Rating: Not for me
I can see why this book won a Newberry Honor Book Award, but I’m still not recommending it.

Props to Padriac Colum for masterfully retelling Greek myths in a more accessible way. When the men are stranded on an isle full of women (only), I was bracing myself for some explicit promiscuity that never came. I now understand some cultural references such as the Argonauts (yep, the Octonauts are not the first adventurers with a naut-ish name!) “Pandora’s Box,” or “Hercules.”

And I’ve got to hand it to the culture: they really take vows and honor seriously— something my culture has room for improvement.

But the pride, the foolishness, the killing for no good reason… it just got to me. Does nobody think, “instead of fighting, maybe let’s talk this through”? Moreover, the sorcery just got a bit too dark for me. I can handle the witches & some magic, but Medea—Jason’s wife—is a bit too intense. Some of the absurdity of the wars or petty fights between gods or titans; the dumb disobedience; the gods of this and that who hang on to vendettas… it just became too much ridiculousness for me.  

I finished it, but never again. I’d rather read something else.