Written by Linda Temple
I’ve previously made mention of the fallacy that sequels, or the second part of a series, particularly a trilogy, are weaker than their predecessors. While just about everybody could name a hastily written sequel designed to capitalise on the original, or even a follow-up that had the best of intentions but doesn’t quite click into place, there are far too many exceptions to this rule. The Dodona Prophecy, the second book in Linda Temple’s The Medusa Legacy trilogy, is one such exception (you can read my review of The Medusa Deception here, and while you’re at it, why not read my review of the author’s SIMBiotic for a change of pace?). The Dodona Prophecy feels more confident and assured than its predecessor, while taking everything the first book did well and improves upon it.
At 324 pages in paperback (or an estimated 326 pages on your favourite eReader), The Dodona Prophecy is about thirty pages shorter than its predecessor, but it covers more territory than the first book. In my previous review, I avoided providing any plot details for fear of spoiling them, but this book’s blurb contains a little more information. With this in mind, I can discuss the plot at a broader level. Picking up in the immediate aftermath of The Medusa Deception, the book’s protagonist, Mandy, and her companion, Ryan, are trapped in ancient Greece, along with the gods and monsters of myth. Meanwhile, in the present day, immortals are gathering, formulating their plans to overthrow humankind. As Mandy visits between timelines, she must determine how to save Ryan; a plot point that only covers about the first act, before the scope of the story expands.
The scope is far broader than in The Medusa Deception, as it literally traverses time and space. Although Mandy appears in both periods, the book tells two “concurrent”—though set thousands of years apart—stories. The first, about Mandy and Ryan’s adventures in the ancient past; the second, about Detective Marconi investigating strange happenings in the present day. Where the first book is largely an urban fantasy, the amount of time spent in ancient Greece adds a prominent swords and sandals high fantasy thread to this story. It’s a lot to cover, and Temple has done an admirable job of making both threads stand on their own and feeling as important as each other. Throughout the book, the threads are well-paced, drawing the reader in, and coalesce nicely, in how they come together.
As you may or may not know, the title, The Dodona Prophecy, refers to the ancient Greek myth about the Oracle of Dodona. Seeing this featured in a novel is rare among books with a basis in Greek mythology. It’s a shining example of the deep dive into the myths the author takes with this novel (and the series writ large). If you’re not well-versed in the mythology, although the Oracle is a relatively obscure aspect of it, the book explains everything the reader needs to know; something it does with the more mainstream aspects, as well. While this helps readers with less knowledge about the subject, it doesn’t slow the story down, with the explanations being woven into the story. As a fan of Greek mythology, I delighted in all the appearances throughout the book, whether they’re monsters (some of whom are nowhere near as monstrous as those myths have us believe), or the gods themselves. Throughout the ancient Greek stories, these gods plotted against each other. This is conveyed throughout The Dodona Legacy, and seeing the gods with their own machinations is a constant source of entertainment.
Also a constant source of entertainment is The Dodona Legacy’s cast of characters. The trinity of Mandy, Detective Marconi, and Ryan all work well here. Each character bringing their perspective to the story, along with some great character beats, without a single one feeling like a weak link. If you’ve read my review of the first book (I linked to it above, so there’s no excuse for having not), you’ll recall that I wasn’t a big fan of Ryan or his character arc. I have no such qualms with him here, with the character feeling as natural as the others. The book is packed full of characters in smaller roles, some of which are minuscule, but they all add value to the story.
Likewise, the characters’ dialogue works well, with all the characters having distinct voices. While I found some of the dialogue in the first book to be extraneous, The Dodona Legacy’s dialogue flows better. It’s still fairly heavy on dialogue, but it all adds to the story itself, as well as its humour.
While The Dodona Prophecy is not a comedy, Temple has also imbued the prose with a sense of humour that constantly brought a smile to my face. It’s filled with witty asides that add to the story, rather than distract from it. As with Temple’s other books (assuming this doesn’t suddenly change with The Olympus Reckoning), the prose is clear and inviting. The writing is easy to digest, ensuring the reader can make their way through it with ease.
As the middle book in a trilogy, The Dodona Prophecy doesn’t stand alone. It picks up from where The Medusa Deception left off, and ends on a note that entices the reader to get a copy of The Olympus Reckoning. Despite this, it feels like a complete experience, and it won’t leave readers feeling like they haven’t read a complete book. The novel doesn’t spend much time catching new readers up, but it’s easy enough to pick up the threads if you haven’t read The Medusa Deception. Why you would want to start with the second book, I don’t know, but if you do. You won’t be lost.
While I have some minor issues with The Medusa Deception, I have no such quibbles with The Dodona Prophecy. It maintains the quality of the first book while managing to improve upon it. If you’re a fan of fantasy or mythology, you’ll find a thoroughly entertaining story. I’m looking forward to jumping into The Olympus Reckoning; you can expect my review for that on Friday.
Favourite Passage
Mandy woke, salt-encrusted and sore, on her side with something rock-hard pressing into her back. She opened her eyes and blinked. A giant eye stared back to her from across the room. The eye widened and tilted; it knew she was awake. She tensed but didn’t move.
The eye blinked. Set in the center of a massive forehead, it could only be one thing, a cyclops. His face was heavily creased and scarred, his pale blue eye the size of a dinner plate. His head was bald, but his jaw was fringed with a ruddy beard, twisted into ringlets. He was the biggest skinhead she’d ever seen.
The Dodona Prophecy: Book Two of the Medusa Legacy Trilogy, Chapter 21
The Dodona Prophecy: Book Two of the Medusa Legacy Trilogy was provided by the author for the purpose of an honest review.
The Dodona Prophecy is available in both paperback, exclusive to Amazon, and eBook from retailers, including—but not limited to—Amazon.
Note: I do not post scores for reviews on this website, but do post them on my Amazon and Goodreads reviews:
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Please find a link below; please note I do not collect any proceeds from the sale.
The Dodona Prophecy (The Medusa Legacy Book 2)
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