Wrath Goddess Sing

I enjoy retellings of myths, but this ended up leaving me cold. There's a lack of focus with so many ideas and interests, it just got overwhelming, and the dream sequences make that worse. Plus, Achilles gets transformed and then dismisses anyone else who's trans? 

1/5 stars

I was really disappointed in this book. The concept itself was interesting. Although the concept itself got me hooked, the execution was terrible. It immediately had bits of transphobia here and there. That was still not enough for me to drop the book. I didn't drop until Achilles decided to enslave a black trans man. I feel like a lot of people forget that he does this in the book. This is something that should be talked about. Especially since slavery is a trigger for a lot of people.

(Thank you to Netgalley for an advance digital copy of this book in return for a fair review.)

An author's first novel is always a little clunky, but I've never read one that shone with such promise as Wrath Goddess Sing. While the phrasing and pacing need a little polish, the story, characters, ideas, and raw emotions of the work shine through.

I think the most impressive thing about the story is how well Achilles works as a protagonist. Her perspective– flawed and obviously biased– somehow also makes the world feel more full. Nailing an unreliable narrator's point of view is a hard thing to do at the best of times, much less for an author's first go.

The blend of mythology, archaeology, classical paganism, and science weave a gripping story in a fully-realized world. Upping the stakes of the Trojan war is fantastic. The view of history this novel pulls out to include is excellent. This is a book I'll reread time and time again.