antivancrowe's review
5.0
Characters 5| Setting 4| Plot 4| Writing 5| Enjoyability 5|
Overall rating 4.6
I just want to say wow. This story was fantastic! I didn't really know what I was expecting going in, but the characters were so well done! The writing was excellent and Katz did a magnificent thing with their prose.
Saeter was such a relatable character and I could feel his hurt so deep in my soul. I cried at a lot of places in this work and let me tell you it's not that long! To create a work so short yet make me feel so much? Katz is a master at their craft.
Overall rating 4.6
I just want to say wow. This story was fantastic! I didn't really know what I was expecting going in, but the characters were so well done! The writing was excellent and Katz did a magnificent thing with their prose.
Saeter was such a relatable character and I could feel his hurt so deep in my soul. I cried at a lot of places in this work and let me tell you it's not that long! To create a work so short yet make me feel so much? Katz is a master at their craft.
josb's review
4.0
Cute novella about two parents who whip out a mythological bedtime story for their children. The story happens to coincide with an issue their eldest child is dealing with.
It has some sweet parenting moments and hits the storytelling appeal. There were lots of m/m pairings and rep as well as a society that normalizes same sex relationships.
The biggest draw here is definitely the appeal of having a myth told to you. If that is something you enjoy, you might enjoy this short novella as well.
It has some sweet parenting moments and hits the storytelling appeal. There were lots of m/m pairings and rep as well as a society that normalizes same sex relationships.
The biggest draw here is definitely the appeal of having a myth told to you. If that is something you enjoy, you might enjoy this short novella as well.
aligroen's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this story. I liked the wat Saeter and Skault's story was told by the fathers. I felt for those characters along with Eirik.
There was a little twist of information at the end which just makes me wonder some things but didn't take away from my enjoyment.
I received a copy of this book and am providing an honest review.
There was a little twist of information at the end which just makes me wonder some things but didn't take away from my enjoyment.
I received a copy of this book and am providing an honest review.
pam_h's review
3.0
The mythological tale at the center of this is great, and I would recommend it for anyone who likes the myths + m/m combo. I was fascinated with these stories as a kid, and this one captured that feeling perfectly, including the relevant lesson to impart.
I enjoyed it, and the writing is fantastic. Saeter's emotional headspace was so vivid and truly gut-wrenching in the moment. I felt for him deeply and wanted to make it all better for him. I look forward to trying more from this author for sure.
But this is a shortie, and I think I wanted just a tiny bit more. Just a tiny bit! But then I re-read the intro just now and thought hmmmm.... maybe I already got more... :)
It's really impressive when something so short can capture your imagination to the point you want to revisit it to comb through the details! Plus I liked that there were little hints dropped here and there that had me playing along trying to predict what was going to happen, both in the central tale being told and with the characters in the surrounding framework. I think a few more sentences exchanged between the dads at the end could have made this perfect for me, but it's a truly lovely tale as is.
**This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program**
I enjoyed it, and the writing is fantastic. Saeter's emotional headspace was so vivid and truly gut-wrenching in the moment. I felt for him deeply and wanted to make it all better for him. I look forward to trying more from this author for sure.
But this is a shortie, and I think I wanted just a tiny bit more. Just a tiny bit! But then I re-read the intro just now and thought hmmmm.... maybe I already got more... :)
It's really impressive when something so short can capture your imagination to the point you want to revisit it to comb through the details! Plus I liked that there were little hints dropped here and there that had me playing along trying to predict what was going to happen, both in the central tale being told and with the characters in the surrounding framework. I think a few more sentences exchanged between the dads at the end could have made this perfect for me, but it's a truly lovely tale as is.
**This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program**
alisonalisonalison's review
3.0
Likeable. I enjoyed this, but I didn't have particularly strong feelings about it. I read it about a month ago and the details have faded already.
peireads's review
4.0
A Norse-inspired fairy tale about the love between the son of the god of Love and the son of the god of Envy. Very sweet and enjoyable!
yoda32's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
3.0
It was quite cute at times but alas.. forgettable.
simonlorden's review
5.0
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Short version: I loved this SO MUCH. It was not only full of feels, but also beautifully crafted with subtle hints and twists and symbolism.
To quote the author, it has:
* A fantasy-mythological setting loosely based on Norse mythology
* Cute demigods with feelings firmly in It's Complicated territory
* A shape-shifting trickster
* A daring rescue
* Found family feels
(The above list is from Meredith's Goodreads page. Below is my own words again.)
How Saeter Robbed the Underworld is a story within a story - The frame story is about two queer dads with their three (adopted) children. The eldest, Eirik, has just had a fight with his friend, so his dads tell them a bedtime story that is about difficult relationships and conflicts. This story is the story of two demigods - Saeter is the son of the God of Envy, and Skault is the son of the God of Love.
I absolutely loved everything Meredith did with this story. Although I could see several of the twists coming from a mile away, they still somehow felt satisfying... in fact, probably even more satisfying than if they had come out of nowhere, because it was set up beautifully. I also really loved the suggestion that adopted family is just as important as biological family,.
It is difficult to talk about my favourite twists without spoilers, but I'm going to say that I really loved the symbolism/parallel done with the three animal shapes Saeter takes to save Skault.
And now some spoiler-y screaming:
Short version: I loved this SO MUCH. It was not only full of feels, but also beautifully crafted with subtle hints and twists and symbolism.
To quote the author, it has:
* A fantasy-mythological setting loosely based on Norse mythology
* Cute demigods with feelings firmly in It's Complicated territory
* A shape-shifting trickster
* A daring rescue
* Found family feels
(The above list is from Meredith's Goodreads page. Below is my own words again.)
How Saeter Robbed the Underworld is a story within a story - The frame story is about two queer dads with their three (adopted) children. The eldest, Eirik, has just had a fight with his friend, so his dads tell them a bedtime story that is about difficult relationships and conflicts. This story is the story of two demigods - Saeter is the son of the God of Envy, and Skault is the son of the God of Love.
I absolutely loved everything Meredith did with this story. Although I could see several of the twists coming from a mile away, they still somehow felt satisfying... in fact, probably even more satisfying than if they had come out of nowhere, because it was set up beautifully. I also really loved the suggestion that adopted family is just as important as biological family,
Spoiler
although this is a little subverted at the end, but the message is still thereIt is difficult to talk about my favourite twists without spoilers, but I'm going to say that I really loved the symbolism/parallel done with the three animal shapes Saeter takes to save Skault.
And now some spoiler-y screaming:
Spoiler
I KNEW that Skault would be the only one able to hurt Skault, and it still killed me. And!! It's not spelled out, but it's still pretty obvious that my theory was right about the identity of Papa and Father, and it's beautiful.cerylia's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5