Mythology by Edith Hamilton

Title: Mythology

Author: Edith Hamilton

Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company 1942

Genre: Mythology

Pages: 352

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Telling Tales; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I own it!

Since its original publication by Little, Brown & Company in 1942, this author's Mythology has sold millions of copies throughout the world & established itself as a perennial bestseller in its various available formats: hardcover, trade paperback, & mass market paperback. Mythology succeeds like no other book in bringing to life for the modern readeer the Greek, Roman & Norse myths & legends that are the keystone of Western culture - the stories of gods & heroes that have inspired human creativity from antiquity to the present.

This is definitely a book I've been meaning to read for years. Years, I tell you! And finally I got around to it. The book did not disappoint. Hamilton's tome is the definitive source for Greek and Roman myths. Unfortunately, at times the prose becomes a bit convoluted. Maybe it's just the time period the book was written. I found myself skipping the commentary passages to get to the stories. Those I loved! That said, I wanted an actual commentary on some of the stories; maybe more history on the stories. At any rate, I did enjoy my time reading through the stories. After reading, I had the urge to watch a good movie based off of the stories, but unfortunately there aren't many. Maybe I should just watch a cheesy version... like Clash of the Titans.

Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli

Title: Sirena

Author: Donna Jo Napoli

Publisher: Scholastic 1998

Genre: Myths and Fairy Tales

Pages: 210

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Telling Tales; A to Z: N; Support Your Local Library

How I Got It: Library loan

In Donna Jo Napoli's beautiful prose, the tragic love story between a mermaid and a mortal comes to life for young readers. When Sirena meets Philoctetes, Hercules' friend, she falls in love. But the young warrior must return home to fight the Trojan War and leave his magical love behind.

A retelling of the classic mermaid/siren myths of Ancient Greece. I loved that Sirena is a mermaid who does not act like a human. Too many times mermaids act like humans with fish tales. Thankfully we see a very different being in this story. Napoli's words read like poetry. They flow almost like the currents of the ocean. My only issue is with Philoctetes himself. He's not a very good hero and I'm not very attracted to him. Yet, I understand Sirena's need for love and belonging. And it's that need that kept me reading. Now I need to check out Napoli's other retellings.

Scoundrel by Zoe Archer

Title: Scoundrel (Blades of the Rose #2)

Author: Zoe Archer

Publisher: Zebra 2010

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 400

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Paranormal; Books Around the World (Greek)

How I Got It: I own it! (from the Borders closing sale)

London Harcourt's father is bent on subjugating the world's magic to British rule. But since London is a mere female, he hasn't bothered to tell her so. He's said only that he's leading a voyage to the Greek isles. No matter, after a smothering marriage and three years of straitlaced widowhood, London jumps at the opportunity - unfortunately, right into the arms of Bennett Day. Bennett is a ladies' man, when he's not dodging lethal attacks to protect the powers of the ancients from men like London's father. Sometimes, he's a ladies' man even when he is dodging them. But the minute he sees London he knows she will require his full attention. The woman is lovely, brilliant, and the only known speaker of a dialect of ancient Greek that holds the key to calling down the wrath of the gods. Bennett will be risking his life again - but around London, what really worries him is the danger to his heart...

A great addition to the series. I loved this one so much! The characters! The culture! The adventure! The magic!

Bennett Day made his appearance in Warrior and I just knew who was going to be a great character. A rogue but one with a sense of honor. He treats women as equals not the delicate flowers most men of the time saw. I loved that in his character. I think I fell in love with him right from the beginning. London is an interesting case. While she starts as that delicate flower, inside she has a thirst for knowledge and adventure. Once she figures out how to satisfy that thirst, she goes after it. I liked that. She's innocent in many ways, but open to new experiences. And Athena is just awesome. A witch from a matriarchal clan. She reminds me of the Amazons: strong, independent, not needing a man.

The story was full of adventure, danger, and riddles (of course). I loved the journey through the Greek Isles to the hidden islands and ruins. The descriptions were amazing. I really felt like I was on a boat in the beautiful Aegean Sea. And of course, Greek mythological creatures made their appearances. My favorite was the Nereids. Such fun! And the hidden creature at the top of the island. I won't give away who it is, but after reading it, it completely makes sense. I just love this story!

Blades of the Rose