3.5 - 4 stars

It was hard not to read this book with a low level of dread. Being familiar with the legend of Perseus, and especially being a big fan of Medusa, you know how things are going to go, but like a slow motion car crash, you can’t look away. This is a story about the decisions of an angry boy who thought the world was his for the taking. It’s a story about a world where women are at the mercy of the laws and decisions and fragile emotions of men. It’s a horrible story. It’s about the violence wrought by those in power, and the difference it makes depending on who tells [our] stories. This book made me incredibly angry - it moved me in my rage and horror, but I can’t say that I particularly *enjoyed* my reading. It was a well written story, just one that made me sad and angry and disgusted. Heywood is a talented writer, and I found I had a hard time taking a break from this story.

This is the reimagined story of the three women who were around and knew Perseus. If you don’t know the story, Perseus is the beloved hero that is supposed to save everyone form the monster sent to destroy everyone.

This story is very imaginative retelling and a different take on the tale of Perseus. I love Greek mythology, so of course I went into this book with a fresh and different perspective. I really loved seeing Medusa and a different side to her as well.

I can’t say I overly loved the story, but I didn’t hate it. There were times I felt myself drifting and not keeping up with the story, but that’s my own doing as at the time of reading I wasn’t in the mood.

But all in all, if you love Greek Mythology’s or want a different take on it, than I say go for this one.

To start off this review, my feelings for this book were massively affected by the fact that I read Stone Blind a month before reading this. I did not know at the time that Stone Blind was a multiple POV story including Andromeda, Perseus, etc. I thought it was just a Medusa retelling from her POV. While Shadows of Perseus does include Danae, a new perspective, Andromeda and Medusa felt repetitive because I had just read a book with their POVs. I'm giving this book a neutral 3 star rating since this is certainly a case where I read this book at the wrong time. I'm hoping in the next few months I can come back to it with fresh eyes where I don't feel as influenced by a previous read.

If I go merely off of my feelings now, nothing stood out to me about this book due to the repetitious feeling. I've already started to feel oversaturated in the Greek mythology retelling department, so my feelings only worsened by reading SOP and SB so close together. I do believe Shadow of Perseus would be a great book for people new to the Greek mythology genre. It gives a realistic interpretation of Perseus and his toxic relationship to the women in his life.

Besides reading <i>The Song of Achilles</i> and <i>Circe</i>, <i>The Shadow of Perseus</i>is my first foray into Greek mythology retellings. I find mythology a little overwhelming and always feel like I don't know enough to fully grasp the stories and how everyone is connected. <i>The Shadow of Perseus<i/> drew me in because of its feminist lens.

<i>The Shadow of Perseus</i> has three points of view: Danae, mother of Perseus, and Medusa and Andromeda, two women who encounter Perseus. Through these three perspectives, these women and their lives, past and present, are explored. Perseus connects these women, as he has a major hand in what their lives become. I cannot speak to the accuracy or liberties Heywood takes with each woman's story, but they encapsulate the missing voices that accompany a "hero's" journey. As you might expect, there are some hard-hitting aspects to the story, including sexual assault and violence.

I enjoyed each woman's perspective equally. The chapters are short and the writing is beautiful and descriptive, so the story is easy to fall into. I'd recommend this to people who have already read popular Greek retelling like Madeline Miller's novels or to anyone looking to start reading these kinds of retellings. I consider this to be very accessible. I plan to go back and read Heywood's debut <i>Daughters of Sparta</i>.

Thanks to NetGalley & Dutton for the copy in exchange for an honest review. I DNF'ed at 20% of the way through.

What really gets me is how this is a retelling of a famous greek mythology story MINUS all the mythology. It's basically been removed of all its magic and the gods. That isn't really personally fun for me.

It also didn't help that the writing was very simple, it felt like it was meant for younger audiences.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing the ARC for this story. I absolutely loved this point of view story of all the women Perseus had connections to and how their lives were so drastically changed by him. Often times we view the male Greek or Roman heroes of classical literature as good, honest, and brave with little to no fault. Reading this story definitely lifted the veil from my eyes and my feelings toward Perseus are more disappointed than anything. This book makes me want to see other women's point of views from these ancient tales. The author was very good in making the reader sympathetic and engrossed with each woman's tale. I think the story of Medusa was my most favorite. I felt the most connection and sympathy with her. I would have loved if her story were a bit longer, but of course it was cut short, so to speak, by Perseus, literally. The way the author crafted Perseus from such a sweet human little boy into a full grown monster took me aback sometimes by how cruel and egotistical he was toward others around him, not just the women. All the characters were developed beautiful and served their roles perfectly in this story. I look forward to seeing if this author writes more books like this! Keep up the good work!

I feel the same way about this book as I do about Claire Heywood's previous work, Daughters of Sparta. I appreciate the feminist lens through which the myth of Perseus is historicized and rewritten and am grateful for Heywood's thoughtful contextualization in her notes. By removing any mythological / fantastical elements from the story, however, we're left with a bleak retelling that depicts Perseus as irredeemable and the main women in his life--Danae and Andromeda--wholly without agency and unable to separate themselves from him. (Medusa's story is the most engaging, and she's the most complete person without Perseus, but her section is by far the shortest.) The writing is also, again, fine but doesn't add as much depth to the story as I was anticipating.

A Myth Retold without Fantasy or Magic

Three women figured prominently in the tale of Perseus: Danae, his mother, Medusa, the Gorgon he slew, and Andromeda, his wife. In Greek mythology, Perseus, descended from Zeus, is a perfect hero. However, the experiences of the three women in his life paint a different picture. In this book Perseus comes across as cruel angrily trying to prove his descent from Zeus.

Instead of the magic and fantasy of the Greek myth, this book is relentlessly realistic. The story is told from the point of view of each of the three women in turn. I liked that each woman had a section of the book to tell her story. It kept the flow going. I often find that a story becomes choppy when the author moves back and forth from chapter to chapter among characters.

While I found the book interesting, I am not a big fan of retelling myths in all the grim reality of the period. I enjoyed seeing how the author envisages the historical settings. However, for me the myths have their own beauty. It is the way people at the time looked on their gods and heroes and the magic and fantasy play a major role.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

So, you thought Perseus was a great Greek hero who saved damsels and destroyed monsters? Well, it turns out he was just a self-obsessed, overgrown child who had a penchant for gratuitous violence and sticking his nose (among other things) where it didn’t belong.

In The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood, the story of the Gorgon-slayer is told through the perspectives of his mother, Danae, the Gorgon, Medusa, and his wife, Andromeda. The book begins with Danae and the prophecy that leaves her cast off, pregnant, and alone. As the tale weaves between the lives of the three women, we learn what really makes one a hero or a monster.

I'm a big fan of Greek mythology, and Heywood's book presents a unique take on a familiar story. It flows seamlessly from one perspective to another and delves deep into the psyches of the characters. I really enjoyed the way Andromeda's backstory was told, and I fell in love with Medusa. Hers was the shortest section, and I wanted more of her. The book could get pretty depressing at times. I'm not sure if it was because I felt so much for the characters or if it was just the way the story was written.

Heywood says in the author's note that she wanted to tell the story in a historical context, without the interference of gods and fantastical elements. While I did enjoy this approach and found it interesting, I think having to contend with the whims and tricks of the gods makes a story more fun.

Thank you Dutton books for the chance to read and review this copy.

Heywood is one of the new masters of Greek retellings. Her take on Perseus is brilliant and highly entertaining. Cant wait for her next book!

I love a feminist retelling of Greek mythology and since picking up Heywood’s debut last year, I’ve been so excited for this follow up. Told through the lens of three different women (Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda), the story of Greek hero Perseus is re-imagined and enlightening.
I love this book's take on how history can be retold by the victors and the narrative can be spun to make someone a hero. It’s a little too on the nose for current society, but that’s exactly why it works. Victors have been retelling their stories for thousands of years, and making themselves the heroes.

