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Tapestry of Fate #2
The Valor of Perseus
One cannot challenge fate alone.
In her desperation to save Prometheus, Pandora has recruited Perseus, the son of her greatest enemy. Within the demigod sleeps speed and power no mortal could match. But will he use his abilities to aid her?
Before Perseus will consider following Pandora on her quest, he has a mission of his own, leaving Pandora no choice but to accompany him on a journey that will pit them against gods and mythical monsters.
And even if they succeed, Pandora must still contend with the burden of the Box …
In her desperation to save Prometheus, Pandora has recruited Perseus, the son of her greatest enemy. Within the demigod sleeps speed and power no mortal could match. But will he use his abilities to aid her?
Before Perseus will consider following Pandora on her quest, he has a mission of his own, leaving Pandora no choice but to accompany him on a journey that will pit them against gods and mythical monsters.
And even if they succeed, Pandora must still contend with the burden of the Box …
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2021
6 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Matt Larkin
99 books174 followersAlong with his wife and daughter, Matt lives as a digital nomad, traveling the world while researching for his novels. He reads approximately a bazillion books a year, loves video games, and relaxes by binge watching Netflix with his wife.
Matt writes retellings of mythology as dark, gritty fantasy. His passions of myths, philosophy, and history inform his series. He strives to combine gut-wrenching action with thought-provoking ideas and culturally resonant stories.
As a child, Matt read The Lord of the Rings with his parents. This sparked a lifelong obsession with fantasy and started him on a path of discovering the roots of fantasy through mythology. In exploration of these ideas, the Eschaton Cycle was born—a universe of dark fantasy where all myths and legends play out.
Matt writes retellings of mythology as dark, gritty fantasy. His passions of myths, philosophy, and history inform his series. He strives to combine gut-wrenching action with thought-provoking ideas and culturally resonant stories.
As a child, Matt read The Lord of the Rings with his parents. This sparked a lifelong obsession with fantasy and started him on a path of discovering the roots of fantasy through mythology. In exploration of these ideas, the Eschaton Cycle was born—a universe of dark fantasy where all myths and legends play out.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 10, 2021
https://www.bookwormblues.net/2021/09...
Whenever another Matt Larkin book shows up in my inbox, I get excited. I’ve learned his writing just works for me in a way very few others do. His stories are complex, his prose is gorgeous, his research is flawless, and he always puts a unique spin on a story I don’t expect.
This series of his is one of my favorites. The story of Pandora is absolutely brilliant, and delightfully complicated. Pandora is on her quest to save Prometheus. In so doing, she ends up recruiting the son of her enemy, Perseus, to help her. Together they go on a journey that has them facing Medusa, dragons, and other creatures of lore. It isn’t easy, and I loved this thread of the book because it didn’t end the way I expected. In fact, I wasn’t sure how things would go down between Pandora and Perseus, but their banter was charming, and added a nice levity to balance out some of the darker notes in the book. Perseus was a character who seemed to shine whenever he was on stage, and Pandora’s careful calculated planning and her relentless need to get closer to her own goal balanced out Perseus’s more easygoing nature.
However, this is one of those books where we are working on numerous timelines, with numerous characters. The story of Hekate is told here as well, from her journey into the darker arts, to her own quest to find mysteries that will further her art. Hekate is a character that I both love and hate, and I think she’s brilliantly crafted in a way that allows both of those emotions with equal strength. In a lot of ways, Hekate feels like a tragic story, and she really is. She’s sacrificed a lot to get to where she is, and is driven to the point of pain. It seems like most of her decisions are rooted in emotional issues, like abandonment. There is a moment of reckoning in this book, quiet and yet all the more powerful for it.
This is one of the things I love about Larkin’s writing. His books are powerful. Not just due to the powerful characters and their equally powerful stories, but because he infuses his books with a sense of atmosphere and emotional nuance which he positions at just the right moments to act like a punch right to my heart. He has this uncanny ability to make all of the moments in his books matter in just the right ways to make the biggest impact. It’s pure art.
The story of the gods in general is furthered here as well, as the strings of this story are woven in a way that shows how they coexist a bit more. How Hekate ends up with Zeus is answered here. The birth of her child, the intricate lines of family and connection which, at times, feel more like a graph on a paper rather than any intimate or familial bond on the character’s part. A lot of questions are answered, and a lot are left dangling with heady possibility. Yet there are doors left open for the rest of the series which promise unexpected developments. Plus, the very ending of the book… I mean, the last few pages… literally left me reeling. Here, Larkin opens the book up, not just to explore the story of Pandora, but to the wider world he’s created as well. This is where a few of his stories rub shoulders against each other, the world gets a little bigger, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
As with all of his books, Larkin’s writing is flawless. Poetic and lyrical, with a distinct style I will always recognize as his own. His prose is just about as noteworthy as the story (and the scope of it) he is telling. Never a word wasted, with atmosphere and emotion layered within each and every letter, I find myself completely absorbed in his books, halfway enjoying them for the stories being told, and halfway enjoying them because I just want to see how the author uses words.
His world is sprawling. Fans of his books will know he is working with a scope and depth that very few other authors out there attempt. Each of his series twists mythology and history just so, and each of them weave together in surprising ways. I can’t imagine what his worldbuilding and outlining must look like. Just attempting to even think of the breadth, scope, and detail he includes in his books gives me a headache. And yet he manages it, and he does so flawlessly.
The Valor of Perseus is an absolutely fantastic book, furthering the story of Pandora in surprising ways, while showing a bit more about how all of this connects together. Not just regarding his characters, but the larger world as well. You’ll find people and creatures from mythology in this book that you’ll recognize, and yet you won’t at the same time, because even with familiar elements, Larkin manages to surprise readers by doing unexpected, delightful things that keep you on your toes.
The Valor of Perseus is an amazing book, in one of my favorite series. I’ve got book three sitting on my laptop right now, and I can’t wait to start working on it. If you’re a fan of mythology, you really need to check out this series.
Whenever another Matt Larkin book shows up in my inbox, I get excited. I’ve learned his writing just works for me in a way very few others do. His stories are complex, his prose is gorgeous, his research is flawless, and he always puts a unique spin on a story I don’t expect.
This series of his is one of my favorites. The story of Pandora is absolutely brilliant, and delightfully complicated. Pandora is on her quest to save Prometheus. In so doing, she ends up recruiting the son of her enemy, Perseus, to help her. Together they go on a journey that has them facing Medusa, dragons, and other creatures of lore. It isn’t easy, and I loved this thread of the book because it didn’t end the way I expected. In fact, I wasn’t sure how things would go down between Pandora and Perseus, but their banter was charming, and added a nice levity to balance out some of the darker notes in the book. Perseus was a character who seemed to shine whenever he was on stage, and Pandora’s careful calculated planning and her relentless need to get closer to her own goal balanced out Perseus’s more easygoing nature.
However, this is one of those books where we are working on numerous timelines, with numerous characters. The story of Hekate is told here as well, from her journey into the darker arts, to her own quest to find mysteries that will further her art. Hekate is a character that I both love and hate, and I think she’s brilliantly crafted in a way that allows both of those emotions with equal strength. In a lot of ways, Hekate feels like a tragic story, and she really is. She’s sacrificed a lot to get to where she is, and is driven to the point of pain. It seems like most of her decisions are rooted in emotional issues, like abandonment. There is a moment of reckoning in this book, quiet and yet all the more powerful for it.
This is one of the things I love about Larkin’s writing. His books are powerful. Not just due to the powerful characters and their equally powerful stories, but because he infuses his books with a sense of atmosphere and emotional nuance which he positions at just the right moments to act like a punch right to my heart. He has this uncanny ability to make all of the moments in his books matter in just the right ways to make the biggest impact. It’s pure art.
The story of the gods in general is furthered here as well, as the strings of this story are woven in a way that shows how they coexist a bit more. How Hekate ends up with Zeus is answered here. The birth of her child, the intricate lines of family and connection which, at times, feel more like a graph on a paper rather than any intimate or familial bond on the character’s part. A lot of questions are answered, and a lot are left dangling with heady possibility. Yet there are doors left open for the rest of the series which promise unexpected developments. Plus, the very ending of the book… I mean, the last few pages… literally left me reeling. Here, Larkin opens the book up, not just to explore the story of Pandora, but to the wider world he’s created as well. This is where a few of his stories rub shoulders against each other, the world gets a little bigger, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
As with all of his books, Larkin’s writing is flawless. Poetic and lyrical, with a distinct style I will always recognize as his own. His prose is just about as noteworthy as the story (and the scope of it) he is telling. Never a word wasted, with atmosphere and emotion layered within each and every letter, I find myself completely absorbed in his books, halfway enjoying them for the stories being told, and halfway enjoying them because I just want to see how the author uses words.
His world is sprawling. Fans of his books will know he is working with a scope and depth that very few other authors out there attempt. Each of his series twists mythology and history just so, and each of them weave together in surprising ways. I can’t imagine what his worldbuilding and outlining must look like. Just attempting to even think of the breadth, scope, and detail he includes in his books gives me a headache. And yet he manages it, and he does so flawlessly.
