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.

‘The Heir of Venus’ by Laura Shepperson offers a fresh perspective on the classic tale of Aeneas and the women who were once left at the fringes of his story. However, the reinterpretation may not resonate with all readers, especially those familiar with the traditional narratives.

Plot: ★★★☆☆
Rewriting ancient stories comes with its own set of challenges. Shepperson's take on the events is unique, but this means readers who have studied ancient history or have read many books on the subject may find the inconsistencies difficult to manage. The plot is imaginative and ambitious, but it may not align with everyone's expectations of the myth.

Character: ★★★☆☆
The character development in ‘The Heir of Venus’ is complex. With so many variations in ancient stories, everyone has their own opinions on key figures. Personally, I find respecting these figures to be of particular importance, so I’m not really a fan of when an author’s take disrespects an upstanding character from these tales. Additionally, while the sentiment that everyone in Ancient Greece and Rome was flawed is understandable, it makes it difficult to connect with the characters when almost all of them are portrayed negatively.

Setting: ★★★☆☆
The setting in ‘The Heir of Venus’ is richly described, immersing readers in the world of ancient Rome. However, the depiction of the setting can sometimes feel at odds with established historical and mythological details, which may be distracting for some readers.

Engagement: ★★★★☆
Despite the inconsistencies, ‘The Heir of Venus’ manages to maintain a high level of engagement. The narrative is compelling, and Shepperson's writing style keeps the reader invested in the story. The novel's focus on the female characters and their perspectives adds a refreshing layer to the myth.

Readability: ★★★★☆
The readability of the book is quite good. Shepperson's prose is clear and engaging, making it easy to follow the story. The pacing is well-managed, and the dialogue is natural, contributing to a smooth reading experience.

Enjoyment: ★★★☆☆
Unfortunately, the inconsistencies between the author’s take on this slice of history and my studies on the subject made it difficult for me to fully enjoy the book. While the novel offers an interesting reinterpretation, it may not be satisfying for readers who prefer a more traditional portrayal of the myth.

Audiobook: ★★★★☆
Narrated by Frances Butt, the audiobook version of ‘The Heir of Venus’ is well-executed. Butt's narration is engaging, although there are a few differences in pronunciation that may stand out to some listeners. As someone who doesn't typically listen to audiobooks due to difficulty maintaining focus, I found this narration compelling enough to finish the audiobook in just a few days.


‘The Heir of Venus’ by Laura Shepperson is a bold feminist retelling of a classic myth. While it offers a fresh perspective and engaging narrative, it may not appeal to all readers, especially those with a strong background in classical history. The novel's reinterpretation of key characters and events can be polarising, but it remains a thought-provoking read that sheds light on the often-overlooked female figures in ancient mythology.

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!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Greek mythology is a love of mine, with Roman mythology being intertwined in a lot of ways, and all of these retellings of the myths, especially from the women's POVs, are giving me life. I'm a big fan of Jennifer Saint and Madeline Miller, so this book was right up my alley.
I had actually never heard Aeneas's story, so this was interesting to me. To hear from the three main women who shaped his life: his last wife, Lavinia; his first wife, Creusa; and his lover and possible second wife, Dido. I do wish we had gotten some back story instead of it being assumed we knew who Aeneas and all the characters were, as there were many side characters.

Lavinia was promised to her childhood friend in marriage by her mother, but her father plans to marry her to Aeneas. This prompts Turnus to declare war, the victor getting to marry Lavinia. Too bad no one asks what she wants.
As the main storyteller, I feel like Lavinia had the most promise but ultimately fell flat. She didn't have much of a personality and didn't really do anything, even though she had all the agency and power to be able to act. She acted more childish than she was made out to be.
Creusa is one of many, many, many children. Her parents often forget who she is, but her best friend Aeneus never does. They are extremely close growing up, along with her brother Hector, and they get married once they're of age. But her other brother Paris shows up and brings war with him. Thus, Aeneas and Creusa are thrust into the Trojan War, where she brings a child into the world. This war is also where she perishes after Aeneus flees with their son.
Creusa's chapters were my favorite. She had the most personality. At times, she did seem to act like Aeneas hung the moon, but they were childhood sweethearts, so she probably did think that. Then when she had their son, he became her number one. I liked that the story showed how her priorities changed. I enjoyed her final chapter.
Dido becomes queen of her own small territory, evading suitors who want to claim her land, until the Trojans wash onto their shores. She sees Aeneas and finds she may want to settle down after all. She and her sister concoct a plan to ensnare him into marriage with her. But once he leaves, she throws herself onto her funeral pyre so he can know he killed her as he sails away.
I found Dido to be the eccentric, lovestruck, crazy women that men write about in their versions of Greek/Roman myths. Her chapters were my least favorite as she didn't have any depth to her; I didn't connect with her character at all.

