expecting. I really adored her character. Many legends say she’s a beast of a goddess; cruel and mean. However, this book brought to focus that she was just a girl suffering from the wrath of other gods and goddesses. What I really loved about Medusa was her simple beauty and kind heart. And also the strength she portrayed throughout the book. That girl has been through quite a bit, and though she isn't the fighting type of heroine, her modest demeanor and strong determination made me really fall for her. And of course feel for her. Medusa goes through so much. so of course I felt for her!
Another god that came into play was Hermes! Yes! Usually he is characterized as a mischievous god, a bit flighty. However, like with Medusa, his personality was completely portrayed differently than he usually is. I loved that! He was such a kind and amazing god. And I enjoyed watching how he cared for Medusa, despite what everything that happened to her. I really came to love his character!
Not only were Medusa and Hermes portrayed differently but so were many other gods and goddesses. I just loved so much how Heather portrayed them all. Each one had such personalities, different personalities than what I am used to. I think the other characters I enjoyed thoroughly were Hades and Persephone! I also found it refreshing that the normal good gods and goddesses were also put in completely different viewpoints. Some that are mostly seen as good are turned bad, and vice versa.
I think Heather really brought out unique personalities for all the characters that are featured in her book. I loved ones I didn't think I would love, and I didn't enjoy others I usually do enjoy. That spin in the story made it so much fun!
The pacing and character growth was another factor I thought that played out well. So much happens in the book, and a long time span is covered, but I felt that Heather played it all out nicely and wrapped it up beautifully. I also saw a lot of growth in a lot of characters, and though it played out a bit slowly, I enjoyed it. The transformation that Medusa went through was the best.
The buildup of the plot, the conflict, and the twists were mesmerizing. Everything played out nicely. And though I did figure out one of the twists, there was one that just knocked me off me feet! Oh! I loved that twist!!
I highly recommend The Deep End of the Sea to readers who want a new spin on old myths and legends. One that brings in a refreshing twist, interesting characters, and a beautiful love story!
My Thoughts:
I don’t think I have encountered a book like this before. Of course I have read books based off Greek Gods and Goddesses, but I feel that Heather really took a unique approach to the Greek myths and legends. She made the characters feel fresh and very interesting. And I just got so swept away with her story telling! The Deep End of the Sea was just so fascinating!
I loved the legend she played with. I mean we all know who Medusa is, a goddess you don’t wanna piss off. But Heather turned that myth upside down! And that just brought newness to the book and made me really want to get to know how she built her characters and her story.
Medusa wasn’t what I was expecting. I really adored her character. Many legends say she’s a beast of a goddess; cruel and mean. However, this book brought to focus that she was just a girl suffering from the wrath of other gods and goddesses. What I really loved about Medusa was her simple beauty and kind heart. And also the strength she portrayed throughout the book. That girl has been through quite a bit, and though she isn't the fighting type of heroine, her modest demeanor and strong determination made me really fall for her. And of course feel for her. Medusa goes through so much. so of course I felt for her!
Another god that came into play was Hermes! Yes! Usually he is characterized as a mischievous god, a bit flighty. However, like with Medusa, his personality was completely portrayed differently than he usually is. I loved that! He was such a kind and amazing god. And I enjoyed watching how he cared for Medusa, despite what everything that happened to her. I really came to love his character!
Not only were Medusa and Hermes portrayed differently but so were many other gods and goddesses. I just loved so much how Heather portrayed them all. Each one had such personalities, different personalities than what I am used to. I think the other characters I enjoyed thoroughly were Hades and Persephone! I also found it refreshing that the normal good gods and goddesses were also put in completely different viewpoints. Some that are mostly seen as good are turned bad, and vice versa.
I think Heather really brought out unique personalities for all the characters that are featured in her book. I loved ones I didn't think I would love, and I didn't enjoy others I usually do enjoy. That spin in the story made it so much fun!
The pacing and character growth was another factor I thought that played out well. So much happens in the book, and a long time span is covered, but I felt that Heather played it all out nicely and wrapped it up beautifully. I also saw a lot of growth in a lot of characters, and though it played out a bit slowly, I enjoyed it. The transformation that Medusa went through was the best.
The buildup of the plot, the conflict, and the twists were mesmerizing. Everything played out nicely. And though I did figure out one of the twists, there was one that just knocked me off me feet! Oh! I loved that twist!!
I highly recommend The Deep End of the Sea to readers who want a new spin on old myths and legends. One that brings in a refreshing twist, interesting characters, and a beautiful love story!
kakarrhea's review against another edition
2.0
1.5 stars.
Turned 2 stars because of an amazing twist at the end. It wasn't enough to significantly change my perspective; hence the low rating.
