Wow, 5/5 ✨ I read at least once a day, in the evening before going to bed, and some days that's all the time I can make. When I was reading Andromeda, it was on my mind all day and I could not wait till it was evening and I could continue reading! I have not been this obsessed to continue reading since I read Clytemnestra and Circe for the first time, it was just stunning, absolutely stunning. The writing, their stories, the pacing and atmosphere, the ups and downs, I was absolutely mesmerized and am very glad to recommend this to other lovers of mythological retellings! I went into the book blind, knowing very little of Andromeda's story, only Perseus', and would recommend others to do the same if they are in a similar situation.. Can't wait to be able to buy a physical copy of Andromeda to add to my shelf

Blessed by the gods with unparalleled beauty, Andromeda lives a sheltered life within the Aethiopian palace walls. Whiling away her days at the river, the young princess is content with her arranged marriage and beautiful kingdom. Then, her mother makes a blasphemous declaration that draws the wrath of the Olympians. Poseidon issues a deadly ultimatum and decrees that his loyal servant, the fearsome shape-shifter, will guard Andromeda. As an undeniable tension begins to bloom between the girls, they realise that Andromeda’s beauty is not only a gift, but a weapon. As Poseidon’s judgement draws closer, the women find themselves pulled into something more passionate – and dangerous – than they could ever have imagined. This is a beautiful queer retelling of a classic myth. I have only read one retelling of Andromeda’s story before - usually she appears towards the end of Perseus’s myth, as the princess sacrificed to a deadly sea monster, saved at the last minute. I loved learning more about Andromeda’s background and her family, and especially her grandmother. This is very well-paced and the writing is beautiful - I highlighted some new favourite quotes. This interpretation of Ceto was so interesting, and I really enjoyed how she developed throughout the story. There are some uncomfortable passages, as Andromeda reckons with the truth of her beauty and the way she is viewed as a prize, which made for some thought-provoking reading. I really enjoyed the way the story progressed and the portion featuring Perseus was not at all what I expected, but I really enjoyed it. Where I struggled with the book was the strange relationship with Andromeda’s uncle - her betrothed. I am sure for the error setting it was fairly normal but to me it felt very weird. I wish the author had refrained this somewhat to make it a little more palatable - honestly, I just couldn’t root for that relationship to work out. I also struggle struggled with the strange third person chapters towards the end. I completely understand what the author was going for as Andromeda adjusted to her new existence, but for me it was a little jarring and didn’t work. This is what kept the book from being a five star read for me. If you are a fan of Greek mythology retellings, this should up there on your TBR alongside Circe, Medea, and Ariadne - this is a brilliantly written debut and I highly recommend it!

Infinity stars! More stars than grace the sky! McLeod peels back millennia of whitewashing and patriarchy to reveal the rich story of a women consigned to the margins, those reduced to damsels or monsters, in what is both an ode and a battle cry. Andromeda is a myth retelling that surpasses the original, weaving together Greek, Egyptian, Nubian, and western Asian myths and histories into a rich tapestry that is more than the sum of its parts. But my favorite aspect of Andromeda, and what makes me think of Madeleine Miller, is how McLeod retells the myth in a way that is both unconstrained by the ‘’original’ that survives today whilst also being much closer to what the ‘original’ might have been historically. Beyond history and accuracy and politics, Andromeda is also a beautiful piece of literature. Lyrical and moving and surprising, I read entire chapters multiple times, just to prolong their effect on me. For fans of Zora Neale Hurston and NK Jemisin, Madeleine Miller and Samantha Shannon, Mcleod's Andromeda has all the ingredients of a modern classic, to be read and treasured and talked about for years to come. Ultimately, Andromeda is both an ode and a war cry, a book that is refreshingly new whilst also timeless and classic. You need to read this book. I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley, for which I thank both profusely. All opinions my own.

This was absolutely stunning. I loved the build up, the painting of the world, the twists and turns, the anxieties, the politics, the joys, the plots, the desperation, the hope. It was complex and rich, yet so easy to read and fast-paced. I adored the sapphic element, the slow building transition from watcher and legendary monster to protector and soft-hearted lover, and the character development for Andromeda as she shifted from sheltered princess to embracing her nickname and plotting against Poseidon's might. Love is beautifully and diversely represented in this book, from the intimate and romantic love she shares with Ceto, to the love she has for her family, even as relationships are strained in the face of politicking and plots, her consistent love for and connection with her grandmother standing out, and also Ceto and Amphitrite's love, more subtle and distant but pure and lasting. Andromeda's love for her land, the water she swims in, the mud she works in, the scents and the food. When the turning point comes and everything is torn away, we see love that overcomes distance, love that is shown in support, in mutual, if slow building, respect. I always enjoy when a retelling that breaks from the mould cleverly explains the eventual form of the myth. This book did that perfectly, taking a voiceless pure woman bound to rocks, sacrificed to a sea monster, panicked and weak, rescued by Perseus, Slayer of Medusa, and delivering a strong, wild, beautiful girl, one that loved hard, close to the world, close to her family, who had already experienced love, that lost big, that would have willingly sacrificed herself to her lover's jaws, a grieving new wife, a rebuilt, strong and clever queen, a cunning negotiator. How does one become the other? A negotiation, a deal, a sacrifice for love once more. Loved this! Easily a new favourite mythology retelling.

Andromeda is a mythology retelling of the myth of Perseus, but instead of the Greek Hero, Andromeda is the protagonist of this tale. Foremost, I liked that the story established that Andromeda was the princess of Ethiopia. This is a fact that a lot of retellings seem to conveniently forget. I thoroughly enjoyed that references to the Egyptian gods were woven in, reminding the reader that the Greek Pantheon was not the only set of gods. Overall, I found this to be an incredibly interesting take on the myth that kept me hooked and not frustrated with the changes made. I thought that this book was written in a very vivid manner, with descriptions that engaged the senses and really gave a feel for the setting and experiences of the characters. Additionally, the writing of the characters, they had depth; Andromeda’s fears and Cassiopeia’s stubbornness were very apparent. Though a minor character, I also thought it had a very balanced portrayal of Perseus. I found the relationship between Andromeda and Ceto was written so tenderly, the progression of their relationship happened so organically, the longing and love really resonated with me. The use of foreshadowing in the story was masterfully done. Dropping mentions of Medusa early on and then through the first half added a sense of urgency to the plot.