I received a copy of Crown of Serpents by Lara Reed from NetGalley. This fantasy book tells a reimagined story of the Greek Mythology characters of Perseus and Medusa. Perseus is a demigod, and Medusa is on a quest to seek revenge on those who wronged her. The retelling of Greek mythology is something that I always find interesting. This premise intrigued me from the start. This is the first book of the author’s Curse of Olympus series.
Perseus lives in a small village ruled by a tyrant. They are required to pay hefty taxes, and if they fail, there is severe punishment. When the money is stolen from Perseus’s mother, he has no option but to offer something else to save his mother from the tyrant. Perseus offers to slay the sea monster plaguing the Red Sea, killing sailors and disrupting trade. He gets the blessing of the Olympus for his quest. Medusa has been cursed and turned into a monster. Now, she takes revenge against those who wronged her by wreaking havoc across the sea. When Perseus finds Medusa, he is unable to kill her. Medusa is captured by Perseus and kept a prisoner until Perseus can make a final decision. They are thrown together on a wild adventure by fate.
I liked how the characters of Perseus and Medusa were developed in the story. Perseus is honourable and loyal. He wants to save his mother, but he cannot see Medusa as just a monster. He believes there is more to her than what is said. Medusa has been wronged, cursed, and cast aside. She distrusts people, especially men, and it is understandable given her experiences. She is wary of Perseus, but he always surprises her. Perseus and Medusa start developing a bond. They are still unsure, which I thought made sense for the characters. Their romance develops slowly, and they learn to trust each other completely.
I enjoyed the individual character arcs in the story. Medusa is driven by anger and hatred in the beginning. She learns to trust people and let them in. She even learns to accept her powers and embrace who she is now. Perseus has been concerned about his power. He tries to downplay it and suppress it because he is scared of what he might become. This is something Medusa and Perseus have in common. They are not frightened of each other’s power, but their own. The story has elements of fantasy, adventure, and romance, which are perfectly blended. I enjoyed the world-building of ancient Greece and the mythological aspects of it. The book is emotionally intense, but the characters come a full circle.
Crown of Serpents by Lara Reed kept me engaged from the first page. I loved how the character of Medusa developed throughout the story. The story and the characters keep you interested; even the minor characters have a role to play in Medusa and Perseus’s story. I loved the romance between these characters and the setting. Although the end felt slightly rushed. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book.
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