With every remake, adaptation, and retelling of classic stories, there are always critics out there who have to ask, “Why do we need another one of these?” When you’re dealing with stories that are thousands of years old, the answer is simple. We need to update them for modern audiences. We can also flesh them out, make them more relatable, and ultimately improve them while also preserving their message and their timeless nature which have contributed to their longevity. Adam Wing’s Icarus demonstrates why classic stories need to continue to be told and retold in order to continue to teach us the valuable lessons that the original tales set out to tell.
Icarus plot summary
Daedalus is a glorified slave to the king, utilized for his inventive intelligence and engineering skills. His son, Icarus, or Ik for short, is regarded as “a moron” by the kingdom, not realizing that he is as clever, if not more clever, than his father. He just doesn’t speak. As a result, he is kept safe by being thrust into servitude for his brains, just like his father.
Instead, Icaarus spends his days creating octopus traps using jellyfish. One day, an older boy comes across Ik’s traps, and the two begin a friendship. Icarus reveals his true nature to the boy, Onetas, the sone of Lycaidas, the king’s Third Chancellor.
When Daedalus discovers the two boys together, he punishes Icarus and gets to work on plans to escape the island in order to protect his boy’s future, even if it means Icarus’ hatred. But as this classic tale has always been told, things don’t go according to plan.
Reshaping Greek myths
I studied Greek myths in school like every kid. What I remember taking away from these morality tales was this pessimistic narration that seemed to weave through the different stories. The omniscient narrator seemed to be saying, “Now listen, cause these characters are about to make some fatal flaws, and you don’t want to end up like them.”
Adam Wing’s adaptation of this classic story utilizes that pessimistic narrative tone but dives much deeper to help the reader better understand the characters, their actions, and their motivations. As a result, we get a more well-rounded bunch who, while we may shake their heads at some of their behaviors, know that it’s coming from a more complex place than simply accepting that that’s just the way they are. It’s a very smart move for a modern audience who demands more than good versus evil stories.
The narration
Wing crafts a very detailed narration for this book. He takes his time in certain scenes, flip flopping between father and son perspectives. We’re on Icarus’ shoulder as he sets his traps. We feel the wind and rain as Daedalus attempts an escape by sea.
He knows when to build tension and when to slow down and listen in on quieter moments. Sometimes the descriptions are straightforward. Others are more ambiguous in how they show rather than tell. But it creates a narrative that pays tribute to its source material while keeping in mind its modern audience.
The characters
Because of its added details, Icaraus isn’t just an overeager boy who dumbly ignores his father’s warnings or the naïve teen who feels immune to mortality. He’s an overprotective boy who is ignorant to his father’s protective nature. This is because his father is so guarded in his very real fears for his son’s safety.
Onetas offers a distraction from Icarus’ sheltered life. In sparing him from becoming another tool to the king, Daedalus neglected to spare his boy from lonliness. Once he tastes that companionship, and maybe something more, he will stop at nothing to preserve it, even if it means venturing into the deadly Labyrinth to rescue his friend.
A spin on the famous climax
Of course, if you know the story of Icarus, you know that it doesn’t end well for the title character. Many stories have had the disadvantage of telling its tale to audiences who already know the ending. In this case, it’s important to distract the reader from this knowledge by telling a compelling first and second act.
When the end comes for Icarus in Wing’s adaptation, it feels a little rushed and less climactic than it should. But he still pulls it off due to crafting a very likeable character who you root for to succeed this time. And because of this, the ending takes on new meaning It’s not about the overzealous boy who challenged nature and lost but about a boy desperate to break free from his restrictive life and despite his best efforts, doesn’t make it.
But in taking the risk, he does succeed in finally taking control of his own life. Even if that decision leads to tragedy, it’s by his own choice, no one else’s.
- This leaves the reader with important questions, depending on their individual perspectives. Would you be willing to risk your life for freedom?
- Are you an overprotective parent whose decisions you make for your child could cause them to make dangerous, deperate attempts to break free of your protection?
- Do we always know the full reasons behind the decisions that others make for us and themselves?
It’s these questions that bring in the classic morality tales that Greek myths are made of.
Author’s note
The book opens with some notes about how the author adapted his story. He explains what parts of the tale he decided to keep and which he decided to manipulate or expand on.
I found it interesting that the he decided to include this explanation in the beginning of the book. In this way, he sets up the reader for what’s to come to keep them from questioning the book’s authenticity to the original story.
As someone who doesn’t naturally gravitate toward mythological stories, I appreciated the very grounded perspective that this story took. It didn’t require you to be an expert in the genre, though it helped to know a bit about the Greek gods and other mythological characters, such as the Minotaur and the legend of the labyrinth. To Greek-myth connoisseurs, they’re going to get a refreshing spin on an old story.
I also want to note that all royalties on first 10,000 copies of Icarus will go to help displaced families seeking safety. A noble cause tucked into a story about trying to escape your homeland for a better life. Only the goal in this real-life scenario is to make it there in one piece by not flying too close to the sun.
Also, check out my review of Matriarch by Adam Wing as well.
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Buy a copy of Adam Wing’s Icarus here, and help support local bookstores. This is an affiliate link, and I will make a commission on any sales.
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This sounds like a great read!
Your review was very insightful. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
Greek myths are so interesting! And it’s great that the author is donating to charity. That’s so kind. I’ll have to check this one out.