Daedalus Is Dead

by Seamus Sullivan

A delirious and gripping story of fatherhood and masculinity, told through the reimagined Greek myth of Daedalus, Icarus, King Minos, Ariadne, and the Minotaur.

Daedalus of Crete is many The greatest architect in the world. The constructor of the Labyrinth that imprisoned the Minotaur. And the grieving father of Icarus, who plunged into the sea as father and son flew from the grasp of the tyrannical King Minos.

Now, Daedalus seeks to reunite with Icarus in the Underworld, even as he revisits his own memories of Crete, hoping to understand what went so terribly wrong at the end of his son's life. Daedalus will confront any terror to see Icarus again—whether it's the cruel punishments of Tartarus, the cunning Queen Persephone, or the insatiable ghost of the Minotaur.

But the truth, stalking Daedalus in the labyrinth of his own heart, might be too monstrous for him to bear.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Retellings, Novella, Fiction, Adult, Audiobook

166 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 2025

Reviews

[Ricarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid Greek mythology retelling that packs an impressive amount of content in a novella-length book. I read and usually enjoy mythology retellings from time to time, but I was still surprised that this short little book worked so well and managed to be poetic, intriguing and inventive. Inventive like the main character Daedalus himself, creator of many intricate constructions and architect of the infamous Labyrinth of Crete. The story is set at different points in his life, mostly him living under the eccentric and cruel king Minos of Crete, and it's also imagining, as the title suggests, what happened after Daedalus' death. Both, life and death, were interesting to read about, but ultimately I liked the chapters on his life on Crete better than the ones set in the underworld. I think that these chapters really added weight to the myth and to already familiar stories, like the siring of the Minotaur, the construction of the Labyrinth or the death of Icarus, and it highlighted the often tragic fates of many mythological figures. The chapters about Daedalus' time in the underworld were then about him being either tortured in the afterlife or him looking for his son without ever making any real progress on that behalf. It was a bit unsatisfying for me. Still, the talk of fatherhood was great, maybe because that's such an uncommon theme in Greek mythology (the loving-parent type, not the siring-a-hundred-thousand-offsprings type). The storytelling aspect was also interesting, especially the thought of how well-known stories and even the stories that you tell yourself might contain less truth than expected. I really liked Daedalus is Dead, but I wouldn't recommend it to people who have no prior knowledge about Greek mythology, because the story goes over a lot of events in a fast way and also jumps around in time quite a bit. But lovers of the genre better don't miss out on this upcoming release.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan / Tor for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Zoë · Rating 5 out of 5]

eternal suffering in the depths of hell is so hot rn

[Daffodils_and_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Heroism isn’t strength or bravery, Daedalus. It’s the conviction, in your innermost heart, that the entire story is about you.”

If you know me, you know that I have a passion for Greek mythology. I love retellings because we get to imagine the heroes as villains, the villains as heroes, and hope for an alternative ending. Will they beat their fate this time?

Daedalus is Dead is told in the second person from Daedalus himself to Icarus, if he was there. When we talk about Icarus, he is a hero soaring to his dreams and a cautionary tale of falling from hubris. In this story, he is a character that haunts the narrative, always just out of reach. In this story, Daedalus is our hero who falls from grace. Through his recitation of events, Daedalus rationalizes his actions of cowardice and failings as a father.

Seamus Sullivan explores themes of masculinity, pride, and sanity through graphic, labyrinthine imagery in this tense novella.

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group for a gifted copy of the ebook.

[ℓуηη_σƒ_νєℓαяιѕ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy release day!!

Thank you Tordotcom and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

I'm admittedly not the most well versed in Greek mythology, but I know enough to recognize names and the bare essence of their stories. This felt like a breath of fresh air in the field of retellings. So often we get retellings of the most famous people, but these lesser known characters never get a voice. Now some do who didn't before. 


Everyone knows the tale of Daedalus making wings for his son Icarus to fly, and fly he did. Everyone also knows how he flew too close to the sun, which melted the wax that held the wings together and he plummeted to the sea and died. But is there more to this story than just that? 


Daedalus Is Dead gives us a fresh look at the lives of Daedalus and his son Icarus, enslaved by King Minos of Crete. We see flashbacks from throughout Icarus’s childhood as Daedalus wonders where he went wrong, taking the blame for the death of his son. 


It's through flashbacks and memories that we learn of the various actions and decisions Daedalus made that brought him to this point. The theme song of this book would be What Would You Do by Toby Rose. The underlying theme of the story is this: is fame worth the price you pay in the end? 


Daedalus went to Crete to make a name for himself as a young man, he wanted to gain notoriety for his work, which he did. But at what cost? We learn many of his decisions were not the right ones, but the ones that gained him that fame. They in turn also led to his imprisonment, and that of his son’s. Those decisions haunt him all of his later life and into the underworld.


Normally flashbacks don't work for me, making a plot line feel too disrupted, but Seamus Sullivan has such an engaging writing style that each different scene/memory felt like it flowed seamlessly into the next. 


A concept I found incredibly fascinating was seeing Daedalus build the famous Labyrinth to hold the Minotaur. We've always heard about the Labyrinth, but to read about its construction really brought life and depth to that aspect of myth. A great feat of architecture and brute strength, like the great Pyramids of Egypt. The reality of the vast span of time it would take to break ground, chisel limestone blocks and erect them in this ever twisting, mind boggling pattern, and Daedalus was the man who envisioned it. 


Daedalus also tutored the children of King Minos, namely Ariadne. Seeing her character brought to life as a young girl with a highly capable mind now has me excited to finally pick up Ariadne by Jennifer Saint, which has been on my shelves for awhile. It's given me a burning curiosity to know more about her, and read a book whose focus is on her. 


I have a small stockpile of Greek mythology retellings on my shelves that have been sadly waiting for the day I get the itch to settle down and read them. Daedalus Is Dead might've just triggered that fancy to itch. 


Needless to say, I had such a good time reading this book and look forward to reading more from this author!

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

an interesting spin on this particular myth. i thought it was creatively written with it's 2nd person pov but it lost me at the end. i think if you like greek mythology then this is for you.

[James 🦤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley!

Wow, I was incredibly impressed by this. The prose was beautiful and this interpretation of Daedalus is incredible. The story is told as Daedalus speaking to his deceased son Icarus after they’ve both died, with Daedalus recounting the events that brought them there and the efforts Daedalus made in the Underworld to reunite with his son. Slowly we start to realize that Daedalus is not recounting events honestly and is actually a pretty bad person—and that Icarus in life had realized that about his father right before his death. Daedalus LOVED his son, but that still didn't make him a good father. It was so incredibly done and I loved it.

Something I particularly loved was how it was repeatedly highlighted that Asterion, the Minotaur, was just a little boy. The contrast between how Daedalus loved his own son and how he aided in the mistreatment of Asterion was incredibly poignant and one of the earliest signs that Daedalus was an incredibly unreliable narrator.

I’m not usually a fan of open endings, but in this case I loved it. The story is one big letter to Icarus that ends, presumably, right before they reunite. We never actually get to see Icarus or hear his response to Daedalus and it feels so poignant.

Going back to Icarus and Asterion, the way I personally interpreted the ending is that Icarus and Asterion were the same person. We know Icarus’s soul went through the River Lethe and reincarnated sometime, somewhere, into something. Icarus loved and dreamed of being a hero, whereas Asterion consumes the thing that makes heroes, heroes. As Daedalus cries and bargains for the return of the son, the Minotaur appears on more than one occasion. The Minotaur chases Daedalus, but never attempts to harm him, something that makes Daedalus remark “I made you.” It seemed so obvious to me that I was certain it was going to be the reveal, however, the open-ending didn't disappoint me in the slightest.

[dobbs the dog · Rating 2 out of 5]

Received from the publisher, thanks!

*SPOILERS AHEAD!*

So… I didn’t love this book. I wanted to love it, I struggled through, but I just did not like it at all. Plus, like, it took me six days to read a novella?!? That tells you something.

So, this is a retelling of Daedalus’ story and the author *made some choices*… Firstly, the writing is not great. The book is basically all telling, no showing, which gets boring after a while. It’s told in second person, with Daedalus telling the story to his dead son, Icarus, and it got confusing at times with having to remember who Daedalus is talking to. I think that in second person narration it is more difficult to show, which is why there is so much telling, but I also think that a skilled author could pull it off. I’ve read other second person narration and didn’t have this same issue.

I didn’t know anything about Daedalus prior to this; I didn’t know he was Icarus’ father, I didn’t know he built the labyrinth, and more. So, I did appreciate getting to know more about Daedalus and his role within the mythology.

The thing I disliked most about this book, though, is that the author decided to make Daedalus a dirty old man by having him try to force himself on Ariadne and force her to marry him. This has an impact on the story, but as far as I know isn’t part of the original story, and I don’t know why the author decided to do this? Why bring in non-con kissing, an older man trying to force himself on a young girl, etc. Honestly, I think he got what he deserved being trapped in Tartarus by Minos (despite Minos being the woooorst). Throughout almost the entire book Daedalus is portrayed as this grieving father that is doing everything to get to see his son again, which made a historically unlikeable character really sympathetic. But then to throw this in, just completely undid all of that.

Did not enjoy this, would not recommend.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't care for the writing style. The story was interesting, but I just didn't care. I found Deadalus about as frustrating to read about as a whiny Romantic era hero. There were typos on occasion. You can tell he knows his mythology. It just feels incomplete. That could be the point, or at least one of them.

[Jordy Rousse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am only vaguely familiar with mythology behind these characters. However, this is written in a way that I didn’t feel like I needed to know the mythology beforehand. I could not put this book down. The back and forth of Daedalus in the Labyrinth to his past memories were so much fun for me.
Though I can see why some people do not like the ending, I personally thought it was a fitting ending in the confines of mythology. Not all have happy endings.

Sitting at just over 160 pages, this is a fun, quick, and easy read I highly recommend!

[heptagrammaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daedalus Is Dead is a grieving confessional in an — aptly eldritch, imprisoning, full of the bloody-knuckled concreteness and violence of power — imagining of Ancient Greek mythology. Really tight, squeezing a lot of emotion in few pages. Clipped, beautiful prose. A consciously fragmentary approach to slowly revealing the narrating Daedalus' own aiding and enactment of violence — from others' reviews here it is apparent that aspect might have been awkwardly executed, I read an uneasy depth into it, but it may be regular bogland.

[Euan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of Daedalus, who has died, recounting his tribulations in the underworld as he tries to reunite with Icarus, and reminiscing on the decisions he made in life that lead Icarus' death, mostly involving the construction of the labyrinth. I thought this novella was very good, structurally interesting, and a nice way to explore a couple of themes. My only slight dissatisfaction would be with the length- but I don't think that's a flaw in the execution, as I often find myself equally dissatisfied for that reason with other novellas people love, like Empress of Salt and Fortune or Penric's Demon.

The novella is narrated by Daedalus, to Icarus. I saw some reviews mentioning 2nd person PoV, but they're wrong- if the "you" is not the purported to be the protagonist, it's not a second person *narrative*. It's simply addressed to Icarus, not describing his actions. The narrative actually follows two threads. The first follows Daedalus' life on Crete, imprisoned by King Minos and working for him on building the labyrinth and the lead-up to the ill-fated escape attempt. The second follows Daedalus in Hades, punished by the vengeful Minos, now a judge of the dead, and his efforts to reunite with Icarus. Though the two are separate threads, they're both united thematically by what Daedalus wants to know- why did Icarus fly too close to sun?

I won't say too much about the plot, because it's short and I think is served well by going in blind. Suffice to say, the threads in the past, before Daedalus' death, hew pretty close to mythology, and the threads of the present, after his death, involve his efforts to reunite with Icarus, at any cost.

Though a novella, this explores a few themes pretty well, without getting too heavy. Being from Daedalus' point of view, and with his driving obsession being Icarus, they're fatherhood, grief, and regret. These themes are expanded on beyond the obvious, of Icarus' death- they're fundamentally tied up in the building of the Labyrinth, Daedalus' relationship with Ariadne, and his enabling of all the events of the Minotaur myth to actually happen.

The mythology elements are done well imo, without being a huge mythology nerd myself- they don't deviate too far from the story points or extrapolate too much, while exploring them as they build into the themes and humanizing the characters more. I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of Asterion, the Minotaur- it toed the line nicely being making him sympathetic, and keeping him a monster, which he ultimately is. Because of the recounting of the actual mythology only being one thread of two, though, and a springboard, I wouldn't say this is a retelling, myself. It's more Grendel than Circe, on the spectrums of "retellings."

Ultimately, I thought this was a very good little novella, and an easy read to knock out in one sitting. I think well worth the time, and impressive for a debut. I'd give it 4.5, but rounded up, due to it being a debut with few ratings, and my general ambivalence to novellas.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come! 🪽

(FINAL REVIEW:)

This was a great retelling through the eyes of Daedalus, the architect of the Labyrinth. It goes back and forth between the present moment and his past leading up to an ending that feels like the novella’s beginning (and for good reasons). This review may contain light spoilers, so proceed with caution!🌀

This Daedalus is grief stricken over the loss of his son, Icarus. He can’t understand how his son ignored his warnings and why people seem to abandon him/form barriers when around him. This leads to him being slowly seen as an unreliable narrator, and while I loved the idea of this for this famous man, I do wish it was done in a way that didn’t feel like it kind of came out of no where for both him and the reader. 😕

But I think what really sold this novella and retelling for me is that we are given a light into how far a parent will go to protect their child and how a father’s love can be toxic in some ways. I would definitely recommend it to those looking to get out of the mainstream romantic-at-time retellings, and especially for those who are interested in getting a figure from Greek mythology that’s more often a secondary character than a main character. ⚒️

Thank you goes to Tordotcom Publishing and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest review; and to the author, Sullivan, for being this side character into the spotlight. ❤️

Publication date: September 30!

Overall: 4/5 ⭐️

[Irem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daedalus is Dead is a slim but devastating reimagining of the myth of Daedalus and Icarus. Rather than retelling the famous flight, it begins after Daedalus’s death, as he journeys through the Underworld searching for his son. Along the way, he confronts the shades of people from his past and wrestles with the painful question of whether he was ever the father, mentor, and friend he believed himself to be.

For a novella, it holds remarkable weight. Seamus Sullivan manages to weave in multiple figures and stories from Greek myth without ever losing focus on the core: a father’s grief. The prose is lyrical, often raw, and deeply moving. It captures the rhythm of myth while still feeling startlingly human. This is not an easy story to read. There’s no comfort or catharsis waiting at the end but it is an unforgettable one. I had goosebumps as I turned the last page, struck by how inevitable and yet how fresh it felt.

Stylistically, this is very much a stream-of-consciousness narrative. Daedalus’s thoughts unspool in a kind of ongoing conversation with Icarus, more told than shown. It won’t be for everyone, but I thought it fit the story perfectly, giving us the intimacy of a mind unraveling under the weight of memory and loss.

I wouldn’t hand this to someone completely unfamiliar with Greek mythology, since much of the resonance comes from recognizing the figures and their roles. But for those who love myth retellings, this is one not to miss. It’s easily one of my favorite takes on the Greek canon I’ve read in a long time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura Leiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ARC provided by Tordotcom/NetGalley

This was absolutely heartbreaking! The story of Icarus/Daedalus has always been one of my favorite myths, and this was a great retelling (but with a twist). Without giving anything away, the thing I loved most was the discussion around what it means to be a “good man.” This was an excellent debut, and I’m excited to read more from this author!!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may know a little about Greek mythology’s Daedalus, architect of the Minotaur’s labyrinthine prison and father of Icarus, but this is the first time I’ve come across him having his own retelling. Seamus Sullivan did a great job with this impressive debut novella that packs a lot into 160 pages.

Evoking a dream-like quality as we flash back between the past and present, this is as much of a journey through Daedalus’ life as it is an exploration of grief and guilt as Daedalus tries to reckon with his past selves in the labyrinth of his own mind.

This portrayal of Minos was quite chilling and the gods we encounter were suitably mercurial. There’s lots of little tidbits for the more seasoned mythology reader and I loved how much of Ariadne we got to see, although there was a choice towards the end where I understood what author was trying to portray but it didn’t quite land for me.

Overall this was a short but emotional and thought-provoking retelling and I would recommend it, especially if you’re not familiar with Daedalus’ story. Check my story for other tour dates!

Thank you so much to @panmacmillan for having me on the Instagram tour and gifting me a finished copy! As always, all thoughts are my own.

[Justin (Bubbas_Bookshelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written, quietly devastating retelling that views the fall of Icarus from the aching perspective of his father. The prose is lyrical without feeling showy, and there’s something deeply intimate about sitting inside Daedalus’s grief as he replays love, pride, and regret. At times the language felt a bit repetitive, circling the same emotions in a way that slightly dulled the impact, but it still worked for me overall. It’s a very quick read: finished it in just a few hours, and despite its sometime feeling of monotony, it lingers in that tender, heart-heavy way.

[RaeLeigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was refreshing to read a mythological retelling written by a man. The fatherly perspective was very interesting and I really really enjoyed this one.

[Ashton Ahart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through a lyrical retelling of the classic myth of Daedalus and Icarus, this novel is an exploration of fatherhood and the challenges of grief.

[Anna Mikulec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Tor for a review copy!

RTC

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why am I so emotional if I knew what was going to happen??

[Jessica Haider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daedalus Is Dead takes a bold swing—Greek myth retold as an existential fever dream—but the result is more ambitious than satisfying. Seammus Sullivan reimagines the aftermath of Icarus’s fall as a surreal descent through the Underworld, where Daedalus wrestles not just with ghosts and gods, but with guilt, masculinity, and the murky mess of fatherhood. It’s heady stuff, equal parts poetry and punishment.

The prose is undeniably gorgeous—lush, lyrical, and often cryptic enough to make you reread entire paragraphs—but that beauty can be exhausting. The plot meanders like a maze (appropriately), and emotional payoff sometimes gets lost in the fog of metaphor.

Still, Sullivan’s vision is striking, and when the book clicks, it feels mythic in the best way: haunting, tragic, and strange. Daedalus Is Dead might not soar like Icarus, but it burns with enough imagination to make you admire the attempt.

[toloveabook · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4 stars) This is Daedalus' death-dream. It's a father's story told to the son he lost and cannot find. You do not need to be familiar with the myth of Daedalus and Icarus to appreciate this novella.

I love the dreamlike prose and the attention given to someone who is often a minor side character in Greek mythology. Daedalus' work touches so many well-known heroes and villains of Greek myth, but rarely do we read anything from Daedalus' perspective. What I found so compelling about this book was watching how a grieving man twists his memories to create the past he wants his son to see. It is immediately apparent that Daedalus is an unreliable narrator because he is convinced he is a good person despite doing terrible things for a tyrant. But I was unprepared for how deftly the author would use this delusion to show readers the truth that Daedealus himself will not confront. This may not be a happy book, but its exploration of a father's grief is absolutely worth reading.

Thank you to Tordotcom for the eARC. Opinions are my own!

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

A retelling full of despair and a truly deep portrayal of fatherly love. This novella reimagines the myth of Daedalus, the mythical architect, after he dies. As he goes through trials and tribulations in Hell, searching for his son, Icarus, we begin to understand who Daedalus was in life and who he is in death. Daedalus is a deeply flawed man blessed or cursed with genius. This novella examines what it means to be a good man and what it means to be a hero, and how the two don’t always intersect. Daedalus is a character that makes many horrible choices, and all for very human reasons. By examining these choices and their motives, we come to understand Daedalus even if we do not agree with him. I feel depicting a mythical figure in such a human way was not only smart, but also the only way this novella could work. By stripping the grandeur of myth away from Daedalus and the surrounding characters, we as readers see myths for what they are: tales akin to pyrite, appearing as golden and without flaw, but deep down, wholly imperfect narratives ripe with morally corrupt characters which reflect the ugliness of real life.

This is one of my favorite retellings I’ve yet read, since it uses the device of myth not as entertainment but a means to teach a lesson. I think anyone interested in myth, morality, mortality, fatherhood, and redemption, or the lack there of, will enjoy this novella quite a bit.

“‘Being a hero isn’t the same as being a good man,’ I said.
‘Why not?’
‘The second one is much harder.’”

Thank you to Tordotcom for sending a review copy! This releases September 30, 2025.

[Frasier Armitage · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mythological reimagining strikes some surprising notes as it plays a familiar tune in an unexpected way.

We all know the story of Icarus. He escapes prison by flying too close to the sun. Why? Why throw away his escape? That’s the question Icarus’s father, Daedalus, is struggling to answer. After all, he’s the other guy with the wings, and he managed to escape just fine.

The novella takes a speculative look at what happens to Daedalus after Icarus’s story ends. It follows the journey he goes on to understand why his son would do such a thing. The whole novella is being told by Daedalus as if he is talking directly to Icarus, recounting his life to his lost son, and this adds so much power to the touching and personal story being explored here. It really helps to put you in the shoes of a father who is grieving, unable to let go of his hurt until he’s found and understood his son.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Greek myth without a trip to the underworld and Mount Olympus. The way the gods are presented is done with style, and what’s most impressive is how the story feels grounded despite their fantastical and mythological presence. Importantly, it never comes across as gimmicky. Instead, you can almost taste the author’s passion for myths bleeding through the page as each character and emotion feels authentic and lived in.

As well as the Icarus legend, the book gives the whole context for what led up to that escape, including the incident with the minotaur. I’ve never thought so deeply about what it would be like to be a minotaur before. It really made me reconsider that whole scenario with the maze, and I loved how Daedalus, who so often is relegated to a bit-part in other heroes’ stories, wrestled with his own internal beasts for having committed atrocities in the name of serving kings and gods.

There’s a non-linear element to the way the novella unfolds, and I absolutely loved the whole flavour of it. It felt epic, but modern. Experimental, but mainstream. There’s so much to admire in this debut.

If you’re a fan of mythology, this is obviously going to tick all your boxes. But if you’re also on the lookout for a tender, deeply personal and sensitive portrait of a broken father trying to understand his lost son, then you should definitely pick this up.

What starts as a story you’ve heard before quickly spirals into something new and exciting. This is a novella that crafts its own set of wings and absolutely soars.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided both an ARC and an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I love Greek mythology, and I'm a huge fan of the retellings that have been coming out recently. This follows Daedalus, who is often mentioned as a side character in other tales. This novella focuses on Daedalus' relationship with Icarus, but it also weaves in the tales that Daedalus supports. We get to experience the creation of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, the invention of his famous wings and loss of Icarus, and his journey through the underworld in a new light. The author takes some liberties with this retelling when it comes to Daedalus and his choices, some where creative and supported the darker narrative and other's were questionable. I enjoyed the portrayal of the Minotaur in this retelling.

I found parts of the story confusing as the timeline shifts back and forth in time and between 1st and 2nd person POV. The present time is during Daedalus' time in the underworld with the past being during his time in Crete under Minos' rule. The story is told by Daedalus to Icarus after Icarus flies too close to the sun. Daedalus is an unreliable narrator as he tells the story of Icarus' life from birth through childhood, his death at this hands of his father's invention, and then Daedalus explains his slow descent into madness due to his grief. Icarus was a beloved child and his loss drives his father to make some questionable decisions especially after his own death. Daedalus ultimately wants to know "why" Icarus flew too close to the sun, which drives him to reflect if he was a good man and a good father? I enjoyed the dreamlike way the author develops Daedalus' version of his history to Icarus, in which he defends his actions as a way to deal with his grief.

Overall I enjoyed this. The cover is stunning and the audio narrator was excellent.

[David Agranoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A delirious and gripping story of fatherhood and masculinity, told through the reimagined Greek myth of Daedalus, Icarus, King Minos, Ariadne, and the Minotaur.”
Twice in a row, I got arcs for books I didn’t expect to like. I am normally not a fan of fantasy or satire set in mythological worlds, in part because I don’t know their stories. Give me Hindu or Norse mythology, and expect me to get the satire, well, I am generally lost. Sullivan was lucky that a young David read up on Icarus thanks to Iron Maiden.

This short novel tells the story of Icarus and Daedalus after their famous flight, and it takes place in Tartarus, the Greek vision of hell. In the grand tradition of stories that take place in hell or something like it, my favorite take is from the same publisher as Matheson’s What Dreams May Come. I think one reason a reader can connect with this story, despite maybe not understanding the mythology involved, is because of the father-son relationship.

Many Fathers throughout history have had to watch as their children metaphorically fly to close to the sun. Daedalus is the ultimate example, and exploring this dynamic with him traveling to Hell to find him makes for both an epic and also relatable journey. Part of the hell is that the labyrinth is impossible to solve.

“I’m in a yawning cave filled with fiery water and burning white mist. The statue of Minos stands at the cave’s center, upright and whole. The inscription on the base now reads, HE WILL FORGET YOUR FACE.
Icarus. How many times have I done this before?”

Daedalus keeps searching. He can’t make peace with his son, and in a way, that is his hell. This point is made, but it is not heavy-handed. The descriptions are vivid, but so is the feeling of loss and pain for the man who tells us this story.

The prose is beautifully written and makes even the most horrible place of all an enjoyable read. There is a chapter called “There is a Path out,” that has two parts I loved.

First is a part that presents a melancholia about death that got my attention. “The best part of being dead is I can always work and never need to sleep. I don’t dread closing my eyes and opening them again inside the labyrinth.”

That said, one of the most powerful elements was the descriptions of this hell.

“A team of dead cartographers and land surveyors is assigned to show me around Hell. They have an unkemptness about them, the distant eyes and delayed responses of men going mad by degrees. This, one of them explains, is because Hell is as big as it needs to be, which renders the performance of their jobs technically impossible.”

There are fewer novels set in hell than you might imagine. Goodreads only lists thirteen. The power of this story can be traced back to the poetic prose as much as the fantastical elements or the vibe of the setting. I was surprised to enjoy this book as much as I did. Daedalus is Dead is a short and powerful dark fantasy, well worth reading.

[Lata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daedalus grieves his son’s death during their escape from the tyrannical King Minos. Later, after Daedalus dies and enters the Underworld, he is desperate to reunite with Icarus, so he can ask his son why the boy flew too high during their escape.

Daedalus remembers his hated time with King Minos, and the design and construction of the dreadful labyrinth. The memories are keen, as Daedalus begins designing structures for the god of death and Persephone. Daedalus describes also watching the young Asterion, the Minotaur, the half-bull child Minos’ wife, grow and eventually become imprisoned within the labyrinth, and Daedalus' revulsion for the increasingly dangerous child.

All the while, Daedalus cannot find Icarus within the Underworld, as he is thwarted by the gods' whims, and Icarus' seeming unwillingness to engage with his father.

All the while, Daedalus remembers himself at the centre of Minos' plans, as a put upon but ultimately brilliant and heroic man. Slowly, as Daedalus remembers events, we're given a slightly different picture of the man. Though Minos was a monster, Daedalus is shown to have been complicit in the perpetuation of Minos' reputation, and also partly in how Asterion became the bloodthirsty monster who terrorized those sent into the labyrinth.

Seamus Sullivan has crafted a riveting take on Daedalus. The story weaves past and present together in such a way that sometimes I wasn't always sure when I was in Daedalus' timeline, but I liked how this technique gradually peeled aways layers of Daedalus' psyche to show us the lies the man told both about and to himself.

[Max Raeburn Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

God I loved so much about this. Thinking about the minotaur as a baby makes me sick, and while not the focus of the story, I'm so happy with the way Ariadne was treated. I remember being a little disappointed by Jennifer Saints version, even though looking back I gave it five stars. 😅

Having your female character absorb the consequences of the men in their lives might be accurate to the myths, but it's kind of a bummer! I like seeing an interpretation where she was able to find freedom and love. I'm a wife-guy Dionysus truther.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

This really flips the story of Icarus on its head. It's Daedalus who's flying too close to the sun, desperately trying to fix what can't be fixed and understand what can't be understood. He becomes tapped in a labyrinth of his own making not once, but three times, because he can't accept his shortcomings in any meaningful way.

He's a deeply flawed character who is sympathetic in many ways, while also reflecting a combination of male hubris and willful ignorance. Truly a contender for unreliable narrator final boss.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a ride. I feel duped, in the best possible way. I must remember, whenever a book is written in the first person point of view, to be suspicious of the narrator, because, my word. Every time Daedalus would meet someone in the underworld, share a happy memory, and then be corrected, my blood would run cold.

If you're familiar with Daedalus from mythology (or even Percy Jackson), you know that he's an absolute genius, but also that his son dies before his eyes. But under the surface, we can deduce that Daedalus is also cowardly and not the best human being. This book delivered on that.

You know the saying, don't meet your heroes? I think that's a pretty accurate warning regarding any "hero" from Greek mythology - they all have their shortcomings that make them very difficult to forgive unless they are telling their own stories in a different light.

Thank you, Net Galley, for the ARC.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daedalus is Dead by Seamus Sullivan (eARC NetGalley review)

Think Greek myth retellings are played out? Well, think again. This novella tells the story of Daedalus, best known as the father of Icarus, and the designer of the labyrinth that kept the Minotaur imprisoned.

After losing his son in a seemingly tragic accident, Daedalus must come to terms with his actions and their consequences, and try to reconcile with his son.

Incidentally his son is in fact you, the reader (from a certain point of view). I’m really starting to grow to like 2nd person narratives and I think they’re an interesting way of immersing you within a story, but I know that they’re not for everyone.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The pace was quick, and structurally well balanced between the ‘present’ and the past. How much of my enjoyment was derived from recently playing the game Hades, you can only guess.

4⭐️