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A review by bookforthought
The Women of Troy by Pat Barker
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I had really liked The Silence of the Girls when it came out, so I was looking forward to the story continuing when I heard there would be a follow-up book. Picking up shortly after the events of The Silence of the Girls, The Women of Troy recounts the aftermath of the fall of Troy - and the fate of its women.
This book is just as powerful and hard-hitting as the previous one, and in some ways even more so as the pain of the women cuts so much deeper. War is a nasty, cruel business, and behind every glorious hero lies a trail of death and destruction, innocent lives cut short and severe pain inflicted. And the women of Troy will never be able to forget this.
Briseis is back as our main narrator and, now a survivor of the camp, she takes it upon herself to ease the pain of the new arrivals, helping them in accepting their new lives as slaves and ensuring all of them survive. Meanwhile, Briseis herself struggles to navigate her new position as Alcimus's wife while carrying Achilles's son.
As with the previous book, the author does a masterful job of giving a voice to the silenced women of history, not shying away from the brutality and violence of their lives but leaning into their pain and suffering to fully show their strength, resilience and quiet resistance. The cast of women is memorable, each of them carrying her own personal burden.
Helen, despised by all and universally blamed for the war.
Hecuba, old and frail and mourning her loved ones and the loss of her life's work.
Cassandra, abused time and again and having to find ways for men to deliver her prophecies if they are to be believed.
Andromache, reeling from the loss of her husband and the brutal murder of her infant son, forced to lie with the man who killed him.
Amina, stubborn and proud and determined to homage her king one last time by burying him, whatever the consequences.
And so many, many more.
The Women of Troy hits hard yet manages to tell so much suffering in a delicate, respectful way, restoring the dignity of otherwise forgotten women. Highly recommended to anyone looking for more feminist retellings of traditional myths.
This book is just as powerful and hard-hitting as the previous one, and in some ways even more so as the pain of the women cuts so much deeper. War is a nasty, cruel business, and behind every glorious hero lies a trail of death and destruction, innocent lives cut short and severe pain inflicted. And the women of Troy will never be able to forget this.
Briseis is back as our main narrator and, now a survivor of the camp, she takes it upon herself to ease the pain of the new arrivals, helping them in accepting their new lives as slaves and ensuring all of them survive. Meanwhile, Briseis herself struggles to navigate her new position as Alcimus's wife while carrying Achilles's son.
As with the previous book, the author does a masterful job of giving a voice to the silenced women of history, not shying away from the brutality and violence of their lives but leaning into their pain and suffering to fully show their strength, resilience and quiet resistance. The cast of women is memorable, each of them carrying her own personal burden.
Helen, despised by all and universally blamed for the war.
Hecuba, old and frail and mourning her loved ones and the loss of her life's work.
Cassandra, abused time and again and having to find ways for men to deliver her prophecies if they are to be believed.
Andromache, reeling from the loss of her husband and the brutal murder of her infant son, forced to lie with the man who killed him.
Amina, stubborn and proud and determined to homage her king one last time by burying him, whatever the consequences.
And so many, many more.
The Women of Troy hits hard yet manages to tell so much suffering in a delicate, respectful way, restoring the dignity of otherwise forgotten women. Highly recommended to anyone looking for more feminist retellings of traditional myths.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Slavery, War, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Child death, and Violence