Lore Olympus: Volume Two by Rachel Smythe

 

Lore Olympus: Volume Two by Rachel Smythe

Release Date - July 5, 2022

Publisher Website - Penguin Random House Canada
Publisher Social Media - Twitter

Pages - 368 pages
My Rating - 5/5

**purchased**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Witness what the gods do after dark in the second volume of a stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of the best-known stories in Greek mythology from creator Rachel Smythe.

Persephone was ready to start a new life when she left the mortal realm for Olympus. However, she quickly discovered the dark side of her glamorous new home—from the relatively minor gossip threatening her reputation to a realm-shattering violation of her safety by the conceited Apollo—and she’s struggling to find her footing in the fast-moving realm of the gods. Hades is also off-balance, fighting against his burgeoning feelings for the young goddess of spring while maintaining his lonely rule of the Underworld. As the pair are drawn ever closer, they must untangle the twisted webs of their past and present to build toward a new future.

This full-color edition of Smythe’s original Eisner-nominated webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story, and brings Greek mythology into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

This volume collects episodes 26–49 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus.

I have always been fascinated by Greek mythology and was intrigued when I heard about Lore Olympus. I devoured the first volume and immediately became obsessed. I am happy to say that the second volume is just as engrossing as the first. It is everything you loved about the first volume and more.

I absolutely love all of the characters in this (even the ones I love to hate) except Apollo. I genuinely hate that guy and want to scream whenever he appears on the page. Otherwise these characters are the stand out of the story with all of them sparking something in the reader. It creates a compulsion to continue the story as you are invested in the characters and the story.

The amount of character building is rather awe inspiring. These characters have been given space to grow and the plot beats are given room to breathe. I sometimes feel like this development is missing from graphic novels but that is not the case here. It's a rich, layered story that flourishes in this medium.

There are choices made by certain characters that will make you desperate to get the next volume. They will also make you want to force some of the characters to talk to each other. A lot of the angst in this could be resolved with some communication. It makes it a little excruciating in the best possible way.

The tension between Hades and Persephone is absolutely delicious. I ship them so much and part of the enjoyment of this series is tied to the exquisite torture of waiting for them to get together. 

This volume continues to expand and develop the world it takes place in. It feels like each volume opens a door we haven't walked through yet. The artwork is essential to crafting the world and the reader is given another entry point in to the story. The colours are so rich, and vivid. The artwork is arresting as you will stop to inspect each image. A successful graphic novel uses the artwork as an extension of the story and that is masterfully done here.

I am absolutely hooked on this breathtaking and nuanced take on the Greek myths. The story has expanded on the first volume in a way that ensures that readers are desperate for the subsequent volumes that will be released.