Where to begin? This book was, simply put, beautiful.

The Shadow of Perseus revisits the myths surrounding Perseus by examining the women he is mostly commonly associated with in his life: his mom, Danae; his wife, Andromeda; and the gorgon, Medusa.

I'll be the first to admit that, despite loving the mythology and historical fiction genres, I am always extremely hesitant to pick up a book that falls in such a category. With such big metaphorical shoes to fill, how do you ever fill it? Especially with such award-winning books to compare oneself to?

The answer is by crafting a new take on an ages-old tale. I took my time with this book, savoring every aspect placed in front of me, and loving every second of it. Heywood's characters jump off the page, and I am in awe and utter admiration of her ability to examine a myth that's been told thousands of times from a new and original point of view.

I'm not sure what else to say to sell someone on this book except to encourage you to pick it up when it goes on sale on February 21, 2023.

My deepest thanks to Claire Heywood, Penguin Group Dutton, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Like a good Greek mythology, the story describes the pull of fate and destiny and the extent of hurt and pain that selfishness can have. I really enjoyed this retelling of the story of Perseus, particularly because it was told from the perspective of the women in his life: his mother Danae, Medusa, and his wife Andromeda. Collectively, they challenge the view we may have had of Perseus as a hero.

I really enjoyed Claire Heywood's perspective on Perseus and his myths. "The Shadow of Perseus" retells the "hero" Perseus' stories in three perspectives 1. Danae, his mother 2. Medusa, his trophy and 3. Andromeda, his wife.

What I loved the most about this retelling is that Heywood really strips the myths of their mystical elements and boils it down to the real, raw, human aspects... it felt like she said 'ok, what is the most likely truth to these stories'. While I do love mystical-realism and the elements of greek mythology that have the gods interacting with our heroes, the removal of them felt very fresh and gave such gravity and perspective to these stories.

How can these myths be told without their core mystical elements?
- Danae being impregnated by Zeus' "golden shower"? Just a story she told Perseus as a boy to save him from the truth...
- Medusa and the Gorgons? Not monsters, but a tribe of women that have rejected society, living happily as outcasts on an island filled with snakes and other wild animals...
- Andromeda and her sea-beast? The only beast there is Perseus.

As always, Heywood focuses on the women, giving voice and personality to them, where history ignored them. She roasts Perseus and shows the truth of the situations: he's just a selfish, foolish boy; ruining everyone's plans, future and happiness by trying to prove his worth with bravado and lies.

All in all, I loved how human this retelling was, it was fresh, heart-breaking and all around wonderful. A fantastic weaving of stories and interpretation of history. Heywood has proven to be an author worthy of telling these classic tales, and I cannot wait to see who she tackles next.

Pub Date 21 Feb 2023 | PENGUIN GROUP Dutton
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy

Heywood gives us an interesting origin story for Perseus told through historically accurate lens. She doesn't remove the Gods as religion or culture, but she removes them from this story. She tells us the story of Danae and Medusa and Andromeda as they probably-most-likely would have been if we looked at the lives of these 3 different women in their homelands during this time, and their different interactions and roles with Perseus.

This was a very good book. I enjoy books of retelling on myths. This one was full of character and brilliant storytelling that takes you back.

I don’t know why I yet again attempted a retelling focusing on a mythological figure I despise, but here we are. I loved Heywood’s Daughters of Sparta so even though I’ve long hated Perseus, I LOVE Medusa and was looking forward to reading more about Andromeda!

This unfortunately just fell flat. Most of the fantastical myth elements were removed from the story which was a choice I didn’t enjoy. Danae’s half of the book was slow, and Medusa’s was much too quick. Perseus was as despicable as usual so my disgust for him really overpowered everything. I still enjoy Heywood’s writing but this one was disappointing.

This is the second book by Claire Heywood that I've devoured in a few hours. I am pretty much obsessed with her work at this point and will read any and all retellings she does.
As with her first, Daughters of Sparta, this is a Greek mythology retelling with her own spin. In this, she re-imagines the famous hero Perseus as told through the eyes of his mother, Danae, Medusa, who he famously slew, and Andromeda, his wife.
You're not going to just get a classic retelling of his heroic endeavors in this. Oh, no. This is re-imagined as if the Greek gods weren't more than worshipped idols and religious figures. As if they didn't lend their hand to the fates of humans. In this, Perseus is born from a mortal male. But told his father is Zeus and when he learns the truth, it sends him on a downward spiral. No longer the tender hearted, kind and loving son Danae raised, he goes off into the world to prove he is a man and seeks the approval of everyone around.

I absolutely loved the telling through the most important women who shaped Perseus. I like thinking the gods really walked amoung us once, but this retelling is so brilliant that it makes me believe this is exactly how it happened. How a man's worth in his eyes built up these myths that have captivated us for centuries.

