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frantically's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-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
2.5
What tries to be a new mythology retelling just ends up as a typical YA fantasy that takes place in Ancient Greece and recycles characters that have been around for years.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Animal death, Death of parent, and Violence
Minor: Death, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Classism
spookieboogie's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Have we had enough Greek mythology retellings? No, we absolutely have not. And it’s not quite that anyway, is it? The Author’s Note before the story describes this as not a retelling, but a book inspired by a Greek myth that pulls from many ancient cultures. The world-building itself is entirely new to this story.
A Veil of Gods and Kings follows young godling Apollo prior to his ascension as he’s tasked by his entirely unlikable father Zeus to mentor under the industrious Prince Hyacinth (“my friends call me Cyn”) of Niria in hopes of instilling Apollo with a more agreeable disposition. Apollo and Cyn’s younger sisters, Temi and Epiphany (Pip) respectively, feature prominently as the secondary plotline with Pip rounding out the third viewpoint throughout the book. Written in the first person following Apollo, Hyacinth, and Pip, A Veil of Gods and Kings takes place largely within the Kingdom of Niria with most scenes occurring within the castle grounds.
All in all, I really did enjoy the read and plan to read the next book. Fans of both Simon Snow and The Song of Achilles will like this series as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and author Nicole Bailey for providing an advance copy for review.
Check out my book blog for the full review.
A Veil of Gods and Kings follows young godling Apollo prior to his ascension as he’s tasked by his entirely unlikable father Zeus to mentor under the industrious Prince Hyacinth (“my friends call me Cyn”) of Niria in hopes of instilling Apollo with a more agreeable disposition. Apollo and Cyn’s younger sisters, Temi and Epiphany (Pip) respectively, feature prominently as the secondary plotline with Pip rounding out the third viewpoint throughout the book. Written in the first person following Apollo, Hyacinth, and Pip, A Veil of Gods and Kings takes place largely within the Kingdom of Niria with most scenes occurring within the castle grounds.
All in all, I really did enjoy the read and plan to read the next book. Fans of both Simon Snow and The Song of Achilles will like this series as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and author Nicole Bailey for providing an advance copy for review.
Check out my book blog for the full review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Violence
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