I love that this has no God intervention or the magic that comes with mythology. It’s just human behavior that has persisted for eons, and will likely continue to persist.
Make sure to pick it up wherever books are sold TOMORROW!
Thanks to Net Galley and Penguin Group for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

A masterfully crafted tale, Heywood triumphantly reclaims the stories of three of Greek Mythology's most deserving women. With brilliant, confident writing, The Shadow of Perseus has illuminated the stories of ladies too often relegated to the role of villain or damsel in distress, and has instead given them the recognition they deserve.

Out now! [Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a gifted copy!]

Rating: 5/5 stars

Told from the perspective of three women—Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda—THE SHADOW OF PERSEUS is a feminist reimagining of the myth of the Greek “hero” who founded Mycenae.

I usually enjoy a retelling, so I had high hopes for this book, and when I tell you it still BLEW. ME. AWAY. I was a bit nervous that the structure (each part focusing on a different protagonist) might make the novel feel disconnected, but instead the different characters wove their stories together PERFECTLY and I was so deeply drawn to all three of them and the tales they had to tell. And it’s not just the protagonists that are well-written…the villains in this book are perfectly rendered and deeply, magnificently hatable in parts as well (I may have wanted to google “does Perseus die a violent death???” a few times—sorry, not sorry).

Heywood does so much here with regard to commentary on stories/myth, the voices of women, and how history is remembered and passed on, but the best part is that she manages to pack all of this into a book that is also extremely entertaining, fast-paced, and simply fun to read (though also emotional and heartbreaking in more than a few parts). I have a feeling she’s just become an auto-buy author of mine, and I need to go get my hands on DAUGHTERS OF SPARTA asap.

If you enjoy retellings, PLEASE go read this one.

Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Greek mythology; feminist retellings; vibrant characters

CW: Sexual assault/rape; confinement/kidnapping; emotional abuse; murder/blood/violence; suicidal thoughts

A wel-written story, for anyone who is a fan of Greek mythology. Claire Heywood has a clear voice and it makes for an engaging tale, from start to finish. This is the sort of mythology that I want more of -- Perseus is always regarded as a hero, but the women in his life would definitely feel differently. I wouldn't call it a "feminist twist" so much as I would call it a much more accurate retelling of how that story went down!

I took a break from Greek mythology retellings in the past year or so to focus on other myths, and in that time it seems a million and one Madeline Miller copycats have emerged. Hate to say it, but so far I haven't read any such books that have the same craft or emotional care of Miller's writing :(

The idea of taking out the supernatural and magical elements from the Perseus/Medusa myth is an interesting one, but I don't think it really works here. It made some of these women's decisions incredibly baffling. And the writing (I think in particular the 3rd person POV and the short chapters) make each character so distant that I had a hard time caring about any of them.

Claire Heywood's THE SHADOW OF PERSEUS restored dusty myths and long-forgotten legends to vibrant, living color through the lens of the women who loved Perseus and were secondary characters to his myths. I particularly enjoyed the vivid settings, the description of daily life, and the different cultures experienced through his mother's point of view on through the many women he encountered, including a mesmerizing, fantastic retelling of Medusa's tale. A memorable, resonating retelling. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

The Shadow of Perseus tells the story of the Greek hero Pereus, but through the lens of the various significant women in his life - Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda. However, with the narrative being controlled by these three women and not Perseus himself, the reader sees a different side of the story than what the general audience is used to.

I really appreciated that even though there are multiple perspectives, each one was singular enough that they didn’t sound the same. I liked that we get to see multiple views that aren’t there to just move the plot along, but to breathe and give a voice all of its own. Each one was given the weight and nuance necessary to come off as developed characters with their own agencies, even if we already know (as is usually the case where mythology/folklore retellings are concerned) the general plot.

I thought it was interesting to see the story play out with more of an emphasis on human choice and without the usual divine interference that occurs so often in Greco-Roman mythology, especially because Perseus’s story - at least concerning his interactions with Medusa - relies heavily on that divine interference. And maybe because of that - but also maybe not - I found myself absolutely detesting Perseus as a character throughout most of the story. Perseus comes off as an entitled and pathetic boy, obsessed with this idea of his birthright and a victim of his hyper-masculine society, and yet I can’t sympathize with or feel pity for him. Without that divine direction, we see a boy - not yet a man - struggling to prove himself and doing so through unnecessary violence time and time again. Even towards the end, he can’t be persuaded to think about leaving the situation until it’s brought up that if he kills a family member, the world won’t regard him as a hero anymore (which is a dodgy title at best).

However, this lack of divine aid and the fantasical also sheds a light on the importance of who is telling the story and who has that control over the main narrative. Throughout the story, we see characters choosing to interpret, frame, and manipulate the truth time and time again to serve whatever needs they have. Danae does this when she chooses to lie to Perseus about his conception instead of telling him the truth because she believes it’s protecting him from ridicule. Perseus does this also later on when recounting his interactions with Medusa and Andromeda (even though the women in question and the reader by proxy see the truth which is a different story). Prophecies are also interpreted in different ways to fit the wants of people throughout the story. These themes of narrative control and the importance of stories themselves seem to be Heywood’s main point throughout the story and she enforces it clearly and consistently (which is why it’s getting a 4 instead of a 3 from me tbh)

Heywood puts it very well in her author’s note: “The power of myth is that it can be reworked, reexamined, and recontextualized”. I take this to mean that modern writers are performing no differently than ancient storytellers by putting their own spin and emphases on these mythological stories because for many if not most of these myths, it’s nearly impossible to successfully trace to a singular origin point due to the nature of oral tradition and storytelling.

Honestly, if you’re into Greco-Roman mythology and like the more modern feminist retellings, you’d have no problems picking up and enjoying this book. The plot is pretty straightforward - it follows the plot of the original myths well enough - and the writing style is thoughtful and pretty yet still easy to read.

Thank you to Penguin Group Publishing, Dutton Books, and NetGalley for an e-arc copy in return for an honest review. The Shadow of Perseus comes out 02/21/2023.

This book has been marketed as a "female-centered" retelling of the mythical Perseus, one that strips his story of gods, destiny, and the supernatural and returns agency and reclaimed voices to the women so often situated as mere vehicles of his fame. Another way to see this story, though, is that these women have such limited agency once they fall under this titular shadow--outsized as it is in this novel--that they cannot exercise any of it for themselves, only for preventing the devastation and violence he wreaks.

It is a bleak novel. If you strip Perseus of his fate and divine lineage--if he's just an angry young man who lashes out violently against weaker individuals, murdering and raping without apparent consequences--then it becomes the story of today's incels set in ancient Greece and Libya. As he's written, he evokes no sympathy or justification for his destruction and in fact comes across a bit like a remorseless psychopath.

Meanwhile, his mother Danae and his unwilling wife Andromeda seem to be yoked to him for their lifetimes to prevent him from lashing out and murdering people; what kind of freedom or agency can they ever really have? And this tracks with their decisions leading us to Perseus's unhinged behavior, where they sacrifice themselves physically and emotionally for the sake of appeasing others or protecting their families.

The only truly feminist space in this book is the Gorgon sisterhood out in the forest, a female collective that supports one another, lives independently, and welcomes and heals women who are victims of abuse. It's a telling contrast to both Danae and Andromeda's lives, both of which seems wholly governed by men (even before Perseus). It's also the shortest section in the book: almost as soon as we meet the Gorgons and get a glimpse of who they are or could be, Perseus shows up and shortly thereafter murders Medusa for denying him sex. After that, Medusa is merely a noxious, rotting head in bag--treated as toxic fumes clinging to Perseus when he himself is the poison.

I find myself longing for a book entirely focused on the Gorgons after getting a glimpse here of what could have been, so I am looking to Natalie Haynes's recently released Stone Blind as a possible alternative.

I like Heywood's clear, engaging writing style. It made this a quick, well-paced read. I just wish it did not couch the bleak fates of women under the cloak of empowering them through a retelling of their story.

