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All we can do is honour the lessons this brings, look honestly upon who we were and what we have done, and try to do better when the next sun rises: Reviewing House of Odysseus (Book 2 of the Songs of Penelope Trilogy) by Claire North

Hi everyone and happy holidays! With the hustle and bustle of everything, I haven’t been able to do much reading. I may be able to post one more book review before my annual favorites of the year post. It all just depends on my mood. Before you read this review, I encourage you to read Ithaca, the first book in this series. Now, let’s talk about House of Odysseus.

Content Warning: Violence, Strong Language, Spousal Abuse, Discussions of Sexual Assault, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny

Penelope, the queen of the Ithaca, struggles to maintain her power over the suitors that continue to ravage her home. With little hope of her husband’s return, Penelope relies on her wit and cunning to keep her place on the throne. Her troubles, though, had only worsened when Elektra and Orestes turned up on her shores. Orestes is mad with guilt over the murder of his mother Clytemnestra, and Elektra isgrieving her father Agamemnon and desperate to put her brother on the throne. Everything is thrown into further disarry when Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon and king of Sparta, comes to Ithaca in search of his murderous niece and nephew. Helen, the woman who broke the world, is also here to annoy Penelope. With Ithaca thrown into turmoil, Penelope must fight for her rightful place with the help of some unlikely allies. The queen’s plight, though, has caught the eye of the goddess of love herself, Aphrodite, who may give her a fighting chance.

Claire North continues to impress me with her ability to inhabit all of these characters and breathe life into them in a way that very few adapatations have in the past. This novel is part murder mystery, part family drama, and part re-telling. Its dynamic nature is what made it just as enjoyable as its predecessor. What I particularly appreciated about the novel was having Aphrodite as the narrator. Not to be a mythology nerd, but I always for Aphrodite to be one of the more underrated deities in the Greek pantheon. Her commentary about love and desire ties into the themes from the first book about women’s struggles in such a seemless way. Claire North does a fantastic job creating unique character voices that feel so rooted in reality in a strange way. With all of that being said, I am so excited to read the third book in this trilogy and I think that you should check this one out too.

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The gods demand their justice, but we suffer for it every time: Reviewing Elektra by Jennifer Saint

Hi everyone! It’s been a bit, but I haven’t forgotten this blog. I like to think of myself as a reliable and dutiful source of book reviews. If you think otherwise, I completely understand. Guess what? I have another Greek mythology-inspired book for you all! This is also not my first review of a Jennifer Saint book. Check out my review of Ariadne if you so desire. I hope, though, that you are interested in this review of Elektra.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Sexual Assault, Disturbing Imagery, Suicide

Helen of Sparta goes missing, and Greece goes to war. Clytemnestra, queen of Mycenae and twin sister of Helen, is betrayed by her husband Agamemnon and quietly plots her revenge against the House of Atreus. Meanwhile, the Trojan princess Cassandra is cursed by the god Apollo and is plagued with visions of Troy’s fall. Elektra, the youngest daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, desperately wants her father to come home, but fears that her family curse will befall him once he sets foot in his home. Revenge, desperation, and love drive these women to do the unthinkable in the hopes of saving their families.

Elektra is a vivid, haunting, and unflinching look at three women who are often villainized or mocked in Greek mythology. Jennifer Saint allows her protagonists to be imperfect and scheming, while also being sympathetic and relatable. There is no right way to view these characters, and I think that is indicative of Jennifer Saint’s writing talents. I think it’s important to have female characters who are complex and, sometimes, cruel. It makes them all the more human. It is hard to read at times, but Jennifer Saint handles sensitive subjects with care. It is as grotesque as necessary. The writing is wonderful, and I actually really enjoyed the multiple POVs. It made the novel all the more dynamic and moving. I can’t recommend this book anymore. Elektra is a must-read for female-led novels and novels about Greek mythology.

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Let us show the world what love and poetry truly mean: Reviewing Orphia and Eurydicius by Elyse John

Hi everyone! I hope you are enjoying your summer so far. I also hope that you have found plenty of time to read. I feel as though I am not reading fast enough. Unfortunately, I live close to a couple of used bookstores and libraries that have summer book sales. With that being said, I can’t control myself when I see books for sale. I’m sure you all understand the “struggle.” Let me not ramble on any longer. It is of the utmost importance that I give you my review of Orphia and Eurydicius.