Claire Heywood knows her mythology but what's more, she knows how to write a fascinating story in her own way. Making it classic and unique at the same time.

I can never turn down a Greek mythology retelling, so "The Shadow of Perseus" was immediately added to my TBR. This novel takes an alternative look at Perseus, regarded as a hero for slaying Medusa and ruling Mycenae, through the eyes of the women around him - starting with the story of Danae, his mother; followed by Medusa, the Gorgon; and finally from Andromeda, his wife.

Danae's story begins before Perseus's birth, when she was a princess of Argos, daughter to King Akrisios. When a prophecy foretells that the downfall of the king will be at the hands of his own grandson, Akrisios locks Danae up in an attempt to prevent its fulfillment. Nonetheless, Danae becomes pregnant and when her father finds out, leaves her to the mercy of the seas to die, but she is eventually saved by Dictys when she washes up on the shores of Seriphos. She gives birth to her son Perseus on the island, but he grows up constantly mocked and scorned because of his fatherless upbringing, despite Danae's attempts to protect him. In an attempt to prove himself, Perseus leaves on a journey, vowing to return.

Medusa's story then follows, but instead of the frightening, deathly monster that we know, she's reimagined as a woman cast aside by her original tribe, forced to fend for herself and her sisters. And finally, Andromeda's tale is told; instead of being rescued by Perseus, she's taken captive by him and forced to become his wife in order to protect her own family. Through these women's eyes, we see Perseus not as a rightful hero, but a desperate and weak boy trying to gain the respect of others in order to be regarded as a man.

Heywood has done a fantastic job of taking a well-known myth and figure in Greek mythology, and reinterpreting his actions and character through the lens of the lesser-known women in his shadows. It leads readers to question who the true heroes in history are, and how easily those perspectives can be altered or reinterpreted to a different kind of truth. Her writing was descriptive and emotional, and while I wish there was more time spent on Medusa's story, I appreciated how connected these three women's stories were and their ultimate impact on Perseus himself.

I really enjoyed this novel! I am a huge fan of Greek mythology retellings in general, so I was super excited to read this one, which is a retelling of the myth of Perseus. This novel focuses on the stories of the women who play a major role in Perseus's life: his mother, Danae, his wife Andromeda, and the woman he murders, Medusa. This novel portrays Perseus as not a hero, but as someone willing to risk anyone and anything to fulfill a prophecy, and who has no problem murdering innocents or hurting the women in his life to get what he wants. I definitely connected with all of the women who were featured in the story on some level, and I loved the author's characterization of all the women. Their stories were incredibly sad, so I felt for all of them throughout the novel with all of the hardships they were forced to endure. I like that the author took a more realistic approach to the stories featured in this book (no gods or goddesses were actual characters in the book). I also really love that the author wrote this story from the point of view of women, as they typically are cast aside in many Greek myths. I look forward to checking out more books written by this author as this is the first one I have read by her and I was totally impressed!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

This is a new version of the mythological tale of Perseus. Traditionally painted as a great hero, this story brings new light, or rather darkness, to the legend of Perseus. It is told from the perspective of three influential women throughout his life: his mother, Danae; the monster, Medusa; and his wife, Andromeda. These three characters are illustrated in unique ways as they fight for their voices to be heard in a male-dominated society. As Perseus’s obsession with his destiny that an oracle foretold, he becomes more violent and destructive, a detriment to everyone around him and even himself.

I love mythology-based fantasy; it’s one of my favorite sub-genres. And this one delivered in every way I could have hoped for. The trend of bringing women in Greek myths to the forefront of the story is such an intriguing concept and brings so much more depth to these stories and fables.

All three women are wonderfully endearing, even if hopelessly tragic. The story is deeply emotional and will have you wishing to provide encouragement and support to these women. The writing and prose are precise yet exceptionally sweeping, without feeling pretentious or academic. The imagery is a vividly crafted experience that will transport you into the story.

The author forgoes the more fantastical elements from these tales. She leaves us with a note that details her thorough research with the intention of creating a story that is depicted as historically accurate as possible. It really made the characters’ lives feel real and believable as to what they would have been like during the time period. I really enjoyed this narrative decision because it made the experience of the story more gritty and authentic.

This book had me hooked and I loved every minute of it. I highly recommend this one to readers of all genres. I think everyone will find something they love about this story. It is definitely a five-star read for me and I can’t wait to see what this author blesses us with next!

I liked the idea of this book more than the book itself. I loved the concept of presenting the story without the interference of the gods and goddesses. That being said, I just wasn't as invested in the characters as I wanted to be. I obviously rooted for the women in their attempts to forge a life for themselves outside of the control of the men around them. I also, obviously, did not like Perseus, and found myself really wishing that Medusa had left him to die of viper venom in the forest. All of that to say, I just found this book mediocre. I didn't love or hate it.

