A review by kamrynharned
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This was a really fascinating retelling of the Trojan war, but in the perspective of all the women involved.  From the goddesses who started it to the women who were sacrificed as offerings, it tells the familiar tale of the war through their lenses.  I liked the discussion on war - how it doesn’t just ruin the ones who are fighting in it.  In many cases, death is better than slavery. The book is gory and often horrifying. Sadly, because it’s mainly fiction, there is no silver lining to the brutality.  There’s no happy ending or good that comes from bad, just a bunch of people who were damaged for good by the trauma they experienced.  That being said, it was beautifully written and I did finish the whole thing.  There was a very large cast of characters,  but the character development was good for all of them.
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