I've always been interested in Greek mythology, so I've been loving the recent spate of retellings from a feminist perspective. Which basically just means that all the female characters who have been utterly overlooked in the traditional versions of these stories are finally given a voice.

Heir of Venus is no exception in this regard. Laura Shepperson does an excellent job of bringing these female characters alive, though Aeneas - son of the goddess Venus and hero of the Trojan War who leads a ragtag group of survivors from Troy to safety, and later founds Rome - also comes across as a character of considerable depth.

Lavinia's father gives Aeneas and his followers refuge in his kingdom of Laurentum, and based on his belief in a prophecy, pledges his daughter's hand in marriage to this much older man. Lavinia's growth arc is particularly impressive. She goes from being a young girl horrified at the war being fought by her childhood sweetheart King Turnus over her father's decision to announce her betrothal to Aeneas, to becoming the strong, intelligent woman that she is destined to be.

But it is interesting to hear from ALL the women who helped to make Aeneas the man he becomes, one way or another. His beloved wife Creusa, daughter of the King of Troy and sister of Cassandra, who prophesies Aeneas's survival after the fall of Troy (and the fact that Creusa will not escape with him). Dido, the Queen who meets Aeneas on his journey to Laurentum and pays a high price for that meeting. And, of course, his mother Venus! Along with the roles of these women in his life, it is fascinating to follow Aeneas's trajectory from Troy to the empire he will later build.

All in all, this is well worth it for Greekmythology buffs - a more nuanced version of this story and a special take on Prince Paris andhelen of Troy. It gets 5 stars, and that's not a rating I frequently hand out, but this story left a huge impression on me.

The Heir of Venus follows Aeneas through his life told in the points of view of the key women in his life- Lavinia, Dido, Creusa, and a brief chapter from his mother, Venus. This nonlinear story shifts between each of these perspectives and the reader gets to see how Aeneas has grown into the man he is through his time in the Trojan War and after. Shepperson starts the story describing how Aeneas has just landed to Laurentum seeking land for him and his refugees. Lavinia discovers her father, king of Laurentum, has betrothed her to Aeneas without her consent and to the dismay of King Turnus, Lavinia's childhood friend from a neighbor kingdom who had wanted to marry her himself. War follows and while in the war camp, Lavinia meets Anna, a stranger who has stories of Aeneas' past.

As a huge but casual fan of mythology, I really enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed Lavinia's storyline and how she grew and was able to forge her own path despite all the men around her trying to decide her fate for her. While Queen Dido's storyline had a tragic ending, I loved seeing her build her kingdom from nothing while out-maneuvering the men in her life trying to trap her. Creusa showed that her love for others meant more to her than her own life, which can be beautiful. She was warned away from Aeneas by her sister, Cassandra (also very famous in mythology), who many believed to be hysterical and crazy. Creusa believed her sister but decided a life with Aeneas was more important to her. She sacrificed herself to ensure that he and their child could escape the Trojans and go on to the fate that was foretold. The narrator of the audiobook was fantastic and kept me hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC Copy! 3.5 Stars

This is my first time reading Roman Mythology and though I was somewhat familiar with most of the characters in the book it was a new perspective that I have never heard before on these characters.

It is always great to hear the female perspective which is often left out of the original myths.

While I did enjoy this story it was lacking a bit of structure at times it felt like the whole story was carried along just by the flowery wording rather than substance. There was nothing truly original or memorable but all in all it was a good story to get to know characters you may not know from previous myths.

Absolutely loved this retelling! The way Laura weaves greek mythology into roman mythology helps the reader connect the two different periods of time. I loved the multi POV throughout the story. Again bringing life to the women of this time

I love that the story of Aeneus is told only through the perspective of the women around him. It’s a fun exercise in perspective. I don’t love that the majority of the narrative is in the form of telling and not showing what is happening/has happened. Also, maybe because I was listening to the book, it did get a little confusing from time to time which storyline I was in. It’s a non-linear storytelling style, and we are seeing three of Aeneus’ adventures through the lenses of three different lovers. So this is a story you need to be actively engaged in to follow. No mindless, easy reading here. But I do think the lessons learned are important and well articulated. The payoff is rewarding.

