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mattiedancer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Writing: 4⭐️/5
The writing in this story was clear and poetic. At times, I really did love the beauty of the words and how the story was unravelling carefully. I think Underwood writes very cleanly and epically, which served this Greek-myth-inspired story well. The shifting character POVs served the story well, though I do wish each character had a more defined voice during their own section.
Characters: 3⭐️/5
The characters in the story were clear and relatively strong. Or, at least, the main characters – our narrators – were. The side characters felt much more wishy-washy, their personalities left unexplored and undeveloped until the climax of the story, which then felt far too late. Despite our three main characters being clear in their characteristics, they also didn’t develop much throughout the story. The plot took the centrefold of the story, and the characters simply continued along their paths.
Plot: 3.25⭐️/5
I did enjoy reading the story, as the plot felt clear and decided. However, at many points, the plot’s pacing felt incredibly off. I wondered at the stretched out timeline between Menthalo and Leto’s training to the condensed timeline of them returning to Ithaca and crashing into Mathias’ life. Since the timeline felt rushed, many of the plot points felt rushed. Personally, while I enjoyed both of the love stories in the novel, I wondered whether they could have been handled a bit better to make it feel more respectful. I love a good poly relationship, but – while Menthalo and Mathias ended up respecting each other – one was left in the dark about the other, and Menthalo herself never seemed to be settled with the fact that Leto also loved Mathias.
Who Should Read This Book?
Fans of Greek Mythology looking for something inspired by it; readers looking for a tragedy that isn’t hopeless; those who like LGBTQIA stories;
Content Warnings?
Blood, death, hangings, drowning, murder, injury, injury detail, fire, rape, sexual assault, sexual content, sacrifices, misogyny, sexism, gaslighting, abuse, suicide, suicidal thoughts, depression, classism,
Post-Reading Rating: 3.25⭐️/5
I liked the ending, but I wanted a bit more from the lead up into it.
Final Rating: 3.25⭐️/5 (3.38)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
lesemaus2303's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I loved every bit of it!
Almost didn't want to finish it because i didn't want the story to end. Emotional and so thrilling.
Almost didn't want to finish it because i didn't want the story to end. Emotional and so thrilling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
alyxbeau's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
This book was very much not for me. I put aside all the things I'd heard about the disappointing "retelling" marketing, and read from the perspective of "loose inspiration" but it didn't help.
I am unfamiliar with the story this is a retelling of, so it wouldn't have been hard to do, meaning I really just didn't enjoy this book. I almost returned it to the library many times, but felt obligated to give it a chance after seeing so many bad reviews. They were not wrong.
Some things that bothered me:
The calling of Hades as a place and not a name got on my nerves. Hades in this time period was NOT synonymous with a place like it is now, due to misinformation, assumption, and the stealing of the name into Christianity as a place. This is a horrible oversight.
All the characters excepting the guy, whose name I already forget despite finishing the book less than 5 minutes ago, are completely unlikable. The jealousy and blatant disregard for not hurting the ones you love is abysmal on their parts. Leto said she paid attention to the stories with lessons like Narciccus. Well, she sure didn't learn, by her own admittance. She cares for absolutely nobody but herself, yet calls her actions love to the two others.
I got to the point with two hours left in the audiobook, and couldn't believe that much time was left. There was NO reason to have this book be so long. Lastly, one particular quote. "I didn't give a single damn." Why the word single? It didn't need to be there. Just nitpicking though on this one.
Massive spoiler of ending below, do not open unless you have read the book to the end.
when all but Leto died at the end, I didnt care. I didn't care they died, or how they died. I didn't care Leto was left alone. I didn't care when the gods gave her a vision that they were happy in Elysium. I was mad that is where they ended up. Elysium isn't so easy to get into as that.
I am unfamiliar with the story this is a retelling of, so it wouldn't have been hard to do, meaning I really just didn't enjoy this book. I almost returned it to the library many times, but felt obligated to give it a chance after seeing so many bad reviews. They were not wrong.
Some things that bothered me:
The calling of Hades as a place and not a name got on my nerves. Hades in this time period was NOT synonymous with a place like it is now, due to misinformation, assumption, and the stealing of the name into Christianity as a place. This is a horrible oversight.
All the characters excepting the guy, whose name I already forget despite finishing the book less than 5 minutes ago, are completely unlikable. The jealousy and blatant disregard for not hurting the ones you love is abysmal on their parts. Leto said she paid attention to the stories with lessons like Narciccus. Well, she sure didn't learn, by her own admittance. She cares for absolutely nobody but herself, yet calls her actions love to the two others.
I got to the point with two hours left in the audiobook, and couldn't believe that much time was left. There was NO reason to have this book be so long. Lastly, one particular quote. "I didn't give a single damn." Why the word single? It didn't need to be there. Just nitpicking though on this one.
Massive spoiler of ending below, do not open unless you have read the book to the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Rape and Abandonment
Minor: Rape
kassidyreads's review
dark
sad
slow-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? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Suicide
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, and Abandonment
kanadrallegria's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
hanne_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Gods, what a slog. Had one early moment with properly horrific use of familiar imagery (the feet, what else?), and then… kinda fell apart. This could’ve been sweet and lush, but tried to do too much with too little and was narratively all over the place. It’s a reimagining of how the Odys— okay, it’s not really doing that rigorously but it’s an intensely personal exploration of— nope, it’s one of those “monarchic inheritance acts like a reality show competition” books— but don’t worry, this YA love triangle’s *bisexual* and even drifting toward polyam— oh wait, now we’re doing the senselessly tragic nature of capital-F Fate— whoops, have two sudden twists… and it’s over. Exhausting.
I think the author needed to pick one or two things to really commit to: the worldbuilding as an extension of The Odyssey, the consistency of the magic and plot elements she wanted to include, Leto and Melantho’s first-person voices (which started out refreshing and distinct but soon blended together), the three protagonists’ relationships, or the political/governing elements. Instead, the story rushes past each in turn in service of the others, and the only reliably well-developed element is actually… the violence? If you for some reason want to read a lot of detail about people, mostly children, being disturbingly murdered and assaulted, this is the book for you.
I think the author needed to pick one or two things to really commit to: the worldbuilding as an extension of The Odyssey, the consistency of the magic and plot elements she wanted to include, Leto and Melantho’s first-person voices (which started out refreshing and distinct but soon blended together), the three protagonists’ relationships, or the political/governing elements. Instead, the story rushes past each in turn in service of the others, and the only reliably well-developed element is actually… the violence? If you for some reason want to read a lot of detail about people, mostly children, being disturbingly murdered and assaulted, this is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism