The Hymn to Dionysus by Natasha Pulley is a captivating blend of historical fiction, mythology, and lyrical prose. The story weaves together themes of identity, love, and transformation, drawing inspiration from the ancient Greek god Dionysus. Pulley’s writing is atmospheric and rich in detail, creating a vivid world that explores the complexities of human emotions and desires. It's an engaging read for those who enjoy mythological retellings and thought-provoking narratives.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

i truly enjoy retellings of mythology, and despite the overabundance of stories in this genre, i will always read the latest retelling. i was overjoyed to see that pulley wrote a retelling of dionysus, as that is one god i truly never see retellings of.

while this is a retelling of dionysus, we do not focus solely on the god, which rather disappointed me. the entire story is in the pov of phaidros, the child soldier who saves dionysus as a baby, and then continuously “bumps” into the god throughout his life.

i really would have preferred a true retelling of the chaos god, but alas this was a fine start.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.

My favorite book of the year! Any book by Natasha Pulley is a wonderful treat, and I savored every word. This is a story of love, of family, of found family, of truth. I loved Phaidros and his journey to discover what is truly important, and where he owes his greatest loyalty- to duty and honor, or to himself.

This Greek reimagining explores the origins of Dionysus through the eyes of Phaidros, a child raised as a soldier and who has dedicated his life to his duty to his Queen. Phaidros is an interesting character to view this story through, given his loyalty to his community and how Dionysus challenges Phaidros’s acceptance of his society’s norms. It even goes as far to show how Phaidros’s values can be twisted to harm him.

I typically enjoy a Greek retelling, however The Hymn to Dionysus is not what I would recommend to someone looking for a more faithful retelling. The author takes some artistic liberties with this retelling and even uses mythological names that fans of this genre will recognize, but these characters are not necessarily who they’re named after.

The plot of this book was a little difficult to follow at times, but it does wrap up nicely in the end. The way the story closes felt like a nod to fairytales and myths of the past.

Overall, this book is a solid 3/5.

This was stunning. Rich and lovely and compelling. It's not quite what I expected, but I think that's sort of the point. For whatever reason, I thought this would be a Dionysus story with "Thebes" as a backdrop - aka, a purely novel interpretation of the myth, focused on Phaidros, with maybe some other gods making cameos. And it is that, but it's also a retelling, with original characters drawn into the forefront, and I'm really happy I didn't know that going in because, oof, do I normally not vibe with Greek myth retellings. But this, for me, is a retelling as it should be: dancing to and away from the usual throughline, going off-road a bit and then coming back to center. For this reason, I'm not sure that people who usually love Greek myth retellings are going to enjoy this. Because there's a lot that's just about life in Thebes, life as a Sown soldier, PTSD, plus the separate and smaller trauma of having to teach teenagers. For me, that made it feel very well-rounded and I think this is what I would always want this kind of story to be: with the myth that powers the story more often than not in the periphery.

What made this work so well as it does? As always, it's what makes every good book work well: the characters. Phaidros as a narrator is perfection: brutal soldier; funny and sharp; deeply traumatized. You just want the poor guy to be able to get some sleep! And you really can't turn around in this book without someone enjoyable to read stepping into a scene. Everyone is so wonderfully drawn, and you end up feeling sympathy for even the most marvel-like characters. Nothing they do here ever feels over the top or just a way to maneuver them into their positions in myth, which is a hell of an achievement. Doubly an achievement? The Follow the Lady baby switcheroo! I was prepared to cringe through an Oedipus-style reveal - especially with how Pulley was so careful to cast doubt on Phaidros's memories - but I should've had more faith in our guy Helios because the real story there? Perfect. (Maybe not as perfect as getting a scene with Helios though!)

The writing is also really lovely, although I have to say there were A LOT of little errors like dropped prepositions or word order reversal ("he went the to house") that an editor should've caught, but probably couldn't on account of being either a) eliminated by the publisher or b) badly overworked. I started reading this on an ARC and finished on the published e-book version and...yeah. Not much difference in terms of little errors cleaned up. I shudder to think what books are going to look like going forward, not so much for a writer at Pulley's level but for someone who really, really needs the bolstering efforts of an editor. Grim.

