You’d think after reading Hayne’s Children of Jocasta last year, that I’d have heard all that one needs to understand this complicated family of Greek mythology. But you’d be wrong. This story tells us of Jocasta’s plight, her son and later husband Oedipus and how their union comes to be. But in this case we get much more than I’ve heard in previous stories, we learn about Laius and his misdeeds which led to the insane situation of this family. When Jocasta cannot become pregnant and he petitions the oracle at Delphi, we learn that should he have a child, it will kill him. He doesn’t give Jocasta the whole truth when he returns, no one gives anyone a full truth until the end of this complex tale. Poor Antigone is our narrator telling us little of her own life until the end but giving us an epic about her family back many generations to the founding of Thebes.
I adored how this story was told, the weaving and depth of the characters was Madeline Miller level. Every time I pick up a new Greek myth retelling, I think – will I be bored by a story I already know, and each time I am surprised by new details imagined by these authors. Gebler’s writing is beautiful and lyrical and like all sad tales evokes such emotion. The pain and pride of these characters is so intense. You know they’re all headed for disaster and yet you find yourself pulling for them so ardently.
I listened to this one via Netgalley and the narrator was fabulous. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
Thanks to Sage Egmont for access to this advanced copy. All opinions above are my own. This one is due out later this year so get your pre-orders in!
What’s the last audiobook that enthralled you?
openmypages 