A review by readwithacoffee
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This read as an epic story of loss and grief. Loss of home, family, brother, mother, childhood, friends, lover, status. Everyone in this book experiences loss. There is a lot of it. It is told frankly and brutally woth some uncomfortable moments which I read as intended. After having already read A Song of Achilles and Elektra, my knowledge of the story made this book an easy read of events to follow but this really gave a different voice to the story. Pat Barker successfully gave the women of the Trojan war a voice that can't be forgotten. 

The book follows the story of captured Queen Briseis who becomes Achellies slave as his prize for capturing her town. We follow her as she makes sense of her new life and what it entails, the things she sees and the women she meets. It does show Achilles but there is no real character development or anything for him for as the title suggests, the story is about the girls.

For me, it didn't come anywhere near close to the beauty of A Song of Achilles but then will anything? It did satisfy my love of Greek Myth retellings though and I would highly recommend for anyone who loves reading them too.