The Valor of Perseus is an absolutely fantastic book, furthering the story of Pandora in surprising ways, while showing a bit more about how all of this connects together. Not just regarding his characters, but the larger world as well. You’ll find people and creatures from mythology in this book that you’ll recognize, and yet you won’t at the same time, because even with familiar elements, Larkin manages to surprise readers by doing unexpected, delightful things that keep you on your toes.
The Valor of Perseus is an amazing book, in one of my favorite series. I’ve got book three sitting on my laptop right now, and I can’t wait to start working on it. If you’re a fan of mythology, you really need to check out this series.
February 22, 2023
Can I just say that sometimes, I read a book and am absolutely ready to exclaim about all the things and elements and pieces, and sometimes I just want to do nothing more than shout, “AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH”.
This book, the second in Matt Larkin’s Tapestries of Fate series, is more in the latter category.
1. Thoughts on the plot
This book picks up directly where book one left off, which means if you haven’t read book one, you should. There is time travel, intrigue between gods and times and characters, and a whole lot of me going, “Oh, wait. No. That’s not. WAAAATTTT?” (If you want me to actually go into the plot, then know this follows, generally speaking, the myths of both Bellerophon and Perseus, only with Pandora’s involvement. There is also a lot more character development of Hekate and Athene and such.)
That is to say, this plot is fascinating and entertaining and I enjoyed it.
2. Thoughts on the characters
Honestly, this book felt like more of Hekate’s book than Pandora’s to me. Yes, Pandora was still the primary character, but I think a lot of her development (such as we saw in book one) remained a bit stagnant. That’s not a bad thing, not at all, especially since the plot of this book focused more on the heroes and Hekate than anything. I think Pandora actually served as a good counterpoint, since she was so steady. The other characters though, oh my waffles and bacon did they really put me through the wringer. I mean, COME ON!
3. Favourite part
That one bit of the epilogue where every theory I had was confirmed. YAS!
4. Critique
That one bit of the epilogue where every theory I had was confirmed now means that I have to go reread all the other books so I can put more puzzle pieces together. Congratulations, Matt, I now have to reread all your series.
Overall, I would say that this book is a great sequel and I am very excited to read book three, and the books following. Excellent book, as always.
This book, the second in Matt Larkin’s Tapestries of Fate series, is more in the latter category.
1. Thoughts on the plot
This book picks up directly where book one left off, which means if you haven’t read book one, you should. There is time travel, intrigue between gods and times and characters, and a whole lot of me going, “Oh, wait. No. That’s not. WAAAATTTT?” (If you want me to actually go into the plot, then know this follows, generally speaking, the myths of both Bellerophon and Perseus, only with Pandora’s involvement. There is also a lot more character development of Hekate and Athene and such.)
That is to say, this plot is fascinating and entertaining and I enjoyed it.
2. Thoughts on the characters
Honestly, this book felt like more of Hekate’s book than Pandora’s to me. Yes, Pandora was still the primary character, but I think a lot of her development (such as we saw in book one) remained a bit stagnant. That’s not a bad thing, not at all, especially since the plot of this book focused more on the heroes and Hekate than anything. I think Pandora actually served as a good counterpoint, since she was so steady. The other characters though, oh my waffles and bacon did they really put me through the wringer. I mean, COME ON!
3. Favourite part
That one bit of the epilogue where every theory I had was confirmed. YAS!
4. Critique
That one bit of the epilogue where every theory I had was confirmed now means that I have to go reread all the other books so I can put more puzzle pieces together. Congratulations, Matt, I now have to reread all your series.
Overall, I would say that this book is a great sequel and I am very excited to read book three, and the books following. Excellent book, as always.
July 31, 2022
The Greek prequel to Larkin's "Gods of the Ragnarok" series is a little harder to follow as it jumps back and forth between timelines, with stories unfolding in Greece's Golden, Silver and Bronze Age. This volume introduces the demigods Perseus and Herakles and ties back in to the previous series by including the time traveling Odin meeting up with Prometheus (who will one day become Loki). It's an engaging series and I look forward to the rest!
July 23, 2024
Even better than the first. I loved the time spent on the heroes, recontextualizing the heroes we’ve grown up hearing stories about into this familiar but new version of the mythos. It’s incredibly clever and well written. The time travel elements can be a bit confusing, but I can’t complain. And the twist in the epilogue shut. me. down.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews