Good morning! Today, we're thrilled to be a part of the blog tour for Phillip W. Simpson's newest release, Argos! Both of us are dog lovers, and Ashley was especially excited for this one. We've got Ashley's review for you today as well as a giveaway, so be sure to fill out the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post for your chance to win a copy of Argos.
Also be sure to stop by all of the other fantastic stops on this tour. There are a bunch of reviews, guest posts, and interviews just waiting to be read! You can find the full tour schedule by clicking the banner above.
Before we get to Ashley's review, here's a little bit more about Argos and Phillip!
About the Book
Title: Argos
Author: Phillip W. Simpson
Release Date: May 10, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books
Synopsis: Loyalty has no limits.
Raised from a pup by Greek hero, Odysseus, Argos has come to learn the true meaning of love and loyalty. But when Odysseus leaves for the Trojan War, little does Argos know it will be 20
years before he sees his master again. With Odysseus gone his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, are easy prey for neighboring kings and the Gods themselves.
But Argos was tasked to keep them safe until Odysseus returns and that is a promise he is determined to keep – whatever the cost. Told through his eyes, Argos recounts the story of his life – his pain, his joy, his triumphs and failures; his endurance in the face of hardships almost too great to believe.
Above all else, Argos strives to do what is right – and to remain loyal to his King when all others have given up hope. To live long enough to see his beloved master one more time.
This epic myth of love and loyalty proves that a dog really is man's best friend.
Author: Phillip W. Simpson
Release Date: May 10, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books
Synopsis: Loyalty has no limits.
Raised from a pup by Greek hero, Odysseus, Argos has come to learn the true meaning of love and loyalty. But when Odysseus leaves for the Trojan War, little does Argos know it will be 20
years before he sees his master again. With Odysseus gone his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, are easy prey for neighboring kings and the Gods themselves.
But Argos was tasked to keep them safe until Odysseus returns and that is a promise he is determined to keep – whatever the cost. Told through his eyes, Argos recounts the story of his life – his pain, his joy, his triumphs and failures; his endurance in the face of hardships almost too great to believe.
Above all else, Argos strives to do what is right – and to remain loyal to his King when all others have given up hope. To live long enough to see his beloved master one more time.
This epic myth of love and loyalty proves that a dog really is man's best friend.
About the Author
Phillip W. Simpson has written over 50 children’s books for both middle grade and young adult readers. He has a background in Ancient History and Archaeology, and has partially completed his doctorate in Archaeology. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand, with his wife Rose, their son, Jack and their two border terriers, Whiskey and Raffles. When not writing, he works as an elementary school teacher.
Find Phillip Online:
Ashley's Review
Ashley's Minotaur Review
Phillip Simpson's Minotaur was such a fun, exciting, interesting take on the myth of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur that I knew I needed to get my hands on Argos as soon as I possibly could. I love retellings of classic stories and I love dogs, so this book had the makings of something excellent. Add in Simpson's engaging writing style, and Argos was everything I hoped it would be.
Almost everyone that has graduated high school has been exposed to Odysseus and his incredible feats of heroism at some point in their lives. His victory at Troy using the Trojan Horse is referenced in so many different books, movies, and other media - even Monty Python included their own version of it in The Holy Grail - and even Penelope's struggles have written about (Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad comes to mind). But nobody ever tells Argos' story. Until now.
I didn't know how much I needed this story until I started reading it. Argos is loyal to a fault, and he's telling the story of his life to Cerberus, who has never met another dog as loyal to his master as himself. I loved the interactions between Argos and Cerberus, and I would love to have seen more about their relationship. I know it's outside of the scope of this story, but their friendship is one of the best relationships I've seen in a book. Argos was just a puppy when Odysseus left him to go fight in Troy, and I just really enjoyed listening to the joys and trials of his life. Even though he's a dog, things are not always easy for him, especially since he's blessed with the ability to understand humans. He has his fair share of enemies, and I was worried for him every time one of decided to show up.
Although there are a few parts that were a little slow, most of the story keeps up a nice pace. Argos has lived for 20 years, and somehow manages to tell his story in a reasonable amount of time. His friendships with Telemachus and Eumaeus, his unwavering love for his master, and all of the things he's willing to endure to protect his family are just a few of the things that made me love Argos even more. And then, of course, had me crying like a little baby. It takes a lot to make me cry in normal books, but somehow this book, told from the perspective of a dog, nearly gutted me. There were happy tears too!
If you, like me, enjoy a great retelling of classic stories, and are looking for something totally unique and different, you'll want to read Argos. It may be a story told by a dog, but it is also so much more than that. I hope Phillip Simpson continues to write books like Argos and Minotaur, because I will be waiting impatiently for another story that changes the way I think about these stories. 4/5!
The Giveaway!
Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Argos by Phillip W. Simpson (INT)
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