A Reader's Guide to Books and Reviews

Queens of Themiscyra by Hannah M. Lynn

Series:
The Grecian Women Trilogy #3

Genre:
Mythology, Greek Mythology, Retellings, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Book Series, Duology and Trilogy, Ancient Greece, Feminist, Folklore, Sapphic, Lesbian, LGBTQIA+, Folklore, Ancient Greek Literature, Netgalley

Publication Date:
May 7, 2024

Read Date:
464

Read Date:
March 15th, 2024

Date Finished:
March 15th, 2024

Rating:
2.5/5

Blurb:

They are the women of war.

In ancient Themiscyra, Hippolyte rules as Queen of the Amazons. Feared throughout Greece, their skills on the battlefield are unmatched. But when a ship lands on their shores, it brings something more dangerous than the threat of war. It brings a future Hippolyte could never have dreamed of.

Swept away to Athens, Hippolyte learns a love that transcends even the bond of the Amazon women. Can she forget her warrior past and forge a new life she had never dreamed of?

With her sister gone, Penthesilea is left with no choice but to rise as the new Queen of the Amazons. She does so with a ferocity that sparks terror throughout the Aegean. Replacing her sister’s compassion and wisdom, Penthesilea rules with impulsiveness and might.

So when Hippolyte’s world starts to crumble it is up to Penthesilea to decide how far she will go to defend their honour.

Review:

I have been sitting on this review for almost a week trying to decide where to rate this last book in the trilogy. I loved the first two books in the series with the first being my favorite, but the third book - not so much.

I was never a fan of Theseus in Greek Mythology. I always found him to be arrogant and self-centered. He always seemed to think he was better than everyone else and boasted about his heroic deeds. Despite his bravery and skills as a warrior, I couldn't get past his egotistical nature.

I also found his treatment of women to be reprehensible. He abandoned Ariadne and Phaedra, two women who loved and supported him, without a second thought. His abduction of Hippolyte and his treatment of her as a trophy rather than an equal also left a sour taste in my mouth.

This was the daughter of Ares, God of War, owner of the zoster, whom she willingly gave to Heracles because he needed it for his twelve labours. She was the Queen of the Amazons, a woman who went to battle even against men.

She turned him down time after time and it seemed that Theseus does not like to talk NO for an answer. Any other good hero would have bowed his head in knowing defeat and moved on. Nope, he drugs her, abducts her from her world and when her sisters come to save her, she tells them she doesn't want to leave...that she knows he loves her in his way.

If this isn't a case of Stockholm Syndrome, I don't know what is.

While I love that Ms. Lynn is expanding on other myths outside the heavily saturated world of Hades and Persephone, this book was not my favorite. It may be due to that I found Theseus's character unbearable, arrogant, and selfish. I never liked him at all, which may be why I found this tale not to my taste.

I hope Ms. Lynn continues to dive further into the Greek and Roman world of myths and bring us tales that need retelling.


*Disclaimer: Thank you to the author, her publishers, and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. The opinions of this review are mine and mine alone.

Similar Books:

Rise of Princes by Janell Rhiannon
Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes

Athena's Child by Hannah M. Lynn

Series:
The Grecian Women Trilogy #1

Genre:
Mythology, Greek Mythology, Retellings, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Book Series, Duology and Trilogy, Ancient Greece, Feminist, Folklore

Publication Date:
January 1, 2020

Read Date:
May 24th, 2023

Date Finished:
May 24th, 2023

Rating:
5 out of 5

Blurb:

Daughter. Sister. Priestess. Protector.

Son. Brother. Demi-God. Hero.

Monsters.

Gifted and burdened with beauty far beyond that of mere mortals, Medusa seeks sanctuary with the Goddess Athena. But when the lustful gaze of mighty Poseidon falls upon her, even the Temple of Athena cannot protect her.

Young Perseus embarks on a seemingly impossible quest. Equipped with only bravado and determination, his only chance of success lays in the hands of his immortal siblings.

