Synopsis:
From the #1 bestselling author comes an epic story of love and war as two opposing deities find themselves drawn to each other against all odds. Because when Aphrodite and Ares fall in love, sparks are bound to fly.
THIS IS THE OLDEST LOVE STORY OF ALL TIME . . .
Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, wields unparalleled power over every divine and mortal heart. Though her world is one of beauty, she is the most dangerous god of all, ruled by passion regardless of the consequences.
Ares, God of War, is her perfect contradiction: feared, unwanted and relentless in his devotion to chaos. Where she breathes life into longing, he thrives in destruction.
And yet gods are no more immune to love and loss than anyone else, and soon their lives collide. But even divine love can’t protect them from the fates of Mount Olympus, and whilst the God of War may be capable of greater love than anyone else, so many the Goddess of Love be capable of the gravest mistakes.
Review:
A beautiful, loving retelling of the Greek Goddess, Aphrodite, filled with longing, tension, and a truer feeling than the original mythology.
Aphrodite is often depicted as vain, fickle, and uncaring. Saint makes her into a woman filled with love for everything who wants and looks for the best in everyone.
You see the often mean and dark tale of Hephaestus handled with care and gentleness. You understand both sides of love and war with Ares as an opposite attraction.
‘Love opens us up to the possibility of pain,’ she says. ‘You can’t protect us against it. You can’t strive for perfection all the time. You govern something ungovernable – a realm that’s wild and dangerous, one where there are great rewards at stake but risks as well. And it’s no different for Ares.’
The story jumps all over the place and time, moving to well-known parts of mythology where Saint pictures Aphrodite having a greater role, even if behind the scenes. Even in the pantheon, Saint acknowledges the gender power dynamics.
As a result, the plot and pacing don’t flow as seamlessly as I’d want, but that is to be expected with a Goddess at its centre.
With a first-person pov, this feels personal and almost a diary-like view into an often ridiculed figure.
Every opportunity for love to blossom, whether ephemeral or lasting, illicit or open, is a celebration to me. I welcome them all, in whatever shape they take.
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