Coils

I seriously LOVED this story! Cressida travels to the Underworld to try and save her Aunt and we are introduced to a whole slew of mythological characters! For the most part this is an adventure story as Cressida and her crew (including Agammemnon, Pandora and Medusa) travel through different parts of the Underworld to collect artifacts required for Cressida to save her Aunt June and get back to the living world. It’s hard to really give a lot of details about the story, because there are just so many, but I will say that the thing that really made me love this story so much was taking these mythological entities and really giving them a voice and a character. Not just reiterating what’s been told in the myths. We see who they are as people/heros/villains and are privy to a much longer and more in depth back story.

There is also a secondary developing love story between the MC Cressida and her companion Medusa. Medusa has ALWAYS been one of my favorite mythological entities, and seeing how the author portrayed her and her history made me so happy! I’ve felt so sad for her and always felt like she was robbed of her life, and this book provides more depth to those emotions.

Granted this story isn’t purely based on what we’ve read in the mythology books, and takes liberties with some of those characters to give them more depth and personality. But I loved this book so much for that! The author takes characters like Adonis, Medusa, Narcissus, Persephone, Agammemnon, and the Titans and breathes new life into them. If legends truly live only because we believe in them, then this story would definitely resurrect some of that love for the Gods.

I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy something slightly above YA, but not quite Adult, lovers of fantasy and/or mythology, and f/f romance.

Reviewed by Nikki Vanderhoof

Dear Ms. Wright,

Showing what a shallow person I am, it was the cover that caught my eye and made me say “Self, you must check out the blurb for this one and hope you want to read it because damn, that cover is awesome.” Okay, Greek myths, gods and monsters and a trip to the Underworld. Sign me up.

This one springs straight into action with Cressida worrying about her missing aunt then hot on the trail after where June might have gone. That is if you believe in the Eleusianian Mysteries which apparently Aunt June did and not just in a scholarly, historical sense. No, the awkwardly filmed smart phone video Cressida watches, taken by the last hierophant June had tracked down (the power of the Internet!), shows June all too clearly ready to totally buy into the ancient myths and attempt to learn the truth about them and, Cressida presumes, to rewrite them more favorably for women.

But while June is a true believer, Cressida is a “looking for the zipper” skeptic who knows she has to play the part and reenact the ritual mysteries if she’s to find out what happened to her missing relative. I buy into this because of Nero, the hierophant’s, barely concealed amazement that his fumbling efforts worked in the first place and the fact that Cressida wears a “are you kidding me?” face. Then after some mind altering drugs and hot footing it to evade Cerebus, Cressida is in the Underworld – the freaking Underworld! – though she’s bemused and disappointed to find it looks more like derelict Cleveland. Soon she’s the object of intense interest from those who could use a live person for their own purposes.

So who can she trust? The ambrosia racket boys or a “blowing Cressida’s mind” beautiful Medusa? It’s quickly obvious that everyone wants something and honesty is um – flexible – in the Underworld. Promises, promises to help her get her Aunt back but will these undead come through or just use Cressida and then abandon her?

The humor has a slight sarcastic bent and the Underworld is made approachable by some degree of modernization from hints and information drifting down to them. Thank god for scholars who study myths and the people who still read or believe in them because that is what gives substance to most of the dead there – except for the lucky bastards in the Elysian Fields or the Blessed Isles. Cressida is tripping because FFS the Greek gods are real here, the ancient heroes and subjects of stories and myths are here! if dead. The gods might toy with humans as they would with playthings BUT they also need human thought and belief to maintain their power. Cressida knows a lot about Greek mythology which proves helpful both for her and as a source of information for the reader....

...Something Happens! Something I didn’t see coming but should have as the clues were all there. Major delighted bonus points for that. Woo-hoo what happens next is a culmination of Greek myths and everything that’s gone before in the book. It all makes sense – even the (literal) deus ex machina (and haven’t I always groused about those when used to get a plot out of a painted corner?) – serves the story and wraps things neatly up. Then the relationship gets a hefty dose of character growth and introspection that lifts it back up for me. So a good start, great Greek myth action and a late blooming romance that flowers in the end is a B for me.

Reviewed by Jayne Sims for Dear Author

Lesfic fantasy fans can just skip the review and go get the book. This is the most entertaining (and easily one of the best-written ones) in lesfic. Possible extra-mild spoilers for plot-sensitive readers towards the middle and end of the review. Otherwise, its safe to read.

