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Beyond the Gods #1
Spawn of Medusa
**This book has been republished under the title Nectar of the Gods (Beyond the Gods #1)
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2014
68 people are currently reading
364 people want to read
About the author
Mary Bernsen
5 books80 followersMary Bernsen is a southwest Florida native currently living in North Port with her two beautiful children and a third, much larger child that she affectionately calls husband. She is the Amazon Best Selling Author of Healing The Bayou, The Ganga Shift, and Beyond the Gods series.
She also writes young adult romances under her pseudonym, M.E. Rhines.
She also writes young adult romances under her pseudonym, M.E. Rhines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 16, 2015
Spawn Of Medusa was a great read. I had a little issues with the romance and the ending but I love Greek mythology and really enjoyed this book.
Ambrosia was a fantastic character to read about. She had so much spirit and wit. I loved her fierceness. Nobody knows she's Medusa's daughter (because someone else boasts about being the spawn of Medusa) and she's working as a prostitute in a brothel run by Hercules (I kid you not). One night she meets Perseus and that's the start of one hell of a journey.
Persues was a likable character. I wasn't his biggest fan but I felt sorry for him because he seemed so lonely knowing that his wife passed away. I did like the chemistry between him and Ambrosia but in the end I was feeling a little disappointed about the romance. I did like that Herculas was vying for her attention also, though. I mean, I'm not usually a big fan of love triangles (not that it really counts as one) but it brought a little fun in the story, in my opinion.
I loved the journey Ambrosia and Perseus went on. It was fun, action-packed and full of danger. And most of all, I loved how Ambrosia wasn't just some damsel in distress, she could really take care of herself. Another thing that I liked a lot was the fact that the start for the second book was set when we meet Poseidon and Ursula along the way. I am definitely reading that book!
The ending was a bit abrubt, I thought because I hadn't expected it to end so suddenly. So I've been left feeling a little like there were some loose ends to tie up. Maybe it's just me or maybe there will be more explaining in the second book? I don't know...
Overall, Spawn Of Medusa was a very enjoyable and quick read. Some little flaws concering the romance and the ending but in the end it was a great book!
Ambrosia was a fantastic character to read about. She had so much spirit and wit. I loved her fierceness. Nobody knows she's Medusa's daughter (because someone else boasts about being the spawn of Medusa) and she's working as a prostitute in a brothel run by Hercules (I kid you not). One night she meets Perseus and that's the start of one hell of a journey.
Persues was a likable character. I wasn't his biggest fan but I felt sorry for him because he seemed so lonely knowing that his wife passed away. I did like the chemistry between him and Ambrosia but in the end I was feeling a little disappointed about the romance. I did like that Herculas was vying for her attention also, though. I mean, I'm not usually a big fan of love triangles (not that it really counts as one) but it brought a little fun in the story, in my opinion.
I loved the journey Ambrosia and Perseus went on. It was fun, action-packed and full of danger. And most of all, I loved how Ambrosia wasn't just some damsel in distress, she could really take care of herself. Another thing that I liked a lot was the fact that the start for the second book was set when we meet Poseidon and Ursula along the way. I am definitely reading that book!
The ending was a bit abrubt, I thought because I hadn't expected it to end so suddenly. So I've been left feeling a little like there were some loose ends to tie up. Maybe it's just me or maybe there will be more explaining in the second book? I don't know...
Overall, Spawn Of Medusa was a very enjoyable and quick read. Some little flaws concering the romance and the ending but in the end it was a great book!
August 4, 2014
Daughter of Medusa raised by the fates living the life of a whore under the ever increasing attention of Hercules... Welcome Perseus famed slayer of Medusa.... What will Ambrosia do when she finds out her mother is still alive, and Perseus is on his way to finally finish her off? Ambrosia convinces Perseus to allow her to join his adventure, and they journey to Medusa's cave. An adventure with many trials, and along the way Ambrosia falls in love with Perseus, but she must consider what will happen when he finds out her secret...
A captivating story filled with Greek Gods, Goddesses, famous mythological creatures, as well as plenty of action, intrigue, adventure and romance..
As a fan of mythology I was eager to read this story and was in no way disappointed the story was well written with both classic mythological tales and new and exciting twists. The story flowed well from chapter to chapter and it was easy to read and hard to put down. Well done Ms Bernsen a brilliant new take on the world of Greek Mythology.. But is this the end? The story ended well no cliffhanger but I can see more adventures to come as stand alone books or maybe even as a series. What will happen to Hercules?
Really enjoyed this book... five stars
Highly recommend to all fans of fantasy and mythology..
A captivating story filled with Greek Gods, Goddesses, famous mythological creatures, as well as plenty of action, intrigue, adventure and romance..
As a fan of mythology I was eager to read this story and was in no way disappointed the story was well written with both classic mythological tales and new and exciting twists. The story flowed well from chapter to chapter and it was easy to read and hard to put down. Well done Ms Bernsen a brilliant new take on the world of Greek Mythology.. But is this the end? The story ended well no cliffhanger but I can see more adventures to come as stand alone books or maybe even as a series. What will happen to Hercules?
Really enjoyed this book... five stars
Highly recommend to all fans of fantasy and mythology..
February 17, 2015
This was such an epic journey of love and belonging!
I loved the casual, personal touch Mary gave to such awesome, immortal beings like the Fates. In a good way, they reminded me of the three fairies from Sleeping Beauty instead of the fearsome creatures illustrated in mythology. In my opinion, to portray the being responsible for death as believably wholesome and matronly takes talent!
The way the gods were linked to Ambrosia kept me very interested to see how they would interact with her. Again, they were definitely depicted differently than in their legends.The descriptions of everything, namely the castles belonging to the respective gods, were very vivid. I was able to "see" them clearly. These excellent descriptions added a fantastical element to the adventure.
So many times, I found myself saying, "WOW!!!" out loud because there were so many "I never saw THAT coming" moments! (Don't worry...no spoilers here!)I finished this book essentially in one sitting; not because it was a short book, but because I HAD to know what happened! I have always enjoyed learning about Greek mythology, and that made this a very intriguing book!
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
I loved the casual, personal touch Mary gave to such awesome, immortal beings like the Fates. In a good way, they reminded me of the three fairies from Sleeping Beauty instead of the fearsome creatures illustrated in mythology. In my opinion, to portray the being responsible for death as believably wholesome and matronly takes talent!
The way the gods were linked to Ambrosia kept me very interested to see how they would interact with her. Again, they were definitely depicted differently than in their legends.The descriptions of everything, namely the castles belonging to the respective gods, were very vivid. I was able to "see" them clearly. These excellent descriptions added a fantastical element to the adventure.
So many times, I found myself saying, "WOW!!!" out loud because there were so many "I never saw THAT coming" moments! (Don't worry...no spoilers here!)I finished this book essentially in one sitting; not because it was a short book, but because I HAD to know what happened! I have always enjoyed learning about Greek mythology, and that made this a very intriguing book!
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
September 9, 2014
I found this book to be intensely romantic and profound. What better way than a mythology retelling to explore the big themes of love, betrayal, unknown enemies, monsters and unexpected allies. Throughout the book, the tension level is high as Ambrosia wrestles with guilt as she falls in love with the handsome Perseus, her mother's killer.
Along the journey, I was enchanted by the Greek gods and demi gods. Hercules as a bar bouncer? Genius. The Fates raising an orphan? Intriguing. And along the way are visual treats of Poseidon's realm, Athena's glass palace, and even a ride on the winged Pegasus.
I also loved the portrayal of sirens in a scary, murderous vein.
I'm trying not to give away any spoilers so I'll just say that the final confrontation with Medusa was unexpected and touching.
I'm excited to read more from this author.
Along the journey, I was enchanted by the Greek gods and demi gods. Hercules as a bar bouncer? Genius. The Fates raising an orphan? Intriguing. And along the way are visual treats of Poseidon's realm, Athena's glass palace, and even a ride on the winged Pegasus.
I also loved the portrayal of sirens in a scary, murderous vein.
I'm trying not to give away any spoilers so I'll just say that the final confrontation with Medusa was unexpected and touching.
I'm excited to read more from this author.
February 5, 2015
Spawn Of Medusa was an interesting spin on the tale of Medusa and mythology. I had issues with the romance aspect to this story, it just didn't feel real to me. I don't think I would ever have had the hots for a man that killed my mother, that seemed pretty far fetched. Even more so when your constantly referring to him as your enemy. The whole prostitute thing also just kinda took away from it, specially when they called Hercules a pimp.
The adventure in this book made up for the strange romance aspects though. It was neat to read about the different monsters they came across as well as how they needed to change their strategy to deal with them.
I just don't have much to say about this book. It's not bad, but it just didn't hook me like I thought it would.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publishers.
My Rating:3.5 of 5
The adventure in this book made up for the strange romance aspects though. It was neat to read about the different monsters they came across as well as how they needed to change their strategy to deal with them.
I just don't have much to say about this book. It's not bad, but it just didn't hook me like I thought it would.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publishers.
My Rating:3.5 of 5
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December 25, 2019
5 stars for this fantastic read
Beautifully written. I love the romance and the mythology. I highly recommend this to anyone with a love for mythology
Beautifully written. I love the romance and the mythology. I highly recommend this to anyone with a love for mythology
January 15, 2015
As a long time fan of the film 'Clash of the Titans' and a lover of Greek mythology in general, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Spawn of Medusa by Mary Bernsen. The book was so organically connected to the events of the film, it felt like an official sequel.
It would be unfair however, to regard The Spawn of Medusa in this context alone. This is an adventure story replete with mythical monsters and demigods seen through the eyes of an engaging heroine.
Ambrosia is the daughter of Medusa the Gorgon. Rescued by Perseus after her mother was killed, Ambrosia is raised by the Fates who ensure her well-being if not keeping her at arm's length. It is from the Fates that Ambrosia learns of Perseus' part in her mother's death and vows to kill him one day.
The opportunity comes when Ambrosia encounters Perseus years later only to discover her enemy is not what she expected at all. Worse yet, Perseus reveals that not only is Medusa alive but is responsible for his wife Andromeda's death. With very different agendas, Ambrosia and Perseus embark on a quest to find Medusa. Along the way, their relationship is further complicated by their obvious attraction towards each other.
This is a romance wrapped in a delicious adventure story with relatable characters. The conflict Ambrosia experiences fighting her feelings for Perseus, never descends into melodrama and Perseus' guilt at loving someone other than his wife is also quite touching. The author has tried and succeeded in humanizing larger than life characters such as Hercules, Athena and especially Perseus. This is no easy feat when only one or two or characters in the whole book are ordinary people. Standout is secondary character Homer as well as the author's characterisation of Medusa, making the infamous Gorgon someone to be sympathised with.
The book is well written and the banter between Perseus and Ambrosia makes if a fun read. I adored Ambrosia's reaction to Perseus' attempts to get past the Harpies. Other than a few minor quibbles with the timeframe, Hercules and Perseus existing at the same time and the mention of the Romans, I highly recommend the book to those who like a realistic romantic substance in their myths.
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It would be unfair however, to regard The Spawn of Medusa in this context alone. This is an adventure story replete with mythical monsters and demigods seen through the eyes of an engaging heroine.
Ambrosia is the daughter of Medusa the Gorgon. Rescued by Perseus after her mother was killed, Ambrosia is raised by the Fates who ensure her well-being if not keeping her at arm's length. It is from the Fates that Ambrosia learns of Perseus' part in her mother's death and vows to kill him one day.
The opportunity comes when Ambrosia encounters Perseus years later only to discover her enemy is not what she expected at all. Worse yet, Perseus reveals that not only is Medusa alive but is responsible for his wife Andromeda's death. With very different agendas, Ambrosia and Perseus embark on a quest to find Medusa. Along the way, their relationship is further complicated by their obvious attraction towards each other.
This is a romance wrapped in a delicious adventure story with relatable characters. The conflict Ambrosia experiences fighting her feelings for Perseus, never descends into melodrama and Perseus' guilt at loving someone other than his wife is also quite touching. The author has tried and succeeded in humanizing larger than life characters such as Hercules, Athena and especially Perseus. This is no easy feat when only one or two or characters in the whole book are ordinary people. Standout is secondary character Homer as well as the author's characterisation of Medusa, making the infamous Gorgon someone to be sympathised with.
The book is well written and the banter between Perseus and Ambrosia makes if a fun read. I adored Ambrosia's reaction to Perseus' attempts to get past the Harpies. Other than a few minor quibbles with the timeframe, Hercules and Perseus existing at the same time and the mention of the Romans, I highly recommend the book to those who like a realistic romantic substance in their myths.
Why no voting buttons? We don't let customers vote on their own reviews, so the voting buttons appear only when you look at reviews submitted by others.
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January 28, 2015
I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Spawn of Medusa is a first time read from the author Mary Bernsen. Ambrosia (the heroine and the main and only pov in the story) was born as Medusa died at the hands of Perseus (the hero). Perseus takes the baby and drops her off at a cottage where the Fates live, believing they will take care of the vile creature by eating her. Some 20 years later Ambrosia is grown up and working as a prostitute in Hercules brothel/bar. She has dreams of one day killing Perseus for killing her mother. Then low and behold Perseus shows up at the brothel and she soon finds out her mother is not dead. She weasels her way in to his quest to find and yet again take Medusa's head, but she is going to save her and kill Perseus instead.....
When I read the synopsis I really thought the book was going to be more in-depth, more feeling, more intense, and way more sexy then it was. I mean look at the cover! It is HOT. This is another case of never judge a book by a cover whether it is for the good or bad. There was no sex in this book, which surprised me cause she was a prostitute for crying out loud.
The story felt like it just skimmed the surface. When certain things happened that you really thought the author would engage the reader into the story.. it was glossed over. There was no depth at all. Someone dies in the story, Perseus goes into a 5 sec rage and then its like " so anyway hows your day?" Or Ambrosia finds out who her father is and it just didn't feel like that big of deal. "Hug Hug, so anyway..."
The romance was non existent. The hero came off (to me anyway) as a whiny diaper baby. He threw fits, was totally immature, said things that made him look like a complete and total ass. I could not stand the hero, usually its the female lead that gets on my last nerve but surprisingly she was fine. The lack of engagement the relationship had could be because the author did not take the time to get you involved, invested, show you the budding relationship. It was quick, I was confused on how they got to the "I love you" part.
No this book was not for me. But outside the story the author had a really nice writing style.
Spawn of Medusa is a first time read from the author Mary Bernsen. Ambrosia (the heroine and the main and only pov in the story) was born as Medusa died at the hands of Perseus (the hero). Perseus takes the baby and drops her off at a cottage where the Fates live, believing they will take care of the vile creature by eating her. Some 20 years later Ambrosia is grown up and working as a prostitute in Hercules brothel/bar. She has dreams of one day killing Perseus for killing her mother. Then low and behold Perseus shows up at the brothel and she soon finds out her mother is not dead. She weasels her way in to his quest to find and yet again take Medusa's head, but she is going to save her and kill Perseus instead.....
When I read the synopsis I really thought the book was going to be more in-depth, more feeling, more intense, and way more sexy then it was. I mean look at the cover! It is HOT. This is another case of never judge a book by a cover whether it is for the good or bad. There was no sex in this book, which surprised me cause she was a prostitute for crying out loud.
The story felt like it just skimmed the surface. When certain things happened that you really thought the author would engage the reader into the story.. it was glossed over. There was no depth at all. Someone dies in the story, Perseus goes into a 5 sec rage and then its like " so anyway hows your day?" Or Ambrosia finds out who her father is and it just didn't feel like that big of deal. "Hug Hug, so anyway..."
The romance was non existent. The hero came off (to me anyway) as a whiny diaper baby. He threw fits, was totally immature, said things that made him look like a complete and total ass. I could not stand the hero, usually its the female lead that gets on my last nerve but surprisingly she was fine. The lack of engagement the relationship had could be because the author did not take the time to get you involved, invested, show you the budding relationship. It was quick, I was confused on how they got to the "I love you" part.
No this book was not for me. But outside the story the author had a really nice writing style.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2014
This was a short read for me and I had it finished in one day. The Spawn of Medusa was one of those books you start reading and can't go to bed until you have it finished. I really like Mary's writing style, she keeps you interested and wanting to know what is going to happen next. I do not know very much about Greek mythology but what I do know made this story feel real. It was refreshing to not read a lot of cursing and sex scenes in a story. Mary was able to keep this book on the adult level with out any of that. Don't get me wrong I do not hate those type of books but once in a while it is nice to read something that has more to it then hot sex.
We get a taste of what the lives of some of the mythical Greek god's lives could have been like. Mary's main character is Ambrosia the daughter of Medusa and we get to meet Heurcules, Perseaus and Aphrodite all children of Zeus and see their lives told in one story together. Mary describes the surroundings in a way that I was able to picture it without being lost in too much detail taking away from the story. I can see more to the this story continuing with each book being a stand alone or as a series. There is still potential here!
I would have loved to have had the story go on for a few more chapters to see where things could go. There was no cliff hanger at the end but I could see it going further myself.
Mary, you have a new fan and I would love to read more from you!
We get a taste of what the lives of some of the mythical Greek god's lives could have been like. Mary's main character is Ambrosia the daughter of Medusa and we get to meet Heurcules, Perseaus and Aphrodite all children of Zeus and see their lives told in one story together. Mary describes the surroundings in a way that I was able to picture it without being lost in too much detail taking away from the story. I can see more to the this story continuing with each book being a stand alone or as a series. There is still potential here!
I would have loved to have had the story go on for a few more chapters to see where things could go. There was no cliff hanger at the end but I could see it going further myself.
Mary, you have a new fan and I would love to read more from you!
February 19, 2018
Ambrosia has spent her life looking for the man who killed her mother so she can have her revenge. She plans to kill the man who murdered her mother, Medusa. She decides to go undercover as a prostitute hoping that it will bring her closer to her mother’s murder.
Perseus shows up at the brothel where she is working one day and tells Ambrosia that Medusa is still alive and that he is going to find her and finish what he started twenty-three years ago. Ambrosia talks Perseus into letting her go with him. But of course, Perseus has no idea that Medusa is her mother.
Ambrosia starts to have feelings for Perseus. This kind of scares her as she is afraid that he will not love her back as she has never had anyone to love her in her whole life. She thinks that she is not worthy of anyone’s love not especially with her being a prostitute. Perseus starts to fall for Ambrosia too but he has some things in his past that he is letting get his way of loving anyone.
When I read the summary for Nectar of the Gods I thought I got to read this one as I love reading about Gods and Goddess and mythology especially Greek mythology. Once I started reading it I didn’t want to put it down. I liked following along with Ambrosia and Perseus on their journey together looking for Medusa, experiencing and seeing all the things they saw.
I would like to recommend Nectar of the Gods to anyone who loves reading about Greed mythology and Gods and Goddess.
Perseus shows up at the brothel where she is working one day and tells Ambrosia that Medusa is still alive and that he is going to find her and finish what he started twenty-three years ago. Ambrosia talks Perseus into letting her go with him. But of course, Perseus has no idea that Medusa is her mother.
Ambrosia starts to have feelings for Perseus. This kind of scares her as she is afraid that he will not love her back as she has never had anyone to love her in her whole life. She thinks that she is not worthy of anyone’s love not especially with her being a prostitute. Perseus starts to fall for Ambrosia too but he has some things in his past that he is letting get his way of loving anyone.
When I read the summary for Nectar of the Gods I thought I got to read this one as I love reading about Gods and Goddess and mythology especially Greek mythology. Once I started reading it I didn’t want to put it down. I liked following along with Ambrosia and Perseus on their journey together looking for Medusa, experiencing and seeing all the things they saw.
I would like to recommend Nectar of the Gods to anyone who loves reading about Greed mythology and Gods and Goddess.
July 26, 2019
Light Spoilers:
I really enjoyed reading this book but there are a few legitimate problems I had with the book that keep me from rating it higher
Legitimate problems I had with this book is:
-When we first meet Ambrosia, she is a character who has chosen a life of prostitution (not forced into it like the other women around her) because she has found that men talk more when they are drunk and post-sex. She is very smart and a strong willed individual and those main traits that made me really like her in the beginning seemed to dwindle the further the book went along.
-Athena's personality and actions in the book did not seem very believable. She was acting more like a young human girl (for example, sticking her tongue out at Perseus and Hercules) than a god. If her role was played by another human woman, or even a demigod, it would have worked much better, but since she is a god, it stuck out to me as odd they way she acted in the book.
-The book had a really abrupt ending. It felt like you were finally getting to the climax and then it just ended. It left me wanting more but in a bad way. Some books are so good that you want more because you fell in love with the character. This book left me wanting more because it didn't feel finished.
I still really enjoyed this book even though there were things in it that I did not like as much. I'll probably read the sequel book eventually to see what happens next.
I really enjoyed reading this book but there are a few legitimate problems I had with the book that keep me from rating it higher
Legitimate problems I had with this book is:
-When we first meet Ambrosia, she is a character who has chosen a life of prostitution (not forced into it like the other women around her) because she has found that men talk more when they are drunk and post-sex. She is very smart and a strong willed individual and those main traits that made me really like her in the beginning seemed to dwindle the further the book went along.
-Athena's personality and actions in the book did not seem very believable. She was acting more like a young human girl (for example, sticking her tongue out at Perseus and Hercules) than a god. If her role was played by another human woman, or even a demigod, it would have worked much better, but since she is a god, it stuck out to me as odd they way she acted in the book.
-The book had a really abrupt ending. It felt like you were finally getting to the climax and then it just ended. It left me wanting more but in a bad way. Some books are so good that you want more because you fell in love with the character. This book left me wanting more because it didn't feel finished.
I still really enjoyed this book even though there were things in it that I did not like as much. I'll probably read the sequel book eventually to see what happens next.
January 31, 2018
Ambrosia is determined to the find the man that killed her mother and kill him. She spends her time as a prostitute as she hunts. Then she finds him and learns that he mother may not really be dead. Ambrosia decides to partner up with Perseus as he hunts down her mother down. Ambrosia is waiting for the best time to exact her revenge when she realizes that she is starting to fall in love with Perseus.
I love stories with mythological characters in present day. It’s always fascinating to see where authors picture the gods and demigods in modern jobs. Ambrosia is determined to get even for the death of her mother but ends up learning so much more. Perseus is not as bad as she thought he was. It also worries her that for someone that likes to be alone how she craves his touch.
This is a great story and the first in a series. I love the retelling of Greek mythology and I can’t wait to see what is in store for book two.
I received Nectar of the Gods from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
I love stories with mythological characters in present day. It’s always fascinating to see where authors picture the gods and demigods in modern jobs. Ambrosia is determined to get even for the death of her mother but ends up learning so much more. Perseus is not as bad as she thought he was. It also worries her that for someone that likes to be alone how she craves his touch.
