Eros: Queer Myths for Lovers (Zoe Terakes, Hachette)

Zoe Terakes’ debut, Eros: Queer Myths for Lovers, retells five ancient Greek myths, drawing on the richness of their Cretan heritage to celebrate the long lineage of queer storytelling. Some stories may be familiar, such as the ill-fated flight of Icarus, while others, including the marriage of trans-masculine Iphis to his lover Ianthus, may be lesser known. Terakes’ treatment of each myth is fresh and timely, reimagining their possibilities. The collection’s ambition is most keenly felt in ‘Eurydice (And Orpheus, Sort Of)’. In this reimagining, Eurydice descends to hell but does not yearn to be reunited with her lover, Orpheus. Instead, she meets a lesbian ghost in the hellscape gay bar and experiences an eternity of sexual exploration. Such a bold shift indicates Terakes’ larger intention behind Eros: to feature voices frequently erased from history and reaffirm trans and queer legacies within ancient mythology. The stories pass in and out of antiquity, some rooted in their Cretan settings, others transposed to modern Australia – reflecting Terakes’ central concern with ancestry and cultural inheritance. The writing is immersive and the characters are well–rounded and made relatable with a confident modernisation of language which runs throughout. Recommended for readers of Madeline Miller and Andrea Lawlor, this collection will not be easily forgotten.  

Books+Publishing reviewer: Abe Theobald is a writer and graduate researcher at La Trobe University. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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