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Labyrinth
Kikeru, the child of a priestess at the sacred temple of Knossos in ancient Crete, believes that the goddesses are laughing at him. They expect him to choose whether he is a man or a woman, when he’s both. They expect him to choose whether to be a husband to a wife, or a celibate priestess in the temple, when all he wants to do is invent things and be with the person he loves.
Unfortunately, that person is Rusa, the handsome ship owner who is most decidedly a man and therefore off-limits no matter what he chooses. And did he mention that the goddesses also expect him to avert war with the Greeks?
The Greeks have an army. Kikeru has his mother, Maja, who is pressuring him to give her grandchildren; Jadikira, Rusa’s pregnant daughter; and superstitious Rusa, who is terrified of what the goddesses will think of him being in love with one of their chosen ones.
It’s a tall order to save Crete from conquest, win his love, and keep both halves of himself. Luckily, at least the daemons are on his side.
Unfortunately, that person is Rusa, the handsome ship owner who is most decidedly a man and therefore off-limits no matter what he chooses. And did he mention that the goddesses also expect him to avert war with the Greeks?
The Greeks have an army. Kikeru has his mother, Maja, who is pressuring him to give her grandchildren; Jadikira, Rusa’s pregnant daughter; and superstitious Rusa, who is terrified of what the goddesses will think of him being in love with one of their chosen ones.
It’s a tall order to save Crete from conquest, win his love, and keep both halves of himself. Luckily, at least the daemons are on his side.
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
8 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Alex Beecroft
44 books298 followersSpaceships and galaxy spanning empires, conversations with angels, viking villages, haunted mansions and forbidden love in the Age of Sail... I love a good strong plot in an exotic setting, with characters you can admire, and a happy ending.
If you make a venn diagram of genres, including historical, fantasy, gay romance and mystery, I occupy the space in the middle where they overlap.
~
BTW, if you're thinking my reviews on here are a bit mean, most of the books I really enjoy will get a 4 star. I am saving 5 stars for books I find genuinely life changing. 4 is still "this was really really good, you should read it." 5 is "OMG, my mind is blown and my life will never be the same again."
If you make a venn diagram of genres, including historical, fantasy, gay romance and mystery, I occupy the space in the middle where they overlap.
~
BTW, if you're thinking my reviews on here are a bit mean, most of the books I really enjoy will get a 4 star. I am saving 5 stars for books I find genuinely life changing. 4 is still "this was really really good, you should read it." 5 is "OMG, my mind is blown and my life will never be the same again."
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 22, 2018
Wow! And not just for one reason. This novella grabbed my attention, made me think, and provided a delightfully different perspective on one of the most well-known Greek myths. At first glance, and on the surface of things, it looks like a historical accounting of events, much like a fictionalized piece of history. Looking a little deeper, there is also a deep cultural divide between the people of Crete and the newly arrived Greeks and this comes through particularly well because the story is told from the point of view of the inhabitants of Crete – the Minoans - not the Greek perspective we are more used to. But there is a third angle – provided by Kikeru – that is deeply personal, and adds a unique view of the world, the events that take place, and puts him and his inner conflict at the center of the unfolding drama. Needless to say, with so many enticing elements, I was not just entertained by the story itself, but by Kikeru’s journey from an uncertain young person to an adult who has found their place in the world.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
January 5, 2017
This was fascinating. It's an interesting historical about a genderqueer Minoan that offers a neat take on ancient history and mythology. Bonus points for that alone. I wanted to like this more than I actually did and I wish I could rate it higher. It's a cool idea and I was looking forward to this, but I wanted more depth and character development and emotion. It's likeable and interesting and so very different and I enjoyed it, but I wanted more.
December 3, 2016
4.5 stars
I was utterly charmed by this beautifully written little gem of a novella. Ancient Minoan daily life and religion was beautifully told, the characters and world felt very real to me -beguiling and fascinating!
I loved it.
Recommended!
I was utterly charmed by this beautifully written little gem of a novella. Ancient Minoan daily life and religion was beautifully told, the characters and world felt very real to me -beguiling and fascinating!
I loved it.
Recommended!
November 3, 2016
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
3 stars.
Alex Beecroft is a new-to-me author.
Labyrinth is a transgender novella set in mythic times, featuring a young man who isn't sure if he wants to be a woman, only because he enjoys the company of his savior, another man. Truth be told, I was hooked from the start, but around the 15% mark, my interest waned.
The beginning had a major hook. Kikeru overheard two Greeks planning to overthrow his king. After choosing confrontation over calling out for help, Kikeru finds himself in an impossible situation- Rusa comes to the rescue.
My issues with the novella are as follows.
One: the overall feeling of the novella was frustration as I read, simply because the characters themselves were so childlike. I don't mean childish. Childlike. Naive. Kikeru's mother decided to dress him as a woman, instead of listening to the fact they were in danger, and instead of putting a stop to it, he continued to allow it. This bled over into the novel itself, where all actions after the fact supported this childlike mentality, doing dangerous things instead of just alerting their king.
Two: I don't feel this is a transgender novella whatsoever. In the mythos of this story, if you are a man who is a lover of other men, then you are a woman. There is no concept of being gay. Kikeru didn't want to be a woman, didn't feel himself to be a woman. Said so many times in fact. His mother dressed him as a woman in the middle of a tirade about him not giving her grandchildren and marrying, so therefore he is female instead. I will not call him 'they' or 'she. Kikeru, he wanted Rusa instead of women, so therefore in his culture, that meant him a female who was to be in service to the goddess.
That is not how being transgender works. If anything, I'd say Kikeru was gender fluid, not transgender whatsoever. Gender fluid while being sexually attracted to men.
Kikeru's need to figure out who he is sexual and gender-wise makes the more important issues take a backseat. It wasn't just Kikeru's longevity at risk by the Greeks, but an entire way of life and all of their people. While the driving force of the novel was an important one, the inner monologue and musings of Kikeru seemed vapid and childish when survival was on the line.
While I appreciate the inventiveness of the premise, the execution of the story didn't work for me.
Truthfully, maybe I'm a demanding audience, because I've only found one gender fluid book that was accurate, as well as one transgender book. While Labyrith is sure to entertain many, I'm obviously not the target audience.
3 stars.
Alex Beecroft is a new-to-me author.
Labyrinth is a transgender novella set in mythic times, featuring a young man who isn't sure if he wants to be a woman, only because he enjoys the company of his savior, another man. Truth be told, I was hooked from the start, but around the 15% mark, my interest waned.
The beginning had a major hook. Kikeru overheard two Greeks planning to overthrow his king. After choosing confrontation over calling out for help, Kikeru finds himself in an impossible situation- Rusa comes to the rescue.
My issues with the novella are as follows.
One: the overall feeling of the novella was frustration as I read, simply because the characters themselves were so childlike. I don't mean childish. Childlike. Naive. Kikeru's mother decided to dress him as a woman, instead of listening to the fact they were in danger, and instead of putting a stop to it, he continued to allow it. This bled over into the novel itself, where all actions after the fact supported this childlike mentality, doing dangerous things instead of just alerting their king.
Two: I don't feel this is a transgender novella whatsoever. In the mythos of this story, if you are a man who is a lover of other men, then you are a woman. There is no concept of being gay. Kikeru didn't want to be a woman, didn't feel himself to be a woman. Said so many times in fact. His mother dressed him as a woman in the middle of a tirade about him not giving her grandchildren and marrying, so therefore he is female instead. I will not call him 'they' or 'she. Kikeru, he wanted Rusa instead of women, so therefore in his culture, that meant him a female who was to be in service to the goddess.
That is not how being transgender works. If anything, I'd say Kikeru was gender fluid, not transgender whatsoever. Gender fluid while being sexually attracted to men.
Kikeru's need to figure out who he is sexual and gender-wise makes the more important issues take a backseat. It wasn't just Kikeru's longevity at risk by the Greeks, but an entire way of life and all of their people. While the driving force of the novel was an important one, the inner monologue and musings of Kikeru seemed vapid and childish when survival was on the line.
While I appreciate the inventiveness of the premise, the execution of the story didn't work for me.
Truthfully, maybe I'm a demanding audience, because I've only found one gender fluid book that was accurate, as well as one transgender book. While Labyrith is sure to entertain many, I'm obviously not the target audience.
November 11, 2016
Despite a few (small) reservations, Labyrinth by Alex Beecroft was a wonderful historical romance with a genderqueer flavor. It was a story well-told, with lovely character development, and some clever twists on the traditional mythology of ancient Crete and the story of the Minotaur.
Let me get those reservations out of the way first. I found the age gap between Kikeru and Rusa a bit creepy, especially knowing that Rusa has a daughter older than Kikeru. It is not entirely unrealistic given the time period in question, but it did make me a tad uncomfortable. Also, the gender pronouns are all over the place, which is largely excused by the fact that Kikeru has not made a decision, but I felt they should have been more consistent with Kikeru's expression within scene.
Now, with that out of the way, on to what I loved. Like I said earlier, the characters are absolutely lovely. Kikeru's age and shifting gender is portrayed perfectly, and even though some readers might find the internal doubts a little tiresome after a while, I think they are essential to the story. You do not just suddenly clarify all your gender doubts because you have found love. It would have been easy to push the story in that direction, but it also would have been wrong.
Rusa is a fantastic character as well, a man of strength and compassion who may not understand everything that is going on, but who loves all Kikeru's facets. Kikeru's mother, Maja, is largely a plot-driven character, but Rusa’s daughter, Jadikira, is a fun character who contrasts well with Kikeru.
While Beecroft does liberties with the mythology, and it felt like there was a little too much overlap of cultures, I did enjoy how it shapes the story, and it made for an entirely satisfying conclusion.
As reviewed by Sally at Bending the Bookshelf
Let me get those reservations out of the way first. I found the age gap between Kikeru and Rusa a bit creepy, especially knowing that Rusa has a daughter older than Kikeru. It is not entirely unrealistic given the time period in question, but it did make me a tad uncomfortable. Also, the gender pronouns are all over the place, which is largely excused by the fact that Kikeru has not made a decision, but I felt they should have been more consistent with Kikeru's expression within scene.
Now, with that out of the way, on to what I loved. Like I said earlier, the characters are absolutely lovely. Kikeru's age and shifting gender is portrayed perfectly, and even though some readers might find the internal doubts a little tiresome after a while, I think they are essential to the story. You do not just suddenly clarify all your gender doubts because you have found love. It would have been easy to push the story in that direction, but it also would have been wrong.
Rusa is a fantastic character as well, a man of strength and compassion who may not understand everything that is going on, but who loves all Kikeru's facets. Kikeru's mother, Maja, is largely a plot-driven character, but Rusa’s daughter, Jadikira, is a fun character who contrasts well with Kikeru.
While Beecroft does liberties with the mythology, and it felt like there was a little too much overlap of cultures, I did enjoy how it shapes the story, and it made for an entirely satisfying conclusion.
As reviewed by Sally at Bending the Bookshelf
November 22, 2016
This story had a really strong start, equally balancing the plot of a build up to a potential war with the gender identity of one of the main characters, Kikeru. Despite the fact that Kikeru is pictured on the cover and is identified as the main character in the synopsis, it's more of an ensemble cast, with their love interest, Rusa, sharing point of view chapters, their mother Maja and also Rusa's daughter.
After that, however, things became a bit different. It's clear that the author wanted to tell a story bedded down in history, but they didn't give enough time to the description of the ancient world, which meant that the reader was left with whatever knowledge they remember of ancient civilisations to fill out the rest.
This lack of specific or detailed description was a problem throughout. I found it difficult to care what happened between these two voice characters, and even more difficult to see the two of them are more than people who are unlikely friends brought together in a time of stress to avert the possibility of war, their romance an afterthought to the story this author seemed to want to tell.
From the time we had the first couple of chapters from Rusa's point of view, the descriptions and feelings shared by Rusa and Kikeru are repetitive and similar enough that it became difficult to tell which character's head we are in.
Obviously, it was important to the author to look at both war and gender in this story, but the problems of the plot meant that I spent more time focusing on those than the story itself.
December 5, 2016
I kind of liked it but I would have liked to like it better.
Get it?
*sigh*
I've been to Crete and I've visited Knossos and two other excavation sites and let me tell you - they are impressive as hell. Just the feeling to walk down steps that have been crafted 3,500 years ago is enough to give you a chill. Magnificent.
But that was about 25 years ago and I had to dig deep to recapture that awe that I know I felt at just walking down those steps and how breathtakingly clever so many things were made.
And see, right here is one of my major gripes about the book. I feel like I shouldn't have been forced to augment the world from my memories (which btw can't ever recapture the feeling of living in ancient Crete because the Crete of today is a wasteland compared to the foresty, pleasant island it used to be several thousand years ago. Thank you (not) foreign invaders). I really, really would have liked more world-building. I completely understand why the author didn't dare - undoubtedly a gazillion people would have pointed out the tiniest "error" if they did that. But - gah! There is so little verified evidence... I just would have loved if they'd gone a bit wilder. Or, you know, a little more detailed. Alex, give me more! You do it so well! I know that for a fact!
As for the characters... Again I would have liked a more in-depths exploration. Another reviewer called them child-like and I can't disagree. I'm not overly fond of that. People having been born way before us weren't neccessarily less shrewd or funny or caustic. Funnily enough the side-characters were better grounded than the MCs.
Anyhow, tired now, this is still well worth reading. Recommended.
Get it?
*sigh*
I've been to Crete and I've visited Knossos and two other excavation sites and let me tell you - they are impressive as hell. Just the feeling to walk down steps that have been crafted 3,500 years ago is enough to give you a chill. Magnificent.
But that was about 25 years ago and I had to dig deep to recapture that awe that I know I felt at just walking down those steps and how breathtakingly clever so many things were made.
And see, right here is one of my major gripes about the book. I feel like I shouldn't have been forced to augment the world from my memories (which btw can't ever recapture the feeling of living in ancient Crete because the Crete of today is a wasteland compared to the foresty, pleasant island it used to be several thousand years ago. Thank you (not) foreign invaders). I really, really would have liked more world-building. I completely understand why the author didn't dare - undoubtedly a gazillion people would have pointed out the tiniest "error" if they did that. But - gah! There is so little verified evidence... I just would have loved if they'd gone a bit wilder. Or, you know, a little more detailed. Alex, give me more! You do it so well! I know that for a fact!
As for the characters... Again I would have liked a more in-depths exploration. Another reviewer called them child-like and I can't disagree. I'm not overly fond of that. People having been born way before us weren't neccessarily less shrewd or funny or caustic. Funnily enough the side-characters were better grounded than the MCs.
Anyhow, tired now, this is still well worth reading. Recommended.
December 7, 2016
This was nice. Not in the 'I'm too polite to say that I thought it sucked'-way but in the 'I'm pretty sure that other people will enjoy this more than I did'. I was just expecting the retelling of the Daedalus Myth to play a bigger role but that really only came up towards the end. Now the way it was done was really really epic but it still was only a small part of the book. The rest was...well not the retelling. Mostly it was the romance and while it wasn't bad it also didn't blow me away.
I also wasn't happy about the rape-threats-mostly-for-the-sake-of-drama in the story. (Nothing graphic, and nothing happened but they just felt rather unnecessary)
I also wasn't happy about the rape-threats-mostly-for-the-sake-of-drama in the story. (Nothing graphic, and nothing happened but they just felt rather unnecessary)
October 21, 2021
He felt he’d met a mind here, and the body was irrelevant.
An interesting little novella that takes place on ancient Crete, blending mythology and a bit of fantasy. Kikeru is the child of a priestess who discovers a plot by the Greeks to attack their island. With the help of Rusa (a handsome fisherman who he starts falling for), Rusa's daughter and Kikeru's mother, they concoct a plan to deal with the invaders. The romance was really sweet, though not really a huge part of the story. I like how Kikeru became more comfortable with navigating his gender; different pronouns are used at different times, and it never gets confusing. The plot was a little lacklustre, but the reveals at the end made up for it.
Pretty unique; glad I gave it a try.
Content warnings: .
March 13, 2023
I hate rating this book so low, because I was really hoping I'd love this.
There's so much potential for a great story here, and I think the concept is super interesting. Unfortunately, the execution fell rather flat.
Let's start with some highlights before I get into why this didn't necessarily work for me.
First of all, like I said, I really liked the premise of the story. I think the way it played with the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur is really fun, and there were some moments that were really quite brilliant (I personally really loved the ambiguous nature of Rusa's "possession" by Asterios).
I also appreciated, in theory, the exploration of gender identity, even if I didn't really think the execution of it worked all that well.
Now, that said, my biggest problem with this comes down primarily to two things:
1. the romance and 2. the actual prose.
Starting with the romance, this might just be the most instant of insta-loves I've ever read.