This is a great story and the first in a series. I love the retelling of Greek mythology and I can’t wait to see what is in store for book two.
I received Nectar of the Gods from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
November 27, 2017
Nectar Of The God's is the first book in this brand new series Beyond The Gods #1. A fantasy romance drenched in Greek Mythology. The premise of this novel is highly intriguing as I love reading about Greek Mythology. I was hooked right from the beginning to the end. With well detailed world building descriptions, a captivating plot & enchanting characters to keep you enamored.. Ambrosia's character is my favourite as she is the perfect heroine as not only is she beautiful, bold, audacious, perceptive, astute & so much more. This novel is brimming with passion & leaves you bewildered. I am looking forward to reading the next novel in this spellbinding saga. I volunteerly reviewed an advanced reading copy of this novel.
February 27, 2018
Ambrosia is the daughter of Medusa. She is on a mission to find the man who killed her mother, but Perseus is not who she thought he was. I really enjoyed the story, I love stories about ancient Greece. It was well written and I would definitely recommend it.
December 3, 2017
Really loved the first book in Beyond the Gods serie. Can't wait for the next one.
March 10, 2018
Nectar of the gods
I loved reading this book and I could not put it down.but then again I love all stories about God’s and
Mortals
I loved reading this book and I could not put it down.but then again I love all stories about God’s and
Mortals
May 23, 2018
Romantic
Wow what a page turner and well written story. I truly love this retelling of Medusa and highly recommend this series.
Wow what a page turner and well written story. I truly love this retelling of Medusa and highly recommend this series.
June 30, 2018
One sitting read
Had my attention the whole time. Love Greek mythology and the story of Medusa. Hopefully, transformation and happy ending for her was in order.
Had my attention the whole time. Love Greek mythology and the story of Medusa. Hopefully, transformation and happy ending for her was in order.
May 7, 2020
Love the mythology premise with this story and enjoyed getting to know the main character. A fun adventure!
October 20, 2022
Engaging, not for kids, mentions of prostitution throughout.
February 4, 2024
Good story, more of a romantic fiction than of mythology. I was expecting more of the demigods. Short and sweet story.
March 10, 2015
I am really torn up about what to rate this book. In fact, I’m going to make my decision as I write this review and see what it feels like in the end.
I like reading about Greek mythology. I like how the possibilities are endless when you write a story that’s based on myth, and some authors really do come up with some original ideas. Not only they tweak what happened, but they also play around with the characters and create many more different versions and you get to take your pick. This was such a book. The story revolves around Ambrosia, daughter of the infamous Medusa, and Perseus, the famous hero who defeated and beheaded Medusa. But of course this story is not this generalization. In fact, Ambrosia is a prostitute, finding it the best way to gather information about her mother’s killer in order to return the favor one day.
This was actually a fun book. It started out as very interesting and fast paced. I was instantly sucked into the story, the world building. I admired and respected Ambrosia’s determination of living the life of a prostitute in order to achieve her goal, in fact, this way her character had a head start in complexity and depth compared to Perseus. As for Perseus himself, he was the mysterious, hard stranger in the beginning, kind of reminded me of Aragorn’s first introduction as Strider from Lord of The Rings. He wasn’t as surprising as Ambrosia but he was solid.
A few chapters in though..It all went a little downhill. And this is the point where I have trouble with my rating. I don’t want to be unfair to the nice beginning, but then the middle and end-what can I say?- disappointed me a little. The two leads started showing signs of childish behavior, most of the time they acted like teenagers rather than the mythical beings that they were, and so their plight lost its initial appeal to me. I kept imagining-and desperately looking forward to- them going back to who they started out as, but unfortunately this didn’t happen. As the story unfolded and they went ahead on their path one step and one obstacle at a time, they became more and more like young adults. Actually, has anyone seen the Percy Jackson movies? I haven’t read the books so I can’t compare this to the books, but if this story was to be made into a movie, it’d be something like Percy Jackson. And though I enjoyed those movies, it would be not what I expected and wished for this book.
For starters, I liked the idea of Ambrosia taking on the tough job of being a prostitute for a purpose, and that, in my opinion, should’ve provided her with a certain level of maturity. I expected her to be wary of Perseus, to be as strong as she had to be for doing what she did, and very, very determined. Even if she was those things, as a reader, that message lost its effect by the time it reached me. As for Perseus, I expected a man who loved and lost, who was determined just as much as Ambrosia to finish the task he started, and generally be the-yes, clichéd- tough stranger. Instead, he was a young man who sulked and was resentful most of the time, and childish and funny in the rest. He didn’t impress me, actually they both didn’t impress me considering how they started out as lead characters.
The plot was a bit better than the hero and the heroine, I gotta give it that. It was what you’d expect from a retelling of a mythical story, it revolved around one general idea, the past and fate of Medusa, and kept throwing in obstacles in the way until the end. Action was not scarce which was okay by me. I liked to see some of the most well known characters making appearances in unexpected places in unexpected conditions and that was good too. But then again, the whole story had a childish vibe to it that I couldn’t shake off. And this is probably going to be why I’ll shave off from my rating.
This was an okay story that had a lot of potential that simply just fell short. Potentially deep characters, potentially good plot, everything was there and yet they failed to reach their true desired effect.
I like reading about Greek mythology. I like how the possibilities are endless when you write a story that’s based on myth, and some authors really do come up with some original ideas. Not only they tweak what happened, but they also play around with the characters and create many more different versions and you get to take your pick. This was such a book. The story revolves around Ambrosia, daughter of the infamous Medusa, and Perseus, the famous hero who defeated and beheaded Medusa. But of course this story is not this generalization. In fact, Ambrosia is a prostitute, finding it the best way to gather information about her mother’s killer in order to return the favor one day.
