be still my greek mythology-loving heart.

i've read plenty of retellings of the trojan war (and i will continue to read them all because I am insane) but a lot of them are either too detached and end up reading as very info heavy or they get too invested in their own story and derail completely from the original tale. this one was definitely trying to avoid being either of those but it did end up with a new problem in that it was trying to do too much into one story. by trying to connect all these iconic women from the era into one somewhat coherent trail, it became overly complex and messy.
a lot of the writing itself was beautiful it was just unfortunate it was buried in pages of drawn-out verse.

i do want to specifically call out how necessary telling the stories of the greek women is and how difficult it can be. so much of the original myths is centred around the men and told in a way that either diminishes the women or makes them slaves to the dominating men around them., literally or not. while i may not have connected with this book in particular, the story that rhine is telling is an important one and the women they wrote about deserve to have their voices heard just as much as the men around them.

thanks to penguin group dutton and netgalley for the arc!

In Daughters of Bronze we enter the Trojan War in the tenth and final year of fighting. Andromache is due to give birth to Troy's heir any day, and yet she still is trying to convince King Priam and the council to make a big push in the fighting to save her city. Rhea is still scurrying through the shadows to gather information from the Achaean camp as a spy, yet her heart begins to pull her in different directions as she grows closer to the gentle giant on the enemy side. Helen has been locked away by Paris and presumed dead, yet she awaits a chance to escape. Cassandra does her best to decipher the visions of the future she sees, and tries to pull the right threads to change fate in a way that can save those she loves.

I was so excited to receive this as an ARC, I loved Horses of Fire so much! This is a great ending to the duology, and a wonderful retelling of the fall of Troy. Strong female characters are always so fun to read, especially when surrounded by warriors and kings who do their best to overlook them. I enjoyed all of the women highlighted, each viewpoint is so unique and they have so much depth. It is also interesting to see Rhea's quiet strength next to Andromache's commanding authority. Rhea's storyline was one of my favorites, her conflict was so well written and really highlights how there can be good in people no matter which side of the conflict they are on. I like how this duology doesn't follow the story of the Iliad exactly as we know it, the variances are so perfectly crafted and keep such a well-known story engaging. The Author's Note at the end does a great job of explaining some of the reasoning behind the changes they made and was really interesting.

I look forward to reading anything else this duo writes! I think all fans of Greek Mythology would enjoy this version. There is less focus on the Gods and Goddesses, it reads more like historical fiction, but the way it follows these female characters is so captivating to read. While this is the second book, you could easily read it as a stand-alone (especially if you are familiar with the Trojan War.) You would, however, be missing out on an incredible first book though! I received this book as an ARC from Dutton and NetGalley for my opinions.

4.5 stars rounded up

For anyone that loves Mythological tales retold, I would almost categorize Daughters of Bronze as a must read. I found the inter-weaving of these classic characters' stories masterful, equal parts heartbreaking and thrilling. Outwardly but quietly feminist, this tale of the end of the Trojan War told from the angle of the women involved was so refreshing, particularly because the Trojan War is not a particularly uncovered story.

I very, very much enjoyed this novel and encourage you to read it, if it seems of interest. As this is my first A.D. Rhine novel, their other won't be far behind on my TBR.

Thank you so much to Penguin Group / Dutton and Netgalley for this free review copy!

#netgalley #daughtersofbronze #penguingroup

It wasn’t until I had started Daughters of Bronze that I realized A.D. Rhine – the pen name for writing duo Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson – had already published another novel, Horses of Fire and it wasn’t until I had finished Daughters of Bronze that I learned that the pair were intended as a duology. The novel itself stands so strongly on its own that it is a thoroughly enjoyable and strong story without having read the first in the pair. Of course, some of that is down to the fact that it is a strong and engaging retelling of a familiar tale so a lot of the backstory that’s needed can be found elsewhere and readers might already have that knowledge going into it (especially if, like me, they’ve been on a mythology kick). Daughters of Bronze actually goes a long way to making various elements of the story of the Trojan War a little more believable, taking familiar aspects of the story and shifting things just enough for them to still ring true but in new ways.

The time for Andromache to give birth draws near and she chafes at her inability to get her father-in-law Priam and his council to take her suggestions for how to execute the war seriously. Of course, they don’t know about Rhea and the ring of spies she has passing her information from the Achaean camps. Cassandra does what she can to act on the different paths forward she sees, freeing Helen from a captivity imposed by Paris and assisting with the birth of her nephew. But the futures she sees don’t always draw a clear line between events and sometimes she sees what she wishes to see. While among the Achaeans, Rhea is must face the fact that getting to know Troy’s enemies to pass along information also humanizes them and not all of them are bad men. As it becomes clearer that Troy cannot win the war and that collapse is inevitable, these women fight to preserve at least one small hope for Troy’s future beyond the war and the death and destruction that awaits them.

