Absolutely fascinating book! Although not exhaustive, this book provides a rather coherent narrative on an almost singular timeline, bringing together a lot of the 'core' Greek Myths that were the origins, or directly related to, many of the wider interconnected Myths we know today.

Stephen Fry could not cover them all in one book, but he provides you with a lot of the Figures we know, and a lot that you do not know. Including those that were the often forgotten mothers, family members, origins, evils, or guiding hands. He takes us from Chaos through the First and deep into the Second Order and Age of the Olympians after the Titanomancy. He does reference the end of the Gods, but does not go into detail.

It is exceptionally well referenced, the paper copy containing a bibliography, Index, a brief initial Family tree, maps and picture references as well as an appendix with extra notes on Stephen Fry's research and interpretations. All this alongside copious, informative footnotes to add extra detail, connections, and laughs. I am fascinated by how many English words and meanings today have origins in these myths in some way or another, and you can feel Stephen Fry's passion for language and myth on every page.

He keeps this a relatively humorous retelling, while also being upfront about these figures being capable of absolute extremes on any moral scale. Deplorable acts alongside honorable ones. I also very much like how Stephen reminds us at the end that these are all fictional, and although the Ancient Greeks existed of course, they are not to be thought of as superior human beings rather "what makes the Greeks so appealing to us is that they seemed to be so subtly, sightfully and animatedly aware of these different sides to their natures" aka they elaborated on the dichotomy and complexity of 'know thy self' well in these Myths. And they are Myths, as Fry puts it "much as a pearl formed around grit, so a legend is taken to have built up around a grain of truth" but Myths are "imaginative, symbolic constructs" and how myth becomes cult becomes religion and the codification of this, is not something Stephen Fry says is within his scope to talk about - saved for another book perhaps!

Stephen mentions at the end that if you are interested in exploring more, there is a Dutch / NZ project called theoi.com that is an amazing resource for following Greek Mythology across the ages showcased through classical literature and art. I have spent the past day diving into this website and it is fantastic.

I listened to the Audiobook narrated by Stephen Fry while reading the paperback copy. Loved it.

this was a wild ride, I've seen people say this is their least favorite of the trilogy and if that's the case then i have no idea what's coming. so much respect for hobb's craft and the deeper i get into this series the more shocked i am that it's not considered a must-read classic of the genre. on to the next!