The Shadow of Perseus

The myth of Perseus, told through the story of the three women who knew him best - his mother Danae, his wife Andromeda, and his victim, Medusa.

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'Heywood tells her story vividly, setting it convincingly in the period' SUNDAY TIMES
'I really enjoyed this page-turning retelling of the Perseus myth that dissects the concept of heroism and glory . . . Interesting and thought-provoking' JENNIFER SAINT
'A fresh and original take on the myth of Perseus . . . I was gripped by the human drama at the novel's heart.' ELODIE HARPER

The myth remembers him as a hero.

The women who knew him best remember him differently.

Now it's time to hear their side of the story . . .

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His mother

Banished from her homeland thanks to a prophecy foretelling that her unborn child will one day cause the death of her father, Danae finds herself stranded, pregnant, and alone. Forging a new life for herself and for her young son Perseus will be the hardest thing she's ever done.

His trophy

As a member of a reclusive band of women who live deep in the woods, known as the Gorgons, Medusa has eschewed all contact with the outside world. That is, until the day she finds an injured boy named Perseus in the forest.

His wife

When a harsh sandstorm threatens to destroy her nomadic desert tribe's way of life, Andromeda knows that a sacrifice will be required to appease the gods and end the storm. But when a forceful young Perseus interferes, Andromeda's life is set on an entirely new path.

As Perseus becomes increasingly obsessed with the promise of his own destiny, his heroic journey casts a shadow of violence and destruction across all three women's lives. But even as he tries to silence them, the women may find that reclaiming their voices is their only hope for lifting themselves into a better future.