Circle of Peace: A Greek Tale of Perse’s Great Hall
Perse is the wife of Helios, the sun god. She wants to expand their palace to include a grand new hall to host a women’s circle devoted to bringing peace. Though they have a thousand-room home with a large hall, it is not grand enough for the gods who live on Mt. Olympus that Perse wants to collaborate with in order to make her dream a reality. Helios has a sister, Selene, the moon goddess. Helios will support his wife if Perse can solve the problem of Selene’s love affair with a mortal shepherd. Then there is her husband’s son who wants his turn on the chariot that brings the sun each day, her sister’s woes, and a daughter’s cool distance. There are tragic deaths and mortals at war. Working for peace is a goal that often seems out of reach.
This book is part of a series by Kouidou-Giles, retelling Greek myths. The gods have joy, tragedy, pathos, arguments, deceptions, the full range of human experience. You root for Perse, you marvel at her tolerance, and you grieve when great loss comes. The book brings emotions into full force. The characters are chiefly minor gods in the pantheon, which gives the author great scope to fill out their lives.
You expect philosophy from the gods who lived in the time of the greatest of thinkers in the Golden Age. Some may find that slows the pace, though it gives substance to Perse’s goals in and management of a complex world. Fans of Greek mythology will be enchanted; all readers will find an engaging story where you know some bits and learn much more. Recommended.