Medusa and Perseus soon become pawns of spiteful and selfish gods. Faced with the repercussions of Athena's wrath Medusa has no choice but to flee and hide. But can she do so without becoming the monster they say she is.

History tells of conquering heroes. Tales distorted by time. Medusa’s truth has long been lost. Until now. Now it is time to hear her truth.

Revel in this powerful retelling of one of mythologies greatest tales today.

Review:

I have always had a love for Greek and Roman Mythology. I had my first taste of it in my senior year of high school and have loved it since. Now I have not exactly explored all the tales within the mythology realm, focusing on more of Hades and Persephone. Still, I will admit that Rick Riordan's take on the mythological realm reignited that love.

Some believe that monsters are born monsters.

That some creatures arrive on this earth with a darkness so all-consuming in their heart that no mere mortal's love could ever hope to tame it. These souls, they believe, cannot achieve redemption and do not deserve it. They are beasts, intent on causing chaos for all who cross their paths. They are vengeful and hate-filled, deserving of nothing except our contempt.

Medusa was never the monster in the beginning. Instead, she was a beautiful young woman whom her father wished to protect from males that offered her hand. He thought having her become one of the priestesses of Athena would be the best course for her. In the beginning, it probably was. She abhorred the rules Athena had put in place for all her priestesses. She offered blessings and tried on numerous occasions to protect the abused wife that would seek shelter. Unfortunately, this will be one of her biggest downfalls as it would cause Poisedon's attention. Medusa tried to dissuade his attentions but it would be for naught - he would rape her within the temple of Athena. This would cause Athena's wrath to fall upon Medusa and completely change her from the beautiful young woman she had been to the monster in Greek Mythology we would come to know. Even her own sisters, who were angered at Athena, would not escape her wrath. All of them becoming the Gorgons.

In the second act, we meet Perseus. Another Greek hero would come to play within the Gods' hands and change the course of his history. Born out of wedlock to Zeus and a mortal woman, Perseus, and his mother were cast from her homeland by his grandfather, Acrisius, the king. Long ago, Acrisius had been told of a prophecy that scared him and he sought to make sure it never happened, but he underestimated the will of the Gods. Enraged by his daughter's pregnancy, he locked both she and Perseus away in a trunk, throwing them into the sea with hopes that the two would drown. Unfortunately, for Acrisius, they did not drown and were found by Dictys. Perseus would grow up healthy and strong, finding security on Seriphos with his mother and Dictys. One day, Perseus learns that her mother has become the attention of a tyrant king named Polydectes. Polydectes wanted his mother and he knew that Perseus stood in the way and he needed to get rid of him quickly. So, he offered him a quest - bring back the head of Medusa. After all, no one returned from Medusa's island alive.

The lives of Perseus and Medusa become entangled and like most mythology - the hero always wins in the end. Medusa's life is taken and her head is used to save the lovely Princess Andromeda.

This book is the first in a series of The Grecian Women Trilogy. The mythology of Medusa and Perseus has been told. This has been really the first mythology-based book with Medusa being the main character. Oh, Rick Riordan does have her appear in Percy Jackson, but that is pretty much it for her.

I loved that Medusa was front and center. Her character and story pull you in and keep you until the very end of the story. You feel the pain Medusa goes through and you sympathize with her character. The fear, terror, and horror she had gone through from her rape within the temple to the very end of her life. Her sisters, unfortunately, end up sharing the same fate, but not for the reasons set upon Medusa. Their words turn them, sadly.

I don't believe she deserved her fate and I think Athena should have listened to her. It was her temple. I would have thought she was paying close attention and would have set revenge upon Poseidon for harming one of her own. Yet, she sees it as HER fault and turns her into a gorgon. This story makes me believe - in some form - that she cared little for priestesses. They were expendable.

I plan on reading the rest of this trilogy soon. This was a great read and I recommend this especially if you are a huge fan of mythology.