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A review by eiion
The King Must Die by Mary Renault
5.0
I actually really loved this Theseus retelling. I didn't expect it to be one of my favourite retellings ever, but here we are!
There was a lot of care and effort put into it, and it's easy to enjoy whether you know the original myth or not (though I do think it's elevated by knowing the full myth beforehand).
This retelling changed a major part of the core myth: the Minotaur. In Renault's version, instead of Theseus slaying the Minotaur in what is basically a sacrifice to the beast, he is taken to Crete as a slave to be a bull-dancer, leaping and jumping with the animals who are trying to kill him for the entertainment of the people. The Minotaur is just a man, the sponsor of the Hellene team with a thirst for power and a disposition for jealousy and anger.
But despite this major change, the rest of the story was actually really accurate to its source. Major plot points were hit almost to a T, and it was really clear that deliberate attention had been paid to how she incorporated her retelling with the primary material.
What I really loved about this was that the story was entirely possible. Every change Renault made (the Minotaur being a man, the Six Labours being various bandits and hardships) was to make the story seem like it could have actually happened. The gods didn't come down to Earth physically, magic was never concretely cast, and even Theseus' powers of premonition for earthquakes (which they attributed to being claimed by Poseidon) is a rare but known phenomenon called "Earthquake sensitivity", where people can sense seismic activity before it happens. Renault's version of Theseus could have actually taken place, and I genuinely just love that. It's such a unique spin on traditionally fantastical and wild Greek stories.
The changes she made to Theseus also put the character in a whole new light. Strong from a young age, tall and heroic, Theseus from the myths was always destined to do something for the history books. But Renault's Theseus, lithe, gymnast-like, short Theseus, he took to the bull-leaping like he was born for it and had to fight for respect, power, and the ability to be heard. Coupling this with the first person POV the story was written in, I just found myself so connected to the character, so drawn in by his aspirations, choices, and how he commanded a room.
Renault stayed very true to the time period, which was something I both enjoyed and disliked. It made the story feel more authentic, but while I've been reading retellings and source material greek stories a lot recently, the misogyny is just KILLING me. She made so many changes, and it was clearly not important for the story to be told "exactly" as it happened or true to the time, so parts of me wished we could have changed up a little bit of the whole "woman are weak and I am a man who can do what I want". But again: it made the story feel more real, and I can't deny that the authenticity and organic-ness of it drew me in.
If you're a fan of greek stories or retellings, I am telling you, this is the book for you. It was just so worth it, and absolutely such a refreshing spin on the myths and fantasy-esque plots that populate the old legends.
There was a lot of care and effort put into it, and it's easy to enjoy whether you know the original myth or not (though I do think it's elevated by knowing the full myth beforehand).
This retelling changed a major part of the core myth: the Minotaur. In Renault's version, instead of Theseus slaying the Minotaur in what is basically a sacrifice to the beast, he is taken to Crete as a slave to be a bull-dancer, leaping and jumping with the animals who are trying to kill him for the entertainment of the people. The Minotaur is just a man, the sponsor of the Hellene team with a thirst for power and a disposition for jealousy and anger.
But despite this major change, the rest of the story was actually really accurate to its source. Major plot points were hit almost to a T, and it was really clear that deliberate attention had been paid to how she incorporated her retelling with the primary material.
What I really loved about this was that the story was entirely possible. Every change Renault made (the Minotaur being a man, the Six Labours being various bandits and hardships) was to make the story seem like it could have actually happened. The gods didn't come down to Earth physically, magic was never concretely cast, and even Theseus' powers of premonition for earthquakes (which they attributed to being claimed by Poseidon) is a rare but known phenomenon called "Earthquake sensitivity", where people can sense seismic activity before it happens. Renault's version of Theseus could have actually taken place, and I genuinely just love that. It's such a unique spin on traditionally fantastical and wild Greek stories.
The changes she made to Theseus also put the character in a whole new light. Strong from a young age, tall and heroic, Theseus from the myths was always destined to do something for the history books. But Renault's Theseus, lithe, gymnast-like, short Theseus, he took to the bull-leaping like he was born for it and had to fight for respect, power, and the ability to be heard. Coupling this with the first person POV the story was written in, I just found myself so connected to the character, so drawn in by his aspirations, choices, and how he commanded a room.
Renault stayed very true to the time period, which was something I both enjoyed and disliked. It made the story feel more authentic, but while I've been reading retellings and source material greek stories a lot recently, the misogyny is just KILLING me. She made so many changes, and it was clearly not important for the story to be told "exactly" as it happened or true to the time, so parts of me wished we could have changed up a little bit of the whole "woman are weak and I am a man who can do what I want". But again: it made the story feel more real, and I can't deny that the authenticity and organic-ness of it drew me in.
If you're a fan of greek stories or retellings, I am telling you, this is the book for you. It was just so worth it, and absolutely such a refreshing spin on the myths and fantasy-esque plots that populate the old legends.