Tag Archives: The Mythic Dream

A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy by Rebecca Roanhorse

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy
Author: Rebecca Roanhorse
In: The Mythic Dream (Dominik Parisien & Navah Wolfe)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Mythology, Retellings, Space
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I’m beginning to realise that if I pick up a story by Roanhorse, it’s probably going to be dark and twisty stuff. And I’m entirely on board with that. So far, I’ve loved everything that I’ve read by her. And A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy was no different. A retelling of a myth that I’ve never known (but plan to look up), space and well, I guess a sort of zombie that left me feeling quite uncomfortable. What more could you want?

I really want to read the Deer Hunter and the White Corn Maiden now, as it isn’t one that I actually know. Plus, I want to see what dark elements Roanhorse has added, and what are actually a part of the original. I know that the space elements are definitely unique to this version, I want to know what else is…

At the core of this tale is that we need to sometimes just let people go. It’s all about obsessive love and not being able to say goodbye. And sometimes, if we can’t let them go, we damage ourselves and those around us. I definitely felt like cringing and curling up into the foetal position at the end of this tale, that’s for sure.

<- Fisher-BirdBridge of Crows ->

Image source: Simon & Schuster

Fisher-Bird by T. Kingfisher

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Fisher-Bird
Author: T. Kingfisher
In: The Mythic Dream (Dominik Parisien & Navah Wolfe)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Greek mythology, Mythology, Retellings
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I absolutely freaking loved this Hercules retelling, I mean I’m kind of programmed to like anything with Greek mythology anyway. And, because it’s an area that I absolutely love, I picked that this was a Hercules retelling pretty much from the get go. I love that, rather than retelling the whole myth, it takes one of the tasks and talks about how Hercules was helped.

I love that Fisher-Bird is told in the vein of other traditional myths – why the fisher-bird has a red belly. It’s from that animal perspective mythos, rather than the human. I love that it shifts the focus to why fisher-bird has a red belly, not how Hercules beat the Scythian Birds. Plus, Fisher-Bird as a fun narrator created a beautiful flow to the story that I just didn’t want to end!

After reading this, I really want more T. Kingfisher. Something about the flow and tone of this writing really spoke to me. And I absolutely adored this! Retellings are normally a big hit with me, and this was just even better and more beautiful than anticipated.

<- The JustifiedA Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy ->

Image source: Simon & Schuster

The Justified by Ann Leckie

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: The Justified
Author: Ann Leckie
In: The Mythic Dream (Dominik Parisien & Navah Wolfe)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Mythology, Retellings
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I absolutely adored this short story, and now I really want to read the original myth that this was based upon. It was kind of dark and twisty, it was fun. And I love that, at the end, it was ultimately about justice and recognising that the powers that be might not actually be as ‘good’ as they think they are.

This short story was all about how the all-powerful and leaders still need to be answerable to justice and others. And that, even if they started off good, sometimes beings can become power hungry and do the unforgivable. Luckily, there is good in this story that doesn’t want power – and decides to question authority to find equality amongst all.

I love that at the end of this, it is the Hand of the leader who is also their downfall. Rather than being the mindless murderer of the past, they are able to take charge of their own life and actions, and find a new way forward. Ultimately, this story ends on hope and optimism for a fairer and brighter future.

<- Phantoms of the MidwayFisher-Bird ->

Image source: Simon & Schuster

Phantoms of the Midway by Seanan McGuire

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Phantoms of the Midway
Author: Seanan McGuire
In: The Mythic Dream (Dominik Parisien & Navah Wolfe)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Mythology, Retellings
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I spent this whole story trying to figure out which myth this short story was based on. And then, I realised that it was about Hades and Persephone. Which completely makes sense, but rather than being based on romantic or sexual love, it’s about a mother’s love.

I love that Aracely and Joanna have so much potential at the turning point of seventeen. And even though they’re both dead, that potential is somehow expanded, not diminished. But, they also have a reality and a life to grow into. One that they both grasp with eyes wide open.

There is something eerie and haunting about this story from the very beginning. And, it isn’t until the end that I could quite put my finger on why. On the one hand, it’s sweet and a reminder of the lengths that a mother will go to to protect her child. On the other, it’s a little bit creepy the lengths that a mother will go to to protect her child…

<- The Mythic DreamThe Justified ->

Image source: Simon & Schuster