Member Review

Daughters of Sparta-Claire Heywood

I was so excited to receive a copy of this book as I just love Greek Mythology!

This book re-tells the story of the Siege of Troy through two famous women of mythology, Klytemnestra and Helen. Both princesses of Sparta, privileged and beautiful, there are envied but cannot command their own destinies. Both married off to infamous Kings, they have to produce heirs and do their duty as Queens. They both free themselves from their constraints in different ways and their choices lead to events that echo through millennia.

I have to say I was utterly absorbed into this powerful story, told through the voices of Nestra and Helen. I really liked Klytemnestra, the eldest of the two sisters. She is kind, thinks of her family and her duty but has a feminist streak in her which I loved. Helen felt more selfish to me, she knows she is beautiful and when she is left as heiress, men come to compete for her as a marriage prize.
She seems to relish this, it is interesting that women are almost compelled in their roles from a young age to be ready for marriage, sex, children and generally to do the bidding of men. It frankly makes me rage! They are not thought of as people but as chattels to be bartered and used.

‘𝐒𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫.’

Even though these women are high born, they are as used as slaves like Agatha, to sate male desire. This sickened me, what women endured in these times is unbearable to think of and made me angry.

‘𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬,’ ‘ 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬.’

As the story progressed, my framing of the characters changed. For Helen, who describes post-natal depression symptoms and the fear and horror of having to bear another child, she was literally meant to get back in the saddle and produce more heirs. It is horrifying that they are subjected to this, that the mans right to a woman’s body overrides everything else. I liked her more for her attempts to prevent a pregnancy but she is a more selfish character to her sister.
Helen leaves for Troy with Paris, blinded by his beauty and love for her not realising the effect this will have - like ripples on a pond.
It leads to war between the Greeks and Troy, with Nestra losing her daughter as a sacrifice and leading her to make a life changing decision. I liked seeing her breaking free of the constraints of her husband, his cruelty and ambition more important to him than his own family.

‘𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞. 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚’

Yet still they are manipulated by the men around them. Nestra forms an alliance with Aigisthos - manipulated by her love and need to protect her children.
Helen realising that she is just another trophy to a man - and returns to Sparta but they are both ultimately blamed for the men decisions.

These two women had stories to tell, although famous they are vilified, mainly because history is written by men. Their stories are vividly brought to life here to give us understanding of what it meant to be a woman in these times. This story is immensely detailed and brutal. It shows how they were shackled but eventually realising the strengths and power that they have are able to break free.

‘𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐰….𝐀 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫. 𝐀 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐲𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐞.’

This was a fabulously detailed and powerful story and a brilliant edition to the mythology canon. I cannot wait to read more by this author!

✩✩✩✩✩

[AD-PR PRODUCT]

With thanks to @mariagluc @hodderbooks and @claireheywoodauthor for my copy of this book