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rachelstubbs19's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.5
Like The Silence of the Girls, this is an incredibly wrought, beautifully written and atmospheric rendering of the Trojan War and its aftermath. Barker has an incredible knack for bringing the plains around Troy to life: from plague-carrying rats, to sandy gales of wind, to drunken men sat by campfires (and women skulking in the shadows or in the huts).
Briseis is again the main narrator here. She is very likeable: cynical yet loyal, and remains a Trojan at heart while knowing that to survive her allegiance must lie with the Greeks. This novel explores the aftermath of the fall of Troy, and what this means for iconic figures like Hecuba, Cassandra, and of course, Helen. It is often devastating as it reflects on the atrocities committed, the inability to grieve the dead and of course, losing your whole life and becoming enslaved. While this novel may lack the urgent narrative drive of Achilles and the war itself, I think this instalment's focus on the characters' relationships and complex inner machinations makes for a gripping and emotional read.
Briseis is again the main narrator here. She is very likeable: cynical yet loyal, and remains a Trojan at heart while knowing that to survive her allegiance must lie with the Greeks. This novel explores the aftermath of the fall of Troy, and what this means for iconic figures like Hecuba, Cassandra, and of course, Helen. It is often devastating as it reflects on the atrocities committed, the inability to grieve the dead and of course, losing your whole life and becoming enslaved. While this novel may lack the urgent narrative drive of Achilles and the war itself, I think this instalment's focus on the characters' relationships and complex inner machinations makes for a gripping and emotional read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, and War
akamystica's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Pregnancy, and War
Une bonne suite au Silence des Vaincues, évidemment on pâtit de la mort d’Achille et Patrocle du précédent tome et de l’attente des Grecs pour retourner chez eux. J’ai trouvé le rythme un peu lent bien que justifié. Comme le premier tome c’est une immersion incroyable dans un camp militaire grec à l’Antiquité, on voit comment les femmes y étaient traitées et la déchirure entre le patriotisme de Briséis et son appartenance nouvelle à la Grèce en tant qu’épouse d’un soldat grec et mère de l’enfant d’Achille.eveofstagnes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Minor: Sexual assault
caelfind's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
“Because isn’t that, ultimately, the way we cope with grief? There’s nothing sophisticated or civilised about it. Like savages, we ingest our dead.”
This was an exquisite story of the complexities of war, freedom, and womanhood, set amidst the immediate aftermath of the Fall of Troy. Barker crafts a harrowing, raw tale, never flinching from the realities of ancient warfare, and offering us fresh, nuanced depictions of well-known characters. Her characterisation is the shining star of this book; the characters’ deeply complex, and sometimes contradictory, personalities perfectly mirror the horrific war they grapple with. The Greeks must find a way to return home and face the violence they wrought, while the women wait to meet their uncertain futures. And all the while, the countless dead seem to hover in the corner of every hut, watching with judgemental eyes. This was a truly masterful work and I can’t wait to pick up the third book.
This was an exquisite story of the complexities of war, freedom, and womanhood, set amidst the immediate aftermath of the Fall of Troy. Barker crafts a harrowing, raw tale, never flinching from the realities of ancient warfare, and offering us fresh, nuanced depictions of well-known characters. Her characterisation is the shining star of this book; the characters’ deeply complex, and sometimes contradictory, personalities perfectly mirror the horrific war they grapple with. The Greeks must find a way to return home and face the violence they wrought, while the women wait to meet their uncertain futures. And all the while, the countless dead seem to hover in the corner of every hut, watching with judgemental eyes. This was a truly masterful work and I can’t wait to pick up the third book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and War
Minor: Child death
mblanke's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Animal death
lauramay_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Medical content, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail
anima_vestaa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Very interesting concept and in some instances brilliantly told story. However, it’s not very clear what the logic behind the lore is, as there are many details true to the Homer epics and mythology overall, but then some characters and scenes were added by the author. The style was at some points rather naive as characters from that time simply would not have used some expressions of today’s common language. Together with the inconsistency of the mythology, the novel loses focus in my opinion that sadly distracts too much from scenes that were insanely original (e.g. the opening in the Trojan horse or the dialogue between Pyrrhus and Helenus about their fathers). Would still recommend as a filler read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, and War
theothergrl's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed The Women of Troy as a sequel. It was really interesting to read more about the politics of the camp, especially through the POV of a seer navigating these power dynamics very consciously. It was great to read an author write that power is the root of all the violence and misogyny, that these things are distributed by normal men, 'good' men.
I didn't enjoy it as much as the 1st, and I felt there was fatphobia that wasn't just through the 'eyes of the men' as it claims. So I give it a 4.
I didn't enjoy it as much as the 1st, and I felt there was fatphobia that wasn't just through the 'eyes of the men' as it claims. So I give it a 4.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
Minor: Torture and Vomit
katy_bee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I enjoyed this book for the start and middle but knocked a bit off my score for the end. I appreciate that by building on the Greek myths there was a limit to plot points but it felt a little lacking in clear resolution to me.
Nevertheless I like retellings and this one engaged with the idea of what it actually means to be given as a prize of war- pretty bleak. The way the women were trying to find ways to be - and stay true to themselves- in terrible circumstances was compelling and felt well handled
Nevertheless I like retellings and this one engaged with the idea of what it actually means to be given as a prize of war- pretty bleak. The way the women were trying to find ways to be - and stay true to themselves- in terrible circumstances was compelling and felt well handled
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Torture
rosiedalton's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
3.5
Genuinely very lovely, very well written and enjoyable. I haven’t read The Silence of the Girls so I’m obviously missing the context from that but as a stand-alone retelling of the most boring part of the Iliad I think Barker does a wonderful job at fleshing out the characters. Briseis is such an interesting character and to choose her as the primary mouthpiece was a great choice. I also really enjoyed the perspectives of calchas and Pyrrhus. Pyrrhus in particular was a really interesting and complex point of view and I’d definitely be interested in more from Barker through his eyes; she fleshes out that mix of heroism and hubris so well and delves into the tumultuous psyche of the son of Achilles and slayer of Priam, without it feeling like a therapy session. However, when reading a book called The Women of Troy, I expected more perspectives from…the women of Troy. I had expected different women to get their own chapters, I would have loved to see the perspective of Helen and Cassandra, even one of the girls in Pyrrhus’ compound because Briseis, as lovely as she is and interested in her that I may be, she doesn’t have much in the way of a fleshed out personality; maybe that’s the point? Maybe she’s just had to learn over the years that she cannot have a personality but still her determination to survive is overarching and her emotional processes felt sincere because of how very stoic they seemed much of the time. Nevertheless, Briseis was a good choice and I still enjoyed her thoroughly but it would have been nice to feel a perspective that contrasted to hers, Cassandra’s perhaps? The defiant princess, fated to never be believed and for her marriage to lead to her doom and the hands of the first wife; a very complex emotional situation; her as mouthpiece would have been powerful contrasted with Briseis, the atmosphere of the book would have been different and a little more gripping possibly.
It felt a little repetitive and slow in a few places but that’s to be expected given the lack of material on this particular period of the aftermath of the Trojan war. Otherwise a fantastic read and one of my favourites in the modern retellings of myths!
It felt a little repetitive and slow in a few places but that’s to be expected given the lack of material on this particular period of the aftermath of the Trojan war. Otherwise a fantastic read and one of my favourites in the modern retellings of myths!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, War, and Injury/Injury detail