Full disclosure: I was given a free eARC copy of this book by Dutton Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

For many years, there have been plenty of retellings of famous stories, whether they are classic novels, fairy tales, myths, etc. The most well-known ones offer a new perspective and insight on the themes present in the original material. The most common of these is the feminist view because let’s face it, a lot of the tales that we know of were written by men and celebrate men (for the most part). Today’s book "The Shadow of Perseus" by Claire Heywood falls into this perspective as it displays the views of the women sidelined in the famous Greek myth. It’s not always effective, but it offers lots of insight on female agency as well as the power of stories and how people concoct theirs, even if they are false.

"The Shadow of Perseus" is about the three women in the story of Perseus. Danae is his mother who was cast out of her homeland thanks to a prophecy foretelling her unborn child was going to cause the death of her father, the king of Argos. Stranded in a remote fishing village, she strives to make a new life for herself and her son. Medusa is a member of the Gorgons – a reclusive band of women who live deep in the woods. She has cut off all contact from the outside world until she meets an injured stranger named Perseus in the forest. Andromeda is a member of a nomadic tribe. When her mother brags about Andromeda’s beauty, a harsh sandstorm threatens to destroy their way of life, so she volunteers herself as a sacrifice to appease the gods and end the storm. However, Perseus interferes and puts her on a new path. As Perseus becomes more obsessed with the fulfillment of his destiny, his heroic journey casts violence and destruction in the three women’s lives. They have to reclaim their voices for a better future even as Perseus tries to silence them.

Before reading this book, I knew little about the Perseus myth. The only real thing I was familiar with was that he was the one who decapitated Medusa, yet I only found that out when I was doing research. As a result, a lot of my perspective on the book stems from not knowing the story that well.

With that being said, I found that the most divisive aspect of this novel is the removal of the fantastical elements of the myth. In other words, there’s no winged sandals nor a reflective shield that would allow Perseus to see Medusa without turning him to stone. Also, Zeus is not Perseus’s father (that we know of). On one hand, I see why Heywood did this. In her “A Note on Setting” section, she wanted to make the story as historically accurate as possible. This is apparent in the locations used and the different languages that the characters speak in. Also, Andromeda is a dark-skinned woman, so thank you Claire Heywood for not whitewashing her! I see this as subverting some of the more well-known aspects of the myth as well. For example, I wasn’t expecting Medusa’s head full of snakes to actually be a gold crown containing those reptiles and representing her worth despite what had happened to her. In addition, stripping the supernatural elements further reveals the darker aspects of the story, mainly the anger that Perseus feels for being deprived of his needs and destiny even against the will of others. Heywood omits how Perseus used Medusa’s head to turn Atlas into stone after the latter refused the former hospitality. Come on! Atlas had a ton of weight on his shoulders. Can you really blame him for refusing Perseus?

On the other hand, myths, legends, and fairy tales always have fantasy elements. Many of the retellings like "Darling Girl" by Liz Michalski and "The Match Girl" by Rebecca F. Kennedy (the latter from the Once Upon a Winter anthology) retain those aspects because they are familiar with audiences who had grown up knowing the original tales. Removing those almost makes the earlier story unrecognizable. Can you have a Peter Pan retelling without at least mentioning flying or pixie dust? Likewise, I can see why people are irked by the removal of Perseus’s winged sandals, mirror-like shield, Medusa’s ability to turn men into stone if they see her face-to-face, and Zeus not being his father. Heywood could’ve kept the supernatural elements while still aiming for historical accuracy.

The way the plot articulates the feminist aspects have some reviewers divided as well. Some love how the book gives Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda agency in their stories, yet others still found them to be weak due to all the abuse Perseus inflicts on them. It doesn’t help that a grown-up Perseus has almost no redeeming qualities, so this makes the book a little harder to get through. Female strength and feminism in of itself look differently depending on who one asks. It could be female characters fighting others with swords, using wit to overcome the naysayers, reading, and/or being human. Nevertheless, all of them involve them taking charge of their destinies in some form.

