Lore Olympus Vol. 1 by Rachel Smythe

Title: Lore Olympus Volume 1

Author: Rachel Smythe

Publisher: Del Rey 2021

Genre: Fantasy Comic

Pages: 384

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Persephone, young goddess of spring, is new to Olympus. Her mother, Demeter, has raised her in the mortal realm, but after Persephone promises to train as a sacred virgin, she’s allowed to live in the fast-moving, glamorous world of the gods. When her roommate, Artemis, takes her to a party, her entire life changes: she ends up meeting Hades and feels an immediate spark with the charming yet misunderstood ruler of the Underworld. Now Persephone must navigate the confusing politics and relationships that rule Olympus, while also figuring out her own place—and her own power.

This volume collects episodes 1–25 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus.

A friend had been demanding that I read this one and I finally picked it up. In truth, I started reading the Webtoons but put a hold on the physical book also. The Webtoons on my phone was a bit annoying as it didn’t like to load that fast. The book is all right there. Anyway, I started reading this and completely full in love with this version of the Hades and Persephone story. I love the juxtaposition of modern in the immortal realm and the classical in the mortal realm. The world building is great and then we move into the characters. I loved how Smythe constructed each character relying on their classical stories, but also injecting some modern traits and quirks. Seriously, Hermes is my favorite. Hades becomes properly layered with heroic tendencies, but also really big flaws. Persephone can be a bit too naive for my tastes, but hopefully her character will evolve. So sad that this volume only contains the first 25 issues and that the second volume hasn’t hit the library yet. Guess I will have to go back to the Webtoon to continue reading.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Infernal by Linsey Hall

Title: Infernal (The Shadow Guild: Hades and Persephone #1)

Author: Linsey Hall

Publisher: Bonnie Moon Press 2020

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 356

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Hades never saw me coming...

Tuesday night in the library started out normal--alone with cheap beer and a murder mystery. Partying, librarian style. Until the god Hades appears.

When he abducts me, I try to say he's got the wrong girl--I'm no goddess. At least, I don't think so.

Suddenly, I'm in his world, captive. The upside? I live in a castle with a lethally beautiful god who wants to make me a queen. The downside? He's scary AF and also wants me to help him destroy the world.

Obviously that gets a big 'no' from me. I'll do whatever it takes to escape, including seducing the god of death. But together, we're an inferno, and the heat is impossible to resist. His touch fogs my mind, but I must succeed. Otherwise, everyone dies.

Sorta random pick for this month. A FB group centered on sci-fi and fantasy books picked this as a random buddy read. It was cheap on Amazon, so I picked it up and started reading. And surprisingly, I really enjoyed this one. We get a very different Hades and Persephone pairing in this book. The tone is fairly dark and more horror-minded. There is the beginnings of romance, but we definitely end on a big cliffhanger. This was a nice contrast to my other Hades and Persephone stories (Neon Gods, Lore). I will continue this series.

The Shadow Guild: Hades and Persephone

• #1 Infernal

• #2 Awakened

• #3 Captured

Next up on the TBR pile:

Galatea by Madeline Miller

Title: Galatea

Author: Madeline Miller

Publisher: Ecco 2013

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 20

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

In Ancient Greece, a skilled marble sculptor has been blessed by a goddess who has given his masterpiece – the most beautiful woman the town has ever seen – the gift of life. Now his wife, Galatea is expected to be obedience and humility personified, but it is not long before she learns to use her beauty as a form of manipulation. In a desperate bid by her obsessive husband to keep her under control, she is locked away under the constant supervision of doctors and nurses. But with a daughter to rescue, she is determined to break free, whatever the cost...

Very quick little retelling of the Pygmalion myth. I wasn’t quite sure what this was but I loved Miller’s two full length novels, so I had to read this little short. I loved the shift in perspective to the statue. I loved the nods to the original Greek myths. Quick fun read.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Title: The Song of Achilles

Author: Madeline Miller

Publisher: Ecco 2012

Genre: Historical Fiction / Mythology

Pages: 389

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Monthly Theme - May

A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, The Song of Achilles is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer’s enduring masterwork, The Iliad. An action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously conceived and executed page-turner, Miller’s monumental debut novel has already earned resounding acclaim from some of contemporary fiction’s brightest lights.

It’s been decades since I last read The Iliad but reading this reimagining of Achilles’s story brought me right back to Classical Studies in college. Overall I really enjoyed Miller’s telling of a very classic story but framing the events from the viewpoint of Patroclus. I loved learning about Achilles not from himself, but from one who loved him. We get an interesting picture of a classical hero. Plus we get to experience the strangeness of encountering gods and goddesses. The horrors of war are particularly affecting coming from an acknowledged poor soldier. We get a proper coming of age story within the pages all the way through the deaths of both of our main characters. Tragic for sure, but with lush writing and storytelling. I enjoyed it very much.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Mythos by Stephen Fry

Title: Mythos: The Greek Myths Reimagined

Author: Stephen Fry

Publisher: Chronicle Books 2019

Genre: Mythology

Pages: 352

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

Mythos is a modern collection of Greek myths, stylishly retold by legendary writer, actor, and comedian Stephen Fry. Fry transforms the adventures of Zeus and the Olympians into emotionally resonant and deeply funny stories, without losing any of their original wonder. This stunning book features classical artwork inspired by the myths, as well as learned notes from the author.

I’m a sucker for retold Greek and Roman myths. There’s something very comfortable about revisiting stories that I first learned as a child. This collection is pretty extensive, covering so many stories and legends in a loose chronological order. I especially loved the stories about the Titans and before. Fry’s trademark snark comes through in random asides and sentences throughout. I really enjoyed this one!

Next up on the TBR pile:

NMF #16: Immortals

Title: Immortals

Year Released/Rating: 2011 R

Starring: Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans,

Written By: Charley Parlapanides, Vias Parlapanides

Directed By: Tarsem Singh

Genre: Action Fantasy

Star Rating:  4/5 stars

Where I Got It: Netflix

Trivia:

• Director Tarsem Singh described the film as being "done in Renaissance painting style".
• Luke Evans plays Zeus - he appeared a year earlier as Zeus' son Apollo in Clash of the Titans.

Summary: Theseus is a mortal man chosen by Zeus to lead the fight against the ruthless King Hyperion, who is on a rampage across Greece to obtain a weapon that can destroy humanity.

Review: The story and characters aren't anything spectacular, but I must say it is pretty. Singh knows how to make a movie look real and unreal at the same time.  It's just beautiful.  The play of light and shadows set the right tone for the movie.  It was an entertaining two hours spent while job searching.  I guess that's really all I can ask for in a movie: it entertained me.

Best Bits: 

• Zeus: It's not living as such that's important, Theseus. It's living rightly.
• Phaedra: To those whom much is given, much is taken away.

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.