Sing, O muse, a song of death - and death is the world that Deina belongs in. Death in the living world interwoven with the Grecian mythos of the underworld.
Deina is a girl, a young woman, kidnapped and enslaved as a young child and raised to be part of the Theodesmioi. Deina's life revolves around the religious beliefs of life and death. In essence she is an executioner bringing about the deaths of convicted criminals, along with euthanasing young children that have been seriously injured, all in the name of religion.
One thread at a time Deina's story is being woven with the mythos and the reader. Of course, Deina has a story, her upbringing has given her strength - both mental and emotional. These strengths have given her hopes and dreams to escape her bondage and to live a free life.
Deina has already set her plans in motion weaving herself into as many religious rites as possible in order to shorten her indenture and gain freedom, not just for herself, but also for Chryse and their Sapphic friendship.
Changes lie ahead - the Hellenistic world is just beginning to wane, soon to be interwoven with the waxing of the Roman empire.
The wefts of the sights, smells and sounds of everyday Grecian life are interwoven with the warp of the story. The warp carrying us on a journey, Deina's journey from beginning to end. One strand of that journey is with Orpheus as they travel to the underworld to rescue his beloved Eurydice from death.
A classic love story, Greek mythology, teenage journeys in life all beautifully written and interwoven - a perfect YA read.
* * * * * * * * *
The cover would entice me to read the book upon seeing it in a bookshop.
The colouration and imaging helps weave the story with the Greek mythos of the underworld, letting the reader know that their are slightly darker elements to the story.
Deina is a girl, a young woman, kidnapped and enslaved as a young child and raised to be part of the Theodesmioi. Deina's life revolves around the religious beliefs of life and death. In essence she is an executioner bringing about the deaths of convicted criminals, along with euthanasing young children that have been seriously injured, all in the name of religion.
One thread at a time Deina's story is being woven with the mythos and the reader. Of course, Deina has a story, her upbringing has given her strength - both mental and emotional. These strengths have given her hopes and dreams to escape her bondage and to live a free life.
Deina has already set her plans in motion weaving herself into as many religious rites as possible in order to shorten her indenture and gain freedom, not just for herself, but also for Chryse and their Sapphic friendship.
Changes lie ahead - the Hellenistic world is just beginning to wane, soon to be interwoven with the waxing of the Roman empire.
The wefts of the sights, smells and sounds of everyday Grecian life are interwoven with the warp of the story. The warp carrying us on a journey, Deina's journey from beginning to end. One strand of that journey is with Orpheus as they travel to the underworld to rescue his beloved Eurydice from death.
A classic love story, Greek mythology, teenage journeys in life all beautifully written and interwoven - a perfect YA read.
* * * * * * * * *
The cover would entice me to read the book upon seeing it in a bookshop.
The colouration and imaging helps weave the story with the Greek mythos of the underworld, letting the reader know that their are slightly darker elements to the story.