Turned 2 stars because of an amazing twist at the end. It wasn't enough to significantly change my perspective; hence the low rating.
aliceboule's review against another edition
3.0
I am not sure how to feel about this book; hence the shelf "not-sure-how-i-feel"
I started The Deep End of the Sea thinking it would be a fluffy, mythic, gods and goddesses story, and in some ways I was right.
This book could not deal with darker subject material.
I have yet to come across a book where the main character is as strong as Medusa is. And i would have given this a 4, if not for the writing style and small errors i noticed.
Lyons deal with mature themes with a firm hand and controls the story (and the reader) from the very first page.
I would read this again, and recommend it to anyone looking for an easy read full of thought provoking themes.
I started The Deep End of the Sea thinking it would be a fluffy, mythic, gods and goddesses story, and in some ways I was right.
This book could not deal with darker subject material.
Spoiler
I certainly did not expect the amount of sexuality present in what I kind of considered a childish book - the summary seems so shallow!!I have yet to come across a book where the main character is as strong as Medusa is. And i would have given this a 4, if not for the writing style and small errors i noticed.
Lyons deal with mature themes with a firm hand and controls the story (and the reader) from the very first page.
I would read this again, and recommend it to anyone looking for an easy read full of thought provoking themes.
manoncremers's review against another edition
3.0
More reviews on my blog, Exploring Pages.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
The Deep End of the Sea was definitely a special read for me. It's extraordinary in various ways and deals with darker themes one normally wouldn't read about. The Greek myths are handled in a very different way than in the books I normally read, and it was very entertaining to read about it. However, due to a pile of little issues, I eventually enjoyed it as a whole less than I wanted to.
For starters, I'm not saying this book is a disappointment and bad. Quite on the contrary, there definitely are elements of this book that are just excellent. The characters, for example, were all so wonderful. Every one of them is introduced at the right time so it was very easy for me to get a grasp on them. Thanks to the Percy Jackson series, I already was familiar with every god and goddess. What changed, were the personalities of everyone. The gods in here don't behave so superior and they care for little things. While there still are stereotypes when it came to Aphrodite and Demeter, everyone else is so different. They all have their flaws, and above all: wonderful character development. She managed to create beautiful characters out of stereotypes. All of them felt so human, and that is something I applaud the author for.
Besides the characters, there are two more things I loved even more. One of them was the writing. Oh, how beautiful the writing is in this book. I usually don't have much to say when it comes to the style of writing in a book, but when it is so wonderful I feel like I have to. The writing here managed the explain Medusa's situation very well. The anger she feels, how lonely she is, it made me compassionate with her at the very beginning already. It's clear that the author has experience with writing, because she knows how to show and don't tell. Even when something isn't made clear or actually said in the book, it makes you wonder and you know what's going on without a confirmation. Let's just come to the conclusion and say the writing was fantastic.
Moving onto the romance, I want to go onto my roof and scream how perfection and the romance in this book went hand in hand, from beginning until the end. No signs of insta-love, a smooth evolution from best friends to lovers and passionate scenes. That is the summary of this romance. It is absolutely beautiful. Both characters in the relationship had already grown to love each other but were both too shy to admit it. Skinny love which evolved in something beautiful. In my opinion, the best kind of love there is. It's rare when the romance makes the book, but in this case it definitely is. Without the passionate relationship of Hermes and Medusa, I would have liked this book way less. They both bring forth the best in each other, and more isn't needed. The writing went in a beautiful harmony with the romance, especially during the intimate scenes. It made me swoon and want a boyfriend like Hermes more than anything else.
The way The Deep End of the Sea handled the Greek mythology. It's so different from anything I've ever read, because mostly the darker elements of the myths are usually glossed over. The author wasn't afraid to take risks, and it worked out very well. Rape is a very central aspect of the plot, and it was very refreshing for me to read about something like this. It's a change of decor, and a very good one too. Medusa's evolution from being a scared girl to a fierce woman had to do a lot with how she managed to deal with her trauma. Lyons was capable of creating a realistic situation, even though it has been more than two thousand years. It was something completely out of my element, yet it still is something I learned from and I don't have any issues regarding that.
What my actual issues are, made me think about the plot and pace in general. At times I didn't knew where the plot was actually heading. To me, it seemed like a combination of events that weren't tied together very well. Everything happened because of something, but it didn't gave me a very satisfying feeling. The plot seemed to have ended around page fifty, while there were two hundred pages left. As I got closer and closer to the end, there wasn't really anything happening. Medusa was just kind of waiting around and that waiting seemed to take forever. The plot twist at the end was brilliant, but in another way kind of rushed. The information gets thrown at you as if you understand it completely, and then it just ends. There was lack of plot and suspense for the second half of the book, and the pace didn't do much good.
