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withlivjones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
THIS is how you do a retelling. Natalie Haynes expertly weaves together a tapestry of narratives to provide us with a detailed picture of the Trojan War from the perspective of the women who were affected by it. And it is commendable how many women she includes, from the well-known Cassandra to the more obscure Laodamia and Oenone. I would recommend prior knowledge of the Trojan Cycle in order to get the most out of this book, just because of the amount of detail Haynes has managed to pack in, but the novel still feels accessible enough that one would probably still understand it with minimal knowledge.
There are so many fantastic lines throughout that really pack a punch, and the novel discusses the different things that can define womanhood, what it means to be a hero (because the heroes of the Trojan War weren’t just the ones fighting), and the lasting effects of war. Haynes draws from a wide range of ancient sources, and I particularly enjoy the inspiration from Ovid’s Heroides in Penelope’s letters to Odysseus that gradually get more and more impatient and sarcastic. My favourite parts by far, though, are Calliope’s chapters that suddenly become rather meta, as if she is wrenching control of the story from the male poet who is entreating her in a display of feminine solidarity - in order to give her fellow women the spotlight. I sometimes feel like Haynes is speaking directly to female readers through these characters who are suffering at the hands of the patriarchy and saying ‘I see you, and you are not alone’. It’s enough to inspire a bit of female rage in all of us.
There are a few other perspectives I would have loved to see: Helen’s, for example, since I still believe she is grossly misrepresented in many interpretations of the Trojan Cycle. Haynes also expresses a wish that she could have included a chapter on Dido, which I also would have thoroughly enjoyed. But if anything, this is just a sign that I wish the book were longer!
Overall, this is definitely going to the top of my list of favourite Greek mythology retellings, and in the future I will be recommending it to anyone who expresses an interest in the Iliad. Why read the Catalogue of Ships when you can read a catalogue of reasons why men suck? (jk jk…)
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Genocide, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
noroomforghosts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Minor: Ableism
shjervenrev's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, and Murder
xlivjones073's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and War
jessieka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
spooderman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Alcohol
nagoatsis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Infidelity and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
rhosynmd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: War
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement and Pregnancy
readerette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Reminiscent of Madeline Miller, but a different emotional tenor because Miller's stories hone in more on specific characters, in my experience. The many voices on both sides lend this book a sense of telling the unbiased, unvarnished truth of the war. A heavy topic, and dark themes reign, but most things of a graphic nature are only mentioned, rarely laid out in great detail.
Calliope felt like a strange inclusion since she wasn't directly affected by or involved in the war like everyone else in the book. Penelope's letters were distracting in my opinion, as often they took a meandering approach more like a train of thought than a letter.
I still enjoyed reading very much!
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Slavery, Grief, and War
Minor: Rape, Violence, Blood, and Vomit
cglharmony's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Miscarriage and Vomit