3.5 stars
Thank you NetGalley for the copy of this book. This is a retelling of Perseus told from the voice of 3 powerful women: Danae, Medusa and Andromeda. The author left out the fantasy elements of the original myth and that makes it feel much more reliable, giving the women amazing voices. If you enjoy retelling of Greek mythology, make sure you pick up this book. Release date: February 2023.

The Shadow Of Perseus follows the three major female figures in Perseus' life: Danae, his mother, Medusa, and Andromeda. It takes the gods and goddesses out of the narrative and instead shapes the story based on what logically could have happened, with beautiful descriptions.

My main issue with the book is that it tells the story of how monstrous Perseus really is due to his upbringing and the fate that he is set upon. Unfortunately, the book skips over Perseus' upbringing, so we really get no semblance of how it shaped him aside from the somewhat cliche that as a bastard son, he had it rough. We get a very short glimpse of him at twelve, and then at eighteen, but both of these are filtered through Danae's image of her son. We get the idea that he struggles amongst the boys and how to be a man, but it lacks a specificity that would have made the book have a bigger impact.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Welcome to Greek mythology minus the more fantastical details we have become acquainted with. This story is a more believable exploration of the lives of some familiar names etched in the pillars of Greek history.

I appreciate this author’s vision to place what is usually told with outlandish lore into the realistic framework of historical fiction. I really liked the premise, but the overall narrative fell a bit flat in some aspects for me. I still found this novel a worthwhile read.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Shadow of Perseus for my unbiased evaluation.  3 stars

Theoretically I should adore this. It has so many components that speak to my heart.
A classic mythology retelling centering the women of the hero's story rather than the hero.
The "monstrous" female closest to my heart - Medusa.
Perseus - one of the more odious Greek f&%$bois of literature - getting his comeuppance.

But damn. It was just so so bleak, y'all. While I don't "hate" the fact that the author stripped the epic of all its magic and did a wonderful job of grounding her story in a gritty, realistic ancient Greece, she fell short in imbuing her female leads, Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda, with the dignity and strength promised by its "retelling as a female centered story". The story is driven by Perseus' dude bro rage and childish swagger, and the endless victimization of his mother, wife and first love(?) to the point is sometimes smacks of trauma porn. It was just too much for me.

Have you ever wondered what Greek mythology would be like without the supernatural elements? Enticing, right? Heywood’s expertise in and passion for the ancient world are evident in this hugely imaginative and well-researched retelling of Perseus. Told in four parts by the women surrounding him.

My heart is still beating like a drum and pinching on every breath. Seemingly, grieving the loss that every character experienced as if it were my own. That is the power of great writing.

As a Greek mythology enthusiast, I find Heywood’s voice refreshing and exciting. I look forward to reading Daughters of Sparta, her debut.

Read the author’s note and setting at the end. Illuminating and impressive. 👏

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group | Dutton, and Claire Heywood for the exquisite ARC of The Shadow of Perseus!

The cover is so beautiful! I already knew the story, but this was such a good retelling. The writing was excellent!

Thank you NetGalley, Dutton Books, and Claire Heywood for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I really enjoyed the author’s previous work, Daughters of Sparta, and was super excited to read this one. It didn’t disappoint and is truly one of the most unique retellings I’ve ever read!

This novel focuses on Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda and discusses their relationships with Perseus. It’s very different than a lot of Greek retellings that I’ve read and shows a different side to Perseus, which I really found interesting. Everything in the story made sense and there wasn’t any fantasy included, but it instead focused on the strength of women and how these three women lived.

I highly recommend this one for people looking for a unique, feminist approach to traditional Greek myths. I’m really glad that I was able to read it!

Oh wow I loved this book! Claire Heywood tells the story of Perseus as we've never seen him before — as an ordinary man. Very far from a hero, in fact. The story is told from the viewpoints of the three women most central to his lore: his mother Danae, his wife Andromeda, and his conquest Medusa. Seeing Perseus through their eyes tells a very different tale, indeed.

This is a FAST read and I savored every minute of it. There is enough detail to paint the scene for you, and enough depth to the characters to make you empathize with their anguish. I absolutely love mythology retellings like this, where the women are the reimagined as the focal point. The author also does an excellent job of "humanizing" the events, adjusting things in a way to show the reader what could have actually happened, instead of relying on the intervention of gods and fantastical circumstances to explain Perseus' deeds.

Thank you to Claire Heywood, Dutton Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

The shadow of Perseus is a heart wrenching female centered retelling of the myth of the hero Perseus. The story is told through the lens of his mother Danae who is cast away from her homeland in a devastating turn of events, his trophy wife medusa who shows kindness to Perseus, and his wife Andromeda. Even though you might already know the story of Perseus this is a fresh take on the legend showing that Perseus might not have been a hero after all. The story spans a pretty decent amount of time and it’s divided into four sections each section belonging to each woman’s perspective and the final section ending from his mothers perspective Claire Heywood did an amazing job writing the book it was enthralling and I didn’t want to put it down I definitely rate this a five out of five stars and I think it’s one of the best books I’ve read this Year.

3.5 - Of all of the Greek mythology retellings, The Shadow of Perseus has been my favorite. I am inexplicably drawn to these stories even though they make me realize how little I actually know of their origins.

The book follows Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda all relating to and interacting with Perseus in one way or another. Through their stories, a different picture of the epic hero is painted. Was his story truly one of heroism, or was it merely ego? Each of the women are presented in a different time of his life, starting with his mother Danae and with Medusa and Andromeda following in ways that haven't been seen before from what I can gather.

I liked that each of the women had their own section of the book rather than it completely jumping around. It made it a smooth read and there wasn't any confusion. As has been the case with all of the other mythological retellings I've read, I'm realizing this is best appreciated with an extensive knowledge of the characters and their connections. The writing was engaging which kept me interested despite this. I found myself wanting to learn more about their backstories rather than waiting for the book to end. I was definitely still lost, but that is on me and not the story itself.

A huge thanks to Dutton for reaching out and offering me a free ARC of this book through NetGalley to read and review!

I do love a myth retelling, and in The Shadow of Perseus we are presented with the myth of Perseus from the perspective of the women in his life, Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda. The book alternates narrators, giving us a new viewpoint on Perseus and the mythology of his life, from a distinct voice for each woman. Was he truly a hero? That's what this book explores.

I enjoyed this new exploration of "heroism" as interpreted from the viewpoint of the women. We see Perseus as a young boy developing into a man, and it does not flinch from presenting us with his faults. I'm rating this book 4 stars, rounding up from 3.5 overall. I found the book well written and easily read, however I took issue with how easily Danae and Andromeda were to handle Perseus and felt the book ended fairly quickly after a lot of build up.

All that said, this book is a worthwhile exploration of what it means to be a man, and a hero, from the viewpoint of the women in Perseus' life.

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the electronic ARC for review.

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!