Bull God

Rating:
Summary: The Minotaur's story from Ariadne's viewpoint
Review: Having just taught the story of the minotaur this month, I was fascinated by Ms Gellis's twist on the story. Ariadne is the daughter of King Minos of Crete in the age of heros (almost 4000 years ago). She is picked to be the acolyte of Dionysus after her grandmother Europa dies. Much to the amazement of everyone and the jealousy of her mother, Dionysus actually answers her call. But King Minos has angered Poseidon, resulting in the birth of a monster -- the Minotaur. Gellis goes beyond the myths we studied in high school and ferrets out the details of the original stories, spinning them into a rich tapestry. All of the legend plays out for her readers: the labyrinth, Theseus (as a smooth-spoken jerk), the arrogant King Minos and the tormented Dionysus. Great fun, but don't expect a typical romance.

Rating:
Summary: A compellingly pleasant book
Review: I thought this book was wonderful with rich detail and plot. If you have been a fan of Roberta Gellis, you will not be disappointed with this book. I read the story in one day. Even though the title reads the Bull God, it's really the story about Ariadne and Dionysus, and the trials they must face before being together. The trials are Ariadne's half brother, the bull, and Dionysus's companions(who do not want Dionysus to be with Ariadne). The Bull is not the monster that history has painted him to be, and Mrs Gellis makes us sympathetic to his situation. I don't want to spoil the rest for you, go and read the book. This is the fourth book Mrs Gellis has written about the Greek Gods. The first three she wrote under the romance genre. The Bull God was written for the science fiction genre. If you have missed those titles, you should really try to find them, some of them are out of print, but offered on Amazon's auction. I can't wait for next one on Hekate.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Storyteller As Always!
Review: I thought this book was wonderful with rich detail and plot. If you have been a fan of Roberta Gellis, you will not be disappointed with this book. I read the story in one day. Even though the title reads the Bull God, it's really the story about Ariadne and Dionysus, and the trials they must face before being together. The trials are Ariadne's half brother, the bull, and Dionysus's companions(who do not want Dionysus to be with Ariadne). The Bull is not the monster that history has painted him to be, and Mrs Gellis makes us sympathetic to his situation. I don't want to spoil the rest for you, go and read the book. This is the fourth book Mrs Gellis has written about the Greek Gods. The first three she wrote under the romance genre. The Bull God was written for the science fiction genre. If you have missed those titles, you should really try to find them, some of them are out of print, but offered on Amazon's auction. I can't wait for next one on Hekate.

Rating:
Summary: Is Gellis really the author? I don't think so!
Review: Most of the other reviewers seem to really love this book...but then they also seem to love the other books in this series of retold (rehashed?) Greek Myths. I didn't and haven't. I truly suspect that Ms. Gellis isn't the primary author of these books! From BOND OF BLOOD, through the Roselynde and Heiress series, I hear Ms. Gellis' voice in her characters: a consistant standard of writing, plotting and excellent characterization. I don't hear that in these books. All Ms. Gellis' characters usually act and speak with great consistancy. When they do not, their actions are explained. (In fact, she make an inconsistancy of behavior a major plot device in one book.) Her medieval and regency heros and heroines are three dimensional and vivid. The gods, demi-gods and their lovers in this recent series are cardboard cut-outs,usually lacking everything that makes a good historical or a good romantic character. It seems that the author (whoever that may be) turns legends into a people and then doesn't really know what to do with them and the plot to get the story to that oh-so-necessary happy ending. I've struggled through the four books in this series - I'm giving up the fight.

Rating:
Summary: Is Gellis really the author? I don't think so!
Review: Most of the other reviewers seem to really love this book...but then they also seem to love the other books in this series of retold (rehashed?) Greek Myths. I didn't and haven't. I truly suspect that Ms. Gellis isn't the primary author of these books! From BOND OF BLOOD, through the Roselynde and Heiress series, I hear Ms. Gellis' voice in her characters: a consistant standard of writing, plotting and excellent characterization. I don't hear that in these books. All Ms. Gellis' characters usually act and speak with great consistancy. When they do not, their actions are explained. (In fact, she make an inconsistancy of behavior a major plot device in one book.) Her medieval and regency heros and heroines are three dimensional and vivid. The gods, demi-gods and their lovers in this recent series are cardboard cut-outs,usually lacking everything that makes a good historical or a good romantic character. It seems that the author (whoever that may be) turns legends into a people and then doesn't really know what to do with them and the plot to get the story to that oh-so-necessary happy ending. I've struggled through the four books in this series - I'm giving up the fight.

Rating:
Summary: Another Winner
Review: Roberta Gellis' mythological novels are some of my favorite readings. I have never seen any other writer who uses the Greeks gods and goddesses as settings and characters of their plots and she does such A GREAT JOB. "Bull God" is focused ont he minotaur of Crete and the reason he came into being and how he was gotten rid of. Totally engrossing and left me wanting more. Thanks to Ms Gellis for creating such imaginative plots and characters. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Rating:
Summary: Best Yet
Review: This is Roberta Gellis's fourth novel in a series of reinterpretations of Greek myths. It's the best of four very good books. What makes these books so good is that Gellis is able to get inside the myths and look at them with fresh eyes. The story she then tells is what could have happened, what the story was (or might have been) before it was condenced into a myth. As usual, the characters are fully realized, the plot cleverly constructed, and the relationships both intriguing and satisfying. Bull God is a great read. No Gellis fan will be surprised that the Minataur is the character you will remember longest and most fondly.