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Myths of Stone #1
The Gorgon Bride
THE GODS ARE FUNNY.Except when you piss them off.Then they suck.They really, really suck.(Really).Alexander Weiss discovers this tidbit when he inadvertently insults Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, and she casts him away on a forgotten isle filled with statues.Being marooned is bad enough, but the fact that the island is also the home of Euryale, elder sister to Medusa, makes the situation a touch worse. The only thing keeping Alex from being petrified is the fact that Euryale has taken a liking to the blundering mortal.For now.What follows next is a wild, adventurous tale filled with heroes, gods, monsters, love, and war that is nothing short of legendary.If you're a fan of Neil Gaiman, Christopher Moore, Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, or girls with snakes, this is the novel for you. Grab your copy today!
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2018
323 people are currently reading
390 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
July 10, 2018
A unique approach to a book to have the mythic Greek Gods and Goddesses take part in the 21st century. The author takes the reader on an intellectual journey that covers more ground than simply Earth, Mount Olympus and Hades. The story about Alex and Euryvale and Jessica is difficult to sum up. This is more than a love story and it is more than a story about Mythology.
This book is hard to put down as the reader just wants to know what is going to happen next. Having Athena, Ares and Aphrodite taking such a large role makes this book extremely exciting.
For me the questions raised by this book center around the eternal questions...what is love and what is a hero?
By the time you reach the conclusion of this book the author doesn't answer either question. The author provides a lot of perspective that will help the reader work on their own definition. A brilliantly crafted book that doesn't provide an easy solution to any of the questions raised here.
My Rating: 5 stars
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/si...
This book is hard to put down as the reader just wants to know what is going to happen next. Having Athena, Ares and Aphrodite taking such a large role makes this book extremely exciting.
For me the questions raised by this book center around the eternal questions...what is love and what is a hero?
By the time you reach the conclusion of this book the author doesn't answer either question. The author provides a lot of perspective that will help the reader work on their own definition. A brilliantly crafted book that doesn't provide an easy solution to any of the questions raised here.
My Rating: 5 stars
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/si...
July 25, 2018
“The Gorgon Bride” is a whimsical story about a whirlwind romance and trying to discover if that romance is the real deal, or just a passing fling. As someone who adores Greek Mythology, I was instantly intrigued by this book, and for the most part, the author does a nice job of touching upon a great number of myths and portrays the Greek gods well enough to where you don’t necessarily need to know all the stories for the various people who make cameo’s in the book, but it certainly does help. The reader follows Alex, though, a modern day man who finds himself suddenly dead, the Greek gods are suddenly back from their centuries long hiatus, and that Athena has taken an interest in Alex in particular. Why Alex? That’s never really explained….
In the very first chapter, Athena drops a whale on Alex’s head and kills him. How does he know it’s Athena? Because Hermes makes him sign for it like a package. Why has Athena picked Alex to have a whale dropped on him? Then let’s slip that she was told this mortal will eventually piss her off so he’ll owe her a favor? Post-whale smooshing, mind you. I still have no clue. Maybe I missed it, but this question was bothering me the whole time. Because everything that happens next, and everything Alex tries to prove, is all because Athena claims to have been wronged by Alex’s arrogance when he meets her in the Underworld. But, excuse me, Athena started it with the whole whale thing! Doesn’t she owe him, not the other way around? But I digress. Why the whale is there to begin with gets explained, which was kind of funny, just not why Alex of all people.
Regardless, Alex is then tasked with finding Eurayle, the gorgon, her true love for all eternity. And surprise, surprise, it’s not surprising who that turns out to be. How someone can see past the snakes for hair and form an insta-love to an actual monster that fast, I have no clue but there it is. The sad thing is, the story didn't even need that instant attraction! You'll find out what I mean if you read the book, but suffice it to say, it became rather pointless early on.
Unfortunately, while the writing is very clever and witty, Alex and Jessica are both rather flat in terms of character depth and felt too similar to me. I never connected much with Alex and never had a very clear view of him in my mind’s eye, making it personally hard for me to be invested in his trials. That being said, the gods interactions were by far my favorite. Ares interacting with Athena—or pretty much Ares interactions with anyone for that matter—was very well done, and I found myself chuckling on occasion. I also really enjoyed Kharon and Alex’s first encounter. It’s clear the author knows his mythology but, given the stories focus lay elsewhere, the gods did feel a bit stereotypical at times. But I believe this was done for the benefit of a reader who, like Alex, doesn’t know their mythology.
I wanted to like this book a lot more because of the mythology aspect and how well the author writes. The plot, at its core, is clever and I highly enjoyed the witticism and snark of the characters and writing when it was present. Surlak-Ramsey is clearly a very talented writer who can tell fun, light-hearted tales succinctly without letting the flow and action of a novel lag. However, that thing with the whale, the human characters being so two dimensional and kind of dumb in my opinion, plus Eurayle is barely in the book, and my dislike of insta-love and romances in general, made this book pretty hard to rate. I was wavering between two and three stars the whole time, but the action at the end and the book’s conclusion as a whole has me rounding up, because it is pretty fun and cute. All in all, this is a light and entertaining read, I’d even say it was a good middle-grade book as those plot holes probably wouldn’t bother younger readers as much—plus, while Alex goes through some pretty dire tasks, the violence is fleeting and not permanent because Alex is already dead, the love is all pretty innocent, and there’s no graphic language. But I was just expecting something… more, or just different from “The Gorgon Bride”, so I’m giving it 2.75 stars but am rounding up because it is a light read all other issues aside. And thanks to the publisher for providing me a copy for review!
In the very first chapter, Athena drops a whale on Alex’s head and kills him. How does he know it’s Athena? Because Hermes makes him sign for it like a package. Why has Athena picked Alex to have a whale dropped on him? Then let’s slip that she was told this mortal will eventually piss her off so he’ll owe her a favor? Post-whale smooshing, mind you. I still have no clue. Maybe I missed it, but this question was bothering me the whole time. Because everything that happens next, and everything Alex tries to prove, is all because Athena claims to have been wronged by Alex’s arrogance when he meets her in the Underworld. But, excuse me, Athena started it with the whole whale thing! Doesn’t she owe him, not the other way around? But I digress. Why the whale is there to begin with gets explained, which was kind of funny, just not why Alex of all people.
Regardless, Alex is then tasked with finding Eurayle, the gorgon, her true love for all eternity. And surprise, surprise, it’s not surprising who that turns out to be. How someone can see past the snakes for hair and form an insta-love to an actual monster that fast, I have no clue but there it is. The sad thing is, the story didn't even need that instant attraction! You'll find out what I mean if you read the book, but suffice it to say, it became rather pointless early on.