Coils is a fun and exciting romp through the Underworld, where all the fallen characters from Greek mythology dwell for eternity. What makes this book feel like such a fresh take on the myriad variations of Greek myths around is the humor and wit and the modern vibe that the author imbues her characters and her settings with.

Cressida, a graduate student of classical literature, finds a cryptic email left by a missing aunt June, and goes in search of her. The search takes her on an adventure of a lifetime, as she dives headlong into hell and beyond. Cressida has such an engaging voice. As a student, she can be completely starstruck at the legendary figures she encounters, much like an avid fan, which she is. But as a 21st century woman trapped in a world bound by rigid, ancient and to her, totally arbitrary rules, she looks at things with a modern eye and sardonic wit. The author's treatment of the other characters run the gamut from pathos to serious to camp, and most of her characterizations are spot-on but jazzed-up with the occasional imaginative twist.

This book has a big cast of characters but I had no trouble telling them apart even though my ancient Greek myth chops were earned strictly from Hollywood/pop culture references and remnants of whatever high school history lessons still floating around in my brain. I mean who doesn't know Adonis or Medusa. (Which reminds me, two of the best scenes in the book that had me LOLing involved Cressida meeting these two for the first time. The former, because Adonis had been specifically sent to enchant Cressida with his beauty and of course, every lesfic reader just knows how bad he's gonna fail, but Adonis doesn't and can't figure out why, lol. And the second, when Cressida meets the grossly-dressed, mud-covered Medusa for the first time, and she just goes....this is one of my favorite first-meetup scenes of all time.) Even the more obscure characters are easily recognizable to the reader once the author has Cressida recall what evil misdeeds they were supposed to have committed.

I love the somewhat tongue-in-cheek world-building. The author makes the Underworld out to be like a distorted mirror of our present day world, in a manner that just might be plausible. :) Our fashions, trends and historical events filter down to them, apparently. Even 'Clash of the Titans'. They have their own problems (obscure denizens losing form and becoming ghosts), their own ways of getting around (massive elevators, Charon's cable car), their own cellular network which conveniently also doubles as a spying/gossipping and eavesdropping network.

The plot starts simple enough. Finding June in the Underworld. But it slowly and gradually expands to epic scope and proportions as quest after quest reveal territorial battles, power struggles, intrigues, betrayals and double crosses, leading to the ultimate plot twist that may just completely upend the entire Underworld. I love the plot progression: how things start out so clear cut and then goes off-tangent and then just when you think its almost done and settled, things just go competely belly up. 5 stars for this shocker alone. I did think the theory behind the resolution was a bit too convenient though. But its hard to ponder seriously about it when the author covered up that flimsy bit with one of the most fun and frenetic final battles in lesfic fantasy.

I love the romance. From their very first meeting, these two ladies sizzle and pop. But, like all good adventure tales, the romance was sidelined in favor of the plot and the action. No worries though. There's an epilogue just for us romantics. :)

No adventure tale would be complete without a quest. There's a whole bunch of them here. The most fun one being Cressida leading the Suicide Squad from Hell to retrieve some magical artifacts. I love the characters in this gang and their interactions. I can totally see a couple of them in their own spin-off books. Did I say couple? ;)

Bottom line: This is one hell of an entertaining read. A rollicking adventure tale with a nice, angsty romance on the side. Even if your mythology knowledge is limited to Xena and Clash of the Titans, it's enough to enjoy the book.

Reviewed by Allison Never

When I see a Barbara Ann Wright book, I know that I am in for a grand fantasy adventure. I was excited to read this and was not disappointed. The story is about Cressida, who is a lover and student of Greek mythology. When Cressida's, Aunt June, goes missing, and all sign point to the fact she entered The Underworld, Cressida must suspend her disbelief and rescue her Aunt.

I was always a fan of Greek Mythology, back in my early school days. So the more I read this, the more I felt like a kid again. Each new character, Cressida meets, I got excited thinking "I know you" or "Oh, I remember your story too". I just honestly has so much fun with this book. I also loved that Medusa, was the main character Cressida had a crush on. She was always one of my favorite mythological characters, and I enjoyed watching her battle with wanting only her revenge, and her attraction with Cressida. I just honestly geeked out with this book.

I enjoyed the quests Cressida, went on to free her aunt. And all the scheming and backstabbing that went on in the Underworld...

If you are looking for an adventure book, that brings the pages of Greek Mythology to life, don't pass this one up. This is a fun read, and I really enjoyed it.

Reviewed by Lex Kent

Well done foray into the realm of Greek mythology, with a consistency in the depiction of character strengths typified by this author.

Reviewed by Adrian Amador