Pandora, the infamous first woman who opened Pandora’s box, is not a woman, nor the first woman here. Instead she is a teenage girl going to school inPandora, the infamous first woman who opened Pandora’s box, is not a woman, nor the first woman here. Instead she is a teenage girl going to school in Athens who accidentally opens a certain little box. The world was already terrible, but it gets just a little bit worse. The box had seven representatives of negative emotions in it, which almost but not quite match up to the Seven Deadly Sins. In the first book, Pandy has to chase down Jealousy and put it back in the box.
This book is a good adventure, and I certainly read it at the right age to appreciate it. Pandy is helped out by her two friends, Alcestis the boy-crazy one and Iole the smart one. Iole isn’t portrayed all that realistically and I say this as an actual “nerdy one”. The goddess Hera is an utter bully in this series, which is only weird because Zeus isn’t. I think they’re both terrible, and that’s only the least of this series’s problems with mythology. This series isn’t bad, however, it is just for tweens and young teens....more
This is a middle school AU of Greek mythology. It provides a good explanation about why the gods are so capricious in myth: the majority are actually This is a middle school AU of Greek mythology. It provides a good explanation about why the gods are so capricious in myth: the majority are actually middle schoolers. It is more accurate than a middle school AU has any right to be, but it still takes some inaccuracies with the myths and interprets them strangely. There are many things that I thought the authors invented for this series, and then I find them in Percy Jackson or mythology books and I am surprised.
The main character, Athena, has been raised on Earth, and then she is invited to transfer to Mount Olympus. I know there was a period in the myths where she was training with humans in Libya, one of those humans being Pallas, a character in this book, but I don’t think that corresponds to Athena’s backstory here. The reason, I think, why Athena was raised human here is because so she would be a stand-in for the audience, and also a Hermione-type, studying a lot and being really smart so she can catch up to everyone else.
Athena gets introduced to the world. In classes, the gods play with mortals like toys. Athena meets a lot of characters. She feuds with Medusa and makes friends with Aphrodite, Artemis, and Persephone. Athena is less of a jerk than she is in myth, and she feuds with Poseidon, who is even more of a drip than he is in myth. Although Poseidon is an older Olympian in myth, he is the same age as Athena here so he can feud with her about Athens.
This book is a bit silly, but it’s also very good. It’s a great introduction to Greek mythology for kids and little girls, even if it is only a springboard for further discussion....more
This picture book is a great introduction to the concept of the golem and Jewish mythology. It also has beautiful paper art, which is definitely the bThis picture book is a great introduction to the concept of the golem and Jewish mythology. It also has beautiful paper art, which is definitely the best part of the book. It is slightly too advanced for the young children who would read a picture book, and any older children would be repelled by it being a picture book. However, I am the perfect type of person for this book. Even if the golem legend is actually an invention of the 19th century rather than the times this book portrays. It is still a beautiful book in story and art....more
It’s a Greek mythology book. Probably the book that introduced me to Greek mythology. I could have been better introduced to it. While the art is beauIt’s a Greek mythology book. Probably the book that introduced me to Greek mythology. I could have been better introduced to it. While the art is beautiful, I don’t like the way the author retells the myths. Something about it just grates with me. Maybe each chapter is just too short, or maybe the author leaves details out, or I simply found the narration style too cynical, modern, or open-ended, trying to inspire questions in the reader that there are no interesting answers for. At least this book portrays the gods as the jerks they are, although that approach is not the best one for young readers. There are many wonderful things about this book, but also some bad approaches....more
Percy Jackson narrates stories about Greek heroes with his trademark flair and sarcasm. This one is just as good as the Greek Gods book. These heroes Percy Jackson narrates stories about Greek heroes with his trademark flair and sarcasm. This one is just as good as the Greek Gods book. These heroes are so crazy, but a lot of them are at least more moral than the gods. Just like the Greek Gods book, these myths are accurate, even if Percy Jackson adds a lot of modern humor that seems dated years after this book was published.
I appreciate this book for adding lesser-known heroes and other important mortals like Daedalus or Cyrene. Even if I feel some of them were added for diversity (in personality, role, and gender). What I dislike about this one is that there is nothing about the Trojan War. Maybe there will be a separate volume like “Percy Jackson’s Iliad/Odyssey”, but I’m not so sure. The content that is already in this book, however, is amazing and provides good backstory for the Percy Jackson universe....more
Percy Jackson is narrating this retelling of Greek myths. Each section focuses on a different god, and most of the gods are behaving badly. The myths Percy Jackson is narrating this retelling of Greek myths. Each section focuses on a different god, and most of the gods are behaving badly. The myths are accurate, if told with a quirky Percy Jackson spin, even if this book seems more like a Percy Jackson backstory volume than an actual compilation of mythology.
There’s a lot of jokes that would fit more in the mid 2010s than in Ancient Greece, which is fine because I read this book in the mid 2010s. I read this book throughout the late 2010s, when Percy Jackson stopped being a main character in Riordan’s works, and I love Percy’s snarky voice in this. It might be cliche, but I still love his humor. This book is good for any Percy Jackson fan....more
A good little book for learning more about the Kane Chronicles universe. This is a series that needs more side content, and I’m glad I read this book.A good little book for learning more about the Kane Chronicles universe. This is a series that needs more side content, and I’m glad I read this book. I like all the notes written in it by various characters and it also has very funny descriptions of things in the main series. It is a good refresher on how Riordan treats Egyptian mythology specifically. I like the worldbuilding of the Kane Chronicles, and this book definitely delivers....more
This is just a retelling of Norse myths. They have Gaiman’s skilled writing style and a common thread within them, added by the author, about the poweThis is just a retelling of Norse myths. They have Gaiman’s skilled writing style and a common thread within them, added by the author, about the power of the bard, but they are simply Norse myths. These Norse myths have some storytelling flaws from the original myths, and Gaiman didn’t change them very much. But I’m glad the author didn’t change them very much, because the Norse myths are great. Especially when violent and vulgar. A great adaptation of Norse mythology, and what you see is what you get....more
This novel is about two brothers, both sons of the African trickster god Anansi. One of them, Fat Charlie, is shy and retiring, while the other one, SThis novel is about two brothers, both sons of the African trickster god Anansi. One of them, Fat Charlie, is shy and retiring, while the other one, Spider, is wild and irresponsible. There’s a lot of funny moments to be had in this book, and also a good adventure story with a plot of self-discovery in more than one way. Although this is set in the same world as American Gods, it’s less epic and feels like a more self-contained adventure. Which makes it better, in my opinion. I’ve always liked comedies.
I probably should have read this book before, or in place of American Gods. Like the latter book, there’s some good sequences in this one. I kind of guessed the real relationship between Charlie and Spider, but it was satisfying having my theories confirmed. The office parts were darkly hilarious, and the rest of the book was simply hilarious. Neil Gaiman did humor surprisingly well. And Florida, too. ...more
This novel is very good, but mostly for setting and premise. It did the whole god thing before Percy Jackson was even a twinkle in Riordan’s eye, and This novel is very good, but mostly for setting and premise. It did the whole god thing before Percy Jackson was even a twinkle in Riordan’s eye, and arguably does it better. The whole premise of old gods and new gods in America allows for some of the best scenes I’ve ever read, like the dream sequence where Shadow is walking among the hall of lost gods, and some of the worst scenes, like the graphic scene where the dying love goddess… swallows a man. This book portrays America wonderfully, especially Middle America. The author is observant in the way only an outsider whose lived among other cultures for a long time without being fully part of them can be.
The plot and characters are lacking, but only comparatively. Nothing much happens in the second third of the book, but that part is amazing for atmosphere and world-building. The best characters are the gods, especially the ones that only appear in one chapter and reappear near the end. Shadow is a bit blank, but it makes it easier to see the world through his eyes and arguably serves as a clue to his identity.
And I liked Anansi Boys better. American Gods was just a bit too serious and the book has some pacing issues. The beginning was just okay, the middle had too many unnecessary events, and the climax was amazing and made up for it all. This book is just great, even if it is both simultaneously over-hated and overhyped....more
This is Gilda Joyce but Southern Gothic. Good news: Gilda Joyce’s mother is finally getting married and settling down. Bad news, it’s to this creepy gThis is Gilda Joyce but Southern Gothic. Good news: Gilda Joyce’s mother is finally getting married and settling down. Bad news, it’s to this creepy guy who’s haunted by a ghost. The whole family moves to St. Augustine, and Gilda encounters a paranormal mystery with local flavor. And I do mean local flavor. Even though this book just wasn’t satisfying enough to end the Gilda Joyce series, I liked it anyway because it took place in Florida, my home state. The setting was very atmospheric and there were a lot of funny and scary details. Good book, just not as loveable as some other Gilda Joyce books....more
This book is a retelling of the Trojan War. It is slightly darker than the rest of the series, being about war. But only slightly. It is still funny lThis book is a retelling of the Trojan War. It is slightly darker than the rest of the series, being about war. But only slightly. It is still funny like the rest of the series and has that good Myth-o-mania feel that’s in the rest of them....more
Atalanta is epic. This was my first introduction to the Atalanta myth, and this is much better than the actual myth. And funnier. And more feminist. AAtalanta is epic. This was my first introduction to the Atalanta myth, and this is much better than the actual myth. And funnier. And more feminist. Atalanta is awesome. This focused a lot on the guy whose life is tied to a log and on the boar hunt, even when the footrace is the best part of the Atalanta myth. This book is still good and funny though....more
Theseus is now extremely forgetful and a bit dim. I dunno. This book’s still good, but it may or may not have an ableist streak in the portrayal of ThTheseus is now extremely forgetful and a bit dim. I dunno. This book’s still good, but it may or may not have an ableist streak in the portrayal of Theseus. I might be reading too much into a simple funny mythology retelling. ...more
This is actually a great spin on the myth of Cupid and Psyche. This is how I first learned about that myth and to be honest, this book changed less thThis is actually a great spin on the myth of Cupid and Psyche. This is how I first learned about that myth and to be honest, this book changed less than I was expecting. Cupid is a pimply teenager and Aphrodite is an Italian mother, but the plot is way similar. It’s also hilarious how Cupid is a pimply boy who says “man, Psyche!” (Or at least that’s how I remember it). When I first read the book, I didn’t understand Aphrodite’s Italian mother stereotype, but on one of my rereads I got it and it cracked me up. This is probably my favorite Myth-o-mania book....more
Hmm. Perhaps this is the reason why some misled classicists think Persephone eloped with Hades rather than being kidnapped by him. …nah. Still a greatHmm. Perhaps this is the reason why some misled classicists think Persephone eloped with Hades rather than being kidnapped by him. …nah. Still a great book though, with a very good version of the Persephone story. Also, Demeter moves to Florida at the end, which is glorious....more
Kids read these books, thought these were the actual versions of the myths or close enough. They became teenagers and went on Tumblr. Then they grew uKids read these books, thought these were the actual versions of the myths or close enough. They became teenagers and went on Tumblr. Then they grew up and became college professors who taught the myths very differently from how the Greeks perceived them. Or maybe I should just blame Percy Jackson for bad classical studies like everyone else. But then again, this first book was published before Percy Jackson. Anyway, this one is recommended....more
There’s a lot I want to like about this book, but also a lot I don’t like. For one thing, this book is too short. That criticism seems like “the food There’s a lot I want to like about this book, but also a lot I don’t like. For one thing, this book is too short. That criticism seems like “the food is bad, and in such small portions”, but for me, it applies to this book,”. I want to spend more time with the characters, but there just isn’t enough plot for that, and even though the book is short, it still feels too slow. Which is frustrating.
I like the main characters in general. They’re flat, but so are most characters in mythology, so I actually like that. They are Olus, the god of wind, and Kezi, the mortal girl he falls in love with. They live in a classical-inspired world that isn’t developed enough. Olus’s pantheon is fleshed out a bit, but not the mortals they rule over, and don’t get me started on Hyte, Kezi’s city-state. They are a pretty good description of an ancient city-state, but they worship this monotheist god who demands human sacrifice and probably doesn’t exist. That god, Admat, is described way too similarly to the Old Testament god, instead of the ancient Mesopotamian thing Levine was going for. Does the author hate monotheism or something?
The climax was good, and so’s the romance, and I generally enjoyed reading this book. However, it was awfully average, with some flaws, and there just wasn’t enough meat on the bones of this book. There needed to be more time for this book to explore the potential of its plot and setting. So much wasted potential....more
A good ending with a lot of funny moments, especially the insult battle at the end. That part seemed a bit anti-climactic, but it was a good way to enA good ending with a lot of funny moments, especially the insult battle at the end. That part seemed a bit anti-climactic, but it was a good way to end this trilogy in hindsight. My favorite part was the appearance of Percy Jackson and his little half-sister, followed closely by Magnus and Alex officially getting together. All in all, a good ending and closer to Magnus Chase....more
This is a good middle book, introducing new stuff while keeping the flavor of the original. Most important of that new stuff is Alex Fierro. Alex is aThis is a good middle book, introducing new stuff while keeping the flavor of the original. Most important of that new stuff is Alex Fierro. Alex is an interesting, complex character while also introducing me, the impressionable reader, to the concept of gender-fluidity. Aside from some headcanons, Alex might be the only gender-fluid character I’ve seen in a book. While the representation might come off as heavy-handed to some, never underestimate the importance of characters like Alex for gender minorities and sheltered Southern kids raised by transphobes....more
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