Did not finish book. Stopped at 39%.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for the ARC!

Daughters of Bronze is the second book in a duology. It centers around the women of Troy during the Trojan War.
I was unaware that this was a sequel to Horses of Fire, and only found that out through some heavy digging. I wish it was clearer that this is a continuation of the story because the characters are already so established that I had no time to develop an attachment to them.
While the writing was good, and I was intrigued by the characters, I couldn’t get invested in this. I would’ve liked to see more of Cassandra because her POV was unique and really interesting.
Again, with it being the second book in a duology, as well as a very heavy mythology book, there is no indication of who’s who, or context for what’s happening—I only managed because I’ve read other Trojan War books—and there are so many names that I kept getting lost.
There was also a very detailed depiction of childbirth at the quarter mark, which was super out of place and made me very uncomfortable reading it.
I wouldn’t recommend reading this without reading Horses of Fire, but if you enjoyed the first book, you’ll probably like this.

CW: war; pregnancy/childbirth; death; mention of sex/assault; mention of slavery; misogyny; kidnapping/isolation; abuse (physical)

In *Daughters of Bronze*, E. Knight delivers a powerful and gripping conclusion to her duology that reimagines the mythic world of Troy through the lives of its women—figures often relegated to the sidelines of history. After the events of *Horses of Fire*, the Trojan War is reaching its bloody climax, and Knight deftly brings these women—Andromache, Rhea, Helen, and Cassandra—to the forefront, giving them agency, depth, and voice in a narrative where their fates have been traditionally overshadowed by male heroes.

The novel centers on four distinct and compelling female characters, each of whom is tasked with navigating the chaos, betrayal, and shifting alliances of the Trojan War. **Andromache**, once a loyal wife and mother, has stepped into the role of leader, but now, with Troy’s long-awaited heir in her care, she must unite a fractured city to make a final, desperate stand. Her journey is one of both strength and vulnerability, as she faces the ever-present weight of leadership and the pressure to protect her son and her people.

**Rhea**, a Trojan spy, presents an intriguing internal conflict as she falls in love with a man from the enemy camp. In a war where loyalty and love are at odds, Rhea’s decisions will have far-reaching consequences. She must decide where her true allegiances lie, and the cost of that choice becomes a central, heartbreaking theme.

**Helen**, once the object of blame for Troy’s fall, has undergone a profound transformation. No longer the broken woman brought to Troy as a captive, she’s now determined to reclaim her life and, with her healing powers, offer hope to the city’s shattered people. Knight’s portrayal of Helen is especially moving, as she seeks redemption and purpose beyond the myths of betrayal that have defined her for centuries.

Finally, **Cassandra**, the prophetess whose warnings have long been ignored, takes center stage in this novel. Knight gives Cassandra the chance to make her voice heard, a courageous act that reshapes her role in Troy’s fate. The narrative gives her the agency she’s always deserved, allowing her to carve out a place in the story that is as pivotal as it is tragic.

The novel’s strength lies not only in its rich character development but in the way Knight breathes new life into the myth of Troy. The story is both familiar and fresh, adding a nuanced layer of emotional depth to the ancient tale. The historical and mythical elements of the Trojan War are woven together seamlessly, with Knight’s vivid prose capturing the chaos of war, the complexity of relationships, and the unbreakable bonds that form in the face of destruction.

At its heart, *Daughters of Bronze* is a song of sorrow and love, a tribute to the often invisible women whose actions have shaped history. The narrative builds to a final, devastating confrontation, one that will change the fate of Troy forever. This epic conclusion is both thrilling and heartbreaking, with the weight of each character’s choice reverberating through the pages.

For readers who loved *Horses of Fire*, *Daughters of Bronze* offers a satisfying, emotional, and thought-provoking conclusion. Knight's deft storytelling transforms the myth of Troy into a tale of resilience, sacrifice, and the power of women to shape history, making this an unforgettable read for fans of historical fiction, mythology, and strong, complex female protagonists.

I DNF’ed this at 41%. I am not sure if it is a me thing or the actual book itself. I usually love Greek mythology retellings, especially if it is feminist in tone, but the prose was so dense and the pacing felt off.

For full transparency, I have read A TON of heavy stuff in the last few weeks and I might just be looking for something a little lighter than this. This wasn’t terrible, it just wasn’t the right book for right now.

Another knock out!