The summary implied that this would be a special novel and hopefully a read to remember, and it is. The good reviews just made me a little bit too excited and I expected a perfect novel. I was certain I would be head over heels about it. There are great elements to this book that can't be ignored, but that doesn't leave out the issues I had, and they couldn't be ignored. The romance, the beautiful characters and the gorgeous writing made The Deep End of the Sea beautiful. It's just such a shame that it got less and less interesting near the end.
I am a monster. The worst kind of monster. The kind that people have told stories about for thousands of years. I am the Gorgon Medusa. And my eyes can turn anything living to stone.
- Heather Lyons, The Deep End of the Sea
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
The Deep End of the Sea was definitely a special read for me. It's extraordinary in various ways and deals with darker themes one normally wouldn't read about. The Greek myths are handled in a very different way than in the books I normally read, and it was very entertaining to read about it. However, due to a pile of little issues, I eventually enjoyed it as a whole less than I wanted to.
For starters, I'm not saying this book is a disappointment and bad. Quite on the contrary, there definitely are elements of this book that are just excellent. The characters, for example, were all so wonderful. Every one of them is introduced at the right time so it was very easy for me to get a grasp on them. Thanks to the Percy Jackson series, I already was familiar with every god and goddess. What changed, were the personalities of everyone. The gods in here don't behave so superior and they care for little things. While there still are stereotypes when it came to Aphrodite and Demeter, everyone else is so different. They all have their flaws, and above all: wonderful character development. She managed to create beautiful characters out of stereotypes. All of them felt so human, and that is something I applaud the author for.
Besides the characters, there are two more things I loved even more. One of them was the writing. Oh, how beautiful the writing is in this book. I usually don't have much to say when it comes to the style of writing in a book, but when it is so wonderful I feel like I have to. The writing here managed the explain Medusa's situation very well. The anger she feels, how lonely she is, it made me compassionate with her at the very beginning already. It's clear that the author has experience with writing, because she knows how to show and don't tell. Even when something isn't made clear or actually said in the book, it makes you wonder and you know what's going on without a confirmation. Let's just come to the conclusion and say the writing was fantastic.
Moving onto the romance, I want to go onto my roof and scream how perfection and the romance in this book went hand in hand, from beginning until the end. No signs of insta-love, a smooth evolution from best friends to lovers and passionate scenes. That is the summary of this romance. It is absolutely beautiful. Both characters in the relationship had already grown to love each other but were both too shy to admit it. Skinny love which evolved in something beautiful. In my opinion, the best kind of love there is. It's rare when the romance makes the book, but in this case it definitely is. Without the passionate relationship of Hermes and Medusa, I would have liked this book way less. They both bring forth the best in each other, and more isn't needed. The writing went in a beautiful harmony with the romance, especially during the intimate scenes. It made me swoon and want a boyfriend like Hermes more than anything else.
The way The Deep End of the Sea handled the Greek mythology. It's so different from anything I've ever read, because mostly the darker elements of the myths are usually glossed over. The author wasn't afraid to take risks, and it worked out very well. Rape is a very central aspect of the plot, and it was very refreshing for me to read about something like this. It's a change of decor, and a very good one too. Medusa's evolution from being a scared girl to a fierce woman had to do a lot with how she managed to deal with her trauma. Lyons was capable of creating a realistic situation, even though it has been more than two thousand years. It was something completely out of my element, yet it still is something I learned from and I don't have any issues regarding that.
What my actual issues are, made me think about the plot and pace in general. At times I didn't knew where the plot was actually heading. To me, it seemed like a combination of events that weren't tied together very well. Everything happened because of something, but it didn't gave me a very satisfying feeling. The plot seemed to have ended around page fifty, while there were two hundred pages left. As I got closer and closer to the end, there wasn't really anything happening. Medusa was just kind of waiting around and that waiting seemed to take forever. The plot twist at the end was brilliant, but in another way kind of rushed. The information gets thrown at you as if you understand it completely, and then it just ends. There was lack of plot and suspense for the second half of the book, and the pace didn't do much good.
The summary implied that this would be a special novel and hopefully a read to remember, and it is. The good reviews just made me a little bit too excited and I expected a perfect novel. I was certain I would be head over heels about it. There are great elements to this book that can't be ignored, but that doesn't leave out the issues I had, and they couldn't be ignored. The romance, the beautiful characters and the gorgeous writing made The Deep End of the Sea beautiful. It's just such a shame that it got less and less interesting near the end.