Content Warning: Grief and Mourning, Discussions of Sexual Assault, Brief Descriptions of Violence, Discussions of Misogyny, Self-Harm

Orphia knows in her heart that she is destined to be a poet. Her father, the sun god Apollo, has other plans for her and forbids her from studying art. Instead, Orphia spends her days training with the finest warriors on the Whispering Isle. The only person to recognize her true passion is a young shield-maker named Eurydicius. As their love blooms, Orphia finds the courage to stand up to all of the men who have forced her to be someone she isn’t. With Eurydicius by her side, Orphia sets out to claim glory for herself by sailing with the Argonauts and facing many deadly foes along the way. This, however, is not her destiny and Orphia will have to decide how far she is willing to go for love.

If you know me then you know I love a good Greek mythology retelling and one of my favorite myths is about Orpheus and Eurydice. Elyse John handles her re-telling of the myth with such care and passion. The prose is as gorgeous as it is blunt at times, balancing the idealistic romance of two poets and the reality of power imbalance between men and women. Too often, women-centered stories force the main female character to choose between love and herself. It is nice to see Elyse John strive for a story where Orphia and Eurydicius love and support each other in equal measure. With that being said, the novel still holds true to the original tragedy of the myth. It is a story of love, perseverance, identity, and empowerment. I loved everything about this novel and I sincerely think that you will love Orphia and Eurydicius too.

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I long for the day when I awake and live from dawn to sleep without one moment of fear: Reviewing The Fury of the Gods (Book 3 of the Bloodsworn Trilogy) by John Gwynne

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Before you read this review, I highly recommend you check out my reviews for the first two books in this trilogy, The Shadow of the Gods and The Hunger of the Gods. I have a couple of other fantasy books on my TBR pile, so stick around for those. I want to thank you all for your continued support. Now, let’s talk about The Fury of the Gods.

Content Warning: Intense Violence and Gore, Intense Battle Scenes, Graphic Depictions of Injuries

The war between the gods has finally begun. Blood will be shed, and the world will change forever. The Bloodsworn, which includes Orka and Varg, must face off against a dragon. Elvar struggles with her newfound authority as she tries to unite her people and negotiate with the wolf god. Biorr and his warband head north, leaving a trail of blood in their wake. Gudvarr goes on a dangerous mission to gain the favor of Lil-Rifa, the dragon goddess. All of their paths will intertwine and lead to the bloodiest battle ever known to man and god.

Out of the entire trilogy, this book is the most fast-paced and action-packed. John Gwynne is great at writing battles, but there is a balance between the action and the resolution of the story. There were several times I exclaimed aloud in my bedroom because of the shocking things that happened in this book. I didn’t want to put this book down for the last third of it. Not a single character was safe at a certain point, and it stressed me out, so I took points from this book because it made me upset at one point but added points for the satisfying resolutions. This book also reminded me of a video game with all of the action scenes and the way the dialogue was written. I also mean that as a compliment. Overall, The Bloodsworn Trilogy was such a fun and action-packed series with plenty of great fantasy elements and cool mythology references. I cannot recommend this trilogy enough to all of you. Go start reading it if you haven’t yet.

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Who said true love is a myth?: Reviewing Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I love feeling motivated to read again. Thank you all for continuing to support my blog and reading all of my posts. I can’t tell you all how grateful I am for your continued support. I just felt like being sappy there for a moment. Now, without further ado, let’s talk about Psyche and Eros.

Content Warning: Some violence, Some strong language

Psyche, the princess of Mycenae and granddaughter of the legendary Perseus, was given a prophecy at birth. The Oracle told her that she would become a legendary hero by conquering a monster that even the gods feared. She spent her childhood training to fulfill her destiny. Tales of her beauty and skill reached the goddess of love, Aphrodite, who grew jealous of the princess. She decided to send her adopted son, Eros, to place a curse upon the young woman. Eros, though, accidentally cursed himself and fell hopelessly in love with Psyche. Psyche and Eros must fight against the odds to be together as fate threatens to tear them apart once and for all.

Luna McNamara offers a fun take on a classic myth. I loved the individual perspectives of Psyche and Eros as characters. McNamara makes the world of the book feel immersive with many careful details that flesh out all of the characters. My favorite aspect of this book, though, was the romance. At my heart, I am a romantic and this satisfied my need for a heart-warming love story that wasn’t too cheesy or unrealistic. It was overall a sweet and fun read with plenty of adventure. I am going to give this a solid recommendation.

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The storm may bend your back, but only you can straighten it again: Reviewing Ithaca (Book 1 of The Songs of Penelope) by Claire North

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I have been itching to get back into mythology-related books, specifically Greek mythology. In case you didn’t know, The Odyssey is one of my favorite classics, so I am always excited to get into different retellings and interpretations. Needless to say, this particular book was at the top of my list to read. Without furhter ado, let’s talk about Ithaca.

Content Warning: Strong Language, Violence, Discussions and Depictions of Sexual Assault

In two years, Odysseus will be freed from imprisonment on Calypso’s island. Until then, Penelope must remain strong as the multitudes of suitors destroy her home. Her son, Telemachus, is growing resentful of his mother’s willingness to tolerate these men ruining his father’s home and turns to an unlikely ally for help. While Penelope is dealing with the suitors, she receives word that her cousin Clytemnestra has killed her husband and seeks refuge in Ithaca. With few options left, Penelope takes drastic actions to delay the suitors and figure out what to do with her murderous cousin, even if that comes at a cost.

Claire North’s reimagining of Penelope’s struggles is unique and compelling in its relentless, yet poetic prose. The best aspect of this novel is its narrator, which is Hera, the queen of the gods. I loved her as a narrator and getting her perspective on everything. Her voice linked the mythological side of the story and the person-centered side of the story. I loved the brutal honesty that Claire North delivers through Hera as a narrator. There is a certain grittiness and realism to this story that makes the reader uncomfortable, because it can’t be denied this feels so realistic in its own way. The tension throughout the book is palpable, with plenty at stake. Overall, I loved this interpretation of Penelope’s story and I will definitely be reading the rest of this trilogy.

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There is no glory in slaying the defeated: Reviewing The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Haywood

Hi everyone! I’m back and excited for spooky season! I have two other non-horror books to review and then I’ll get to the creepy stuff. For now, I just had to read another Greek Mythology related book. You all know that I love some Greek Mythology and I have been particularly hyperfixated as of late. I have plenty of other recommendations on my blogs so you are more than welcome to check those out. It is time to talk about my latest read. Let’s discuss The Shadow of Perseus.

Content Warning: Discussions of Misogyny, Sexual Assault, Violence and Gore, Abuse

From a young age, Perseus was obsessed with becoming a hero and fulfilling his destiny. His journey, though, comes at a cost. His mother Danae must watch her son grow from a sweet boy to a fiersome young man. Medusa, a woman trying to reclaim her life, comes face to face with the man who will be her undoing. Andromeda, his wife, is forced to leave behind the life she knows for a stranger. The three women are bound together by one man’s journey to greatness and it will cost them all dearly.

The Shadow of Perseus offers a different perspective on the classic tale of the young hero. Instead, we get a realistic take on the story through the eyes of the women who definitely suffered for the sake of revenge. It isn’t just a simple retelling. Haywood explores the mistreatment of women, nature versus nurture, and how famous myths often come from exaggerated tales. Haywood presents complicated characters who are all just trying to survive. She doesn’t praise Perseus, but she doesn’t allow for too much sympathy. Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda are all relatable as they struggles against oppressive gender roles. Haywood faces these issues head on and doesn’t dance around the reality of women during this particular time period. Overall, The Shadow of Perseus is a refreshing take on the male-dominated Greek hero myths and I would certainly recommend it.

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Did you truly see our gods die?: Reviewing Temple of No God (Sequel to Hall of Smoke) by H.M. Long

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well! I’m reading some longer books now so bear with me in between reviews. If you want to see what I am reading or my progress, feel free to follow me on StoryGraph (n0vel_ideas). I’m actually enjoying that app and I normally don’t care for many reading/reviewing apps. Before you read this review, check out my review for Hall of Smoke. Without further ado, let’s talk about Temple of No God.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Harsh Language, Death of a Child, Battle Scenes

Eighteen years ago, Hessa – High Priestess of the Eangen – defeated her own god. Now, she is maintaining a fragile peace between rival tribes through marriage to her second husband. Unrest is on the horizon, though, as multiple people are vying for the throne of the Arpa Empire. Whoever wins the throne will have access to raw, untamed magical power that could wipe out Hessa’s people. Along with that, a new cult has arisen and its members can drain life from anything they touch. With the fate of the world in her hands, Hessa must be prepared to make any sacrifice necessary to restore balance and restore peace no matter the cost.

