Synopsis:
Daedalus of Crete is many things: The greatest architect in the world. The constructor of the Labyrinth that imprisoned the Minotaur. And the grieving father of Icarus, who plunged into the sea as father and son flew from the grasp of the tyrannical King Minos.
Now, Daedalus seeks to reunite with Icarus in the Underworld, even as he revisits his own memories of Crete, hoping to understand what went so terribly wrong at the end of his son’s life. Daedalus will confront any terror to see Icarus again—whether it’s the cruel punishments of Tartarus, the cunning Queen Persephone, or the insatiable ghost of the Minotaur.
But the truth, stalking Daedalus in the labyrinth of his own heart, might be too monstrous for him to bear.
Review:
I received an advance copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review.
Written in a style of a letter to his son, Icarus, Daedalus recounts the memories of his life as he toils away in Hell. This was an emotionally poignant retelling of the Daedalus mythology, and it might just be the best thing I’ve read all year.
I loved that it didn’t follow the usual retelling format, but was instead set at a point after Daedalus was dead. The rules of Hell require atonement—and Daedalus was certainly guilty of a few crimes (though the one who ultimately condemned him was far worse, in my opinion. But as the son of a god, he had much more power than Daedalus ever would.) Daedalus recounts memories of his time on Crete, the Minotaur, the wings he built, Icarus’ fall, his various inventions, and the cruelty of the gods.
But the thread that ties the story together is his undying love for his son and his desperate need to know why Icarus chose to fly too high when he knew the consequences. The only thing that drives him in the afterlife is the prospect of seeing his son just one more time, something he is denied time and again.
The story is heartbreaking and wonderfully creative, and the end brought me to tears. I loved every minute of it. It is one of the few books I think I would read again.
Daedalus is Dead is available for preorder and will release September 30, 2025.
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