The Shadow of Perseus Audiobook By Claire Heywood cover art

The Shadow of Perseus

A Novel

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Shadow of Perseus

By: Claire Heywood
Narrated by: Olivia Darnley
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Nationally bestselling author of Daughters of Sparta Claire Heywood returns with an imaginative and female-centered reinterpretation of the myth of the great hero Perseus, told through the voices of three women who are sidelined in the traditional version—his mother, Danae; his trophy, Medusa; and his wife, Andromeda—but whose viewpoints reveal a man who is not, in fact, a hero at all.

Danae: Banished from her homeland thanks to a prophecy foretelling that her unborn child will one day cause the death of her father, the king of Argos, Danae finds herself stranded, pregnant, and alone in a remote fishing village. It’s a harsh new world for a young woman who grew up as a coddled princess, and forging a new life for herself and for her young son Perseus will be the hardest thing she’s ever done.

Medusa: As a member of a reclusive band of women who live deep in the woods, known as the Gorgons, Medusa has eschewed all contact with the outside world. That is, until the day she finds an injured boy named Perseus in the forest.

Andromeda: When a harsh sandstorm threatens to destroy her nomadic desert tribe’s way of life, Andromeda knows that a sacrifice will be required to appease the gods and end the storm. But when a forceful young Perseus interferes, Andromeda’s life is set on an entirely new path.

As Perseus becomes increasingly obsessed with the promise of his own destiny, his heroic journey casts a shadow of violence and destruction across all three women’s lives. But even as he tries to silence them, the women may find that reclaiming their voices is their only hope for lifting themselves into a better future.

©2023 Claire Heywood (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Ancient Fairy Tales Fantasy Fiction Women's Fiction Emotionally Gripping Ancient Greece
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"[A] markedly fresh spin on a classic tale, the allegedly valiant adventures of Perseus, the Greek hero who slew the Gorgon Medusa....In the rash, impulsive, arrogant, spoiled, entitled, and dangerous figure of Perseus, Heywood deftly deconstructs the model of Hellenic heroism, illustrating the dark side of a larger-than-life icon.Told through the perspectives of three very different but equally compelling women, Heywood's second novel is entertaining and impactful." —Booklist

“Vivid…Heywood ably imagines how the clever, strong female characters build their lives alongside vindictive and destructive men.” —Publishers Weekly

“It is the long-silenced women—Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda—who are the heroes in this fresh, feminist retelling of the myths of Perseus. A tale of bravery, heartbreak, and perseverance, THE SHADOW OF PERSEUS has breathed new life into these very old stories, and finally given these women their voice.” —Stephanie Marie Thornton, USA Today bestselling author of The Conqueror’s Wife

What listeners say about The Shadow of Perseus

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    20
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    28
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    16
  • 4 Stars
    10
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    4

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A fantastic reworking of the classic myth

Personally, I am a big fan of the supernatural and fantastical elements of ancient Greek myth. But I was pleasantly surprised that this realistic retelling of the story stuck with me. I loved how the story and all it’s mythological details were so deeply rooted in reality, making it so much more plausible and digestible. It is beautifully written from the perspective of three characters whose stories always ran parallel to Perseus’ but were also disregarded in favor of his. This book gives these women great strength, power, and honor. Now, to me, /they/ are the heroes of this story. Well done!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

this was an excellent read. I cannot wait to move to the next book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great retelling of Perseus.

Loved the different take on mythology and how the stories might have happened. Loved the story and narrator. Kept me captivated and believing it could have happened.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Old story told with new voices

Not having a deep knowledge of the myths about Perseus (most of what I remember is from movies about him), I really enjoyed the story told from the women’s viewpoint. The narrator was pleasant to listen to and added to the story with her talents.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

an enjoyable take!

upon buying this title, and seeing the reviews at the time, I was worried I would regret purchasing and be incapable of finishing it. Boy was I wrong! something about the story and it's progression was in such a way that I couldn't help but want to know how this telling was going to unfold. she came to us with 3 women, and each one got to tell "her part" of an already pretty well known story that they are usually just bit players for. this pairs well with retellings like: Phaedra, Stone Blind,and Ariadne!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

A bit misogynistic?

Disappointed, I enjoyed daughters of Sparta and assumed I would love this one, and i first I thought I would. In a world where men are quick to blame their problems on women watch three women also blame themselves and who does it all circle back to? His mom, she was over protective and yet somehow non nurturing. We meet a boy who is scared to kill turn into someone who swings first and is this bc his mother wouldn’t let him when he was young? That’s the implication. Watch the proud leader of women forget her whole lives work bc she’s lonely and wants this boys love? Wait assuming the gods that make this heros journey possible in the source material don’t exist and therefore cannot be pointed to as the reason for confusion. And watch Stockholm syndrome in action as it’s poorly justified as a woman trying to live

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

loved the new take on this story!

i do wish it was longer! great story telling and a refreshing take on the mythology, wasn’t expecting the changes, but i was pleased regardless.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

disappointed

the author indeed presents a story with nothing supernatural and I suppose it is plausible. However, none of the characters are appealing. perseus is frankly a psychic sociopath. I don't find his transformation particularly believable. the three women are naive or stupid . there certainly are such people, but i could have hoped for stronger and smarter women. there were plenty of historical women one could have used as an example.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Not my cup of tea

I love Greek mythology retellings but this was just boring. The story dragged on and the ending wasn’t great. Would skip this one.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Completely new story with only character names

I love greek mythology so i was excited to learn more from the pov of women around him but it just changed the stories to make him an absolute monster. not that he was a saint but this is misandry. I don't like it when they change stories to make women or men look like monsters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!