Andromeda: An electric reclaiming of the most famed, white-washed woman in Greek mythology

by E.S. McLeod

A powerful, electric reclaiming of the most famed, white-washed woman in Greek mythology.

'A thoughtful, poetic and compelling novel that quietly stole my heart' Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne

'Lyrically magnificent, romantically elegant and poetically divine... a tender yet fierce reclamation of myth crafted by a masterful hand' Bea Fitzgerald, Sunday Times bestselling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen

'Utterly unforgettable... McLeod weaves a tale both heartbreakingly romantic and heartbreakingly beautiful' Natasha Siegel, author of As Many Souls as Stars
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A myth rewritten. A name reclaimed.

Blessed by the gods with unparalleled beauty, Andromeda lives a life of ease within her Aethiopian palace walls. Content with her sanctuary, the young princess has no concerns other than the royal expectations her parents have for her – until a single, fateful proclamation changes everything.

When the queen defies the gods with a blasphemous claim, Poseidon, fearsome God of the Seas, delivers a deadly ultimatum that puts the queen’s life in Andromeda’s hands. Poseidon sends his loyal servant, the shape-shifting Ceto, to seal the princess’s fate.

But Ceto is not just a servant. With a sharp tongue and hardened heart, she has little interest in the princess’s appearance – and even less in the games of gods. Yet an undeniable tension begins to bloom between them, and both quickly realise Andromeda’s beauty is not only a gift, but a weapon to wield. As Poseidon’s judgement draws ever closer, the two women find themselves pulled into something far more passionate – and dangerous – than either could have predicted...
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Readers love

'Intimate, fierce, and quietly powerful'
'Will stick with me for a long time'
'By the end, I was emotionally wrung out, but in the best way'
'Brilliant. One of the most emotional, intimate and romantic stories I've read'
'The kind of retelling that respects the original myth but isn't afraid to question it'

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Lesbian, Queer, Retellings, Historical Fiction, Historical

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 14, 2026

Reviews

[Em ☽✦ღ · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing about me is that I love a retelling. ESPECIALLY when it’s Greek mythology. I went into Andromeda already interested on that basis, and came out utterly obsessed with the characters. This book takes a familiar myth and reshapes it into something intimate, fierce, and quietly powerful.

Andromeda becomes a really compelling heroine. She begins sheltered and constrained by expectation, defined by her beauty rather than her will, and watching her slowly reclaim that narrative was deeply satisfying. Her beauty is never treated as something shallow or passive. Instead, as with all things Ancient Greek, it feels dangerous and threatening. Her growth felt earned and emotionally resonant.

Ceto absolutely stole my heart. Sharp-tongued, guarded, and clearly weary of the gods and their games, she is the perfect counterbalance to Andromeda. The dynamic between them is electric. Their relationship builds through tension, defiance, and reluctant understanding rather than instant trust, and I loved how layered and restrained it was. Every interaction felt charged, full of things unsaid. The slow realisation of desire and respect between them was beautifully done.

The gods are genuinely frightening here (as they should be!!) especially Poseidon. The power imbalance is palpable, and the looming sense of judgement creates a constant undercurrent of dread that raises the stakes in every scene. I loved how the story explores what it means to live under divine cruelty and how resistance can take many forms, not all of them loud or violent. The description of Aphrodite in one scene (no spoilers) genuinely had me cackling with glee because it’s so perfect.

The writing is elegant and immersive, with a strong sense of atmosphere and emotion. The pacing allowed the characters and their relationship to breathe while never losing the sense of urgency ticking down toward judgement. More than a few times I found myself desperately checking page numbers in the hopes that Andromeda had more time. If you know the myth, you’ll know the arrival of a particular character in the latter half of the book signals a change in the narrative, but it was still just as emotionally rewarding for me.

Overall, this book felt thoughtful, romantic, and quietly powerful. It’s the kind of retelling that respects the original myth but also isn’t afraid to question it. I finished it feeling a little bit wrecked and very grateful I picked it up. Five stars from me.

Thank you to L. S. McLeod, Random House, and NetGalley for the eARC!!

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m really not someone who’s suckered in by a cover usually but OH MY GOD I’M ONLY HUMAN AND LOOK AT IT.

Okay now the fangirling is done with on to the meat of it.

Andromeda is a coming of age story about a girl declared by the Gods to be beautiful. When her mother’s wayward tongue invokes the anger of the God of the Sea, she is entangled in a marriage agreement to take place when she first bleeds. Ceto, a sea monster, is tasked with keeping the Princess of Aethiopia safe till her wedding day.

As you can imagine in a story about the Gods; chaos shortly ensues.

For a very short book characterisation is immediate and impactful. Every relationship is painted in clarity, whether lovely like that between Andromeda and her mother and grandmother, or the more turbulent relationship between her and her dad, the courtiers and eventually Perseus (I’ll get to that.)

But nowhere is it better sold than in Andromeda’s relationship with Ceto. Their conflict was compelling and relatable, their mistrust and frustration with each other and their lot in life painful but brilliantly done. The eventual shift from dislike to something more was spectacular. A near book long arc that makes you earn your yearning, a defining example of slow burn if I’ve seen one.

As a coming of age story this is mostly an introspective book about development rather than something action packed. But the action McLeod gives us is beautifully paced. There’s not a tonne of gorier details but the author has a real talent for depicting violence when she leans into it. There’s some really gut wrenching stuff alongside absolutely stunning descriptions. It was such a blend of talent and writing muscles and I was addicted to it.

The writing style of this has immediately elevated McLeod into the position of one of my favourite prose-centred writers. Everything is purposeful but gorgeous, and she paints all the places and people in Andromeda with startling precision. She is absolute in what she wants to get across, whether it be an emotion like grief or lust, or the beauty or ugliness of a given thing. All without an ounce of telling, and I adored it. The portions of the book about Poseidon’s realm were done especially beautifully the author absolutely nails the mythic, aweinspiring tone books about the Gods demand.

My issue was that I don’t know who the hell the Main Character was, but she wasn’t Andromeda.

McLeod has a genuinely impressive imagination and I think this book would have been an easy 6/5* had this been based on an entirely original pantheon. Instead McLeod shoehorned traits and new histories onto very well established myths. While I genuinely adored this book in spite of that - I can absolutely see that miffing some mythology buffs.

For absolute, irrefutable clarity my issue is in no way that this book was brought back to its original Ethiopian setting. I loved that aspect.

A dear friend bleeds on the altar of everything Greek mythology, so I was discussing the Andromeda myth with her as I read along. Safe to say she was startled to learn Perseus doesn’t show up til the 60% mark.

Andromeda in the original stories is a woman of agency and her relationship with Perseus is one of few examples of a non-toxic partnership in…. Well the entirety of Greek lore (a generalisation but forgive me.)

It’s not that I don’t like this Andromeda. Quite the opposite, I loved her arc and characterisation here, but so much of it was dishonest to the original stories this played homage too. I love that she’s made sapphic, but not at the assasination of Perseus.

I completely understand retellings will have changes, interpretations and creative liberties. But where sold as a “retelling” the spine or scaffolding of the stout should really be recognisable. If the original Andromeda story was a fish, this interpretation was a cat.

A beautiful cat, but a cat.

Also to say this book handled incestuous plotlines in a weirder way than GREEK MYTHS is possibly a world first. The creepy betrothed uncle got more decent character work than Perseus did for a chunk of this book.

I didn’t need McLeod’s retelling to be a mirror image of everything that came before. But when the homage is a world apart from the original and maintains its claim on “retelling” unfortunately disappointment in some form is inevitable.

Thankfully, if you close your eyes and imagine this is all just very coincidental. The core character arc of Andromeda and Ceto is genuinely phenomenal. I loved them and this setting in spite of it being slightly weirdly sold. And I for one am very excited to see what McLeod has in store next.

[Sevi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK | Transworld Publishers for providing me with an ARC and giving me the opportunity to share my honest review.

"Names are a kind of prophecy and prophecy is a kind of burden"

If only E.S. McLeod had turned her frustration with a whitewashed Andromeda into visual art. A painting. A collage. A moodboard, even. Anything but this ill conceived and poorly written book.

Usually with modern myth retellings, I get the feeling the author skimmed their chosen character's Wikipedia page once and went to work. I don't think McLeod did even that - there were just so many elements that didn't make sense within the context of greek myths - why would Poseidon wait for Andromeda to "come of age", when greek gods have no qualms about kidnapping their chosen mortal lovers (see: Zeus and Europa, Zeus and Ganymede, Zeus and practically anyone, really), why would he reward Cassiopeia's hubris by offering to marry her daugher, why would he care if she could bear him sons when sons are the leading cause of death among greek gods (see: Uranus, Kronos)? This choice of central conflict was baffling at best and deeply frustrating at worst.

The enemies to lovers plotline between Andromeda and Ceto did little to help the novel's case - it was oftentimes flat (with many an overused booktok enemies to lovers line) and could have been better developed, had there only been fewer time skips.

The writing itself too was often clunky and used some odd, too modern phrases, namely:

"He is the colonizer of primordial waters - he claimed each drop of embryonic fluid as his own." - odd word choice, not quite right for the setting;

"The cool grey at the end of the day dyed orange as died the sun." - awkward turn of phrase;

"The Lord Poseidon charges the Queen of Aethiopia with hubris." - Are we in a police procedural?

"The very much-ness of him, the bounty and surplus, overwhelm me." Plain bad writing.

"My attendants tell me this is where he spends most of his time now, learning the footsteps that will one day be his." - Weird turn of phrase - how do you learn footsteps?;

"What a good girl," I murmur. I use the voice I learned from her, low and devastating. Her breath quickens and her face heats." - Big win for the booktok crowd, but at what cost?

That is not to say it was all negative, there were some good ideas there too - for example, the juxtaposition between greek and egyptian gods - though I wish that had been erexplored a little bit more.

Overall, if you're a fan of sapphic enemies to lovers stories, this book might be of interest to you. If you like greek myth retellings, though, this will probably be a frustrating experience for you too.

[Sophie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who will read anything inspired by Greek mythology, this completely pulled me in.

The prose is honestly one of my favourite parts, it’s lyrical without being overwhelming and there are so many lines that just linger. It really adds to that slightly haunting, mythic atmosphere.

Ceto was such a standout character for me. Sharp-tongued, guarded and clearly weary of the gods and their games, she was such a compelling character. She’s the perfect counterbalance to Andromeda and their dynamic is easily the best part of the book.

I also loved how the gods are portrayed in this book. They actually feel like beings to be feared which makes the stakes feel real in a way a lot of mythology retellings don’t.

My only real complaint is that I just wanted more and I wish the book was longer.

[blok sera szwajcarskiego · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for honest opinion, thanks!

Absolutely wonderful prose and poignant reclaiming of a Greek myth. It's short, but full to the brim, each page is used to its full potential, weaving a powerful and charismatic story. E.S. McLeod charms with her words, although there were fragments I felt the vocabulary felt a bit too harsh, a bit too out of place. But those were mearly moments. Really strong book.

[Christina C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I LOVE Greek mythology and the retelling of historical stories. The writing…I just couldn’t get into. 😖. I’ll try again in the summer

[Alexis Pratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5⭐

Thank to Penguin Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, and NetGalley for the eARC! Andromeda available for purchase starting May 14th, 2026.

At birth, Andromeda was given her beautiful face by Aphrodite and her prophetic name (Ruler of Men) by Athena. From childhood, her mother (Queen Cassiopeia of Aethiopeia) sought to forge her daughter into the ruler she was destined to be. Her confidence declared Andromeda to be the most beautiful woman alive, even more so than Poseidon's Nereids. Poseidon was not pleased to hear his current choice of bride may be second best, and tasks his loyal servant, Ceto (the monstrous, shape-shifting Cetus), to watch over Andromeda's progress through womanhood and be the deciding vote on if she is truly more beautiful than her sister, Amphitrite (Poseidon's soon-to-be Nereid wife). Growing through the years together, Ceto and Andromeda forge an unlikely bond. Conspiring together to test the limits of Ceto's blood-bound oath to Poseidon, they are determined to find freedom in the limitations they are given.

Initial thoughts: WOW. I had forgotten the initial premise by the time I started reading, and was so pleasantly surprised learning the direction this story was going to take! I should also note, while I love Greek Mythology retellings, I was not familiar with the story of Andromeda prior to this.

McLeod's writing is beautifully lyrical and specific. Each sentence is perfectly layered to add the atmosphere one craves from stories in this genre, and the complexities of our character's emotional landscape. This story is spearheaded by strong female characters both divine and mortal. Each are ruling with the precision and strategy needed to hold the upper hand in a world run by men. The commentary on what it means to be a woman with an ever changing body in a world of men who seek to claim and possess was devastatingly accurate without overtly exhausting the realities we all know to be true.

As previously mentioned, I was not familiar with the story of Andromeda prior to reading, so I never knew which direction McLeod was going to take. I found this incredibly exciting, and I would recommend others to experience it this way, too. This was also my first sapphic novel, and I adored the perspective Andromeda was given in the relationship. I often find the emphasis to be on the MC as the receiver (maybe to satisfy some people's ability to self-insert?), but Andromeda represented the more dominate force and I loved the change in the expected dynamic (especially with a sea monster companion, lol). It was raw, intimate, and heartbreaking in all of the best ways.

While I thoroughly enjoyed my first time reading the work of E.S. McLeod, there were just a few moments in plot/relationship pacing that fell flat for me. I do think this comes with the territory of Greek Mythology having so much lore to follow, but there were moments I felt advancements were made that I struggled to follow. Overall this is a story I was glad to dedicate time to for the viscerality of it's best moments!

[TheNovelNomad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was stunning. Tender, furious, romantic, and quietly powerful—Andromeda is exactly the kind of Greek myth retelling I keep hoping to find.

McLeod takes a figure who has long been reduced to a footnote—a beautiful sacrifice, a prize for a hero—and gives her depth, agency, and a voice of her own. This Andromeda is Black, complex, and painfully human. Watching her grow from a sheltered girl defined solely by her beauty into a woman who understands that same beauty as both burden and weapon was deeply satisfying.

The relationship between Andromeda and Ceto is the heart of the novel, and it’s beautifully done. Their dynamic begins with sharp edges and mistrust and slowly transforms into something intimate, defiant, and achingly tender. Ceto’s sharp tongue and refusal to play the gods’ games made her an instant favourite, and the tension between them felt earned rather than rushed. This is a love story built on resistance, survival, and choice.

I also loved how terrifying the gods felt. They are not distant or romanticised here—they are cruel, vast, and utterly indifferent to human suffering. Poseidon looms over the story like a storm that never quite breaks, and the sense of impending judgement adds real weight to every decision Andromeda makes.

The writing is lyrical without being heavy, emotional without tipping into melodrama. While the story starts gently, the pacing works in its favour, allowing the characters and themes to breathe. By the end, I was fully invested—emotionally wrung out, but in the best way.

This is a feminist, sapphic reclaiming that feels both reverent and bold. A retelling that honours the myth while refusing to let it remain unchanged.

Highly recommended for readers who love mythological retellings with rage, romance, and heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Celia Posada · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

TLDR; read this if you love Greek mythology retellings, coming of age stories, and sapphic romance.

I was initially drawn in to read this book by the amazingly stunning cover. I mean, look at it! That plus the description being “A powerful, electric reclaiming of the most famed, white-washed woman in Greek mythology” had me immediately hooked.

For as much as I love reading Greek mythology retellings, I really don’t know much about Greek Mythology so I went into this story not knowing much about Andromeda other than what I read in the description. If you don’t know the story of Andromeda, just go in blind- don’t look up her story beforehand.

This was a beautifully written Greek mythology retelling plus a sapphic romance. Lyrical prose but not overly done. The beginning with the character and world building took me a while to wrap my head around but once it got into the story and plot, I was totally immersed and the work I put in the first few chapters were worth it!

I was really able to connect with the characters and appreciate their complex relationship dynamics. I absolutely loved how Andromeda grew throughout the story. The underlying themes are executed very well. There were a couple scenes where the dialogue between the characters felt out of place but it didn’t take me out of the story. Overall, lovely read and highly recommend!

[marf · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I love a mythological retelling about the women of Ancient Greece, McLeod’s Andromeda was no exception. The broad spectrum of female characters was refreshing, set splendidly against the backdrop of (what would be modern) north-east Africa.

There were some very tender moments throughout Andromeda’s journey, but at times the writing suffered from overuse of ‘lyrical’ monologues. I also would have liked to have seen the relationship Andromeda had with her mother developed more in the middle part of the book.

Ultimately though, I think McLeod succeeded in writing a novel easily identifiable as a deep ode to womanhood. I’m excited to see what else they have in store.

Thank you to Random House UK and NetGalley for the ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

PS there is no way a dolphin could dive that deep and hold its breath for that long, I don’t care if it’s magical!!

[Ashley Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley & Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for providing a digital copy to review*

This book offers an interesting interpretation of Andromeda & Ceto and makes the myth more interesting, especially as it focuses on Andromeda rather than Perseus.

This is Andromeda’s story from her perspective. We see how she struggles with being beautiful and how that defines how mortals and gods react to her. Attention makes her uncomfortable, and her only solace is spending most of her time with her grandmother.

This is a queer enemies-to-lovers with Poseidon ordering Ceto to observe Andromeda. Most of the book is centred around their relationship, and I really loved seeing how it develops, and there was good tension between the two. We also see her relationship with Perseus, and I was relieved that he wasn’t totally horrible.

I also really enjoyed learning more about aspects of Greek myth I didn’t know much of, such as the naiads and the oceanids and their relationship with one another.

While I enjoyed the way it was written, the writing was at times lyrical, which did lose me. Also, with most of the book being dedicated to Andromeda & Ceto’s relationship, her life with Perseus felt like an afterthought, with it just being brief glimpses.

I really enjoyed this interpretation, and I loved that Ceto was treated as a proper character with her own voice.

[jlreadstoperpetuity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greek myth retelling but make it sapphic and emotionally dangerous. Princess Andromeda gets cursed by the gods because her mom messed up, and the shapeshifting servant Ceto is sent to seal her fate.. except tension happens. Beauty as a weapon, gods being messy, and feelings that could literally doom you. Soft myth vibes but with sharp teeth and yearning.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Previous mythology retellings for me have been hit or miss. I was skeptical but I had high hopes for this! it boasts all the intrigue
✨️ black female main character
✨️ queer representation
✨️ female rage/banter/wit
✨️ longitudinal story over 10-15 years

I loosely know the story of Andromeda which was really fun going into this, it allowed the story to have a life of its own. (still enjoyable if you are well versed in Greek mythology). We first meet Andromeda as a girl (think: naive, v few life lessons learned) over the course of her story we see her learn and adjust to her birth gift: her beauty. How at times she sees this as a curse, but also a weapon. Andromeda repeatedly suffers at the hands of men and the gods.

Then there's Ceto. It was so beautiful to read their love story. What started with hatred and biting words turned into deep, sacrificial love.

I need more people to read this book so I can talk about the good/bad of both Andromeda's mother (Cassiopeia) and Perseus. Because if I was Andromeda I'd tell both of them to go to hell 😂 They didnt get enough hate in this book for me 🤷🏽‍♀️ (and dont get me started on her father 🙄)

I sooooo wished there was a little more to the epilogue, I had a few remaining questions at the end. But overall this was a solid retelling. The writing was poignant, lyrical at times, descriptive, and powerful.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Lioba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and to Randome House UK for giving me the ARC. <3

Andromeda was blessed with a face of singular beauty. Eyes follow her at all times, looking, watching. And she learns soon that this does not equal kindness but a danger in the world of men where she is not subject but object of the will of others, including her own mother. But she finds a rhythm, a hope for the future and of stability in the small world where she is safe to walk under Orange Trees to the River of her grandmother. And she grows in those set boundaries of safety. Until her mother makes a declaration, dreaming of more - for what is now and may be, is not enough. And Poseidon's eyes fall onto Aethiopia and onto Andromeda. And the life of Queen Cassiopeia lays in the beauty of her daughters face. But the time of the judgment has not yet come and a new person is slithering as a Guard around the Palace, always there, always watching. A new pair of eyes that are openly unfriendly. To guard Andromeda and ensure there is no trickery, but only truth.
Over the years all lies, unconscious untruths, are stripped to honesty until the waves crash as they must on the shore. But how will the water treat the one named Andromeda - Ruler of Men or Deceiver of Men?

The reading experience was really amazing. It flowed down very nicely and easily. On occasion it was slower and on other parts it was speeding forward, either way I was delighted. I found myself sinking into the warm world of Aethiopia easily and found understanding in the text and in Andromeda of Being a Woman in a world that sees them mostly as objects, and the power of women is a subtle one. How she grew and became older and how the naivete of the young child fell to the growing woman that understands more and more. At 75% I was sobbing and had to hold onto something. I described it to a friend as: A Greek Tragedy and McLeod is drinking my tears!
I always had thought that the myth of Andromeda is surprisingly short and this retelling gripped me strongly, to think about who that Girl chained on the cliff was before she was chained came natural to me. And now I also think about who Cetus/Ceto was before the she was meant to eat Andromeda.

I liked Andromeda and could relate to her in moments of vulnerability. Ceto is precious, full of fight and need, and I wish I knew more from her and not just from Andromeda's perspective. I love the complexity of the relationship between Andromeda and her mother, the book does not shy away from the care they have for each other while not minimizing the toxicity of this bond. I do think if you have a complex relationship with your mother you will find understanding and presentation here. The way the men are is painfully accurate, I think. And the gods truly are an experience of far away and uncaring with the humans beneath them, and yet at the same time caring and protective, attempting to help in some way. Though maybe not in the way wanted or needed, and not enough.

The Plot starts to sink in with Andromeda's pacing of a slow life that speeds up. And she flows along. It build up wonderfully up to the 75% mark where for me everything came to Fulfillment. Devastatingly so. After that the ending felt a bit flat to me. But that might be because the emotional peak was at 75%, it is hard to compete with that. And I fell into despair together with Andromeda but did not manage to be build up again with her, for that I think it went to fast and Andromeda had more time, while I had only the last chapters and was not ready yet. Maybe I would have found it as perfection if it ended at that Peak, have it be that Greek Tragedy. But I am also happy that there is another end - even if it was not enough. Just as it was not enough for Cassiopeia and Andromeda and Ceto through the story.

It is a story that talks about Faces and Connection. About how we may be remembered and if that matters. How we change and are formed by our surroundings and experiences. And how being known, being seen, is a need but one that scares us.

"Perhaps it is the fate of women to shred, rather than expand."

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

{Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!}

(Marking as a spoiler review just in case there are some who are unfamiliar with the Greek myth prior to reading)

Andromeda, a whitewashed small woman made to prop up Perseus, is made alive by McLeod’s prose. Lyrical, completely. Once I would start reading, I didn’t want to put it down. Every description is lush and vivid in a way that I haven’t seen from other authors in a long time (the last one I remember being significantly impressed with was S.T. Gibson’s A Dowry of Blood). Andromeda is made from a sheltered young woman, dreaming of her prophecy as the ruler of men to a knowledgeable, strong individual who no longer looks to others to protect her. Her perspective is compelling, even when she is naive.

Ceto, my beloved, the Cetus of the original story is the perfect match for Andromeda: someone as prickly and set in her mindset that is melted by the other’s understanding and sweetness. I fell in complete love with Ceto and their devotion to Andromeda from their very first encounter (iykyk).

Their relationship is even better; completely full of yearning and romance and desire. This is the kind of love I want to see in romances and subplot romances. One where I need not be told these characters are in love, but where I yearn for their happiness.

I can’t sing its praises enough. Truly, you will fall in love with this book from the first.

Unfortunately, I have one glaring issue: Perseus and part 3.

I wanted this part to match the overall themes of the narrative. Misogyny. The roles of women in these myths, how women are used as objects, how beauty is never a boon to a woman but a mark of new victim, how women gain strength to define their lives only to still have it taken by men. As the new saying goes, it's always a man.

I want this story to mesh that with Perseus, not redeem him or make him likable. We have seen what he’s done. We know how Andromeda was affected. Wanting me to find solace in this new person is unfortunately impossible.

And I understand why this redirection is taken in part 3. Time separates us from that pain, and inevitably, we find comforts and joys in our new normals. Yet after the climax of our myth, I kept wondering: what else? What else do you want me to see? It feels disjointed from the rest of the story, and you are laying in wait for… something. Sixty odd pages of very slow, uninteresting scenes that are told to you don't give satisfaction.

I do not want to see Andromeda and Perseus have sex. I want to see Andromeda establish her court of women and have that closeness with women again, and I feel as though the emphasis that this needed was not there. We never really see Andromeda speak to mortal women, and I think there's something to be said about how the narrative keeps her separate from that very thing, I believe, the audience would need to see. Instead, Andromeda becomes the mother we’ve all grown up with: women who had lives and dreams. Hopes that were dashed because they got married, had children, and now must use their lives as cautionary tales to their own daughters. What our mothers could have been if not for that man and what society forces women to be. Placating. I can see what is trying to be done here with this, and I just shrug. I wanted to see that part of Cassopeia come out of her, to have hubris. And to see it happen, not to be told so that it is fact.

It's a shame because, again, the prose does something so fun and interesting that I won't even mention it to keep it a surprise.

The ending comes back to itself, but you must wonder if those pages where you're waiting for something to happen, where the theme dislocates and waits to be reattached, makes it worth it in the end.

I can’t give it a three, the first half of the book is too stunning for that, but it loses its footing in its resolution, so a very tentative 4/ 5 stars will have to do. I still recommend it. However, you’ll be frustrated with the last part.

[Rallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Fans Of: Song of Achilles, Circe, Inanna, Stone Blind, Kaikeyi

Wow, what a beautifully bisexual book (and with a good bit of spice that I was not expecting, like a surprise onion ring in your fries)!

I love this revisitation of the myth of Andromeda as an example of what this genre can really be used for. All retellings take liberties, but the choices McLeod makes are closer to Innana/the Sumerians trilogy than Song of Achilles in the way it revisits a known myth but adds entirely new story elements in addition to retelling the tale as we have heard it before.

McLeod brings Andromeda to life, fleshing out the world with details that bring magic to the front, focusing on her foundational relationship with Achiroe and her naiad heritage, and her encounters with other non-human mythic figures (I adore the female cyclopes and everything they bring to the world).

While I'm not the biggest fan of stories written in present tense, especially first-person present tense, McLeod's lyricism mostly makes up for it. Before Ceto is introduced there are some parts that drag on a bit, but once we have our worm the flow really starts. I did like the choice to switch to third person in the final part of the book as a representation of Andromeda's depersonalization and dissociation after what, for her, was the worst thing that could ever happen.

The way she writes Ceto brings such depth to what is effectively an entirely new character within the story - "When they speak of her it will not be of the welcoming leagues of her eyes. It will not mean sharp tongued or fiercely, brutally loyal or brave. It will not mean ‘lover of figs’ or ‘quick-footed dancer’." We know where the myth goes, but her ferocity and uncompromising attitude (and its effect on Andromeda who desperately needed a wakeup call) are so endearing that when the inevitable confrontation comes it is all the more tragic.

"I am giddy with our mutual dislike. It is freeing, this loathing. I do not have to smile and say pretty things. I may scowl! I may be creative in my harsh words! She may throw barbs back and yet she can do no more than this. Something lightens my chest, though my heart beats as if I am dancing."

The enemies-to-lovers arc between Andromeda and Ceto is so delightfully sapphic, I was giggling every time they butted heads, and the sweetness of it all when they finally give in is so well-deserved. The way she wrote Cassiopeia as "mommy knows best," Achiroe as the safe haven Andromeda (and Ceto) could retreat to, and Perseus as the golden retriever husband all brought so much to the story. It was nice to see a version of Perseus treated as a Grecian hero (because he is a hero within his own story no matter what retellings often explore in pursuit of anti-patriarchal empowerment in Medusa's story), where it doesn't necessarily make him a good person but it makes him grand, and in that he can learn to be good - his arc within the final 3rd of the book makes a beautiful counterpoint to Andromeda's arc. 

This is a book for the bisexuals, for people who want to be more than they're allowed to be, for people who crave tragedy with a little bit of hope, and for people who want to revisit a classic myth in an expanded story that is still nominally faithful to the "real" one.

Thank you to Bantam/Random House UK, and to NetGalley for this ARC. This review is my own opinion and I'm leaving it by choice.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Please note that misogyny and sexual violence are major themes in this book.

I went in blind, with little to no knowledge of the story of Andromeda in Greek Mythology and researched more about it after finishing the book.

Andromeda is a feminist and sapphic retelling of a Greek myth with a lot of feminine rage, where women take agency over their own lives instead of being victims in need of a hero to save them. The author also reimagines Andromeda as a person of her own with depth and agency and reclaims her identity as a Black woman, instead of a “just” a footnote as a sacrifice/prize who is often whitewashed.

The setting was very refreshing – instead of the usual setting taking place in Ancient Greece, this retelling takes place in Aethiopia. The writing is beautiful and does an amazing job describing the atmosphere.

Early in the story, Andromeda didn’t seem to have a personality, but we get to watch her grow and learn about herself, as she starts understanding her desires. She started as a more passive figure, but grew into this strong and decisive character as she got older and spent more and more time with Ceto.
I also loved how there’s this care in describing Andromeda as having rich dark skin and voluminous and textured hair and the emphasis that all her features were blessed by the Gods, mainly Aphrodite and Athena.

Andromeda and Ceto’s relationship is the main focus of the story. It’s a classic case of enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity. It was beautiful, heavy and emotional. Their conflict and initial mistrust was so compelling. And the yearning! Oh, it was beautiful. However, I felt the romance was a bit rushed. We didn’t really get to see them grow together for most of those years before they got together, which was a shame. I would have loved to see more of their initial dynamics!

I enjoyed the plot. But there was an intense focus on Andromeda’s period (or lack thereof) for basically the entirety of the book. It was mentioned in most chapters, in some multiple times, which felt repetitive and, personally, reached a point where I felt uncomfortable. Not only that, but there are also many instances of sexual violence – attempted SA’s, forced marriages and non-consensual medical examinations, which take part of a significant part of the story. When I think of this book, this is probably the first thing I remember. There is more I’d like to say, but I genuinely have no words to explain how creeped out I was by the apparent plotline in the beginning. I really wish Phineus played a different role in Andromeda’s life.

I also wasn’t the biggest fan of part three. After seeing Andromeda growing stronger throughout many years, watching her just accepting her fate as Perseus's wife with little resistance was anticlimactic. It felt like she just gave up fighting, after all she went through. It was slow and the scenes were just… uninteresting. However, the switch of narration from first person to third person was a great representation of Andromeda’s depersonalization, almost as if Andromeda felt like she had no more agency over her actions and feelings.

Despite all this, I believe this is worth reading if you’re into Greek Mythology retellings!

[Annetta Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

“He will never know the sweet mulch of the forests’ secrets or the peace that comes from pleasure that is not observed. He will never know love like ours. And so he will lose”

Marked by Gods at the moment of her birth with a face made for men to marvel, Andromeda spends much of her life under the microscope.

When her mother’s cunning leads her to be coveted by Poseidon, her famous face becomes the one thing that can guarantee her Kingdom’s future.

The story of Andromeda begins with the cadence and flourish of an epic poem. It starts as things always do in Greek mythology with a sequence where bored Gods touch moments in mortal lives and play with fate’s tapestry.

Beyond a simple retelling, the author breathes new life into the story of Andromeda. She picks apart the trope of the trapped maiden and the noble hero and reimagines the story in such a way that reminds you that the margins of a story also have meaning.

We watch as Andromeda grows to understand herself, her nature and her desires. We see her relationship with Ceto/Cetus transform from wariness to want. And we watch want grow into a deep love that pushes them both the defy oaths and Gods to try to seek freedom for the other.

The care taken to narrate this relationship and the added depth and context given to Ceto/Cetus casts Perseus in an entirely different light when he is introduced into the story. What is generally recalled as a moment of triumph and rejoicing is now seen through the perspective of a heartbroken Andromeda who was resolved to meet her end.

I genuinely enjoyed reading this novel and appreciated that from the onset, care was given to every detail, from the descriptive world building, the character development and context, and the sensual scenes between Andromeda and Ceto. You can see the rich colours of the Kalasiris and smells the oils being used in the hearth rooms. You can feel yourself falling in love as the characters share moments in the lush rivers and natural hot springs that flow out to sea.

What stood out for me is the care that was taken to ensure that Andromeda was depicted as a woman with rich dark skin, a full figure and hair with texture and volume. It was also apparent that it was important to the author to stress that it was these features that were God blessed. She was true to Ovid’s description of Andromeda as a woman with the dusky hue of her native land.

I also loved the nods to Audre Lorde and the poems sprinkled in as dividers between portions of the novel. You can also see the threads of Lorde’s inspiration in the body of the novel itself when Ceto wonders if she can even challenge Poseidon asking “can the master’s tool pull apart his palace”

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this wonderful novel. 4/5 stars

[Ash Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There was once a priestess, and she was beautiful. And, like all beautiful creatures, she was coveted, desired. There are some who will merely look upon beauty and wish for it, but there are some who would take it, try to possess it themselves, try to hold it tightly and care little if, in their crushing grip, it breaks.”

Andromeda is a haunting, sapphic reimagining that transforms a familiar Greek myth into something far more intimate and defiant.

Andromeda, not just as a figure or legend, but as a child moulded by expectation and divine interference. Blessed by Aphrodite with impossible beauty and by Athena she is set apart from birth. Idolised, scrutinised and trapped in her gilded cage. Her early life, marked by strong maternal and familial bonds, quickly gives way to something more suffocating. A future dictated by her mother’s ambition, men’s hungry eyes and the gods’ cruelty.

When her mother’s pride angers Poseidon, Andromeda fate is decided. Ceto, a shape shifting servant, oath bound to Posedian is commanded to stay by her side. She must judge Andromeda’s beauty, sealing her fate as his bride when she first bleeds.

This process takes years and whilst Ceto and Andromeda initially clash, they grow to both nourish the growing bond between them. Despite multiple tricks and schemes her blood can’t be held off forever. Poseidon will come and Andromeda will face her destiny.

The connection between Andromeda and Ceto is electric. Their relationship unfolds with a magnetic intensity, full of sharp edges and unspoken truths. They challenge each other constantly. Forcing hidden fears, desires and assumptions to the surface. In a world where men view Andromeda as something to possess, their bond becomes an act of quiet rebellion. Something chosen, not forced.

McLeod’s prose is lyrical and immersive, grounding the myth in visceral emotion. This is a story where the power of gods and men is violent and suffocating. Where divine rule comes with bloody consequences and where beauty is both currency and a curse. Andromeda begins as a spectator in her own life, adored, controlled and confined. But her journey is one of reclamation. Through Ceto, she is challenged and begins to imagine freedom and eventually, to demand it.
This retelling is about agency. The right to choose, to define yourself and to reject the roles imposed by gods, family, and fate. Themes of bodily autonomy, identity, and defiance are woven seamlessly into the narrative making Andromeda’s evolution feel both devastating and empowering.

Though the journey is painful, marked by sacrifice, pain and the weight of expectation, it ultimately carries a thread of hope. This is a reclaimation of identity, voice, power and of love that exists outside the constraints of myth and patriarchy.
It’s fierce, intimate, and emotionally charged.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read and review Andromeda by E. S. McLeod.

This book was defiantly a rollecestor of emotions. At first, I wondered where it was going. The plot greatly differs from the Andromeda myth that I know. However, I think I prefer this one more.

When it comes to characters: Early in the book, I didn't really care for Andromeda. She didn't seem to have much of a personality. Though later on I would realize that this was done by design. She really flourishes as a character the older she gets. Although I didn't love Andromeda at the start, this gave me the time and attention to care for the other characters. So often are side characters overlooked and one dimensional. But, that isn't the case here. I adored characters like Ceto, Achiroe, and Cassiopeia. They are all so dynamic and different from one another, but they are all women and each have their own struggles.
Achiroe is Andromeda's safe space, her grandmother, her happiness. Achiroe is always on Andromeda's side and will do anything for her. But even she, as an immortal, can only beg her father for help.
Cassiopeia is a complex character. I assumed she would be like the myth and that her only character traits would be her hubris. She surprised me. I loved her backstory and the tie in with egyption mythology. In the end, she suffers an eternity of burning, all because she wanted greater things for her daughter. She may have been blinded by her hubris and what SHE wanted, but I do not doubt that she loved Andromeda.
As for Ceto. Let me just say, I had no idea this book was sapphic. absolutely no idea. I spend a chunk of the first part wondering when Perseus would show up. And when I realized Ceto and Andromeda were going to become lovers, I was sold. I loved Ceto, she starts off as vicious as her Cetus form, but over time becomes soft and caring. Her love for her sister and Andromeda was everything.

For the plot, I enjoyed it, though I cannot deny that I find the focus on Andromeda's bleeding for the entirety of the book isn't at least a little strange to me. I wish it wasn't mention practically every chapter. I also wish there was more to part three. I feel like Andromeda just accepts that she is to be Perseus' wife too easily and that she lets her father get away with everything in the end. the ending felt like it was rushed so that it could feel like it covered the original myth and also to draw out the longing and grief Andromeda had for Ceto. On the other hand, I liked the reunion ending. Perseus may be the only hero with a happy ending. But Andromeda has gotten hers as well.

Final Rating 3.75/5 Stars

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a personal weakness for Greek mythology retellings, so once I saw the title and cover of this novel, immediately wanted to read it! As the eponymous title would imply, "Andromeda" is a retelling of the Ethiopian princess who was sacrificed to the sea monster Cetus for her mother's vanity and hubris.

Told from Andromeda's first person perspective, we follow her from her early years growing up as the daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia of Ethiopia, where she believes she will eventually be married to her uncle Phineus. However, when her mother makes a boastful claim that her daughter is the most beautiful of them all, Poseidon takes immediate insult and deals a hefty punishment on the family for her pride. In this iteration of the story, however, the sea monster Cetus is sent to act as a guardian and overseer of Andromeda, accompanying her until her first blood and bound by duty to tell Poseidon if, in fact, Andromeda is the most beautiful creature... or, if it is Cetus's sister, the sea nymph Amphitrite.

What follows is a complex and deepening relationship between Andromeda and Ceto, the shapeshifter. As Ceto follows and observes Andromeda, she is one of the few to truly see her beyond her appearances, calling out her loneliness and isolation and encouraging her to see her life past the constraints of her confined upbringing. In return, Andromeda is also able to see Ceto beyond just the feared sea monster Cetus, learning more about her complicated relationship with her master and sea nymph sisters. The relationship between the two evolves and deepens, impacting far past even the duration of their lives and into the generations to follow.

I wasn't fully aware of the LGBTQ+ spin in this retelling, but came to appreciate it as the story progressed and both Andromeda's and Ceto's characters became better developed. I appreciated that Andromeda's voice evolved over time; in the beginning, she plays a more passive part, watching events unfolding around her and decisions being made for her. However, as she grows older and spends more time with Ceto, there's a clear change in her tone and decisiveness, and a stronger and more defined protagonist emerges. This also introduced some nuanced side characters, including Perseus, the hero who eventually saves and marries Andromeda; Amphitrite, Ceto's sister who eventually takes her place as Poseidon's wife; and Achiroe, Andromeda's grandmother. McLeod's prose is sweeping and transportive, creating an immersive story that I easily lost myself in.

Very much a recommended read when "Andromeda" is published in May 2026!

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of Andromeda!

Review Summary
Andromeda is a feminist re-imagining of Greek mythology with plenty of feminine rage, sapphic love, and reclaiming of Black narratives.

In this novel, unlike in the original myth, women aren't foolishly vain or victims in need of rescue. Instead, they take agency over their own lives, outsmarting the powerful and often violent gods and men of the novel. As for the monsters, it soon becomes clear that the only real monsters are men.

It's worth bearing in mind that sexual violence is a major theme in this novel. On-page, we see attempted sexual assaults, forced marriage and marital sex, and unwanted intimate examinations by doctors. Off-page, we also hear about mythological figures being raped.

What Worked For Me
I adored this alternative explanation for the Andromeda myth. It fits perfectly with the myth as we know it, but it shows an entirely different side to most of the main characters. I also really enjoyed the representation of the different mythological figures and Aethiopian culture.

While the pacing was a little slow at the beginning, I was also really fond of both our sapphic leads and liked seeing how their characters evolved over time.

