First published 2016
In the mountains of ancient Thebes, the god Dionysus arrives to punish those who deny his divinity. Pentheus, the young king, refuses to acknowledge Dionysus as a true deity, challenging the god's power and sacred rituals. As Dionysus manipulates the women of the city into a frenzied religious cult, he targets Pentheus with a devastating plan of retribution. The god's supernatural influence drives Pentheus's own mother and aunts into a maddened state, transforming them into instruments of brutal destruction. What begins as a theological conflict becomes a horrific family tragedy where divine punishment and human weakness collide in an explosive confrontation. A mother's love becomes her ultimate weapon of devastation.
Genres: drama, mythology, historical-fiction, greek-mythology, ancient, classical-studies
Vibes: dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, supernatural-elements
Setting: Thebes
Period: Ancient
231 pages · Kindle Edition · Bloomsbury Academic
Content warnings: violence