School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up-Though set in ancient times, this tale has modern sensibilities, believably delineated characters, and an enchanting romance as Perseus, accompanied by his beloved Andromeda, embarks on a quest to slay Medusa. Themes of destiny, self-sacrifice, and remaining true to one's beliefs are skillfully interwoven into this adventure. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Rewriting the myth of Perseus and Andromeda is a formidable task, but Halam (Dr. Franklin's Island) performs it with seeming ease and tongue-in-cheek humor. Demigod Perseus becomes smitten when Andromeda, a beautiful princess trying to escape her fate of being a human sacrifice, runs away to his island. But before romance can get off the ground, the evil king of Serifos dispatches Perseus to fetch the head of Medusa, the snake-haired monster who can turn men to stone. With some help from supernatural beings, Perseus hopes to accomplish more: save his people from tyranny and rescue Andromeda. Mythology buffs will appreciate the plethora of classical figures, while periodic references to contemporary culture (e.g., a band of rich, rowdy teens are dubbed the Yacht Club kids) and occasional slang drive the story home for the target audience without sacrificing its heroic dimensions. Ages 12-up. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
At the command of the gods, to avert civil war, and to save his love from being sacrificed, Perseus undertakes his quest to slay the Medusa. Perseus is a likable hero in this lively retelling reshaped to focus on family ties and statecraft. Contemporary language and details from mythology play well against each other. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
The classic myth of Perseus and Andromeda gets a stylish makeover. As in the original, headstrong Perseus, son of Zeus, saves the princess Andromeda from being sacrificed and his mortal mother Danae from forced marriage to evil King Polydectes by slaying Medusa and using her head to turn his enemies to stone. But here Halam fashions a retelling both lyrical and laugh-out-loud funny by combining modern elements with bits of ancient Mediterranean history. The author references an actual earthquake that devastated the Minoan civilization, while giving a wink to her audience by having Perseus find the garbage of the ages (including discarded soda cans) washed up on the shores of the Styx. Meddling gods make their star turns, as does Jason of Argonaut fame, portrayed here as a salty-tongued surfer dude. Andromeda, no shrinking violet, manages to invent written language before happily marrying a thoroughly impressed Perseus. Though too leisurely paced for the Rick Riordan crew, this novel should be a fanciful feast for fans of Ad'le Geras's Troy (2002) or Catherine Fisher's Oracle Prophesies. (author's note, map) (Fantasy. YA) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
To get young Perseus out of the way so that he might sate a long-held lust for the lad's mother, Polydectes, the corrupt island ruler of Serifos, commits Perseus to an impossible task: bringing him the head of the Gorgon, Medusa. Halam expands on and enhances the well-known Greek myth, relating Perseus's story in his own voice and surrounding him with a likable cast of characters and a lovingly described place. Perseus is a kind, upright young man who has grown up on Serifos and who is intrigued by the mysterious new girl in town, Andromeda. Thoughts of romance are upset, however, as Perseus is pulled toward that fateful moment when he receives Polydectes' charge. Along the way, Andromeda's secrets are revealed and various entertainingly reimagined characters make appearances, including Zeus, Hermes, Athini (Athena) and Jason. Halam's version is sophisticated but teen-friendly and will certainly interest fans of myth. Wider appeal may be limited by a stronger focus on the story's building blocks and less on critical action and climax.--Koelling, Holly Copyright 2008 Booklist