Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood
Product details
Web ID: 154185718 reviews
Mid-book
I was interested in this book because it is Greek mythology, however, there were so many times I completely forgot. If you are looking for a book with gods and demigods, I would not recommend. The plot and lore are interesting and have a lot of potential, but it could be a little confusing. I felt no attachment to the characters. It felt like the author wrote the individual tragic backstories and then gave up on personality. The grammar and writing itself was fine. I wasn't blown away but there wasn't anything wrong with it.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Still enjoyed
Even though the pacing was a little bit slow and in other parts just inconsistent, I liked this. I get that it's not a hard and true retelling but it was still enjoyable, especially if you categorize it less as a retelling/lore and more of just a fantasy.
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Lies We Sing To The Sea
First and foremost, I realize how hard it is to write a novel. I give 4 stars because it was a great story. The audiobook was pretty good too.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great sapphic mythological read
This book was amazing. Although it was a Greek mythology book, and had the ancient setting and everything, it was still very much a new story, and felt fresh. The writing was absolutely beautiful, and the characters were incredibly dynamic, so I could empathize with pretty much every single character.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great story arc!
Poignant tale: blighted love, lives cut short:'( Sarah Underwood's story of Grecian gods, fatal curses and doomed innocents was a good, entertaining though tragic tale and well-suited to a mid-teen readership. It's intriguing and presents a puzzle, with the pieces coming together bit by bit to reveal the true origin of, and solution to overcome, a deadly curse. It does not get overly descriptive on the details of the classical setting and keeps the focus on the lives of the three main characters who are seeking to end the centuries-old annual spring sacrifice of twelve Ithakan girls to placate a vengeful Poseidon. There's supernatural shape-shifting and magical taming of natural forces as an integral part of the tale. Slowly the story reveals details of the original murdered maids of Queen Penelope's court and how Melantho is connected to them. Burgeoning friendship and romance competes with palace intrigue and mortal danger. I thought one of the strongest threads in the narrative was its revelation that none of the principal characters is totally good or blameless despite their fine intentions and best efforts to stop the sacrificial killings. The ending was really moving and Leto's emotional conflict about who she loved and most wanted to live kept me guessing about where her feelings would take her when the critical decisions had to be made. Their enduring love for family and friends cut down in the senseless tragedy of the thing also had me emotionally sympathizing with the three main characters and even, at times, with the Queen. The romantic content, both FF and MF, has some heat (kissing, removal of clothes) but is described mostly in vague euphemisms and not explicit. Sexual violence is mentioned but not in a detailed way. This is not an attempted modernization or retelling of Homer's Odyssey. It uses a few pieces of Homer's tale but builds its own world around orphaned, young, not-so-gifted oracle Leto, mysterious Melantho who works her magic with water and young Ithakan Prince Mathias. I thought Underwood succeeded in creating a compelling novel set in the mythical world of Ancient Greece. I enjoyed her storytelling and think teens would too. Thanks to HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Could have been a hit - but it's a miss
You know a book you would have loved as a kid? This is one of those books. A Bi girl surrounded by tragedy, and bent on vengeance, falling in love with the woman and the man who guide her to seize her own power in her life. . Unfortunately , that’s where my praise ends. The very fake feeling Greek historical setting on Ithaca is I think the source of this story’s downfall. I think if the author would have made it entirely a fantastical setting and removed it from such ‘restraints’ would have challenged the author to develop her characters and story more. The characters are interesting but their motivations are so shallow and forced - as if they are puppets jammed in to tell a story with no depth - especially poor Matthias - what an absolute straw man of a character. The storytelling is bland at its best bits and cringe at its worst bits. Some younger YA readers who have not been exposed to more will eat this up, I know I would have, but where I am now - I've just seen characters and world building done so much better that this just doesn’t even get up to par. Two stars for the story itself, but I’ll add on an extra star because younger me would have loved this story for the representation alone. . . . Hisses & Kisses . *I received an ARC from HarperCollins Canada. All opinions are my own*
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Compelling but Unfulfilling
Told from the perspectives of the three main characters, Lies We Sing to the Sea crafts an epic tale woven with poetic prose and romance. The outline of the story is compelling with its mythological background, humanized characters, and tragic ending. However, a lot of the charm ends there. Setting aside the fact that the story is not a true retelling of The Odyssey as advertised by the author, I found myself disappointed with many substance-related components. To begin, much of the plot felt prolonged and unexplained until further along, but by then the pacing felt too unbalanced to be redeemed. Second, I was excited for the sapphic representation, but the underdeveloped love triangle between the three leads made the relationship between Leto and Melantho a little underwhelming. Along those lines, the characters themselves lacked development and complexity, leading to a repetitive and flat-lined tone for certain chapters. Although I relatively enjoyed Leto’s character, I wish her interactions with the other two were more fleshed out rather than washed away by excessive romance. Lies We Sing to the Sea holds much potential with a strong foundation, especially if it is advertised as a spin-off rather than a retelling. While it may not be on my list of books to read again, I appreciate the gorgeous writing indicative of Sarah Underwood’s talent, and I am hopeful for her future works to come.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
an unforgettable & heart wrenching story
lies we sing to the sea has it all: beautiful prose, a bisexual love triangle, & stunning imagery that will sweep you away to ancient greece. if youre a fan of greek mythology, this is an enticing take on Penelope’s hanged maids. you will laugh, you will cry, and you will fall in love. 10/10 recommend!!!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com