The Shadow of Perseus is an unflinching retelling of the story of Perseus, told through the lens of the three most important women in his life. Heywood's exploration of what events could have led to the creation of the mythology surrounding Danae, Medusa, Andromeda, and Perseus is absolutely brilliant. History and myth are written by the victor and reshaped by time, and that is made abundantly clear by Heywood's (probably more realistic) version of Perseus' origins. I think that you would still enjoy this read if you went in with zero prior knowledge of Greek mythology, but you will definitely get more out of it if you are familiar with these characters. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in the making of myth or the retelling of stories from previously glossed over points of view.

Thank you to Dutton Books and NetGalley for providing a digital copy of The Shadow of Perseus in exchange for an honest review! The Shadow of Perseus hits shelves February 21, 2023!

In The Shadow of Perseus, Heywood revisits the story of the hero Perseus through the women in his life: his mother, Danae; the Gorgon he slayed, Medusa; and his wife, Andromeda. Heywood wrote this book in realistic fashion- no gods or goddesses affect the characters’ lives, only their own decisions, or in most cases, the decisions of the men around them. Perseus, not even conceived at the story’s beginning, is portrayed as far from heroic and the women in his life must bear the burden of his ego.

I loved this book. After a few chapters I was deeply invested in each of the women. I love that Heywood chose not to include fantastical elements, instead creating a story that is realistic to the time period. I think her sophomore novel is an improvement on Daughters of Sparta, which, being about the women of the Trojan War, was already covered really well by the likes of Natalie Haynes and Pat Barker. It was not a memorable read for me. Here, we get a story that readers who enjoy Greek retellings will still know, but maybe not as well as the Trojan War. I think I will be thinking about this book for a while. It certainly made me want to go back and re-explore the myths and see where the story changes when the winner gets to tell it versus those less lucky.

I would have like to know more about Medusa and I found myself rooting for Andromeda most of all. She was a fantastically painted character, full of intelligence and strength. I definitely recommend this to all lovers of Greek mythology, it’s an excellent addition to the woman-centered retellings we’ve been getting lately. I look forward to further novels by Claire Heywood.

Unflinching and realistic, Heywood skillfully tells the story of Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda. Instead of props for old myths and side notes to Perseus’ adventures, these women are fully realized individuals who all grapple in their own ways with a world that does not listen to or value them. Myths have always survived by changing with time and teller, and Heywood continues in that tradition to give us a version of the Perseus myth as it really could have happened, as told by the voices that have been silenced for too long. This book is a must read for anyone who enjoyed A Thousand Ships or Ariadne.

Another great addition to the growing collection of Greek mythology retellings! I haven’t Daughters of Sparta, also by this author, but I really enjoyed her sophomore novel. The voice really stood out to me in this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys all these Greek retellings popping up.

The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood incredible read,

Heywood is a brilliant writer. This retelling is simply brilliant and well written.
I really enjoyed this book. Her writing from the very start had me drawn in and turning the pages quickly.
The way she creates experiences of women was engrossing.
It is so fluid and beautiful that you feel like you know the characters.
It drew me in slowly and I couldn’t put it down. I ended up loving this story more then I thought I would.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Dutton,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

I really enjoyed this retelling of the Greek myth of women surrounding Perseus.Totally engaging really drew me in.#netgalley #dutton

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC!

At first, I thought it was a little boring but to be fair, that's how I am with any retelling of Greek mythology. I did enjoy the reclaiming narrative, learning about the forgotten women around Perseus. It really makes you rethink what you know about the "heroes" from stories.

Ahhhhh I totally loved this. A great re-claiming of the myth for women, something I am totally loving in the retelling genre. Fans of The Wolf Den or Ariadne will eat this up like southern butter cake!

The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood is an excellent historical fiction that tells the lives of the “forgotten women” surrounding the infamous Perseus, and that by giving them a voice, we may learn more about this man than originally thought.

This is an excellent HF with Greek Mythology presented from the woman’s’ point of view. We see the classic tale of Perseus presented from the lives, experiences, and stories of three of the women that have been classically associated with him, but yet been cast aside as “secondary characters “ without so much as a glance or a voice. In this book we have the stories brought forth of Danae his mother, Medusa the misjudged, and Andromeda his wife. Each woman gets their moment, their voice, their time to stand up for themselves and have their lives be presented.

We find through these avenues, that the stories that have been forged and told to us, may not be as forthright and honest as we had previously been led to believe.

A fascinating retelling from what is becoming one of my favorite authors. I loved The Daughters of Sparta, and I loved this book as well. Well Done!

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Dutton Books/ Penguin Group for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 2/21/23.