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A review by alexisdpatt
Lore Olympus, Season 1 by Rachel Smythe
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
“Lore Olympus: Season One” by Rachel Smythe⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TW: rape and domestic abuse
I wasn’t aware until recently that “Lore Olympus” was on Goodreads or StoryGraph, so here we are! I also dabbled with whether or not to add the comic strips to my reading list and I honestly don’t see why I shouldn’t. This is a rereading thanks to the amazing podcast @loreolympod which I highly recommend if you want a more detailed and smut filled reading of the comic. 🙈
“Lore Olympus” is a Webtoon comic retelling of “The Abduction of Persephone” where Hades fell in love with Persephone and stole her from her mother Demeter then tricked Persephone into eating some pomegranate seeds (the fruit of the underworld) and was then bound to the realm for half of the year and that’s why we have spring, as she is the Goddess of Spring.
In the first season of “Lore Olympus,” Smythe creates this world where, even though the relationship between Hades and Persephone takes center stage, there are also other myths being explored in the context of the story like Eros and Psyche, Apollo and Daphne, even the prophecy and events surrounding the Titanomachy. The first season follows the story of Persephone and how she was originally called Kore, “the maiden” and how she came to be known as Persephone, “Bringer of Death.”
Smythe’s retelling of this story spins the original and places it into a modern contexts. It’s traumatic, feministic, romantic and therapeutic. Smythe’s use of deep themes brings about discussions that modern women face today whilst painting a beautiful and engaging story by intertwining different Greek mythologies and creating this intricate and complex world.
I won’t add season 2 yet since it’s still being written but I can confirm that it’s already better than season 1. 👏🏼
TW: rape and domestic abuse
I wasn’t aware until recently that “Lore Olympus” was on Goodreads or StoryGraph, so here we are! I also dabbled with whether or not to add the comic strips to my reading list and I honestly don’t see why I shouldn’t. This is a rereading thanks to the amazing podcast @loreolympod which I highly recommend if you want a more detailed and smut filled reading of the comic. 🙈
“Lore Olympus” is a Webtoon comic retelling of “The Abduction of Persephone” where Hades fell in love with Persephone and stole her from her mother Demeter then tricked Persephone into eating some pomegranate seeds (the fruit of the underworld) and was then bound to the realm for half of the year and that’s why we have spring, as she is the Goddess of Spring.
In the first season of “Lore Olympus,” Smythe creates this world where, even though the relationship between Hades and Persephone takes center stage, there are also other myths being explored in the context of the story like Eros and Psyche, Apollo and Daphne, even the prophecy and events surrounding the Titanomachy. The first season follows the story of Persephone and how she was originally called Kore, “the maiden” and how she came to be known as Persephone, “Bringer of Death.”
Smythe’s retelling of this story spins the original and places it into a modern contexts. It’s traumatic, feministic, romantic and therapeutic. Smythe’s use of deep themes brings about discussions that modern women face today whilst painting a beautiful and engaging story by intertwining different Greek mythologies and creating this intricate and complex world.
I won’t add season 2 yet since it’s still being written but I can confirm that it’s already better than season 1. 👏🏼
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape