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Andromeda
Not yet published
Expected 14 May 26Blessed 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...
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...
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 14, 2026
1 person is currently reading
510 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 13, 2025
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!!
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!!
December 28, 2025
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 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.
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 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.
December 15, 2025
3⭐ for Andromeda
Let’s start this of by saying how much I love an Andromeda retelling where she isn’t whitewashed. She is the most beautiful woman on earth, blessed by Aphrodite and Athena. Her skin is the darkest of dark, her hair big and poofy, and how I loved that.
What I also loved was how fear inducing the gods were. No Chad-from-highschool-looking gods, but larger than life creatures. At one point Aphrodite is described as so beautiful that the mind cannot comprehend what it sees, nor form an image of het. I loved that. They are often described this way, as if the mortal eye is not capable of registering their appearances. Yes!
The women in this book are wonderfully written. They are fierce and brave. While the men quake and soil themselves in the eye of the gods, the women are brave and fearless. They spit and fight and are angry. Love!
Andromeda made a compelling MC. She starts of as shallow and small. She is beautiful, and that is all she is. She grows throughout the story into a strong woman. The gods took everything from her, yet she endures.
It was this growth that made the romance in this tale unnecessary for me. It could have been left out, and it would not have made a difference for me. Andromeda grew as a person, and I think she still would have grown without the love interest. I would have loved if she their lives would have been more entwined.
But overall this was really enjoyable. You can never miss with a good retelling, especially the stories that have been mistreated over the centuries.
Thank you NetGalley for the eArc!
Let’s start this of by saying how much I love an Andromeda retelling where she isn’t whitewashed. She is the most beautiful woman on earth, blessed by Aphrodite and Athena. Her skin is the darkest of dark, her hair big and poofy, and how I loved that.
What I also loved was how fear inducing the gods were. No Chad-from-highschool-looking gods, but larger than life creatures. At one point Aphrodite is described as so beautiful that the mind cannot comprehend what it sees, nor form an image of het. I loved that. They are often described this way, as if the mortal eye is not capable of registering their appearances. Yes!
The women in this book are wonderfully written. They are fierce and brave. While the men quake and soil themselves in the eye of the gods, the women are brave and fearless. They spit and fight and are angry. Love!
Andromeda made a compelling MC. She starts of as shallow and small. She is beautiful, and that is all she is. She grows throughout the story into a strong woman. The gods took everything from her, yet she endures.
It was this growth that made the romance in this tale unnecessary for me. It could have been left out, and it would not have made a difference for me. Andromeda grew as a person, and I think she still would have grown without the love interest. I would have loved if she their lives would have been more entwined.
But overall this was really enjoyable. You can never miss with a good retelling, especially the stories that have been mistreated over the centuries.
Thank you NetGalley for the eArc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
✨️ 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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wasn't familiar with Andromeda's story, but I always love a greek myth retelling. This book did not disappoint.
This was such an incredible read. I was drawn to the story and had a difficult time putting it down. The pacing of the story was very pleasant as well. As someone who wasn't familiar with her myth, the story was very easy to follow.
The author's writing was great and I especially loved the way she wrote her female characters. While the story is on the shorter side, it never felt rushed and still managed to capture the depth of each character. Andromeda in particular is a character who is very strong and resilient. I thought it was great how the story focused on her growth, her self discovery and her learning to put her own needs first.
Another thing I loved was the sapphic romance. It was beautifully written and added a lot to the story and Andromeda as a person. Their love for each other felt deep and meaningful.
Overall this was an engaging retelling that will stick with me for a long time. I'd definitely recommend this book !
Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such an incredible read. I was drawn to the story and had a difficult time putting it down. The pacing of the story was very pleasant as well. As someone who wasn't familiar with her myth, the story was very easy to follow.
The author's writing was great and I especially loved the way she wrote her female characters. While the story is on the shorter side, it never felt rushed and still managed to capture the depth of each character. Andromeda in particular is a character who is very strong and resilient. I thought it was great how the story focused on her growth, her self discovery and her learning to put her own needs first.
Another thing I loved was the sapphic romance. It was beautifully written and added a lot to the story and Andromeda as a person. Their love for each other felt deep and meaningful.
Overall this was an engaging retelling that will stick with me for a long time. I'd definitely recommend this book !
Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Gosh this was beautiful.
I have really grown to love Greek mythological retellings and this book was breathtaking. One of the most emotional, intimate and romantic stories I've read. The writing was so elegant and majestic, and the way the story was told was so tender and heartfelt. I found it really touching and I absolutely adored Andromeda and Ceto's story. Ceto's fiery personality was a highlight and I loved how passionately and deeply they yearned for one another.
I'm so impressed by ES McLeod's writing, I will have to look out for her future works for sure! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC, this book was brilliant.
I have really grown to love Greek mythological retellings and this book was breathtaking. One of the most emotional, intimate and romantic stories I've read. The writing was so elegant and majestic, and the way the story was told was so tender and heartfelt. I found it really touching and I absolutely adored Andromeda and Ceto's story. Ceto's fiery personality was a highlight and I loved how passionately and deeply they yearned for one another.
I'm so impressed by ES McLeod's writing, I will have to look out for her future works for sure! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC, this book was brilliant.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really loved this book and its story. Greek mythology is one of my favourite genres, and this felt like a fresh yet respectful take on it. The atmosphere was immersive, the emotional tension was well done, and the writing felt confident and polished throughout.
Overall, it was very well executed and engaging without feeling overdone. A strong four-star read that reminded me exactly why I love mythological retellings.
Overall, it was very well executed and engaging without feeling overdone. A strong four-star read that reminded me exactly why I love mythological retellings.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews