Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

My favorite myth is probably the old Roman tale of Romulus and Remus, who were left as infants to die in the woods (wicked..uncle, was it?) but were taken in and nursed by a wolf. I’ve always liked mythology- Growing up I had a dog named Cassiopeia, after Persephone’s mother, and right now I have a German Shepherd named Odin :) Norse God as a family pet ftw!

My favorite mythological creature is the dragon.  Though I must say that I’m not a fan of the relatively recent paranormal romance dragon who can also be in human shape.  I like the real dragons - firebreathing behemoths who may or may not be intelligent and chatty.

I’ve always liked the idea of brownies. Aren’t they the ones who are supposed to clean your house for you in exchange for bread and milk? I would sooo go for that house-cleaning service.

I don’t read very much paranormal stuff but this sounds really interesting.  I’ve always been rather partial to Tam Lim - it’s almost entirely the influence of Fire & Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones.

Centaurs. It all started with Goddess by Mistake by PC Cast.

My favorite mythological creature is the phouka. After seeing the movie Harvey and reading Emma Bull’s War for the Oaks, I’m not sure exactly what they’re supposed to look like—either a giant rabbit or Prince, I guess. But I like their mischevous yet friendly nature.

I wouldn’t say I’ve read enough mythological books to have a favorite mythological creature, so maybe vampire slayer?  All I know is I’m obsessed with both Buffy and Veronica Mars, so this books sounds awesome.

My favorite mythological creature is the dragon.  The “old-fashioned” kind—fire breathing, knight eating. 

I’ve been eyeing this book—looks awesome!  Looking forward to bookclub chat :)

Either selkies or killer unicorns. :)

As a kid, I got the D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, but for the longest time the only story I liked was that of Pegasus.  (I was a bit horse-mad.)

The first time I ever had a pomegranate, I first wondered WHERE THE HELL THIS HAD BEEN ALL MY LIFE, and then went, “I can totally see why Persephone would sell out for this.  THIS IS THE BEST FRUIT EVER.”

I like stories about The Little People—fairies and whatnot. I have a gnome tattooed on my foot to prove it lol.

I’ve always loved Psyche (and Cupid’s story!). It was my introduction to Greek myths, and been in love with it ever since. :)

My favorite mythological character is Scylla because picturing her serves up such nightmare fuel. She’s a monster with tentacles, multiple heads that snatch sailors from their ships, and a ring of dogs’ heads around her waist.

The fact that she was once a beautiful nymph transformed out of jealousy makes her whole scenario that much richer. Who could blame her for her crankiness?

Lately I’ve been really into books about faeries. There are so many different kinds and different authors present them in such different lights- sometimes they are good, sometimes evil, sometimes neither. But many of them are pretty sexy which makes for titillating reading.

One of my favourite mythological animals is the Griffin. It all started for me with Margaret Mahy’s lovely short story ‘The Midnight Story on Griffin Hill’, about a bad tempered writer and the ghosts of extinct griffins that still wander the hill where they once lived and he does now.

I’m so looking forward to reading this one!

My favorite mythological creature…that’s tough. Feels like I’m choosing one of my kids over the others, and you KNOW that never goes well! (Makes for good fiction, though…)

I’ll go with the selkie. There’s something sad and beautiful about their longing to return to the sea…I think it captures the feeling of when love isn’t enough in a relationship. Sometimes, you’re better apart than together…

Oooh, I’m with Alex. I love the Tam Lin story because the girl saves the day. I’ve read versions by Susan Cooper, Janet McNaughton, Jane Yolen, Diana Wynne Jones, and most recently Tithe by Holly Black.

As far as mythological creatures go, I’m fond of Harry Potter’s Fluffy, aka Cerberus, mostly because I’ve played the Lego Harry Potter game a little too much.

My favorite mythological character(s) are Persephone & Hades.  The story has such dark, intense emotions - it always intrigued and disturbed me.

I really love books about the far. They somehow seem less “far-fetched” to me than the paranormal books about vampires and werewolves… Must be my Irish blood…
This new book by Jennifer Estep looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!

I’m with Virg. I read Psyche’s story as a kid and loved it! The “original” Beauty and the Beast.

Athena, goddess of wisdom and war.  A true Renaissance Bitch, lol. Thanks for the giveaway!

heh, easy25: okay, who told???

My favorite mythological character is Arachne. I could really use her craft skills because I’m so bad at them!

I’ve always been partial to non-cutesy, non-turning-into-a-human-part-time, fire-breathing, likes-knights-because-they-are-crunchy-and-good-with-ketchup dragons.  I have quite the collection here at home.  My favorite is an oil lamp that appears to be flying when you hang him up and when you light him, the flame comes out his nose.

I love griffins. The combination of lion and eagle - two noble, powerful creatures in one - I think they are fascinating.

I think I’d have to say huldra. She treats you well if you treat her with respect, but if you don’t, watch out!

I REALLY like Estep’s adult fiction, so I’m quite looking forward to this. I’ll have to check and see if this is her first YA foray.

You know what’s cool? Hippogriffs! I loved that they seem easier to ride than griffins, though I’m still just a leeetle skeptical about the whole griffin/mare relationship thing…

Oo, I do love selkies—I love the sea, and Bethany really captured the tragic “in-between-ness” they embody.

I also love harpies and the Gorgon sisters (I’m one of three sisters—see also, the Fates). Powerful dark feminist rage symbolism FTW!

I always liked Diomedes in the Iliad.

The man was far and away the biggest asskicker the Greeks had. Achilles spent most of it in his tent, not fighting. It doesn’t count if you hole up in your room to listen to Linkin Park and brood that no one understands you, Achilles.

As for more mythological creatures. I liked Fenrir. Yes, that’s why fish can’t breathe, birds don’t have spit, women don’t have beards and four other things aren’t in the word any more. They all had to be taken and used to make the chain to hold Fenrir, the dread wolf.

Turnus.  Yes, he was a jerk and killed Pallas, but he didn’t need to die at the end of the Aeneid like that.

Also, for mythological figures I hate- Odysseus.  The guy is a slimeball.

felt75- How many women Odysseus felt up during his 10 year voyage back to his wife on Ithaca.

My favorite mythological character is Hector. I was always on the side of the Trojans in that darn war. And I’m pretty sure that the movie got it right and he looked just like Eric Bana…

Okay, maybe not, but I still love Hector!!

Yays i should be able to make the chat this time.

Favourite character would probably be Calcifer the fire demon from Dianna Wynne Jones’ Howl’s Moving Castle.

I also like unicorns and dragons

I was going to say griffin, then dragon, then selkie.  Depends on my mood and what kind of dragon.  Kazul?  Dragon.

Selkies

Hi, everyone! I just wanted to say thanks Sarah and everyone else at Smart Bitches for picking my book for the club. I’m really honored, and I hope everyone enjoys TOUCH OF FROST. Happy reading! ;-)

Hmm, I think my favorite mythological character is Clytemnestra. Even though women had no rights in her time, she takes charge and stays strong.

My favorite creature… I don’t know. Can I pick one from the D&D Monster Manual? Do Owlbears count? I love them in all their senselessness.

There is a whole slew of tales involving Cuchulainn. I’d like to see how someone can take that hero and fashion it into a good yarn.

I really like Jennifer Estep’s Gin Blanco series. Big fan, really big fan. And I did like Touch of Frost, so I’m looking forward to her next one, Kiss of Frost.

I’ve always fancied dragons!! You can kind of make them however you want an theyll still be amaOng because they’re dragons!

Leilani
Leilani @ leilanilovesbooks . Com

Lish The Mermaid from Kiersten White great YA book Paranormalcy!

P.S. I also heart Gin Blanco:)

Oooh I have so many favorites, it’s hard to pick just one. I really like Hector as a hero, since he’s heroic in the modern as well as classical sense of the term.

The goddess Macha is pretty cool too. I like the story of her getting revenge on the men of Ulster by giving them birth pains for however many days.

Creature-wise though, I’m going to go with fairies.

My favorite mythological creature is Cerberus. I think he’s badass.

My favorite mythological creature is the Barack Obama for whom people voted in 2008.

Oh, wait, you mean myth myth, as in Spiderman or Spider’s Bite? Cupid and Psyche from The Golden Ass have to be contenders, but, really, who could live without Arachne (not only able to compete with the G-ds but better than them) or Cassandra (didn’t Hecuba suffer enough?) or Macha from the Tain, who outruns the King’s horses and gives birth to twins?

Come to think of it, why do the women all get to be spunky, when the best the men can do is travel around committing adultery for seven to ten years?

Which is why I probably end up voting for Calypso, who at the end of her time with Odysseus is just about qualified for a common-law marriage when she gets “Cruised.”  And then the author(s) wonder(s) why she gets angry.

Ares, God of War. I picture him as a serious bad ass and like most of the Greek gods, I envision him as one who enjoys his job of wreaking havoc with mankind. They always did see as us pawns for mere amusement didn’t they?
But as for one of the coolest names when it comers to mythical creatures, hands down it is the Chupacabra.

I don’t know if this counts as a creature, but my favorite is Yggdrasil, the world tree from Nordic mythology. I love the idea of the world as a living organism, bound up with history and mysticism and a body of lore that comprises the future as well as the past. Then I remember that I’m an atheist.

I loved, loved, LOVED Greek myths when I was young. It’s hard to pick just one favorite, but I did always love Athena. She’s smart, cool and sprang from her dad Zeus’s head fully grown. How cool is that?

This looks cool, I’ll have to pick up a copy. However, fav mythological creature/character? That’s really tough, but I’d probably have to go with Morgan le Fey.

And I wanna give a shout out to coyote cause he’s hilarious!

I’ve always liked Celtic myths, and kelpies are a particular favorite! So creepy. :)

So hard to pick a favorite, but I’ll say brownies or hobs - one of those fey that secretly clean a place.  Charles de Lint has a bookstore hob in one of his short stories and I just love the idea.

I always liked dragons too.  They somehow manage to be both badass and gracefully beautiful.  I liked them so much that as a teenager, reading the Anne McCaffrey Harper Hall series, I always wanted a fire lizard for a pet (think dragon, but large cat sized).

I’ve always been very fond of the fae. Not the pure-blood fae, who are Not Nice At All, but like a half-breed - enough to get some really cool powers, but also enough humanity so they aren’t raging jerks.

Oh, and dragons. All stories are better with a dragon. Bet Me by Crusie? Awesome book, but would have been better with a dragon.

My fav mythological creatures are the fae. I’ve always had a love for the fairies!

I like the trickster coyote from various American Indian tribes’ mythology—they enter the story and chaos and hilarity ensues.  The Mercy Thompson books by Patricia Briggs are the only books that I can immediately think of that feature a coyote—thankfully it’s not the new “big thing” yet.

My favorite mythological creature is a centaur.

There’s so many I love, its hard to choose! But if forced I think I’ll with Phoenixes. I’ve always loved the idea of being reborn from ashes.  Plus…they’re gorgeous.

I hope I win a copy.  Oh please, pick me!  Now, the mythological creature or character question?  This is tough because there are so many great ones to choose from.  If I could only pick one it would have to be the various God pantheons.  I know it’s not one character but I always love the books that incorporate the various pantheons.

This looks like a fabulous book.  I like that it apparently unabashedly gives true props to inspiration origins.  I read heavily in the YA section, but admit that the explosion in supernatural oriented fic and the lack of time has kept me away from most of the new stuff & stick to the authors I know.  Esteps’ premise, and a heroine with an interesting & unusual git (psychometry) makes me want to read it right away. 

Its hard to pick a favorite myth or mythological creature.  I’ve always been partial to dragons from Smaug to McCaffrey’s dragons & firelizards, and to those in the Potter’verse.  I like how so many people can come up with a different interpretation for these creatures.  Unicorns and the Pegasus are right up there with dragons, in large part because of their quiet mystery and they seem more cuddly than dragons.  :-)    (Lackey’s Companions would win though, especially if they had wings)

Nordic mythology’s The World Tree, Yggdrasil, as well as the concept of Gaia are favorites . 
DreadPirate Rachel above said what I was thinking when it comes to Yggdrasil:

I love the idea of the world as a living organism, bound up with history and mysticism and a body of lore that comprises the future as well as the past.

I’ve always loved dragons. Something about how they look like a throwback to the dinosaurs, but are crazy intelligent and chock full of the can-kill-humans-with-my-fireballs-of-death thing they’ve got going on.

My favourite mythical creature has always been the winged unicorn. When I was very young my uncle gifted me with a music box that had a woven glass unicorn with wings on it. I still have it so many decades later and it means a lot to me.

My favourite mythical character(s) are the Norns, Urdr, Verdandi and Skuld, from norse mythology. Back when I first started learning about that stuff, they were always the ones that captured my imagination the most. Also, they care for Yggdrasill, how cool is that.

I’ve always loved Cupid (not the baby) and Psyche.

I am totally excited about this book club pick. I am a huge mythology nerd.  I spent a huge portion of fifth grade checking out books from the library on different myths and then reading them as bedtime stories to my then five year old sister.  I wouldn’t be suprised if I have to fork over some therapy co-pays for that one someday.  Anyway my fav story was always Psyche and Eros.

My favorite is the soucouyant because they tend to be feisty old ladies. I have soucouyant stories I tell my grandson if he is very good. Or very bored.

I’ve got to say Athena- if for no other reason that a few tales of her fierce prowess caused my daughter to jetison yet another fairy costume last Halloween and instead break out her own hand made (and glittery star studded of course) set of bow and arrows.

This series sounds so cool! My favorite myth is Artemis (a relic from the boys-with-cooties era). Yay for strong independent women!

I really like wyverns. :) My BFF has some amazing art of them, and I’m always entranced looking at the paintings.

My favourite mythological character has always been Hades, I fell in love with the myth of Hades and Persephone. Hades was always the most interesting of the gods and his myths were so few and far between

I love me some mermaids! I must have watched the little mermaid 1000 times growing up.

My favorite mythological characters are Baucis and Philemon. I find their myth utterly romantic.

My favorite would have to be Dragons, especially of the McCaffrey ilk, but under that influence I’ll take them in any incarnation.

security word: Seem29. No I don’t! I’m only 26, and people generally take me for a lot younger than that.

My favorite mythological creature is Hercules. (preferably Disney animated Hercules!)
This book sounds really interesting and I’ve seen that cover before. Covers beackon to me quite often and this one did too!