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Puer ex Seripho #1
Perseus et Rex Malus: A Latin Novella
On the island of Seriphos lives Perseus a twelve-year-old boy living whose world is turned upside down. When the cruel king of the island, Polydectes, is seeking a new bride, he casts his eye upon Perseus’ mother, Danaë. The woman bravely refuses, setting in motion a chain of events that includes a mysterious box, a cave whose walls are covered with strange writing, and a dark family secret. "Perseus et Rex Malus" is the first of a two-part adventure based on the Greek myth of Perseus. Using only 300 unique Latin words, this fantasy novel is of interest to those learning Latin in a classroom setting as well as those learning Latin on their own.
89 pages, Paperback
Published July 14, 2017
3 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 24, 2023
A Relatable Spin on a Old Story
Perseus and Medusa is a myth most everyone knows, but with one dimensional characters. Andrew Olimpi's "Perseus et Rex Malus" (Perseus and the Bad King) is much more nuanced. Perseus appears as a preteen who plays "Theseus and the Minotaur" with his friends in the forest. His traumatized mother, Danae can't speak to anyone about Acrisius. Dictys, the fisherman who rescues the two, isn't a background character but a man who becomes Perseus' father. Perseus himself is seized with doubt. Even after undertaking his quest, he can't figure out how to start. Importantly, Medusa gets a better treatment. Danae's tale emphasizes that Neptune is entirely at fault and that Minerva just used Medusa as a scapegoat.
The Latin was very clear, with a lot of cognates and repeated vocabulary. Although they only appeared at the start of chapters, the illustrations were a good addition. I'd say this is a good book for a second or third year student to read comfortably.
Bubo is a character!
Perseus and Medusa is a myth most everyone knows, but with one dimensional characters. Andrew Olimpi's "Perseus et Rex Malus" (Perseus and the Bad King) is much more nuanced. Perseus appears as a preteen who plays "Theseus and the Minotaur" with his friends in the forest. His traumatized mother, Danae can't speak to anyone about Acrisius. Dictys, the fisherman who rescues the two, isn't a background character but a man who becomes Perseus' father. Perseus himself is seized with doubt. Even after undertaking his quest, he can't figure out how to start. Importantly, Medusa gets a better treatment. Danae's tale emphasizes that Neptune is entirely at fault and that Minerva just used Medusa as a scapegoat.
The Latin was very clear, with a lot of cognates and repeated vocabulary. Although they only appeared at the start of chapters, the illustrations were a good addition. I'd say this is a good book for a second or third year student to read comfortably.
Bubo is a character!
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March 28, 20234/5 stars
Perseus et Rex Malus
This was an enjoyable book to read. The story follows Perseus, a teenage boy who needs to set out on a quest for the head of Medusa. I liked this book because there were elements of it from mythology that I had already known about, such as the story of Theseus and the Minotaur and the myth of Medusa, however, I still enjoyed how they were incorporated into this book.
The language in this book was harder compared to the previous one I read as it was in the intermediate-high section. There were fewer vocab words given on the pages and only pictures at the beginning of a chapter. Despite this, I was still able to get a good understanding of the story while reading and rarely had to look up words after the first few chapters.
Perseus et Rex Malus
This was an enjoyable book to read. The story follows Perseus, a teenage boy who needs to set out on a quest for the head of Medusa. I liked this book because there were elements of it from mythology that I had already known about, such as the story of Theseus and the Minotaur and the myth of Medusa, however, I still enjoyed how they were incorporated into this book.
The language in this book was harder compared to the previous one I read as it was in the intermediate-high section. There were fewer vocab words given on the pages and only pictures at the beginning of a chapter. Despite this, I was still able to get a good understanding of the story while reading and rarely had to look up words after the first few chapters.
September 28, 2021
I read this delightful little novella while going thru chapters 9 thru 11 of Lingua Latina per se Illustrata, and had no trouble.
Obviously I don't know the verb conjugations but that is quite easy to infer from context.
I hit what I think was the Locative case for 'domus' at one point which kinda threw me but a bit of googling set me straight, and I'm unlikely to forget it now :-)
Will reread later but even this early in my Latin journey, excellent source of comprehensible input.
Obviously I don't know the verb conjugations but that is quite easy to infer from context.
I hit what I think was the Locative case for 'domus' at one point which kinda threw me but a bit of googling set me straight, and I'm unlikely to forget it now :-)
Will reread later but even this early in my Latin journey, excellent source of comprehensible input.
September 20, 2024
This Latin reader has a great story line. It includes many 1-2 year words. It isn't a beginner reader, and so doesn't have any pictures, except the beginning of chapter pictures. This is the first book in a set of two that tells the story of Perseus; a boy who defends his mother against the king, and begins to fly with his friends by the help from an owl. Perseus also claims he will fight Medusa... I can't wait to read the sequel!
July 18, 2021
In simple but engaging Latin, Perseus et Rex Malus re-imagines Perseus' quest for the head of Medusa. The novella ends with Perseus setting out on his quest, the next part of the story being told in the sequel. Andrew Olimpi is not just an enthusiast for Latin, he's an accomplished storyteller who succeeds in making the myth feel fresh and immediate. Terrific.
July 31, 2019
Level E (Intermediate Mid)
April 13, 2020
A fun book to read for extensive reading. Some orthographical and syntactical issues throughout, but overall very well done.
September 14, 2021
Omnium librōrum Olimpī hunc optimum esse mihi vidētur. Trēs librōs iam lēgī quōrum hic difficillimus est. Fābula nārrāta iūcunda est, et ignōta erat mihi. Partem secundam mox legam. Tam bonam quam prīmam partem esse spērō.
Perseus puer est, quī saepe cum amīcīs lūdit. Quōdam diē pater eius eī dīcit sē nōn patrem eius esse, sed ōlim cum arcam invēnisset, Perseum matremque eius invēnisse. Mātre captā, Perseus ad Medūsam necandam adit, deīs iuvantibus.
Perseus puer est, quī saepe cum amīcīs lūdit. Quōdam diē pater eius eī dīcit sē nōn patrem eius esse, sed ōlim cum arcam invēnisset, Perseum matremque eius invēnisse. Mātre captā, Perseus ad Medūsam necandam adit, deīs iuvantibus.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews