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alanacterry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Alternative title: “Man Child Makes His Misery Everyone’s Problem”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Physical abuse and Kidnapping
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, and Slavery
abi_lowe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A powerful retelling of the inner thoughts and choices women face, that is still poignant today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Abandonment
clovetra's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
honestly i dont really know what to say about this. this is the most average book ive read. somehow disinterested and curious about the book.
perseus was insufferable for the entire book, which was difficult as he's lowkey the main character. yeah thats the goal of this book but idk i wanted to deck him more than i loved the main characters.
danae was... fine. her beginning was super interesting, and then her story teetered out. andromeda was also interesting to begin with, but by the end she lost all her characterisation. that was probably intentional but it does make for a super boring story when i hate one main character & dont care about the other.
i really liked medusa's story. it was the shortest yet the best. im still confused about if in this retelling if she actually had snakes for hair? or she just liked snakes? i know about the gorgon bit but... idk. she was the best but she still wasnt great, as yet again she just felt like a plot device.
idk this book was fine. i dont think it achieved the feat of being a "feminist retelling" of perseus, as all the female characters just existed to drive the story. yes theres probably a deeper commentary about how perseus objectifies women and this is expressed in their significance within the book but.. i dont care if a book has a deeper meaning if i dont find the book interesting its complexity literally means nothing to me.
like i said, this feels like an average book. this is like a movie you'd go and see because your voucher expires tomorrow & this is all that has seats left, yknow?
perseus was insufferable for the entire book, which was difficult as he's lowkey the main character. yeah thats the goal of this book but idk i wanted to deck him more than i loved the main characters.
danae was... fine. her beginning was super interesting, and then her story teetered out. andromeda was also interesting to begin with, but by the end she lost all her characterisation. that was probably intentional but it does make for a super boring story when i hate one main character & dont care about the other.
i really liked medusa's story. it was the shortest yet the best. im still confused about if in this retelling if she actually had snakes for hair? or she just liked snakes? i know about the gorgon bit but... idk. she was the best but she still wasnt great, as yet again she just felt like a plot device.
idk this book was fine. i dont think it achieved the feat of being a "feminist retelling" of perseus, as all the female characters just existed to drive the story. yes theres probably a deeper commentary about how perseus objectifies women and this is expressed in their significance within the book but.. i dont care if a book has a deeper meaning if i dont find the book interesting its complexity literally means nothing to me.
like i said, this feels like an average book. this is like a movie you'd go and see because your voucher expires tomorrow & this is all that has seats left, yknow?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
Minor: Bullying, Child death, and Death of parent
psychnp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The author manages to somehow stay true to the traditions of Greek mythology, most of the most popular telling of Perseus, while offering a fresh perspective in this retelling
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Gaslighting
isabelboswinkel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Death
saskia_ej's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
No hate to the author, it’s certainly an interesting idea to have a re-telling of a classical myth without it being based in the mythological and fantastical elements, but this just didn’t work for me. I wasn’t drawn in and I didn’t feel any connection to the characters. All three women felt so bland and certainly were not empowered. I kept feeling frustrated with them simply putting up with Perseus, who is just an angry, power-hungry, petty little boy. We essentially have a section for each of the three women where they know what they could/should do in order to escape and have a better life for themselves, but they are simply too weak (side note: if it’s possible for Myron to climb out of the chamber, why can’t Danae??) or just find themselves feeling unable to move. I understand the sentiment of feeling bound to their fate, but it’s quite frustrating to read and doesn’t seem to fit with this apparently feminist re-telling centered on the women. I can see how the ending was meant to show some strength and influence from the women, but it somehow didn’t feel very satisfying.
I appreciate that Heywood wanted to take a different approach in writing this as more of a historical fiction, and perhaps taken only as such it would be more rewarding. But knowing the original stories and how deeply rooted in myth they are just makes it difficult not to be confused by the things that happen instead. Without divine interventions, it’s hard to understand Perseus’ motivations as anything other than bratty, which I suppose is the point but it makes his extreme violence quite uncomfortable. Without the fantastical elements of Medusa and the Gorgons, it’s somehow more difficult to relate to them. Also it felt somewhat odd to have references to the original myths - like the rain coming into the chamber looking like a golden shower, Danae lying to Perseus that he was the son of Zeus because it was too shameful to admit the truth of her young love (super feminist *eye roll*), and Perseus’ made-up brags about his achievements being from the original myths - as well as the fact that the people still believe in the gods and the words of oracles, yet not have any actual influence from the gods.
Perhaps if you’re able to let go of the original myths and approach this as a historical fiction, it would be more compelling. It was easy to read and there was some fairly captivating description of locations/scenes. I’m sure there will be plenty of people who enjoy the different approach this book takes, making it stand out from other re-tellings in this genre that has become so big. Personally, I think the mythological and fantastical elements have significant value and their metaphors transcend the boundaries of time, so I don’t relate to the desire to remove them from the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
smolhandsdan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment
chelly_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Out now! [Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a gifted copy!]
Rating: 5/5 stars
Told from the perspective of three women—Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda—The Shadow of Perseus is a feminist reimagining of the myth of the Greek “hero” who founded Mycenae.
I usually enjoy a retelling, so I had high hopes for this book, and when I tell you it still BLEW. ME. AWAY. I was a bit nervous that the structure (each part focusing on a different protagonist) might make the novel feel disconnected, but instead the different characters wove their stories together PERFECTLY and I was so deeply drawn to all three of them and the tales they had to tell. And it’s not just the protagonists that are well-written…the villains in this book are perfectly rendered and deeply, magnificently hatable in parts as well (I may have wanted to google “does Perseus die a violent death???” a few times—sorry, not sorry).
Heywood does so much here with regard to commentary on stories/myth, the voices of women, and how history is remembered and passed on, but the best part is that she manages to pack all of this into a book that is also extremely entertaining, fast-paced, and simply fun to read (though also emotional and heartbreaking in more than a few parts). I have a feeling she’s just become an auto-buy author of mine, and I need to go get my hands on Daughters of Sparta asap.
If you enjoy retellings, PLEASE go read this one.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Greek mythology; feminist retellings; vibrant characters
CW: Sexual assault/rape; confinement/kidnapping; emotional abuse; murder/blood/violence; suicidal thoughts
Rating: 5/5 stars
Told from the perspective of three women—Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda—The Shadow of Perseus is a feminist reimagining of the myth of the Greek “hero” who founded Mycenae.
I usually enjoy a retelling, so I had high hopes for this book, and when I tell you it still BLEW. ME. AWAY. I was a bit nervous that the structure (each part focusing on a different protagonist) might make the novel feel disconnected, but instead the different characters wove their stories together PERFECTLY and I was so deeply drawn to all three of them and the tales they had to tell. And it’s not just the protagonists that are well-written…the villains in this book are perfectly rendered and deeply, magnificently hatable in parts as well (I may have wanted to google “does Perseus die a violent death???” a few times—sorry, not sorry).
Heywood does so much here with regard to commentary on stories/myth, the voices of women, and how history is remembered and passed on, but the best part is that she manages to pack all of this into a book that is also extremely entertaining, fast-paced, and simply fun to read (though also emotional and heartbreaking in more than a few parts). I have a feeling she’s just become an auto-buy author of mine, and I need to go get my hands on Daughters of Sparta asap.
If you enjoy retellings, PLEASE go read this one.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Greek mythology; feminist retellings; vibrant characters
CW: Sexual assault/rape; confinement/kidnapping; emotional abuse; murder/blood/violence; suicidal thoughts
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Slavery and Pregnancy
livthebooknerd's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment