Review - Asterios and the Labrynth by Edmond Thornfield
Asterios and the Labrynth
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Volume 1 of Mythos of Knossos
Tags: Ancient Greece Myth
Posted in Book Reviews on 26 April, 2026
After Theseus slays his eldest brother, Asterios is next in line for the throne of Knossos as his father, the famous King Minos lays on his deathbed. The young man is well prepared for the task, but it’s a daunting prospect nonetheless. Among Asterios’ concerns is his relationship with Phaistos. The two have been lovers since they were young men, long past the time it was considered seemly for two men to be lovers. Both princes know that one of their primary duties is to provide heirs for the throne, and there are nobles who seek the throne for themselves, using the new king’s relationship with his commander against him.
“Asterios and the Labrynth” is a Homeric epic story that forms a sequel of sorts to the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur. It’s written in the archaic style you find in the old texts. While I have to admire the skill that went into the writing, I also have to admit I found it a bit of a struggle to read. It was difficult to develop the rhythm I normally read at.
The point of view switches between several of the characters in the story, not just Asterios and Phaistos, but also the nobles attacking them as well as the dowager queen and her sister. The narration switches mid-chapter and it can take a few sentences to figure out who is telling the tale at the moment.
Asterios and Phaistos are at the center of the story. Their love for each other is unshakable, even in the face of the vehement opposition voiced by the nobles vying to take the throne from Asterios. In an echo of current events, one of the most vocal and evil of the nobles is guilty of just what he’s accusing the two princes of. His every accusation is an admission.
“Asterios and the Labrynth” is available from Smashwords or see Bookshop.org to purchase from an independent bookseller.