The Heir of Venus
I cannot begin to count how many mythological retellings I’ve read which recount, at least in part, the Trojan War. The characters and story are popular to this day, with new spins and versions released all the time. While fresh perspectives are always appreciated, the outcome is always the same. Even those who aren’t Greek mythology enthusiasts probably know what to expect. So why read such works at all if the ending is inevitable?
Laura Shepperson’s newest novel The Heir of Venus is a golden example why these retellings remain prevalent in our day and age. Not only are lesser-known and -appreciated characters such as Lavinia, Creusa, and Dido recovering their voices, but the events from such classic tales as Virgil’s Aeneid and Homer’s Iliad are delivered in exactly the way to clench a reader’s heart and cinch their interest.
Taking place in the ancient land where Rome would be founded, The Heir of Venus follows the three women mentioned above on their separate journeys to reconcile the question of who the famed hero Aeneas really is with their own fates. From tragedy to new beginnings and second chances, the souls of these women brought tears to my eyes. Told through stunning prose and evocative character interactions, Shepperson’s new work deserves a spot on the bookshelf of any reader of Greek and Roman myths. Best of all, the reader gets to decide for themselves: is the Aeneas we’ve all heard about the victim of the gods’ will, or the arbiter of misery to any lover who crosses his path? Fans of tales of old as well as Trojan empathizers will adore this immediately empowering and heartfelt take on a story filled with political intrigue, romance, action, and self-discovery.