Going back to the contents themselves, my only real complaint was that there was a bit of pacing issue near the beginning. There's A LOT of backstory dropped in; a major character dies; and then Phaidros is back in Thebes and it feels like things grind to a halt. It recovers very well, but I almost didn't make it over that hump. I'm so glad I did though, because this was outstanding. I would absolutely recommend this, and especially to people who don't normally go for this sub-genre. This was gorgeous and layered and I'm looking forward to whatever Pulley puts out next - plus to going through her already published works.

This book was marketed towards fans of The Song of Achilles and Elektra, so I went into this expecting something that would appeal to fans of Greek mythology like myself, but this is really not... that. Some of the other reviews mention that this book is more intended for fans of Natasha Pulley's other works (which I've never read) and that makes more sense.

Misleading marketing aside, I really wasn't a fan of the worldbuilding here. Using the names of Gods for regular people was confusing. The age gaps and power imbalances in the relationships were uncomfortable to read, not to mention the issue of slavery.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read one of my most anticipated books of the year early.

Natasha Pulley will always be an auto-read author for me, as no one can weave together a tender romance between two complicated people as well as she can. Every time I am struck by the magic and the connection between these two characters, am lost in the story, and fall in love with the entire book long before I reach the final pages.

Fans of mythological retellings looking for something fresh and enchanting should not miss this.

✨ Thank you to Bloomsbury and Natasha Pulley for this ARC!

I went into this book expecting a Greek myth retelling—or maybe a fantasy novel with a Greek myth-inspired setting—but honestly? I’m still not sure which it was. From the writing style to the pacing to the way major events unfolded, this book was a unique experience, though not always in the best way.

💡 What did I love the most?
Natasha Pulley’s writing is undeniably beautiful and has a very distinctive style. It’s lyrical, atmospheric, and immersive. But I’ll be honest—for the first chunk of the book, I had no idea what was happening. There’s a dreamy, almost disorienting quality to the storytelling that makes it feel like you’re floating through a myth rather than reading a structured narrative. Some readers will love this. Others (like me) might struggle to connect.

🌪️ Let’s talk pacing
The pacing here is slow, and the chapters are long. This made it difficult to stay fully engaged, especially since the book already had a hazy, meandering quality to it. If you love slow-burn fantasy with poetic prose, this might be right up your alley. But if you need tight storytelling and clear stakes, you might find yourself checking how many pages are left in the chapter… a lot.

⚰️ A Major Character Death… That Barely Happened?
One of the biggest letdowns for me was how a major character death was handled. It felt rushed, almost glossed over, and lacked the emotional weight I expected. This was a pivotal moment, and yet, I was left feeling nothing—which is never a good sign in a story that hinges on relationships and mythology.

📌 Read if you like:
🏺 Greek mythology
📖 Dense, literary writing styles
🐌 Slow-paced fantasy with long chapters

⚡ Do I recommend this book?
This is a tough one. If you’re a fan of poetic, dreamlike writing and don’t mind ambiguous storytelling, you might love this. But if you’re looking for a clear, emotionally gripping Greek myth retelling, you may walk away feeling confused (like I did). It’s a beautifully written book—but one that might not work for every reader.

2.75 rounded up to 3

There was a time when Phaidros was the darling boy of his unit. Raised among them and forged into the finest warrior, his devotion and somewhat reckless bravery were applauded. But then a foolish stunt cost him everything — his husband in arms, his self-respect, and the camaraderie of his fellow soldiers. Now, Phaidros lives something of a half life in Thebes, training the next generation of the Sown, but existing on the outside of the world around him.

Still, Phaidros is loyal to Thebes and to the Queen and any threat to the city must be taken seriously. So when rumors start trickling in of a strange madness that can topple cities, Phaidros is, at first, suspicious. But as the madness creeps into Thebes, targeting soldiers and citizenry alike, Phaidros is tasked with finding a lost prince in the midst of the chaos. Helping and confounding him is a witch called Dionysus who is not what he seems and in whose wake both destruction and wild beauty seem to follow. Phaidros must embrace his own riotous emotions in order to save Thebes and untangle the riddle that is Dionysus.

What an unexpected and beautiful book this was. By turns funny, poignant, and devastating, The Hymn to Dionysus blends mythology and historical fantasy to create the story of a weary, scarred soldier who struggles to exist in a world that no longer welcomes or recognizes him.

Phaidros is such a compelling character, I found myself drawn to him right from the start and his desperate loneliness, stalwart devotion, and acerbic wit made him seem very real (he refers to one of his young knights as Feral Jason, which, having been an 8th grade teacher, resonated in a big way). Dionysus, by nature and purpose, is more distant and harder to know, but he is no less compelling because of it. He is imperfect and, at times, he seems unfeeling to the chaos he brings, but there is purpose to his actions and his desperation to save Phaidros from himself is so very human. This is not a romance in the tradition sense. Instead, these two men are drawn to one another and, for a time, Phaidros seems utterly ensnared by Dionysus, though he does not willingly acknowledge this. It takes time to realize that Dionysus is as lonely and isolated as Phaidros and that both men need one another.

The book is well-written and has almost a lyrical quality to it. It ebbs and flows naturally and the pacing is strong. There are some odd turns of phrase that may have been intentional on the part of the author, but are occasionally confusing. Yet, for the most part, these moments are rare and the they do not impact either the pacing or the overall plot.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Hymn to Dionysus. The writing was strong and the characters are engaging and beautifully rendered. It’s one of the books you can sink into and lose yourself for awhile. Even if mythology isn’t normally your thing, I encourage you to give this one a try.

I was so pleasantly surprised i really enjoyed reading it i liked the vibes of it and the mc was very interesting to follow to me, story could be a little confusing but i felt like it was on purpose so it didnt bother me this much but i wish it didn't use gods name for random people, Helios was so so confusing.
But i really liked the dionysus representation more around madness and the overall message of mental health

This was my first book from Natasha Pulley who I know has a large fanbase due to her unique writing. There were parts of this that I had no clue what was happening which is apparently her style. While not a retelling, it is a story of two men throughout their lives. I did enjoy the setting and how Thebes were slowly tearing itself apart. If you really enjoy mythology/political unrest then you might like this one.

This book had me enthralled. Everytime I picked it up I felt transported, the heat on my skin and the smoke in my eyes, it was wonderful. I've read a lot of retellings of myths and I've always felt like they have a modern lens, a viewpoint that was firmly wedged in the present, but this felt like an eyewitness account. I was delighted with this read and it'll be something lovingly shared from my bookshelf for many years, I'd put it in company with Circe and other favorites that only get better with re-readings. I had a bit of a reading slump after this, nothing seemed to capture my attention for a while, and I wasn't even sad. I just kept thinking about this.

Thanks Bloomsbury and netgalley for the ARC, it really set the bar high for books this year.

I'm a big fan of Natasha Pulley and really loved her book, The Kingdoms. Reading The Hymn to Dionysus has only made me love Pulley more. I enjoy the snarky, dry humor and sense of childlike wonder that seems present in all her work. I've also come to greatly appreciate the queer characters being shown exactly as they are, not idealized or lessened in any way for whom they choose to love. I wasn't very interested in Greek mythology before reading this, but it didn't hinder my experience at all. I still really enjoyed The Hymn to Dionysus. Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the gifted copy.

Real Rating: 4.5* of five

Phaidros saves an infant god, fights in an unjust war, gets PTSD from it, and...in later years...gives his skills thus acquired to saving his home city of Thebes (the one in Greece, not the one the Egyptians now call Luxor) and calls in his massive debt from Dionysus the god to...address things.

Now go buy one. Seriously...you've heard the good bits. It's Natasha Pulley's latest book (notably and annoyingly <i>not</i> the apparently-written sequel to <a href="https://expendablemudge.blogspot.com/2022/08/natasha-pulleys-page-watchmaker-of.html"><i>The Half-Life of Valery K</i>.</a>)! What more do you need to know?

Plot? Already told you. Action? Read the blurb!

Fine. Spoiled brats. This is not a myth retelling. It's the story of two men a generation apart who truly fall in love, after the whole "he's so <i>dreamy</i> phase ends, and embark on that scariest of things to do, a mature relationship. One's a badly fucked up veteran, the other's...um...maybe divine, certainly an old soul. It bears a solid resemblance to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phaedrus_%28dialogue%29"><i>Phaedrus</i></a>, in that it is a solid and thorough examination of love in its guises, morality, and the intersection of emotion and morality that is Greek spirituality's idea of reincarnation. (Their word for it freaks people in the US right out, so I'm skipping it.) Phaidros is not partcularly like the historical Phaedrus, an Athenian aristocrat who did naughty things against the Mysteries...y'all don't much care, I get it, so the important part of using his name for our Theban hero is his name: It means "Shining" or "Brightening" as in to shine light on or brighten a room.

Greek names are so cool. They MEAN stuff. Like Plato..."flatface" or, as the Mexicans I knew in childhood used the same idea, "Chato." No big arching nose on you, sir, so you must be lower class! Yet that put-down is the most famous name in Greek philosophy. And Phaidros! Well, no one loves the one who rips the wizard's curtain down, do they? Dionysus the...god? demigod?...beautiful wild creature does, because he is also a force of opposing chaos. Nature is all shadows and shades and spectra. Dionysus is the perfect foil to light-shining Phaidros.

As a reimagining of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bacchae"><i>Bacchae</i></a> by Euripides, it's a loose one. It's also, tonally, a bit off. Why do these men speak to each other as modern middle-class Brits? The spark that illuminated <a href="https://expendablemudge.blogspot.com/2024/03/glorious-exploits-and-glorious-they-are.html"><i>Glorious Exploits</i></a> as it used Dublin-Irish English for ancient Syracusan Greek came from its sly, side-eye commentary on the role of Ireland-v-England as replicated in the colonial war waged by Athens on Syracuse. The characters in this book do not have any comment to make on Thebes by their use of British vernacular, at least not one I can suss out. (That was deliberate.) So off came that half-star.

Still and all, as a fantastical meditation on Love, love, and their intersection points with morality, responsibility, and the eternal human desire to connect to others, I liked the story a lot. Pulley's trademark men-who-love subplot is again, and expectedly, rendered with all the grace a writer can bring, and deepened by the careful and unobtrusive use of the reincarnation-like connective tissue.

I hope, though, that this will remain her foray into Classical mundane-meets-magical worlds. It's better left in <i>The Watchmaker of Filigree Street</i> stories. This iteration is just that indefinable bit...off.

I am unfortunately DNF'ing this at 20%.

I am not a retelling girlie, no matter how removed or close to the source material the retelling is. I am not a mythology girlie, no matter where in the world the mythology comes from. This DNF is totally a me problem, not something about the book.

I picked this up because it is Natasha Pulley and she wrote one of my favorite books of all time. The writing style and voice that I love is still here in this book, but I just didn't like anything else.

If you like ver loose retellings of Greek myths, I would say give this a try because the writing is beautiful and Pulley's plots are usually slow but compelling. This one just doesn't work for me but I hope it works for others!

In this Greek retelling, Phaidros is a Thebian soldier with PTSD who has lost his commander/husband to battle 10 years ago and hasn't forgiven himself. He feels that due to past actions, he angered a god and, in a suicidal moment, calls the god to come kill him. This awakens something, as a comet falls from the sky. But no one comes to take revenge on Phaidros. Amid massive drought and strange possessions in Thebes, he meets the witch Dionysus, and together, they work to find the prince who went missing when the comet hit. We learn more about Phaidros's past through memories and flashbacks, and the connections between Dionysus and Phaidros start to unwind.

While full of godly magic and political intrigue, this book is really the story of forgiving yourself and recognizing all the good and bad things that make us human. There's lots of symbolism in the use of masks and how we perceive ourselves. It also speaks to what we know of history and who decides what is remembered, what becomes legend, and what is forgotten.

