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theblerdnewsletter's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The reason I didn’t give it 4.5 stars is because I would love to see Hera’s telling of when Odysseus comes home.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Incest, Violence, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Child death, Slavery, Infidelity, War, Blood, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Trafficking
linguisticali's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
3.0
The truly relentless references to rape were my least favourite thing about this. Whatever point you want to make about the poets lionising male heroes who are actually Bad Rapists... we get it. Point made. Otherwise it was... fine? I didn't hate it but I won't read the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, and Rape
brittishrcoming's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: War, Misogyny, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Slavery, Rape, and Sexual assault
forgetbeenot's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Sexual assault, and Violence
crazytourists_books's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It took me a while to like it, but I found it to be a descent approach to the ancient myth of Penelopy and the suitors.
My main problem, mainly at the beginning was the constant whining of the narrator (I won't say who it was) and later on by the endless descriptions. I liked the choice of narrator but I was a bit disappointed tho find them rather restrained and frightened not how I had them on my mind; defying and fearless. I also enjoyed this side of Penelopy, the dutiful, loyal wife trope of the ancient myths is rather boring. I could do without the feministic notions, but they sell, right? It has a promising end and I will probably read the second book when it's out.
Again, it should have been shorter, at least a hundred pages shorter...
My main problem, mainly at the beginning was the constant whining of the narrator (I won't say who it was) and later on by the endless descriptions. I liked the choice of narrator but I was a bit disappointed tho find them rather restrained and frightened not how I had them on my mind; defying and fearless. I also enjoyed this side of Penelopy, the dutiful, loyal wife trope of the ancient myths is rather boring. I could do without the feministic notions, but they sell, right? It has a promising end and I will probably read the second book when it's out.
Again, it should have been shorter, at least a hundred pages shorter...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, War, Blood, Violence, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, and Rape
madamenovelist's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Rape, Misogyny, War, Gore, Violence, Murder, Slavery, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Sexism, Xenophobia, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, and Death of parent
wlreed312's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
For years I have wanted a book about what's going on in Ithaca during the events of the Odyssey, so you can imagine my excitement when I heard about this. And after a kind of rocky start, I ended up enjoying it a lot, but not as much as I had anticipated. For me it was the POV that took me out of it, I honestly didn't like Hera much as a narrator. I wanted to know more of what was going on in Penelope's mind, and this didn't give me as much of that as I would have liked. I also had some issues with how Hera talked about women, there was some cattiness that didn't sit well with me. And there was once or twice where there was a line or two that bordered on homophobic for me.
But in spite of that, I thought the last third of the book was outstanding. We get some really lovely scenes between Penelope and Elektra, as well as between Penelope and Clytemnestra. There is some great dialogue, and I thought the ending was very good. So while it wasn't exactly what I was looking for, it was still very enjoyable.
But in spite of that, I thought the last third of the book was outstanding. We get some really lovely scenes between Penelope and Elektra, as well as between Penelope and Clytemnestra. There is some great dialogue, and I thought the ending was very good. So while it wasn't exactly what I was looking for, it was still very enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: War, Sexual violence, and Rape
fluffyeti's review
challenging
dark
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The writing is beautiful, at turns lyrical, idyllic, vulgar, and changeable as any one person's speech usually is. Given that the entire book is narrated from the point of view of Hera, the style is fitting and enjoyable to read. Will add more thoughts later.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Rape and Physical abuse
poetic_liz's review against another edition
4.75
I should give this book five stars for its relentless, ruthless, bitterly honest narrator and it's beautiful, ugly, pretty use of words. So many of those quotes will stay with me. The book balances beautiful prose with harsh commentary, lyrical stanza with curse words, poetic descriptions with vulgar and heartless wording.
As someone who read way too many books on Greek myth, this was very refreshing to read, both in terms of narrator, style choices and timeline chosen. It is truly unique amongst other retellings and focuses on women very differently than most "women focused"/"feminist" retellings do. Often I dislike them for trying to hard or not enough. This book wasn't ashamed to face the bitter truth of the lives of women and goddesses. It was ugly, disturbing, and utterly beautiful.
The thing that keeps the 5 stars away is that I wasn't happy with some of the plot choices made. This is completely on me and my personal taste, other people may love it. The book would for sure be 5/5 if I could only give full stars.
I beg everyone to read this, to approach it with an open mind, ready to be disappointed by your heroes and the female characters alike, for they are all human. And what can I say? Humans are built like gods, so be ready to be disappointed by the gods as well.
As someone who read way too many books on Greek myth, this was very refreshing to read, both in terms of narrator, style choices and timeline chosen. It is truly unique amongst other retellings and focuses on women very differently than most "women focused"/"feminist" retellings do. Often I dislike them for trying to hard or not enough. This book wasn't ashamed to face the bitter truth of the lives of women and goddesses. It was ugly, disturbing, and utterly beautiful.
The thing that keeps the 5 stars away is that I wasn't happy with some of the plot choices made. This is completely on me and my personal taste, other people may love it. The book would for sure be 5/5 if I could only give full stars.
I beg everyone to read this, to approach it with an open mind, ready to be disappointed by your heroes and the female characters alike, for they are all human. And what can I say? Humans are built like gods, so be ready to be disappointed by the gods as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Rape, War, Slavery, and Misogyny
brazenbookbabe's review
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a great Greek myth retelling. I very much enjoyed Hera as a narrator and this insight into Penelope’s story during her period on Ithaca without Odysseus. It was bitchy and full of feminine rage.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, War, Violence, Slavery, and Sexual violence