Unfortunately, while the writing is very clever and witty, Alex and Jessica are both rather flat in terms of character depth and felt too similar to me. I never connected much with Alex and never had a very clear view of him in my mind’s eye, making it personally hard for me to be invested in his trials. That being said, the gods interactions were by far my favorite. Ares interacting with Athena—or pretty much Ares interactions with anyone for that matter—was very well done, and I found myself chuckling on occasion. I also really enjoyed Kharon and Alex’s first encounter. It’s clear the author knows his mythology but, given the stories focus lay elsewhere, the gods did feel a bit stereotypical at times. But I believe this was done for the benefit of a reader who, like Alex, doesn’t know their mythology.
I wanted to like this book a lot more because of the mythology aspect and how well the author writes. The plot, at its core, is clever and I highly enjoyed the witticism and snark of the characters and writing when it was present. Surlak-Ramsey is clearly a very talented writer who can tell fun, light-hearted tales succinctly without letting the flow and action of a novel lag. However, that thing with the whale, the human characters being so two dimensional and kind of dumb in my opinion, plus Eurayle is barely in the book, and my dislike of insta-love and romances in general, made this book pretty hard to rate. I was wavering between two and three stars the whole time, but the action at the end and the book’s conclusion as a whole has me rounding up, because it is pretty fun and cute. All in all, this is a light and entertaining read, I’d even say it was a good middle-grade book as those plot holes probably wouldn’t bother younger readers as much—plus, while Alex goes through some pretty dire tasks, the violence is fleeting and not permanent because Alex is already dead, the love is all pretty innocent, and there’s no graphic language. But I was just expecting something… more, or just different from “The Gorgon Bride”, so I’m giving it 2.75 stars but am rounding up because it is a light read all other issues aside. And thanks to the publisher for providing me a copy for review!
May 14, 2018
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley
I was really wavering between 2 and 3 stars pretty much the entire time I was reading this book, but the ending was kind of cute actually so I decided to bump it up. This is a really hard book to rate because on the one hand there's instalove and it's horrible, but then as the novel progresses the protagonist learns that you actually need to work hard at love so it kind of redeems itself in that way. Also there's an awful love triangle between the protagonist, the 'gorgon bride', and his high-school sweetheart ...but again it doesn't end up the way you'd normally expect so I have to give some credit for trying to breathe new life into tired old tropes.
I think my main criticisms of this book would have to be that Euryale [the titular Gorgon bride] was not really in the book much except at the very beginning and end, and also that Alex just seemed to be way too good at everything and I found it kind of annoying/unbelievable at times. Still, it was definitely an interesting ride and even with the sometimes awkward writing I can tell the author was trying to get a good message across, so it turned out pretty okay in the end.
I was really wavering between 2 and 3 stars pretty much the entire time I was reading this book, but the ending was kind of cute actually so I decided to bump it up. This is a really hard book to rate because on the one hand there's instalove and it's horrible, but then as the novel progresses the protagonist learns that you actually need to work hard at love so it kind of redeems itself in that way. Also there's an awful love triangle between the protagonist, the 'gorgon bride', and his high-school sweetheart ...but again it doesn't end up the way you'd normally expect so I have to give some credit for trying to breathe new life into tired old tropes.
I think my main criticisms of this book would have to be that Euryale [the titular Gorgon bride] was not really in the book much except at the very beginning and end, and also that Alex just seemed to be way too good at everything and I found it kind of annoying/unbelievable at times. Still, it was definitely an interesting ride and even with the sometimes awkward writing I can tell the author was trying to get a good message across, so it turned out pretty okay in the end.
December 30, 2019
“The Gorgon Bride” is a hugely entertaining story, with terrific narration!
MC Alex is quite the doofus, constantly leaping to conclusions without listening, which gets him in all sorts of trouble with the easy to offend gods!
Alex finds himself in the middle of the neverending battle between egos of Athena, Aphrodite, Apollo and many others. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is furious that Athena is arranging a marriage between Alex and Euryale, and Alex is made to endure innumerable tests and trials to prove his love for Euryale. Oh yes…there’s a duel with pineapples, so be prepared for that! 5* and I look forward to the sequel!
MC Alex is quite the doofus, constantly leaping to conclusions without listening, which gets him in all sorts of trouble with the easy to offend gods!
Alex finds himself in the middle of the neverending battle between egos of Athena, Aphrodite, Apollo and many others. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is furious that Athena is arranging a marriage between Alex and Euryale, and Alex is made to endure innumerable tests and trials to prove his love for Euryale. Oh yes…there’s a duel with pineapples, so be prepared for that! 5* and I look forward to the sequel!
August 2, 2018
Originally published at Risingshadow.
Galen Surlak-Ramsey's The Gorgon Bride is an entertaining and imaginative, but slightly flawed tale about what happens when a man accidentally and carelessly insults the Goddess of Wisdom and ends up finding a suitor for the snake-haired Gorgon. It's a quick and fun read with a sarcastic edge to it.
Galen Surlak-Ramsey's vision of Greek mythology is imaginative, because he writes about what kind of things the gods and goddesses are up to in the 21st century and how they meddle with mortals. He seems to have a surprisingly good imagination, because there are concepts in this novel that I don't recall seeing explored in other similar kind of fantasy novels. He has strived to write something different about the Greek gods and has succeeded in it.
The Gorgon Bride is a story about Alexander Weiss who, after getting squashed to death by a large whale, finds himself in the Underworld. When he meets Athena, he manages to insult her and ends up on a forgotten island filled with statues where Euryale lives. Soon he tries to find a suitor for the beautiful and snake-haired Euryale who's in need of a lover, but all of a sudden he notices that he's falling in love with her...
This is the beginning of a lighthearted fantasy story filled with humour, adventure, gods, goddesses, monsters, heroes, love and war.
It was fun to read about how Alex began to fall in love with Euryale and what kind of feelings he had for her. Alex's feelings for Euryale developed fast, which felt a bit strange to me, but this unusual love affair is entertaining and brings entertainment values to the story. I also enjoyed reading about Alex and his old love, Jessica, because she finds herself being drawn into the happenings and notices to her amazement that everything about the gods and myths is real.
I was surprised by how much the author knows about Greek mythology. He has clearly researched mythology before writing this novel, because his vision of the immortal beings is enjoyable and insightful. He fluently tells of how arrogant the gods can be and how they use mortals as pawns and playthings in their own schemes. The gods have their own values and they respect certain things in others.
Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, is quite an interesting character, because she is clever and intelligent, but also terrifyingly cruel. She likes to play games and teach others lessons. Her views about "tough love" are fascinatingly brutal.
What happens between Ares (the God of War) and his wise sister, Athena, is handled well, because Ares is a bit frustrated at being beaten in games by Athena. Ares doesn't like to lose to his sister and doesn't like the games that she plays.
