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Hey everyone! Andy and I have decided to do a group read of the myth retelling The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood. It releases February 21, but we both have review copies. Other readers are welcome to join in now or later!

Andy, want to start with Danae??? I'm currently at the part where the fishing village head dude... Polydectes (sorry, I'm listening to the audio so had to look up the name), has just proposed, and Perseus had a tantrum about not being asked about it even though he always acts like a baby, lol. I know you're ahead of me. I will definitely finish either Monday or Tuesday though. It's a fast read.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about Danae! She just lets things happen to her and never makes any choices. It's hard to imagine never having any kind of forethought or decision making skills. But the writing is lovely! I did not understand why she wouldn't try to escape her imprisonment almost immediately. I mean, it seems quite easy to get in and out!

I also don't love the scenes with child Perseus. I feel like a lot of things are skipped over, and there could've been more character development. I felt cheated that we didn't get to see his birth and those early years with a newborn. I kind of wonder if the author doesn't have kids so wanted to skip those parts, ha!

I think it's an interesting choice to strip away the mythic/magical aspects. I thought it was a neat idea for Danae to tell Perseus about the light being Zeus (though obv. backfired). But I could see a mother doing that. At first I was a little disappointed there wouldn't be any magic in it, but I now think that's a refreshing idea. Most contemporary retellings chose to keep the gods in, so I like that it's something different.

Feel free to disagree with me and add your own opinions. :)

I can't wait to get to the Medusa part. Does she still strip away the magical part of her character? Don't tell me; I'll find out soon! I'm resisting reading the blurb in case it tells me. :)

Ah! I totally agree with everything! :P I'm no fun, sorry!

The writing is really lovely, it is impressive and very immersive. Though it might not dwell on characters feelings and thoughts as much as I would have liked, especially in the case of Danae!

Danae is completely passive in her story, she just let things happen and goes with it because.... She just does, no self of agency... The worst offender to me was when Perseus tells her he is now her guardian, after having just had a tantrum like a child (and still in the middle of a tantrum, really), and she was like "Ah, I didn't think of it that way. I guess he's right." He's right??? I guess people at the time had different ways of thinking, but this was really disempowering...
I was honestly ok with her being unable to make her own decisions at 18, and not wanting to get away from ber family. She lived a sheltered life, I thought it was reasonable, if a bit frustrating and clearly the wrong decision.
I was not happy with her still living with Dyktis 11/12 year after arriving at the island, because surely she should have tried to build a life for herself? And it went down from there, in terms of self actualization, she never makes any decisions, and does not plan ahead, lile she never learnt from her mistakes or past difficulties... She's like a leaf in the wind...

In her part Perseus comes up as a bit of a whiny child, so I'm not sure I'd have enjoyed seeing more of him... :P The fact that she tells him he's the son of a God is a good touch, and I guess it plays with the narrative of "trying to protect and shelter" Perseus, though I think it is likely to massively backfire later in his development...

I also like the idea of stripping away the magical elements, it is done well, I like the setting with Medusa, I haven't finished yet. I think the idea of: this is what reality was like, and look at what they made up later is very interesting! :) I really like the idea that stories and myths might basically be very warped versions of real events! :)

Though, I must say, I wish the first part had given us a bit more of the good and the bad of Perseus, because in Medusa's part we see him again, and Medusa reaction is a bit... Blah... I'll talk more when you've read it too! ;)

Basically, I agree... I hope we see female characters with a bit more spunk later, because, if not... Why not??? :P

As a final thought about Danae: I could see a number of little ways to give her some agency in thought, if not in action. For example when Dyktis died, and his wife said she was going to her sister, she could have said something about looking for a different place to live for her and Perseus, instead of waiting for them to basically throw her out. Because she knew it was coming, so she could have shown awareness...
So, even keeping all the lack of action, we could still have had a more "active" character I think...

What do you think?

Sounds like we agree on pretty much everything!

Andy wrote: "As a final thought about Danae: I could see a number of little ways to give her some agency in thought, if not in action. For example when Dyktis died, and his wife said she was going to her sister..."

I agree. It didn't necessarily bother me that she stayed with Dyktis for so long. I think communal living was more common in ancient times, and I think that it's probably a solid way to live when you have kids. But you would think she'd have some idea about how his sons felt about her and Perseus, and that she would have some sort of backup plan. Dyktis was sick for 6 months.

A lot of books that happen in ancient times or myth retellings depict women who don't have the same freedoms as men and are often controlled by male whims. But they still have agency in thought, and in some of their actions, so I completely agree with you.

Andy wrote: "The worst offender to me was when Perseus tells her he is now her guardian, after having just had a tantrum like a child (and still in the middle of a tantrum, really), and she was like "Ah, I didn't think of it that way. I guess he's right." He's right??? I guess people at the time had different ways of thinking, but this was really disempowering... ..."

This scene was so ridiculous. I laughed out loud when he said that, thinking she would have a similar response, but then she's just like, "good point." uhm. Even if it follows tradition, it seems like moms would still bristle at the idea of their teenage sons deciding who they should marry.

Margaret wrote: "This scene was so ridiculous. I laughed out loud when he said that, thinking she would have a similar response, but then she's just like, "good point." uhm. Even if it follows tradition, it seems like moms would still bristle at the idea of their teenage sons deciding who they should marry."

Right? I thought an appropriate reply was: "I used to change your nappies, have some respect!" :P

It also reminded me of a similar scene in Kaikeyi (similar in tone), where afterwards Kaikeyi is all saddened aboyt the lack of respect for women Rama was showing by not listening to his mothers...

Andy wrote: "It also reminded me of a similar scene in Kaikeyi (similar in tone), where afterwards Kaikeyi is all saddened aboyt the lack of respect for women Rama was showing by not listening to his mothers......"

That book is actually a really good example of how, even when women are being disempowered by men in a retelling, their personalities and reactions can still show they're anything but passive about what's happening.

Well, I finished Medusa's part... I will put it in spoilers in case you haven't yet!

(view spoiler)[I really liked the idea of having Medusa being just a priestess in a group of women reminder of the Amazons. I quite liked that aspect, it made sense that men and the general population would create a lot of falsehoods about such a group, and it makes sense for the group to exist.
I also rather liked the fact the author made Medusa a misunderstood victim. It reminded me of the movie Maleficient, so not very original, but I still liked it.

Perseus though... He's the worse!

First of all: why did Medusa like him so much? He has zero personality, and quite stupid / unable to see anything beyond his own perspective.
Second: why didn't she defend herself? Come on! Why??? Make her at least try to defend herself! :(

I really don't like Perseus, he's such a spoiled child, and I don't like that characters keep liking him so much... (hide spoiler)]

I started on Andromeda's part. I love this depiction of Andromeda so far, I am so happy (Chapter 27)! :)

Well, I forgot I had an article to write today and I wasn't editing (I typically listen to audiobooks while I update a website). So I haven't been able to continue today, but I will tomorrow!

I'm excited to read Andromeda now! Especially after not being too enthusiastic about Danae.

I finished Andromeda's part - there is another Danae part after.

Andromeda is a marvel, I am very happy with how it was handled!

(view spoiler)[I am too happy she was made so full of spunk... :)

And the writing really took me into the story, with her learning the language, feeling helpless, loosing her only friend, and then deciding she still had fight in her. I also really enjoyed how she was the one to propose the sacrifice!

Perseus is absolutely the worst! And he makes no sense, he's completely irrational... Does he seem like a realistic character do you think? He's too unhinged, anything can set him off, and he's super brutal, I don't know that it fits... Where does all the anger comes from? (hide spoiler)]

Andy wrote: "Well, I finished Medusa's part... I will put it in spoilers in case you haven't yet!

I really liked the idea of having Medusa being just a priestess in a group of women reminder of the Amazons. I ..."

I finished Medusa as well, and started in on Andromeda. I'm at the scene where Perseus and Andromeda have arrived to Perseus' home and he is none to happy to see mama wed and pregnant. I'll put my thoughts in spoilers in case anyone else comes back to join the read along.

(view spoiler)[ I frankly hated the Medusa section. I do like that she's a priestess and the matriarchal society is neat. I know cats more intelligent and charming than Perseus. Maybe that's a bad analogy because I think most cats are more intelligent and charming than he is, lol. He is dumb and mean and petulant. And it's not like he acts any different around Medusa. I was just flabbergasted by that whole section.

And sucking a snake bite doesn't get rid of venom! That's a myth!

Ugh, the whole section annoyed me.

But Andromeda is great, I agree. She has agency, she makes choices, she sees who Perseus really is. I really liked that she chose to make the sacrifice too and I thought that was a great twist. I wish the novel had started with her. I think she really shows how little choice women had. I thought that scene where the ship docks and Perseus leaves her alone on top for the first time was really moving. She knows she could run, but what would happen to her then? A girl alone in an unknown port city with no funds or friends and very little of the language? But it's still a choice she makes, to remain.

I'm curious to see what's about to happen. I left off at a high action moment, with Perseus throwing a temper tantrum in front of what's his name (Danae's husband) and his council.

I think Perseus makes sense as a sociopath or serial killer type character. But we didn't really see that in him as a child. He went from weak and pouty to murdering and raping women, and that seems like a stretch. He also has zero personality, I agree.

I probably would have abandoned this earlier on if I weren't doing a buddy read. But I do like the Andromeda section. I will finish up tomorrow!

(hide spoiler)]

Margaret wrote: "I finished Medusa as well, and started in on Andromeda. ."

Sorry you didn't like Medusa's part and you are not enjoying the book!

Ah, the snake bite thing would have annoyed me too if I had known/remembered that is not how it works!
(view spoiler)[I agree with your assessment of Perseus personality, but it really does not fit with what we saw of him as a child, and then we see nothing of him to understand why he's so violent all of a sudden...

And I agree, what did Medusa ever see in him... Though I will say that maybe she was kind of projecting her wishes, and him being silent and naive dis the rest... But it does nkt show great judgement on her part.