In The Shadow of Perseus, the three main characters suffer and struggle, but because it’s their stories, readers get to see what they are thinking as they try to figure out what they are going to do. And sometimes, they make some really stupid decisions. For instance, Danae allows a peasant from a nearby village whom she has known for a short amount of time to come into her prison cell and make love to her after part of the roof falls down. He was her only source of company, and she enjoyed it. Secondly, Medusa permits Perseus to stay in her cave because she feels she could trust him despite the warnings that her Gorgon sisters give and being sexually abused in the past. She didn’t know what Perseus was going to react when she eventually told him to leave. Everybody makes dumb choices even if others completely understand where they are coming from. Other times, the female protagonists decide to do things that modern audiences might not gel with. While stuck in the ship as Perseus’s wife, Andromeda figures that if she can feed his ego, he won’t hurt her as much. This fawning is not exactly the most ideal way of handling an abusive relationship, but it is a survival tactic. Moreover, Danae and Andromeda bond over their pain and discover a way to get Perseus to listen to them, especially when they’re on their way back to Argos. Readers might enjoy it more if they have a broader view of what feminism is.

There are two main strengths that the novel has. It’s a quick read for the most part. It contains short chapters that readers can get through in a small amount of time. Most importantly, it offers some great insight into stories. Besides female agency, the other main theme is the power of stories, specifically how they make or break someone. When he turns 18, Perseus is sent to spend a year working on a ship. He’s not taken seriously at first, so he asserts that he can claim the snake-filled head of Medusa. Even though it’s not really that, Perseus still persuades and brags to others afterward that it was and shows it off to demonstrate his own manly power. In addition, he proclaims that he rescued Andromeda from the storm while she was chained up although he actually stole her while she was sacrificing herself to save her people. Nevertheless, he still tells other people that he freed her regardless. This and the musical Hamilton contain some of the most nuanced views on how stories are told.

Overall, "The Shadow of Perseus" by Claire Heywood may not be the most unique feminist retelling of a classic tale, but it provides some worthy insight on the power of stories. The removal of the supernatural elements has and will continue to divide readers, especially if they know the myth of Perseus by heart. At the same time, it shows how stories get made and who gets to tell them, no matter how distorted they can get. Although I wouldn’t recommend this for readers who love the Perseus myth and retellings of Greek mythology in general, I would suggest it for those who like feminist versions of famous tales, those who are getting into Greek mythology, and those who like insightful commentary on storytelling. The book is out tomorrow, February 21, so get it at your local library or bookstore!

Book 2 of 2023: The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood
Rating: 4.5 stars
Age Range: Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction, Myth Retelling
First Read or Reread: First Read

As a lover of myth retellings written through a female lens, I was excited to receive an eBook ARC from Netgalley about the myth of Perseus through the perspectives of his mother, his victim, and his wife, but with a twist.

TW: Violence, Death, Blood/Gore, SA, Murder, Period Sexism, Imprisonment, Kidnapping

Danae is the princess of Argos who has been foretold to have a son that would spell doom unto Danae’s father, which results in her imprisonment and eventual banishment from her home. When she gives birth to a son named Perseus and tells him a lie that his father is Zeus, what will happen when he finds out the truth?

Medusa is a priestess, not a monster, who protects women who seek a better life away from the cruel world. What will happen when a boy comes and pursues her?

Andromeda is a woman from far away who is happily betrothed and seeks a life close to her family in her homeland. What will happen when a man sees her from afar and wants her as his wife, no matter the cost?

It was until partway through the story that I realized that no gods nor beasts would appear in this retelling, and I became intrigued. When the magic of the myths is stripped away and all that is left is the time, place, and people, Perseus and the story of his “quest” become much darker. Heywood was wise to have the story of Perseus told by the women in his life to analyze the man from the myth. I was also fascinated by the fact that Perseus was not born evil, but rather he was shaped by the toxic expectations of men and their roles in this society. While this does not excuse his deplorable actions, I appreciated that the reader could observe how much society had a role to play in what he became. It is a story of tragedy and heartbreak, but also of strength and hope. The historical research done to bring this story to life is remarkable, and I commend the author. After reading this book, I will never look at the Perseus myth the same way.

If you enjoy dark myth retellings from the female perspective, then I recommend this book. Please be mindful of the trigger warnings that I listed above. I want to thank Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me this eARC.