I'm a sucker for mythology and was so excited to read this version of Perseus's story. While there were some intriguing parts, overall, the story fell flat. The story is told in chunks from the three women's perspective, but none of them felt fleshed out enough to maintain interest. As soon as I felt hooked with the characters or story, it would jump to the next and leave the threads hanging.
I love the concept of women taking back their stories, and there is only so much that can be done without going against the originals, but this just did not have the strength I expected. Perseus was a very annoying character, which may be on purpose, and Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda seemed muted by the end in a way that seemed more from the writing than the events in the story.

The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood is a brilliant retelling of Perseus. Told through an enchanting lens, this book is wildly exciting. The realism and moody prose added so much more to the story.

“Silence was strength when it was all she had, but words would be her true power.”

Claire Heywood, author of Daughter of Sparta, returns with a fresh and female-centered reinterpretation of the myth of Perseus. This retelling brings to life the voices of the three women who are no more than sideline characters in the traditional story: his mother, Danae; his trophy, Medusa; and his wife, Andromeda. Their points of view will reveal that maybe Perseus is not as much of a hero as everyone has always thought.

Instead of telling a story focused on Perseus aka the hero’s journey, the author focused on the women who shaped his life. Starting with Danae, his mother, and her upbringing as the princess of Argos. She is a young girl who longs to marry in order to escape her home and her abusive father. The king is already a paranoid man but when the Pythian Oracle foretells that in the future he will be killed by Danae’s son, he locks her in a cellar in the castle to avoid this from happening. However, through a whole in the room Danae befriends and comes to love a young man which will evidently lead to her pregnancy. Danae’s father ties her on a boat ans casts her away at sea so she can die along with his grandson. But, Danae is rescued by men who take her in and will help her out when Perseus is born.

The next two parts are poignant and show Perseus most villanous side. Because these stories aren’t his to tell and won’t be tainted by his lies. These are Medusa’s and Andromeda’s stories. First we encounter Medusa. Her point of view is always interesting to read about, although painful. As a member of the Gorgons, a group of women who live deep in the woods, she is secluded from the outside world. That is, until the day she meets an injured boy and helps him out. But of course, when she rejects him, he does not take it well… Later on, we meet Andromeda. A sandstorm threatens to destroy her tribe’s way of life and so she sacrifices herself to appease the gods, but a forceful Perseus comes to her “rescue” and the trajectory of her life is changed. It’s so interesting to see Perseus portrayed as someone who persuades everyone into thinking he is a hero who fought against monsters and saved people by hiding the ugly truth of what he really did to these women, not caring at all about their voices.

Lastly, we come back to Danae. Perseus and Andromeda find her again and as they all go back to where the story began the reader will find a surprising conclusion to the Pythian prophecy.

Heywood’s writing does not shy away from portraying the cruelty of what these women went through as members of Greek society. They’re all oppressed and of course, as women who decided to take their fate into their own hands, they suffered a great deal of abuse and trauma. Perseus is just a boy who tried to become a man. As he becomes more obsessed with the promise of his prophecy, the shadow that haunts him casts itself across the three women’s lives leaving a trail of violence behind. Will these three women find a way to reclaim their voices and get themselves a better future?

Heywood also brings a fresh vision of the myth by not relying on the interference of the gods in the story and instead gives it a more realistic point of view. Perhaps this is what makes it more raw and what makes it all the more painful to read; because, sadly, for female readers, some of the events will definitely be easy to empathise with. Each of the women also has distinctive features and cultural beliefs according to the place they grew up in, making it all the more realistic as well since its all set in real and reachable places.

All in all, The Shadow of Perseus is a compelling retelling of the myth of the great hero Perseus. A story about the three women who shaped his life which will reveal a man who might not be a hero at all.

Thank you Netgalley, Claire Heywood and publishers for gifting me a copy in return for my honest review.

3/5

I would like to say that there is nothing wrong with this book it is a great retelling of the tale of Perseus and told from the perspective of the three women in his life. I just feel like there was nothing that grabbed the reader that hadn't been done a dozen times already. I can see what the author was trying to do but there really wasn't anything special about it that would make it memorable to me.

