A review by saskia_ej
The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood

dark reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

No hate to the author, it’s certainly an interesting idea to have a re-telling of a classical myth without it being based in the mythological and fantastical elements, but this just didn’t work for me. I wasn’t drawn in and I didn’t feel any connection to the characters. All three women felt so bland and certainly were not empowered. I kept feeling frustrated with them simply putting up with Perseus, who is just an angry, power-hungry, petty little boy. We essentially have a section for each of the three women where they know what they could/should do in order to escape and have a better life for themselves, but they are simply too weak (side note: if it’s possible for Myron to climb out of the chamber, why can’t Danae??) or just find themselves feeling unable to move. I understand the sentiment of feeling bound to their fate, but it’s quite frustrating to read and doesn’t seem to fit with this apparently feminist re-telling centered on the women. I can see how the ending was meant to show some strength and influence from the women, but it somehow didn’t feel very satisfying.

I appreciate that Heywood wanted to take a different approach in writing this as more of a historical fiction, and perhaps taken only as such it would be more rewarding. But knowing the original stories and how deeply rooted in myth they are just makes it difficult not to be confused by the things that happen instead. Without divine interventions, it’s hard to understand Perseus’ motivations as anything other than bratty, which I suppose is the point but it makes his extreme violence quite uncomfortable. Without the fantastical elements of Medusa and the Gorgons, it’s somehow more difficult to relate to them. Also it felt somewhat odd to have references to the original myths - like the rain coming into the chamber looking like a golden shower, Danae lying to Perseus that he was the son of Zeus because it was too shameful to admit the truth of her young love (super feminist *eye roll*), and Perseus’ made-up brags about his achievements being from the original myths - as well as the fact that the people still believe in the gods and the words of oracles, yet not have any actual influence from the gods.

Perhaps if you’re able to let go of the original myths and approach this as a historical fiction, it would be more compelling. It was easy to read and there was some fairly captivating description of locations/scenes. I’m sure there will be plenty of people who enjoy the different approach this book takes, making it stand out from other re-tellings in this genre that has become so big. Personally, I think the mythological and fantastical elements have significant value and their metaphors transcend the boundaries of time, so I don’t relate to the desire to remove them from the story.
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