ren’s Reviews > Stone Blind > Status Update

"They had not chosen Perseus as a preferable son-in-law, but the gods had chosen him and they could not disagree. They have learned how costly it is to offend the gods in any way.
But Phineus is not interested in these excuses. He has been cheated of his bride and cheated of his place in the line of succession and he will see justice. Phineus is drunk and can already hear the fight breaking out."

"They keep quiet when Perseus leaves and they stay quiet when he returns (though they have been wishing for their daughter's sake that he will not). They agree politely with the happy couple that this wedding is an opportunity to unite the people of their troubled country after the recent struggles. Andromeda and her mother choose her dress, Perseus and her father choose the guests."

"Blood is spilled before statues are made. The scale of the wedding massacre surprises even me. I'm not sure why, because he has shown no remorse on any of the previous occasions. But the numbers are dizzying. I don't know if it surprises me that I can kill so many at once - dozens, then hundreds - or whether it is that Perseus cannot even engage in what is a traditionally happy occasion without mass murder."

"'I see,' said Hera. 'Well, then, I'm sure I don't need to worry.'
'No,' said her husband. 'Why were you worrying?'
'Nothing really,' she replied. 'I just wondered if it was a good idea to allow young upstarts to go around killing kings and face no penalty.'
'He's my son,' said Zeus. 'He can do whatever he likes, within reason.'"

don't wanna imagine what it takes to be without reason for zeus

"'Perseus has just killed the king of Seriphos.'
'Oh, good,' said Zeus. His wife's grip tightened briefly but she didn't speak. Zeus thought for a moment. 'He was a very unjust king,' he said. 'The islanders have prayed for deliverance for some time.'"

what a douche love to hate the og fuckboy

"... There is a perceptible sense of triumph and relief about him since he returned home. This is what he has been missing, then: the simple experience of being heard and needed. I wonder if he has chosen a wife who will provide him with that, in Andromeda."

"The pain shoots up through my neck and I set my teeth. And the man who has not responded to anything I have said notices my discomfort. He walks away.
I wonder if he will leave me here. I could get used to that. I have grown used to everything else, after all. I would stay here for ever, then, looking out over the waves and thinking about all I have lost: my sisters, my mother, my once self."

"'He relished in the killing,' said her mother. 'You didn't see it but we did. His eyes were full of excitement when he swung his sword into the old priest's throat. He was happy. I'm sure you're right that he would never put other people's needs before yours. But he will never put anyone's before his own.'"

"There was a long silence.
'He is not king of all the Ethiopians, my dear,' her father said. 'I was their king before I was your father.'
'Well, now I have the chance to marry a man who thinks of my needs before those of his people. Which is more than could be said of the man you wanted me to marry.'"

"'It's been quite an eventful time for everyone,' Andromeda said. 'I don't see how the father of my future husband is more surprising than a wandering ocean, or a sea monster. And what do you mean when you say he enjoyed killing them? He was saving my life. I don't imagine enjoyment came into it. At least he stood up for me.'"