Scylla the Revenge was a revelation!

I am the biggest folklore and mythology nerd! I absorb any, and all stories that I can find in the genre across all cultures. While I am familiar with the Greek Gods and folklore surrounding these entities, it is always fun to discover something new. I am grateful to Edwards for making this introduction.

Scylla the Revenge is an entertaining mix of folklore, romance, and action that harkens back to one of my favourite childhood movies: The Clash of the Titans. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that The Scylla is a Titan! WHAT FUN!

From the opening chapter, Edwards proved a master of descriptive language. His ability to paint pictures with his words was evident in every action sequence. I quite literally envisioned each gruesome detail in my mind as I read the words.

Edwards’ ability to create and build tension is one of the best I’ve come across. He showcased an attention to detail and research as he crafted this tale of spurned love. Though the action sequences were my favourites, Edwards’s acumen extended across all the pages as he deftly and eloquently created the tale’s backdrop and characters.

When an author manages to inject real-world knowledge into their story, it brings a credibility that enables the reader to become fully invested in what is happening. Edwards tied in Cypriot politics and economics thereby grounding the setting of this tale. In addition to the mythology, Edwards’s inclusion of Cypriot landmarks, village descriptions, and language, left the reader with no doubt as to the authenticity of Edwards’ research and inherent knowledge.

The one caveat would be that not all the Greek words or phrases were translated and that was disappointing. I will concede that it didn’t detract from the essence of what the words/phrases meant as supplemental events alluded to their meaning. It is simply one of my pet peeves, being invested in language, I like knowing what is being said specifically.

Scylla the Revenge is the second book of a series. I did not read the first book, so I did feel at a bit of a disadvantage even with the references made throughout this tome. That said, there were enough links to the first book that enabled me to grasp the central theme and the characters’ motivations.

I appreciated the background of the protagonist Richard Cole and the links made between his trauma in the Gulf War and PTSD. This developed nuance in his character and made him more three-dimensional. Also, for one who didn’t read the first book, the inclusion of these scenes made Cole a more believable protagonist.

Reading and enjoying this book as a stand-alone is more than possible but as a part of a series, one should read it in its position as the author intended to fully realize its raison d’être.

This book was like being at an amusement park and like any amusement park there are the big rides and the small inconsequential ones. The draw is often the roller coaster, but you dawdle with almost all the small rides before you get to it. This book was inundated with small inconsequential rides in the form of minor characters. There were simply too many of them.

I acknowledge that they were stepping stones in the story that all led to the big conclusion. I understand that they may have been necessary to show the terror of the Scylla. I recognize that giving background to each gave them more stakes as the reader was meant to connect to them and so feel each loss.

I get Edwards’ plan of action for their inclusion and crafting. That said, it slowed the pace of the narrative with each introduction and sometimes pulled me out of the main story. So, in true roller-coaster fashion, these minor characters were the climbs before each dip, necessary but not as enjoyable.

Edwards created a story that was entertaining and exciting and as a follow-up book, he maintained a connection to the first with his references to what occurred before. He further developed layers and characters by revealing backstories that gave them more dimension and raised the stakes. As thrilling as the story and its conclusion were, I must divulge that I wasn’t surprised by the ‘reveal’, but I believe that is due to my prior knowledge of Greek Mythology. Regardless, the reveal and conclusion were elegant and satisfying.

Scylla The Revenge and the rest of the series are a perfect addition to the library of all fans of folklore and mythology. Its modernization and Edwards’ gift for description and storytelling will undoubtedly forge new fans and rekindle a love of the genre for those already enarmoured.

Pros:

• Vivid and Dynamic descriptions
• Well researched
• Exploration of the theme of PTSD
• Folklore

Cons:

• Can be frustrating for those that haven’t read the first book
• More differentiation in the time (dates would’ve been useful)
• Excessive minor characters and place changes could lead to confusion

Cover Score: 9/10

Book Score: 8.5/10

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Review written by thereviewblr