What Didn't Work For Me
I loved most of the novel, but there were a couple of things that I didn't enjoy as much, especially in the last third of the novel. Since it's the last third of the novel, there are some major spoilers hidden behind the spoilers tags. But, if you're familiar with the Andromeda myth, you'll already know these spoilers and should feel free to click on them.

We're shown Andromeda married off to Perseus, who thinks he's a hero but has actually murdered Andromeda's lover. He's generally depicted as a well-meaning idiot, but the first time they had sex was heart-breaking, and that's just one of the numerous times when he came across badly. But the novel then goes on to show Andromeda learning to love Perseus in her own way. I can believe this would happen, and I appreciate that the author wanted to give Andromeda a happy life overall. But as a reader, I wasn't ready to stop hating Perseus. I needed more redeeming features or character growth in order to stop feeling so angry with him.

Somewhat similarly, we see how Andromeda, as the most beautiful women in a misogynistic world, constantly suffers male attention and violence in the first two-thirds of the book. But, in the last section of the book, it feels like this theme completely disappeared. Perhaps it's because she was married. It's a minor issue, but it still left me with nagging questions about how much other women might still be suffering off-page. Given how important this theme was to the first two-thirds of the book, I found myself wishing it had been tied up a bit more neatly by the end.

Even so, the things I enjoyed about this book easily outweighed the bits I disliked.

[lorenzodulac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know really what to say. But I’ll try my best. This tore me apart in way I wasn’t expecting. First of all, I didn’t think it was going to have a sapphic romance in it (which is one hundred percent the move, always) but that’s on me, it’s in the blurb. Here’s the rundown.
Andromeda, ruler of men. We follow her as she grows up in Aethiopia, she’s beautiful and that doesn’t go unnoticed by the people, she’s said to be the most beautiful girl of them all. When her mother angers Poseidon he wants payback. Andromeda is promised to him, the moment she bleeds, she’s his. He sends one of his servants, Ceto (or, the Cetus), to monitor her. They will eventually fall in love as they spend time together, and so the story goes.
I’ll just start with the romance. I could not get enough of it. The two of them together absolutely stole my heart and I gladly let them keep it. They don’t really like each other in the beginning, it’s a little dislike-to-love situation, but it’s so very clear that’s not the case. They’re so enraptured by each other it’s a pleasure to read.
Ceto was such a surprise to me, she was possessive of Meda (as she calls her) and would not let anyone harm her. At the same time, she’s quick with her words, always has an answer at the ready. Deep down she’s also soft, loving with Andromeda specifically. She deserves a happy ending is all I’m going to say. And that happy ending will inevitably come along with her Meda.
Andromeda is proud, but will make sacrifices when she has to. She pretends not to like Ceto, but blushes whenever she calls her beautiful. She went through hell and back during the last maybe third of the book. And still the image of Ceto never left her mind, that’s what kept her going.
The writing was so beautiful, it matches just how beautiful the cover is. This is one of those instances you can indeed judge a book by its cover. Because some quotes in here were so well crafted, a lot of the book was highlighted for me.
And the ending left me a wreck. The last ten percent or so really did it for me. I will say, the only negatives I could find are that towards the end maybe twenty-ish percent of the book felt a bit random and like maybe we were losing the plot. That bit moved a bit too fast almost. And there were a little too many sex scenes. They felt a bit oddly placed, they were sweet though. But that’s really nothing compared to how much I loved this book.
I wish I could give it a five star but this sits more in the 4.5/5⭐️ camp. Which is still amazing. A thousand percent recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Karis · Rating 3 out of 5]

~~Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the ARC!~~

Greek mythos retellings are very much a hit-or-miss genre. This one kinda lands in the middle for me, but I'm still glad I read it, all the same.

The atmosphere and worldbuilding of Aethiopia was the aspect that compelled me the most. It was very different than the usual settings taking place in ancient Greece, which was for the best. The prose is very grandiose in showing off this book's world with its beautifully choosen descriptors. Though, even though her confinement to the palace is an integral part of Andromeda's character and story, I do wish she got out and gained perspective on her kingdom outside her walls. I also really liked how Egyptian mythology is implemented, as well. It made the world feel more rounded and showed the limits of the Olympians' power.

As for the characters, I wasn't entirely won over on them. Ceto had a lot of potential to be interesting, but I couldn't think the same about our titular character. Despite the things she's forced to deal with, her character depth isn't a lot. She deeply resents her looks and tries to make up for that by leaning into it, especially when it came to pleasing her mother, but there's not much else that really defines her. She likes to swim and can get dirty, she loves her grandma and Ceto (And Perseus, eventually), and she takes pride in her hair. That's . . . really all I can say about her. I understood the direction Andromeda was going, but there wasn't enough for me to connect with her emotionally. I feel like McLeod could've strayed a bit from the original myth through giving Andromeda more agency in her own story.

It also didn't help that the romance was so rushed. Even though the pair were around each other for years before they officially got together, so much of that time is waved away from one paragraph to the next. It shocked me with how fast they went from despising to loving; I thought I blinked too much and missed something.

All in all, this was good, but some parts are holding it back from being great or exceptional in my eyes.

[Book Talks with Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a pleasant surprise. I hadn't heard much about this book but I was intrigued by the premise and the cover.

This is a retelling of the Greek myth of Andromeda. We follow her from her childhood, where she gets into a marriage agreement with a God, and his servant, Ceto (or The Cetus) is sent to look over her until she is ready.

The first thing I will say is that I have very little knowledge of Greek Mythology. This is not a myth I was familiar with, and I don't really know of the different characters in Greek Mythology except a basic understanding of the main Gods.
I do think this was an issue for me in the beginning, as I found it a bit difficult to follow. The different creatures and gods, how Andromeda's mother's gods were different, and all the various relationships between the characters. I felt a little like I was thrown into an already established world, which was the case but because I didn't have that prior knowledge, I found it a bit confusing.

However the story was extremely compelling and the writing was beautiful. So I kept going and I was rewarded with a beautiful slow character driven story. I loved Andromeda's character arc, and her complex relationships with the people around her.
After about 50% of the book I was fully invested and immersed in the world. My earlier confusion didn't seem to matter as much in the second half and I could relax into this beautifully written story.
There were also some action scenes that got quite gory that were incredible to read, I really think ES McLeod has amazing prose and I'm excited to read more from them.

My only other criticism, which is probably just a me thing, is that I could have done with a little less intimate scenes. They were beautifully written, not crude, which is my preference, but there were at least three fairly long ones and it's just not my thing.

Overall had a really good time with this book and will read more by the author !

[Rachel Blood · Rating 3 out of 5]

[3.5 Stars]

Most of us recognize Andromeda’s name only from the skies, and upon diving into the history of the constellation discover that she was a tragic princess, the one Perseus rescued in his glorious escapades. She was sentenced to death for her mother’s hubris until the golden boy came along and saved her. Oftentimes she’s whitewashed. Oftentimes she’s little more than a plot device. Never is she regretful to be rescued.

Not so, in this restorative retelling by E.S. McLeod.

Andromeda is a book about beauty and danger, memory and power, womanhood and homeland and queer joy. McLeod’s Aethiopia is very well-researched, and her prose is stunning. At times the language is so flowery the images are almost less tangible for it, but I do feel it’s a matter of taste, and I did enjoy it.

McLeod pulls no punches with the way she depicts the human struggle, especially the female struggle, and even the characters who make the most unthinkable choices are complex enough to elicit empathy. At times, though, their actions toward each other aren’t received with the level of emotion I expected—almost as if in her mission to develop dynamic characters, McLeod made them too open to one another’s struggles. I am not sure people truly forgive that easily, especially in a world with gods who were born for grudges.

From a romantic standpoint, a lot of the development also felt rushed, but given that the story spans thirty or so years in just 300 pages, maybe that’s a natural consequence. It’s more explicit than I’d anticipated, but even those scenes are lyrical.

The last third of the book was very unexpected. There’s a narrative style choice that I really wasn’t sure about, but the payoff at the conclusion did justify it for me.

I wasn’t always convinced by Andromeda as a character, but a tenet of her character is that everyone always underestimates and oversimplifies her. Perhaps the intent was for the reader to fall prey to the same delusions, at times. Regardless, Andromeda is a study in prose and a statement in feminism.

Thanks to E.S. McLeod, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Keturah Sergeant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely stunning. I loved the build up, the painting of the world, the twists and turns, the anxieties, the politics, the joys, the plots, the desperation, the hope. It was complex and rich, yet so easy to read and fast-paced. I adored the sapphic element, the slow building transition from watcher and legendary monster to protector and soft-hearted lover, and the character development for Andromeda as she shifted from sheltered princess to embracing her nickname and plotting against Poseidon's might. Love is beautifully and diversely represented in this book, from the intimate and romantic love she shares with Ceto, to the love she has for her family, even as relationships are strained in the face of politicking and plots, her consistent love for and connection with her grandmother standing out, and also Ceto and Amphitrite's love, more subtle and distant but pure and lasting. Andromeda's love for her land, the water she swims in, the mud she works in, the scents and the food. When the turning point comes and everything is torn away, we see love that overcomes distance, love that is shown in support, in mutual, if slow building, respect.

I always enjoy when a retelling that breaks from the mould cleverly explains the eventual form of the myth. This book did that perfectly, taking a voiceless pure woman bound to rocks, sacrificed to a sea monster, panicked and weak, rescued by Perseus, Slayer of Medusa, and delivering a strong, wild, beautiful girl, one that loved hard, close to the world, close to her family, who had already experienced love, that lost big, that would have willingly sacrificed herself to her lover's jaws, a grieving new wife, a rebuilt, strong and clever queen, a cunning negotiator. How does one become the other? A negotiation, a deal, a sacrifice for love once more.

Loved this! Easily a new favourite mythology retelling.

[Hannah Deverall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andromeda by E.S. McLeod is an epic sapphic retelling for the ages. The novel is a retelling of the story of Andromeda, a princess who is tied to a rock as a sacrifice to appease the god that her mother has offended with her hubris. In Greek mythology, Andromeda is the wife of Perseus, who saves her from the monster Cetus - a sea serpent sent by Poseidon to mete divine punishment. Andromeda flips this on its head in a masterful work of storytelling, with a delicious sapphic and feminist twist. E.S. McLeod cements the titular character Andromeda as a person in her own right, and reclaims her identity as an African woman who is so often whitewashed by more modern illustrators and authors. This novel was stunning and had me enraptured from the first pages. In fact, I read this book in the span of several hours. The ending had me with tears in my eyes - a mix of happiness and emotional turmoil.

I loved this book with all my heart - no notes!! The ending was entirely satisfying, which is often something that I find lacklustre in mythological retellings, as it can be hard to successfully build up to an execute an ending that the readers already have a firm idea of. E.S. McLeod does this amazingly!!!!

I would recommend this book to all Greek mythology (or just mythology in general) lovers, people who grew up with Percy Jackson in their hearts, fans of Natalie Haines and Jennifer Saint for the complex portrayals of mythological women, and Sarah Underwood for the sapphicness!!! Overall this book was amazing; five out of five stars!!!! Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Algedi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andromeda is a coming-of-age story about a girl "blessed" by the Gods with beauty. Her mother’s hubries (and desire for a better life for her daughter) invokes the anger of Poseidon. They end up making a deal: Andromeda will marry the Sea God after her first period, but only if Ceto testifies that she is truly the most beautiful woman to exist. Ceto is tasked with keeping the Princess of Aethiopia safe and prevent her from cheating.

What attracted me to this novel was the reappropriation of the myth of Andromeda (for too long she has been white-washed) and her Aethiopian heritage. It is not a retelling of the myth but a rewriting, which is evident, and I appreciated that. Furthermore, the sapphic representation gave me that extra push to read it.

I liked the growth of Andromeda: in the first half she is being told over and over that she is beautiful, and that's all that she is. Eventually she grows to be a wise, brave woman. Yet It was hard to emotionally connect with her, I think it lacked some character depth. Even her relationship with Ceto: I saw great passion between the two, yes, but i did not see how they learned to love each other. It was a slowburn because it took them years, but we don't really see that, we kind of jump from hate to love.

I enjoyed the atmosphere and setting of Aethiopia, it was refreshing to see something different from the usual ancient Greece, and how the author wove Egyptian Gods and Greek Gods in the narrative.

The writing style is elegant and poetic, and I know that it may not be everyone's cup of tea. I must admit that for the first half I had some trouble keeping up, but eventually I got used to it.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Carrie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw the cover and title for this one and you’d better believe I hit request on NetGalley so fast.

I was a little rusty on my Andromeda knowledge but I know in the original myth one of my least favourite ‘hero's’ plays a major part in her story. Not so in this version!

Always eager for another feminist mythology retelling I dived straight in without reading the synopsis so the direction this took was a little surprising, in a way I can get on board with.

I loved that this was set in Aethiopia, I loved Andromeda’s relationship with her grandma, the blending of mythologies and gods, and I loved that McLeod made it sapphic.

This is a story about beauty as a gift and a curse, the danger of hubris, sacrifice and loyalties.

Andromeda and Ceto’s dynamic is what makes this book. Instant hate gives way to confusing tension, tenuous solidarity and eventually something more, as their relationship evolves in a classic case of forced proximity. This Ceto/ Cetus is definitely not the one from the myth, so it’s a punch to the gut when the story of Andromeda’s youth merges with the inevitable version of events we are expecting but now also dreading.

Cue Perseus, who only appears in the story 75% of the way through. It was an interesting take on the myth to have Andromeda less than delighted to be rescued by Perseus as although I don’t like him, their relationship is usually portrayed as a happy one, as far as divine Greek mythology pairings go.

I thought this was clever, original and beautifully written and will happily add Andromeda to my growing collection of reimagined women of Greek myths.