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STONE: The Gorgon's Boyfriend
Kahel's father died when he was very little. This led him to work at a very young age to make ends meet. When he grew up and earned a scholarship at a top institution, his long-lost friend Drake reappeared in his life. But little does he realize Drake has brought more than flowers and butterflies into his already complicated existence.
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Published March 13, 2025
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September 2, 2025
Contemporary Literature in the Scope of Retellings: A Comprehensive Literary Review of STONE by JomGamerland
In contemporary literature, mythological retellings continue to serve as a dynamic mode of reimagining ancient stories for modern audiences, allowing writers to interrogate, subvert, and reclaim cultural narratives.
JomGamerland’s STONE enters this tradition with confidence, fusing Greek mythology, magical realism, and queer romance into a single narrative that both honors its mythic roots and transforms them into something distinctly modern.
Through its imagery, narrative design, and thematic ambitions, the novel engages with questions of identity, love, transformation, and vulnerability, situating itself as part of the growing body of queer retellings that reframe canonical myths.
The novel’s very title, STONE, is rich with symbolic resonance. It instantly recalls the Gorgon myth, particularly Medusa and her sisters, whose petrifying gaze rendered men powerless. This image is not merely decorative but foundational to the text’s exploration of transformation: stone becomes both a literal danger and a metaphor for paralysis, fear, and the weight of suppressed desire.
Later in the narrative, JomGamerland expands the mythic framework by invoking the story of Daedalus and Icarus, a tale of invention, ambition, and tragic downfall. By embedding such myths within the story, the author situates the novel within what Northrop Frye describes as the “mythos of tragedy,” where human striving collides with divine or natural limits.
Yet STONE does not remain bound to these myths; instead, it reframes them to engage with modern subjectivities, particularly queer identities and the erotic tensions that shape relationships.
As a work of mythopoetics, the novel demonstrates how retellings need not replicate the past but can instead reimagine it for present concerns. Greek mythology has often been mediated through heteronormative or patriarchal lenses, but STONE challenges these frameworks by foregrounding queer love and desire as central to mythic experience.
In this sense, the novel resonates with Roland Barthes’s notion of myth as a system of communication: while myths are inherited, their meanings can be reshaped, and JomGamerland reshapes them to create a narrative where erotic agency and queer intimacy are neither marginal nor transgressive but celebrated as transformative forces.
The narrative setting, in which two realms coexist within one world, firmly places the novel within the tradition of magical realism. The fantastical does not interrupt the real but flows alongside it, blurring distinctions between myth and lived experience. JomGamerland’s use of descriptive imagery intensifies this effect, creating a textured landscape that is both familiar and dreamlike.
Readers are invited not simply to observe myth from a distance—it is to inhabit it, as if myth itself were an ongoing reality. However, while the atmosphere is immersive, the magical system underlying the world feels underdeveloped. (Based on how I interpreted it. I do want it to be detailed though.)
The novel provides only broad strokes, leaving readers who favor detailed and systematic world-building with a sense of incompleteness. For literature students and critical readers, this gap may stand out, particularly when contrasted with the otherwise rich descriptive detail. (Again, kaarithan lang to, nasanay kasi na magbasa ng Dark Academia novels, so intricacies do matter on my perspective.)
Characterization lies at the heart of STONE’s appeal. The central relationship follows an enemies-to-lovers trajectory, a trope that thrives on tension, frustration, and eventual catharsis. The protagonists’ stubbornness and flaws can be exasperating, yet they also humanize the characters, anchoring their mythic roles in relatable emotional struggles. Their intimacy—rendered with both boldness and care—serves not only as narrative climax but also as a thematic statement. Just as many Greek myths entwine eros with transformation, the novel makes eroticism a central vehicle for vulnerability, reconciliation, and self-discovery.
Explicit scenes are crafted with intentionality, echoing the sensuous imagery of classical mythology while situating them within the modern framework of Boys’ Love fiction. Rather than functioning as gratuitous embellishment, these moments assert the legitimacy of queer erotic experience within mythic retellings.
In this regard, STONE participates in the broader literary movement of queer retellings, which challenge and destabilize traditional mythic frameworks. Where earlier receptions of mythology often excluded or erased queer voices, contemporary retellings reclaim these spaces, affirming that myths—long used to convey universal human experience—must also account for marginalized identities.
JomGamerland’s work thus aligns with the evolving discourse on inclusivity in literature, where myth serves not as static cultural memory but as a flexible narrative form open to reinterpretation.
Despite its occasional weaknesses—particularly in the lack of systematization within its magical mechanics—STONE succeeds as a vibrant and compelling retelling. Its strengths lie in its stylistic richness, its bold mythopoetic allusions, and its unapologetic integration of queer romance.
The novel exemplifies how retellings can function as both homage and innovation: preserving the resonance of ancient stories while imbuing them with new relevance and urgency. In doing so, it demonstrates that myth remains a living narrative form, capable of transformation alongside the societies that inherit it.
STONE is a novel of intensity and contradiction: at once mythic and modern, erotic and emotional, frustrating and rewarding. It captures the spirit of retellings by allowing myth to speak in new voices, reshaping cultural memory into a transformative and inclusive narrative.
For readers who are drawn to mythological fiction, queer romance, or the atmospheric interplay of magical realism, the book offers both familiarity and novelty.
JomGamerland’s STONE not only entertains—it also contributes to the ongoing conversation about how literature reclaims, reconfigures, and revitalizes the myths we continue to inherit. It is a work highly recommended for those who seek literature that bridges the ancient and the contemporary, the mythical and the human.
Five stars! ✨
In contemporary literature, mythological retellings continue to serve as a dynamic mode of reimagining ancient stories for modern audiences, allowing writers to interrogate, subvert, and reclaim cultural narratives.
JomGamerland’s STONE enters this tradition with confidence, fusing Greek mythology, magical realism, and queer romance into a single narrative that both honors its mythic roots and transforms them into something distinctly modern.
Through its imagery, narrative design, and thematic ambitions, the novel engages with questions of identity, love, transformation, and vulnerability, situating itself as part of the growing body of queer retellings that reframe canonical myths.
The novel’s very title, STONE, is rich with symbolic resonance. It instantly recalls the Gorgon myth, particularly Medusa and her sisters, whose petrifying gaze rendered men powerless. This image is not merely decorative but foundational to the text’s exploration of transformation: stone becomes both a literal danger and a metaphor for paralysis, fear, and the weight of suppressed desire.
Later in the narrative, JomGamerland expands the mythic framework by invoking the story of Daedalus and Icarus, a tale of invention, ambition, and tragic downfall. By embedding such myths within the story, the author situates the novel within what Northrop Frye describes as the “mythos of tragedy,” where human striving collides with divine or natural limits.
Yet STONE does not remain bound to these myths; instead, it reframes them to engage with modern subjectivities, particularly queer identities and the erotic tensions that shape relationships.
As a work of mythopoetics, the novel demonstrates how retellings need not replicate the past but can instead reimagine it for present concerns. Greek mythology has often been mediated through heteronormative or patriarchal lenses, but STONE challenges these frameworks by foregrounding queer love and desire as central to mythic experience.
In this sense, the novel resonates with Roland Barthes’s notion of myth as a system of communication: while myths are inherited, their meanings can be reshaped, and JomGamerland reshapes them to create a narrative where erotic agency and queer intimacy are neither marginal nor transgressive but celebrated as transformative forces.
The narrative setting, in which two realms coexist within one world, firmly places the novel within the tradition of magical realism. The fantastical does not interrupt the real but flows alongside it, blurring distinctions between myth and lived experience. JomGamerland’s use of descriptive imagery intensifies this effect, creating a textured landscape that is both familiar and dreamlike.
Readers are invited not simply to observe myth from a distance—it is to inhabit it, as if myth itself were an ongoing reality. However, while the atmosphere is immersive, the magical system underlying the world feels underdeveloped. (Based on how I interpreted it. I do want it to be detailed though.)
The novel provides only broad strokes, leaving readers who favor detailed and systematic world-building with a sense of incompleteness. For literature students and critical readers, this gap may stand out, particularly when contrasted with the otherwise rich descriptive detail. (Again, kaarithan lang to, nasanay kasi na magbasa ng Dark Academia novels, so intricacies do matter on my perspective.)
