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ginalucia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Is it possible to have so many retellings of The Battle of Troy and have them all be different?
Yes, okay? So keep them coming!
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy Horses of Fire as much as I did. The battle and build-up to it are so vast and encompass so many characters, you could easily get lost in it.
But with this book, it simply isn’t possible because the main focus isn’t the battle. It’s the characters.
The three women Horses of Fire focuses on are each unique, complex, and distinctive. Not an easy feat when their stories are so interwoven.
I listened to the audiobook, which likely helped with their individual voices (literally). But regardless, I couldn’t help but love each one - even with their flaws.
This book contains one of my favourite forms of writing - character-focused world-building. You get a scope and feel for the location through the characters. They tell us how it feels to be there, they show us what they see and what to make of it - I love that.
This book doesn’t let up, you’re given very brief rests in between a lot of intensity, so bear that in mind. But honestly, I’m convinced. A.D. Rhine, sign me up for the next one!
For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Slavery, War, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Infertility
savvyrosereads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
A retelling and reimagining of the Trojan War, told from the perspective of some of the women of Troy.
This one is a bit long, but it is SO good. I was enamored by the characters, each of whom were beautifully rendered and deeply fascinating. Andromache, in particular, is a figure I have never paid much attention to in myth but that I really enjoyed here, both in her own right and in her relationship with Hector.
As a lifelong horse-girl, I also loved the horses here (and Rhea’s interactions with them) and appreciated the role they played throughout the story. Finally, the action really picked up towards the final third of the book, and I was on the edge of my metaphorical seat to see what would happen and where everything would end up. I cannot WAIT for the sequel, DAUGHTERS OF BRONZE, which is coming in November!
If you enjoy myths and retellings, I highly recommend this one! The audiobook itself was also excellent and I liked all of the narrators!
CW: Death/war/violence/blood; sexual violence; physical abuse; grief; pregnancy/infidelity
A retelling and reimagining of the Trojan War, told from the perspective of some of the women of Troy.
This one is a bit long, but it is SO good. I was enamored by the characters, each of whom were beautifully rendered and deeply fascinating. Andromache, in particular, is a figure I have never paid much attention to in myth but that I really enjoyed here, both in her own right and in her relationship with Hector.
As a lifelong horse-girl, I also loved the horses here (and Rhea’s interactions with them) and appreciated the role they played throughout the story. Finally, the action really picked up towards the final third of the book, and I was on the edge of my metaphorical seat to see what would happen and where everything would end up. I cannot WAIT for the sequel, DAUGHTERS OF BRONZE, which is coming in November!
If you enjoy myths and retellings, I highly recommend this one! The audiobook itself was also excellent and I liked all of the narrators!
CW: Death/war/violence/blood; sexual violence; physical abuse; grief; pregnancy/infidelity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, War, Classism, Violence, Child death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, and Sexual violence
brokebookadict's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
‘𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕.
𝙸’𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚜—𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚞𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚕.
𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛𝚜.
𝙸𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚎.’
🏺🏺🏺🏺🏺 / 5
🌶️ / 5
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Review:
I am a self proclaimed Greek Mythology addict so when Ashlee and Danielle reached out and asked me if I wanted to review HoF I squealed really loudly and completely distracted the stockies at work and I deafened my friend Angie who I was on break with😅 but omg this book was incredible!!
Every page was like peeling another layer off the onion, and even 500 odd pages later at the end, the onion is only half peeled! Every character brings a complex situation and story to life, in a heartaching, gut wrenching kind of way. No matter how much I wanted to hate some of them, I couldn’t help but slowly fall in love with all of them.
Told through the perspectives of 3 women of 3 different social backgrounds and classes, who have been pitted against and made to hate each other by the men around them, Horses of Fire shows the sheer strength and determination it takes to be a woman dictating change.
It’s impossible for me to pick a favourite out of our 3 leading ladies, I adore them all for different reasons. Rhea is the young naive servant girl who watched her family burn, her love for horses is the only thing she has left; she’s full of doubt, but can see and hear anything unnoticed. She’s mocked and ridiculed for being a ‘horse whisperer’ in a battle that needs horses. Rhea stops embodying the ‘little mouse’ she’s always been compared to and I hope she starts embracing the lion she’s gunna become, because I want to see it! Also I ship her with 3 different men, but also by herself and I honestly can’t decide who I ship her with the most.
Andromache is fierce and bold, strong and independent; is a warrior through and through, yet is treated as if she’s useless as she’s unable and unwilling to have a child. She literally embodies the frustration of saying something but no one listens as she’s a woman, but as soon as a man repeats exactly what she says, everyone agrees. Her character growth was truly incredible to read and I can’t wait to see how much further she grows and how her relationship with Hector changes in dynamic as well.
Helen is written in a way I haven’t ever read before, every word broke my heart just a little more and every page made me thankful I’ll never have to shoulder that sort of responsibility. Because imagine being told you’re the reason for a whole ass war, that’s so much pressure, thousands of people dying over her. Yet it’s not really over her! It’s just a pissing match between men, and like usual they blame it on a woman; who’s trying to mind her own business; so they can ‘get away’ with it.
I could go on about this book for hours, but I’m incredibly excited to see what happens in book 2, because we all know the battle for Troy doesn’t end well for the city and her people. I’m interested to see where Ashlee and Danielle take the story.
There are several content warnings including mentions of sexual assault and death. Please check all the trigger warnings before you read.
There are several content warnings including mentions of sexual assault and death. Please check all the trigger warnings before you read.
For lovers of:
- Greek Mythology Retellings
- Greek retellings told by woman
- Feminist literature, more downplayed feminism
- Plots and ploys
- Paris getting absolutely roasted (he a dick we don’t like him)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Addiction
Moderate: Death and War
Minor: Sexual assault
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