Goddess of Buttercups & Daisies

March 30, 2015
Millar’s lively comic novel centers on the frantic efforts of Greek playwright Aristophanes to finally earn the respect that eluded him throughout his career. The year is 421 B.C.E., and Aristophanes hopes to wow his rowdy audience and the critics at the annual Dionysian theater festival, by combining his trademark bawdy humor with an underlying serious message about peace. Not only are there the familiar setbacks plaguing the production, which he entitles Peace, but there’s divine intervention, as well. This appears in the form of Laet, a spirit of discord summoned by the Athenians’ archenemies, the Spartans, with the assistance of a priestess called Kleonike. In response, the goddess Athena sends two ambassadors from Mount Olympus to help Aristophanes. The alluring but dim nymph Metris and the Amazon Bremusa are sent to counteract the efforts of Laet. Also stirring the pot is a pesky poet named Luxos, continually harassing Aristophanes for a slot in his production, as a lyricist or preshow performer or both. Millar’s (Lonely Werewolf Girl) plot and characters border on the cartoonish, but he packs the narrative with interesting information about the era and Greek drama. Very short chapters, from the various perspectives of the main characters, keep the novel moving at an appropriately manic pace. Smart escapist reading.

March 15, 2015

Renowned comedic playwright Aristophanes is desperate to win the first prize at the Dionysia festival with his new play, Peace. Yet his production is plagued with problems, including phallus prop malfunctions, struggling actors, lack of funding, and a lowly poet desperate for attention. Many begin to believe that Aristophanes's peaceful communication will actually end the war between Athens and Sparta, a result that generals on both sides are desperate to prevent (they love fighting too much). Enter Laet, spirit of poor choices and confusion, to throw things into a real tailspin. Luckily Athena sends Aristophanes aid in the form of an immortal Amazonian and a mostly powerless nymph. Through glimpses of each character's story the reader gains a humorous view of actual figures of ancient history as well as the gods they believed meddled in their lives. VERDICT A madcap tale reminiscent of the complex, riotous comedies Aristophanes wrote, the newest novel from Millar (The Good Fairies of New York) is complete with quirky characters, multiple perspectives, and romance and drama to boot. Recommended for Greek comedy or mythology fans who are open to some laughter with their classics.--Katie Lawrence, Chicago

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.