I also enjoyed reading about how Aphrodite, Ares' lover, hears from Ares that Athena is trying to find a suitor for Euryale. Aphrodite's reaction to this is fascinating, because she becomes deeply upset and is aware that Athena knows nothing about the matters of the heart. Because she is resourceful, she finds her own way get involved in Athena's schemes.
I was pleased to find tiny bits and pieces of wisdom in this novel. The author writes well about love and being a hero. I think it's great that he explores these issues, because it adds fascination to the story arc.
Although I enjoyed this novel and found it enjoyable, it had a few flaws that bothered me, so I feel the need to point out a couple of things. The modern and swiftly moving prose fits the fast-paced story, but I think that this novel would've benefited from slower pacing and a more literary and descriptive approach to writing, because it feels rushed and has a kind of a "style over substance" feel to it. This novel would've also been enhanced by a more in-depth character development and exploration of the characters' lives, because I found it difficult to root for some of the characters. Fortunately, it's easy to overlook these flaws due to the story being amusing and lively escapism with a strong focus on light entertainment, because - after all - we all do need this kind of fantasy entertainment from time to time.
It's slightly difficult for me to rate this novel, because I enjoyed it, but was bothered by its flaws. After careful consideration, I decided to give this novel strong three and a half stars on the scale from one to five stars, because the author definitely has something here and the story is entertaining.
Galen Surlak-Ramsey's The Gorgon Bride is a modern, original and fascinating take on Greek mythology. It's totally different from many other novels that tell about Greek gods and goddesses, because the author has come up with a story that amuses and entertains readers with its quirky happenings. It's lighthearted fun for readers who are interested in humorous and fast-paced escapism.
Galen Surlak-Ramsey's The Gorgon Bride is an entertaining and imaginative, but slightly flawed tale about what happens when a man accidentally and carelessly insults the Goddess of Wisdom and ends up finding a suitor for the snake-haired Gorgon. It's a quick and fun read with a sarcastic edge to it.
Galen Surlak-Ramsey's vision of Greek mythology is imaginative, because he writes about what kind of things the gods and goddesses are up to in the 21st century and how they meddle with mortals. He seems to have a surprisingly good imagination, because there are concepts in this novel that I don't recall seeing explored in other similar kind of fantasy novels. He has strived to write something different about the Greek gods and has succeeded in it.
The Gorgon Bride is a story about Alexander Weiss who, after getting squashed to death by a large whale, finds himself in the Underworld. When he meets Athena, he manages to insult her and ends up on a forgotten island filled with statues where Euryale lives. Soon he tries to find a suitor for the beautiful and snake-haired Euryale who's in need of a lover, but all of a sudden he notices that he's falling in love with her...
This is the beginning of a lighthearted fantasy story filled with humour, adventure, gods, goddesses, monsters, heroes, love and war.
It was fun to read about how Alex began to fall in love with Euryale and what kind of feelings he had for her. Alex's feelings for Euryale developed fast, which felt a bit strange to me, but this unusual love affair is entertaining and brings entertainment values to the story. I also enjoyed reading about Alex and his old love, Jessica, because she finds herself being drawn into the happenings and notices to her amazement that everything about the gods and myths is real.
I was surprised by how much the author knows about Greek mythology. He has clearly researched mythology before writing this novel, because his vision of the immortal beings is enjoyable and insightful. He fluently tells of how arrogant the gods can be and how they use mortals as pawns and playthings in their own schemes. The gods have their own values and they respect certain things in others.
Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, is quite an interesting character, because she is clever and intelligent, but also terrifyingly cruel. She likes to play games and teach others lessons. Her views about "tough love" are fascinatingly brutal.
What happens between Ares (the God of War) and his wise sister, Athena, is handled well, because Ares is a bit frustrated at being beaten in games by Athena. Ares doesn't like to lose to his sister and doesn't like the games that she plays.
I also enjoyed reading about how Aphrodite, Ares' lover, hears from Ares that Athena is trying to find a suitor for Euryale. Aphrodite's reaction to this is fascinating, because she becomes deeply upset and is aware that Athena knows nothing about the matters of the heart. Because she is resourceful, she finds her own way get involved in Athena's schemes.
I was pleased to find tiny bits and pieces of wisdom in this novel. The author writes well about love and being a hero. I think it's great that he explores these issues, because it adds fascination to the story arc.
Although I enjoyed this novel and found it enjoyable, it had a few flaws that bothered me, so I feel the need to point out a couple of things. The modern and swiftly moving prose fits the fast-paced story, but I think that this novel would've benefited from slower pacing and a more literary and descriptive approach to writing, because it feels rushed and has a kind of a "style over substance" feel to it. This novel would've also been enhanced by a more in-depth character development and exploration of the characters' lives, because I found it difficult to root for some of the characters. Fortunately, it's easy to overlook these flaws due to the story being amusing and lively escapism with a strong focus on light entertainment, because - after all - we all do need this kind of fantasy entertainment from time to time.
It's slightly difficult for me to rate this novel, because I enjoyed it, but was bothered by its flaws. After careful consideration, I decided to give this novel strong three and a half stars on the scale from one to five stars, because the author definitely has something here and the story is entertaining.
Galen Surlak-Ramsey's The Gorgon Bride is a modern, original and fascinating take on Greek mythology. It's totally different from many other novels that tell about Greek gods and goddesses, because the author has come up with a story that amuses and entertains readers with its quirky happenings. It's lighthearted fun for readers who are interested in humorous and fast-paced escapism.
July 1, 2018
(Disclaimer: I received this free book from the author. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Gorgon Bride is, without doubt, clever and fun. There's this wry sense of humor that's quick on its feet. The story is unique and fast paced. We are brought into their world, pulled from the sidewalk, down onto the shores. The Gorgon Bride doesn't take itself too seriously. There's this introspective self-reflexive humor to the writing - both it's tone and plot. Not only is Alex humorous himself - in his dialogue - but Surlak-Ramsey keeps the tone light. We never get bogged down, and even when the themes are being played with, it never feels heavy.
The Gorgon Bride is, without doubt, clever and fun. There's this wry sense of humor that's quick on its feet. The story is unique and fast paced. We are brought into their world, pulled from the sidewalk, down onto the shores. The Gorgon Bride doesn't take itself too seriously. There's this introspective self-reflexive humor to the writing - both it's tone and plot. Not only is Alex humorous himself - in his dialogue - but Surlak-Ramsey keeps the tone light. We never get bogged down, and even when the themes are being played with, it never feels heavy.
April 16, 2018
The Gorgon Bride by Galen Sulak-Ramsey is a combination of Greek mythology mixed with fantasy. As a fan of Greek mythology and its many stories and heroes I was looking forward to a fun-filled romance and tale full of Gods and their vengeance.
This is a light Greek tale; there are plenty of references to the Gods and Heroes of myth. We get a few of the more well knowns, Zeus, Hades, Ares, Athena, and Aphrodite and then a few of the lesser known. While they are present I feel like the only ones that see any true development are Athena and Ares. Overall I feel like the author leaves a lot of development of the characters to the reader’s knowledge Greek mythology. If the reader is unfamiliar with this I feel there will be a let down here, and I feel for the authors subtleties in his descriptions when he does get going into dialog or a bit of world building he shows his expensive knowledge but I definitely feel he could have taken us on a more through version of his vision for this book.
To be honest, I was a little disappointed by the lack of character building especially for the main characters, Alex and Euryale. We spend very little time with Euryale, who is one of the three Gorgon sisters, Euryale and her sisters were daughters of primordial sea god and goddess Phorcys and Ceto, who personified the dangers of the sea. Aside from a few chapters though she is barely in the novel at all, which for me was a bit of a letdown, I was looking forward to getting to know her and how she and Alex would develop a relationship. I really wanted to see how a relationship for these two would happen but for me this novel tried very hard and just fell rather flat.
I would recommend this for someone who enjoys mythology and wants a light read that is not overly complicated. While it was enjoyable I was just expecting a bit more overall.
This is a light Greek tale; there are plenty of references to the Gods and Heroes of myth. We get a few of the more well knowns, Zeus, Hades, Ares, Athena, and Aphrodite and then a few of the lesser known. While they are present I feel like the only ones that see any true development are Athena and Ares. Overall I feel like the author leaves a lot of development of the characters to the reader’s knowledge Greek mythology. If the reader is unfamiliar with this I feel there will be a let down here, and I feel for the authors subtleties in his descriptions when he does get going into dialog or a bit of world building he shows his expensive knowledge but I definitely feel he could have taken us on a more through version of his vision for this book.
To be honest, I was a little disappointed by the lack of character building especially for the main characters, Alex and Euryale. We spend very little time with Euryale, who is one of the three Gorgon sisters, Euryale and her sisters were daughters of primordial sea god and goddess Phorcys and Ceto, who personified the dangers of the sea. Aside from a few chapters though she is barely in the novel at all, which for me was a bit of a letdown, I was looking forward to getting to know her and how she and Alex would develop a relationship. I really wanted to see how a relationship for these two would happen but for me this novel tried very hard and just fell rather flat.
I would recommend this for someone who enjoys mythology and wants a light read that is not overly complicated. While it was enjoyable I was just expecting a bit more overall.
July 27, 2018
2.5 Stars
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
This was one of those books that wasn't all bad but just wasn't for me and failed to make me feel invested.
Part of the problem was that I had the wrong expectations. I had imagined a guy getting marooned on an island with a dangerous and badass gorgon, but then she'd take a liking to him instead of turning him to stone right away, and they'd fall in love. Instead, it was about a guy getting mixed up with Greek deities, getting rushed into a marriage with a gorgon, and then having battles and going on mini quests. It was one of those stories about an ordinary guy who gets thrust into a crazy situation, turns into a badass, and gets the girl. The gorgon was basically just a damsel-in-distress who was hardly in the story at all, which disappointed me because she was the main reason I read this book. (I've heard from the author, however, that she'll feature more in the next book.)
Another part of the problem was that the POV (which I think was omniscient) was very distant, and the story plot-driven. Not necessarily bad things, just not my preferences. I never felt close to the characters or really knew what their emotions were.
The other main reason I think I didn't enjoy this as much as I wanted to was that it seemed like the book teetered on the edge of realistic and silly without fully committing to either, and that just didn't quite work for me.
This was a fun, light-hearted kind of story though. Reading about Greek Gods is almost always fun. I feel like the author captured the "totally out of touch with humanity, bored, conniving, and a little bonkers" portrayal of them well. It also ended up having a nice, if slightly forced, message in the end about how *SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
Also, this was the first in a series, but it wraps everything up well enough that it works as a standalone if you want it to.
So overall, this didn't quite work for me, but anyone who likes light-hearted, plot-driven, ordinary-to-badass stories with Greek gods may enjoy it more than I did.
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes light-hearted, plot-driven stories, the "ordinary guy becomes badass" trope, and Greek gods.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
This was one of those books that wasn't all bad but just wasn't for me and failed to make me feel invested.
Part of the problem was that I had the wrong expectations. I had imagined a guy getting marooned on an island with a dangerous and badass gorgon, but then she'd take a liking to him instead of turning him to stone right away, and they'd fall in love. Instead, it was about a guy getting mixed up with Greek deities, getting rushed into a marriage with a gorgon, and then having battles and going on mini quests. It was one of those stories about an ordinary guy who gets thrust into a crazy situation, turns into a badass, and gets the girl. The gorgon was basically just a damsel-in-distress who was hardly in the story at all, which disappointed me because she was the main reason I read this book. (I've heard from the author, however, that she'll feature more in the next book.)
Another part of the problem was that the POV (which I think was omniscient) was very distant, and the story plot-driven. Not necessarily bad things, just not my preferences. I never felt close to the characters or really knew what their emotions were.
The other main reason I think I didn't enjoy this as much as I wanted to was that it seemed like the book teetered on the edge of realistic and silly without fully committing to either, and that just didn't quite work for me.
This was a fun, light-hearted kind of story though. Reading about Greek Gods is almost always fun. I feel like the author captured the "totally out of touch with humanity, bored, conniving, and a little bonkers" portrayal of them well. It also ended up having a nice, if slightly forced, message in the end about how *SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
Also, this was the first in a series, but it wraps everything up well enough that it works as a standalone if you want it to.
So overall, this didn't quite work for me, but anyone who likes light-hearted, plot-driven, ordinary-to-badass stories with Greek gods may enjoy it more than I did.
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes light-hearted, plot-driven stories, the "ordinary guy becomes badass" trope, and Greek gods.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
July 10, 2018
This book is so clever and fun in this wry way. You can't help but feel kind of bad for poor Alexander Weiss... Athena drops a whale on his head and it just kind of gets worse from there for him. Then again, he's kind of an arrogant ass so there's a little bit of thinking he gets what's coming to him. I love the relationships between the Olympians, especially the rivalry between Athena and Ares. And OMG Kharon, LOL!
Alex got on my nerves some, and I'd have loved to seen more of Euryale. This was a fun, light read as long as you're not looking for it to be more than it is. I think fans of Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Neil Gaiman's American Gods, and Terry Pratchett's Discworld books (especially Death in the Discworld books...) will be big fans of The Gorgon Bride by Galen Surlak-Ramsey. If any of those authors/series are your jam, or if you love lighthearted comedic romps featuring a cast of characters from Greek mythology, definitely check this one out!
Alex got on my nerves some, and I'd have loved to seen more of Euryale. This was a fun, light read as long as you're not looking for it to be more than it is. I think fans of Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Neil Gaiman's American Gods, and Terry Pratchett's Discworld books (especially Death in the Discworld books...) will be big fans of The Gorgon Bride by Galen Surlak-Ramsey. If any of those authors/series are your jam, or if you love lighthearted comedic romps featuring a cast of characters from Greek mythology, definitely check this one out!
May 25, 2018
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Writing this review has been really hard. Like, embarrassingly so. This is actually my third go at it, and I still don’t have a clue how to express my confusion properly about how I feel towards this book.
The Gorgon Bride is a lighthearted story about the value and hardships of love, when it really boils down to it. It’s full of the heroes and gods we know from Greek mythology, but seen from the perspective of a not-quite dead concert pianist called Alex.
On one hand, I kind of enjoyed it, but it took me over a month to finish it. I liked some parts of it, and I actually don’t have anything bad to say about the portrayal of the mythical aspects in it, except that it might have been a little on the stereotypical side, but still okay. On the other hand I didn’t understand the story arc at all. At first everything happened very fast, and then, about a third way in, a new story arc started, much slower this time.
The idea behind the plot wasn’t bad, and I appreciate the message that it conveys, but for me it felt too jumbled to make the point clear. The weakest point in the story was the lack of logic, and I was close to putting it down for good several times. In the end, I’m glad I didn’t, because the ending was one of the better parts of the book, and the only thing that made me bump it up to a three star review.
If you are looking for a lighthearted read about an unusual hero on the quest to understanding love, to a backdrop of Greek mythology, I recommend picking up The Gorgon Bride. If you’re looking for a little more substance and logic, I’d look somewhere else.
Read the review, and more, on The Aurora Diaries blog: https://theauroradiariesblog.wordpres...
Writing this review has been really hard. Like, embarrassingly so. This is actually my third go at it, and I still don’t have a clue how to express my confusion properly about how I feel towards this book.
The Gorgon Bride is a lighthearted story about the value and hardships of love, when it really boils down to it. It’s full of the heroes and gods we know from Greek mythology, but seen from the perspective of a not-quite dead concert pianist called Alex.
On one hand, I kind of enjoyed it, but it took me over a month to finish it. I liked some parts of it, and I actually don’t have anything bad to say about the portrayal of the mythical aspects in it, except that it might have been a little on the stereotypical side, but still okay. On the other hand I didn’t understand the story arc at all. At first everything happened very fast, and then, about a third way in, a new story arc started, much slower this time.
The idea behind the plot wasn’t bad, and I appreciate the message that it conveys, but for me it felt too jumbled to make the point clear. The weakest point in the story was the lack of logic, and I was close to putting it down for good several times. In the end, I’m glad I didn’t, because the ending was one of the better parts of the book, and the only thing that made me bump it up to a three star review.
If you are looking for a lighthearted read about an unusual hero on the quest to understanding love, to a backdrop of Greek mythology, I recommend picking up The Gorgon Bride. If you’re looking for a little more substance and logic, I’d look somewhere else.
Read the review, and more, on The Aurora Diaries blog: https://theauroradiariesblog.wordpres...
April 19, 2018
Unlikely Heros, immediate love, Monsters, Quests, and Gods! This is a book with all of those as the hero struggles through a great many challenges. He falls down, he gets discouraged, he loses faith, but he has realistic reactions in many of the scenarios. Not everyone can handle finding out that Greek Mythology is real and that you've drawn the gods' attention. There are some fun interpretations of Greek history and mythology. I think the author did a fun job of creating personalities from some of the stories of the gods.
There were some issues for me though.
Alex's complete lack of any Greek mythology knowledge gets him into some trouble. I just don't see how an adult pianist who has been through a decent education wouldn't have a little more knowledge- however, that may be just me. I also think he could be pretty dense at times and I wish his wife was given more depth of character. She had potential to be a very interesting character. Instead, we get an ingenue who becomes a scary monster when jealous/angry. To me, this read like a Young Adult or New Adult tale, and I had to repeatedly remind myself that the hero was a grown man and his wife was an immortal who'd been around for thousands of years. The lack of depth and the repeated obvious 'moral of the story' just felt a little more juvenile than I was expecting, especially given the cover art.
Overall, I enjoyed this as a light fantasy read with a touch of romance and fun use of classical mythology. I'd read another book by this author.
Trigger Warning: violence, coercion, gods playing with mortals lives
There were some issues for me though.
Alex's complete lack of any Greek mythology knowledge gets him into some trouble. I just don't see how an adult pianist who has been through a decent education wouldn't have a little more knowledge- however, that may be just me. I also think he could be pretty dense at times and I wish his wife was given more depth of character. She had potential to be a very interesting character. Instead, we get an ingenue who becomes a scary monster when jealous/angry. To me, this read like a Young Adult or New Adult tale, and I had to repeatedly remind myself that the hero was a grown man and his wife was an immortal who'd been around for thousands of years. The lack of depth and the repeated obvious 'moral of the story' just felt a little more juvenile than I was expecting, especially given the cover art.
Overall, I enjoyed this as a light fantasy read with a touch of romance and fun use of classical mythology. I'd read another book by this author.
Trigger Warning: violence, coercion, gods playing with mortals lives
April 10, 2018
The Gorgon Bride is a fantastic adventure through Greek mythology that incorporates not only familiar faces such as Athena, Ares, Aphrodite, but also gives the spot light to a lot of lesser-known gods and demigods such as The Old Man (Phorcys) and more importantly, his daughter, Euryale (sister of Medusa).
Without spoiling much, the story focuses on Alexander Wiess, concert pianist, who through a series of unfortunate events, gets mixed up with Euryale (who's a bit lonely and almost corners Alex into a relationship). As things unfold, Alex inadvertently steps on a few toes of the gods, and is thrust into the middle of one of the gods' usual squabbles and hilarity ensues.
While the tone is light and fun, the book does delve into what love is (and is not) and the meaning of friendship, as well as going along for a classical hero's journey filled with quests, monsters, and plenty of struggle. The ending is wonderful and ties everything nicely, but leaves room for a sequel--so here's to hoping there's more.
Without spoiling much, the story focuses on Alexander Wiess, concert pianist, who through a series of unfortunate events, gets mixed up with Euryale (who's a bit lonely and almost corners Alex into a relationship). As things unfold, Alex inadvertently steps on a few toes of the gods, and is thrust into the middle of one of the gods' usual squabbles and hilarity ensues.
While the tone is light and fun, the book does delve into what love is (and is not) and the meaning of friendship, as well as going along for a classical hero's journey filled with quests, monsters, and plenty of struggle. The ending is wonderful and ties everything nicely, but leaves room for a sequel--so here's to hoping there's more.
May 17, 2018
I honestly did not expect much from this book as the description sounds extremely cheesy and juvenile, but I requested for it anyway because I have a thing for Greek Mythology and have always longed for a modern tale with the Greek gods involved. If you love reading lyrical prose and beautifully strung sentences, this is not a book for you. The writing is amateur-ish but the tale the author spun kept me enraptured for hours on end. There was never a dull moment in this book. Everything was filled with so much life (and death), action and color. I felt like I was being ripped to shreds alongside Alex in the lion's cave, and experiencing his many other trials with excruciating agony. However, having a sequel that still follows Alex's adventures would probably be tiresome and contrived. I propose that the author come up with a series of the same variety with a different protagonist in every book, and perhaps Alex could even make a cameo in the other books.
March 29, 2019
This was amusing.
July 24, 2018
This book is about Alex, a concert pianist, who unknowingly upsets Athena, so she drops a whale on his head. Alex is then in a not-quite-dead status and in order to save himself he is then forced to act as a matchmaker. Alex must find a husband for Euryale, Medusa’s sister, and the daughter of Phorcys, God of the Hidden Dangers of the Sea. Alex agrees, but after meeting Euryale, he quickly falls in love with her, and the feeling is reciprocated. It seems like Alex’s job would be complete and it would be a win-win. However, since Athena arranged this set-up, her sister, Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love is furious as she is the one who makes the love connections. So, an all-out battle among the Gods begins that puts Alex and Euryale right at the center and tossed around like pawns.
It’s clear that the author is well versed in Greek Mythology and brings it down to a level that can easily be understood and enjoyed by all readers.
I liked that so many known and lesser known Greek Gods made appearances throughout the book. It really showed what it would have been like there and made the story more realistic.
I liked that this book is written in a light hearted, funny, often sarcastic tone. It gives humor to the story and the characters. Even during the more serious, wild, dark, gruesome scenes; the writing continues to be on the lighter side.
Unfortunately, I felt there was a lack of character development and connection. Yes, obviously, I’m not going to be able to easily relate to or have much in common with Greek Gods – but I felt the author was able to set up situations and scenarios that allowed for those opportunities but didn’t follow through with a strong enough connection. Furthermore, I felt a disconnect along some of the characters interaction as well.
I was very intrigued by the storyline and found the concept to be well thought out. However, there were a few times I felt the story jumped around a bit and got somewhat confusing. I found myself having to re-read some of the passages. I think there was just so much going on in the story and it was difficult to separate it out at times.
I loved that the author snuck hidden messages throughout the book. It really raised more questions and allowed other viewpoints and helped me see things in different ways. I don’t want to give away too many spoilers out, but some of the messages are about love, the true value of love, the hardships of love, how far you’d go for love, and like what love really means to you. I think many of us just throw that four-letter word out there and may not really think about what it truly means. After reading this book, I definitely spent some time thinking about the people I love, why I love them, and that I will always make sure that those people know that they are truly loved.
This book has a lot to offer readers such as Greek Mythology, fantasy, romance, love, friendship, adventure, suspense, action, adrenaline, humor, vengeance, faith, adversary, quests, second chances, new beginnings, and so much more!
Even if you’re not a Greek Mythology buff this book is still easy to follow and understand.
This book has a neat and tidy ending that also implies a sequel to follow.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend this book to all Greek Mythology, fantasy, and action readers!
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**
August 30, 2018
There are a few questions about falling in love with a monster and author Galen Surlak-Ramsey seeks to answer them in The Gorgon Bride. Alexander Weiss finds himself in a bit of a pickle when he makes himself an enemy of Athena and is cast away to a rather morbid island full of statues. He finds the “statues” are actually petrified things and quickly discovers himself in a land of myth and danger. Rather than joining these other statues he is saved by the fact that Medusa’s older sister, Euryale, takes a liking to him, but little does he realize that this budding attraction will cost him so much.
Surlak takes some interesting liberties with the Greek mythos and not every reader may find falling in love with what is traditionally a murderous monster appealing. It does take some creative energy to bend the myth in such a way and he does this with humor and an entertaining writing style. The adventures that Alex takes throughout the book are fun, even if they seem without real consequences throughout.
Alex himself was an interesting character to follow at first, especially when it seems there’s something about him that’s important. The disappointing part is that Surlak instead makes Alex to be somewhat of a “Mary Sue,” a character who moves the plot without logical reasoning and seems to be good at whatever obstacle that comes his way. His overall attitude towards his struggles, such as whining through them also does not help with understanding why a mythical monster finds him attractive.
Outside of this, the actual story is entertaining with wonderful tidbits about music and myth that push the themes and story elements farther along. This makes for a rather fun read and one that most readers may enjoy, if they like fantasy and Greek myths. Surlak does have a flair to his writing that is appreciated and entertaining, so the prose moves fast and without too much milling about. Overall, a great read for those who enjoy Greek settings and mythos.
Surlak takes some interesting liberties with the Greek mythos and not every reader may find falling in love with what is traditionally a murderous monster appealing. It does take some creative energy to bend the myth in such a way and he does this with humor and an entertaining writing style. The adventures that Alex takes throughout the book are fun, even if they seem without real consequences throughout.
Alex himself was an interesting character to follow at first, especially when it seems there’s something about him that’s important. The disappointing part is that Surlak instead makes Alex to be somewhat of a “Mary Sue,” a character who moves the plot without logical reasoning and seems to be good at whatever obstacle that comes his way. His overall attitude towards his struggles, such as whining through them also does not help with understanding why a mythical monster finds him attractive.
Outside of this, the actual story is entertaining with wonderful tidbits about music and myth that push the themes and story elements farther along. This makes for a rather fun read and one that most readers may enjoy, if they like fantasy and Greek myths. Surlak does have a flair to his writing that is appreciated and entertaining, so the prose moves fast and without too much milling about. Overall, a great read for those who enjoy Greek settings and mythos.
July 30, 2018
The Gorgon Bride is a complete entertainer. It has beautiful people and gods, ethereal setting, love, war, battles of mind, tour to the underworld and the making of a hero. Although I find gorgons repelling, this gorgon bride named Euryale, daughter of Phorcys is beautiful, loving, heroic, and fully capable to being the protagonist. She gives her husband the desired space and believes in sharing her life with him and not wanting him by her side however. However, for me the real female protagonist was the Goddess of wisdom- Athena.
Athena proves time and again that wisdom is superior to beauty, love and strength. For this precise reason she outwits her brother Ares in both combat of chess and also actual physical combats. It was exciting to know that Athena could judge the precise direction and distance of the thrust of an aimed weapon, so that a slight movement was enough to save her from any injury. She is beautiful but does not like suitors or think about love. Her matchmaking is perfectly aimed and not the product of some heightened libido. Hence, she creates a lasting love pair that stands the test of time. However, she could be cruel- so cruel that she would bound a mortal to a stone and have an eagle names Aldora tear out and eat out the liver. The shocking thing about this punishment is that it is not a one time affair, but the liver would grow back in the body and the next day the eagle would again come back to have its feast.
I love the story, both for its content and for the way it was written. The story is funny most of the times, but gives lessons in love, fidelity, wit and bravery. Alex, the central character of the book is an imperfect man who still manages to become a hero with his wits and his lessons from different Gods. The Gorgon Bride is one book which I would want to read again and again.
Athena proves time and again that wisdom is superior to beauty, love and strength. For this precise reason she outwits her brother Ares in both combat of chess and also actual physical combats. It was exciting to know that Athena could judge the precise direction and distance of the thrust of an aimed weapon, so that a slight movement was enough to save her from any injury. She is beautiful but does not like suitors or think about love. Her matchmaking is perfectly aimed and not the product of some heightened libido. Hence, she creates a lasting love pair that stands the test of time. However, she could be cruel- so cruel that she would bound a mortal to a stone and have an eagle names Aldora tear out and eat out the liver. The shocking thing about this punishment is that it is not a one time affair, but the liver would grow back in the body and the next day the eagle would again come back to have its feast.
I love the story, both for its content and for the way it was written. The story is funny most of the times, but gives lessons in love, fidelity, wit and bravery. Alex, the central character of the book is an imperfect man who still manages to become a hero with his wits and his lessons from different Gods. The Gorgon Bride is one book which I would want to read again and again.
September 29, 2018
The Gorgon Bride is the story of what would happen if the ancient Greek pantheon showed up on Earth and dropped an Orca on a concert pianist. This book showed strong elements of the traditional Greek legends’ style in the story, with the gods essentially larger-than-life humans pursuing eternal family feuds, but unfortunately my sense of humour is a vanishingly small target, and the comedic elements rather passed me by.
Alexander Weiss is selected by Athena apparently at random to act as her hero and find a suitable match for a gorgon, daughter of Phorcys, in order to appease Phorcys for having turned another of his daughters into a whale that got dropped on Alexander. Athena hopes to prove herself superior to Aphrodite in the process.
While the idea is certainly original, I found this story very hard to get into. The traditional Greek legend style of ‘oh, you got dismembered, old boy? Well, never mind, it’s a new day’ just never does it for me, and despite my best efforts, I kept skidding out of immersion in the storyline in a cloud of curses. This is undoubtedly a tribute to how well the author managed the style, but for me, much as I’d like to be able to, I can’t give a higher rating; I just didn’t enjoy the read.
Reviewed for By Rite of Word.
Alexander Weiss is selected by Athena apparently at random to act as her hero and find a suitable match for a gorgon, daughter of Phorcys, in order to appease Phorcys for having turned another of his daughters into a whale that got dropped on Alexander. Athena hopes to prove herself superior to Aphrodite in the process.
While the idea is certainly original, I found this story very hard to get into. The traditional Greek legend style of ‘oh, you got dismembered, old boy? Well, never mind, it’s a new day’ just never does it for me, and despite my best efforts, I kept skidding out of immersion in the storyline in a cloud of curses. This is undoubtedly a tribute to how well the author managed the style, but for me, much as I’d like to be able to, I can’t give a higher rating; I just didn’t enjoy the read.
Reviewed for By Rite of Word.
April 27, 2018
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley of this book.
We follow Alex, a mortal concert pianist who gets killed by a flying whale, courtesy of Athena. As he prepares to cross into the underworld, Athena strikes him a deal: find a husband for Euryale, daughter of Phorcys and Gorgon sister of Medusa, and he won't become a shadow. And so the adventures begin!
As I began reading this, I loved the humor and banter of the gods and the idea of how they might react to a 21st century mortal. Alex is arrogant and clueless but with help, he learns to persevere through various trials.
I enjoyed the ending and the overall plot of the story and the second half definitely moved much quicker than the first. If you enjoy Greek mythology, especially modern retellings, then I recommend this story!
We follow Alex, a mortal concert pianist who gets killed by a flying whale, courtesy of Athena. As he prepares to cross into the underworld, Athena strikes him a deal: find a husband for Euryale, daughter of Phorcys and Gorgon sister of Medusa, and he won't become a shadow. And so the adventures begin!
As I began reading this, I loved the humor and banter of the gods and the idea of how they might react to a 21st century mortal. Alex is arrogant and clueless but with help, he learns to persevere through various trials.
I enjoyed the ending and the overall plot of the story and the second half definitely moved much quicker than the first. If you enjoy Greek mythology, especially modern retellings, then I recommend this story!
June 4, 2018
You are a world famous pianist, you sit down to practice, an instant knock on your front door interrupts you. Upon answering it, you find out that the Greek Gods are back, and an Orca falls on you, in the middle of Kansas.
Then comes the fun. The fun the Gods anyway. it is the love story of the last Gorgon, he 21st century human man that is not quiet dead so can look upon her and not be turned to stone. They and their love is caught in a fight between the Goddesses Athena and Aphrodite, and don't forget to through in Ares, he and Aphrodite are still sleeping together so he pretty much still lets her pull his strings.
One quest after another, into the Underword, a favor of Hades, back up topside, opps, lost Hades' scepter. On and on, don't trust the great Heroes in the Elysian fields. Oh, and don't forget the first love that has been brought to you, she stays with you as your friend through all of it, but that is not what Aphrodite is trying for.
I like this book. It kept me throughly engaged, page to page, chapter to chapter. Lots of action, and true love that wouldn't give up. A fight between sisters that put the poor human in the middle that didn't even know they existed beyond a fairytale or two as a child. Though he did catch up pretty quick, which made me proud of him.
Five starts for character development, and plot line fullment. The words used fit the plot wonderfully, and kept you reading. I just might be looking for next book in the series. Thank you for sharing your world with us, Mr. Surlak-Ramsey.
Then comes the fun. The fun the Gods anyway. it is the love story of the last Gorgon, he 21st century human man that is not quiet dead so can look upon her and not be turned to stone. They and their love is caught in a fight between the Goddesses Athena and Aphrodite, and don't forget to through in Ares, he and Aphrodite are still sleeping together so he pretty much still lets her pull his strings.
One quest after another, into the Underword, a favor of Hades, back up topside, opps, lost Hades' scepter. On and on, don't trust the great Heroes in the Elysian fields. Oh, and don't forget the first love that has been brought to you, she stays with you as your friend through all of it, but that is not what Aphrodite is trying for.
I like this book. It kept me throughly engaged, page to page, chapter to chapter. Lots of action, and true love that wouldn't give up. A fight between sisters that put the poor human in the middle that didn't even know they existed beyond a fairytale or two as a child. Though he did catch up pretty quick, which made me proud of him.
Five starts for character development, and plot line fullment. The words used fit the plot wonderfully, and kept you reading. I just might be looking for next book in the series. Thank you for sharing your world with us, Mr. Surlak-Ramsey.
