Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
This book had its good and its bad, but ultimately I couldn’t get into it.
The best thing for me was the world-building. It was a future in which machines/AI have taken over most of the jobs, and there are a few big corporations that function like independent cities, all vying for more stakeholders by offering different things. The genomancy, albeit far-fetched, was a cool idea too, how a person’s DNA could be changed to not just make them look different, but also to give them animal traits, to give them a certain skill, to do almost anything to the body.
I also liked the retelling aspect. It was clever how the author included a lot of stuff from the Jason and the Argonauts/Golden Fleece myth but turned it all into sci-fi stuff to fit with the story. For example, the “seers” were connected to the network with access to a bunch of data and were able to parse through it and see the probability of different outcomes.
I never connected to the characters though—maybe because of the omniscient POV, or maybe because they felt kind of one-sided, like they had one trait or belief and not much more personality beyond that.
But the worst thing for me was the romance. Jason was a jerk to Medea, he was judgmental, and overall he gave off this air of superiority. And Medea knew he was a jerk to her. Yet she was still swooning over his muscles and his eyes and his commanding nature and how he had the firm grip of a leader… even while their lives were in imminent danger. Then all the sudden they were having a heart to heart about their childhoods, and within the span of maybe two days, they went from being strangers who couldn’t stand each other to promising to protect each other and being so in love they didn’t want to live without the other.
And then, near the end, there was this stuff about how it’s man’s instinct to protect women, and it’s woman’s instinct to do whatever men tell them to, and just sexist/misogynistic things that left a bad taste in my mouth, especially after the questionable woman-secretly-wants-to-be-with-the-guy-who-treats-her-like-crap romance.
Overall, it had a lot of creativity, especially in the world, but I couldn’t deal with the romance and how poorly the book portrayed women.
Recommended For:
Personally, I wouldn't recommend this, but... Anyone who likes creative retellings of Greek mythology and unique futuristic worlds.
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I hear about a lot of retellings, but a Jason & the Argonauts retelling? Now that’s something I could get behind- sorry to hear this one didn’t work. The “seers” sounds like a neat angle. And the worldbuilding. The romance though- yeah that sucks. Bummer!
Yeah the book would’ve been better if the romance hadn’t been… like that and if it hadn’t had those weird sexist things. But the retelling was cool, so not a total loss at least. I would love more Greek mythology retellings!
Well, that’s a bummer that this wasn’t a better read for you. I was intrigued by the idea of a Jason and the Argonauts retelling, but I’m pretty sure all of the sexism/misogyny would send me through the roof. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and letting me know this is one I should pass on.
Yeah, I loved the retelling idea, and I totally think there should be more Greek mythology retellings! But I did not love the sexism :-/
I’m not familiar with the Golden fleece smith, but sorry this sounds like a good concept with poor execution! Sexist stuff in good fantasy takes me completely out of the story
Yeah, it was a great concept, so the sexist stuff was unfortunate.
Well, boo. What a disappointing execution of this very cool premise — I mean, I think this might be the only Jason and the Argonauts retelling ever I’ve seen
Same. I was excited to find such a unique retelling but so disappointed by the romance and portrayal of women!
haha it seems that the team behind this book should have read Broody! I wish you read non-fiction. I would love to hear your take on that book! It talks about things like this kinda romance. I think I would have never picked this book… and… ready? here comes my very mature reason why….The DNA image. I don;t know why covers with DNA turn me off. I SMH at myself often about my reader’s motivations XD
I like the Broody Twitter account, but I’ve never been that interested in the book. The DNA image??? Haha, you are so strange sometimes 😛
As much as I love the idea of a futuristic Jason and the Argonauts retelling, this one is definitely not for me. I struggle with omniscient POV too because, like you said, it distances you from the characters. Throw in a very poorly executed romantic sub-plot feat. misogyny and this is a no-go. Sorry to hear this wasn’t more your speed!
Yep, I loved the idea and creativity, but I couldn’t deal with the issues. Thanks!
What a cool premise but yeah…drooling over muscles and the like when the guy (or girl) is being a jerk ruins things for me.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
Having to read about her drooling over his muscles when he was a jerk nearly drove me mad. It definitely ruins things for me too.
I was all set to be like yes, this book sounds cool with such an interesting concept with machines taking over jobs and them messing and splicing DNA together, it all sounded awesome and then you mentioned the characters and it went downhill from there. An original enough sounding world with cool ideas but insta-love and some downright questionable attitudes to women and I am so not liking the sound of this book.
Right? The premise was awesome! So the questionable romance and portrayal of women was a bummer :-/
A great review, Kristen – I really like the premise, but I’m REALLY not into romances where the woman goes weak-kneed over a bossy, unpleasant man – I ploughed through far too many of those when I was a girl, thank you very much! A shame as the world sounds intriguing.
Thanks! I agree, the premise is great, but I’m not into that kind of romance either :-/
Shame about the sexism and instalove in this one. A Jason And The Argonauts retelling could be fun, but I don’t think this would be the one for me either!
I agree, I was bummed about the issues since I love the idea of a JAson and the Argonauts retelling!
Maybe the author stuck to the myth too firmly? Cos Jason’s always kinda a jerk to Medea!
Lol, in that case, I guess it was accurate!