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naluju's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Alcohol
goodin10tions's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Grief
matadyne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Infidelity, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol
ukponge's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Infidelity and Violence
Moderate: Mental illness
meliroo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Stalking
nothingforpomegranted's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Peter (Jupiter/Zeus) and June (Juno/Hera) Briscoe are notorious in Olympus for Peter's real estate scheming and philandering and June's loyalty, though June prides herself on her tiny acts of violence and anger, pouring hot coffee on Peter from above morning after morning. Daughter Thea (whose mythological counterpart I haven't been able to identify) has moved away and become an attorney, resentful of her parents' selfishness and uninterested in the daily dramas of her small-town family. The tension between their sons, Hap (Hephaestus/Vulcan) and March (Mars/Ares), is the crux of the novel, which begins with March's return to Olympus after a self-imposed exile two years ago, when he was discovered having an affair with Vera (Venus/Aphrodite), Hap's wife.
Peter's illegitimate son Arlo (Apollo) has also returned to town, back for the summer after a band tour cut short, hoping to recruit his twin sister, Artie (Artemis/Diana), to reprise her role as his manager. Artie, though, has just begun a new relationship for the first time and is reluctant to leave her new love, Ryan (Orion), for fear he won't wait for her to come back.
Over the span of a single week, emotions build and erupt, with anger, in all its forms, as the dominant propelling force of the novel. Though an interesting exploration of rage itself, the novel features limited character development, and rather than creatively incorporating a range of myths, superficially retells a basic story. I anticipated a greater level of sophistication and was disappointed by characters and plot lines that hardly dipped beneath the surface and deep-seeded conflicts that resolved so quickly. I did consume the novel in a single day, which is certainly a mark in its favor, but I was hardly emotionally invested and suspect it will be quickly forgotten.
Graphic: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism and Animal death
Minor: Stalking and Sexual harassment
atamano's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Violence, and Grief
reading_ladies_blog's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Violence