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d0505's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Infidelity and War
thenovelmaura's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
2.5
This book sounded like the perfect fit for me: diverse retellings of mythological stories from around the world? Sign me up! Unfortunately, despite the lovely writing style, the execution on the retellings was lacking. A great mythological retelling has to be clever; the author must take the recognizable elements of a story and transpose them in some way—a new setting, a new conflict, gender-swapping the characters—all while retaining enough of the essence to make them feel familiar to the readers.
For most of these stories, Babalola simply put the characters in modern settings and gave them modern jobs. Many of them lost their gifts, powers, or anything else that made them unique; only the names made them recognizable to the reader. All of the stories started to blend together and feel the same, which is a shame considering their diverse origins. The stories that really worked either had enough of the original situations to be fun and interesting (like Thisbe) or had an unexpected twist that kept me engaged (like Nefertiti). Overall, I think Babalola is a talented writer, but this anthology could have been greatly improved if there were multiple authors invited to put their own twists on these classic myths.
For most of these stories, Babalola simply put the characters in modern settings and gave them modern jobs. Many of them lost their gifts, powers, or anything else that made them unique; only the names made them recognizable to the reader. All of the stories started to blend together and feel the same, which is a shame considering their diverse origins. The stories that really worked either had enough of the original situations to be fun and interesting (like Thisbe) or had an unexpected twist that kept me engaged (like Nefertiti). Overall, I think Babalola is a talented writer, but this anthology could have been greatly improved if there were multiple authors invited to put their own twists on these classic myths.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Infidelity
cozylifewithabby's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
3.5
I love that this book is so hopeful. The anthology of stories explores mythology and love through modern and feminist retellings, but there is a feeling a sunshine throughout; this idea that love conquers all. Some stories were better than others, but I will definitely be checking out more by this author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Violence
falltumn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Violence and Alcohol
Minor: War
thisreadingcorner's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
This was delightful from start to finish! I love the injection of her parent’s narrative at the end and so many great historical references.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence
my_plant_library's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Torture
Minor: Misogyny and Racial slurs
obfuscatress's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.75
Vibrant and warm. Like a kaleidoscope, this anthology shifts all the age-old familiarity of romance and myth into something that's tangible in the modern age.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
toffishay's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
I really enjoyed these mythological reimaginings. They were sad and exciting and romantic and fun :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
spinesinaline's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was so delightful! It’s billed as romance short stories, though heads up that these aren’t all straight romance as they don’t all have happy endings.
I love retellings and Babalola has such an immersive and creative way of retelling these stories, not to mention the added agency that she gives the female characters. Her intention in empowering the women in these tales is immediately clear and it gives the stories so much more depth. She also highlights a lot of folk tales that aren’t well-known in the Western world, particularly African legends, so it’s a chance for new audiences to engage with these stories.
Personal favourites were “Naleli” for a truly inventive take on the original and “Thisbe” for the cute university twist on the crack in the wall.
I love retellings and Babalola has such an immersive and creative way of retelling these stories, not to mention the added agency that she gives the female characters. Her intention in empowering the women in these tales is immediately clear and it gives the stories so much more depth. She also highlights a lot of folk tales that aren’t well-known in the Western world, particularly African legends, so it’s a chance for new audiences to engage with these stories.
Personal favourites were “Naleli” for a truly inventive take on the original and “Thisbe” for the cute university twist on the crack in the wall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Violence
Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Car accident
sydneybedell's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Body shaming and Bullying
Minor: Infidelity and Misogyny