hollsbooks78's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
chehr's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book through the Goodreads.com giveaways. I enjoyed this book just as much as I did "Juliet". I loved the different view Fortier gives on the Amazons. I've always been interested in this mythology. Having Fortier weave these myths together in a way that I haven't read was quit fun and made for an interesting read. When a character from another myth would pop up in story I would get so excited. If you like history and mystery that you should love this book.
jenny101's review
4.0
Fortier Creates a High Stakes Adventure Grounded in Reality
In this well crafted and well researched novel Fortier presents us with relatable characters whose strength we can admire and whose flaws we can relate to. She weaves the modern tale of Diana Morgan, a young philologist, given a chance to search for evidence of Amazons with Diana's childhood and the time she spent with her grandmother. Balancing Diana's story is the story of Myrina and Lilli and the creation of the Amozonian myths. It is a wonderful blend of adventure and drama with just the right amount of romance included.
In this well crafted and well researched novel Fortier presents us with relatable characters whose strength we can admire and whose flaws we can relate to. She weaves the modern tale of Diana Morgan, a young philologist, given a chance to search for evidence of Amazons with Diana's childhood and the time she spent with her grandmother. Balancing Diana's story is the story of Myrina and Lilli and the creation of the Amozonian myths. It is a wonderful blend of adventure and drama with just the right amount of romance included.
laura_trap's review against another edition
3.0
So here we are. This book could have been four stars if it was about a hundred or so pages shorter. The first third of the book was wonderfully paced, with an engaging and fun story that draws you in, with impeccably researched history and Greek mythology. I even enjoyed the past time line of our Amazon heroine Myrina and her sister Lilli. In fact, how she created a dynamic, heart felt and believable story around Myrina, the Greeks, and Paris and how that story did not fall in line with any of Homer's poetical works was even better. I have to say I enjoyed that thoroughly, twisting history into something romantic and patriotic. Anyway, back to the present day story. Diana Morgan has her flaws but is decently likable character. Nick wasn't relatable and heard to discern his motives for most of the story, and their romance seemed organic enough through the first half but then went into hyperdrive and no longer seemed realistic. The plot line became unnecessarily complicated towards the end of the book which through off the pacing. It slowed down at times, and I have to say the constant back and forth from chapter to chapter between past/present prevented me from really engaging with any storyline, especially in the middle of the book.
All in all, I do think it is a very enjoyable book, and touches briefly on some important themes, but gets a little too preachy about the gender politics and the natural degradation of women through men was too intense and slightly off putting. It's not a bad book, it's fun and mostly easy to read, just longer than it needs to be. For readers who want adventure and a good retelling of a classic Greek myth, and have some time to spare, this is the book for them. Definitely discussed some very engaging thoughts on the ownership of classical and ancient artifacts, and I wished the story actually discussed these in further detail as this is a very important and major current topic. Most of all, I was pleased with the fact that the history was definitely well researched and closest to the recent theories as possible.
All in all, I do think it is a very enjoyable book, and touches briefly on some important themes, but gets a little too preachy about the gender politics and the natural degradation of women through men was too intense and slightly off putting. It's not a bad book, it's fun and mostly easy to read, just longer than it needs to be. For readers who want adventure and a good retelling of a classic Greek myth, and have some time to spare, this is the book for them. Definitely discussed some very engaging thoughts on the ownership of classical and ancient artifacts, and I wished the story actually discussed these in further detail as this is a very important and major current topic. Most of all, I was pleased with the fact that the history was definitely well researched and closest to the recent theories as possible.
jenslate's review against another edition
3.0
This book. So dense. So many threads and characters, which I usually love. I almost want to read it again slowly to see if that would help me grasp it all but I'd rather devote my reading time to something new. 3.5 stars
grauspitz's review against another edition
You know this book really had promise, it really did. I was tempted to finish it and I got about 350 pages in before I gave up. Don't get me wrong, for the most part I liked the story I just had one small problem: the portrayal of Paris. Maybe I'm being picky but I don't think I can read/finish anything that makes the reader sympathetic to Paris.
Especially when they change the entire situation about the whole abduction of Helen, leaving out any mention of divine involvement even in the modern time period where they discuss the Iliad. It reminded me of Troy 2004 in a way. They even went as far as to make him the favourite and apparently oldest son of Priam (perhaps that's rectified later on but from what I've read it's not) as well making him a competent fighter, at least enough to teach.
I understand that this is meant to be a twist on the Iliad, but it wasn't the best of twists in my opinion. Honestly it's not a 1 star book, it was good aside from a few minor things that I personally dislike to see most anywhere.
Especially when they change the entire situation about the whole abduction of Helen, leaving out any mention of divine involvement even in the modern time period where they discuss the Iliad. It reminded me of Troy 2004 in a way. They even went as far as to make him the favourite and apparently oldest son of Priam (perhaps that's rectified later on but from what I've read it's not) as well making him a competent fighter, at least enough to teach.
I understand that this is meant to be a twist on the Iliad, but it wasn't the best of twists in my opinion. Honestly it's not a 1 star book, it was good aside from a few minor things that I personally dislike to see most anywhere.
mdabernig's review against another edition
4.0
A large part of me wants to give this five stars purely because I LOVED it, but I'm being good and refraining because, as much as I loved it, even me in my extreme bias knows this isn't a five star book.
I adored Anne Fortier's first book [b:Juliet|6718608|Juliet|Anne Fortier|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1366399299s/6718608.jpg|6914700] and because of that I could hardly wait to read her follow up book - I was not disappointed at all. She follows the Juliet format by telling us two stories in one - the first about an Oxford lecturer, Diana, as she tries to find out if the fabled Amazons really did exist all the while trying to avoid various shady characters and, in the second story, we go back to the bronze age to see Myrina, a young woman trying to make her way in the world as a sister, a priestess, a warrior and more and how that journey takes her to Troy and beyond.
I was entranced by both stories...there is of course a love story in both tales and it is to the author's credit that you get caught up in them both, especially when you are aware that clearly, tragedy can only happen. I do think that as much as I loved this idea, it wasn't as well executed as it was in Juliet - I felt underwhelmed by the resolution of Myrina and Paris' story and with Myrina's motivations post Troy. I loved the spin on the fall of Troy...it was very well thought out and I kept thinking while reading it how much I would love to see a version of this tale on the big screen, but I felt like Myrina's story, and her character, lost all steam after that. Which is perhaps understandable considering what happened at that moment, but still...
Other than that minor gripe, I think the thing that made me not give it the five stars I wanted to give it was that everything was a little too convenient at times. That sounds dumb considering, but it was all just a little too...tidy.
Those reasons aside, I adored it - it was a good read, it was interesting, the characters were likable, the love stories were engaging and I hated every time I had to stop reading. I will probably make it part of my annual tradition of re-reading Juliet - I enjoyed it that much. I think if, like me, you loved Juliet, you will love this. If you have even a passing interest in history and anthropology, you will probably love this, but otherwise, it might not be as enjoyable to you. I'd still give it a try though.
I just can't wait for Anne Fortier's third book now.
I adored Anne Fortier's first book [b:Juliet|6718608|Juliet|Anne Fortier|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1366399299s/6718608.jpg|6914700] and because of that I could hardly wait to read her follow up book - I was not disappointed at all. She follows the Juliet format by telling us two stories in one - the first about an Oxford lecturer, Diana, as she tries to find out if the fabled Amazons really did exist all the while trying to avoid various shady characters and, in the second story, we go back to the bronze age to see Myrina, a young woman trying to make her way in the world as a sister, a priestess, a warrior and more and how that journey takes her to Troy and beyond.
I was entranced by both stories...there is of course a love story in both tales and it is to the author's credit that you get caught up in them both, especially when you are aware that clearly, tragedy can only happen. I do think that as much as I loved this idea, it wasn't as well executed as it was in Juliet - I felt underwhelmed by the resolution of Myrina and Paris' story and with Myrina's motivations post Troy. I loved the spin on the fall of Troy...it was very well thought out and I kept thinking while reading it how much I would love to see a version of this tale on the big screen, but I felt like Myrina's story, and her character, lost all steam after that. Which is perhaps understandable considering what happened at that moment, but still...
Spoiler
I felt like the speech Myrina gave her sisters when they left Troy was too bitter for someone who had and lost such a great love. I could understand a degree of bitterness over the pain she felt, but I don't know if I would accept Myrina as she had been in Troy, would have ever forbade or discouraged her sisters from finding the happiness she had, never mind the idea that she would have encouraged them to abandon male children. It was just something that didn't match up with me, personally.Other than that minor gripe, I think the thing that made me not give it the five stars I wanted to give it was that everything was a little too convenient at times. That sounds dumb considering, but it was all just a little too...tidy.
Those reasons aside, I adored it - it was a good read, it was interesting, the characters were likable, the love stories were engaging and I hated every time I had to stop reading. I will probably make it part of my annual tradition of re-reading Juliet - I enjoyed it that much. I think if, like me, you loved Juliet, you will love this. If you have even a passing interest in history and anthropology, you will probably love this, but otherwise, it might not be as enjoyable to you. I'd still give it a try though.
I just can't wait for Anne Fortier's third book now.
smiles_is_reading1's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The duel narratives of the past and present excited me from the very beginning, being a feminist I liked how the whole plot is about powerful women, breaking female stereotypes and even the protagonist Diana Morgan is very brave and intelligent. I was very much in love with how the romance worked in both timelines, and I am impressed by how it ended and no strings were disregarded. I also likes how several characters from Greek mythology were involved, Hercules, Paris and King Minos to make the story richer and detailed in the mythology world.
keniasedler's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0