Reviews

Queens of Themiscyra by Hannah Lynn

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mizzbooks_'s review against another edition

3.0

A book has to make you feel something so you’ll like it and it definitely did, don’t get me wrong. I also don’t think these books are made to tell the real history of Greek mythology. If you want that, find other books. These are just retellings with more dramatic aspects. I would say I gave it 3 stars tho, and not 4 or 5 because I didn’t see powerful women here, at all. They lacked the firmness I would’ve loved to see, and it wasn’t there unfortunately.

thisboricuareader's review

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4.0

Okay, I have been reading a lot of greek retelling recently. Most of them have been from the same series and author, and being honest they were all interesting.

This one too. A lot of this greek stories I don't remember the originals (until this one). I like the pacing and the writing. I do think it was a bit long and I just wanted it to end.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

serenasbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

Mi ero fermata con la trilogia della Lynn perché i libri precedenti mi piacevano ma non mi appassionavano. Ho letto questo aspettandomi la stessa cosa ma, nonostante non lo trovi fantastico, mi è piaciuto molto di più. Soprattutto perché è un argomento e una storia veramente poco rappresentata tra i retelling di mitologia greca.

La storia delle Amazzoni mi ha fatto provare grande orgoglio e affetto verso un racconto in cui gli uomini non hanno ruoli in primo piano ma anzi vengono descritti per la maggior parte sotto una luce cattiva. Allo stesso tempo ho provato una grande tristezza per il finale tutto tranne che lieto e rabbia immedesimandomi in ciò che hanno dovuto provare loro di fronte a un destino così crudele.

È sicuramente un libro da leggere se appassionati di mitologia ma senza aspettarsi il capolavoro dell'anno.

crothe77's review

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emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Queens of Themiscyra by Hannah Lynn is a dual-POV retelling of the story of Queens Hippolyte and Penthesilea of the Amazons . When Heracles comes to Themiscyra to bring Hippolyte’s zoster to Greece, Theseus goes with him and asks Hippolyte to come with them. She refuses only for Theseus to return and pursue her even more. When Theseus kidnaps Hippolyte, Penthesilea goes to Athens to bring her sister back.

Antiope and Hippolyte are perhaps the most famous of the Amazon queens, so having Penthesilea as a POV character was a nice change of pace and let us see the different ways she and Hippolyte rule. Amazonian culture is explored a bit with mentions of architecture and the tradition of the Amazons going to the Gargareans to create new generations.

One thing that I really liked was how Hippolyte and Penthesilea are both very devoted to the Amazons but they show it in different ways. Hippolyte would have returned to Themiscyra if it wasn’t for her son with Theseus and the lingering feelings she has for the man she calls husband. Penthesilea’s devotion is more shown in how she gives young Amazonian women chances to prove themselves in battle.

Content warning for a brief depiction of sexual assault

I would recommend this to fans of feminist retellings of Greek mythology, readers interested in the Amazons, and those who are looking to dip their toes into Greek myth retellings and like stories about women warriors.

Content Warnings