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—than just Medea, which is different from the other Medea-related retellings I’ve read. I think Medea’s story is particularly appealing to a modern female audience as many women can relate to feeling betrayed by men who went from being obsessed with them, to not acknowledging anything they’ve done for him. I like evil women so idk. This book was still enjoyable though

I liked the author’s note; I always enjoy Haynes’ humor & intelligence. This wasn’t my favorite novel of hers; I enjoyed Stone Blind & A Thousand Ships better. My favorites are her non-fiction analyses of ancient Greek myth & history though. Her writing is digestible & fast-paced. I don’t think she portrayed Medea as very malicious here, which is usually what I prefer. But I think the focus was on more—

I think there’s a disconnect between the other character’s perception of Medea’s evilness vs her own inaction. She hasn’t been very proactive in her own POVs, but there’s been other characters calling her devious etc. I wish her plan/actions with Pelias’s daughters was highlighted more, bc it shows her intellect, manipulation, & willingness to be cruel when she feels it’s necessary

Enjoying this so far, love my queen Natalie Haynes 🧡 I love her fast-paced, multi-faceted myth retellings style. In a standard lengthy novel, it wouldn’t work as well — but for a folklore interpretation, it’s great & very digestible. I think all the subheadings under the chapter title/POVs connect into a longer poem, which is cool. I wonder if it will all be revealed as one whole thing later or not

Blood Over Bright Haven explores similar themes of unhealthy academia, prejudice, and oppressive system etc but I enjoyed that much more 🧑🏻‍🦲

I gotta be honest — I don’t think this was for me. The characters, the plot structure, the setting. I knew this was a “dark academia” novel, so some of that is in me, bc I know that’s not my thing. However, I LOVED Babel by the same author. It’s just… hell being a university campus… as a HUGE mythology, folklore, & classicist nerd, I’m just not into it.

So all the lore reveals about Alice & Peter… don’t make me care about them that much more. I sympathize with the events, but I’m not more invested in their fates tbh. I think I’m just at a point in my life where emotionally unavailable adults bore me. Like girl. Get over yourself!

R.F. Kuang kept saying this was her first romance… these people have no chemistry

This story opens rather abruptly, which in & of itself isn’t an issue. However, the way information is being revealed over time isn’t landing for me bc idrc about Alice or Peter. So between that & some of the info dumping at the start (which has admittedly decreased) I’m kinda bored ngl.

—I think some of the character journeys were great. But the final actions + the resolutions didn’t make sense or feel fleshed out

—even matter anyway. All this set up for her to fight Balam, & she didn’t even do it at the end????????? On that note, I feel like Balam had little to no interaction with our protagonists, which disserviced him as an antagonist. I did find his sections interesting, but the conflict between him & our protagonists felt out of place, incomplete, & like “why should I care? They don’t even know each other.”—

Ok so. Yes I liked this. I’m a Naranpa stan, however. We can’t see her get out of the coma? Her + Iktan’s happily ever after? I liked them bc they were the older, more mature characters. But also… she didn’t do much in this book. Outside of her relationship with Iktan (which I enjoyed) she didn’t drive the plot or contribute to the final action. She set Tova on fire… for some reason. That didn’t—

So Xiala & Serapio are reunited, together again for the first time since… the first book… it’s the last 100 pages of the third in the trilogy. I LOVE the writing & world building. These two characters in particular I just don’t care for much 😭 Naranpa & Iktan? Yes. Okoa? Yes! Hell, I’ve even been more curious about Balam’s arc

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So I’m supposed to sympathize with Serapio, who manipulates, kills, & physically assaults innocents? Okkkk

—both traumatized & that was their first proper romantic connection. But still? It’s been like, what, over a year? Since their month together? Where they were holding each other at arm’s length? Not to mention, I don’t really like Serapio as a character — I think he’s meant to be complex, but I personally can’t wrap my mind around it.

I love Roanhorse’s writing style & enjoy both character driven & plot based books (as well as books with a healthy dosage of both). However, this is a more character driven trilogy — & some of the characters have lost me. Xiala’s side plot feels almost irrelevant; I’m not that interested. The only thing tying her to the main plot is Serapio — a man she knew for a month… like sure, they’re—

Serapio’s final interaction with his father omg 🥹 the redemption, too late… also, Balam has been strongly hinted as Serapio’s bio dad/“sire” so I don’t think Marcel needed to die. Also also, Iktan’s love confession to Naranpa 🥹🥹🥹 we’re so back

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Get his ass Iktan 😾😼

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Yay Iktan POV 🥳

I liked this! I’m excited to see where Naranpa goes & hopefully, it won’t be too long for a reunion with Iktan. Tbh, I don’t really see Serapio as much of an anti-hero, which I think he’s written to be. I can’t really relate or sympathize with him as much as I did in Black Sun. I can’t pinpoint why exactly, but I think it has to do with how blatantly violent he is 24/7? We’ll see where that goes too

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