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erincataldi's review
5.0
One of the most fun novels in verse I have ever read. David Elliot does an amazing job retelling the story of Thesues and the Minotaur in hilarious down to earth prose. The book literally starts out with "Whaddup, bitches?" and just rolls from there. It was soo much fun and it breathed so much life into this classic Greek tale. I wish I would have read this adaptation in high school! The prose is broken into sections; Poseidon breaks the third wall and talks to the reader and the other characters have their own little sections. I can't get over how inventive and fun this us. FUCKING READ IT! I had no expectations based on the cover and the one sentence summary I saw of this book but I am SOOO SOO glad I picked this up. A true gem!
literarylover37's review
4.0
I received a digital ARC of this book from Netgalley.
This is an immensely creative retelling of the Minotaur story. Told through each characters different view and written in different poetic form for each character this story is a wonderfully updated version of the story. I could see a lot of high schoolers liking this story, although the language might be off-putting to various schools.
This is an immensely creative retelling of the Minotaur story. Told through each characters different view and written in different poetic form for each character this story is a wonderfully updated version of the story. I could see a lot of high schoolers liking this story, although the language might be off-putting to various schools.
bailo2's review
2.0
DNF. Not really my cup of tea. This is less of a retelling and more of a translation of the original text into more modern language. At times the snark was funny, but I didn't enjoy the format as a whole. The cover is really cool though!
laurenbastian's review
5.0
The poetry is absolutely stunning! Each character had such a unique voice (and poetry form as explained at the end of the book). I admit I have a weak spot for a good rhyme and this book is full of them. Its funny, sweet, and genuinely thought provoking. I love how Elliot weaved all the different characters, possibly my favorite being Daedalus. I would love to see his story told in this format!
mctoomanybooks's review
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
(I would like to start by saying that I have yet to read/watch/listen to something that paints Poseidon as semi-sympathetic.)
I really did enjoy this as my first book of 2024. I got interested at the concept of this being about the Minotaur (from his POV and all). I think this was a really good dive in his character and how he became the creature he is known for. His connections to the his family and their thoughts, Poseidon watching it all because he's still salty (lol) over the white bull. You could get a sense of everyone's state of mind through how each POV was written. I already knew how the story ends, but I couldn't help but root for Asterion. Poor baby.
Overall, I enjoyed it.
I really did enjoy this as my first book of 2024. I got interested at the concept of this being about the Minotaur (from his POV and all). I think this was a really good dive in his character and how he became the creature he is known for. His connections to the his family and their thoughts, Poseidon watching it all because he's still salty (lol) over the white bull. You could get a sense of everyone's state of mind through how each POV was written. I already knew how the story ends, but I couldn't help but root for Asterion. Poor baby.
Overall, I enjoyed it.
ineffablebooks's review
3.0
3.5 stars
While I enjoyed the retelling of this story and the overall mythological flair, there were some parts that just felt awkward. Poseidon's POV was by far the best parts of this, and I could have done with more, but you don't have to modernise a text to make it relatable or enjoyable. Words like "gun fight", "whatevs" (SERIOUSLY..?), and dear god, the worst of them all, "LOL" was cringe-worthy as hell.
Take them away and this book was a pretty good light read.
While I enjoyed the retelling of this story and the overall mythological flair, there were some parts that just felt awkward. Poseidon's POV was by far the best parts of this, and I could have done with more, but you don't have to modernise a text to make it relatable or enjoyable. Words like "gun fight", "whatevs" (SERIOUSLY..?), and dear god, the worst of them all, "LOL" was cringe-worthy as hell.
Take them away and this book was a pretty good light read.
shirin_mandi's review
4.0
HELL . . .
. . . is not
the pushing of a boulder
up a mountainside
to watch it roll
back with broken back
and broken shoulder.
HELL is the numbing of the soul.
HELL is not an unfulfilled desire.
It’s colder.
Nor the thirst
that takes its victims whole.
HELL is the freezing
scorn for who you are
that transforms a faultless boy
What a beautiful tale from Minotaur's point of view!
Minos says I’m nothing more than Nothing.
Can Nothing take a form and call it me?
But Nothing is ever what it seems.
Watch Nothing laugh.
See Nothing cry.
Hear Nothing scream.
And to my great surprise, we have Poseidon as a narrator too!
It’s interesting:
As a god I almost always find,
The more repressed the mortal,
The dirtier the mind.
*****
But why hasn’t the boy learned
That life isn’t fair?
Word!
It’s true everywhere:
Fathers often destroy their sons.
Who do you think invented guns?
. . . is not
the pushing of a boulder
up a mountainside
to watch it roll
back with broken back
and broken shoulder.
HELL is the numbing of the soul.
HELL is not an unfulfilled desire.
It’s colder.
Nor the thirst
that takes its victims whole.
HELL is the freezing
scorn for who you are
that transforms a faultless boy
What a beautiful tale from Minotaur's point of view!
Minos says I’m nothing more than Nothing.
Can Nothing take a form and call it me?
But Nothing is ever what it seems.
Watch Nothing laugh.
See Nothing cry.
Hear Nothing scream.
And to my great surprise, we have Poseidon as a narrator too!
It’s interesting:
As a god I almost always find,
The more repressed the mortal,
The dirtier the mind.
*****
But why hasn’t the boy learned
That life isn’t fair?
Word!
It’s true everywhere:
Fathers often destroy their sons.
Who do you think invented guns?
kawarwick's review
4.0
I actually laughed several times while reading this. I think mythology fans will like this one. I certainly won’t be sharing it with my junior high students but I will share it with my mortal friends who have dirty minds!