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hodgeonlucy'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, War, Violence, Sexual assault, Animal death, Slavery, Grief, Child death, Rape, and Murder
ursa_arlo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book, in a sense, is not what you might expect from a feministic retelling; these women are critical and jealous of each other, are absorbed with centering the loss of men in their lives. They have very little agency simply because they are an opressed group in a society where they are very rarely seen as more than property. But, with the little agency that they have, they do everything they can to survive- or die when that is the more tolerable option. They are not more dishonourable -not more honourable either- than the men who the stories usually focus on. They are resilient, they will survive, and so will their stories.
Negatives. This book is very bleak, war always is, which may or may not be a negative aspect depending on who you are asking. There are very few moments of hope to be found, especially near the end, which can make it a tough read.
Quote. When a war was ended, men lost their lives. But the women lost everything else.
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Child death, Slavery, War, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Infidelity
cait_mccarron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: War, Child death, Slavery, Sexual assault, Grief, Death, Murder, and Violence
david_brent's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
This book is GREAT. The women in the ancient Greek stories are given short shrift, and in this work, Natalie Haynes brings them front and center in a series of short narratives and tells their stories from any and all perspectives: winner, loser, god, mortal. She plays on every emotion: the fickleness and fragile ego of the gods, the humiliation of defeat, sorrow and mourning, celebration and triumph. There's even comedy relief in the form of Penelope's sarcastic and mocking frustration with the ridiculous extended adventures of her "heroic" husband Odysseus. I remember reading The Odyssey in high school. Oh, what hero Homer made him out to be. Under closer scrutiny, Penelope makes him sound like a bit of an asshole, and it's hilarious. The audiobook, narrated by the author, perfectly captures the emotional tone of each tale.
This was one of those books where I wish it didn't end. 5 stars.
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Infidelity, Death, Sexual assault, Slavery, War, Kidnapping, and Grief
cclift1114's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, War, Physical abuse, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
tieflingmom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexual harassment, Grief, Blood, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Colonisation, Rape, Toxic relationship, War, Genocide, Abandonment, and Sexual assault
jordanez's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
Graphic: Murder, Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Kidnapping, Slavery, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Child death
hevlav'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Natalie Haynes’ epic breathes life into the often forgotten, out outright ignored, voices of the women of Greece and Troy.
Graphic: Child death, War, and Death
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
awebofstories's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Murder, Blood, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Violence, Death, Kidnapping, Torture, Genocide, War, Rape, Slavery, Grief, and Suicide
dr_bond'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Mental illness, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Death, Child death, Violence, Trafficking, and Murder