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Great Goddesses: Life lessons from myths and monsters
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Poetry (2019)Empowering life lessons from myths and monsters.
Wonder at Medusa's potent venom, Circe's fierce sorcery and Athena rising up over Olympus, as Nikita Gill majestically explores the untold stories of the life bringers, warriors, creators, survivors and destroyers that shook the world - the great Greek Goddesses.
Vividly re-imagined and beautifully illustrated, step into an ancient world transformed by modern feminist magic.
'I watch Girl become Goddess
and the metamorphosis is more
magnificent than anything
I have ever known.'
Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2019
727 people are currently reading
29558 people want to read
About the author
Nikita Gill
27 books5,826 followersNikita Gill is a Kashmiri Sikh writer born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and brought up in Gurugram, Haryana in India. In her mid twenties, she immigrated to the South of England and worked as a carer for many years. She enjoys creating paintings, poems, stories, photos, illustrations and other soft, positive things. Her work has appeared in Literary Orphans, Agave Magazine, Gravel Literary Journal, Monkeybicycle, Foliate Oak, MusePiePress, Dying Dahlia Review, The Rising Phoenix Review, Eunoia Review, Corvus Review, After The Pause and elsewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,121 reviews
August 17, 2020
‘why be a half-finished poem in some forgotten poets story, when one can be an odyssey in and of herself.’
this book is exactly what it claims to be - feminist poetry about greek myths. nothing more, nothing less.
this is my first collection by nikita gill and, although i found many stunning verses and elegant prose throughout, im not quite sure im a fan of her poetry style overall. i dont know what it is about it, but i appreciated individual pieces more than the collection as a whole.
and thats possibly my fault. this collection mentions at least 40-50 different people from classic greek myths. some i have never heard of, some i am very familiar with. obviously, the poems about characters i do know resonated more with me, so that could be a possible explanation.
but overall, this is a lovely collection. its perfect for fans of greek myths and retellings, feminism, and poetry.
↠ 4 stars
this book is exactly what it claims to be - feminist poetry about greek myths. nothing more, nothing less.
this is my first collection by nikita gill and, although i found many stunning verses and elegant prose throughout, im not quite sure im a fan of her poetry style overall. i dont know what it is about it, but i appreciated individual pieces more than the collection as a whole.
and thats possibly my fault. this collection mentions at least 40-50 different people from classic greek myths. some i have never heard of, some i am very familiar with. obviously, the poems about characters i do know resonated more with me, so that could be a possible explanation.
but overall, this is a lovely collection. its perfect for fans of greek myths and retellings, feminism, and poetry.
↠ 4 stars
March 5, 2020
3.5 stars
I think the average reader's experience with Great Goddesses is going to depend heavily upon what you're looking for. I tried to review this fairly with a middle-of-the-road rating because, as a poetry collection, it didn't work. There's no rhythm or flow to 90% of the writing, much of the text feels a little repetitive, and more passages than not instilled about as much of an emotional response as the average textbook would. On the other hand, as a collection of tales about Greek deities, it works fabulously. Gill does a splendid job of subverting old tropes and offering new perspectives into the stories of many beings, in both positive and negative ways. I'll leave you with a few of my favorite quotes:
I think the average reader's experience with Great Goddesses is going to depend heavily upon what you're looking for. I tried to review this fairly with a middle-of-the-road rating because, as a poetry collection, it didn't work. There's no rhythm or flow to 90% of the writing, much of the text feels a little repetitive, and more passages than not instilled about as much of an emotional response as the average textbook would. On the other hand, as a collection of tales about Greek deities, it works fabulously. Gill does a splendid job of subverting old tropes and offering new perspectives into the stories of many beings, in both positive and negative ways. I'll leave you with a few of my favorite quotes:
Somewhere inside my heart, I misplaced my faith, misunderstood my own origin story, became a person half tragedy, more misery, and I started to relish it. I revelled in this losing of everything that I thought I was, the lack of self-care; the drowning becomes such a needful thing when you think there is nothing left to look forward to.
——————
This is the story told in hushed tones. It is the version of the tale they do not want you to know. After all, what is more powerful than women who know all about the blessed fires inside them that grow.
——————
Sometimes I watch Girl become Goddess and the metamorphosis is more magnificent than anything I have ever known.
——————
Sometimes I pray for the living in me,
And sometimes I pray for the dead.
November 9, 2019
I loved this author's previous book Fierce Fairytales: Poems and Stories to Stir Your Soul and was so excited when I saw she had a new book coming out. Unfortunately, I just did not engage with this one at all. There were a few poems I really liked, but for the most part my eyes just flicked across the lines, seeking something in the words that I didn't find.
If you're really into Greek mythology you might enjoy this more than I did. It's not awful; it just didn't captivate me like Fierce Fairytales did.