Kikeru and Rusa have just met under very dramatic and, for Kikeru, traumatic circumstances and they are pretty much immediately inseparable and obsessed with each other.
They've known each other for less than a day and they're already talking about being scared of losing the other.
They're instantly, and constantly throughout the rest of the book, impossibly horny for each other. They can't touch each other, look at each other or think about each other without their "serpents rising". The number of random and inappropriately timed boners in this book is quite staggered for a book less than 100 pages.
Also, while I personally don't have a problem with an age gap, the constant, pointed reminders that Kikeru is the same age as Rusa's daughter is weird and a little uncomfortable.
Then there's the technical side of things and really this is such a subjective point, but there's just something about the quality of writing here that just irked me.
The way the characters are written is rather baffling. This is especially true of Kikeru, but really applies to all of the characters. I can't really put a finger on what it is, but they never felt like actual people. There's not a lot of depth or development to them, and they made a lot of strange, often stupid, decisions that didn't make a whole lot of sense. I saw a couple of other reviewers mention that the characters feel childlike, and I can't help but agree.
The pacing also felt really odd, often rushed, with spurts of almost frantic activity. There was rarely time to just stay in the moment and get to know the characters better, and I think the story really suffered for that.
Another thing I really wasn't much of a fan of was the dichotomy between the (virtuous) Minoans and the (villainous) Greeks.
Now, I really love stories that explore what happens when different cultures meet, whether that's positive cultural exchange or a violent clash of ideals, but this was just so one-sided and lacking in any kind of nuance.
I don't mind that the Greeks are the antagonists, but I don't like the fact that they are these one-note, mustache-twirling villains. The constant threat of rape and the never-ending barage of slurs and derogatory language aimed at Kikeru gets really exhausting, and it's just not fun to read.
In conclusion, I liked the project of this, and I think it definitely had some good things going for it, but ultimately I was let down by the execution. I don't regret reading this, I'm just sad I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped.
There's so much potential for a great story here, and I think the concept is super interesting. Unfortunately, the execution fell rather flat.
Let's start with some highlights before I get into why this didn't necessarily work for me.
First of all, like I said, I really liked the premise of the story. I think the way it played with the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur is really fun, and there were some moments that were really quite brilliant (I personally really loved the ambiguous nature of Rusa's "possession" by Asterios).
I also appreciated, in theory, the exploration of gender identity, even if I didn't really think the execution of it worked all that well.
Now, that said, my biggest problem with this comes down primarily to two things:
1. the romance and 2. the actual prose.
Starting with the romance, this might just be the most instant of insta-loves I've ever read.
Kikeru and Rusa have just met under very dramatic and, for Kikeru, traumatic circumstances and they are pretty much immediately inseparable and obsessed with each other.
They've known each other for less than a day and they're already talking about being scared of losing the other.
They're instantly, and constantly throughout the rest of the book, impossibly horny for each other. They can't touch each other, look at each other or think about each other without their "serpents rising". The number of random and inappropriately timed boners in this book is quite staggered for a book less than 100 pages.
Also, while I personally don't have a problem with an age gap, the constant, pointed reminders that Kikeru is the same age as Rusa's daughter is weird and a little uncomfortable.
Then there's the technical side of things and really this is such a subjective point, but there's just something about the quality of writing here that just irked me.
The way the characters are written is rather baffling. This is especially true of Kikeru, but really applies to all of the characters. I can't really put a finger on what it is, but they never felt like actual people. There's not a lot of depth or development to them, and they made a lot of strange, often stupid, decisions that didn't make a whole lot of sense. I saw a couple of other reviewers mention that the characters feel childlike, and I can't help but agree.
The pacing also felt really odd, often rushed, with spurts of almost frantic activity. There was rarely time to just stay in the moment and get to know the characters better, and I think the story really suffered for that.
Another thing I really wasn't much of a fan of was the dichotomy between the (virtuous) Minoans and the (villainous) Greeks.
Now, I really love stories that explore what happens when different cultures meet, whether that's positive cultural exchange or a violent clash of ideals, but this was just so one-sided and lacking in any kind of nuance.
I don't mind that the Greeks are the antagonists, but I don't like the fact that they are these one-note, mustache-twirling villains. The constant threat of rape and the never-ending barage of slurs and derogatory language aimed at Kikeru gets really exhausting, and it's just not fun to read.
In conclusion, I liked the project of this, and I think it definitely had some good things going for it, but ultimately I was let down by the execution. I don't regret reading this, I'm just sad I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped.
May 7, 2020
This novella was so good it made my heart hurt.
Set in ancient Minoan Crete (not exactly prehistoric but it may as well be since it was during a time the people wrote in the mostly-lost and now-untranslated Linear A), this story's protagonist, Kikeru, has a complicated and ambiguous relationship to their own gender identity that would mean today they would probably identify as genderqueer or non-binary. They're given the choice during the story between actively choosing the gender they were assigned at birth and becoming a husband and father, or choosing to be a woman, which will mean becoming a holy and honored but celibate priestess of the Great Goddess, an attendant to the sacred queen at the palace of Knossos that the Achaean Greeks came to call the Labyrinth. Either will mean they can't be with the kind, protective man they love.
The main action follows Kikeru and their friends as they try to come up with a plan to repel an aggressive attempt at a colonialist invasion by the warlike Achaeans. But the emotional arc follows Kikeru's desperate wish for a way to live life happily without giving up half of what makes them themself, and without being forced into the binary choices offered in Minoan society--even if those choices are at least more open and understanding of gender identity and women's autonomy than the patriarchal Achaeans.
The author has incorporated a lot of details and factoids about ancient Mediterranean and Minoan cultures that I appreciate; for example, Kikeru's idea to sneak into the Greek compound by the sewers is dismissed when they're informed that, unlike the Minoans, the Greeks don't have sewers and indoor plumbing. She also extrapolates what we know of related Anatolian and Mesopotamian cultures to suppose a role for trans women in the form of temple priestesses of the Great Goddess, the Mistress of the Animals (I think it's an extrapolation--my understanding is we don't know a lot directly about Minoan culture because, again, nobody can read Linear A). That the book takes this as a given is deeply important, but I loved that the emotional journey of the story is not just following the life of one of these priestesses, nor a cisgender outsider, but someone whose beautiful place in another facet of gender leads them to put their inventive mind toward a difficult and complicated solution.
I'm so sick of being surrounded by books that are nothing but the same straight cisgender men and their manpain, that reading a story where I can recognize part of myself in the main character (even though Kikeru's story is not really my story, as my own very specific kind of trans fem enby), with a setting that acknowledges and provides at least some kind of role for people like me, is so refreshing it makes me want to sing.
(ps, The characters and the narration itself use he or she pronouns for Kikeru depending on the context, but at the times Kikeru is seen the most clearly, when we're getting the closest the story comes to the words of the gods, "they" is what's used, so it's what I've stuck with here)
Set in ancient Minoan Crete (not exactly prehistoric but it may as well be since it was during a time the people wrote in the mostly-lost and now-untranslated Linear A), this story's protagonist, Kikeru, has a complicated and ambiguous relationship to their own gender identity that would mean today they would probably identify as genderqueer or non-binary. They're given the choice during the story between actively choosing the gender they were assigned at birth and becoming a husband and father, or choosing to be a woman, which will mean becoming a holy and honored but celibate priestess of the Great Goddess, an attendant to the sacred queen at the palace of Knossos that the Achaean Greeks came to call the Labyrinth. Either will mean they can't be with the kind, protective man they love.
The main action follows Kikeru and their friends as they try to come up with a plan to repel an aggressive attempt at a colonialist invasion by the warlike Achaeans. But the emotional arc follows Kikeru's desperate wish for a way to live life happily without giving up half of what makes them themself, and without being forced into the binary choices offered in Minoan society--even if those choices are at least more open and understanding of gender identity and women's autonomy than the patriarchal Achaeans.
The author has incorporated a lot of details and factoids about ancient Mediterranean and Minoan cultures that I appreciate; for example, Kikeru's idea to sneak into the Greek compound by the sewers is dismissed when they're informed that, unlike the Minoans, the Greeks don't have sewers and indoor plumbing. She also extrapolates what we know of related Anatolian and Mesopotamian cultures to suppose a role for trans women in the form of temple priestesses of the Great Goddess, the Mistress of the Animals (I think it's an extrapolation--my understanding is we don't know a lot directly about Minoan culture because, again, nobody can read Linear A). That the book takes this as a given is deeply important, but I loved that the emotional journey of the story is not just following the life of one of these priestesses, nor a cisgender outsider, but someone whose beautiful place in another facet of gender leads them to put their inventive mind toward a difficult and complicated solution.
I'm so sick of being surrounded by books that are nothing but the same straight cisgender men and their manpain, that reading a story where I can recognize part of myself in the main character (even though Kikeru's story is not really my story, as my own very specific kind of trans fem enby), with a setting that acknowledges and provides at least some kind of role for people like me, is so refreshing it makes me want to sing.
(ps, The characters and the narration itself use he or she pronouns for Kikeru depending on the context, but at the times Kikeru is seen the most clearly, when we're getting the closest the story comes to the words of the gods, "they" is what's used, so it's what I've stuck with here)
October 23, 2022
I think my expectations were just so high after "Blessed Isle". Damn!
This had a great start, a highly intriguing setting and premise, but the energy behind the romance and character development seemed to fizzle out partway through, along with my interest. Maybe it just needed to be longer. I don't think the novella-length was nearly enough for all the world- and character-building that needed to be done.
This had a great start, a highly intriguing setting and premise, but the energy behind the romance and character development seemed to fizzle out partway through, along with my interest. Maybe it just needed to be longer. I don't think the novella-length was nearly enough for all the world- and character-building that needed to be done.
March 10, 2025
An interesting story with a gender fluid main character. Unfortunately, people are trying to make them decide if they want to be a woman or man with different endings. I'm not crazy about the final outcome but I guess in those times, not much choices were available.
July 12, 2017
Elegant writing and a fantastic story
June 28, 2019
3.5 Stars
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March 22, 2017Read and reviewed for Crystal's Many Reviewers.
March 19, 2017
Previously reviewed on The Good, The Bad, and The Unread:
While I’ve visited the ruins at Knossos and have a healthy fascination with the legend of the Minotaur, I don’t know as much about the history of ancient Crete as perhaps I should. Not, it seems, that anyone else knows as much about the Minoans as they do about the more dominant cultures of that region and time period, thus leaving plenty of gaps for authors to fill with fascinating speculation. More to the point of this review, having complained recently that I don’t see enough historical romances with gender-fluid or genderqueer characters, a whole spate come along at once, not least this offering by Alex Beecroft.
Kikeru’s mother is a Minoan priestess and so a high ranking member of their society. Although Kikeru sometimes dresses, acts, and feels like the man he was born to be, there are other times when she is more comfortable as a woman. As a woman – and in this society, that would mean following castration – Kikeru could join the priestesses at the temple. As a man, Kikeru would have to find a wife and act male all the time. Neither option fully appeals, but the time when Kikeru will have to choose is drawing close.
While out walking, Kikeru is saved from assault by a group of Greek sailors, thanks to the intervention of widowed ship owner Rusa. Kikeru has overheard the Greeks discussing their plans to overthrow the Minoans and take Crete for themselves and enlists Rusa’s help. Rusa, who has an unconventional daughter himself, is attracted to Kikeru regardless of gender, and agrees to help thwart the Greeks’ plot. Although the two families did not know each other before, Kikeru’s mother and Rusa’s daughter soon take to their respective relatives’ new friends; together, the four try to find ways not only to keep their civilisation safe from invasion but also to solve the problems posed by Kikeru’s gender and Rusa’s imminent grandchild. Kikeru is an inventor, which gives them various options for fooling the Greeks, particularly given the complex layout of the Minoan palace that the Greeks must break into in order to complete their plans.
Rusa’s daughter, meanwhile, is keen to help, in spite of her advanced pregnancy; although she exposes herself to danger when the Greeks realise her connection to the others, she shows no hesitation in rescuing herself. Not put off by her first brush with the enemy, she then continues to help her father and his new love to complete their plans and outwit the Greeks.
I loved all these characters, and the society which was envisioned for them – based on what little we know from archaeology and Greek records, neither of which can really tell us how the Minoans thought or interacted with each other and with their foreign visitors cum would-be conquerors. My only disappointment is that the story wasn’t longer, so that we could get to see more of Kikeru and Rusa’s adventures and life together – once a solution had been found to ensure everyone appeared to be following the conventions of their society!
While I’ve visited the ruins at Knossos and have a healthy fascination with the legend of the Minotaur, I don’t know as much about the history of ancient Crete as perhaps I should. Not, it seems, that anyone else knows as much about the Minoans as they do about the more dominant cultures of that region and time period, thus leaving plenty of gaps for authors to fill with fascinating speculation. More to the point of this review, having complained recently that I don’t see enough historical romances with gender-fluid or genderqueer characters, a whole spate come along at once, not least this offering by Alex Beecroft.
Kikeru’s mother is a Minoan priestess and so a high ranking member of their society. Although Kikeru sometimes dresses, acts, and feels like the man he was born to be, there are other times when she is more comfortable as a woman. As a woman – and in this society, that would mean following castration – Kikeru could join the priestesses at the temple. As a man, Kikeru would have to find a wife and act male all the time. Neither option fully appeals, but the time when Kikeru will have to choose is drawing close.
While out walking, Kikeru is saved from assault by a group of Greek sailors, thanks to the intervention of widowed ship owner Rusa. Kikeru has overheard the Greeks discussing their plans to overthrow the Minoans and take Crete for themselves and enlists Rusa’s help. Rusa, who has an unconventional daughter himself, is attracted to Kikeru regardless of gender, and agrees to help thwart the Greeks’ plot. Although the two families did not know each other before, Kikeru’s mother and Rusa’s daughter soon take to their respective relatives’ new friends; together, the four try to find ways not only to keep their civilisation safe from invasion but also to solve the problems posed by Kikeru’s gender and Rusa’s imminent grandchild. Kikeru is an inventor, which gives them various options for fooling the Greeks, particularly given the complex layout of the Minoan palace that the Greeks must break into in order to complete their plans.
Rusa’s daughter, meanwhile, is keen to help, in spite of her advanced pregnancy; although she exposes herself to danger when the Greeks realise her connection to the others, she shows no hesitation in rescuing herself. Not put off by her first brush with the enemy, she then continues to help her father and his new love to complete their plans and outwit the Greeks.
I loved all these characters, and the society which was envisioned for them – based on what little we know from archaeology and Greek records, neither of which can really tell us how the Minoans thought or interacted with each other and with their foreign visitors cum would-be conquerors. My only disappointment is that the story wasn’t longer, so that we could get to see more of Kikeru and Rusa’s adventures and life together – once a solution had been found to ensure everyone appeared to be following the conventions of their society!
December 2, 2016
This review originally appeared on Just Love: Queer Book Reviews
*3.5 stars*
I’ve been ridiculously excited to read this novella since it was announced, as a former Classics student and devoted mythology geek, revisionist interpretations of myth are like catnip to me. I was especially intrigued by this story as it’s set in the lesser known Minoan culture, a Bronze Age civilisation that predates what many people think of when they imagine Ancient Greece, from the neighbouring island of Crete, which we know very little about but what information we do have is fascinating. With their matriarchal hierarchy, mercantile acumen, distinctive religious practices and still untranslated Linear A alphabet, they were an thriving cultural hub of Mediterranean life until their decline from around 1400 BCE, and if you’re at all curious I definitely recommend learning more about them.
One of the most important, certainly the most famous, things we know about the Minoans is the myth of Daedalus and Icarus, and of the minotaur that lives in the palace at the heart of the labyrinth. Alex Beecroft’s version is told from the Minoan POV, and is a clever interpretation that uses several authentic aspects of their religion to create a believable solution to remove the Greek threat to their home. I liked this younger version of Daedalus, the ‘cunning artificer’ of legend a lot – but then, I have an extreme weakness for absent minded, insatiably curious inventors, and Kikeru certainly fits this trope beautifully. I also read them as dyspraxic, which may not have been the author’s intent but as I am as well I’ll happily take all the representation I can get.
*3.5 stars*
I’ve been ridiculously excited to read this novella since it was announced, as a former Classics student and devoted mythology geek, revisionist interpretations of myth are like catnip to me. I was especially intrigued by this story as it’s set in the lesser known Minoan culture, a Bronze Age civilisation that predates what many people think of when they imagine Ancient Greece, from the neighbouring island of Crete, which we know very little about but what information we do have is fascinating. With their matriarchal hierarchy, mercantile acumen, distinctive religious practices and still untranslated Linear A alphabet, they were an thriving cultural hub of Mediterranean life until their decline from around 1400 BCE, and if you’re at all curious I definitely recommend learning more about them.
One of the most important, certainly the most famous, things we know about the Minoans is the myth of Daedalus and Icarus, and of the minotaur that lives in the palace at the heart of the labyrinth. Alex Beecroft’s version is told from the Minoan POV, and is a clever interpretation that uses several authentic aspects of their religion to create a believable solution to remove the Greek threat to their home. I liked this younger version of Daedalus, the ‘cunning artificer’ of legend a lot – but then, I have an extreme weakness for absent minded, insatiably curious inventors, and Kikeru certainly fits this trope beautifully. I also read them as dyspraxic, which may not have been the author’s intent but as I am as well I’ll happily take all the representation I can get.
October 13, 2016
First let me say that this is a valiant effort. The concept is kind of cool, as well. What is the legend of the Minotaur, the Bull that walks like a man, and lives in a labyrinth was real, so to speak. And that the legend of Icarous and Daedalus, who escaped from Crete and the Labyrinth.
And, what if one of the main characters in the story was a transgender youth who had to choose which gender he wanted to be, and was having trouble because he had fallen in love with a man.
So, we have all that going on, and throw in the Greeks planning to take over the kingdom, and you would think you would have a spellbinding story.
Unfortunately, it took me a whole week to read this because it didn't make me wonder what was going to happen. And oh my, Kikeru, the protagonist, moans on and on about how in love with Rusa he is, but he is not sure if he should choose to be a man or a woman.
And I get that. I get that he would have this problem. But, it went on through the whole book, as it probably should, but I grew bored of it.
And this might make me sound like someone who doesn't sympathize with transgendered people, and how hard it would have been to be that in ancient Crete. And yes, I do. I just want there to be more to the book than that.
So, I am giving this book three stars for a good effort. It appears to be well researched, or at least well built. It just wasn't really rip-roaring until perhaps the last two chapters.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
And, what if one of the main characters in the story was a transgender youth who had to choose which gender he wanted to be, and was having trouble because he had fallen in love with a man.
So, we have all that going on, and throw in the Greeks planning to take over the kingdom, and you would think you would have a spellbinding story.
Unfortunately, it took me a whole week to read this because it didn't make me wonder what was going to happen. And oh my, Kikeru, the protagonist, moans on and on about how in love with Rusa he is, but he is not sure if he should choose to be a man or a woman.
And I get that. I get that he would have this problem. But, it went on through the whole book, as it probably should, but I grew bored of it.
And this might make me sound like someone who doesn't sympathize with transgendered people, and how hard it would have been to be that in ancient Crete. And yes, I do. I just want there to be more to the book than that.
So, I am giving this book three stars for a good effort. It appears to be well researched, or at least well built. It just wasn't really rip-roaring until perhaps the last two chapters.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
November 24, 2016
3.5 Stars
Full Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has in no way influenced my review.*
This was a very quick, light read. It was a nice, positive story about a genderqueer/non-binary character (no specific term was used, but he didn't feel like a man, and he didn't feel like a woman, he was simply both). Not everyone in the world was accepting, but those closest to Kikeru were, and Kikeru, after a bit of struggle to figure things out, was accepting of himself.
There was also romance, but that too was light with only one brief intimate scene that was on-screen but not too explicit.
Because the book was so short though, the plot was uncomplicated, the problems they ran into were solved easily, the romance was instalove-y, and the characters didn't have much depth. I also had a hard time trying to understand the way their society worked with the priestesses and daemons and whatnot since some things weren't really explained or explored.
Overall it was entertaining and enjoyable as a quick, light read, I do recommend it if that's what you're in the mood for, but it had potential for more and I think I would've enjoyed it more had it been longer and less rushed and explored things more in depth.
Recommended For:
Anyone looking for a quick, light read with a positive genderqueer and LGBTQIA message.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Full Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has in no way influenced my review.*
This was a very quick, light read. It was a nice, positive story about a genderqueer/non-binary character (no specific term was used, but he didn't feel like a man, and he didn't feel like a woman, he was simply both). Not everyone in the world was accepting, but those closest to Kikeru were, and Kikeru, after a bit of struggle to figure things out, was accepting of himself.
There was also romance, but that too was light with only one brief intimate scene that was on-screen but not too explicit.
Because the book was so short though, the plot was uncomplicated, the problems they ran into were solved easily, the romance was instalove-y, and the characters didn't have much depth. I also had a hard time trying to understand the way their society worked with the priestesses and daemons and whatnot since some things weren't really explained or explored.
Overall it was entertaining and enjoyable as a quick, light read, I do recommend it if that's what you're in the mood for, but it had potential for more and I think I would've enjoyed it more had it been longer and less rushed and explored things more in depth.
Recommended For:
Anyone looking for a quick, light read with a positive genderqueer and LGBTQIA message.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
January 29, 2017
I almost didn’t finish this story. In the first couple of chapters, being in Kikeru’s head was confusing and hard to follow. I kept putting the book down for days every other paragraph. But when I finally pushed through, and the POV changed to Rusa, the flow of the story evened out.
This is a fantasy retelling of the famous city of Knossos and their Minotaur, or more specifically how the legend/myth of the Minotaur began with Kikeru and Rusa at the heart of it. With as much problems as I had getting through the first few chapters, the story picked up and became interesting with the adventure of saving Knossos from the Greeks and the forbidden love of Kikeru and Rusa. The conflict with the Greeks and the adventure was a plus for me, but I did find the romance was a little light compared to everything else that went on. There was a great depiction of the era and the beliefs that added spice. Kikeru’s decision, whether they were partly divine and therefore a woman and belonging solely to the goddess , or a man who would marry a woman was a part of the two pronged plot. I truly felt for them and how even though the temple was open to them being a woman there wasn’t a choice for being gender fluid. I liked the solution that benefited everybody at the end. All in all it turned out to be an enjoyable story with a different historical plot.
Reviewed by Rachelle for Crystal's Many Reviewers
*Copy provided for review*
This is a fantasy retelling of the famous city of Knossos and their Minotaur, or more specifically how the legend/myth of the Minotaur began with Kikeru and Rusa at the heart of it. With as much problems as I had getting through the first few chapters, the story picked up and became interesting with the adventure of saving Knossos from the Greeks and the forbidden love of Kikeru and Rusa. The conflict with the Greeks and the adventure was a plus for me, but I did find the romance was a little light compared to everything else that went on. There was a great depiction of the era and the beliefs that added spice. Kikeru’s decision, whether they were partly divine and therefore a woman and belonging solely to the goddess , or a man who would marry a woman was a part of the two pronged plot. I truly felt for them and how even though the temple was open to them being a woman there wasn’t a choice for being gender fluid. I liked the solution that benefited everybody at the end. All in all it turned out to be an enjoyable story with a different historical plot.
Reviewed by Rachelle for Crystal's Many Reviewers
*Copy provided for review*
November 28, 2016
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was a bit miffed by this book. The description states "superstitious Rusa, who is terrified of what the goddesses will think of him being in love with one of their chosen ones". I did not see -any- indication of hesitation from Rusa when it came to showing love and affection towards Kikeru. On top of that, the description gives very little note to the possible war with the Greeks. Yet most of the book revolved around the Greeks and so little to Kikeru's questioning of what his future will be. It would have been much better if the description said "This is a retelling of the origins of the Minotaur legend on the Isle of Crete".
The actual story was well done, and I did enjoy the story. The writing was clear and the characters consistent in their behaviours and actions. Than at the end of the story I'm supposed to believe that Jadikira, who has thus far been open and honest in seeking multiple sexual partners for her pleasure, is willing to forgo her three lovers in order to pretend to be Kikeru's wife. Kikeru was ordered if he chose to be male, to marry and have children. He will not have sex with Jadikira and therefore not have children. It does not seem a very well thought out resolution to the story.
I was a bit miffed by this book. The description states "superstitious Rusa, who is terrified of what the goddesses will think of him being in love with one of their chosen ones". I did not see -any- indication of hesitation from Rusa when it came to showing love and affection towards Kikeru. On top of that, the description gives very little note to the possible war with the Greeks. Yet most of the book revolved around the Greeks and so little to Kikeru's questioning of what his future will be. It would have been much better if the description said "This is a retelling of the origins of the Minotaur legend on the Isle of Crete".
The actual story was well done, and I did enjoy the story. The writing was clear and the characters consistent in their behaviours and actions. Than at the end of the story I'm supposed to believe that Jadikira, who has thus far been open and honest in seeking multiple sexual partners for her pleasure, is willing to forgo her three lovers in order to pretend to be Kikeru's wife. Kikeru was ordered if he chose to be male, to marry and have children. He will not have sex with Jadikira and therefore not have children. It does not seem a very well thought out resolution to the story.
January 24, 2017
This historical fantasy had an interesting premise, but it seemed like an unfinished project. For one, it was way too short, more a novella or a short story, and that was no way enough to properly explore the either the setting or the story.
Kikeru, a priestess's child in ancient Crete is conflicted about his gender. But even as he struggles between being a man and marrying a woman, or being a woman and dedicating himself to the temple, he finds himself flung headlong into a Greek conspiracy to overthrow Crete--and also in love.
A gender-fluid teenager in ancient civilization was enough to make me want to read the book, but it was disappointing overall. The attraction between Rusa and Kikeru was all telling without showing, and especially given their age difference, it was very difficult to find it believable. I did like Kikeru's gender confuison and the fact that there was no real resolution to that in the span of the story, however.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
Kikeru, a priestess's child in ancient Crete is conflicted about his gender. But even as he struggles between being a man and marrying a woman, or being a woman and dedicating himself to the temple, he finds himself flung headlong into a Greek conspiracy to overthrow Crete--and also in love.
A gender-fluid teenager in ancient civilization was enough to make me want to read the book, but it was disappointing overall. The attraction between Rusa and Kikeru was all telling without showing, and especially given their age difference, it was very difficult to find it believable. I did like Kikeru's gender confuison and the fact that there was no real resolution to that in the span of the story, however.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
January 18, 2017
I really liked the idea behind this novella but, unfortunately, the final product just seemed half baked. The characters don't really get enough development and seem really flighty at times. The reworking of the story of the Minotaur was fun but could have been improved on by spending more time on it and giving it a more detailed account. I think there were just too many ideas to really fit into such a short narrative.
October 14, 2018
2.5 stars. I wanted to like this a lot more than I did, but ultimately it didn't manage to engage me at all.
The writing style is very unique and took some time getting used to. The story seems a bit disconnected while at the same time being very straightforward.
I like that it's a fairly new (at least in my experience) to the Minotaur mythos, and the mythology and science aspects were nicely combined and implemented.
Also, aro & ace representation!!!!
The writing style is very unique and took some time getting used to. The story seems a bit disconnected while at the same time being very straightforward.
I like that it's a fairly new (at least in my experience) to the Minotaur mythos, and the mythology and science aspects were nicely combined and implemented.
Also, aro & ace representation!!!!
December 4, 2016
Didn't realize until near the end that this book also contains a possible explanation for where the myth of the minotaur came from. I kind of liked that because done that way it didn't make me feels like the blurb lied to me or hid important information. but the author note was kinda necessary to understanding that bit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2017
This was very confusing. I didn't get the attraction at all. I also didn't understand whether the love I terst was the mom or the son.
I had such high hopes for this too.
I had such high hopes for this too.
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