I really don't know, I am on the fence with this book, there are some great ideas, but some frustrating and nonsensical things... Bha...

Also, what's up with Medusa's head? Surely the other sailors should have sesn it was just the head of a girl? Sure it looks awful NOW but at the begininning it would have just looked like a person's head?

Also, what a psychopath thing to do to cut her head??? Just because she rejected him? Bha! (hide spoiler)]

I really love Andromeda, it is definitely the best part of the book. I also liked the part where she realised she can make a choice, though the options weren't great.
My favourite part was when she realised she needed some power, and words were power, and she kept quiet about it, because she understood the men might not like her getting knowledge!

She is also protective and empathetic with Danae, which is nice.

I finished and I did enjoy the last third with Andromeda, and the bit with Danae. Talk about catering to white male fragility! They will be having to do that the rest of their lives.

(view spoiler)[ I kind of think it would be much easier if Perseus were to have an accident and fall off a cliff one day. Oopsie daisy! So sad. But that's just me.

I didn't understand the whole Medusa head thing either. There's the snake crown, but it would still look like a crown. At first I wondered if Perseus had somehow taken some of the snake skins and wrapped them around her head somehow and that was fooling people, but that appears not to have happened. It's absolutely disgusting that he cut her head off. I don't see him ceasing murder after the end of the novel, no matter how much they pacify him with words.

I did like Danae's and Andromeda's relationship at the end. I also thought it was powerful that they used their words instead of violence to get him to see reason. However, I still vote push him off a cliff lol. They're going to have an exhausting future ahead of them. I'm glad they have one another at least. (hide spoiler)]

Okay, had to step away for childcare. I think I'm going to give it 2 stars. I did like Andromeda's part, but that's not enough to win me over on the entire novel. I liked reading it with you! I never do that and it's fun to nitpick all the problems with someone, ha! There are a ton of myth retellings publishing this year. I also tried to read Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes but couldn't get into it.

Margaret wrote: "I kind of think it would be much easier if Perseus were to have an accident and fall off a cliff one day. Oopsie daisy! So sad. But that's just me."

Ahahah! This made me laugh so much! :)

Sorry you disliked it so much! I think Andromeda's part made it much better for me, but I haven't finished yet. Will probably finish tomorrow, and collect my thoughts.

Sorry to have basically made you read it! :P But it is super fun to rant with someone else about books, so thank you for reading it with me! :)

Stone Blind is on my TBR, I was kind of looking forward to it! I am a bit worried now! :P

I still have Atalanta if you want to buddy read in March?

I have also been given The Valkyrie on Netgalley for review, which I will probably slowly start after I finish this book.

I might be using Netgalley wrong, because I am requesting books that I want to give a chance to, but might not otherwise prioritise... :P Maybe I should request things I am really excited about!

Andy wrote: "Sorry you disliked it so much! I think Andromeda's part made it much better for me, but I haven't finished yet. Will probably finish tomorrow, and collect my thoughts. ..."

I hope I didn't spoil anything for you! I think I'd assumed you finished before me.

I tend to be very speedy with dropping books since I review them for BuzzFeed and I get so many galleys. I want to give as many books as possible a chance for that kind of press so if I'm not feeling something, I drop it and move on. But it doesn't take me a long time to listen to audiobooks and I actually really enjoyed ranting with you, ha!

You might like Stone Blind! Like I said, I am hasty to drop a book for something else.

I'm still on for Atalanta! Though if I'm not digging it at the 15% mark, I might drop out.

The Valkyrie isn't on Netgalley for me, nor Edel. I wonder if it's only releasing in the UK?

Margaret wrote: "hope I didn't spoil anything for you! I think I'd assumed you finished before me. ."

Nono! I could have not looked into the spoiler, but I was very much at the end! I finished it now! (Besides, I am one of those weird people who likes to look at the final sentence of a book before its time, so I usually enjoy the journey, but often spoil myself the ending! :P )

This book is so difficult to rate! I really adored Andromeda, but again, the ending talked about prophecies and the inevitability of prophecies from Danae's perspective, and it annoyed me again...

I might give it a 4, because of the ideas and Andromeda's part... Also, I didn't hate Medusa as much as you! :P

Margaret wrote: "
I'm still on for Atalanta! Though if I'm not digging it at the 15% mark, I might drop out.

The Valkyrie isn't on Netgalley for me, nor Edel. I wonder if it's only releasing in the UK?"

Yay! But yes, definitely abandon the book if you don't like it! ;)

I don't know about The Valkyrie, it might be a UK one, it would explain the very low number of reviews!

Andy wrote: "Nono! I could have not looked into the spoiler, but I was very much at the end! I finished it now! (Besides, I am one of those weird people who likes to look at the final sentence of a book before its time, so I usually enjoy the journey, but often spoil myself the ending! :P ) ..."

I don't read the final sentence first, but I actually don't mind spoilers. I don't see what the big deal is. Maybe because twists don't matter so much to me and if it's not a big twist ending, it doesn't seem spoilery. I don't know.