Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood

13 reviews

norabee's review

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

but that head...the woman he carries...who can know her truth? who lives to remember her?

an interesting twist on these stories and the notion of who controls narratives passed on. when to speak and when to be silent. when to fight and when to influence. 

men suck

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

Minor: Miscarriage

dogearedprints's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Trafficking

Minor: Rape

deedotbee's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I can’t wait to never hear of Perseus again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Grief, and Murder

pippling's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

I loved this retelling of the myth of Perseus told from the perspective of three women, his mother Danae, his wife Andromeda, and his victim, Medusa. This is a Greek myth brought to life by realism and without the intervention of gods or monsters. The story is medium-fast paced, and full of emotion and beautiful scene-setting. For a fairly short novel it’s full of heart, if often heartbreaking!

beetdirt's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

i mean it was interesting and well written but it was appalling seeing this man violently enact his mommy issues the whole book and then be forgiven with very little effort on his part. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Murder, and Abandonment

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment

takekarame's review

adventurous dark sad 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder

acfs's review against another edition

challenging sad tense slow-paced

2.75

Not a fan. Too much trauma and violence against women. Felt hopeless. And depressing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Murder

santinasimile's review against another edition

3.25

 I'm a sucker for mythology and was so excited to read this version of Perseus's story. While there were some intriguing parts, overall, the story fell flat. The story is told in chunks from the three women's perspective, but none of them felt fleshed out enough to maintain interest. As soon as I felt hooked with the characters or story, it would jump to the next and leave the threads hanging.
I love the concept of women taking back their stories, and there is only so much that can be done without going against the originals, but this just did not have the strength I expected. Perseus was a very annoying character, which may be on purpose, and Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda seemed muted by the end in a way that seemed more from the writing than the events in the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy

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

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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