Reviews

Dr. Lea Holford

★★★★★ 5/5

Ph.D. Psychologist and Psychotherapist

Amidst the Feminist writers who are restoring the place of the Feminine in religion, history and mythology, Lauren Sleeman adds a luminous new voice. She not only tells the stories of Greek, Celtic and Sumerian gods and goddesses, but adds the dimension of the evolution of consciousness.

Mandy Hager

★★★★★ 4/5

Author of “Singing Home the Whale” and “Heloise”

A fascinating dive into ancient feminine traditions, with a sense of hope at the end that humankind can dig themselves out of their soulless death spiral.

Online Book Club

★★★★★ 5/5

Behold is an entertaining piece by Lauren Sleeman that aims to revive history in the form of famed Greek and Celtic legends and give it an intriguing modern perspective. Hekate and her mentor, Lilith, are immortal beings tasked with keeping the gods and goddesses in check and maintaining balance in their realm. In addition to their hefty duties, the duo is forced into a never-ending battle with the patriarchy and its incessant urge to undermine the Femina (females) and their identities.

Zeus and his male counterparts are prideful and believe themselves to be supreme beings who can act without any restraint, conquer wherever and have any female they wish for. The mysterious black-robed order wrecks havoc and seeks to abolish magic by claiming that God and the holy book are against anything related to witchcraft. How will Hekate handle the chaotic situation before it gets out of hand? Can she genuinely protect the mortal world with Lilith's guidance? Find out in this exciting piece.

There are many positive aspects to be found in the book. The book is narrated from Hekate's point of view, and it dives into ancient tradition and culture. There are a lot of accurate facts, which is evidence of proper research and expertise on the author's part. The characters are given a fresh take with slightly evolved personalities. I applaud the author for including several references at the end of the book. This gave the book a distinctive feel, and anyone looking to do more research will find it really helpful. The author also gave a comprehensive glossary to identify complex terms.

There are countless themes in this book. In my opinion, the most prominent theme is female oppression and subjugation. Throughout the book, there are many instances where females are forced into situations against their will. For instance, Persephone is forcefully taken into hell by Hades because he fancied her. There are numerous examples of these situations in our modern society, and it is important to learn that everyone should be treated fairly and equally. Another important lesson is the negative effects of power and control. Kronos does not want to give up his throne, so he swallows his children as soon as they are conceived. They are also many examples of acts like this in modern society.

It would be a shame not to mention the book's opinion on the differences and similarities between western religion and Greek mythology. In this book, the black-robed order believes that those who practiced magic or worshipped the gods were committing grievous sins against God. As Hekate believed, there should be absolute freedom for everyone to partake in any form of worship they see fit and accept the consequences. I believe the book cover is a beautiful and perfect representation of the book's content and would attract anyone with its awesome color blend.

I was unable to find any negative aspects in this book. It was exceptionally edited. I believe that the author made a successful attempt to satisfy curiosity by expounding on the details of history contained in this novel. After careful consideration, I rate this book four out of four stars. There was absolutely nothing wrong with this book, and I appreciate the author's utilization of maximum effort. I recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and anyone willing to learn more about Greek and Celtic tradition and culture.