I didn’t connect with this book too much which is weird because I usually love Greek mythology and retellings. Especially feminine forward ones. I think that had I read a print copy instead of the audiobook I would have liked it a lot more.
The narrator didn’t make the book special. It came across as rather monotone and I had a hard time with some of these names.

The story is about Aeneas, demigod, son of Venus and star warrior of the Trojan War. But it’s told from the perspective of the women in his life. Except for Venus, which I’m now realizing and think would have been pretty cool to add. To be honest, I didn’t know much at Aeneas, and nothing about Lavina or Creusa before reading this. I’m interested in learning more about them now

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for early access to the audiobook version of this!

This was an interesting read. It follows the story of three women - Lavinia, Dido and Creusa, who all at different points in time find their lives intertwined with that of Aeneas, the son of Venus (/Aphrodite).

I really enjoy feminist retellings of myth and legend and have read a lot. This one was interesting for me as I was unfamiliar with Aeneas so didn’t know what was going to happen at every point. The world building was good and the characters fairly compelling - but for me it felt like this story told rather than showed, and was heavily reliant on dialogue and internal monologue.

The narrator did an excellent job of the audiobook (something which I can imagine was especially difficult given the amount of dialogue and different intonations/accents to distinguish the various characters).

Overall, this was good - maybe one I’ll revisit in the future. I didn’t fall head over heels for it but did find it intriguing.

The Heir of Venus - Laura Shepperson

It's a retelling of Aeneas in feminist prose. I wasn't blown away. I think a lot of these retellings tend to be a little samey and this one didn't offer up anything original in its retelling in my personal opinion. The writing was good, don't get me wrong but I was hoping for some magic. It's on par with others I have read but you can only read so many of these kinds of books without feeling like you have read them all.

I thought they did a great job of bringing the characters to life and I did enjoy the book, I just needed a lot more sparkle. Might just be my fault for setting the bar too high haha! If you like fairytale retellings, you will most likely love this one. I think I am just being difficult. 3.75 stars

#theoysterdiverssecret #theheirofvenus #historicalfiction #laurashepperson #the weddingpeople #darkcomedy #miniaudioreviews #bookreviews #bookblog #readerblog #alc #netgalley #listeningisreading

Plot: 1
Writing: 1
Worldbuilding: .5
Characters: .5
Themes: .5
3.5/5

Audiobook: 4.5/5

What you can expect:
- Feminist Roman mythology retelling
- Multiple POV (women)

I thought this one was ok. I had a really hard time being immersed in the story. Honestly, the audiobook was good and it got me through the story. I probably would have DNF'd if I wasn't listening to it. I do enjoy mythological retellings though they tend to not be my favorite, so take this review with a grain of salt.

Frances Butt was the narrator and did such a fantastic job with different voices. She really helped bring the story to life and help me keep the characters in order.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Audio for an ALC of The Heir of Venus in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this. I'd heard portions of the myths this book was based around, with my knowledge primarily being centered around Troy. But this was easy to follow for me, without having already known the story in its entirety. It was really interesting seeing how all of the women’s lives were woven together and how Aeneas was the connection between them all.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an audio arc of book!

I almost never read Roman mythology- well like I do read articles and stuff but not retellings and this one fairly surprised me. I won't be giving a big review and I won't call it a novella either because it was more of a novella and read like it and even for an audiobook it was very short. So, I was able to enjoy it way more than I should have. I feel like there were so many names to keep up with and there were certain parts where I would zone out because it felt like it was dragging but there were other moments where it was very enjoyable. I liked that it wasn't from the male pov but more from the female perspective and I liked the we saw the war battle and the whole Trojan horse scene from a women's perspective- meaning that it felt more of an observation. Usually I don't like telling and I like showing more but the FMC was telling us what was happening and it was heavily intertwined with her emotions. It feels like a storybook that someone tells you when you're about to sleep and I definitely think that I enjoyed it more of it because of the audiobook. I didn't really form a solid opinion about the characters because I wasn't able to build that connection with them but it was enjoyable to read about them. It's like the story heavily follow Aeneus but his story is not told through his pov but rather the women related to him but I liked the glimpses of romance that we got and men fighting over women 🤭 always fun to read about that!

Overall, an enjoyable read that would be well served as a pallette cleanser.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a audio arc in exchange for a review

Actual rating - 3.2 stars; rounded down to 3.

This book wasn't bad at all. Unfortunately, I had JUST read Jennifer Saint's "Hera" before this (as well as a smattering of other mythology retellings), and this one just didn't blow me away like Saint's book did. The rating also likely suffered because of the numerous retellings I've read lately, which made this one seem a little "meh."

Still, the book itself wasn't bad.

It was more of a Roman retelling than a Greek one (in terms of names), but still. The principle applies.

Now, let's break it down:

What it is:

Basically, this book is a female-forward retelling of the Aeneas myths, focusing less on him and more on the women he left in his wake.

What it did right:

- The author's writing style was superb. The book was beautifully written.

- The audio narration was also terrific. I was not familiar with Frances Butt, the narrator, but I enjoyed her. I DID notice a few mispronunciations (or maybe it's a matter of DIFFERENT pronunciations, not necessarily WRONG ones), but they weren't enough to detract from the flow.

- The pacing was good. I never felt like the book was dragging or pulling me along too quickly.

- The book presented (and gave ample voice to) a wide variety of Aeneas's women, not just Dido, which is who I typically hear about in connection with him.

What it did less right:

- There were too many changes made to the original myths. The thing that makes a retelling a GOOD retelling is the author being able to weave the original myths into something new without fundamentally changing them. This book took MANY liberties with Aeneas' story, and that's not something I appreciate in a retelling.

- There were almost TOO many characters, and the shifting nature of the narrative made them hard to remember/follow. If I hadn't been familiar with the original myths, I'm not sure I would have always known who was who and how the story tied together. Too many characters and too many shifting POVs with poor transitions.

All in all, it was a solid 3-star read. If you're in a classic myth retelling slump and need something to get you out of it, this may not do the trick. However, if you're a myth retelling fanatic who likes to devour ANY retelling you can find (guilty!) you won't hate it. It's worth a read if these kinds of book are up your alley.

I've loved Greek and Roman mythology since I was a kid, so this boom in retellings is giving me all the content I've always dreamed of and then some.

The Heir of Venus tells the stories of Lavinia, Creusa, and Dido -- mythical figures who play supporting roles in the story of Aeneas. So, already, these are very rare perspectives. I love the way the novel shifts back and forth between the three women detailing their backgrounds, struggles, aspirations, and personalities. Each point of view was compelling in its own right and played off of each other very well. My only difficulty as far as the characters go is that I wasn't particularly attached to any of them and I didn't feel as though I got a full character arc for any of the three.

TW: Suicide. There are multiple suicides in this book. Unfortunately, I don't feel like those moments were narratively earned nor given the seriousness they deserved. More time should have been spent on building up the motivations and the fallout of those moments.

Overall, I gave this a three out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Shepperson, and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I hadn’t heard of this story before and also felt drawn to it as i absolutely loved Phaedra by this author. I honestly struggled with this one though. The change in POV & settings/timelines were messy. I found it difficult to follow this one and was often getting confused. It obviously affected the reader experience, and i felt that i didnt enjoy this one as much as i could have. Ill still read books by this author, but this one just missed the target for me.

I personally love mythology told from the point of view of the women in the story. This rendition explored the suffering of the women left behind at the hands of a man, a child of Venus (Aphrodite), hell bent on achieving his destiny.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC of the audiobook.

Laura Shepperson has definitely stepped up her game since the release of Phaedra (which I really enjoyed)! I liked this narrator, I enjoyed the story, overall there were some parts that felt a little drawn out but nonetheless I had an enjoyable reading experience.

Delving into the myth of Aeneas from the perspective of the women in the story is *chefs kiss* - I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.

I am a huge fan of retellings and this did not disappoint. I really enjoyed Laura Shepperson’s writing and I am planning to pick up her other novel Phaedra right away! I was lucky enough to get an early copy of the audiobook and once I started listening I was able to finish it in one day! The narrator did a wonderful job. The Heir of Venus is a beautifully written feminist retelling of the story of Aeneas. We primarily follow Lavinia and Aeneas but the story is told in different timelines and shows the perspectives of 3 women who are interconnected within Aeneas’ story. If you like mythology retellings I highly recommend picking this one up.

