A review by emily_mh
Create My Own Perfection by E.H. Timms

emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I liked the creativity Timms showed in interpreting our MC, a medusa (to be read as the Medusa), as aroace. I love when modern retellings seek to show Medusa as not-a-monster, and what their reasoning is behind that. Similar to these retellings, Emma (our MC) only turns to stone men who sexually harass her (specifically ONE man, or god, I should say: Poseidon). Emma being aroace adds another layer to this dynamic, because the reason Si (Poseidon) keeps coming back is that he can’t accept that Emma doesn’t experience sexual or romantic attraction. Being able to turn sexual harassers to stone offers her protection, but it’s clear that she wishes others would understand straight away that their advances will never be of interest to her. Through this aroace rep we get some stellar quotes - unfortunately I didn’t write these down and no longer have access to the book.

Also as a consequence of the MC being aroace is that the story stresses how important friendship is. Emma describes her friends as her lifeline, and she as theirs, which is backed up by the plot of the book where Emma helps her selkie friend, and in turn is helped.

My major criticism with this book is that there was a real lack of world-building. I couldn’t parse what type of setting we were in, what impact the Greek gods existing alongside mortals had, why the Greek gods were drawn to Olsen College in particular, etc. It meant that the events of the book felt like they were taking place on a (metaphorical) island surrounded by dense mist.

Rep: aroace MC
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