Tag: feminist

Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood  

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Historical fiction about the Trojan War and Greek mythology is my weakness. So, I had to read Claire Heywood’s debut novel Daughters of Sparta, which follows the life of the princesses of Sparta, Klytemnestra and Helen. Two women raised to be subservient mothers and wives. Two women who were married to brothers and faced unhappy marriages that would lead to their break away from their obedient persona and making choices for themselves.

There is an obvious contrast between Klytemenstra and Helen from the beginning, but they are two sides of the same coin. Klytemenstra takes her role as a dutiful daughter and future queen very seriously. In her childhood and early years of her marriage, Klytemnestra followed every rule and strove to prove herself as a woman…or what society’s view on a woman was. After having kids, a new fierce and protective Klytemnestra awoke. She would do anything for her children and loved them with her whole being. As a Mycenae queen, Klytemnestra finally proved her worth as a leader once Agamemnon went off to war.

Now on the other side of the coin is Helen. Foolish, naïve Helen who just wanted love and affection from her mother and husband. In the early years of her life, Helen seemed slightly superficial. But as she grew older and married Menelaus, her desperation for a meaningful and loving connection to someone showed that she wasn’t a beautiful airhead. Helen wanted someone to love her unconditionally, even if she did not want to have more children after the horrific birth of her daughter. Unlike Helen’s sister, she never could embrace her role as a mother. I liked that Daughters of Spartashowed that not every woman was made to be a mother. Not every woman has that maternal instinct. And that is ok.

Although they have their differences, Klytemnestra and Helen both decided to turn away from the traditional views of women and tried to create their own path. Whether it would lead to tragedy or not…well that curse was hard to escape as a woman in Greek mythology. I felt nothing but anguish for Klytemnestra as her daughter was sacrificed for Agamemnon’s pride and greed. I sympathized with Helen, who realized her choice to leave Sparta led to nothing but death for those she knew and loved. Being a woman, it would have been difficult not to feel for these women. Heywood did a remarkable job of showing their struggles, strengths, and weaknesses. Neither Helen nor Kyltemnestra were written to be perfect angels who were victims. No. I got a true visual of who these women were. Nothing was hidden or sugar-coated.

More could have been said in Daughters of Sparta. I did not care for all the time jumps, and I would have liked more content. But what was written was incredible. I just needed more of it.

Overall, it was a good book and impressive for being Heywood’s first novel. Daughters of Sparta is perfect for all my readers that enjoy Greek mythology.

Queens of Themiscyra by Hannah Lynn  

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

When you hear about the Amazons, you may think of Princess Diana, aka Wonder Woman from DC Comics. That famous female superhero was inspired by the great warriors of Themiscyra in the tales of Greek mythology. The women born and raised as Amazons became renowned for their strength, agility, and battle skills, leading them to be some of the greatest fighters in Greek mythology.

The independent author Hannah Lynn’s novel follows the lives of two of the Amazon’s most famed Queens, Hippolyte and Penthesilea. The story begins with a descriptive look into the Amazons in battles. It displays the astonishing abilities they have as warriors. In the first chapters, the Amazon’s love for their home and people is apparent with every word written, which creates an emotional connection that is felt throughout the entire book.

It was intriguing to read about the Amazons’ life and see how they were raised and trained at a young age. These women may have been warriors first, but Lynn truly brought this story to life by showing that the tenacious fighters were mothers, daughters, sisters, and lovers too. One of the best aspects of Queens of Themiscyra was the relationship between the daughters of Ares, Hippolyte, Penthesilea, Antiope, and Melanippe. Their sisterhood could not be questioned even when faced with trials. Their love for one another transcended any quarrels they had. The bond between the two Queens Hippolyte and Penthesilea, in particular, was divine to read. They had their differences and were very much different in how they ruled. Still, even after years apart, that connection never waned.

Queens of Themiscyra featured two romances: Hippolyte and Theseus and Penthesilea and Cletes. One began full of passion and ended toxic and painful. Another started as mere lust and transformed into something beautiful and fulfilling. This was an excellent decision for the author to show these two contrasting relationships because we see how love affects people differently. Hippolyte fell in love with Theseus, and it seemed like all sense slowly left her. It was upsetting to see the persuasive Theseus bewitch such a capable woman. One good thing did come out of that relationship, their son Hippolytus. As a reader, the pure and loving relationship between Hippolyte and her son was a joy to read and made it even more heart-wrenching when she had to leave him. The romance of Penthesilea and her fellow Amazon Cletes displayed how love can also enhance the good in their significant other instead of weakening it.

It was a pleasure to get inside the mind of the Amazon Queens and experience their battles, happiness, struggles, and inevitably their uniquely courageous ends. Queens of Themiscyra will anger, excite, and sadden you but also, as a woman, will make you proud. This book is recommended to readers who love Greek mythology and warrior women.