July 24, 2018
Galen Surlak-Ramsey offers a really interesting premise in this book, creating an interesting story where a human is at the Greeks gods’ disposal, entirely at their good or bad grace.
The story quicks-off really well, with a funny story and a great deal of coincidence, starting with a strong and fast pace. The dialogues are good and the Greek gods’ characters are quite well captured, which shows some previous research. Unfortunately, the human character – Alex, is a bit flat and falls short throughout all the novel. It’s a shame that such a quirky and entertaining book has to suffer from this, but Alex is not the best character for this kind of story. He lacks imagination, wittiness and is not very interesting. I hope the author thinks about editing the book, creating a more appealing human character, because, apart from that, it is a pretty great story.
The story quicks-off really well, with a funny story and a great deal of coincidence, starting with a strong and fast pace. The dialogues are good and the Greek gods’ characters are quite well captured, which shows some previous research. Unfortunately, the human character – Alex, is a bit flat and falls short throughout all the novel. It’s a shame that such a quirky and entertaining book has to suffer from this, but Alex is not the best character for this kind of story. He lacks imagination, wittiness and is not very interesting. I hope the author thinks about editing the book, creating a more appealing human character, because, apart from that, it is a pretty great story.
August 6, 2018
The Gorgon Bride brings a mortal man, though dead, and a gorgon together in matrimony and not all the gods are happy about it. Galen Surlak-Ramsey creatively takes Euryale, one of the three sisters who has snakes for hair and turns people into statues just by looking at her, and uses her as the last sister left who has a chance for love. Alexander Weiss avoids Hades but finds himself in Olympus where he insults Athena. He finds out later that the gods are a prideful group and seek revenge from the slightest infraction.
I found this Greek mythology funny at times, informative of the ancient myths, and inspiring at times. Alex times seems to find new ways to make mistakes among the gods, but I found him sweet. Galen Surlak-Ramsey brings each of the gods to life, giving them a unique personality. I really enjoyed The Gorgon Bride.
I found this Greek mythology funny at times, informative of the ancient myths, and inspiring at times. Alex times seems to find new ways to make mistakes among the gods, but I found him sweet. Galen Surlak-Ramsey brings each of the gods to life, giving them a unique personality. I really enjoyed The Gorgon Bride.
April 9, 2018
I quite enjoyed this. It was fun fantasy adventure featuring The Gods, adversary, quests, true love, friendship, etc. plus fun. don't think i didn't catch all those princess bride references there.
alex weiss answers a knock on his door and ends up squished by a whale. you'd think being squashed flat would be the end of Alex's existence, but you'd be wrong. it's just the start. Alex's adventures start when he falls into a marriage with Euryale, a gorgon, and ends up in a battle royale with ares, god of war.
alex weiss answers a knock on his door and ends up squished by a whale. you'd think being squashed flat would be the end of Alex's existence, but you'd be wrong. it's just the start. Alex's adventures start when he falls into a marriage with Euryale, a gorgon, and ends up in a battle royale with ares, god of war.
September 4, 2018
Definitely an enjoyable book! Very much a light hearted take on Greek mythology, but it still explores an aspect that hasn't been much touched on: Medusa's sisters. The book is sort of a Percy Jackson for adults, with a great deal of humour scattered through the mythological battles and moral quandaries. Alex struck me as an unusual main character, but it was refreshing to have a reek hero type was really a little bit of a coward. The characterisations of various gods and goddesses was quite good, though there were a couple that I'd particularly like to see more of. I look forward to the next book in the series, and I hope Sulak-Ramsey keeps exploring more obscure parts of the myths as they did in the first!
July 19, 2018
A really unique take on Greek mythology. It was a fresh, new change. You didn’t know what you were going to get. Modern day and age mixed with Greek Gods can go so many different ways. Even the way they view love is so outdated. We like each other, let marry straight away. I did find that a little annoying but then again I just chalked it up to being from an era where that was just the way things were done.
I know you are thinking oh god not another love triangle. It wasn’t as annoying as I was expecting it to be. It didn’t really feel like a love triangle. But then again I kind of ignored the feelings between Alex and Jessica. So don’t let that put you off.
(Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Publisher, does not affect my review)
I know you are thinking oh god not another love triangle. It wasn’t as annoying as I was expecting it to be. It didn’t really feel like a love triangle. But then again I kind of ignored the feelings between Alex and Jessica. So don’t let that put you off.
(Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Publisher, does not affect my review)
July 22, 2018
Though a little slow to get started, once this got rolling, it was amazing. A tour-de-force of Greek myth and legend by someone who obviously loves the topic.
August 3, 2018
Enjoy every twist and turn
A fun adventure and new take on how the gods select a hero and a man becomes one. Interesting tail of overcoming odds without being formalite while including the classic troupes and stories we Greek geeks grew up on.
A fun adventure and new take on how the gods select a hero and a man becomes one. Interesting tail of overcoming odds without being formalite while including the classic troupes and stories we Greek geeks grew up on.
July 17, 2018
What a hilarious, gut wrenching, action packed tale! I have always loved the old mythology stories about the Olympians and their interactions (meddling) with mortals. Even though this book would never pass for a literary work of art, I absolutely loved the characters. Alex, the hero, is funny, talented, loving, heroic, and stupid. But isn't that true about most of us at times. He is thrown into the middle of a game of One-Up-Manship between Athena, Ares, and then Aphrodite. Even the way Alex "dies" is hilarious...who would suspect that you could get killed by having an orca fall on you as you walked out your front door!?! I truly enjoyed this read!
I received a free copy of this book, but I am posting the review because I enjoyed it immensely.
I received a free copy of this book, but I am posting the review because I enjoyed it immensely.
July 27, 2022
I might change my rating later. It was not really what I expected. I also didn't expect it to be set in modern times. It got better towards the end. I had such high hopes for these books that I had impulsively bought the 2nd book too. I'm probably going to put off reading that one just yet. We'll see when the time comes if this one is any better. I expected it to be more like P.C. Cast's "Divine by Mistake" but it wasn't. Oh well.
June 26, 2018
I received an ARC of this book and I was quite excited about the main subject of it which is Greek mythology. This genre is one of my passion!
The Gorgon Bride is a modern reteling of Greek mythology mixed with fantasy - I liked the inclusion of the well known Gods and some classical Heroes. All these elements brought more colors to the story. The plot overall is engaging and the writing is very easy and modern. It is a light hearted and humorous book, moreover, I enjoyed the main characters' development.
The Gorgon Bride is a modern reteling of Greek mythology mixed with fantasy - I liked the inclusion of the well known Gods and some classical Heroes. All these elements brought more colors to the story. The plot overall is engaging and the writing is very easy and modern. It is a light hearted and humorous book, moreover, I enjoyed the main characters' development.
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