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tangerinebozo's review against another edition
informative
sad
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.25
Amazing! But I think I enjoyed it so much because I had already read A Song of Achilles (Miller). It was in equal parts angry, confrontational and brutal as well as melancholic and tragic. It pairs so seamlessly with Miller’s somber, heart-wrenching and deeply personal narrative. These novels as a collective interpretation of the stories of Briseis, Patroclus and Achilles were profoundly thought provoking when set so starkly against one another. Would have given it a 4.5, but tried to imagine reading it without Miller’s novel, hence the slightly lower rating. Can’t wait to read the sequel.
rvblack's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stitchbooks22's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The silence of the girls wasn’t badly written and was easy enough to get into reading.
However, can publishers and marketing teams stop pushing the term “feminist retelling” onto books that are so clearly NOT a feminist retelling? That is my biggest issue with this book. If the book had been done differently, it had the potential to be a feminist retelling. But trying to focus a bit more on the women in a story that is male dominated and being unsuccessful at focusing on the women and their own lives does NOT make a book a feminist retelling. That is my main gripe with this book.
So if you’re looking for a feminist retelling of Greek mythology, this is not it. Otherwise it was an okay book.
However, can publishers and marketing teams stop pushing the term “feminist retelling” onto books that are so clearly NOT a feminist retelling? That is my biggest issue with this book. If the book had been done differently, it had the potential to be a feminist retelling. But trying to focus a bit more on the women in a story that is male dominated and being unsuccessful at focusing on the women and their own lives does NOT make a book a feminist retelling. That is my main gripe with this book.
So if you’re looking for a feminist retelling of Greek mythology, this is not it. Otherwise it was an okay book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Death, Toxic relationship, Suicide, War, Slavery, Infidelity, Medical content, Torture, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, and Violence
bea_ix's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
k_o's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
lightasmoths's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
leah1706's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
annierosalinde's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I'd heard a lot of hype about this book for years, and have recently stepped into a mythological retelling phase so thought I'd give it a go.
It was honestly just fine? It was a bit boring in parts, but the premise of perspective of these great stories from the powerless people present was a good one.
However. It was framed as "feminist" but honestly despite it being (mainly) from the perspective of Achilles's slave, this is not a story about the women - this is about how women serve men, and without much critical analysis from the characters regarding this. The MC was potentially the least interesting character and fleshed out character of them all despite her being the one who we hear most from. The glorification of the men of the story from her, despite claiming she is not, was a bit tedious at points (hence my boring statement) and her desire to keep them all invested was yawn.
Glad I've read it, won't recommend it
It was honestly just fine? It was a bit boring in parts, but the premise of perspective of these great stories from the powerless people present was a good one.
However. It was framed as "feminist" but honestly despite it being (mainly) from the perspective of Achilles's slave, this is not a story about the women - this is about how women serve men, and without much critical analysis from the characters regarding this. The MC was potentially the least interesting character and fleshed out character of them all despite her being the one who we hear most from. The glorification of the men of the story from her, despite claiming she is not, was a bit tedious at points (hence my boring statement) and her desire to keep them all invested was yawn.
Glad I've read it, won't recommend it
naela's review
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.5