2.21k reviews for:

Glorious Exploits

Ferdia Lennon

4.18 AVERAGE

challenging dark funny medium-paced
adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A book I can’t shake from my mind . Clever, original and really excellent. I’m mulling it and appreciating it still, weeks after I finished it. 
adventurous emotional funny reflective sad 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

There is nothing about this book that should work but it does. After a failed invasion of Sicily during the Peloponnesian War, surviving Athenians are imprisoned at a rock quarry where they are slowly starving to death. Two unemployed potters decide to use some of the Athenian prisoners to put on a production of Medea by Euripides. To add to the bizarreness, the story is told in a modern Irish voice—I laughed out loud when I heard the first “For f*ck’s sake!”

Unexpected, funny, and heartfelt.
adventurous emotional funny mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful sad fast-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: No
adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark funny fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
adventurous dark emotional fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
funny hopeful inspiring medium-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: Complicated

Absolutely phenomenal writing from Lennon. I have a soft spot for historical fiction, especially revolving around Greek mythology and war. Lampo, our main character, was a lovable asshole who we’re primed to root for. His motivations are initially selfish but gradually mold to become altruistic as the story progresses. Every character introduced is written with personality, grit, and apt description.

Lennon is quite the talented storyteller and I’m looking forward to read more of his novels.