I adore history and the recent uptick of historical/mythological retellings are all so fun and right up my alley! I loved the first book, Horses of Fire, and was so excited to get a chance to review Daughter of Bronze!

The weaving of women’s story through a familiar story is masterfully done and I couldn’t put this book down! Definitely want to keep a box of tissues nearby for the ending! Some TW like the last book for allusion to rape, graphic physical violence and death. All in all, 10/10 book and I will continue to look forward to new titles from this author!

Daughters of Bronze details the Trojan War from the perspectives of three women who all had different, but important roles. I love a retelling from female perspectives when the story is traditionally told from male perspectives, and this one was fantastic.

Rhine has a beautiful way with her imagery and character development that made it easy to follow along with each of the women. They were each strong and cunning and brave in their own way, and I loved hearing their stories. It was a little hard to keep track of each POV at first, but as the story went on, it became easier.

I only wish I had read horses of fire before this one, and I’ll definitely be going back to read it. The author blew me away with this riveting and emotional retelling!

Daughters of Bronze by A. D. Rhine skillfully weaves together politics, robust character development, and the integration of various Near Eastern cultures to bring the ancient city of Troy to life. The narrative expertly creates a realistic setting that immerses readers in a world filled with intrigue and rich historical detail.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
Such a great retelling of this Greek story, with such well drawn and developed characters that you really grew to care about. I found myself wishing for a different end for several characters, even knowing how the story would end.

If you enjoy mythological retellings, then Daughters of Bronze is going to be right up your alley. This novel rotates between four points of view with Andromache, Rhea, Helen, and Cassandra It took me a little while to get oriented in the story (it's technically book two of a duology, which I am only now realizing while I write this), but once I got ahold of who was who, the drama unfolded quickly. It was well written and engaging.

There are many re-interpretations of the Trojan War, but I found this book's approach unique and compelling in that there was almost no mention of any Greek god and more of a focus on the Trojan pantheon. At the beginning of the book, I did feel like the reader had arrived after a major turning point in the story and that a lot of action had been missed, seeing as it is summarized for us instead of directly experienced. I was also interested in how some of the women's relationships changed after this significant development. Again, we are told that some of the women view one another differently, but we don't have any real before or after to compare.

In addition to the main, familiar conflict of the Trojan War, there are several side quests happening. I would almost have preferred that the majority of the book focus on one plot line, with occasional chapters going back to the overarching Trojan War arc. With so much going on, the pacing definitely felt slow, especially when the mythology and conclusion are so well-known. I felt that many of the most interesting side characters were overlooked and then forgotten after the dramatic fall of Troy. I also wish that some of the villains had been given more depth--at a certain point, their antagonism felt very one-note and almost cartoonish with how being absolutely bad was their entire character.

Stylistically, the writing style was very poetic and descriptive, which worked in some scenes, but felt overdone in others. The writing of one of the final scenes, in which no one is referred to by name and monikers are used instead, was slightly annoying.

Overall, I appreciated this more historical take on the Trojan War. The book brought up valuable points about the cost of war and the impact of individuals and their choices. I am grateful for some deviations from the most common version of events, and I love the explanation given for why the final showdown between Hector and Achilles ended the way it did. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a slightly different spin on the later events of the Trojan War who would not mind the absence of some major elements (mostly associated with divine Olympian interference).

DNF at 45%. I really really wanted to love this book and I think there were some really interesting themes but overall it was just a little excessively slow-paced.

4.5 stars, rounded up. Absolutely amazing!
I love retellings of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, but sometimes it can be hit or miss… but not this one! Daughters of Bronze is beautifully written and employs a narrative that makes it easy to fall in love with the four primary characters: Andromache, Cassandra, Helen, and Rhea. I did not read Rhine’s first novel, Horses of Fire, but I definitely plan to now!

If you love mythology and retellings of classics with a feminine twist, you will love this. Gut wrenching and emotional, but also filled with moments of warmth and clarity… and ooh even a bit of romance!

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an advanced copy through Netgalley.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

A.D. Rhine is a pseudonym for Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson, the co-authors of the Troy duology that began with Horses of Fire and culminated with Daughters of Bronze. I did not know this when I picked up Daughters of Bronze, and I have already ordered the first book in the series, because I MUST have the first part of the ladies' story. However, whether you've read The Iliad or not, you can read Daughters of Bronze as a standalone; there's plenty of backstory woven in to get the reader up to speed without feeling like you've missed anything.