This was actually a fun book. It started out as very interesting and fast paced. I was instantly sucked into the story, the world building. I admired and respected Ambrosia’s determination of living the life of a prostitute in order to achieve her goal, in fact, this way her character had a head start in complexity and depth compared to Perseus. As for Perseus himself, he was the mysterious, hard stranger in the beginning, kind of reminded me of Aragorn’s first introduction as Strider from Lord of The Rings. He wasn’t as surprising as Ambrosia but he was solid.
A few chapters in though..It all went a little downhill. And this is the point where I have trouble with my rating. I don’t want to be unfair to the nice beginning, but then the middle and end-what can I say?- disappointed me a little. The two leads started showing signs of childish behavior, most of the time they acted like teenagers rather than the mythical beings that they were, and so their plight lost its initial appeal to me. I kept imagining-and desperately looking forward to- them going back to who they started out as, but unfortunately this didn’t happen. As the story unfolded and they went ahead on their path one step and one obstacle at a time, they became more and more like young adults. Actually, has anyone seen the Percy Jackson movies? I haven’t read the books so I can’t compare this to the books, but if this story was to be made into a movie, it’d be something like Percy Jackson. And though I enjoyed those movies, it would be not what I expected and wished for this book.
For starters, I liked the idea of Ambrosia taking on the tough job of being a prostitute for a purpose, and that, in my opinion, should’ve provided her with a certain level of maturity. I expected her to be wary of Perseus, to be as strong as she had to be for doing what she did, and very, very determined. Even if she was those things, as a reader, that message lost its effect by the time it reached me. As for Perseus, I expected a man who loved and lost, who was determined just as much as Ambrosia to finish the task he started, and generally be the-yes, clichéd- tough stranger. Instead, he was a young man who sulked and was resentful most of the time, and childish and funny in the rest. He didn’t impress me, actually they both didn’t impress me considering how they started out as lead characters.
The plot was a bit better than the hero and the heroine, I gotta give it that. It was what you’d expect from a retelling of a mythical story, it revolved around one general idea, the past and fate of Medusa, and kept throwing in obstacles in the way until the end. Action was not scarce which was okay by me. I liked to see some of the most well known characters making appearances in unexpected places in unexpected conditions and that was good too. But then again, the whole story had a childish vibe to it that I couldn’t shake off. And this is probably going to be why I’ll shave off from my rating.
This was an okay story that had a lot of potential that simply just fell short. Potentially deep characters, potentially good plot, everything was there and yet they failed to reach their true desired effect.
January 28, 2015
Ambrosia, the daughter birthed from Medusa after she was beheaded, has spent her entire life preparing for the day she would get revenge. She wants nothing more than to find and kill Perseus, the demigod who took her mother from her. When the Fates point her in the right direction, she puts her best assets to work at a brothel owned by none other than Hercules. While her beauty may help her advance and become the most desired woman there, she is just waiting until she can fulfill her promise. Things are made much harder for Ambrosia when a man known as Chrysaor steps forward and claims to be the child born from Medusa. Then Perseus stumbles into the brothel and purchases her for a night in an attempt to save her from the grubby hands of Chrysaor, and Ambrosia's life is forever changed when he accidentally tells her that he failed and Medusa is very much alive. Ambrosia finds herself struggling with her feelings for the man she has gotten to know and killing the one determined to kill her mother once and for all.
Who doesn't enjoy a book filled with mythology that we are all familiar with? While we follow similar paths in Greek mythology, the author wrote the story in a way that made it her own. Ambrosia is a smart woman who will do whatever it takes, even selling her body to the highest bidder, while she waits patiently for her plan to take place. She is strong-willed and has a set way of thinking, but like everyone, she starts doubting everything she has known when things don't go the way she envisioned. Perseus is strong and worries about his reputation but can't deny that even though he is broken, there are things worth fighting for other than what people think of him.
Overall this was a quick read that had me feeling for the characters. The writing flowed nicely throughout the story and kept me turning the pages. The only thing I didn't really like about this book was that the ending felt too rushed. The whole book is leading up to a giant climax but then it just fizzled as everything fell into place and everyone went their respective ways. I would have liked to see the ending wrapped up a little better and provided some sort of closure other than what was provided. If you like Greek mythology, you should give The Spawn of Medusa a try.
Who doesn't enjoy a book filled with mythology that we are all familiar with? While we follow similar paths in Greek mythology, the author wrote the story in a way that made it her own. Ambrosia is a smart woman who will do whatever it takes, even selling her body to the highest bidder, while she waits patiently for her plan to take place. She is strong-willed and has a set way of thinking, but like everyone, she starts doubting everything she has known when things don't go the way she envisioned. Perseus is strong and worries about his reputation but can't deny that even though he is broken, there are things worth fighting for other than what people think of him.
Overall this was a quick read that had me feeling for the characters. The writing flowed nicely throughout the story and kept me turning the pages. The only thing I didn't really like about this book was that the ending felt too rushed. The whole book is leading up to a giant climax but then it just fizzled as everything fell into place and everyone went their respective ways. I would have liked to see the ending wrapped up a little better and provided some sort of closure other than what was provided. If you like Greek mythology, you should give The Spawn of Medusa a try.
January 18, 2015
Spawn of Medusa, Villain's Love Book 1, Mary Bernsen
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy
I used to love the Greek and Roman legends as a schoolgirl so when I saw this I thought it would be a fun read.
Well, in many ways it was a fun read, it’s fresh and something a bit different, it takes the old stories and gives them a new twist, turning them to suit what author Mary has made into a sweet romance, but....somehow for me it just didn’t work. I liked the part where the old legends met the new slant Mary has given them, and the way she turned it around so that all was well in the end. Recalling all the gore and harshness in them I wondered what she’d do.... however it did seem to take away all that cruelty they contain, all that unfairness that makes them so gripping ( especially for sheltered school girls such as I was!). The old versions aren’t romantic in themselves, they have a very harsh “Gods/Goddesses do what they want” slant regardless of how that works for the poor humans ( some of the Old Testament tales are like that too – and I loved them also as a child. Must have been an odd girl Winking smile ) Its as if humans are just playthings for them to amuse themselves with.
Somehow the mix of legends and romance just doesn’t cut it for me. I couldn’t see why Ambrosia was so in love with Perseus, I just didn’t feel that magic spark between them. She’s a tough and resourceful lady, had to be with the upbringing she had, and I had a lot of respect for her. She’s got a mission and given up so much of her life to pursue it. In contrast, although Perseus is the Great Hero and others seem happy to follow him, when it came down to it Ambrosia was the brave one, the one that took risks for others. I just didn’t see them as a good match. Then again neither was Hercules....
Still, its a fun read, one that reminded me of what I love about the old stories and its got a HEA, so though its not a great book for me it may be for you.
Stars: Three, a fun read but as a romance it wasn’t a great one. .
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers.
February 26, 2015
Synopsis: "Passion doesn’t always follow the rules of fate…
Raised by the Fates, Ambrosia, the daughter of Medusa, has spent her life preparing for the day when she would fulfill her destiny and avenge her mother’s murder. But when a man comes forward claiming to be the spawn of Medusa, Ambrosia’s plan becomes a lot more complicated.
Working as a prostitute, she finds Perseus, the man who took her mother’s head. Not realizing who she is, he tells Ambrosia that Medusa is still alive and that he’s on a quest to finish what he started twenty-three years ago. Needing to find the mother she’s never met, Ambrosia convinces Perseus to let her help, and together they discover the secrets that will unseal the cave that has kept her mother captive. But Perseus proves to be different than the monster Ambrosia has always envisioned him to be, and she finds herself needing him, craving his touch. But how can the daughter of Medusa love the man who made her an orphan for twenty-three years, and who kept her from the mother she never met?"
My Review: This was a very interesting book, from the cover you would think it would be an after dark book but other than Ambrosia's profession and hints of what she does, it was a surprisingly clean book (note: there was use of some harsh language). It did take me a bit to really wrap my head around the characters different roles from traditional mythology. With that said I really enjoyed several of them once I settled into the story. I really loved where Bernsen took the storyline and the new and unexpected twist she put at the end. You really need to go into this one with an open mind and not be hard set with traditional mythology, but if you can keep your mind open it is a really enjoyable read.
Raised by the Fates, Ambrosia, the daughter of Medusa, has spent her life preparing for the day when she would fulfill her destiny and avenge her mother’s murder. But when a man comes forward claiming to be the spawn of Medusa, Ambrosia’s plan becomes a lot more complicated.
Working as a prostitute, she finds Perseus, the man who took her mother’s head. Not realizing who she is, he tells Ambrosia that Medusa is still alive and that he’s on a quest to finish what he started twenty-three years ago. Needing to find the mother she’s never met, Ambrosia convinces Perseus to let her help, and together they discover the secrets that will unseal the cave that has kept her mother captive. But Perseus proves to be different than the monster Ambrosia has always envisioned him to be, and she finds herself needing him, craving his touch. But how can the daughter of Medusa love the man who made her an orphan for twenty-three years, and who kept her from the mother she never met?"
My Review: This was a very interesting book, from the cover you would think it would be an after dark book but other than Ambrosia's profession and hints of what she does, it was a surprisingly clean book (note: there was use of some harsh language). It did take me a bit to really wrap my head around the characters different roles from traditional mythology. With that said I really enjoyed several of them once I settled into the story. I really loved where Bernsen took the storyline and the new and unexpected twist she put at the end. You really need to go into this one with an open mind and not be hard set with traditional mythology, but if you can keep your mind open it is a really enjoyable read.
July 17, 2014
4 fangs
Raised by the Fates, Ambrosia, the daughter of Medusa, has spent her life formulating plan for the day when she would accomplish her destiny and retaliate for her mother’s murder. Working as a prostitute, she finds Perseus, the man who took her mother’s head. Not realizing who she is, he tells Ambrosia that Medusa is still alive and that he’s on a quest to finish what he started twenty-three years ago. Needing to find the mother she’s never met, Ambrosia convinces Perseus to let her help, and together they discover the secrets that will unseal the cave that has kept her mother imprisoned. But Perseus proves to be different than the monster Ambrosia has always envisioned him to be, and she finds herself needing him, craving his touch, but how can the daughter of Medusa love the man who made her an orphan?
It was nice getting a peek into the lives of Demi gods, and also seeing a new light into how to picture them living their lives. I enjoyed the tale of how medusa’s orphaned daughter and how she wanted revenge on a man who supposedly killed her mother, then finds out she is alive after 23 years. Hmm
Paranormal for sure and if you are interest in Greek mythology this might be a book for you!
I received this book for an honest review from Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock anfd Mary Bernsen.
Raised by the Fates, Ambrosia, the daughter of Medusa, has spent her life formulating plan for the day when she would accomplish her destiny and retaliate for her mother’s murder. Working as a prostitute, she finds Perseus, the man who took her mother’s head. Not realizing who she is, he tells Ambrosia that Medusa is still alive and that he’s on a quest to finish what he started twenty-three years ago. Needing to find the mother she’s never met, Ambrosia convinces Perseus to let her help, and together they discover the secrets that will unseal the cave that has kept her mother imprisoned. But Perseus proves to be different than the monster Ambrosia has always envisioned him to be, and she finds herself needing him, craving his touch, but how can the daughter of Medusa love the man who made her an orphan?
It was nice getting a peek into the lives of Demi gods, and also seeing a new light into how to picture them living their lives. I enjoyed the tale of how medusa’s orphaned daughter and how she wanted revenge on a man who supposedly killed her mother, then finds out she is alive after 23 years. Hmm
Paranormal for sure and if you are interest in Greek mythology this might be a book for you!
I received this book for an honest review from Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock anfd Mary Bernsen.
July 17, 2014
4 fangs
Raised by the Fates, Ambrosia, the daughter of Medusa, has spent her life formulating plan for the day when she would accomplish her destiny and retaliate for her mother’s murder. Working as a prostitute, she finds Perseus, the man who took her mother’s head. Not realizing who she is, he tells Ambrosia that Medusa is still alive and that he’s on a quest to finish what he started twenty-three years ago. Needing to find the mother she’s never met, Ambrosia convinces Perseus to let her help, and together they discover the secrets that will unseal the cave that has kept her mother imprisoned. But Perseus proves to be different than the monster Ambrosia has always envisioned him to be, and she finds herself needing him, craving his touch, but how can the daughter of Medusa love the man who made her an orphan?
It was nice getting a peek into the lives of Demi gods, and also seeing a new light into how to picture them living their lives. I enjoyed the tale of how medusa’s orphaned daughter and how she wanted revenge on a man who supposedly killed her mother, then finds out she is alive after 23 years. Hmm
Paranormal for sure and if you are interest in Greek mythology this might be a book for you!
I received this book for an honest review from Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock anfd Mary Bernsen.
Raised by the Fates, Ambrosia, the daughter of Medusa, has spent her life formulating plan for the day when she would accomplish her destiny and retaliate for her mother’s murder. Working as a prostitute, she finds Perseus, the man who took her mother’s head. Not realizing who she is, he tells Ambrosia that Medusa is still alive and that he’s on a quest to finish what he started twenty-three years ago. Needing to find the mother she’s never met, Ambrosia convinces Perseus to let her help, and together they discover the secrets that will unseal the cave that has kept her mother imprisoned. But Perseus proves to be different than the monster Ambrosia has always envisioned him to be, and she finds herself needing him, craving his touch, but how can the daughter of Medusa love the man who made her an orphan?
It was nice getting a peek into the lives of Demi gods, and also seeing a new light into how to picture them living their lives. I enjoyed the tale of how medusa’s orphaned daughter and how she wanted revenge on a man who supposedly killed her mother, then finds out she is alive after 23 years. Hmm
Paranormal for sure and if you are interest in Greek mythology this might be a book for you!
I received this book for an honest review from Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock anfd Mary Bernsen.
August 3, 2014
A book full of deception, seduction, lies, and love. Adventure and twists around every corner, I really enjoyed every bit of this new spin on the tale of Medusa.
Medusa’s daughter, Ambrosia, has been hiding since Perseus pulled her from her mother’s womb. She was raised training for the day she would avenge the curse and beheading of her mother. As she feels closer to that day, she decides to put all of her plans into action. Starting with her life style choices to put herself in the path of Perseus. She is the epitome of a woman scorned.
Perseus is a warrior unmatched. He past is his own and he doesn’t answer to anyone. His secrets are pain filled and lonely. Perseus is a man who shoulders everything alone. As the warrior who beheaded Medusa his reputation is widely known, but does anyone know his true reasons behind that conquest?
In Ambrosia’s quest, her travels have brought her into the enemy’s camp and she has to cozy up to the snake to further her journey. As she continues the dark path that she started on, she starts to realize her heart is becoming a traitor to her and is falling for a man on the wrong side of her mission. How will she be able to severe her emotions to keep her vow of vengeance?
Do fairytales ever come from tragedies?
Medusa’s daughter, Ambrosia, has been hiding since Perseus pulled her from her mother’s womb. She was raised training for the day she would avenge the curse and beheading of her mother. As she feels closer to that day, she decides to put all of her plans into action. Starting with her life style choices to put herself in the path of Perseus. She is the epitome of a woman scorned.
Perseus is a warrior unmatched. He past is his own and he doesn’t answer to anyone. His secrets are pain filled and lonely. Perseus is a man who shoulders everything alone. As the warrior who beheaded Medusa his reputation is widely known, but does anyone know his true reasons behind that conquest?
In Ambrosia’s quest, her travels have brought her into the enemy’s camp and she has to cozy up to the snake to further her journey. As she continues the dark path that she started on, she starts to realize her heart is becoming a traitor to her and is falling for a man on the wrong side of her mission. How will she be able to severe her emotions to keep her vow of vengeance?
Do fairytales ever come from tragedies?
January 21, 2015
I recieved this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I started this book and finished it last night in a short few hour period. Ambrosia; our female lead, works in a brothel run by Hercules and is searching for the man who killed her mother Medusa. She appears to be a strong woman who sticks up for herself (although later in the book I question how weak she can appear) and is up for an adventure with Perseus; the demigod who 'killed' Medusa. I love Greek myth so I was really excited for this, I was hoping there would be more, and the ending was a little neat (too many things just falling into place). Before starting the book I knew just how many pages were in it, but near the end I just wanted more pages and more information. I think there was a lot of potential in this book it focused on half-breeds and demigods rather than full-blooded gods, and Ambrosia was very cunning in her choice of profession, but I was left wanting more at the end.
I started this book and finished it last night in a short few hour period. Ambrosia; our female lead, works in a brothel run by Hercules and is searching for the man who killed her mother Medusa. She appears to be a strong woman who sticks up for herself (although later in the book I question how weak she can appear) and is up for an adventure with Perseus; the demigod who 'killed' Medusa. I love Greek myth so I was really excited for this, I was hoping there would be more, and the ending was a little neat (too many things just falling into place). Before starting the book I knew just how many pages were in it, but near the end I just wanted more pages and more information. I think there was a lot of potential in this book it focused on half-breeds and demigods rather than full-blooded gods, and Ambrosia was very cunning in her choice of profession, but I was left wanting more at the end.
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