Fate Accompli (The Water Nymph Gospels)
Tuscany, 1603. The Petasos men have accepted their curse, destined to make hats forever. Attempts at any other trade have been, literally, earth-shattering. All because their ancestor stole the god Hermes’ magic hat, which can transport the wearer anywhere they wish, ultimately bringing about the destruction of Olympus and throwing the gods into Oblivion. When Andolosia Petasos meets Carlotta Lux, he’s shocked by her story. The Lux women have also been cursed: forever chased by a libido-driven Apollo who’s still affected by Eros’s arrow. Can these two find a way to break free from their curses? Meanwhile, in the realm of gods in BCE times, we’re introduced to Moira, who weaves fate tapestries from threads of human faith. As Olympus rises, so too does its greed. Zeus’s demand for tapestries of other gods eventually leads to centuries-old curses for both mortals and immortals alike.
A delightful dry wit saturates the prose, playing perfectly into the absurdity surrounding certain myths. As Moira contemplates applying for a job under Cronus, who’s just overthrown his father Uranus and tossed his testicles into the sea, she ponders his management style and the ability to weave if “constantly on guard for severed genitalia whizzing overhead.” The setting is beguilingly fantastical in the mythological realms. In Tuscany, steampunk vibes arise from Andolosia’s milliner creations (i.e., lever-operated transforming hats). There’s also a tender romance that develops between our cursed characters as they try creating new familial destinies.
Fentonmiller’s narrative straddles ideals of fate and faith, desire and disaster, glorious rises and disastrous falls. Carlotta and Andolosia curse Fate. But flip the coin, and it’s Fate that brought them together. Does accepting a curse mean giving up, or is free will at play too? Ultimately, readers may discover a little push from Fate isn’t always so bad.