If you're really into Greek mythology you might enjoy this more than I did. It's not awful; it just didn't captivate me like Fierce Fairytales did.
April 30, 2021
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
I actually really enjoyed this! The Hades x Persephone and Hephaestus x Aphrodite ones I loved the most. I probably liked the Poseidon x Amphitrite ones the least, but I still appreciated them because Amphitrite is so often excluded from retellings.
For poetry, it was a rather odd writing style. I'm not certain if I liked it or not, but it was certainly unusual. The constant man-hating though did grate on my nerves after a while. I don't think we necessarily need to bring one gender down, in order to prop another one up. Feminism is about EQUALITY not SUPERIORITY.
I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a more feminist version of Metamorphoses, in the sense that it's a collection of various myths!
I actually really enjoyed this! The Hades x Persephone and Hephaestus x Aphrodite ones I loved the most. I probably liked the Poseidon x Amphitrite ones the least, but I still appreciated them because Amphitrite is so often excluded from retellings.
For poetry, it was a rather odd writing style. I'm not certain if I liked it or not, but it was certainly unusual. The constant man-hating though did grate on my nerves after a while. I don't think we necessarily need to bring one gender down, in order to prop another one up. Feminism is about EQUALITY not SUPERIORITY.
I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a more feminist version of Metamorphoses, in the sense that it's a collection of various myths!
February 1, 2021
Q:
I lost a God once. It’s easier done than people think. Forget a prayer once in a while or simply grow grief in your kitchen window along with the basil and rosemary. Somewhere inside my heart, I misplaced my faith, misunderstood my own origin story, became a person half tragedy, more misery, and I started to relish it. I revelled in this losing of everything that I thought I was, the lack of self-care; the drowning becomes such a needful thing when you think there is nothing left to look forward to. When my faith came back to me, like the forgiving water of a river to the pebbles that it smooths by constant weather and wear, I asked myself, what happens to the Gods when their people forget how to know them? What happens to their fearsome might when the fervent belief fades? (c)
I lost a God once. It’s easier done than people think. Forget a prayer once in a while or simply grow grief in your kitchen window along with the basil and rosemary. Somewhere inside my heart, I misplaced my faith, misunderstood my own origin story, became a person half tragedy, more misery, and I started to relish it. I revelled in this losing of everything that I thought I was, the lack of self-care; the drowning becomes such a needful thing when you think there is nothing left to look forward to. When my faith came back to me, like the forgiving water of a river to the pebbles that it smooths by constant weather and wear, I asked myself, what happens to the Gods when their people forget how to know them? What happens to their fearsome might when the fervent belief fades? (c)
September 11, 2019
there will never be a time I don’t give feminist mythological-reimaginings 5 stars.
they are so incredibly important to the way we think of these stories and the impact they have. gill’s interpretation is no different.
I am always fascinated by how each person gives meaning and life to these immortal beings. their stories are the strength of their immortality, after all.
as a poetry collection, it certainly wasn’t my favorite. but as a collection of myths and tales, it was absolutely perfect.
highly recommend for lovers of mythology and those who wish to reclaim or reshape their identity
they are so incredibly important to the way we think of these stories and the impact they have. gill’s interpretation is no different.
I am always fascinated by how each person gives meaning and life to these immortal beings. their stories are the strength of their immortality, after all.
as a poetry collection, it certainly wasn’t my favorite. but as a collection of myths and tales, it was absolutely perfect.
highly recommend for lovers of mythology and those who wish to reclaim or reshape their identity
October 1, 2025
the one from the dog's POV had me in TEARS. I will die on the hill that says Nikita Gill is one of the best modern poets out there
August 10, 2020
As much as I love Mythology, this one flopped. Nikita Gill has an amazing concept and I’m a huge fan of her poetry collections but this book lack an emotional impact.
May 12, 2023
"Warrior, hold your monsters close
Turn them into your magic.."
Yet another beautiful and thoughtful one from Nikita Gill! Absolutely loved this deep poetic dive into the goddesses of myth!
Turn them into your magic.."
Yet another beautiful and thoughtful one from Nikita Gill! Absolutely loved this deep poetic dive into the goddesses of myth!
December 19, 2019
This is a poetry collection and because in my opinion reading poetry is a very personal experience it’s always very hard for me to write reviews about it… what I can say is that I absolutely loved this book… how it took so may known stories and showed us some new versions of them… I liked it almost as much as Nikita’s “Fierce fairytales” collection and will definitely keep coming back to it… I highly encourage you guys to give it a try ;)
XOXO
A
XOXO
A
March 29, 2021
“Every love does not have to be made of desire. Some loves are kept for the people who stand by you through everything. Some soulmates are sisters not lovers. Some loves are for those who give you hope. And some for the strength, for wisdom, for dreams.”
“Why be a half-finished poem in some forgotten poet’s story, when one can be an odyssey in and of herself, part magic, part villain, part Goddess, part lover.”
“Why be a half-finished poem in some forgotten poet’s story, when one can be an odyssey in and of herself, part magic, part villain, part Goddess, part lover.”
January 26, 2020
DNF at 35%.
I am amazed how Nikita Gill can make something as interesting as Greek Mythology boring.
This is my third and last book of Gill that I will ever read. I'm just going to mentally put her name next to R.h.sin in the folder "Poets to avoid" and continue with my life.
I am amazed how Nikita Gill can make something as interesting as Greek Mythology boring.
This is my third and last book of Gill that I will ever read. I'm just going to mentally put her name next to R.h.sin in the folder "Poets to avoid" and continue with my life.
September 9, 2021
I am in a bubble of astonishment. Throughout reading it, I couldn’t get to fully recover from the marvels of the previous page and the next page would leave me awestruck all over again. I tried to soak in the words; in hopes that one day I might be able to construct these words on paper, half as good as her.
January 25, 2020
3.5 stars. There were poems in here that gave me goosebumps but there also ones that were lost to me. However, I did find myself growing more into the book the further I read and the more I understood about the Gods, so maybe this is one for a re-read!
October 2, 2023
Wow, this book is like THE disappointment of the year for me. I don't usually rate anything two stars, but damn, I really hated this one..
For context, I had to read this book for class. Was even happy about it in the beginning.. I mean, look at that cover!! However, I wanted to close it as soon as I read the first page. I am not at all a poetry person, and the writing style was just not for me at all. Some quotes are nice, sure, but overall?? A lot of it felt like it was descriptive just for the sake of being descriptive, and that the author was trying too hard for her words to be deep and impactful that everything just fell flat. And, somehow with all that description, she still ended up telling and not showing well, everything. It was all spelled out for the reader, and along with a very preachy tone, just did not work for me. And that's not even mentioning quite a few very icky lines that are just.. why
The premise of this poetry collection was promising - a feminist take on greek mythology that gives voice to some characters and puts a spin on perspectives, along with supplying the reader with "life lessons". But the execution SUCKS. My question is - what exactly are those life lessons if you're either only taking the good bits, or the bad ones turned pity parties where none of the characters hold any accountability whatsoever? Yes, for sure, the lesson to learn from Hera is for sure to hurt the women your husband cheated on you with. Wow, thanks, Nikita Gill!! Such a great life lesson fr!! It's not like you can learn anything from mistakes, ever..
The portrayal of mythological figures was absolutely horrible. The women are idolised, men are either victimised or villanised or both, and everyone reads the same. To start with women - as mentioned before, they don't seem to have done anything wrong at all in Nikita Gill's eyes. It's either not mentioned at all (i.e. Athena and Arachne), or mentioned but is framed as the right thing to do. Yes, ofc Demeter didn't mean to be abusive or cause any famines!! she was just a worried mother!! completely reasonable, all of it!! As are all of Hera's actions ofc ofc, she's like a big protector of women apparently!! This idealisation combined with the feminist ideas (which are great, don't get me wrong.. but not like this) makes every single character read as the same person and almost completely unrecognisable from their mythic personalities, and thereby rids them of any dimension that the author tried to give them.
Now, onto the men. In the first section of the book they are given no perspective, which makes you lost in what's happening unless you've read the myths. ok, that would've been fine, if it stayed that way. They are also villanised there, and (mostly) rightfully so in my opinion. But THEN, I started to have questions post page 53.. because suddenly, they are given perspectives. Which would also be fine, if the narrative didn't take 180 degree turn. Suddenly, the gods like Zeus, Ares, etc are being thrown their pity parties!! No, they weren't evil out of their own will, ofc not.. TheY wErE jUsT rAiSeD tHaT wAY and cOuLdN't ReGuLaTe ThEir eMoTiONs:(( awww how sad this... like, guyssss, they just DiDn'T kNoW iT wAs BaD:(( it's not their fault
THAT PISSED ME OFF SO MUCH. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS. ACCOUNTABILITY IS IMPORTANT. I DID NOT PICK THIS BOOK UP IT TO READ ABOUT ZEUS WHINING ABOUT HOW HE DOESNT UNDERSTAND WHY CONSENT MATTERS. LIKE WTF.
AND ANOTHER THING THAT COMPLETELY TOOK ME OFF?? THE "X, AFTER" SECTIONS. Want a modern AU? THEN READ LORE OLYMPUS, NOT THIS FREAKING BOOK. Reading about these ancient babies going to therapy and adjusting to oh such difficult life in 21st century made me think that my eyes would fall out from how much I was rolling them. These modern sections were a torture to get through, as they were, once again, overly humanising the gods and making them into people who they just weren't. Like the only half decent After section was about Artemis, though it still made me cringe a lot as I was reading it.
Honestly, reading all these chapters from the gods' perspectives made me think that Nikita Gill decided that she made them bad enough in the beginning, didn't want to be called a man-hating feminist, making her overcompensate with all the victimisation.
I could go on about this forever.. but I won't, and I already spent an hour writing this review. Conclusion: the concept has good potential, execution falls flat. spare yourself.
p.s. not giving it a 1 only because there were a couple of nice poems and quotes. also because of the tiny bit of gay sprinkled here and there
For context, I had to read this book for class. Was even happy about it in the beginning.. I mean, look at that cover!! However, I wanted to close it as soon as I read the first page. I am not at all a poetry person, and the writing style was just not for me at all. Some quotes are nice, sure, but overall?? A lot of it felt like it was descriptive just for the sake of being descriptive, and that the author was trying too hard for her words to be deep and impactful that everything just fell flat. And, somehow with all that description, she still ended up telling and not showing well, everything. It was all spelled out for the reader, and along with a very preachy tone, just did not work for me. And that's not even mentioning quite a few very icky lines that are just.. why
The premise of this poetry collection was promising - a feminist take on greek mythology that gives voice to some characters and puts a spin on perspectives, along with supplying the reader with "life lessons". But the execution SUCKS. My question is - what exactly are those life lessons if you're either only taking the good bits, or the bad ones turned pity parties where none of the characters hold any accountability whatsoever? Yes, for sure, the lesson to learn from Hera is for sure to hurt the women your husband cheated on you with. Wow, thanks, Nikita Gill!! Such a great life lesson fr!! It's not like you can learn anything from mistakes, ever..
The portrayal of mythological figures was absolutely horrible. The women are idolised, men are either victimised or villanised or both, and everyone reads the same. To start with women - as mentioned before, they don't seem to have done anything wrong at all in Nikita Gill's eyes. It's either not mentioned at all (i.e. Athena and Arachne), or mentioned but is framed as the right thing to do. Yes, ofc Demeter didn't mean to be abusive or cause any famines!! she was just a worried mother!! completely reasonable, all of it!! As are all of Hera's actions ofc ofc, she's like a big protector of women apparently!! This idealisation combined with the feminist ideas (which are great, don't get me wrong.. but not like this) makes every single character read as the same person and almost completely unrecognisable from their mythic personalities, and thereby rids them of any dimension that the author tried to give them.
Now, onto the men. In the first section of the book they are given no perspective, which makes you lost in what's happening unless you've read the myths. ok, that would've been fine, if it stayed that way. They are also villanised there, and (mostly) rightfully so in my opinion. But THEN, I started to have questions post page 53.. because suddenly, they are given perspectives. Which would also be fine, if the narrative didn't take 180 degree turn. Suddenly, the gods like Zeus, Ares, etc are being thrown their pity parties!! No, they weren't evil out of their own will, ofc not.. TheY wErE jUsT rAiSeD tHaT wAY and cOuLdN't ReGuLaTe ThEir eMoTiONs:(( awww how sad this... like, guyssss, they just DiDn'T kNoW iT wAs BaD:(( it's not their fault
THAT PISSED ME OFF SO MUCH. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS. ACCOUNTABILITY IS IMPORTANT. I DID NOT PICK THIS BOOK UP IT TO READ ABOUT ZEUS WHINING ABOUT HOW HE DOESNT UNDERSTAND WHY CONSENT MATTERS. LIKE WTF.
AND ANOTHER THING THAT COMPLETELY TOOK ME OFF?? THE "X, AFTER" SECTIONS. Want a modern AU? THEN READ LORE OLYMPUS, NOT THIS FREAKING BOOK. Reading about these ancient babies going to therapy and adjusting to oh such difficult life in 21st century made me think that my eyes would fall out from how much I was rolling them. These modern sections were a torture to get through, as they were, once again, overly humanising the gods and making them into people who they just weren't. Like the only half decent After section was about Artemis, though it still made me cringe a lot as I was reading it.
Honestly, reading all these chapters from the gods' perspectives made me think that Nikita Gill decided that she made them bad enough in the beginning, didn't want to be called a man-hating feminist, making her overcompensate with all the victimisation.
I could go on about this forever.. but I won't, and I already spent an hour writing this review. Conclusion: the concept has good potential, execution falls flat. spare yourself.
p.s. not giving it a 1 only because there were a couple of nice poems and quotes. also because of the tiny bit of gay sprinkled here and there
August 31, 2022
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Great Goddesses has cemented Nikita Gill as my favorite poet, usurping T.S. Eliot, who has held that pride of place since I was in high school. While I didn’t love it quite as much as Fierce Fairytales, Great Goddesses was still an incredibly solid collection. It took the classic tales of the Greek gods and goddesses and manages to both reaffirm them and turn them on their head. Here, Gill gives stories we already know depth and new life, while also pondering what these deities would be up to today, if present in our world. We see goddesses finally coming into their own, if in far different ways than they ever envisioned, while certain gods are now facing repercussions for their actions. Great Goddesses is fiercely, unapologetically feminist without vilifying every male character or setting each female on a pedestal. It’s beautifully balanced and beautifully rendered, in every way.