Characterization lies at the heart of STONE’s appeal. The central relationship follows an enemies-to-lovers trajectory, a trope that thrives on tension, frustration, and eventual catharsis. The protagonists’ stubbornness and flaws can be exasperating, yet they also humanize the characters, anchoring their mythic roles in relatable emotional struggles. Their intimacy—rendered with both boldness and care—serves not only as narrative climax but also as a thematic statement. Just as many Greek myths entwine eros with transformation, the novel makes eroticism a central vehicle for vulnerability, reconciliation, and self-discovery.
Explicit scenes are crafted with intentionality, echoing the sensuous imagery of classical mythology while situating them within the modern framework of Boys’ Love fiction. Rather than functioning as gratuitous embellishment, these moments assert the legitimacy of queer erotic experience within mythic retellings.
In this regard, STONE participates in the broader literary movement of queer retellings, which challenge and destabilize traditional mythic frameworks. Where earlier receptions of mythology often excluded or erased queer voices, contemporary retellings reclaim these spaces, affirming that myths—long used to convey universal human experience—must also account for marginalized identities.
JomGamerland’s work thus aligns with the evolving discourse on inclusivity in literature, where myth serves not as static cultural memory but as a flexible narrative form open to reinterpretation.
Despite its occasional weaknesses—particularly in the lack of systematization within its magical mechanics—STONE succeeds as a vibrant and compelling retelling. Its strengths lie in its stylistic richness, its bold mythopoetic allusions, and its unapologetic integration of queer romance.
The novel exemplifies how retellings can function as both homage and innovation: preserving the resonance of ancient stories while imbuing them with new relevance and urgency. In doing so, it demonstrates that myth remains a living narrative form, capable of transformation alongside the societies that inherit it.
STONE is a novel of intensity and contradiction: at once mythic and modern, erotic and emotional, frustrating and rewarding. It captures the spirit of retellings by allowing myth to speak in new voices, reshaping cultural memory into a transformative and inclusive narrative.
For readers who are drawn to mythological fiction, queer romance, or the atmospheric interplay of magical realism, the book offers both familiarity and novelty.
JomGamerland’s STONE not only entertains—it also contributes to the ongoing conversation about how literature reclaims, reconfigures, and revitalizes the myths we continue to inherit. It is a work highly recommended for those who seek literature that bridges the ancient and the contemporary, the mythical and the human.
Five stars! ✨
April 3, 2025
THIS.IS.AN.AMAZING.BOOK!
I might be exaggerating, but I kid you not- this is one of the best BLs I have ever read. I am typically not a fan of fantasy books, but this one hit the spot as a blend of fantasy and romance.
One of my favorite parts of this book is the first few chapters, wherein we see the protagonist, Kahel, sharing his experience of being bullied because of his sexuality, which I think a lot of people can relate to. The portrayal of Kahel being a ***** (Major spoiler, can't say it) is such a unique twist, and some characters from the story who had a big revelation at the end of the story made my mouth drop.
The story is a good representation of fighting and caring for your loved ones. NO matter how life gets tough or if things don't go the way you wanted to, trusting yourself and the people who can support you can make a huge impact.
Purchasing this book was the best decision I made last December 2024. What makes it even better is that they have special chapters that are only exclusive in the physical book, so it's a win for me.
I applaud Sir JomGamerland for this unique and exciting book. And I can't wait for his future works.
I might be exaggerating, but I kid you not- this is one of the best BLs I have ever read. I am typically not a fan of fantasy books, but this one hit the spot as a blend of fantasy and romance.
One of my favorite parts of this book is the first few chapters, wherein we see the protagonist, Kahel, sharing his experience of being bullied because of his sexuality, which I think a lot of people can relate to. The portrayal of Kahel being a ***** (Major spoiler, can't say it) is such a unique twist, and some characters from the story who had a big revelation at the end of the story made my mouth drop.
The story is a good representation of fighting and caring for your loved ones. NO matter how life gets tough or if things don't go the way you wanted to, trusting yourself and the people who can support you can make a huge impact.
Purchasing this book was the best decision I made last December 2024. What makes it even better is that they have special chapters that are only exclusive in the physical book, so it's a win for me.
I applaud Sir JomGamerland for this unique and exciting book. And I can't wait for his future works.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews