Rating: 2.75🌈
E J Russell’s latest release is a book that should have worked for me. It doesn’t. Spoilers ahead. It’s all about a certain element, folks. Consent.
I love both of the series it mashes up, the Mythmatched and Purgatory Playhouse series, two hugely popular and entertaining universes. The theme of redemption and starting over is a great trope, full of emotionally charged elements for all characters.
But it depends on how it’s handled by the author and the framework for the redemption process. That’s part of why I feel that this book should come with a trigger warning.
At Odds with the Gods storyline deals with a previous tale where the gods from Mount Olympus are cast down and have to pay for their many crimes. One main trait of all the Gods is their inability to understand consent.
Note: In talking about my issues with the book I’m writing about some spoilers. If you don’t want to know, stop reading.
If you’re familiar with Greek mythology, and the Greek pantheon in particular, then you know how horrific their stories were. Abductions, forced marriages, rape, death, suicides, murder. Many coming out of arrogance or spontaneous decision making on the Gods end. Even Eros didn’t give people consent as is mentioned in the narrative. Just shot the arrows.
Ganymede, the son of the King of Troy, is a well known legend and figure in Greek mythology. A beautiful man who was abducted and sexually assaulted by Zeus who then carried Ganymede off to be his cup bearer/unwilling lover in Mount Olympus. For thousands of years.
Here, Russell’s given Ganymede a new life as a young “human” baker, released from Mt Olympus when the Fates handed down their verdict. Russell’s portrayal of Ganymede is that of a young man who is struggling with his years of captivity as a victim of sexual abuse/assault. But Russell’s treatment of this aspect of the character is flawed, imo, for many reasons. Ganymede is a tragic figure. Only strange tidbits of his time with the Gods is shared, certainly not the traumatic events or experiences he must have endured or seen during his time there. There’s no page time to discuss the topic, and the tone of the tale’s too light.
Russell’s story has elements of real darkness that aren’t being throughly explored or examined for what they are. The biggest issue being that of control/consent/non-consensual actions.
Ganymede has opened a bakery he loves. He’s happy. He’s got a crush on a werewolf (the other main character, and a great one). He’s ignorant about the supernatural world around him. Ok, for me that absolutely an odd thing about this world. He’s from Olympus but they don’t know about Supes? Anyway, who starts meddling in truly awful ways with his new life, his bakery, and trying to abduct him? A terrifying prospect, over and over. The Olympic Gods. Still not on board with the concept of consent, and ruining his life is ok if they win a game. On a get back to Mount Olympus app with quests. Red flags dropped for triggering elements.
We need more of what we aren’t getting, the sweet romance story between a werewolf trying to recover from his own personal redemption arc (best part of the story). There’s sweet Gany , trying to get the courage to kiss Finn after his abusive history, true. However , for 80 percent of the narrative , the rest is the Gods trying to abduct Gany with no remorse to the ramifications on his life. That’s 80 percent. But what is more frustrating is that Gany has an outlet to stop his harassment and doesn’t use it.
A horrible message to send in a narrative. Someone who has been through a horrible experience, is undergoing it again, has a method to make it stop, and doesn’t use it.
All Gany has to do is call the Fates. Let them know the Gods have been at his house, have harassed him, broken the rules, and let them handle it. Instead, it’s a sort of juvenile “I’m gonna tell them if you don’t stop, no, really this time, gonna tell.” Which in tone and manner of that response negates the atmosphere, crime, the levels of seriousness, and basically everything else that Russell has established about the situation.
The author could have had her story continue on as planned, which had many people from the series showing up, and a moment from another series being viewed from a different perspective. Which was all very neat and entertaining.
But that whole situation about the Gods and Gany and consent? I just feel it went narratively sideways. Either use a totally different character, one not as tragic, although, yes, that’s tough given the Greek pantheon. Or maybe leave a game element out of it. Or Zeus. Because no one ever believes in Zeus and consent. It just doesn’t work.
The romance was sidelined and I thought they were terrific, along with the dogs. Too many ingredients did ruin the storytelling here. Too bad.
Trigger warnings for those who have issues with consent, non-consent, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and abduction.
Honestly, no recommendation. That’s the biggest surprise for me.
Buy Link:
Blurb:
The road to redemption is long, rough, and steep. Bring snacks.
Finn Lassiter is a werewolf without a pack. Or a roof over his head. Or more than five bucks to his name. He’s exhausted every lifeline except the one that makes him want to howl: begging his cousin, the supreme alpha, for charity. After the way Finn behaved for their entire lives, it’s entirely possible he’ll be turned down flat or banished forever when he makes that call tomorrow. So today he’s blowing his last dollar at Nectar & Ambrosia—he needs one more smile from the bakery’s beautiful owner to weather the bleak years ahead.
Ganymede, former cup bearer to the Greek gods, is reveling in his new life as a restaurateur in Portland, Oregon. He’s finally free of the Olympians and their extremely tedious menu options. Finn, the cute customer who’s haunted the corner table in his bakery since opening day, is just icing on the cake.
When the gods stage an encore, however, attempting to weasel out of their Fates-mandated atonement labors, Gany’s new livelihood isn’t the only thing at stake—Finn’s safety and freedom are at risk, too. Of course Gany invites Finn to stay with him until the danger passes! It would be irresponsible not to. Right?
Although with all the baggage he’s carrying from his past, that idea just might be only half-baked…
At Odds with the Gods is a friends-to-lovers Mythmatched/Purgatory Playhouse crossover featuring secrets on all sides, empowered former victims, misbehaving deities, three large, rambunctious pups, and cake. Lots and lots of cake.
After decades of unrequited love, this kangaroo will jump at the chance for a date. Any date.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 