Review of Tales of a Spiritual Sun

MsTri · Post by **MsTri** » 07 Apr 2023, 18:58

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Tales of a Spiritual Sun" by Paul Kiritsis.]

4 out of 5 stars

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Once upon a time, man created myths and legends to explain things he didn't understand, passing down the stories so that we have all heard of Zeus, Hera, Oedipus, Hercules, etc. Now, we no longer believe in such entities, but it's still fun to create fables using these well-known characters. And so it is that author Paul Kiritsis released Tales of a Spiritual Sun, a collection of yarns revisiting thirteen Greek myths, many of them with a more modern flair to them.

I've always enjoyed reading Greek and Roman myths, so I was overjoyed to dive into this compilation. While some of the tales didn't stray too far from their inspirations' plots, other stories were scarcely recognizable aside from the protagonists' names. I couldn't decide which I preferred, as I liked aspects of both. My favorite retellings overall included "Fate Came in Three", "Mind Games," "Entrapment," and "Nymphomania." I didn't recognize the source material for "Fate Came in Three," but I did enjoy the story of a miser unable to outmaneuver the fates. "Mind Games" was a thoroughly enjoyable modern take on the story of the Sphinx; "Entrapment" was based on the Trojan horse myth, though it strayed far from the source material; and "Nymphomania," another narration that was very different from its forebear, took on "Pandora's Box."

One of the things I most enjoyed about the writings was the view into humans' souls, each story saying something about man (and woman) that is the same now as when the original myths were created. Just when we think we've come so far, narratives like these show us how little we've actually progressed.

I will also note that many of the tales were far more salacious than the originals. While the older stories may have said that Zeus overcame this or that maiden, Tales of a Spiritual Sun often went into such explicit detail that I felt the book should come with a warning, hence mine!

The only negative to this anthology was its lack of editing, as it was full of typographical errors, from punctuation mishaps to missing words to problems with homophones. I also noted a few misspellings and several syntax issues. Kiritsis would do well to employ a professional editor so the stories are as grammatically polished as they are entertaining. To that end, I am rating Tales of a Spiritual Sun 4 out of 5 stars. I must also caution potential readers that in addition to graphic sex, the tome includes a great deal of profanity. Otherwise, I highly recommend this collection to fans of mythology, readers who enjoy retellings, and bibliophiles who like short stories that delve into the human psyche.