This book made me equally sad as it did make me happy. Be ready for a variety of emotions while reading this! LOVE!

Oh my goodness! This book did not disappoint! After reading it in one day, Suzanne Collins has again crushed my heart into a billion pieces. Collins never misses with her reflections of our current world within her fictional one. Prequels are often my favorite type of books to read because I constantly get to dive deep into already-known characters, like Haymitch. This new book makes me want to reread all the others with a new perspective! I have fallen hard back into the Hunger Games world, and it will be a while before | crawl out again.

Like everyone else in the world right now, I am obsessing over the Hunger Games. Since the release of the latest book, I've been going back and rereading the rest of the series. This book hits so much differently after reading Sunrise on the Reaping. I watched the movie before reading this, and now that I have finished it, I can say with 100% confidence that this book adds so much to the series. Snow's inner monologue provides so much characterization (that makes you despise him) that you don't get from the film. I loved seeing Snow transform from "rude and uneducated" to "this is now a part of your character, and there is no turning back." I will now spend the rest of the week analyzing what happened to Lucy Gray once again and how she will forever haunt the narrative.

Medea has always been a fascinating and complex character in Greek mythology. When I heard about Rosie Hewlett's upcoming book about her, I knew I HAD to read it the second I could. Luckily I was able to via @netgalley before it was released in March. I loved this book from beginning to end! Hewlett was able to capture Medea so well. Her grief and rage, as well as her power and strength. You are horrified and yet you are rooting for Medea the whole story!

Claire Heywood's "The Shadow of Perseus" follows the Greek myth of Perseus through the perspectives of the three key women in his story. His mother, Danae. The so-called monster he slays, Medusa. And lastly, his wife, Andromeda. In her author's note, Heywood talks about her decision to have the story driven by human decision, rather than gods or supernatural forces. It was fun and interesting to read this myth within the lenses of realism and historical context. It was a chilling read beginning to end!

I am currently on a Greek Mythology kick and I enjoy greatly getting to see how different authors characterize the same classic figures. In Claire Heywood's case, 1 was particularly excited about seeing how human yet passionate she wrote about both Klytemnestra and Helen (two hated women in Greek Mythology). Especially Helen since this was the first time I had ever read from her perspective for a whole novel in great detail. Highly recommended!

I loved "Elektra" as much as I loved this author's last Greek Mythology novel, "Ariadne." She does an amazing job at bringing these unapologetically chaotic women to life. Definitely recommended for Greek Mythology lovers who want to see a new light shined on the Trojan War.

Madeline Miller's short story, Galatea, is currently the shortest book I have reviewed so far with just under 60 pages. However, as usual, Miller packs in so much about creation and power struggle in such a short time about the greek marble sculpture who was given life by Aphrodite. Definitely recommend checking it out!

I have been waiting and waiting AND waiting for "Stone Blind" by Natalie Haynes to come out! This Medusa retelling has been worth the wait. I enjoyed being able to visit the point of views of characters like Medusa, Perseus, Athene, and even the snakes on Medusa's head. All narratives coming together to discuss what qualities truly make a hero and a monster.

Every book of Natalie Haynes draws me in with each and every word she writes. I am always awaiting the next page! The author does an amazing job at bringing forth new light to two forgotten stories and creating a new spin on them for our entertainment. The day I run out of her books will be a sad day!