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A review by crystalleighwrites
Orphia and Eurydicius by Elyse John
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I suspect this will join a small handful of books that will stick with me, returning to me at random and not-so-random times.
From being a kid with a Greek mythology phase, I've long known the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, and was already familiar with multiple retellings going into this. HADESTOWN moved me when I saw it on Broadway last year (though my husband was less impressed), but the biggest feeling I had coming out of it was frustration with Orpheus... come ON, my dude, why couldn't you just trust that she was there? More than a decade ago, a theatre I worked at did Sarah Ruhl's EURYDICE, an absolutely beautiful piece of art that gave Eurydice more life, history, and motivation than any other retelling I'd seen before or since... until ORPHIA AND EURYDICIUS by Elyse John. Yes, obviously, she brings more to the female of the pair (Orphia, in this gender swapped version), but she also brings more to her male Eurydicius -- he has a backstory, a family, motivations, deep reasons for loving Orphia, a much fuller writing than the Eurydice of myth who barely existed before her meeting with Orpheus.
Elyse John uses the frame of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice to tell a story far deeper and more poignant than its ancestor. It is simultaneously: an adventure full of lush, evocative imagery; a vindication for an apology to every woman who's ever had their voice taken from them in some way; a manual on and example of the importance of writers and artists everywhere; an examination of family and grief; and, yes, a love story.
This started slow for me. I wasn't sure I could like this Orphia, she just wasn't grabbing me. It also might TOTALLY have been a me thing as I started it right before some medical stuff and might not have been able to focus on it properly. But soon, it had me and I'm so glad it did. I've highlighted more in this book than I have of any book in recent history. This is one particular standout:
From being a kid with a Greek mythology phase, I've long known the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, and was already familiar with multiple retellings going into this. HADESTOWN moved me when I saw it on Broadway last year (though my husband was less impressed), but the biggest feeling I had coming out of it was frustration with Orpheus... come ON, my dude, why couldn't you just trust that she was there? More than a decade ago, a theatre I worked at did Sarah Ruhl's EURYDICE, an absolutely beautiful piece of art that gave Eurydice more life, history, and motivation than any other retelling I'd seen before or since... until ORPHIA AND EURYDICIUS by Elyse John. Yes, obviously, she brings more to the female of the pair (Orphia, in this gender swapped version), but she also brings more to her male Eurydicius -- he has a backstory, a family, motivations, deep reasons for loving Orphia, a much fuller writing than the Eurydice of myth who barely existed before her meeting with Orpheus.
Elyse John uses the frame of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice to tell a story far deeper and more poignant than its ancestor. It is simultaneously: an adventure full of lush, evocative imagery; a vindication for an apology to every woman who's ever had their voice taken from them in some way; a manual on and example of the importance of writers and artists everywhere; an examination of family and grief; and, yes, a love story.
This started slow for me. I wasn't sure I could like this Orphia, she just wasn't grabbing me. It also might TOTALLY have been a me thing as I started it right before some medical stuff and might not have been able to focus on it properly. But soon, it had me and I'm so glad it did. I've highlighted more in this book than I have of any book in recent history. This is one particular standout:
"[...] All of your family walks with you, Orphia [...] We are not here because of the blood running though your body, but because we have chosen to be your family. Our support is no accident."
"And I choose you." Tears blocked my view. "I had not guessed that love would shine in the darkest of places."
"That is where love does its greatest work."
You may like this if you like:
- Found family
- Feminist retellings
- Breaking gender norms
- Lush imagery
- Women making their own places in the world
I received an ARC of this from NetGalley and have provided this honest review.