Book Review: Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald

‘Girl, Goddess, Queen’ by Bea Fitzgerald was released in 2023. It was her debut novel and a YA re-imagining of the myth of Hades and Persephone, and it took BookTok by storm, not only due to Fitzgerald’s stellar and colourful marketing, but through the gorgeous storytelling and artwork that went along with it. This was a great release, and Fitzgerald cemented herself in the market with her ability to spin Greek mythology through a new lens.

I really enjoyed this story, and how Fitzgerald managed to write a story that was so compelling and filled with personality. I loved how Kore (pronounced Corey) was named in scorn and mockery, delivered straight from Zeus for her childish ambition, where she, as an infant, declared she wanted the world.

Hades’ character is fantastic. I loved how Hades was depicted as a man that protects himself with a facade, and guards his secrets. He is artistic and creative and wants to be safe to exist within his work.

I really enjoyed Fitzgerald’s depiction of the nuanced relationship between Persephone and her mother, Demeter, which has a lot of layers when compared to her distant relationship with Zeus, who, while being her father, is absent in her life, only appearing to exact his rule upon her, such as when he declared her domain would be flowers.

I loved how the story demonstrated that while Zeus imposed his rule as absolute among the three domains as King of the Gods, he didn’t actually have supreme power to exact his will and wants onto others with the same power it was made out to be, and how Persephone’s life and her struggles demonstrate this, her ambition is what thwarts her plans, because while she is powerful, she is too powerful.

I really enjoyed this book, and it made me really excited to read more of Fitzgerald’s work in the future!