Daughters of Bronze opens in the end of the Trojan war, when the Achaeans (the Greeks) have had Troy under siege for a decade. But all the traditional focus of the male warfare machine is background in this novel, which focuses instead on Andromache, Helen, Cassandra, and Rhea, in their respective stories, influences, and quests that both drive outcomes in the war and get swept along by forces they can't control.

Andromache, far from the meek wife of Hector presented in The Iliad, is the fierce Amazon tactician working in concert with her husband to protect the city. Not a native Trojan, Andromache battles the council's attitudes toward her "unnatural" proclivities toward war while she tries to save the city from a traitor, and her newborn son from Cassandra's dire vision.

Helen is a midwife in hiding from her abusive kidnapper, Paris, and struggles to follow her calling and talents to heal while valued only for her beauty, all the while deeply mourning the daughter she was forced to abandon.

It wasn't the god Apollo who abused Cassandra and drove her mad, tainting her psychic abilities and convincing her own mother to dismiss her, but someone much more corporeal. Now she bravely fights her inner demons to help save her brother and her nephew.

Rhea, a beloved servant of Andromache and Hector, is part of a wide net of women slaves in the Achaean camp spying for the Trojans. They are able to gather valuable intel and pass it to Andromache, who then strategizes with Hector on how best to use it to their advantage, because women are ignored as anything but nurses and sex slaves by the Achaeans. Rhea's loyalties are tested as she grows closer to Ajax, one of the greatest Achaean warriors.

These interwoven stories are utterly compelling and provide an entirely different view into the Trojan War, one that is realistic and unromanticized, by asking questions a male author would never ask. Why would a woman ever leave her child behind for lust? What would drive a teenage girl into madness? Who would be the best choices for spies in an enemy camp?

I loved this book. The writing is vivid and evocative, the scenes are heartbreaking (I mean, it's the Trojan War. There is plenty of heartbreak to go around.) and the end was far more satisfying than I anticipated, having read The Iliad. The women are all smart, motivated, capable people doing exactly what anyone would do in a war: trying to keep themselves and their city alive. There are no damsels in distress here, thank all the gods. Daughters of Bronze is the story of Troy I always wanted, and both books in this duology need to be in my library.

4.5 stars.

if you need air to breathe and have a heartbeat, chances are you know the general plot of The Illiad, so i'm going to keep it brief.

this is a beautiful retelling of the tragic story of the fall of Troy. but instead of focusing on the Trojan heroes, such as Achilles or Hector, the POV is shifted to focus on the women of Troy: Andromache (Hector's wife), Cassandra (Hector's seer sister), Helen (who is so hot that an entire 10 year war was fought over her), and Rhea (a servant--but more like sister/child--to Hector and Andromache).

all four women have their part to play in the war. so while you know where the story is headed, the ways in which these four women impact it are completely new. their collective strength comes from knowing that the men around them will always underestimate them and never suspect them. it's not farfetched. in fact, it makes you wonder if this paints a more accurate picture of the Trojan War.

if you love mythology and appreciate strong women, you'll love this.

thank you, penguin and netgalley for gifting me this lovely ARC!

I was not aware this was the second book in a duology so I would be unable to give an adequate review because of this.

This book was incredibly lengthy and overpacked with information. I tend to love Trojan war retellings, which is why I chose it, but I found this to be very complicated and took me way too long to get through. I think the characters were interesting and compelling, but not enough to add a star since I struggled so much to make myself get into this one. If you like dense historical retellings this is definitely the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great retelling and I really enjoyed this story. This was very well written and gripping.

I loved A.D. Rhine's "Horses of Fire" and "Daughters of Bronze" is a powerful follow-up. This richly evocative retelling of the Trojan War is from the perspectives of the women who shaped its course. Each character—Andromache, Rhea, Helen, and Cassandra—brings a fresh and compelling voice to the timeless legend, revealing the strength, loyalty, and resilience required to navigate a world dominated by war and loss. This is a masterful blend of myth and history that breathes new life into these familiar stories, highlighting the emotional depth and complexity of its characters. I found this book to be heart-wrenching and captivating, and a serious must-read for fans of historical fiction and Greek mythology alike.

Book: Daughters of Bronze
Author: A.D. Rhine
Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Dutton, for sending me an ARC. This book has so much going for it. It is a retelling of the Trojan War, featuring some famous and not famous characters. We get to see the Trojan War as told by the women who were there. I struggled to get into this one. I think I am getting tired of Greek retellings.

In this one, we follow a group of women during the Trojan War. Lost within the timeless verses of Homer’s epic, the women of Troy finally step into the light. Their untold stories will forever alter the fate of the city. Andromache, a proven leader, must navigate her new role as mother to Troy's long-awaited heir. With threats looming ever closer, she faces the challenge of uniting a fractured city for a final stand. Rhea, a Trojan spy, finds herself unexpectedly falling for someone from the enemy camp. As the battle lines are drawn, she must grapple with her loyalties and the sacrifices she’s willing to make. Helen has from the broken captive she once was. Given a second chance, she must shed her past sorrows and use her healing abilities to protect Troy’s greatest hope. Cassandra, burdened by visions of Troy’s fate, knows that truth is only as powerful as the one who speaks it—and her insights have long been dismissed. But soon, everything will change. One hero will rise, another will fall, and this time, Cassandra will finally be heard.
The author masterfully reimagines the tales of Troy, weaving a rich tapestry that highlights the strength and resilience of its women. Initially, I struggled to immerse myself in the narrative, as the complex interplay of characters and their histories felt overwhelming. However, as I persisted, the layers of emotion and depth began to reveal themselves, transforming my reading experience.
The characterization is particularly commendable. Andromache’s evolution into a leader grappling with motherhood is both poignant and relatable. Rhea’s internal conflict between love and loyalty adds a compelling tension, while Helen’s journey of healing showcases the power of personal transformation. Cassandra, often sidelined in traditional narratives, shines as a voice of truth, and her story resonates deeply, highlighting the theme of being heard in a world that frequently silences women.
The prose is rich and evocative, immersing the reader in the vibrant yet tragic world of Troy. The author’s ability to blend historical context with powerful emotional arcs keeps you engaged, even if the initial chapters feel like a daunting climb. By the end, I found myself not just invested in the fate of these women, but also in the broader implications of their choices.
However, I found myself struggling to keep the characters straight, as their voices often blurred together. While I appreciated the attempt to showcase strong female figures, I was left wanting more depth and distinctiveness in their portrayals.
Andromache, Rhea, Helen, and Cassandra each have compelling stories, but their personalities sometimes feel too similar, making it challenging to differentiate their unique struggles and motivations. I wanted to connect with them on a deeper level, yet the lack of distinct voices made it difficult to fully engage with their arcs. Their strengths were clear, but their journeys could have benefited from more nuanced development.
The narrative does shine in its exploration of themes like loyalty, leadership, and healing, but it often feels like the characters are not fully fleshed out. Each woman faces significant challenges, yet their responses and growth felt somewhat generic, missing the complexity that would have truly set them apart. I found myself wishing for richer backstories and deeper emotional insights to enhance my connection to their experiences.
Despite these challenges, the book does have moments of brilliance, particularly in its portrayal of Troy’s struggles. However, I believe a more robust characterization would have elevated the story further, allowing readers to truly appreciate the unique strengths and voices of these women. Overall, while the premise is intriguing and the themes resonate, a bit more depth and clarity in the characters would have made for a more compelling read.
This book is a testament to the strength of female voices in a well-trodden epic. It challenges perceptions and invites readers to reconsider the roles of women in history, making it a rewarding read for those who stick with it. Once I embraced the journey, I discovered a powerful narrative that left me both heartbroken and hopeful. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a fresh perspective on the tales of Troy.

Daughters of Bronze is an interesting take on the Trojan War told from the perspective of the women of Troy.. This is the second book of a duology, the first is Horses of Fire, but it works as a stand alone.

This retelling delves into the the people behind the famous men of the Trojan War - the women of Troy still had to carry on and keep the city running while the war is going on.

I was thoroughly captivated by Daughters of Bronze, just as I was with Horses of Fire! The author's remarkable writing evokes deep emotions, making this retelling of the Trojan War a powerful experience. This installment delves into the perspectives of key female characters, offering an authentic interpretation that adds fresh depth to the well-known story. Without revealing too much, I can say that the portrayal of the characters and their intricate relationships is beautifully crafted. The bond among the women and their readiness to sacrifice for one another is profoundly moving. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys historical fiction; it’s a must-read for its rich storytelling and emotional resonance!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin House for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinions!