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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 Rheaβs 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 Rheaβs 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
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π±ππ ππππ ππππ ππ πππ ππππππ.
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πΊπΊπΊπΊπΊ / 5
πΆοΈ / 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 withπ
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 couldnβt 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.
Itβs 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; sheβs full of doubt, but can see and hear anything unnoticed. Sheβs mocked and ridiculed for being a βhorse whispererβ in a battle that needs horses. Rhea stops embodying the βlittle mouseβ sheβs always been compared to and I hope she starts embracing the lion sheβs gunna become, because I want to see it! Also I ship her with 3 different men, but also by herself and I honestly canβt 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 sheβs useless as sheβs unable and unwilling to have a child. She literally embodies the frustration of saying something but no one listens as sheβs 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 canβt 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 havenβt ever read before, every word broke my heart just a little more and every page made me thankful Iβll never have to shoulder that sort of responsibility. Because imagine being told youβre the reason for a whole ass war, thatβs so much pressure, thousands of people dying over her. Yet itβs not really over her! Itβs just a pissing match between men, and like usual they blame it on a woman; whoβs trying to mind her own business; so they can βget awayβ with it.
I could go on about this book for hours, but Iβm incredibly excited to see what happens in book 2, because we all know the battle for Troy doesnβt end well for the city and her people. Iβm 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 donβt like him)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Addiction
Moderate: Death and War
Minor: Sexual assault
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