A review by ruuntvoces
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

4.0

A Thousand Ship is a well-organized re-telling of key plot points of the Trojan War and -- more importantly -- its aftermath: centering women, revealing the interiority of these often under-written characters, and framing their experiences as heroic. For those familiar with the core sources used for this re-telling, the story can be slow-moving as, Cassandra-like, you know what is coming. Tension doesn't build between chapters until quite close to the end, but it makes for interesting reflection. Chapters can operate independent of the novel itself, and exist in discussion with the sources. For those with in interest in Greek mythology, but less familiar with the Classical sources, the story may have a faster pace. I loved the representation of Calliope, in particular, and the creativity and empathy of how Eris was written. Penelope's final two chapters are also highlights of this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Sexual violence, Grief, and Violence

Moderate: Ableism and Slavery