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A review by mxsallybend
Haunted by Myth by Barbara Ann Wright
4.0
Haunted by Myth was a fun read that manages to do something new and original with the urban fantasy genre. Barbara Ann Wright concocts a literary spell with a dash of ghosts, a sprinkle of monsters, and a pinch of Greek mythology, stirring it with a wink and a nod as she allows a magical age-gap romance to simmer and steam.
Chloe is a ghost-hunter who was never supposed to have inherited the family business, constantly operating under the shadow of her dead sister’s memory and her mother’s grief. At her side is the ghost of the pharaoh Ramses, who has been a partner, a mentor, and a father-figure to her family for generations.
Helen is the legendary woman whose face launched a thousand ships, although she resents being defined by one story when she has done so much more over the ages. She is something of a monster-hunter, but only to rescue them from the human world and provide them with sanctuary on her island. At her side is the Sphinx – not to mention Pegasus, naiads, and more.
There’s a whole cast of supporting characters to the story, both human and otherwise, which adds to the wonder, the mystery, and the humor of the world that Wright has created. It’s deliberately unclear what the sides even are, much less who is on which, and there are centuries of resentment and distrust between humans and monsters that further strain potential alliances. I was utterly fascinated by the monster side of the story, and would love to have seen more of the menagerie in Helen’s sanctuary, and there is a whole world of adventure hinted at in Fatma and Ali that I would love to explore as well.
For all of that, this is Chloe and Helen’s story, and while their romance is a goal, it’s not the driving force behind the plot. Yes, mutual attraction draws them together, but it’s their strength as women, their morals and their purpose, that allow them to overcome the divide between natural and supernatural to face a threat that neither can thwart on their own. Chloe is a wonderful young woman who must put her doubts and fears behind her if she is to embrace her destiny. While Helen may be older and wiser, she is not without her doubts as well, especially when it comes to humanity. They bring out the best in each other.
Fast-paced and fun, full of imagination and emotion, Haunted by Myth was a thoroughly entertaining read with plenty of LGBTQIA positivity.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2023/12/09/book-review-haunted-by-myth-by-barbara-ann-wright-urban-fantasy/
Chloe is a ghost-hunter who was never supposed to have inherited the family business, constantly operating under the shadow of her dead sister’s memory and her mother’s grief. At her side is the ghost of the pharaoh Ramses, who has been a partner, a mentor, and a father-figure to her family for generations.
Helen is the legendary woman whose face launched a thousand ships, although she resents being defined by one story when she has done so much more over the ages. She is something of a monster-hunter, but only to rescue them from the human world and provide them with sanctuary on her island. At her side is the Sphinx – not to mention Pegasus, naiads, and more.
There’s a whole cast of supporting characters to the story, both human and otherwise, which adds to the wonder, the mystery, and the humor of the world that Wright has created. It’s deliberately unclear what the sides even are, much less who is on which, and there are centuries of resentment and distrust between humans and monsters that further strain potential alliances. I was utterly fascinated by the monster side of the story, and would love to have seen more of the menagerie in Helen’s sanctuary, and there is a whole world of adventure hinted at in Fatma and Ali that I would love to explore as well.
For all of that, this is Chloe and Helen’s story, and while their romance is a goal, it’s not the driving force behind the plot. Yes, mutual attraction draws them together, but it’s their strength as women, their morals and their purpose, that allow them to overcome the divide between natural and supernatural to face a threat that neither can thwart on their own. Chloe is a wonderful young woman who must put her doubts and fears behind her if she is to embrace her destiny. While Helen may be older and wiser, she is not without her doubts as well, especially when it comes to humanity. They bring out the best in each other.
Fast-paced and fun, full of imagination and emotion, Haunted by Myth was a thoroughly entertaining read with plenty of LGBTQIA positivity.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2023/12/09/book-review-haunted-by-myth-by-barbara-ann-wright-urban-fantasy/