kristi_asleep_dreaming's review
2.0
There seemed something a little off in this book. The tone, language, whatever. Let's start with the title. Briseis was daughter of Lyrnessos, not Troy. And using "Megaron" to mean palace - it's an archaeological term, and means something like "big room". There were other things that seemed odd, historically unjustified, giving the name of a goddess to a slave girl, for example. I guess she needed something greek-sounding.
I did enjoy the first sections, Briseis growing up in Lyrnessos, her brothers, the bath attendant scenes. The author did do some research, which made the lapses more annoying.. But after Bienor was killed I lost interest.
I did enjoy the first sections, Briseis growing up in Lyrnessos, her brothers, the bath attendant scenes. The author did do some research, which made the lapses more annoying.. But after Bienor was killed I lost interest.
artemishi's review
4.0
Daughter of Troy is not exactly a love story, or at least, not as we'd categorize it in modern times. It's more of a well-researched historical fiction that centers around a princess, and involves love (at its pinnacle in her time).
Despite the fact that this story is a fictional retelling of the Trojan War, and takes place during the Bronze Age, I felt like each character was understandable (and many were relatable). It's the mark of a good author when you can recognize personalities, but not framed in modern thinking, in an historical fiction. So in that respect, I was caught up in the story and really enjoyed it.
I'm marking it as not beloved, because I felt like I was left wanting more. We see Briseis from age 10 or so until the Fall of Troy, framed in her recounting of her youth to a jaded Homer. But after all this growing up with Briseis, her story basically ends at that point. I wanted MORE.
Aside from that, it was a thoroughly enjoyable story- educational wrapped in entertaining, even though the world is so different from our own. Certainly it's got sexy moments, and romance, but it felt more like a drama than anything else to me.
I recommend it for fans of Greek mythology, ancient history, and historical fiction.
Despite the fact that this story is a fictional retelling of the Trojan War, and takes place during the Bronze Age, I felt like each character was understandable (and many were relatable). It's the mark of a good author when you can recognize personalities, but not framed in modern thinking, in an historical fiction. So in that respect, I was caught up in the story and really enjoyed it.
I'm marking it as not beloved, because I felt like I was left wanting more. We see Briseis from age 10 or so until the Fall of Troy, framed in her recounting of her youth to a jaded Homer. But after all this growing up with Briseis, her story basically ends at that point. I wanted MORE.
Aside from that, it was a thoroughly enjoyable story- educational wrapped in entertaining, even though the world is so different from our own. Certainly it's got sexy moments, and romance, but it felt more like a drama than anything else to me.
I recommend it for fans of Greek mythology, ancient history, and historical fiction.
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