Outside of the content, I’d like to take a moment to simply praise Gill for the quality of form in her work. Every piece in this collection, be it poetry or prose, is perfectly clear and easy to follow. Her writing is profound, and yet it’s never ethereal. There’s something very grounded about her voice. It’s this voice and its constancy that has compelled me to crown Gill my favorite poet. I’m astonished that her writing about the inner and supposed lives of beings from ancient myth can be so much easier to follow that someone else’s poetry about nature. There’s a clear story to everything she produces and, though not imbued with any kind of rigid meter as it is written in free verse, there’s a natural rhythm to each piece that draws you steadily along. I’ve never come across another poet whose work is quite such a joy to read.
I always appreciate an updating or reimagining to stories already well known, though I tend to be weirdly protective of Greek myth as I have loved it so fervently since I was a child. But Greek reimaginings done well always find a special place in my heart, which is exactly where Great Goddesses now resides, alongside more prosaic works like Olympus Texas and Circe. I especially enjoyed Gill’s “Where are they now?” take on many of these deities. The one involving Hera was particularly touching, as she learned from her past and dedicated her present to helping those who had survived the very abuse she once punished them for enduring.
If you’re a fantasy lover who is looking to dip your toes into poetry, look no further than Nikita Gill for your introduction. Whether you choose Great Goddesses or Fierce Fairytales (my favorite) or another that I’ve yet to read, I believe that her poetic style and her choice of topic will make a wonderful first impression. I’m already looking forward to revisiting both collections I’ve read thus far, as well as digging further into her work. Gill’s voice is lovely, and she always have something to say. I hope my ears and heart and mind will always be open enough to listen.
Great Goddesses has cemented Nikita Gill as my favorite poet, usurping T.S. Eliot, who has held that pride of place since I was in high school. While I didn’t love it quite as much as Fierce Fairytales, Great Goddesses was still an incredibly solid collection. It took the classic tales of the Greek gods and goddesses and manages to both reaffirm them and turn them on their head. Here, Gill gives stories we already know depth and new life, while also pondering what these deities would be up to today, if present in our world. We see goddesses finally coming into their own, if in far different ways than they ever envisioned, while certain gods are now facing repercussions for their actions. Great Goddesses is fiercely, unapologetically feminist without vilifying every male character or setting each female on a pedestal. It’s beautifully balanced and beautifully rendered, in every way.
Outside of the content, I’d like to take a moment to simply praise Gill for the quality of form in her work. Every piece in this collection, be it poetry or prose, is perfectly clear and easy to follow. Her writing is profound, and yet it’s never ethereal. There’s something very grounded about her voice. It’s this voice and its constancy that has compelled me to crown Gill my favorite poet. I’m astonished that her writing about the inner and supposed lives of beings from ancient myth can be so much easier to follow that someone else’s poetry about nature. There’s a clear story to everything she produces and, though not imbued with any kind of rigid meter as it is written in free verse, there’s a natural rhythm to each piece that draws you steadily along. I’ve never come across another poet whose work is quite such a joy to read.
I always appreciate an updating or reimagining to stories already well known, though I tend to be weirdly protective of Greek myth as I have loved it so fervently since I was a child. But Greek reimaginings done well always find a special place in my heart, which is exactly where Great Goddesses now resides, alongside more prosaic works like Olympus Texas and Circe. I especially enjoyed Gill’s “Where are they now?” take on many of these deities. The one involving Hera was particularly touching, as she learned from her past and dedicated her present to helping those who had survived the very abuse she once punished them for enduring.
If you’re a fantasy lover who is looking to dip your toes into poetry, look no further than Nikita Gill for your introduction. Whether you choose Great Goddesses or Fierce Fairytales (my favorite) or another that I’ve yet to read, I believe that her poetic style and her choice of topic will make a wonderful first impression. I’m already looking forward to revisiting both collections I’ve read thus far, as well as digging further into her work. Gill’s voice is lovely, and she always have something to say. I hope my ears and heart and mind will always be open enough to listen.
October 2, 2019
Meh. I don't see who'd really understand/enjoy this book except for people with a deep interest in obscure (and some not so obscure) Greek mythology. It wasn't really relatable. At all. Nothing like her previous work, so all in all, I was extremely disappointed and regret this purchase.
[previous update] I think everyone saying they’re excited to read this after fierce fairytales is going to be massively disappointed. This is nothing like that and does not have any relatable poems in it so far. I’ve loved everything Nikita Gill has written so far, but I want to DNF this and am already regretting the $11+ I spent on this.
If fierce fairytales was one of my favorite books I read this year, then this is one of my LEAST favorite.
[previous update] I can't wait for this!!!
[previous update] I think everyone saying they’re excited to read this after fierce fairytales is going to be massively disappointed. This is nothing like that and does not have any relatable poems in it so far. I’ve loved everything Nikita Gill has written so far, but I want to DNF this and am already regretting the $11+ I spent on this.
If fierce fairytales was one of my favorite books I read this year, then this is one of my LEAST favorite.
[previous update] I can't wait for this!!!
April 24, 2020
I was waiting to read something about Circe but she's not here 😢 Also Medea, Andromache, Cassandra, Chryseis, and more women. I was expecting so much more but I got lost interest when I keep reading about the Gods more than the Goddesses. That part of Medusa stole my heart, though.
Wild Embers is still my favorite.
Wild Embers is still my favorite.
July 8, 2022
Loved this.
The pro-Hades agenda! The sympathy for the Minotaur, and Odysseus' dog. I cried. My favorite parts were everything Hades/Persephone but this was all great. It served as a wide-ranging introduction to the pantheon, but through a nice modern, woke lens. It was narrated so prettily by the author, too.
The pro-Hades agenda! The sympathy for the Minotaur, and Odysseus' dog. I cried. My favorite parts were everything Hades/Persephone but this was all great. It served as a wide-ranging introduction to the pantheon, but through a nice modern, woke lens. It was narrated so prettily by the author, too.
December 7, 2024
TikTok lied to me.
As a body of work, I was disappointed in this book. It felt more like mini-short stories than poetry. Even the title itself is misleading, “Great Goddesses.” However, I believe if I counted the pages by hand there would be more dedicated to the Gods than the Goddesses. There were chapters dedicated to Zeus, Ares, Apollo, and Hephaestus, but only a paragraph about Hecate?! What?? The title is a blatant lie.
There were also simple typos that should’ve been caught in the editing process.
However, there were still a few pieces that I liked.
My favorite lines:
“I suppose a tragic romance fraught with unhappiness makes for a better poem than a love that takes millennia to grow.”
“When I held her, I held her gently so that she always knew she could fly away and I would never harm her or clip her wings.”
“I watched fire devour everything I loved, and prayed to a God who never came. That, that is how a girl becomes a shadow.”
As a body of work, I was disappointed in this book. It felt more like mini-short stories than poetry. Even the title itself is misleading, “Great Goddesses.” However, I believe if I counted the pages by hand there would be more dedicated to the Gods than the Goddesses. There were chapters dedicated to Zeus, Ares, Apollo, and Hephaestus, but only a paragraph about Hecate?! What?? The title is a blatant lie.
There were also simple typos that should’ve been caught in the editing process.
However, there were still a few pieces that I liked.
My favorite lines:
“I suppose a tragic romance fraught with unhappiness makes for a better poem than a love that takes millennia to grow.”
“When I held her, I held her gently so that she always knew she could fly away and I would never harm her or clip her wings.”
“I watched fire devour everything I loved, and prayed to a God who never came. That, that is how a girl becomes a shadow.”
Want to read
May 1, 2019I have just finished Fierce Fairytales and I can’t wait for this book to be published 💛
February 27, 2020
Finally finished! Quite an enjoyable reading experience 📖 This gets a 4.75 to 5 whole stars 🌟
I really, really loved this book of poetry! Modern poetry is very hit or miss with me, but Nikita Gill has this amazing skill with her phrasing that just captured me so completely! She painted such vivid scenes in my mind of the cosmos and birth of the gods. It was spectacular 🌌
"from the bones of Chaos, rose a girl who built the universe, the stars, the planets, all because she was looking for a place to dance. And she waltzed the earth awake and the rhythm of her feet fermented the stars alive, the synchronized sorcery of her fingers brought the solar system to life, and the flow of her arms looped around the sun and commanded him to open his eyes" - Eurynome: The Mother of All Things
"As her cries filled up the darkness and comets escaped, her mother busily swaddled her in a blanket she had stitched from stardust." - Athena's Tale
The poems in this are very staunchly pro-feminism, raising up the strength of the mortal women and the goddesses who always have taken a backseat in the typically "man-tellings" of mythology. It's so refreshing to see the women celebrated in these stories for a change.
"And as she laughs, the cosmos ripples,
And whole galaxies fall apart." - Chaos
"Athena is born with a war cry on her lips, and her mother's promise in her heart. Fully clothed in robes made from the blood of planets, a helmet and a shield of steel that comes from the hearts of stars themselves, she looks like the blood moon at solstice." - Athena's Tale ⚔️🛡
Just reading about Athena was so enjoyable because of all the gods/goddesses she's the one I relate to most. And I love this following poem, relating a library to where Athena dwells in modern times. Like libraries are the new world temples for her 🛕📚Such a beautiful concept
"Did you think Athena would just disappear when there are so many little girls she has yet to help become warriors too?
She, who rewards wisdom and bravery; when my daughter asks how to fight monsters Athena is who I will tell her to look for.
I will take her to the library, and introduce her to every librarian because they are where Athena lives now." Athena, After
Also there were just good pieces of advice woven throughout the poems that just kept standing out to my eye. I think I needed these bits of wisdom.
"You choose a different path than your blood demands. When no one aids you, you build your own legs. You learn how to be needed instead of the easiness of wanted." - Lessons from Hephaestus
"You are not made of paper. If you were, you would have turned to ash a long time ago. You are more. Bone, and muscle, and beginnings and endings - evoke that when the world tries to convince you that you are small." Advice from Hestia to Girls
"Every love does not have to be made of desire. Some loves are kept for the people who stand by you through everything. Some soulmates are sisters, not lovers. Some loves are for those who give you hope. And some for the strength, for wisdom, for dreams." - A Friendship: Demeter and Hestia 💞
And this is just one of my absolute favorites!!
"There is something moon-soaked
and dawn-flavoured about her.
Something kissed by the wild
and loved by lightning.
She, the Goddess of storm hunting
and wolves and moonlight magic.
She, the queen of the forest,
of womanhood more brutal than tragic." - The Moon Goddess 🌙⚡️💫
Sorry if I've over-shared content from this beautiful little volume. I just really can't say how much I appreciate its words! This is by far my favorite of modern poetry (which is evident since I actually bought a copy of it before I even finished!) 🥰
I did also love how we were given poems, which were more just stories than actual poems, of how the gods and goddesses would fit in today's modern world. It was so imaginative and fun, I adored it!
As far as the mythology and accuracy go, I know there are a number of reviews that say these versions aren't 100% accurate, blah, blah, blah. Those are the hardcore mythology fans 🙄 For someone like me who doesn't know the stuff in-depth (other than what I learned from Percy Jackson/Rick Riordan, all hail Rick! 🙌🏻) this is a nice overview that helps you get your feet wet. And honestly I learned a ton. How? This book, just like watching historical fiction films, they may not be accurate, but they give you enough to pique your interest to go do some digging of your own. I took ages to get through this, despite its slim size, because I spent hours on Google taking notes 📝📓This book gradually provided me the names to start my research/learning, instead of overwhelming me with them like some books. And I am so grateful for it, cause otherwise I just didn't know where to begin! So I now have a book of notes so I at least know some things as I tackle more mythology books. Yay!
So I highly recommend this for anyone wanting to start in the shallow end of Greek mythology before wading out in the deeps where you might flounder as a noob, like me 🙈 I also recommend it for lovers of modern poetry, because it really does have some stunning pieces in it! And I can't wait to read more from Nikita Gill! 💜
I really, really loved this book of poetry! Modern poetry is very hit or miss with me, but Nikita Gill has this amazing skill with her phrasing that just captured me so completely! She painted such vivid scenes in my mind of the cosmos and birth of the gods. It was spectacular 🌌
"from the bones of Chaos, rose a girl who built the universe, the stars, the planets, all because she was looking for a place to dance. And she waltzed the earth awake and the rhythm of her feet fermented the stars alive, the synchronized sorcery of her fingers brought the solar system to life, and the flow of her arms looped around the sun and commanded him to open his eyes" - Eurynome: The Mother of All Things
"As her cries filled up the darkness and comets escaped, her mother busily swaddled her in a blanket she had stitched from stardust." - Athena's Tale
The poems in this are very staunchly pro-feminism, raising up the strength of the mortal women and the goddesses who always have taken a backseat in the typically "man-tellings" of mythology. It's so refreshing to see the women celebrated in these stories for a change.
"And as she laughs, the cosmos ripples,
And whole galaxies fall apart." - Chaos
"Athena is born with a war cry on her lips, and her mother's promise in her heart. Fully clothed in robes made from the blood of planets, a helmet and a shield of steel that comes from the hearts of stars themselves, she looks like the blood moon at solstice." - Athena's Tale ⚔️🛡
Just reading about Athena was so enjoyable because of all the gods/goddesses she's the one I relate to most. And I love this following poem, relating a library to where Athena dwells in modern times. Like libraries are the new world temples for her 🛕📚Such a beautiful concept
"Did you think Athena would just disappear when there are so many little girls she has yet to help become warriors too?
She, who rewards wisdom and bravery; when my daughter asks how to fight monsters Athena is who I will tell her to look for.
I will take her to the library, and introduce her to every librarian because they are where Athena lives now." Athena, After
Also there were just good pieces of advice woven throughout the poems that just kept standing out to my eye. I think I needed these bits of wisdom.
"You choose a different path than your blood demands. When no one aids you, you build your own legs. You learn how to be needed instead of the easiness of wanted." - Lessons from Hephaestus
"You are not made of paper. If you were, you would have turned to ash a long time ago. You are more. Bone, and muscle, and beginnings and endings - evoke that when the world tries to convince you that you are small." Advice from Hestia to Girls
"Every love does not have to be made of desire. Some loves are kept for the people who stand by you through everything. Some soulmates are sisters, not lovers. Some loves are for those who give you hope. And some for the strength, for wisdom, for dreams." - A Friendship: Demeter and Hestia 💞
And this is just one of my absolute favorites!!
"There is something moon-soaked
and dawn-flavoured about her.
Something kissed by the wild
and loved by lightning.
She, the Goddess of storm hunting
and wolves and moonlight magic.
She, the queen of the forest,
of womanhood more brutal than tragic." - The Moon Goddess 🌙⚡️💫
Sorry if I've over-shared content from this beautiful little volume. I just really can't say how much I appreciate its words! This is by far my favorite of modern poetry (which is evident since I actually bought a copy of it before I even finished!) 🥰
I did also love how we were given poems, which were more just stories than actual poems, of how the gods and goddesses would fit in today's modern world. It was so imaginative and fun, I adored it!
As far as the mythology and accuracy go, I know there are a number of reviews that say these versions aren't 100% accurate, blah, blah, blah. Those are the hardcore mythology fans 🙄 For someone like me who doesn't know the stuff in-depth (other than what I learned from Percy Jackson/Rick Riordan, all hail Rick! 🙌🏻) this is a nice overview that helps you get your feet wet. And honestly I learned a ton. How? This book, just like watching historical fiction films, they may not be accurate, but they give you enough to pique your interest to go do some digging of your own. I took ages to get through this, despite its slim size, because I spent hours on Google taking notes 📝📓This book gradually provided me the names to start my research/learning, instead of overwhelming me with them like some books. And I am so grateful for it, cause otherwise I just didn't know where to begin! So I now have a book of notes so I at least know some things as I tackle more mythology books. Yay!
So I highly recommend this for anyone wanting to start in the shallow end of Greek mythology before wading out in the deeps where you might flounder as a noob, like me 🙈 I also recommend it for lovers of modern poetry, because it really does have some stunning pieces in it! And I can't wait to read more from Nikita Gill! 💜
May 9, 2020
DNF at 75%
Nikita Gill just doesn’t do it for me, I’m not a fan of the writing, and I find the language to be very abrupt.
Some of the poems were really something, they were beautiful and clever and then the others were really weak and felt disjointed. Her voice doesn’t work for what she tries to write though, which is something I noticed in her other collection of poems.
These would work really well as short stories, not so much as poems.
Nikita Gill just doesn’t do it for me, I’m not a fan of the writing, and I find the language to be very abrupt.
Some of the poems were really something, they were beautiful and clever and then the others were really weak and felt disjointed. Her voice doesn’t work for what she tries to write though, which is something I noticed in her other collection of poems.
These would work really well as short stories, not so much as poems.
October 10, 2019
i really liked it as a set of mythology, and i enjoyed some of the poems a lot. it wasn't anything earth-shattering but still good, and well-researched. (3.75 stars)
here's a list of the poems that i liked the most:
Chaos to Nyx [6]
The River of the Dead [33]
Athena's Tale [79]
Pallas and Athena [87]
The Moon Writes a Love Letter to Artemis [128]
Amphitrite [145]
Modern-day Sea God(s) [147]
Athena to Medusa [189]
Scylla [192]
Gorgon (A Letter to the Patriarchy) [195]
The Erinyes: Vengeance-skinned Fury [199]
Iphigenia, Daughter of Agamemnon [224]
Megara Laments from the Underworld [228]
here's a list of the poems that i liked the most:
Chaos to Nyx [6]
The River of the Dead [33]
Athena's Tale [79]
Pallas and Athena [87]
The Moon Writes a Love Letter to Artemis [128]
Amphitrite [145]
Modern-day Sea God(s) [147]
Athena to Medusa [189]
Scylla [192]
Gorgon (A Letter to the Patriarchy) [195]
The Erinyes: Vengeance-skinned Fury [199]
Iphigenia, Daughter of Agamemnon [224]
Megara Laments from the Underworld [228]
November 24, 2020
I could not get into this for the first half of the book and had to put it down for over a week to come back to it. However, I really enjoyed the second half. I love that Nikita Gill read her own poems for the audiobook, she has a beautiful tone to her voice and it made this book more enjoyable.
August 30, 2020
5/5 stars — strong and powerful speech on feminism, the way of life and humankind.
beautiful writing on important issues and topics. i love the stories woven into greek mythology.
beautiful writing on important issues and topics. i love the stories woven into greek mythology.
January 22, 2021
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