If you haven't read that many retellings with a feminist twist on greek methology then I believe you would really enjoy this book. But for me nothing stood out. I can see what she was trying to do but I missed a lot of the myths that were taken out in favor of more of a historical twist. This just didn't do it for me.

(I received this ARC courtesy of Dutton Books and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review)

The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Haywood is the retelling of the myth and the women that surround the mythic legend of Perseus. I can start by saying that I was quite intrigued by this feminist retelling of the Perseus myth given my background in Greco-Roman mythology and history. I grew up in the age of Clash of the Titans and the cinematic interpretation of Perseus.

In my world Danae and Zeus were the parents of the half-god Perseus, Medusa was a monster, and Andromeda was the princess being terrorized by a sea monster. The Shadow of Perseus throws this whole idea out the window. The monsters become non-existent or are women victimized by the hands of men, and the hero is the monster.

Without giving too much away I can say that the Shadow of Perseus was not what I expected. The story of the Shadow of Perseus is not at all a bad book. You take away the knowledge of the Greek myth and the stories of Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda are enjoyable. However, I am sad to say I was left feeling lacking.

Medusa was always a beloved 'monster' of mine as I truly believed there was more to Medusa then was told in the Greek myths. Unfortunately, while Haywood brings Medusa in her own radiance she leaves her in the dust figuratively and literally. Medusa's portion of the book is just left in a lackluster pit that is never truly fleshed out. The actions of Perseus are not fully addressed or explained, and the final exchange between the pair is just a quick cut that doesn't give Medusa the justice she deserves.

I can say the book will be a pleasure for those first discovering Greek mythology, but for those with a grown admiration for Greek mythology the Shadow of Perseus didn't sit well. The book seems to radiate the ideals of girl power and feminist appeal but then silences all of this at the end with a patient acceptance. At the end there was no strength of a woman acknowledged and the power of all it is to be a woman in a hero world was buried as deep in the sand as the head of Medusa.

To me the book could have used something more. While the story of Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda was welcome with open arms in the end it falls flat and left me wishing for something more. Until next time, happy reading!

DNFed at 35%: The writing was great and I love Greek mythology. I just don't think I was in the right state of mind for the book when I started. Perseus was being so possessive over Danai and it just made me feel icky. BUT I'd be open to revisiting the book later.

A tale of pain, growth, challenges. Superstition and fear of the gods ruled the lands. King of Argos has banished his daughter, Danae because of a prophesy that her male child would kill the king.. Danae was pregnant despite her father keeping her locked away. Left to die in the sea, she ended up being rescued by a ship and taken to a different land. The journey of her life and her boy who wants to be a man has begun. I was a bit irritated that the women were so weak, but the tale of her son Perseus and his determination to be a man was the goal of the tale.

I really wanted to like this book. I'm a sucker for mythology retellings and when I heard this described as a feminist retelling, I was so excited to dig in. In the end, this was an ok book, but not quite for me.

One of my problems was the pacing. This book had moments of fast-pace, but for the most part seemed to drag painfully slow. I was intrigued enough to keep going, but by the end I had to force myself to keep reading at times.

I also wasn't a fan of the ending. While I appreciate that the author was trying to stay close to the actual myth of Perseus, I found myself feeling really unsatisfied by the end.

I didn't hate this book by any means. In fact, there were parts I genuinely enjoyed. But overall, I was a little disappointed. I am still glad I gave it a read though!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Dutton, for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

The Shadow of Perseus, like Circe or the Song of Achilles, is a take on Greek mythology but from a different perspective. Perseus, instead of being seen as a hero, is a mama's boy and a bully, but still in some ways a sympathetic character. The story is told from the perspective of 3 women: his mother, the monster he famously slayed, and the bride he rescued. In this version, there is more to these stories, and it is told from a feminist angle.

It’s a feminist retelling. Nothing really different from the original story other than it being from the females perspective. While I love feminist retellings of green mythology. This one was good, but not a book that excites me enough that I’m still thinking about it all the time.

The Shadow of Perseus is a retelling and reimagining of the mythological tales of Perseus, son of Danae and Zeus. While the author uses the legend of Perseus to shape the plot, the real focus of the book is the women in Perseus' life. This includes Danae, his mother, Medusa, who needs no introduction, and Andromeda, his wife.

From the beginning, we follow Danae, and how a prophecy led to the eventual birth of Perseus. From there, our focus shifts to Perseus at sea, and we find that the truth is far from the myth. Is Perseus truly a hero?

I thoroughly enjoyed this retelling and was previously unfamiliar with the myth of Perseus. I was unaware that Perseus was the supposed "hero" who slayed Medusa in the classic myth. After reading Heywood's novel, I feel a sense of pride that Medusa's tale has become larger-than-life, while the slayer, Perseus, is often forgotten.

This was an easy read, and I found myself eager to know what would come next. I also enjoyed the feminist angle of this book, and wonder how many myths/stories/history discount women's truth in order to create a legend out of man. This is perhaps my greatest takeaway from this novel.

While the author removes all magic from the original myth, instead opting to explain the reality behind how these magical components came to exist, I did not find that it detracted from the story but rather brought it to life in a realistic, modern way.

Overall, The Shadow of Perseus is a good read that has compelled me to learn more about the characters' classical roots and to read Claire Heywood's other works.

Greek mythology retellings with a feminist twist you said? Sign me up!
Normally I enjoy these retellings but unfortunately I'm not sure how I feel about The Shadow of Perseus.

The story focused on the women in Perseus' life: his mother Danae, his victim Medusa and his wife Andromeda.
While I'm sure the story meant to show the strength and endurance of these women, I can't help but feel that the story was weak and the women were passive. At one point, I find myself questioning if the actions of the women (or the lack of in this case) sort of contributed to the crimes Perseus committed, and really hated myself for even thinking about this.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for this ARC in an exchange for an honest review! Told from three perspectives of the women closest to Perseus, this work follows the retelling of the son of Zeus and Danae. However, the story is captured as realism, taking away all magical elements that we usually associate with Gods and Goddesses. It is an interesting, quick read, with an enchanting writing style that will bring me back for more of Heywood’s work. I am personally a huge fan of Medusa, and would have loved to have seen more of her throughout this book. I enjoyed my time within this world the author made with her words, but found myself wishing Perseus had more character development in order for me to fully comprehend his motives for his violence. I would recommend this to any lovers of Mythological retellings.

“The world is small when there are ships to sail it.”

If you are familiar with Greek mythology, you know the stories of Perseus; son of Zeus, savior of Andromeda, slayer of Medusa. The tales of Greek heroes are well known, but history is often told by the victors and those in power. What is the truth, what really happened? This book explores the potential quiet truths behind the myths, no magical interventions from the gods, no monsters, only human decisions.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book, giving voice to the women in Perseus’s life. The book has no fantastical element and reads almost like a pure historical fiction. I actually found the first part of the book the most interesting, Danae’s story before Perseus. The book was a bit slow after than except for the introduction of the Gorgons, Medusa was the best character. Unfortunately I found the las half of the book a bit slow and Andromeda a bit flat. The book is pretty dark with a bit of hope and redemption in the end if that’s what you’re in the mood for. I recommend this book for anyone wanting a realistic spin on Greek mythology.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton, and the author for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Perseus impacted the lives of three women - not in the most positive way. his mother Danae was banished from her home because pf a prophecy that her son would kill her father. Then Perseus finds himself on an island inhabited only by women and meets Medusa. Finally while sacrificing herself for her village Andromeda is "rescued" by Perseus and he takes her aboard his ship. More woes in Greek mythology than a person should bear.

Shadow of Perseus by Clare Heywood is an incredibly clever retelling of the stories of Perseus. It sets itself apart from other retellings in how Heywood breaks down and analyzes the actions of a so-called “hero” from the point of view of the women most impacted by them. Continue reading to see the rest of my review of this new release.

Retelling
I know many people may be just OVER retellings. Honestly, I spent years of my life in the Classical academic world, so I do not think I will ever be. Heywood does something different from other Graeco-Roman retellings. Like many, it is from the point of view of the women in Perseus’ life - his mother, Danae; the “monster,” Medusa; and his wife, Andromeda.

Shadow of Perseus removes the mythical elements that are used to romanticize the epic hero, Perseus. I loved how Heywood twisted the classical mythic stories to remove the justification of many of Perseus’ actions.

Silent Histories
Part of what also makes me continue to enjoy these retellings from the female perspective is the idea of “silent histories.” Although the story of Perseus is not a story with historical evidence, it can still be viewed through the lens of “history is written by the victors.” In nearly all Graeco-Roman mythology it is focused on the male hero. Shadow of Perseus gives a voice to the women of the time. Heywood highlights their experiences and how heroic actions through the POV of someone else could be monstrous.

Overall
Shadow of Perseus is an exciting take on the non-mythical retellings of mythological figures. It causes you to really rethink all the stories containing a damsel in distress. Honestly, what happens to Zeus’ victims after they give birth to their demigod child? Also, are these mythological monsters real, or hyperbole of power-hungry individuals? This makes me very interested in reading Heywood’s other novel about Helen and Klytemnestra.

Shadow of Perseus is a multi-narrator Greek mythology retelling told from the perspective of the women in Perseus’s story.

Heywood examines how facts can be manipulated into folklore, making everyday stories into monster-filled legends. Ultimately, the females in the story cast Perseus in a much different, and darker, light than traditional mythological depictions.

I love mythology retellings turn a well-known story on its head – and this one does it exquisitely! I was riveted by Medusa, Andromeda, and Danae’s version of events.

Who wants to start a Gorgon club of capable women that survive in the forest away from the patriarchy? Yes

I am always fascinated by mythology and the evilness of unmarried pregnant women and their wicked ways. The depravity of men and how they spin stories to make women look like the one in the wrong that seduced them knows no ends. This is exactly the way I see these myths and legends playing out. For sure a sensitive boy trying to prove himself and pretending to fight all these beasts when he is just preying on vulnerable women that trust him until its too late or have no choice but to go with him.

I don't believe in all these sea beasts and women with snakes in their hair (my autocorrect changed it to snacks in their hair that's more believable). It's more believable that Perseus was a psychopath and all those supposed heroes. Oh man but the self-fulfilling prophesy of Akrisios, dude you idiot. The sea isn't always reliable especially when you truss her up like a nut.

Mythology is just a faulty narrative of how women should stay in line or else this or that will happen to them. This is definitely a favorite retelling now without the artifice of lies. Its the women's viewpoint and not the boy pretending to be a man. I need to read the Daughters of Sparta. Seriously watching Andromeda wanting to interject as Perseus told his stories was gold.

Thank you duttonbooks for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for a copy of this book. Now this book has already released by the time that I'm posting this, because it took me so long to get into. But that is not anything against the writing the story or anything to do with the book. All to do with school. I am giving this book four stars, because I liked it but I don't have any strong feelings towards just like we're like. I love the story I love reading mythology retellings through a different lens. And this book did a great job at doing that. It is definitely pretty easy to read and I read it in 2 hours. So I definitely recommend picking this up when you get the chance.

A wholly original take on the three women whose stories are always told as to how they relate to Perseus. Danae is his mother, Medusa who he conquered, and Andromeda his wife. But these women are so much more than what they are to Perseus. This book retells their stories, following the overarching path of the original myths while also bringing a much needed modern, most definitely feminist perspective.

I don’t know what I can say about this book without spoiling Heywood’s ingenious updates on the ancient material. I can say that Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda are finally given the care and attention they deserve, and their stories are somehow more tragic because of it. By completely omitting the existence of magic – while honoring the presence of and belief in gods – Heywood has created a historical novel that feels very grounded and relevant to the present day.

Danae’s story is very true to her myth, if without Zeus’s involvement; I have never read a more brilliant and unique take on Medusa’s journey; Andromeda’s tale is heartbreaking, and more poignant for its roots in the dark reality of history. Each woman is her own individual person – and Perseus is the true villain of this novel. The prose is engrossing and engaging, the perfect combination of educated and comprehensive, wholly lyrical. Fans of mythology are sure to appreciate.

Content warning: sexual assault, abuse, trauma, murder, gore, death, grief.