A review by openmypages
The Children of Jocasta, by Natalie Haynes
5.0
Natalie Haynes is my favorite go-to mythology/historical fiction author. A Thousand Ships is a story that I recommend to anyone asking, what do I read after devouring Madeline Miller? Well, I've got another recommendation that I'm happily adding to my mythology shelf, The Children of Jocasta provides us a story of Thebes in two timelines.
We first meet Ismene who is narrating the story of her family. She tells us of their current travails where her brothers are sharing the ruling of Thebes as king in alternating years. That provides its own friction and strife. She and her mentor Sophon are focused on the importance of documenting the truth of what is happening within the kingdom. Chapters recount the current state of the kingdom and how her family came to rule a generation before. I don't want to give too many details because the reveals of how the tragedies play out are quite beautifully done but if you are familiar with Greek tragedy the stories of Oedipus and Antigone play out throughout the novel.
The anxious feeling in the pit of your stomach builds as you can see each of these characters headed straight for absolute heart-wrenching disaster is Greek tragedy at its best. Check this one out if you like mythological, historical fiction like that of Madeline Miller or Jennifer Saint!
We first meet Ismene who is narrating the story of her family. She tells us of their current travails where her brothers are sharing the ruling of Thebes as king in alternating years. That provides its own friction and strife. She and her mentor Sophon are focused on the importance of documenting the truth of what is happening within the kingdom. Chapters recount the current state of the kingdom and how her family came to rule a generation before. I don't want to give too many details because the reveals of how the tragedies play out are quite beautifully done but if you are familiar with Greek tragedy the stories of Oedipus and Antigone play out throughout the novel.
The anxious feeling in the pit of your stomach builds as you can see each of these characters headed straight for absolute heart-wrenching disaster is Greek tragedy at its best. Check this one out if you like mythological, historical fiction like that of Madeline Miller or Jennifer Saint!