Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Didn't love it as much as the previous installations in the series.
Like many of the books written during the pandemic, I think the tumultuous period of time really affected the ultimate quality of the book primarily because it affected Fry's enjoyment of what he was doing.
The story is true to the myths themselves, but it lacks a lot of that characteristic warmth and funny asides that Fry managed to drop in throughout his retellings of the Greek myths so far. Penelope was an absent figure, Clytemnestra reduced to a power-hungry vapid vamp, and Odysseus and Orestes built up into people that somehow get more credit than the story warrants for them.
I can see how the versions of the myths and the specific retellings all build into the version of the stories that connects with the world vision that the Greeks aimed to explain with the myths they told, but it lacks Fry's characteristic warmth and compassion. For a man who could talk kindly about the agonies of Medea in Heroes, how can Clytemnestra get any less sympathy?
All I get is that Fry was tired, the publisher was pushing, and the story needed to be told. But it could be much improved.
Like many of the books written during the pandemic, I think the tumultuous period of time really affected the ultimate quality of the book primarily because it affected Fry's enjoyment of what he was doing.
The story is true to the myths themselves, but it lacks a lot of that characteristic warmth and funny asides that Fry managed to drop in throughout his retellings of the Greek myths so far. Penelope was an absent figure, Clytemnestra reduced to a power-hungry vapid vamp, and Odysseus and Orestes built up into people that somehow get more credit than the story warrants for them.
I can see how the versions of the myths and the specific retellings all build into the version of the stories that connects with the world vision that the Greeks aimed to explain with the myths they told, but it lacks Fry's characteristic warmth and compassion. For a man who could talk kindly about the agonies of Medea in Heroes, how can Clytemnestra get any less sympathy?
All I get is that Fry was tired, the publisher was pushing, and the story needed to be told. But it could be much improved.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Rape, Murder