Aphrodite: Goddess of Love (Olympians Series #6)

by George O'Connor, George O'Connor (Illustrator)

Overview

George O’Connor’s vibrant, kinetic art brings ancient tales to life in the New York Times Bestselling series The Olympians. This fusion of super-hero aesthetics and ancient Greek mythology is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson!

Behold the wondrous beauty of Aphrodite, goddess of love and embodiment of the intangible Eros. A creature born of pure force and destined for power and fame, so lovely that the Earth and all its inhabitants bend to please her.

Pitted against Athena, warrior goddess, and Hera, goddess of the heavens, the lovely, cunning Aphrodite must find a way to outwit her opponents in a high-stakes beauty contest, the outcome of which will affect the destiny of mortals and gods alike, Will she do what she must to succeed? After all, all’s fair in love, war, and vanity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781596437395
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	12/31/2013
Series:	Olympians , #6
Pages:	80
Sales rank:	449,396
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	9 - 14 Years

About the Author

George O'Connor is the New York Times–bestselling author of Olympians, the series of graphic novels featuring the tragic, dramatic, and epic lives of the Greek Pantheon and its counterpart featuring the Norse Gods, the series Asgardians. His first graphic novel, Journey into Mohawk Country, pushed the boundaries of the genre, using as its sole text the actual historical journal of the seventeenth-century Dutch trader Harmen Meyndertsz van den Bogaert. He also illustrated acclaimed playwright Adam Rapp’s Ball Peen Hammer. He teamed up with writer Daniel G. Newman on Unrig: How to Fix Our Broken Democracy, the first volume in the World Citizen Comics series. George is also the creator of popular picture books such as the New York Times–bestselling Kapow! and If I Had a Triceratops. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Editorial Reviews

Definitely worth a visit for any young demigod.” —Rick Riordan on The Olympians Series

“Readers . . . will be delighted with this debut title in the Olympians series of graphic novels.” —BCCB, starred review on The Olympians Series

From the Publisher

01/01/2014
Gr 6–10—This sixth book in the series turns its attention to the goddess of love and beauty. Aphrodite is created from love itself, but once born, is quickly forced by Zeus into a loveless marriage to Hephaistos, the god of fire and smithing, in order to prevent conflict among the gods. Lonely and unhappy, she gives birth to Eros (aka Cupid), which sets about a comic chain of events that will change the course of human history forever. Although this volume is not as action-focused as earlier entries, O'Connor still weaves together an interesting and at times hilarious narrative about love and jealousy. His interest in the source material is evident on every page, as he brings these gods to life with his portrayals of complex emotions and distinct personalities while his simple, modern word choices make the text easily accessible. The illustrations perfectly match the text; each character gets a sleek, modern makeover while still remaining true to the clothing of the time period, and the use of soft, pastel colors set a lighthearted tone. Endnotes explain some of the more subtle references and allusions to previous works, while discussion questions, fact sheets, and an author's note further educate readers. This volume ends with a well-plotted and humorous retelling of the Judgment of Paris, where Aphrodite sets up the Trojan War wonderfully for future installments. Another strong addition to a great series.—Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI

School Library Journal

2013-10-23
O'Connor spotlights the goddess of beauty and love in this solid addition to his Olympians series. Aphrodite's three attendants, the Charites, narrate a slightly-too-long recap of the origin of the Titans and Olympians, leading up to the goddess's birth. This telling emphasizes the power of Eros as an independent force in order to highlight the dangerous potential of Aphrodite, Eros' embodiment. After a series of shorter myths, various affairs and the introduction of Aphrodite's capricious son (a mischievous cherub she names Eros, of course), the story concentrates on the beauty contest of the goddesses Aphrodite, Hera and Athena, judged by the mortal Paris. The problematic female stereotypes inherent in a story of powerful women fighting over looks are brought to center stage and addressed by the characters. They find the contest "beneath" them and "debasing" even while participating and reframe the contest as one of power by offering Paris boons--Hera would make him a rich king, Athena a conquering hero. Aphrodite offers him the most beautiful woman in the world: Helen of Troy. Graphically, O'Connor compensates for the lack of action in Aphrodite's myths by taking advantage of the comic-book format for humor, with quick lines of dialogue and humorous reaction shots. This neatly nuanced take on Aphrodite shows respect for the ultrafeminine heroine. (author's note, character profiles, "G[r]eek Notes," discussion questions, bibliography) (Graphic mythology. 8-14)

Kirkus Reviews