Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood

25 reviews

penny_m's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Rape, Sexism, War, Sexual content, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death, Child death, and Emotional abuse

bushbabybookworm's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Maybe it’s because I read Costanza Casati’s “Clytemnestra” last year but this just didn’t measure up.

Mediocre in every way.

The writing  didn’t pull me in. The characters were flat & I just couldn’t care about them.
The story still had the dark and rough parts (cause mythology) but the writing & characters did not make it worth it.

Still, I’m glad I read it. I love Greek mythology & this had been on my TBR for years…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Medical trauma, Rape, and War

Minor: Grief, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse

aylabell's review

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

• 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? Yes

4.0

An interesting retelling of classic myth. It was a bit preachy in some places and the feminist lens felt a bit forced at times, but overall a beautiful take on Greek myth. Definitely makes more sense if you have decent knowledge of the mythos as there is lots of subtle nods to further mythology. Klytemnestra and Helen’s thoughts and feelings were hauntingly relatable for women through the ages and I felt a deep sense of connection and empathy to their plights. A must read for those that enjoy modern takes on classics. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Grief, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault

Minor: Child death

annemoon's review against another edition

emotional relaxing fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Child death, Physical abuse, Grief, Death, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, and Rape

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this wasn’t my favorite retelling, but i think it’s a very good intro to this story and retellings in general! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Animal cruelty, Death, Blood, Child abuse, Alcohol, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Animal death, and Domestic abuse

shan_lou's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Misogyny, Miscarriage, War, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Grief, Death, Rape, Suicide, Sexual violence, Child death, Violence, Slavery, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail

gabydoesgrowth's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Classism, Death, Genocide, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, and Infidelity

abhss's review

emotional reflective slow-paced

• 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Infidelity, War, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Death of parent and Rape

alexiasophii's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.25

I've been reading a lot of Troy retellings and this one is another on the list. I enjoyed it, it has a good pace and shows us closely the lives of the two sisters. Though I admit that the book did not make me like Helen (I still haven't found a book that does) but I did love Klytemnestra. And I'm glad that the author left out her fate, after the end. Ended it on a good note, instead of the actual tragic ending of the character. Overall, it's an interesting book that focuses more on their private life, inner monologues and feeling than the Trojan War itself. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Slavery, Infidelity, and Violence

Moderate: Pregnancy, Violence, Domestic abuse, Rape, and War

amobrien's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

4.25

I'm a sucker for mythological retellings — though I will say that Daughters of Sparta is light on the magic that I normally expect from mythology and sticks more to realism. I found this to be really effective for this story as it delves into the Trojan War and its horrors, and I think it allows readers to connect with the characters as people more than as mythological figures. I really enjoyed the way the story focused on the two sisters Helen and Klytemnestra. Though separated by their responsibilities and geography, I loved seeing the ways in which the sisters were similar as well as how they were different, and how both of their choices affected each other and their communities. Though this book is heavy at times, I found it to be a rather quick read. If you love Greek mythology, I definitely think this is worth adding to your list!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, War, and Death

Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, and Murder

Minor: Animal death and Injury/Injury detail