I did like how the Trojan War was not the main focus of this novel, but it was touched on. So many other books lately focus on that historic battle, but this one mainly focuses on the after with some before and a little during.

The epilogue was the best part of the whole book for me.

The writing style was very choppy. Although I enjoyed the different POVs, I wish the tone would have changed with the different women. I also wish the timeline jumps had been more cohesive. Some chapters felt randomly placed. The conclusions of the previous women's interactions with Aeneas should have ended at certain times, sort of along the lines of Lavinia's discovery of their histories.
I do feel like this story could have benefitted from show not tell. We could have also used a lot more of depictions of the setting.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it didn't capture me the way these stories usually do.

The narrator did a good job giving the women voices. I do think she could have done a bit more to differentiate between the three women.

3.5/5 stars rounded up.

I'm so glad Greek mythology is having a moment! Retellings are so refreshing, especially with a feminist cast to the stories to give them an enlightened POV.
This is basically a feminine re-telling of The Aeneid, starring the women surrounding Aeneas, supposed son of Venus. Lavinia, has been promised to Aeneas and never asked to be fought over. But her childhood sweetheart, Turnus, has waged war in order to win her hand. Aeneas will not discuss his past and when a stranger shows up in the camp, telling stories of the secretive Aeneas, Lavinia must decide to take her future into her own hands to protect her people and land.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio e-arc.*

The Heir of Venus tells the story of three women, connected by their relationship with the Trojan hero, Aeneas. It gives a rich voice to their lives, often shadowed by the men that surround them.

I really enjoyed this audiobook, not only was the narration good, but the writing was lyrical and easy to listen to. Sometimes following different timelines and characters can be overwhelming or have one story that is lacklustre. In that regard I found The Heir of Venus to be well-balanced. All of the characters were interesting and added to the plot in their own way - there weren’t any chapters I wanted to skip. Also I just really love any story with mythology, so this was the perfect book for me. I will say that two of the main female characters were very similar, the only thing making them different being their external environments, but it didn’t bother me (in fact, I think it was done on purpose?).

This is my first book in my “gods” month of book reads. This was an interesting retelling of the stories revolving around Troy, mainly dealing with the son of Aphrodite aka the Heir of Venus.
This book has three different perspectives of the women that were involved in his life throughout time.
I enjoyed the stories and found myself recalling some of my high school days of reading the Iliad and the Odyssey.
The author actually puts little sections of the well known stories in the beginning of chapters to give us an idea of what the following chapter takes off of.
I loved hearing the stories of these women, in a mainly male driven story that we knew.
I would definitely recommend this book.

I liked this more than Phaedra!

I was always fascinated by retellings of known stories, traveling to the familiar places told from another perspective, other authors understanding.

This time is about the Aeneid by Virgil: Aeneas, son of Aphrodite, from three women's points of view of his life.

Kreousa, his first wife and mother of his son, tells Aeneas in the time of the Trojan War. She was the daughter of Priam and Hecuba.

Dido and the story of Aeneas's voyage to Carthage.

Lavinia, the main narrator of this book, tells the conclusion of this journey to Italy.

I think Laura Shepperson was more touching in her second myth story, but still I wish there were more details about the characters' relationships and perhaps more about the Trojan War and its impact.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for giving me the chance to listen to this advanced copy audiobook!
Duration: 8 Hours, 11 Minutes
Publication Date: August 6, 2024

THE HEIR OF VENUS by Laura Shepperson was graciously gifted to me by @crookedlanebooks through Publishers Weekly, so when I saw it offered through @netgalley by @dreamscape_media I was excited to hear it alongside my reading!

I have been in a fantasy mood lately and this retelling of Aeneas through the women who surrounded him was a good fit. I am not a huge student of Greek/Roman Mythology, so I am delighted to have these retellings set my standard. I am more familiar with the women of this story, so that was a win for me to hear more from their perspectives.

The story is framed around Lavinia, whose promised marriage to Aeneas begins yet another war. We see snippets back to the Trojan war when Aeneas's first wife is lost while he saves himself and their son, as well as a tale of a lover left in despair. All give a deeper picture, well told.

I did really appreciate the dual formats which kept me able to read wherever I could. The narration by Frances Butt was done quite well and I was easily able to switch perspectives and keep up.

It did take me a minute to settle myself into the setting, but once there, it was a journey I enjoyed and recommend.

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a retelling of the story of the story of Aeneas told through the voices of three women in his life -- one being his first wife as they lifve through the strojan war, one being Lavinia who would be his mext wife, and the last voice belongs to someone from in-between both women, who knows about part of his past that he keeps hidden.

The main character in this -- Lavinia -- helps Aeneas as he strives to fulfill the prophecy given by Venus, and even though she doesn't have much agency to make her own choices or form her own opinion on Aeneas without the help of others, she grows into a person who is willing to help in order to change her own fate. I enjoyed this retelling, and I find it was done in a way that was easy to get into. The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job bringing this book to life.

Overall, I found this to be enjoyable and would recommend to anyone who enjoys Roman mythology.

2.5*

As a retelling of the Trojan war and ascendance of Aeneas’ bloodline, I thought it was fine. It told the story, although I am not well acquainted enough with the mythology to fully judge its accuracy.

I’ve seen this marketed as a feminist retelling which I absolutely do not agree with. The story ultimately follows one man: Aeneas. While the story pertains to the women that Aeneas’ life intersected with, I did not find that their stories were told with enough depth to make it truly about them. I just wanted more from these characters outside of their relationship with Aeneas, and what was outside of their relationship, I was disappointed with.

You would expect a feminist retelling to give Helen the benefit of the doubt regarding her kidnapping from Sparta. This narrative portrays her as smug and conniving. Creusa is a wife and mother, Lavinia is a naive princess, and Dido is a lovesick fool. These are the only characterizations that stuck out to me in a story where I was expecting more.

The retelling also does not occur in a linear fashion, which made it difficult to keep track of the story.

Ultimately if you want an in-depth portrayal of women during the Trojan war, this isn’t it. If you’re just looking to read more about the Trojan war, then this may be for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This is my first Greek/ Roman mythology read. I absolutely loved this. I was given the opportunity to listen to the audiobook prior to its release date and I loved the narrator.

This book is so immersive and so well done. You get the perspectives of all of the key women that were part of Aeneas’ life - Creusa, Dido & Lavinia.

So beautifully written. I look forward to reading more by Laura Shepperson ✨

Thank you Dreamscape Media, Laura Shepperson & Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook!

The Heir of Venus by Laura Shepperson is a Roman mythology retelling. I like getting the female point of view of mythology and, significantly the female point of view of the Trojan War. It was very interesting getting all of this from Lavinia's, our main female character, perspective. Unfortunately, because she is not a participant in the battles in the war, it is all tell and no show. So, that both slows it down and lessens the drama a bit. That being said, I enjoyed this read. I gave it 3.5 stars. Thank you to Net Galley #netgalley and Dreamscape Media for my advance copy.

The Heir of Venus offers a refreshing retelling of the Aeneid from the perspectives of three compelling female characters. This unique approach breathes new life into the classic tale, highlighting voices and viewpoints often overlooked in traditional narratives.

The non-linear storytelling adds depth and intrigue to the plot without sacrificing clarity, making the novel easy to follow despite its complex structure. The skillful narration further enhances the experience, bringing each character's story to life with nuance and emotion.

This was the first audio book I've ever listened to. It was really really good and I loved the narrator.

I studied the Aeneid at college so had some understanding of the characters and who was who, however, you don't need this going into reading/listening to this book.

I loved the switch between different women and different times throughout, and on more than one occasion found myself wanting to carry on despite really needing to get some work done. Safe to say the work did not get done!!

It was nice to see the Aeneid's female characters portrayed in this light and getting to feel how they felt etc.

10/10 would recommend.

This mythology retelling was a fun listen. I have kind of come to terms with the fact that Greek mythology goes over my head. I need to deep dive further into the originals before retellings so I can fully understand the stories. That said, I do appreciate that we are getting more female POVs and I think Laura did a wonderful job writing this book! It flowed nicely and the narrator also did a wonderful job bringing it to life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Laura Shepperson for an arc of The Heir of Venus narrated by Francis Butt in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book and Laura’s writing was absolutely beautiful. What I loved about this story was that even though I was familiar with the stories of the Troy Heroes, we seldom see these stories from the women’s perspectives and how they are affected in the stories. I was not as familiar with the story of Aeneas, so I loved diving into this new (for me) mythos. I loved how this story was non-linear and followed each of the lives of the women in Aeneas’s life and how his presences and choices he makes alter the course of their lives. Lastly, I admired each of these women who tried to make a name for themselves and forge their own path in life in world dominated by men who would see women remain subservient.

Francis was an amazing narrator and really captured the lyricism of Laura’s writing. This book is perfect for lovers of mythology who would love a Roman setting.

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
3 🌟
-
This book just wasn't for me, I wasn't the targeted audience. I enjoy a good Greek mythology retelling, but this one just had too many POV's.

I will re-read once it's published, and I can read and listen at the same time.

𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓸𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓼, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓲𝓽 𝓭𝓸𝓮𝓼𝓷'𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓯𝓵𝓮𝓬𝓽 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓿𝓮𝓼.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬:
•Greek Mythology Retelling

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Aug.6
Thank you, Netgalley, and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook for my honest review.

#greekmyth #bookreview