I enjoyed The Heir of Venus. I've read a lot of Greek retellings, but I've never read a Roman retelling. It was interesting to see where the story of Aeneas fit in with other stories of the Trojan War that I'm more familiar with. So many myth retellings cover the same stories and characters. While there were familiar characters I am unfamiliar with this particular myth which added to my enjoyment of the story. I think the audiobook could be improved upon by making it more clear whose POV we are switching too. There were times I found myself unsure if I was listening to Dora, Lavinia, or Creusa.

Set in years after the Trojan War, The Heir of Venus by Laura Shepperson is a feminist reimagining of the story of Aeneas, the son of the Trojan prince Anchises and Venus ( Roman equivalent to the Greek goddess Aphrodite), a demigod who escaped the fallen city with his infant son Ascanius, his aging father and several other survivors.

The narrative is non-linear and is presented in alternating perspectives of the women whose lives and fates were intertwined with Aeneas’s; his wife Creusa who was left behind in the burning city and who was the daughter of Trojan King Priam and Hekuba; and Lavinia, princess of Laurentum where Aeneas and the Trojans set up camp and whom Aeneas is to marry; and from Anna, a mysterious traveler, who tells the story of Queen Dido of Tyre, who founded Carthage and for whose tragic fate Anna hold the Trojan prince responsible and strangely enough, whose story Aeneas has neglected to share while he talked of his travels.

Lavinia’s perspective describes how her life and destiny and that of Laurentum change after Aeneas’s arrival. I was immersed as the narrative follows Lavinia’s thoughts and emotions as the events in Laurentum unfold - Aeneas’s agreement with her father King Latinus, his friction with Prince Turnus of Rutuli, Lavinia’s childhood friend who had hoped to marry her and the war that ensued. I was sympathetic to her situation and her pain and disillusionment are palpable as she is forced to accept that despite her being her father’s only child and having participated with her father in his role as ruler, her father’s plans for her to support her ambitions. I applauded her efforts to accept her father’s decisions but on her own terms.

The prose is beautiful and as a fan of Greek mythology (and retellings), I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The narrative is consistently paced and flows well. The structure of the novel works well to tell the story and allow us to see Aeneas as a person, with his strengths and flaws, as perceived by the women who knew him best. I liked that each chapter began with a quote from the source material. I appreciate that the author has given a voice to these women whose stories are often relegated to the background in the interest of glorifying the heroes of the Greek myths. Dido, Creusa and Lavinia not only present facets of the Greek hero revered for his origins and the prophecy that guided his actions, but they are women who deserve to have their stories told and the author has done a commendable job in this regard.

However, I thought that too much of the narrative was presented through telling rather than showing. I would have preferred that Aeneas’s adventures post the Trojan War before his arrival at Laurentum had been described in more detail. However, the telling of past events will provide those not conversant with the key players and crucial details of the Trojan War with a well-rounded, albeit brief, background to Aeneas’s story.

I paired my reading with the audiobook expertly narrated by Frances Butt, who has done a brilliant job of voicing these characters and breathing life into this story. The audio narration certainly elevated my overall experience.

Many thanks to Alcove Press for the digital review copy and Dreamscape Media for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you Dreamscape Media for my free ALC of The Heir of Venus by Laura Shepperson — available Aug 6!

» READ IF YOU «
🏛️ love everything related to mythology retellings
🚺 prefer stories focused around women
🧘‍♀️ are looking for a slower, steady pace

» SYNOPSIS «
Aeneas, supposed hero and founder of Rome, has had many women throughout his life who may view him in a different light. Finally, we get to hear their stories and see him through their eyes. Three women star in this retelling of The Aeneid: Lavinia, the intelligent daughter of king; Creusa, the romantic-hearted princess of Troy; and Dido, the fierce queen of her own people.

» REVIEW «
My expectations for this book were high, as I quite enjoyed Laura Shepperson's last book about Phaedra. I had a great time seeing Aeneas set aside and focusing on the women in his story, but I did find the women themselves to be a little flat and difficult to connect with. There's a lot in here that offers valuable historical/mythological insights, but I wish I had been able to really dive deep into the emotions of the women. Lavinia was my favorite but still a little distant, Creusa was interesting but her story held too much "Trojan War" focus for me, and Dido came off as obsessive and crazy. Well-written, I just wanted a bit more!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