Heartwrenching, heartwarming, and heartbreaking all at once this is a beautiful retelling of the Illiad. Andromache takes center stage as a smart, powerful, and strong warrior determined to keep her people safe. I loved how women-centric this book was, and how the "ordeals" of women hood, healing, pregnancy, birth, and distrust take center stage.
At times I found this book incredibly hard to read, knowing what was coming while rooting for the losing side was painful. But the beautiful time we spent with our characters made up for it.

Daughters of Bronze: A Novel of Troy by A.D. Rhine
A.D. Rhine breathes new life into the legendary women of Troy in Daughters of Bronze, a powerful reimagining of one of history’s most enduring myths. Through vivid prose and rich historical detail, this novel explores the strength, sacrifice, and resilience of the often-overlooked figures behind the fall of a great city. Perfect for fans of Circe and The Silence of the Girls, this is a must-read for lovers of mythological retellings.

Wow! This novel isn’t getting as much attention as it should. What a wonderful story! I loved how the women in this story were so powerful, and how they supported each other! The writing was evocative, and the tale captivating!

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and am leaving my review voluntarily.

When I requested this book, I did NOT realize that it was part of a series. I need to do much better research when requesting. This meant that I really had to read two books instead of one because I needed to read the first before this one because they definitely go together. You cannot read this one on its own and fully comprehend what is going on.

I truly could not finish this book because of that. I didn’t read the first book and maybe it’s unfair of me to give a review since I didn’t read the first and I didn’t finish this book, but I do still want to share my opinions.

Even though I didn’t finish it, I am giving it 3 stars because the parts that I did read were super good. Each character had their own complex story which is sometimes hard to do with multiple narrators. The part where I personally fell short was that I couldn’t quite grasp each character because I hadn’t read the first book.

I would not be opposed to starting at the beginning of the current duology and getting a sense of the characters and the writing since both of the books do have a fairly high rating.

*This comment only pertains to a few, but if a book is part of a series, I think that NetGalley should state that when requesting books. It is nowhere on the request page and it gets me into a lot of hot water.*

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

4.25 stars

This might just be my favorite retelling of the Trojan War I've ever read! I really appreciate how the authors wrote it to be more historically accurate instead of leaning so hard into the mythology. It makes it truly feel like a war that could've happened. The character development and dynamics are absolutely amazing. There are so many emotional beats that hit hard. I can't recommend this more if you are a fan of Homer's Iliad or Greek Mythology!

Wow. Heartbreakingly beautiful. A woven bond of women that fight for those they love in all the ways they know how.

My Quick Takes:
- 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Language 🤐 brief moderate
- Spice ❤️‍🔥 closed-door
- Content Considerations 🤔 violence, death, war, stillborn, past sexual assault

If you love the Iliad, the odyssey, or Greek mythology in general, I urge you to pick up this duology. This is the second book and they must be read in order. The audio is amazing, different narrators for each point of view.

The plot is heart wrenching and beautiful in only the way that tragic mythology can be. Even in the heartache, I appreciated the thread of hope woven through the narrative. I especially loved the authors not to gain insight how the authors approached this storyline, it’s a plausible and successful take on Greek mythology.

Troy has had a chokehold on me since I was in seventh grade and I'm afraid it'll never let go, but I love it.

I love Greek mythology in books, any kind of mythology in anything, really, but there was a period where I had had enough of Troy. I mean, you can only read the same story so many times I guess. However, something about it just always pulls me back, (maybe due in part to references in Taylor Swift's song lyrics) and this book really delivered on bringing new light to the story.

In Daughters of Bronze by A.D. Rhine, we see the beginning of the end of the Trojan War through the perspectives of four women. I did not realize when I started this one that it is the second book in a duology, with Horses of Fire covering the first part of the war. I think that made it a little difficult to get into at the beginning, but it didn't take long for things to fall into place. Being familiar with the story and the battle probably helped though. Rhea is a new character, and I loved her. I actually adored the way all the main characters were written. These women aren't just weaving songs of sadness, pulling their hair and tearing their garments in the throes of insanity and desperation. They take on active roles to ensure the survival of themselves, their loved ones, and the entire city of Troy, even when faced with inevitable doom. Daughters of Bronze reveals sides to the women of Troy that I don't think I've seen before. I even liked the romance (not too swoony or spicy).

I really appreciated the additional information in the author's notes as they explain that they wanted to tell a more historically accurate version of the Battle of Troy (would men really fall for a giant wooden horse? I dunno, maybe MEN would) that presented strong female characters in a way that didn't feel forced. The plot did take a few turns that I could not make sense of, but overall, I found Daughters of Bronze to be a beautifully rendered tale of female friendship and love, woven with the unfairness of war, plenty of action, and a thread of mystery, as well as, a reminder that behind every great man, there is an even greater (and smarter) woman.

Thank you Dutton for the copy to read and review.

A.D. Rhine delivers a breathtaking and deeply moving conclusion to the Horses of Fire duology with Daughters of Bronze, a novel that reclaims the voices of Troy’s forgotten women. This is not just a retelling of The Iliad—it is a reimagining that places Andromache, Rhea, Helen, and Cassandra at the heart of the legendary city’s fate.

Each woman’s story unfolds with urgency and emotional depth: Andromache fights to protect her son and her people, Rhea grapples with love and betrayal, Helen steps into a new role as a healer, and Cassandra—long dismissed—finally demands to be heard. Their struggles, triumphs, and sacrifices paint a vivid picture of a city on the brink of destruction, making this novel as heartbreaking as it is empowering.

Rhine’s prose is lyrical yet raw, capturing both the grandeur of epic history and the intimate battles fought in its shadows. With a perfect blend of myth, history, and imagination, Daughters of Bronze is a powerful and unforgettable tribute to the women of Troy—those who stood, fought, and loved in the face of inevitable doom. Fans of feminist mythology and historical fiction will find this a worthy and satisfying conclusion.

The book was amazing. It the second book in a duology and this was better then the first. Wrapped everything up very nicely..

Daughters of Bronze is a retelling of Homer's epic but through the voices of the women of Troy. Through the perspectives of Helen, Cassandra, Rhea, and Andromache, we are given a new perspective on the battle in Troy. It's an interesting new perspective of this classic epic.

Thank you Dutton and NetGalley for the DRC of Daughters of Bronze. All opinions in this review are my own.

DNF at 10%

There are too many characters introduced too early on so it makes it difficult to understand what is happening. I know there are three storylines in this book, but I feel like I needed a very strong understanding of Greek mythology to figure out who everyone is and what is happening.

Daughters of Bronze is a beautifully written and emotionally charged retelling of the Trojan War, centering on the voices of Rhea, Helen, Cassandra, and Andromache. A.D. Rhine brings so much depth to these characters, especially Helen, who is given more agency. The novel captures both the brutality of war and the resilience of sisterhood. While some themes, like the ones centered around motherhood, may not resonate with all readers. However, its intricate storytelling and haunting atmosphere make it a powerful addition to the mythological retelling genre of books. This is a must-read if you're a fan of The Song of Achilles and A Thousand Ships.

I’m not a huge fan of mythology retellings so this book didn’t really fit my interests or vibes personally however I would still recommend it to readers who do really enjoy mythology retellings and stories.

This book is as tender as it is fierce. It is a powerhouse of a story about the side affects of greed, honor, agony, choice, revenge, enduring love and SO much more. The authors did such a wonderful job of not skating over the monstrosities of war, while still giving the reader enough hope,

Sigh i'm not sure what didn't work for me with this book it could be that this is a sequal to a book that i haven't read so maybe i'll read the first book and take a second look at this book in the furture but for now this is a two star i just found it long a boring i didn't care about what was going on in the book at all and was just wanting the book to end if it wasn't an arc i would of probably dnf it for now but with this review already being past the release date i kept at it but it just wasn't my cup of tea but i can see how someone would love this book

Thanks to NetGalley for the early read. I loved Horses of Fire. It was an excellent debut. I was so excited to receive this arc and continue the story. The writing and world building were excellent the characters are unique. It's a time in history that not a lot of historical fiction books cover, so that was intriguing. I am a newfound fan of A. D. Rhine and can't wait to see what is next.

In this powerful and fascinating novel of the Trojan War, AD Rhine brings Andromache, Rhea, Helen, and Cassandra to life in alternating perspectives that explore how war and violence impacts women. Andromache has proven herself to be a capable leader, but a divided Troy seeks to bring her down and threatens her son, while Rhea, a Trojan spy, did not expect to fall in love with a Greek soldier and must choose between her loyalty and her happy ending. Helen, no longer the same broken woman exploited by Paris, must use her healing gifts, not her grief, to help her allies, and Cassandra, the only person who knows Troy’s fate, must do what she can to save her family even if no one believes her. With so many complex and fascinating female characters working to save the city, readers will discover the complex politics and agendas conspiring against these four protagonists in Troy’s darkest hours, and the incredible detail and different conflicts faced by each character really bring this novel and its conflicts to life. Incredibly written and totally immersive, this amazing and powerful conclusion to Rhine’s duology is a must-read for fans of female-centric Greek mythology retellings looking for powerful female leads.

Wow, this truly blew me away. I went into this having not read the first book, Horses of Fire, and I’m happy to say this works well as a standalone (and now I’m dying to read the first book). This is quite possibly the best retelling of the fate of Troy that I’ve ever read.

A.D. Rhine masterfully tells the story of the Trojan War from the women’s perspective. This book is all about girl power, and I’m here for it! The multiple POVs worked fantastically. I was invested in every character, and I never found myself wanting to speed through one character’s POV to get to another.

Most of us know the story of the Trojan War, and I was worried I would find this book dull because I knew the ending. Welp, that never happened! Even knowing what happens, I couldn’t put this book down. I highly recommend it to everyone!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the gifted eARC!