The beginning of the novel didn’t strike me as abrupt or unusual in any way as I read it, but after learning that Daughters of Bronze is the second book in a duology the point at which it starts and the approach do make more sense. Switching between the four women’s perspectives, they all must confront the knowledge that there is nothing more to be done to win the war. As women, they know they are likely to physically survive the collapse of the city, becoming part of the spoils divvied up afterward (though that survival is less of a certainty for Helen). Knowing what they face in the “after” period, how they respond to the approaching collapse of the city as leaders, as mothers, as friends, shows the true depths of their strength and determination.

Sacrifice and revenge, grief and hope are on display from more than just the female characters as the authors draw from The Iliad and play with elements that don’t always make sense on the surface. By stripping out the aggrandizement and exaggeration of such source material and layering more humanity into the gaps, they create something far more complex and realistic – tragic and hopeful in its relatability. Placing human resentments, pride, and grief at the source of the conflict and contrasting it with the strength of love willing to sacrifice personal safety, comfort, and even dignity, Daughters of Bronze creates a version of the fall of Troy that resonates.

Easily my favorite greek mythology retelling of all time, and one of my favorite books this year. The sentence structure is incredibly lyrical and you're so easily empathetic to the characters that you'll be sobbing at points.

I enjoyed reading the separate POV's of women in a very known Greek timeframe. I think it added a new and fresh aspect to the story and was cool to see how women worked behind the scenes (as they often do). However, I felt the pacing was really slow, which made it a bit hard to get through.

Something just didn't sit right with me when I was reading this.I was just a bit bored by it I think.The writing is lovely though I mostly found each individual's story interesting, insightful and terrifying but I felt a bit cheated not really hearing the men's voices.I guess I really just love the action in the Iliad.While this isn't suppose to be a retelling I thought it was a nice little change if you want to hear Andromache,Cassandra,Rhea or Helen a little more clearly.

Wow! What a fantastic display of depth and courage of the heroes and heroines of Troy. I truly felt transported back in time as though I was living alongside these incredible women who shaped the mythology and history as we know it today.

A.D. Rhine does a masterful job at addressing all complexities of the original epic while at the same time weaving new stories and plot lines that left me tearful and wishing for more.

Unbeknownst to me, I picked up this book thinking it was a standalone, so I have not yet read Horses of Fire. However, I still felt deeply connected to each character and was never lost in the plot, so I can only imagine how much better it would’ve been had I read the first book.

This was the conclusion to the duology retelling of the Iliad/Trojan War. It was beautifully written and I liked it even better than the first! I really enjoyed the multiple POVs, the strong female characters, the efforts the authors made in making it historically accurate for the time in which the myth would have taken, and all of the relationships (friendship, enemy, and romantic!).

I recommend this for anyone who loves Greek mythology or historical fiction!

3.5
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the early copy of the book. First for the positives: I really enjoyed the depiction of women associated with the Trojan War and the twist they give to the myth that adds layers to the original story. I also feel like the authors note (worth reading) sheds light o nto the reasons for certain narrative choices that helped me understand the authors mindset. The last quarter of the book really worked well. Now for the drawbacks: number 1 is that this is not labeled clearly in Goodreads and other apps as the second book of a duology. Thankfully, I don't think not reading book one affected my opinion much, but if it is a duology, it should be labeled as such. Second is the pacing really dragged in the middle for me.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton for this ARC Copy!

I will start off by saying that I read a lot of Mythology and this is one of the most interesting that I have read this year. This reimagining of the Illiad in which we are following 4 different women of Troy and seeing their side of the brutal story was done in an interesting and beautiful way. We are able to see the brutality of the war and the world that they are in while also seeing the softer side, and how the women showed just as much strength as the great heroes of the original story.

Thank you to Dutton and A.D. Rhine for this ARC.

Give me all the Greek mythology retellings. Seriously, I can read this all day, every day. When I got approved for this ARC on Netgalley, I squealed with delight, and wow, oh, wow, did this live up to my expectations.

🏺 What did you love the most?
The fact that A.D. Rhine chose to re-tell the Iliad from only women’s POVs is genius. Normally, in Greek and Roman retellings, the women are often blamed for *literally * everything and are often regarded as meaningless side characters. In Daughter of Bronze, we see that the women are orchestrating everything from behind the scenes (sound familiar?) and are some of the most genius, crafty characters I have encountered. From spies to Amazonian warriors to sisters and mothers, these intense relationship dynamics are all set against the backdrop of war.

🏺 What to expect:
⚔️Multiple, only-women POVs
⚔️Politics and war setting
⚔️Graphic violence (battle scenes)

🏺 Do I need to read the series in order?
This was not promoted as the second book in a duology, so I had no idea it was not a stand-alone book. However, I have a lot of background knowledge about the Iliad, so I was able to jump into the storyline with no issue. However, if you do not know this story well, I recommend starting with Book 1, Horses of Fire.

🏺 How was the pace?
Fast. This book picks up in the middle of a war, not the beginning, so you get non-stop scheming, death, and action.

🏺 Do you recommend this book?
Please, please, please, read book 1 before diving into this one. I am definitely going back to read book 1 because 1. the writing is phenomenal, 2. the story is compelling, and 3. I want to know the backstory of the characters in this novel. If you love Greek retellings and want a feminine twist on the Illiad, read Daughters of Bronze.
4.5/5

At the beginning of the month I read the first book, Horses of Fire and was immediately drawn into the storytelling. History is often ruled by stories of men, but what of the women? This is a duology that takes the great legends of Troy and comes at you from the perspective of four women: Helen, Andromache, Rhea and Cassandra.

Alternating between each women’s point of view we get a complex and deep look at the inner workings of this great city, women are valued for their beauty over ability but as the story unfolds we see how without them Troy didn’t stand a chance.

Breaking rules, tradition and no longer asking permissions the women shape history. Daughters of the Bronze picks up right where we left off but the stakes are much higher and prophecy plays a bigger role.

I was on the edge of my seat start to finish. These authors nailed this story.

The authors of Daughters of Bronze describe this novel as an epic “myth meets historical fiction” in which they crafted the well known story of Troy into a series of plausible events focused through the lens of the women of Troy, Andromache, Helen, Rhea, and Cassandra.

The portrayal of these women and their experiences felt real and raw. While this wasn't a light read, it was fascinating to see the women’s lives unfold. As a mother, I loved seeing the emphasis of how a mother’s love can bring hope to us all, even in the darkest of times. The constant but subtle foreboding of terrible events served to color the tale with a sense of reality.

I highly recommend this one to anyone looking for an intense read with interests in women’s issues, history, and mythology.

Thank you, Dutton Books and NetGalley, for providing me with this thought-provoking and powerful read.

Daughters of Bronze by A.D. Rhine is a captivating historical fiction novel inspired by the Iliad, offering a fresh perspective on the Trojan War through the eyes of its women. As a sequel to Forests of Fire, the story begins in a way that might be challenging for new readers. However, familiarity with the events of the Trojan War makes it easier to follow.

The novel centers on four formidable women (Rhea, Cassandra, Helen, and Andromache) each brought to life with courage, wisdom, and intelligence. I particularly appreciated the nuanced portrayal of Helen, showcasing her as more than just a symbol of beauty. The authors' decision to explore the tragedy of war through women's experiences adds a poignant and thought-provoking layer to the narrative. Additionally, the acknowledgment that every side in war has both good and bad people adds moral complexity that enriches the story.

A.D. Rhine has crafted a beautifully written tragedy, and I thoroughly enjoyed this reimagining of the Trojan War.

This book was a beautiful woven tapestry. This is a great conclusion to the story set in the first book. While some may start this book without having read the first, the authors leave just enough detail to jog the memory of those that have read the first one and those who are just beginning to read their stories. I thought each character was given enough time to grow on and off page. The beginning I zipped through, while the middle, around the 40% mark dragged a bit, I was delightfully rewarded with an ending that wraps everything so devastatingly well. The authors really know how to set a mood and have you feeling the various emotions each character feels and witnesses. I did not feel like each character was a carbon copy of the others, they each had their own distinctive voice. I'm glad I was given early access to this book, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

I have not been captured by a book in a long time. A.D. Rhine has a special way of breathing life into the characters in Daughters of Bronze. Giving Helen a center stage of why and how she was taken to the city of Troy personifies her as a person and not just “Helen of Troy” whose beauty started wars. I couldn’t recommend this book more.

The second book in a duology about the Trojan war, this novel features Helen, