Scan barcode
A review by alyxbeau
Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood
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