Natasha Pulley is one of those authors who has a VERY distinct voice, no matter when the book she's writing takes place. Does that voice really fit ancient Greece? Not really. Did I care? Also, not really. This was a story about duty and resilience. Like most Natasha Pulley books I spent the first part of the novel having very little clue what was going on. There was a lot of classical content that I really appreciated, though I'm not sure how much the average reader will know going in. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and I feel like I would get even more out of it if I went back and read it a second time.

I don't think I've been this excited about a mythology retelling since Song of Achilles, which is saying something! That being said, the tone and style of this book is entirely different from Madeline Miller. I enjoyed the modern-ish language and casual vibe throughout this book, but Greek mythology buffs may take issue with what I suspect are loose interpretations of the myths involved.

That being said, I think of Dionysus as an underrepresented figure in retellings, so I had a great time reading about him. We follow Phaidros from a pivotal moment as a young child when he first meets the god, all the way through Dionysus coming back for him as an adult and the messy politics and magic — or "witching" — that ensues in Thebes, with repeated references to Phaidros's time fighting in the Trojan War and losing someone important to him.

This is a romp of a book with plenty of heart-wrenching moments thrown in. There were a few parts I found confusing throughout, but if I let myself let go of expectations of constantly knowing exactly what was going on at all times, I enjoyed this immensely. Thank you to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for the ARC!

***Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for providing an advanced copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

I was blown away by how much I loved this book. I expected to enjoy it because of the author, the setting, and the queer love story. Everything about it just completely surpassed even my lofty expectations. The writing and world-building were so unique, and the PTSD representation made me an emotional mess. I’ve been suffering from a book hangover ever since finishing it, and I fully anticipate this story being one of my favorites of the year.

The Hymn to Dionysus was such a fascinating re-imagining of the myth. Pulley definitely took some creative liberties, but they all added great depth to the characters. I also particularly loved how the author put her own spin on ancient Greece. The addition of clockwork marvels and other aspects not typically associated with the time period was interesting, albeit somewhat jarring at first. The way they were incorporated was actually quite thought-provoking by the end. It left me wondering about all the things about our past that have been lost to the sands of time.

The plot of The Hymn to Dionysus kept me glued to the page. Every time I think I had everything figured out, the story would turn everything on its head. There’s something so riveting about watching a society eat itself, which is basically what was happening to Thebes. The city was experiencing intense hardship because of drought and famine. The whole thing was like watching a train wreck you know is coming but just can’t look away from.

At the center of it all was Phaidros, a soldier raised on the battlefield by the queen’s brother. He suffered from severe PTSD after serving in the long Trojan War and was trying to adjust to being back in the city. His feelings of loneliness and fear of himself were heartbreaking to read, but they worked so perfectly as a mirror to Dionysus. Where Phaidros, and Thebes in general, had an obsession with honor, duty, and sticking to a strict regimen, Dionysus was magical, chaotic, and kind of whimsical. Over the course of the story, Dionysus helped Phaidros see that there was more to being human than the repression and control that had been instilled in him since childhood. The two were often diametrically opposed but also the perfect match to pull each other out of their chronic loneliness.

All in all, The Hymn to Dionysus was a beautiful and thought-provoking reimagining of the Greek myth. The characters stole my heart, and I was swept away by the world-building and twisty plot. I cannot recommend this story enough. Therefore, I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

Natasha Pulley’s distinctive storytelling, lyrical prose, and sharp humor bring a fresh perspective to the myth of Dionysus, turning it into something both timeless and deeply personal. The novel explores the tension between order and chaos, duty and desire, belonging and isolation—all against the backdrop of a world on the brink of destruction. Pulley’s characters are so vivid and complex that they feel impossibly real. Phaidros, a knight driven by duty and honor, is the kind of character who stays with you—brave, unwavering, and sometimes painfully rigid in his convictions. And then there’s Dionysus, an immortal god who Pulley renders heartbreakingly human through his love for Phaidros. Their dynamic is rich, emotional, and utterly captivating, making this retelling one that lingers long after the final page.