Like its predecessor, Hall of Smoke is an action-packed adventure with plenty of interesting magic and mythology. I like how H.M. Long’s writing is the right balance of straightforward and poetic. Hessa is a great example of a dynamic female lead you continue to root for. While this isn’t a true romance, I did like the relationship between her and her new husband. It didn’t overshadow the rest of the story, though, as there were plenty of great battle scenes and interesting politics. Even though there is a gap in time between this book and the previous one, they did tie together just enough while still standing on their own. Temple of No God is a strong sequel with plenty of its own merits. You should, however, definitely read Hall of Smoke first.

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You and me, we’re endgame: Reviewing Midnight Ruin (Book 6 in the Dark Olympus series) by Katee Robert

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Before you read this book, you are welcome to check out my reviews for the other books in the Dark Olympus series. Katee Robert has quickly become an “auto buy” author for me. I might venture outside of this particular series. I tried a different one by her and didn’t particularly like it but I am willing to give her another try. I’ve also started to appreciate that she is one of the few authors who put disclaimers in her book for explicit content. I know what to expect with her work now but I still appreciate that she (and other authors I have read) have adopted the practice. Let me not ramble any further. Let’s talk about Midnight Ruin, the latest book in the Dark Olympus series.

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content, Some Harsh Language, Discussions of Abortion, Some Violence

Eurydice is used to being underestimated. Her sisters are all in powerful positions in Olympus while she has to sneak away from her bodyguard, Charon, to live life. What’s holding her back, though, is the heartbreak caused by her ex-boyfriend, Orpheus. Eurydice and Charon begin to explore their feelings for each other but Orpheus arrives seeking penance for breaking Eurydice’s heart. The three decide on an arrangement that will satisfy all of their needs. Outside of their budding romance, a new threat arises against Olympus. Eurydice, Charon, and Orpheus soon find themselves caught up in larger plot that threatens to tear apart their little haven forever.

I am going to give this newest entry to the Dark Olympus series credit where credit is due because it is definitely closer to the original myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. It’s one of my favorite Greek myths so I was definitely a little more excited for this book. Katee Robert has proven time and time again that she is great at creating chemistry and tension between her characters, even if the relationships are a little unconventional. (This is a throuple/polyamorous romance if that is what floats your boat.) This was certainly fun and spicy in all of the right ways. I also appreciate the overarching plot that links all of these books together. I am interested to see how that all builds up in future books. All in all, this was a pretty satisfying entry to this series and I am going to continue to recommend Katee Robert’s Dark Olympus series for an exciting and steamy time.

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So you (still) want to be a half-blood?: Reviewing Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan

Hello all! I’m back again sooner than expected with another review. I’ve mentioned a few times how I tend to avoid middle-grade and/or young adult books but I have a soft spot for the Percy Jackson series. I absolutely love the TV adaptation so far, so I started feeling nostalgic all over again. I don’t think anything is wrong with holding on to some childhood interests as an adult. Sometimes, it’s fun to look back at the things that inspired you in the first place. I also just love keeping up with Rick Riordan in general. Let’s talk about the latest entry in the Percy Jackson series, The Chalice of the Gods.

Percy Jackson, demigod extraordinaire, is about to face his greatest challenge: college. First things first, he needs three recommendation letters for New Rome University. These letters have to be from gods and, to earn these letters, Percy must complete quests. His first quest is to help Ganymede, Zeus’s cupbearer, who lost his magical chalice. With the help of his friends Grover and Annabeth, Percy must (for the millionth time) face down an array of creatures and gods who seem to have nothing better to do than to fight some (sort of) harmless demigods.

Despite the fact I know I am not the target audience for the Percy Jackson series, I can tell Rick Riordan is aware of how many of his readers are growing up and continuing to enjoy the world of Percy Jackson. I get a sense that he is aware that some of his readers are nostalgic adults. These books, though, can be for readers of all ages. I read so many heavy and dark books on my blog so it is nice to go back to some of the more light-hearted books I grew up with. (The Percy Jackson books can still be kind of dark. Don’t get it twisted.) I do love Riordan’s overall consistent quality with his books but you can still see where the world of the book has evolved to keep up with modern trends. This is certainly a book for all ages and I can see how reading this book would be a great family bonding experience, if you do have any little bookworms in your life looking for their next exciting literary adventure.