Book Review: The Oracle of Delphi

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Oracle of Delphi     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Elizabeth Rose
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Romance
Wig Wam, Oct 2001, $12.95

King Acrisus visits the ORACLE OF DELPHI in order to learn whether he will have a male heir. The Oracle informs him no, but also tells him his not yet born grandson will one-day kill him. To save his life, the King imprisons his virgin daughter Danae, but not long afterward Zeus sires a son with her. Danae hides her son Perseus from his grandfather.

Almost a quarter of a century later, Perseus begins a quest to save his mother from King Polydectes. This leads him back to the Oracle where he meets Princess Andromeda. She begs him to help defeat a dangerous sea serpent threatening her hometown. Together, they begin their quests to save her people and his mother.

This reviewer has been a great fan of the Greek myths ever since seeing the classic movie Jason and the Argonauts (long before there was computer magic there was Harryhausen). This leaves me with a certain bias when I read a modern day retelling of one of the classics. However, Elizabeth Rose proves her ability to provide a powerful and wonderful rendition of the story of Perseus. The fast-paced story line remains true to the original tale yet feels fresh to even a person who read the English translations of the original tale. Perseus and Andromeda are a fabulous duo who seems so real that they make the Greek mythos appear as if events actually happened. Ms. Rose has written a winner worth reading.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner