ecetufan's review against another edition
3.0
i liked some of the emotional moments but other than that the story felt really rushed (bc you cant fit 10 years into 190 pages without missing some of the most important details) . i really liked helena's pov and the insight we got of her. but cassandra's part was just talking about what was going on in the battlefield there were times i forgot it was her pov. i wanted more insight from cassandra!!!@ maybe i just had high expectations after the silence of the girls idk. it still wasnt that bad and would be fun to read if you dont know much abt the story. also apparently this is a middle grade book??? yea thay explains some things
saralynnburnett's review against another edition
2.0
Vomit. Unfortunately I have to teach this book to 7th graders this upcoming school year and I'm NOT a fan! I don't know if it's because I really don't appreciate Greek mythology and all that or if it really is the book but it was told from Helen and Cassandra's point of views (which I suppose is a nice change of pace from the usual Trojan war battle book) and the plot encompassed a decade or two which forced it to speed along so quickly (in just 190 pages) that it left no room for character development or any of the things that make most books worth reading. It really read as more of a summary, and not a very good one at that. Additionally, I'm now frightened of teaching this book to my male students because there was entirely too much 'lovey dovey' stuff (short tunics, muscular thighs, golden haired god-like men) and no 'boy stuff' until the last ten pages when someone finally gets dragged behind a chariot and by that point you're so bored by the book you practically cheer.
Why am I giving it two stars? In the hopes that in teaching it it will grow on me but somehow I doubt it.
Why am I giving it two stars? In the hopes that in teaching it it will grow on me but somehow I doubt it.
overlookingcovers's review against another edition
2.0
No, I just can't. Ugh. I got this book from my local bookstore (Thank god, it only cost 50 cents.)I gave this book a review of 2/5 stars. The only thing that kept this book from receiving a 1, was because at some points of the story drew me in. The reasons why i didn't like this book was because things were left UNANSWERED. The author would talk about how someone ended up dead but not told by whom. Believe me, i reread parts trying to figure out who killed who. It only happened about 1 time towards the end of the book but still it drove me crazy. Also, the book wasn't very descriptive. I wanted to know what everything looks like and the landscape. But no! Next, i am a grammar Nazi and if you are like me, THIS BOOK ISN'T FOR YOU! OMG! I had such a hard time contrasting who was being compared because there were NO COMMAS. Lastly, the thing that drove me the most insane. I couldn't tell who was talking or when the girl would snap out of her visions. I thought she was still in her dream when she called Helen a whore, but when i reread it a few times, she said it right in front of Helen. That was a first impression.
Me: Hey you! Yeah you right there! You're a whore!
Them: ...
Me: Lets be friends!
Them: OK! Lets forget that you called me a whore the first time you saw me!
Thats basically what the books about. Just say yourself the time and effort. Don't get this book but if you really want to get the book, go to a used bookstore because its not worth all the money it would cost you.
Me: Hey you! Yeah you right there! You're a whore!
Them: ...
Me: Lets be friends!
Them: OK! Lets forget that you called me a whore the first time you saw me!
Thats basically what the books about. Just say yourself the time and effort. Don't get this book but if you really want to get the book, go to a used bookstore because its not worth all the money it would cost you.
lynnietakalele's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn't help but finish this book practically in one dose. While it didn't have the creative interpretation that the Cooney book did, it was still a great read with a fast-moving plot and characters to grow close to. I like what the author did, taking a story we know and wondering how the characters felt and then getting to make a lot of it up on her own. A simple, good read.
julialou's review against another edition
3.0
I'd give it a 3.5 if I could. It was neat to read while teaching the Iliad and Odyssey. However, I think the scope was a bit much for a book that was less than 200 pages. I liked digging into Helen and Cassandra's characters a bit more, but it was rather rushed.
skys1301's review against another edition
3.0
I had to read this book for school. It was entertaining enough for me to not be bored the entire time however it did not make me want to pick up another book by this author.
angrybirb24's review against another edition
4.0
This book was the most amazing thing I have ever read! I loved the way the characters were portrayed and how even though the book was sad and gruesome you kept wanting to read. I don't usually like historical fiction type books but, this story opened up the genre for me.
caitcosentino's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-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? No
4.0
Enjoyed this more than I expected to
The perfect length
The perfect length
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
thebisexualbooknerd's review against another edition
1.0
Ickkkkk. When I put this on my TBR some five years ago, I thought it was YA. I didn't realize it was elementary/middle grade until it showed up in the mail a few weeks ago. I have no problem reading well-written middle grade fic, but this is...not. And the worst part is, it would've been SO MUCH BETTER if it was aimed at a slightly higher age range.
It's just the story of the Trojan War. That's it. I was hoping the unique POV would add a more entertaining perspective, but it didn't. In fact, having the characters removed from the action and simply report back on the literally age-old plot developments made it boring as hell. Plus, none of the characters were developed enough for interesting things to happen to them.
And I could live with that just fine. It's not even 200 pages. I've stuck with boring books longer than that. It was a good idea, poorly executed. Except... that wasn't the awkward part. Oh no.
The awkward part was the constant PG13 sex talk.
I've never read anything like this in my life. It was simultaneously overt bedroom talk and veiled innuendos. I have no idea what the author was going for here. It was already uncomfortable enough marrying off a twelve-year-old to a man in his 30's (I know, I know, historical accuracy, but the beginning of my reading challenge is curiously riddled with pedophilia), why do you have to throw in all this "how to please your husband in bed" nonsense? It's got to raise questions with the 10-12 year olds this was aimed for, and it makes it painful for any adults who happen upon it.
Again, if this was YA, where the sexual and violent overtones could be properly explored, and the characters were old enough to actually HAVE sex, this would be a much better book. As it currently stands, it's embarrassing, messy, and unbelievably boring.
It's just the story of the Trojan War. That's it. I was hoping the unique POV would add a more entertaining perspective, but it didn't. In fact, having the characters removed from the action and simply report back on the literally age-old plot developments made it boring as hell. Plus, none of the characters were developed enough for interesting things to happen to them.
And I could live with that just fine. It's not even 200 pages. I've stuck with boring books longer than that. It was a good idea, poorly executed. Except... that wasn't the awkward part. Oh no.
The awkward part was the constant PG13 sex talk.
I've never read anything like this in my life. It was simultaneously overt bedroom talk and veiled innuendos. I have no idea what the author was going for here. It was already uncomfortable enough marrying off a twelve-year-old to a man in his 30's (I know, I know, historical accuracy, but the beginning of my reading challenge is curiously riddled with pedophilia), why do you have to throw in all this "how to please your husband in bed" nonsense? It's got to raise questions with the 10-12 year olds this was aimed for, and it makes it painful for any adults who happen upon it.
Again, if this was YA, where the sexual and violent overtones could be properly explored, and the characters were old enough to actually HAVE sex, this would be a much better book. As it currently stands, it's embarrassing, messy, and unbelievably boring.
luaucow's review against another edition
3.0
This book tells the story of the trojan horse from the perspective of the women. I read it after enjoying "Troy" by Adele Geras so much. It wasn't as engaging as that book, but it was good in it's own way.