Every once in a while, a sub-genre of erotica comes across Matt’s desk that he’s simply not versed in enough historical knowledge to fully appreciate it. Seeing as how noted bonesman and Smut Vault apprentice Nelson Rockingham made such a splash in his debut review, we figured we’d give him another (money) shot. Please enjoy his second review, while we try to make up some more excuses for why we can’t let him out from the heavy steel double doors of The Vault…
Most mythical stories and fairy tales are designed to be short and right to the point. When your intended audience is children or the layman public, brevity is required. Cinderella goes from near-slave status, to belle of the ball, to Princess/future Queen of the entire kingdom in less than 10 scenes. Such a tale is fun for impressionable children, but leaves open several challenging questions as an adult. We can’t be the only ones questioning how seriously the prince fell in love with a complete stranger over the course of a high school dance. Is an infatuation like that likely to bring a lasting relationship and a stable political climate in the kingdom? What happens if Cindy can’t have children, doesn’t want children, or *gasp* only produces girls?! Does she go from winning the Disney ending to getting the Anne Boleyn treatment? Yea, it’s probably for the better (for the kids) that these stories end with “And they lived happily ever-after.”
In mythological stories, certain events are recounted in a very matter-of-fact or an incredibly short manner. This is in part due to many of those events being particularly gruesome, even by ancient society’s standards, and the fact that many stories were passed on orally (giggity) and therefore the smaller details were lost to time. In Aimee Maroux’s Taken by Greek Gods: Poseidon and Medusa-Ravished by the Sea God, the author intends to expand upon one of these events in Greek mythology that often get glazed over. The story involves the origins of one of the most gruesome, and infamous monsters in all of Greece: the Gorgon Medusa.
Most know Medusa as the hideous, snake-haired creature whose gaze turns men, women, and even sea-monsters rock hard, but not in the good way. She was the bane of many heroes and innocent bystanders alike, until she was ultimately slain by a hunky Harry Hamlin Perseus. What most do not know is how Medusa came to be. Maroux’s brief story describes, in exquisite detail, a potential rendering of how a nubile young mortal woman was turned into a vile abomination.
The story itself is very well-written, and stays consistent with the original mythology. The descriptions aren’t over-the-top, but depict a vivid and authentic mental image of the scenery. In the first few paragraphs, you can tell the author knows more about Greek culture, history, and mythology than your casual Wikipedia searcher. Mauroux immerses you deeply into the world in the beginning, and keeps you firmly planted there until the cliffhanger-like ending. Just as a warning, for those of you who do not know, many stories in most mythological traditions do not involve a great deal of sexual consent. Be forewarned: This is not Percy Jackson’s tales of the Olympians. If that is traumatic or a deal-breaker for you, I’d recommend staying away. If not, this short story is definitely an intriguing take on a not-well-known origin story of a well-known mythological figure. And I for one, look forward to reading more of Maroux’s work in the future!
A special thanks to author Aimee Maroux for allowing us to review Poseidon and Medusa. Follow them on Twitter and consider a purchase of their work here.
Follow Nelson Rockingham on Twitter, and shoot TehBen.com an email anytime with book recommendations or Zeus r34.
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