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A review by qnawal97
Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood
3.0
Actual Rating: 3.5/5
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Full disclosure, I thought I was re-reading this book till I realized it was similar to The Memoirs of Helen of Troy by Amanda Elyot and a completely different novel. Overall, it was a short, interesting read. I really enjoy historical fiction mixed with Greek Mythology especially after reading the Illiad and Odyssey recently which was just way too dense for me and lacking emotion. I like how this novel humanized not only Helen of Troy but Klytemnestra considering some portrayals of her are just as a jealous and overbearing sister and queen who ends up killing her husband with her lover’s help. I particularly liked how the author was able to follow their story from childhood to adulthood. I do think at times, it was toooo humanized; for example, Iphigenia’s story and how Klytemnestra just kind of dealt with it I mean obviously traumatized but it didnt make her into this cold-hearted killer she just seemed upset? Like it almost felt at times very trivial and too contemporary the way the characters reacted which I guess was in an effort to make them more real. But the events of the Trojan War were definitely more theatrical and dramatized so that juxtaposed with the modernity of the characters at times through me off. Besides this, the novel was still interesting to read and pretty close to the mythology which I liked. Would recommend for Greek mythology lovers who like a modern touch of drama.
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Full disclosure, I thought I was re-reading this book till I realized it was similar to The Memoirs of Helen of Troy by Amanda Elyot and a completely different novel. Overall, it was a short, interesting read. I really enjoy historical fiction mixed with Greek Mythology especially after reading the Illiad and Odyssey recently which was just way too dense for me and lacking emotion. I like how this novel humanized not only Helen of Troy but Klytemnestra considering some portrayals of her are just as a jealous and overbearing sister and queen who ends up killing her husband with her lover’s help. I particularly liked how the author was able to follow their story from childhood to adulthood. I do think at times, it was toooo humanized; for example, Iphigenia’s story and how Klytemnestra just kind of dealt with it I mean obviously traumatized but it didnt make her into this cold-hearted killer she just seemed upset? Like it almost felt at times very trivial and too contemporary the way the characters reacted which I guess was in an effort to make them more real. But the events of the Trojan War were definitely more theatrical and dramatized so that juxtaposed with the modernity of the characters at times through me off. Besides this, the novel was still interesting to read and pretty close to the mythology which I liked. Would recommend for Greek mythology lovers who like a modern touch of drama.