Release date: September 12 2024
Publisher: Renegade Books
Pages: 292
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Synopsis

Steeped in ancient magic, dark divinity and wild ways, Goddess with a Thousand Faces takes you on a historical journey like no other…

Blending mythological retellings with historical research, Goddess with a Thousand Faces traverses the world and transports through time to bring ten formidable and inspiring ancient goddesses to life. Meet Artemis, the Greek goddess of the wilderness, never without her bow and arrow; Sedna, Inuit goddess of the ocean, guarding the icy waters and all its creatures; Isis, Egyptian goddess of healing, who dwells by the River Nile, just to name a few…

Jasmine Elmer explores these goddesses of our past, uncovering their truths, their rebellion and their freedom. For too long, they have been written out of history; lost to the sands of time and stamped into silence. Goddess with a Thousand Faces restores these women to their glory.

Pour over this treasure trove of myths, legends and mighty goddesses. Hear the messages echoing through the ages and see yourself in the faces of these icons. For while their stories might ancient, today they are more important – and more powerful – than ever.

Review

Goddess with a Thousand Faces is a fascinating book that explores the myths of ten goddesses from around the world. Split into ten chapters, each section explores the myth and historical context of a goddess.

This was such an interesting read! I loved the way Elmer retold the myth surrounding each goddess but also gave the reader some information surrounding the history and culture of the goddess. It allows the reader a chance to gain a deeper understanding of the world and history surrounding that mythology. I also liked the way Elmer highlighted what we can take from the myth of each goddess and apply it to our lives.

Elmer has a great narrative voice and I really liked that Goddess of a Thousand Faces is written in a really accessible way – even if you know lots about certain mythologies you’re bound to still find some new and interesting details. There were goddesses I was already familiar with featured in this book (like Freya and Isis) and plenty I had never heard of (like Kali and Sedna). Their stories were all fascinating and I ended up reading one a night to give me a chance to really think about and absorb each story.

If you’re looking for a book that weaves history and mythology in a really fascinating and compelling way, you definitely need to add Goddess with a Thousand Faces to your TBR.