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frantically's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
2.5
What tries to be a new mythology retelling just ends up as a typical YA fantasy that takes place in Ancient Greece and recycles characters that have been around for years.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Cursing
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Death, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Classism
moncuries's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
this book touches on a lot of topics that might have made for a more compelling plot; misogyny, classism, privilege. The characters themselves are aware of these injustices, “Down with the patriarchy,” Apollo mocks his sister’s short rant about Hera. The two leads embark on a sort of one upmanship on who knows the plight of the city best. Both of them still see it through ultimately privileged eyes. Apollo is nice to some orphans once. Its weird
I also think this book would have benefitted from establishing their characters a little more before bringing them together. The beginning (Seeing Zeus, travelling etc) felt a little rushed. I wanted to settle into the quiet life a little more. It felt as though, in an effort to demonstrate Apollo’s place in his village, we had to see him interact with as many people as possible. If just one of those scenes had been longer and more introspective, I think it would have been much more effective.
I like how much description we get, particularly from Apollo’s perspective. The metaphors and comparisons are mostly rooted in the character’s world, which is good. I only wish the descriptions spent less time talking about how beautiful it all was and a little more on establishing mood. I want to know about the dirt of the city and the heavy smells. Apollo is a poet, so maybe it makes sense that his POV is mostly surface level pretty worded description. I also think good description needs character interaction/context so maybe thats why it wasnt clicking.
I think the dialogue in this book struggles with hitting in between the modern lexicon and some more antiquated expressions and sensibilities. It’s a purposeful choice and one thats not uncommon in the genre, but I don’t love it.
I’m about halfway through, so maybe things will turn out! I do like the story, I’m just not as impressed as i wanted to be haha.
update:
another pet peeve is when the characters cite “The Laws!!” as explanation for an injustice. Its used as the explanation for injustices faced by begging orphans, misogyny, etc. It just feels like a childish thing to say. even just “By law, the women may not seek employment.” is better than “The laws,” LMAO they do explain what the law is but it feels childish
also the physical descriptions get a little repetitive. it feels like it was missing an editor. lots of ebony hair shining and gleaming and dark curls. which, yeah, a lot of characters may share a hair colour or texture, but surely we can talk about more than their hair colour. i have heard about hyacinth and apollo’s jawlines like 6 times. some of the environment description gets reused too. flaxen light for instance. its a good one, but i just feel like... why didnt an editor see this?
STOP USING THE WORLD AMBLED LOL U CAN SAY WALK! why is everyone and their mother ambling. it might be appropriate for one character to amble but a whole royal family and all of their court? nobody learned to walk properly?? lol
at the beginning, apollo and his sister have a small discussion about a previous hookup. its implied that non binary people exist in this universe or at the very least, there are people who use they/them. Unless I missed something, we never actually see a non binary person. Why even mention it? Also how do these non binary people fit into the systematic oppression of women in the story? for it to be Normal enough that Apollo discusses it readily, its odd that it never comes up again. Its weird to throw it in at the beginning, when things are being established, and then just let nothing come of it.
I also think this book would have benefitted from establishing their characters a little more before bringing them together. The beginning (Seeing Zeus, travelling etc) felt a little rushed. I wanted to settle into the quiet life a little more. It felt as though, in an effort to demonstrate Apollo’s place in his village, we had to see him interact with as many people as possible. If just one of those scenes had been longer and more introspective, I think it would have been much more effective.
I like how much description we get, particularly from Apollo’s perspective. The metaphors and comparisons are mostly rooted in the character’s world, which is good. I only wish the descriptions spent less time talking about how beautiful it all was and a little more on establishing mood. I want to know about the dirt of the city and the heavy smells. Apollo is a poet, so maybe it makes sense that his POV is mostly surface level pretty worded description. I also think good description needs character interaction/context so maybe thats why it wasnt clicking.
I think the dialogue in this book struggles with hitting in between the modern lexicon and some more antiquated expressions and sensibilities. It’s a purposeful choice and one thats not uncommon in the genre, but I don’t love it.
I’m about halfway through, so maybe things will turn out! I do like the story, I’m just not as impressed as i wanted to be haha.
update:
another pet peeve is when the characters cite “The Laws!!” as explanation for an injustice. Its used as the explanation for injustices faced by begging orphans, misogyny, etc. It just feels like a childish thing to say. even just “By law, the women may not seek employment.” is better than “The laws,” LMAO they do explain what the law is but it feels childish
also the physical descriptions get a little repetitive. it feels like it was missing an editor. lots of ebony hair shining and gleaming and dark curls. which, yeah, a lot of characters may share a hair colour or texture, but surely we can talk about more than their hair colour. i have heard about hyacinth and apollo’s jawlines like 6 times. some of the environment description gets reused too. flaxen light for instance. its a good one, but i just feel like... why didnt an editor see this?
STOP USING THE WORLD AMBLED LOL U CAN SAY WALK! why is everyone and their mother ambling. it might be appropriate for one character to amble but a whole royal family and all of their court? nobody learned to walk properly?? lol
at the beginning, apollo and his sister have a small discussion about a previous hookup. its implied that non binary people exist in this universe or at the very least, there are people who use they/them. Unless I missed something, we never actually see a non binary person. Why even mention it? Also how do these non binary people fit into the systematic oppression of women in the story? for it to be Normal enough that Apollo discusses it readily, its odd that it never comes up again. Its weird to throw it in at the beginning, when things are being established, and then just let nothing come of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death