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garnethalo'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Sexism, Body horror, War, Child death, Cursing, Slavery, Alcohol, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Confinement, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Abortion, Gore, Vomit, Animal death, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Sexual violence
It a story about the women affected by the Trojan war. Both Greeks, Trojans, and women nearby Troy. Greek tragedy even sadder when you consider the women. You have been warned.annakh16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Misogyny, Slavery, and War
Minor: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Cannibalism
miss_sunshine'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, War, Blood, Animal death, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Slavery
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, and Rape
Minor: Ableism, Abortion, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Mental illness
tashtasher's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Death, Sexual harassment, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and War
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Child death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol and Animal death
galexy_brain'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, Classism, Death, Slavery, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, and War
Moderate: Grief, Trafficking, Blood, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, Animal death, Confinement, Vomit, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Abortion, Cannibalism, and Infidelity
dniespal'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Violence, Grief, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Deportation, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Classism, Genocide, Death of parent, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Slavery, War, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
nialiversuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Blood, Slavery, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Violence, War, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body horror, Child death, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
reggiethebird's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, War, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Murder, and Sexism
Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Infidelity, Death, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death, Racism, Body shaming, and Alcohol
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: Genocide, Grief, Violence, Death, Child death, Rape, Slavery, War, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Suicide, 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, Physical abuse, Slavery, War, Child death, Confinement, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Alcohol