As a short story, it worked well. But it could also work well as a full novel - everything simply happened here and it was interesting, but within more pages, things could have really been explored.
Still, it works nicely as an introduction to author's style and the writing was smooth.

This Ancient Greek mythology mashup retelling novella was well written. I enjoyed the spin Ariana Ferrante took and that she was masterful in getting all three tales (Persephone becoming Hades’s bride, Demeter seeking help from Limos about Erysichthon cutting down the dryad’s tree, and Limos and Demeter are never to meet per the fates as they are each others opposites and would cause destruction) across in such a straightforward and beautifully woven together way in Food For Thought. I do wish the relationship between Limos and Demeter was expanded on a bit more. I personally felt this novella could have been longer. I enjoyed that Limos and Demeter spited the fates and knew that by working together they were stronger and could achieve their objective.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ariana Ferrante, and Brigid’s Gate Press for the complimentary arc. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Food for Thought" delves into the captivating premise of women being marginalized against each other due to the perceived threat of their powerful friendships, a theme cleverly woven into the intricate tapestry of Greek mythology. The novella effectively demonstrates the enduring allure of these ancient tales in illuminating contemporary truths about our societal dynamics.

The creative reimagining of Greek myths to reflect modern complexities is a standout feature, breathing new life into these timeless stories. The author skillfully navigates the delicate balance between tradition and innovation, showcasing the relevance of mythology in understanding our present world.

While the concept and overarching plotline are commendable, the novella's brevity leaves a desire for more. It treads the line between a brief narrative and a short story, with potential for greater exploration into Limos' character and the central relationship with Demeter. The longing for a more extensive exploration of these elements hints at missed opportunities for a more immersive storytelling experience.

Nevertheless, "Food for Thought" remains a short, intriguing, and well-written read that successfully captivates with its unique take on Greek mythology. Despite its concise nature, the novella manages to deliver an interesting twist, leaving readers both satisfied and wanting more. For those seeking a quick yet compelling literary experience, this novella serves as an excellent choice. The desire for further exploration also ignites anticipation for future works by this promising author.

Food for Thought is a fantastic jump into the mythology of a lesser-known deity, Limos the Deity of Hunger and Famine. The prose captured the atmosphere of legends wonderfully and Ferrante perfectly depicts the righteousness and spite familiar to the characters from Greek mythology.

It weaves into a story of 'more than meets the eye', embodying the Goddesses - and their relationship - within the story with a personality that resonates with more mortal stories, despite the brief length of the book. This could easily have been developed into a full-length novel but no doubt holds its own at its current size as well.

While I liked this story, I am not sure if this is being published as standalone novella or (hopefully) as part of a short story collection. I thought it was well thought out and written nicely but it was far too short to sell as a book on its own. Great addition to the Persephone and Hades tale but from a very unique perspective.

Thanks to net gallery for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Short and sweet, lovely and lyrical. Its only problem is that it made me hungry for more just like Limos. I could have read so much more about her and Demeter together.

It’s beautiful and I’d love more stories about the both of them.

This short story is a fast and enjoyable read that focuses on Greek mythology and how the changing of seasons came to be.

The story has themes of same sex romance and is very sweet with how it is depicted. It shows how women can empower one another and has been beautifully written.

My largest complaint is that the story is not longer. I would have loved some more character development and even development of relationships. Within the short amount of pages a whole year and a half is written and I would have loved for the pacing to be slowed down a little to allow the enjoyment of the story even further.

Overall though very much enjoyed this one!

This novella is about Limos, the Greek goddess of starvation. What she touches withers and dies. Those who seek her aid, desire destruction. But one day, Demeter, the goddess of harvest and fertility, shows up on Limos' doorstep begging for help from her opposite. Their meeting was forbidden by the Fates, who fear catastrophic ruin should they ever come face to face. But these goddesses break the rules anyway and discover it was not ruin the other gods feared, it was female empowerment.

This novella is a wonderful retelling of the myth of Demeter, mixed with modern issues. So often women see other women as a threat or competition, which keeps a relationship toxic or at arms length. When women embrace each other instead of hating each other, good things can occur.

This is exemplified by the dynamic between the two goddesses. When apart, Earth's balance struggled, starved, and craved due to Limos' power, overworking and burning out Demeter. When her daughter is taken, something has to give in order for her to grieve without the fall of mankind. So she leans on Limos.

When the goddesses unite, supply and demand between harvest and hunger evens out, and the world thrives again because their friendship and love thrives. Together they are better, stronger, and kinder. A message more young people need exposure to.

I loved the way this story unfolds, but wish it lasted a bit longer. I devoured it in one sitting and craved more, which is extremely on theme for this wonderful novella.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

Thoroughly engaging and very well composed. This is a fast and enjoyable read that centers around the Greek myth of the changing of the seasons.

Brutal and tender. Modern and classical.

Do you recall that famous tweet that goes something like 'the sluttiest thing a hero can do is show up at the villain's doorstep'? Well, that's precisely how I would describe this novelette. It's sweet, tragic, and romantic all at once, and it will leave you craving more.

This was a really sweet novella that captured my attention from the beginning. I loved getting an intro to Limos story and how it was depicted

I received this novella from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I loved the idea behind the novella, how women are othered against one another for fear of their friendship being too powerful by those in control. This novella shows why the Greek myths are still fascinating to us, but mainly in how we can use the old stories to show truths about our own world. The rewriting of Greek myths is a way we keep them alive, which I find very fun.

While I loved the concept and overall plotline, the story itself could have been far longer, unfortunately. It’s so short it’s almost a short story. There could have been far more time and focus on building up Limos’ character, and especially the relationship between her and Demeter that is central to the story. In this way, while I loved the idea behind it and the little twist we get at the end, there was definitely space for more, so much so that the story feels a little too short.

Still, if you want something short, interesting, and well-written, Food for Thought is very good - I just wanted more. I’ll definitely check out more from this author!

An eARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. This title will be published on November 7, 2023.

The only complaint I have about this book is that it isn't long enough! I devoured it in no time and was left hungry for more, which is very fitting for the story.

It is a great introduction to a Greek goddess I had not heard of before and I wish it gave more insights.

The story is beautifully written with descriptions that paint a very clear picture. The juxtaposition of beauty and macabre works so well alongside the story itself too.

As the novella is short, the pacing is fast, a bit too fast. I wanted to enjoy the story for a bit longer and felt it could have included a few more details - but this is because I enjoyed it so much.

A great quick read!

I enjoyed this one so much! I really wish it were made into a whole book, with more details and some more romance between the two godesses.

A lovely story that I think is a bit disserviced by its short length. Coming in at around ~35 pages, I think "Food for Thought" does an excellent job of introducing us to Limos and her relationship with Demeter, but I definitely would have liked this story better if it was longer. The story felt quite rushed, which was unfortunate because I really enjoyed what we did get.

Given the description, I was expecting more of a slow burn to Limos and Demeter's relationship, and maybe this would be possible with a longer page count. I would have preferred to see their relationship grow at a more realistic pace, instead of just immediately falling in love.

Really, my only gripe with this story is the length. I loved everything else about it. It's nice to see some attention paid to the lesser known Greek gods. I also liked the retelling of Kore's abduction by Hades, the origins of spring and winter, and how Limos' relationship with Demeter played into those myths.

So ok, yes, the absolutely gorgeous cover drew me in, and I'm still going a bit feral for it. But the book itself pretty much lived up to the cover, even in such a short span of pages. And I'm saying this as someone who's decidedly NOT a fan of the typical Greek myth retelling. It's a sparse read, but it's a deep one. I'm still thinking about it days later. Can't wait to get a physical copy.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Brigids Gate Press for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun novella focusing on Limos - the Greek goddess of starvation, and her thoughts and relationship with Demeter - the Greek goddess of the harvest. The two are destined to never meet, as told by the Fates, but Limos has always been intrigued by her “opposite half.”

When Kore/Persephone is captured and kept in the underworld by Hades, Demeter decides to ignore the Fates’ prophecies and meets Limos directly, during her grief. Limos during this time almost becomes Demeter’s protector, as only she can understand the hunger Demeter has for her daughter to return and her refusal to allow anything to grow until she is returned to her.

I liked Limos’ personality, and how she almost stands up for Demeter and Kore/Persephone, refusing to back down on Demeter’s negotiations or caring what other gods or goddesses she annoyed. I also liked how hunger and devastation are almost shown to be things that need to exist in some capacity, and Limos’ refusal to see any condemnation for what someone does when they are starving.

This was a very quick read, and an interesting perspective on the “lives” of the gods and goddesses - and their experiences. I also really thought it was interesting to see the creation of the seasons happening through Demeter’s grief from someone not involved in the situation, allowing for other perspectives.

I loved this quick read!
It was an interesting story between the goddess of starvation and the harvest goddess.

I loved the fast pace of this, and how it drew me in from the first sentence.

The author definitely has a knack for a quick, exciting plot, I only wish it was a little longer. I was so invested that it felt like it ended way to quickly, all in all though I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thankyou to the author and NetGalley for letting me read and review this book.

A very short story indeed, but good nonetheless. Provides a brief but interesting insight into an alternative perspective for the tale of Erysichthon, from a far lesser known Greek goddess. The romance aspect was interesting and original. Like the rest it was exceptionally short, but was sweet and romantic anyway. Would have perhaps liked something a little longer, maybe around the 100 pages mark but it was a fun quick read. And I really did like the introduction it gives to the lesser known but still very interesting Goddess of starvation.
A good novella with potential to turn into a larger plot