Meh. It’s the best word I can use to describe this work. I love mythology, and whilst Greek isn’t my favourite, I was tempted by the interesting premise of Hercules not being the hero we all thought he was. I guess I have several issues.
The writing isn’t bad but break neck speed and rushing around is blandly covered by the term ‘fast-paced’. It gives the writing a thin, artificial and frankly one-dimensional quality that bleeds into the characters. I’m not particular drawn to them at all, and our heroine is beyond irritating. She’s not a damsel in distress but my goodness does she go on about ‘her past’. Build a bridge already, be ‘the girl who ran’ and pop across it. There’s potential for real depth in the character but it’s sacrificed for rushing through the story needlessly and forcing a ‘woe is me’ veneer on what is a serious plot point.
Considering it’s a Greek mythology based tale I’m surprised the author used the Latin names for gods, zodiac signs etc. I’m no expert but it smacks of laziness to me. It feels like an amateur attempt at using real history, and the paraphrasing of Greek stories comes across as shoehorned and disconcerting. Elements of world building are launched at full speed without giving any of them time to land before even more are bombarded our way. I’m not one for page after aching page of exposition but I need a little more that what this novel provides.
The writing itself isn’t bad exactly, aside from the odd type. But it too often falls into the age old issue of ‘show, don’t tell’. In one particular exchsnge, Lyssa considers a character for their ‘haughty nature’. Um...when was he haughty? I must have missed that in the two pages of light speed plotting because he didn’t come across that way. The author telling me a character is a certain way doesn’t make it so. Perhaps if they’d spent time building these characters and plotting better it would have been clearer but it was a real eye role moment for me that made me want to give up.
Unlikely to purchase more in the series as I regret purchasing this one. Seriously disappointed with failed execution of what could have been an interesting novel.
Skies of Olympus: Books One, Two & Three: The Immortality Trials, Book 1
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Albert
Talk about a Greek tragedy!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 July 2019Verified Purchase
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Great interpretation of the Greek Myths
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