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joanabrt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I started the book with a different idea of what it would be. I was, not really sure why, expecting something else, so at first I felt a bit bored and as if nothing was really happening. Thankfully I soon enough realized that I already knew the story and that I wasn’t there for it, per se… I was there for who was telling it, for the perspective in which the story was being told and for all the characters, the girls and women that had been left out before. This changed the way I read the book and allowed me to understand and appreciate it as it deserved.
It’s a violent, tragic and brilliant story, where the silence, the suffering and the courage of the girlsare the main focus, the story. Where the heroes and victims are no longer the men in combat, as the stories have always made us believe, but the women who continue to live, who find ways to carry on after being taken from their homes and families, after being abused, raped and stripped of all their rights and their humanity. And it's a painful read, because it's not just fantasy and it's not just set in the past or in distant places, it's the present, the now, the world we live in.
A retelling of Greek mythology like never before. Incredible.
Graphic: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and War
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide
ewwa18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Grief, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
rbadz's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy
helen's review against another edition
4.0
Wilson, through her choice of words, reminds us that the women taken as "prizes" and living as "concubines" during the Trojan War are in fact slaves subject to rape. Barker gives voice to one of these women, Briseis.
There are quite a few anachronisms (battlefield hospitals in the mythical bronze age?) and modern idioms ("gagging for it"), but I liked this because this is not historical fiction, it's a myth. Barker is retelling The Iliad for our age and reminding us that the treatment of women in war zones is still very much relevant in our world.
Four stars not five because a) although important, it's a pretty unrelentingly grim read and b) I really wished the whole book was from the women's point of view. I really wasn't interested in the chapters told from Achilles' point of view. But then that's actually quite meta because at one point Briseis comments: "...make no mistake, this was his story - his anger, his grief, his story. I was angry, I was grieving, but somehow that didn't matter."
Speaking of meta - Barker's twist on Homer's tendency to make lists of the dead was very effective.
I listened to the audiobook: Kristin Atherton was excellent. Michael Fox wasn't as good, but my opinion was probably clouded by my dislike of those Achilles' focused chapters
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Slavery, Violence, and War
Moderate: Suicide
baconbit95's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
tintinreaney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Slavery, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Suicide
savage_book_review's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
One day I'll find a Greek myth retelling I don't like. But today is not that day. This is beautifully written; lyrical, heartfelt, epic prose that runs over with emotion and buries its way into your consciousness. It's not poetry, but it is definitely poetic and so feels like it has almost perfect tone to complement the source material. There is something about the best authors writing these retellings (Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint to name but two); they all have their own style, but they all embody this same tone in their work. So as soon as I 'felt' it, I knew I was in for a good read!
The only caveat to this praise is that there are moments where speech sounds almost too modern. I understand that it's meant to be soldiers talking in their own rough and ready way, but there was something about certain turns of phrase that jolted me out of the serene state the rest of the writing put me in. I'm all for a good round of turning the air blue, but even the cursing felt out of place in certain moments. It all still works and doesn't ruin the story or the flow, but I think the rest of the story feels so authentic the modern parlance sticks out like a sore thumb.
Each character is wonderfully rendered; Briseis herself comes across as a strong, capable woman, utterly defeated by circumstances, resigned to her fate and yet still with an independent streak that means while she might bend, she won't break. Her interactions with Achilles manage to find that sweet spot, where he is neither slave master that sees her as nothing but chattel, nor the dashing romantic hero that she can't help but fall in love with. It's a fabulous rendering of their relationship. Patroclus does come across a little more as the sweet, shy boy who befriends the slaves rather than beats them, but it's a great contrast to the rest of the Greek warriors. While the nature of Achilles and Patroclus' relationship is never explicitly stated, the small illustrations of their love for one another, whether platonic or romantic, are just gorgeous. Once again, I found myself hoping that the author might just flip the myth on its head... and this in a book that's not meant to be as sympathetic to them!
The book also conveys the harsh realities of 10 years living in a war camp and the bloodiness of battle, without being overly graphic or sensationalist. It's atmospheric and not pleasant at times, but it's never difficult to read.
There is a dual POV set up, alternating chapters between Briseis in the first person, and Achilles in the third. Switching between first and third person is one of the writing devices I struggle with, and yet it STILL manages to flow and keep me engaged.
This book deserves its accolades and is one I would definitely recommend. Book two is on order at the library, so I'll look forward to continuing this series soon!
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, Excrement, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Classism
tetedump's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
drj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and War
Moderate: Gore, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Confinement, Blood, and Alcohol
natasza's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and War