An Unexpected Ally: A Greek Tale of Love, Revenge, and Redemption
Sophia Kouidou-Giles
(Author)
Description
In this retelling of ancient Greek myth, Circe seeks a new lover, amphibian Glaucus, after Odysseus's departure from the island of Aeaea-but in a twist of fortune, mortal Skylla complicates her plans, leading to an adventure threaded with friendship, jealousy, revenge, and redemption . . . and filled with divine interventions, shape-shifting, and magic.Product Details
Price
$17.95
$16.69
Publisher
She Writes Press
Publish Date
October 03, 2023
Pages
192
Dimensions
5.4 X 8.4 X 0.6 inches | 0.53 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9781647425555
BISAC Categories:
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About the Author
Sophia Kouidou-Giles was born in Thessaloniki, Greece, and was university educated in the US. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's in social work. In her more than thirty-year child welfare career, she served as a practitioner, educator, researcher, and administrator and published articles in Greek and English professional journals. Her writing has appeared in Voices, Persimmon Tree, Assay, The Raven's Perch, The Time Collection, and The Blue Nib. Her poetry chapbook is Transitions and Passages. Her work has appeared in anthologies including The Time Collection, Visual Verse, and Art in the Time of Unbearable Crisis. Her memoir, Επιστροφή Στη Θεσσαλονίκη/Return to Thessaloniki, was published in Greek by Tyrfi Press. The English version, Sophia's Return: Uncovering My Mother's Past, was published by She Writes Press in 2021. Sophia lives in Seattle, Washington, near her son, daughter-in-law, and two grandsons.
Reviews
"Kouidou-Giles creates an unexpectedly vivid, moving story of clashes between titans and the disparate forces around them. This lends a flavor of epic fantasy adventure to the read that will draw audiences from mythology, fantasy, and fiction genres alike. Libraries and readers seeking evocative, compelling stories about new alliances and power plays will find An Unexpected Ally builds on Greek myth and psychological insights to create a story that is thought-provoking and thoroughly engrossing on many different levels."
-Midwest Book Review "Both young and old know the suffering of love's end . . . and the disaster of wrong attraction. But if you happen to be the sorceress Circe--a shape-shifter and spell-caster--the outcomes are unrestrained by human proportion. An unforgettable story of infatuation, tragic error, and redemption for readers of all ages."
--Jean Gilbertson, author of Dancing on the Whisper of God "From the beginning pages, Sophia Kouidou-Giles pulls the reader into a magical world where Greek goddesses and gods come to life. With luminescent prose, she weaves a psychologically astute study of Circe--each chapter compels the reader on to the next. I found the novel absorbing and enlightening."
--Kathryn Crawley, author of Walking on Fire: A Novel "In this playful yet deeply impactful romp of a novel, reimagined age-old tensions refresh familiar tropes from love triangles to the battle of the sexes. Quick-paced and wildly inventive, An Unexpected Ally entertains just as much as it informs, offering enduring insights into the complexities--and compromises--that women so often find themselves compelled to make in a male-dominated world, whether in the ancient world or today. Circe and her companions are freshly vibrant and surprisingly familiar; and their story--part reimagined myth, part contemporary critique--will startle, surprise, and certainly leave you smiling."
--Susan V. Meyers, author of Failing the Trapeze "Exploring An Unexpected Ally by Sophia Kouidou-Giles was an unforeseen, delicious surprise. Sophia Kouidou-Giles' novella deftly eschews such bland storytelling, providing us instead with characters who, despite their superhuman powers, are nonetheless flawed, which adds extra spice to the narrative mix. Furthermore, we also have the opportunity to explore the experiences of women endowed with power, ingenuity and, importantly, a convincing voice."
--Care Morris, poet, author of Devon Maid Walking, and Editor of The Blue Nib
-Midwest Book Review "Both young and old know the suffering of love's end . . . and the disaster of wrong attraction. But if you happen to be the sorceress Circe--a shape-shifter and spell-caster--the outcomes are unrestrained by human proportion. An unforgettable story of infatuation, tragic error, and redemption for readers of all ages."
--Jean Gilbertson, author of Dancing on the Whisper of God "From the beginning pages, Sophia Kouidou-Giles pulls the reader into a magical world where Greek goddesses and gods come to life. With luminescent prose, she weaves a psychologically astute study of Circe--each chapter compels the reader on to the next. I found the novel absorbing and enlightening."
--Kathryn Crawley, author of Walking on Fire: A Novel "In this playful yet deeply impactful romp of a novel, reimagined age-old tensions refresh familiar tropes from love triangles to the battle of the sexes. Quick-paced and wildly inventive, An Unexpected Ally entertains just as much as it informs, offering enduring insights into the complexities--and compromises--that women so often find themselves compelled to make in a male-dominated world, whether in the ancient world or today. Circe and her companions are freshly vibrant and surprisingly familiar; and their story--part reimagined myth, part contemporary critique--will startle, surprise, and certainly leave you smiling."
--Susan V. Meyers, author of Failing the Trapeze "Exploring An Unexpected Ally by Sophia Kouidou-Giles was an unforeseen, delicious surprise. Sophia Kouidou-Giles' novella deftly eschews such bland storytelling, providing us instead with characters who, despite their superhuman powers, are nonetheless flawed, which adds extra spice to the narrative mix. Furthermore, we also have the opportunity to explore the experiences of women endowed with power, ingenuity and, importantly, a convincing voice."
--Care Morris, poet, author of Devon Maid Walking, and Editor of The Blue Nib
