Imogen and Isabel Greenberg know Greek mythology. I am sure they know a lot of things, but we will focus on Greek Mythology and the Goddess of Wisdom and War: Athena. Or more accurately the title is, Athena: Goddess of Wisdom and War.
This is the first in a stand-alone series. Athena’s grandmother, Gaia is book two, but you can read it first if you wish. And since I had read her story first, my opinion of Athena was a little jaded. I was expecting another story exactly like Gaia. A long story, true, but one that fleshed out the overall picture of the subject. Gaia’s story was heavy “woman power” and “dumb dude” ideology. This time we have several sections or chapters and hit only a few highlights of Athena’s greatest hits. And while Athena is usually a “girl power” figure, this telling fell back into what I remember as a kid. The stories I knew/know were mostly patriarchal in nature, and this time it felt very similar and not focusing on Athena and her empowerment.
Still, the message was good as we see how Athena learns patience, and when to step in (too bad Zeus never learned that lesson). Overall, the book is set in a modern tone, modern language and I understand why the author picked Athena.
However, it is the art that could make or break the book for you. They are simple enough, but detailed, can be over crowed or almost empty. They are not “realistic” but have a more cartoon base, and the colors do lean towards earth tones, so they are not necessarily appealing to all, but not necessarily unappealing either. I think they will be a hit or miss, with little “in between” liking.
