Aphrodite in Pieces

Lauren J.A. Bear was born in Boston and raised in Long Beach. After graduating from UCLA and LMU, she taught middle-school for over a decade. She is a teaching fellow for the Holocaust Center for Humanity, and lives in Seattle with her husband and three young children. Medusa's Sisters is her debut novel.

In Aphrodite in Pieces, Lauren J. A. Bear skilfully weaves the myths and legends surrounding the goddess Aphrodite with the creation of one of the world's most famous pieces of art, the Venus de Milo, to create a compelling take on one of the most controversial members of the Greek pantheon. Highly recommended for fans of Greek mythology.-Laura SheppersonThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets Circe, Aphrodite in Pieces is a gorgeous journey through the many ages of myth. This tale of the immortal life of the goddess Aphrodite becomes even greater than the sum of its parts, and cannot fail to touch the heart of anyone who has ever fallen in love.-Luna McNamaraAphrodite in Pieces is a work of art. Bear's writing has never been more majestic; Aphrodite has never felt more human. Told in her own words, Aphrodite's tale speaks to every woman who has chiseled through layers of labels and expectations to get to the truth of herself. Heartbreaking and hopeful. Timeless and poignant. A love story worthy of the goddess of love.-A.D. Rhine, author of Horses of Fire and Daughters of BronzeAphrodite in Pieces had me hooked from page one. Bear's voice is heartbreaking in its lyricism, painting a picture of the goddess of love that feels both painfully human and impossibly divine. An utter triumph, a masterpiece!-Emily Rath, New York Times bestselling author of North is the NightWriting in eloquent and elegant prose that Sappho herself would prize, Bear deftly illuminates the endlessly compelling story of one of mythology's most famous figures. Not only are readers treated to an Aphrodite who is flirtatious, funny, and fierce in equal measures, Bear also thoughtfully explores age-old topics such as the meaning and power of beauty, love, and art.-BooklistA highly entertaining retelling...It creates in Aphrodite a fallible character that you can believe in, the human side of a God.-SF Book ReviewsThe love story! Bear's Aphrodite in Pieces is a work of art that will leave you contemplating the meanings of love and beauty long after you put it down. A must read for every Greek mythology lover!-Jo Segura, USA Today bestselling author of The Lust CrusadeBear's writing sparkles with wit while striking at deep truths-about love, art, beauty, identity. Aphrodite in Pieces navigates a tangled web of myth with stylish ease, examining the immortal and sometimes scandalous life of a goddess who wants us to see her for all that she is. A real treat for mythology lovers.-Claire Heywood, national bestselling author of The Wandering Queen[Lauren J. A.] Bear tackles Aphrodite in all her complexities. . . . Perspective can change everything, and Bear is always interested in giving victimized women of mythology a voice, even extremely powerful figures like Aphrodite. . . . With beautiful, reflective prose, this retelling will appeal to fans of Bear's previous work or Greek mythology retellings in general.-Library Journal (starred review)A fiercely ambitious novel, which tells the tale of one of history's most compelling yet unknowable figures. Bear has created something remarkable with this book, a portrait of a goddess that feels both heart-wrenchingly relatable, and mythic in its scope and language. Bear's prose is lyrical and witty and utterly unique, and she skillfully weaves her words to bring Aphrodite to life with all of the depth and desire that she deserves. The full spectrum of human emotion lies within these pages, and I only wish I could go back and experience it for the first time again.-Kaarina Parker, author of FulviaAs the title would suggest, this book is concerned with nothing more or less than the true, innermost nature of love, herself-a concentration as audacious as it is admirable. Our narrator is confident and coy in turns, leading us deftly along a trajectory of violent fragmentation and poignant catharsis. Aphrodite in Pieces is a story burnished bright and painful and glorious because it achieves something rare and precious in its retelling: we are left with a keen, devastating sense that the work before us is in itself an immense labor of love. Every sentence is thrumming with it, the prose and pathos are alive, lush, vivacious, earnest-dizzying and euphoric. Miraculously, it is easy enough to mistake the pale pages between my fingers for textured Priam marble, to confuse ink rich words for the dim and discerning shadows of an ancient, waiting face. Bear has diligently chipped away at the nebulous marble of human experience to craft her own tangible Venus de Milo, has sculpted her prose with careful precision-and perhaps even been lucky enough to have her chisel steadied by ancient, much loved hands.-Eilish Quin, author of MedeaPRAISE FOR MOTHER OF ROMEIn the mists of the founding of Rome, the true heroine is revealed. An imaginative journey with the mother of Romulus and Remus. You will never look at the statue of the wolf and the twins in the same way.' Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author of Mary, Called Magdalene and The Memoirs of CleopatraBear's writing is pure magic. I was enchanted by Rhea's story from beginning to end.-Emily Rath, New York Times bestselling author of North is the NightFeminine rage in book form, Lauren J. A. Bear's reimagining of Rhea Silvia and her cousin Antho is powerful, compelling, and absolutely unforgettable. Mother of Rome has become one of my all-time favorite books.-Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's HeartTruly fierce and fearless. One of the very best retellings I've read in a long time.-Olesya Salnikova Gilmore, author of The Haunting of Moscow HouseMother of Rome is the gripping, poignant, and thoroughly spellbinding tale of Rhea Silvia, the fierce and formidable woman who gave birth to Remus and Romulus. Lauren J. A. Bear brings the legend to life with elegant prose and emotional intelligence, merging myth with a powerful tale of womanhood in all its forms. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. Utterly superb.-Mimi Matthews, USA Today bestselling author of The Muse of Maiden LaneI loved Mother of Rome and the characters who peopled it. A beautiful novel about Rhea Silvia, a woman who refuses to go quietly, fighting until her last breath for her home and her children. A brilliant retelling that shows the power of a woman with nothing left to lose, this novel about the genesis of Rome will captivate readers from the first page.-Megan Barnard, author of The Winter GoddessMother of Rome is a work of pure page turning brilliance that cements Lauren J. A. Bear's position at the top of the class. Bear goes right for the jugular with this innovative and evocative take on Rome's foundational myth. By centering Rhea Silvia, the wronged and oft overlooked mother of Romulus and Remus, Bear shines a bright spotlight on female agency and the transformative power of a mother's love. Rhea and Antho are the kind of heroines the world desperately needs. Gorgeously written and compulsively readable with an ending that will steal your breath, Mother of Rome is a rare gem and an instant favorite.-A. D. Rhine, author of Daughters of BronzeSuperb... Themes of sisterhood and motherhood, nature and wildness, survival, and love in its many forms resonate throughout. Bear weaves a layered, captivating story of the two tenacious women behind the birth of Rome that will resonate with readers long after the final page. Highly recommended for readers who love mythological retellings like Madeline Miller's Circe or those who enjoy tales of fierce women seizing control of their own destiny.-Library Journal (starred review)Bear brings her strong heroine to life with compassion and skill. The result is a must-read for fans of mythology retellings.-Publishers WeeklyPRAISE FOR MEDUSA'S SISTERSMedusa's two almost-forgotten sisters - Stheno and Euryale - come to enchanting life, telling their own stories, bound to Medusa yet separate and fiercely free to make their own destiny. Medusa's Sisters gives us an intimate look at what it means to be an immortal yet walk and live among human beings. Lyrical, exquisitely detailed, and poignant.-- Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author of Helen of TroyWith stunningly beautiful prose, Lauren J.A. Bear has deftly tugged on myths of old to weave a fresh and feminist modern legend from the dusty references of Medusa's once-forgotten sisters. Perfect for fans of Circe, this is easily one of the best books I've read this year. Prepare to be enthralled!-Stephanie Marie Thornton, USA Today bestselling author of Her Lost WordsMedusa's Sisters is a wonderful, powerful story that totally absorbed me. Clothed in Greek mythology, it explores the loyalties and conflicts of family - especially the relationship between sisters who are bound together at birth but also need the independence to claim a life of their own. It is a compliment to Ms. Bear's writing that I never saw monsters, only sisters.-- Anne Bishop, New York Times bestselling author of The Queen's Price and CrowbonesMedusa's Sisters is a stunning debut. Lauren Bear writes with lyrical elegance, her gorgeous prose illuminating the fierce power of women, the bonds of sisterhood, and the enduring strength of myths and legends. A gloriously feminist novel that achieves both historical richness and modern relevance. As thought-provoking as it is entertaining. I couldn't put it down.-- Mimi Matthews, USA Today bestselling author of The Siren of SussexIn giving a voice to those long silenced, Medusa's Sisters brings the cosmology of ancient Greece to vivid life, writhing and seething with numinous possibility. It is a story of monsters and mortals, and the gods who use them both with careless cruelty.-- Jacqueline Carey, New York Times bestselling author of Kushiel's Dart and Cassiel's ServantBold, beautiful, and brilliantly subversive, Bear's incredible debut is engrossing from the very first page. With her ambitious storytelling, Bear breathes life to characters often reduced to the shadows, and has proven herself as a talent to watch!-Claire M. Andrews, author of the Daughter of Sparta trilogyLyrical, brilliant, and deeply moving, MEDUSA'S SISTERS connects the stars-the myths you thought you knew-in startling new ways. Prepare to be devastated.--Mary McMyne, author of The Book of GothelAlive with soaring poetry and myth, Medusa's Sisters sparkles as a delightfully feminist subversion of the maligned and forgotten Gorgon women, reframing and bringing their shadowy legend fiercely, vengefully, into the light. A bold and beautiful tale about sisterhood, motherhood, and what it truly means to be a woman.--Olesya Salnikova Gilmore, author of The Witch and the TsarA must-read for Greek mythology fans seeking new depth in their tales and those who enjoyed Madeline Miller's Circe or Pat Barker's The Silence of the Girls.--Library Journal (starred review)Medusa's Sisters totally destroyed me. A moving tale of sisterhood and heartbreak. . . this book had its claws in me from the very first page-pun intended.--Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's HeartCaptivating.--Ms. MagazineFans of Madeline Miller's Circe will want to check out Medusa's Sisters, a feminist take on the infamous Gorgon and her siblings Stheno and Euryale. Like the best mythological tales, Medusa's Sisters is about more than gods and monsters, exploring the bonds of sisterhood and the quest to leave a lasting legacy.--ParadeLauren J. A. Bear puts a new twist on Greek mythology.--PopSugarBear never softens her unsparing vision of an ancient world dominated by male violence and Olympian capriciousness. But she empowers female figures demonized through the ages to voice their own ideas about who they are and about the merciless forces that have determined their destinies. Medusa's Sisters' offers a compelling alternate version that brings new depth to a familiar myth.--Boston Globe