The Fates, by Rosie Garland

Rosie Garland has had an amazing life, including singing in my favorite goth band, The March Violets, to writing wonderful poetry, to writing novels and short fiction, and much more. She was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2023.

Her recent novel, The Fates, is a retelling of the Greek myth of Atalanta and Meleager, against a plan by the Fates against the Olympian gods. The retelling of the myth is handled deftly, with good characterization, and dialog. I was always less interested in Meleager than in Atalanta, and she brought him to life for me.

The plot with the Fates was quite imaginative. The Greek myths as we know them don't really touch on the Fates as people with personalities, the way the Olympians are portrayed, and Garland's treatment here is my favorite parts of the book. There are some plot twists I saw coming, and some I did not.

I could say more, but it would verge on recapitulating the book.

This may be my favorite novel of 2024.