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Greek god Hephaestus secretly labors on Mount Olympus to complete his latest invention that will change the course of humanity, but if the other gods learn of his work—a pump to help men draw water from the ground—he will be punished like Prometheus who is chained eternally to a rock as vultures pick at his flesh. As in much of mythology, good intensions often go awry. Hephaestus' shallow and conceited wife, Aphrodite, disguises herself as one of her husband's’ golden servants, follows him to Earth, and discovers his secret. Furious that her husband is helping mere mortals, she tells Zeus, who metes out a hard and unbending punishment. Hephaestus must eternally observe from a precipice over Earth, as his invention helps but also harms mankind.
Rewrites of classical Greek mythology are not new to literature, but McCauley presents an engaging narrative and tightly-knit prose that transcends the traditionally stiff structure. While the author took the liberty to change some of the myth’s details (i.e. Prometheus’ torturer is a vulture rather than an eagle), the tale flows smoothly and has a delightful tongue-in-cheek feel. This fast-paced, fantasy novella will appeal to both the young adult and general trade markets. All in all, this is a great book for fantasy lovers, fans of Greek Mythology, and an old story both freshly and well told.
This book follows Plum McCauley's earlier offering, It All Started with a Bicycle.