She’s just the Goddess of Love and Beauty.
And that’s exactly what she wants them to think.
Naked and salt-soaked, Aphrodite is born from the waves. Knowing nothing of who or what she is, she quickly discovers that she has incredible power and the kind of beauty that makes men mad. Her blood pulses with the same call: home, home, home.
Cue Olympus, the home of the gods.
But Olympus turns out to be a seething snake-pit, and love is never simple. Ordained the mere Goddess of Love and Beauty, the threatened and spiteful gods and goddesses seek different ways to control Aphrodite. As a trap closes in around her, she learns that it is a curse to be seen as nothing but beautiful – but it may also be her strongest weapon.
The gods of Olympus will soon learn not to underestimate the Goddess of Love and Beauty.
Look at that cover! The colour, the one huge eye. I can't wait to see it in person - I think it's really going to stand out on the shelf.
I read a lot of myths growing up, and in those days it was mostly Greek and Roman. (Maybe some Egyptian if you were really lucky.) I knew the stories of Aphrodite/Venus, Ares/Mars and Hephaestus/Vulcan well. They tended to be a bit dry, though, and when Hercules: The Legendary Journeys aired, those characterisations stuck in my mind. Hercules shows Aphrodite as a bit air-headed but mostly well meaning, Hera as a jealous old woman, Zeus as a kindly philanderer, and Ares as a violent, jealous war monger. (More or less - things varied a bit from episode to episode.)
That's not what this story shows.
Going back to Aphrodite's birth and showing her first, confused moments on land, the story follows her as she discovers the world. As a beautiful woman, it's not long before she discovers the many ways men can act, but she happens under the guidance of first a kind man and then an interested god. The story unfolds with a surprising amount of politics, but it's never less than fascinating.
Aphrodite is a wonderful character - new to the world, seeing it all with clear eyes, learning her way very quickly. Her interactions with a few other Greek characters of note were brilliantly done to make sense both of the original myths and this new version. Bryony has cleverly woven in bits of the original myths while making this a very original story. I knew Bryony before this for the psychological horror stories Savage Island and Cruel Castle, though she's written loads of others, so being swept away in this fantasy retelling was amazing.
I’ve really enjoyed this. There’s another Aphrodite retelling due later in the year, and I’m especially glad to have started with this one - it sets a high bar and reminds me how exciting it is to see the same myth told in such different, powerful ways.
Book Recommendation: Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald takes on Persephone with the same kindness and reverence as Bryony does Aphrodite. Starting in her early days, when she was known as Kore, she exhibits the same determination and strength as Aphrodite does here.
TV Recommendation: It's primarily a comedy, so the characterisations are a bit lighter, but Hercules: The Legendary Journeys did feature both Aphrodite and Ares, as well as many of the other gods. Their levels of cunning varied depending on the episode: The Apple has Aphrodite at the height of her cunning and power, while Love Takes a Holiday features a gentler Hephaestus than the one shown here. (Note: Some viewers may wish to be aware that the show’s lead actor, Kevin Sorbo, has expressed controversial views in recent years, though the show itself remains a light, myth-inspired romp.)
Aphrodite publishes on the 1st of May, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
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