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tashasbooks 's review for:
Lies We Sing to the Sea
by Sarah Underwood
Lies We Sing to the Sea was an absolutely surprising read that I really liked, but it's definitely an inspired Greek myth story rather than a retelling.
Of course, one of the first things I've heard about this book was how the author did not read the Odyssey and the Illiad before writing an Odysseus retelling because it was "long and prosey." And now that I've read it, it's more understandable because the author just uses those myths are a background to the setting that the story is established.
We follow three characters in the kingdom of Ithaca. Every year there is a sacrifice of 12 women in Ithaca to Poseidon that no one can prevent, otherwise they inter his wrath. Prince Matthias sentences Leto to death as one of the sacrifices. However, Leto survives and washes up on an island to meet Melantho. Leto learns from Melantho that the only way for the sacrifices to end, they must kill the Prince.
World-building wise, this is set in the Greek world of Ithaca and the reason for the sacrifices comes from Odysseus coming home to Penelope and murdering her 12 maids after his voyages. The mythology is also the typical Greek mythology. However, there's definitely more of a YA feel and the language is super simple and a bit more modern than the historical setting. I think for the most part though, it wasn't glaring. Because the language was so simple and fast paced, it was easy to read and get invested.
This was pitched as sapphic, and it definitely is, but there is more than one romantic relationship. It's kind of like a love triangle, but kind of not? I would characterize it more as why choose. In fact, the relationships/romance was the best part for me and honestly I found the relationships were so well established, especially between her and Melantho.
I think the ending for a lot of people wasn't what they wanted but I found it perfect. It really takes a lot of common themes from Greek myths (ahem Greek tragedies*) and includes that in this ending. It's a wonderful story and I think the ending was very powerful. And yes, I definitely cried.
Of course, one of the first things I've heard about this book was how the author did not read the Odyssey and the Illiad before writing an Odysseus retelling because it was "long and prosey." And now that I've read it, it's more understandable because the author just uses those myths are a background to the setting that the story is established.
We follow three characters in the kingdom of Ithaca. Every year there is a sacrifice of 12 women in Ithaca to Poseidon that no one can prevent, otherwise they inter his wrath. Prince Matthias sentences Leto to death as one of the sacrifices. However, Leto survives and washes up on an island to meet Melantho. Leto learns from Melantho that the only way for the sacrifices to end, they must kill the Prince.
World-building wise, this is set in the Greek world of Ithaca and the reason for the sacrifices comes from Odysseus coming home to Penelope and murdering her 12 maids after his voyages. The mythology is also the typical Greek mythology. However, there's definitely more of a YA feel and the language is super simple and a bit more modern than the historical setting. I think for the most part though, it wasn't glaring. Because the language was so simple and fast paced, it was easy to read and get invested.
This was pitched as sapphic, and it definitely is, but there is more than one romantic relationship. It's kind of like a love triangle, but kind of not? I would characterize it more as why choose. In fact, the relationships/romance was the best part for me and honestly I found the relationships were so well established, especially between her and Melantho.
I think the ending for a lot of people wasn't what they wanted but I found it perfect. It really takes a lot of common themes from Greek myths (ahem Greek tragedies*) and includes that in this ending. It's a wonderful story and I think the ending was very powerful. And yes, I definitely cried.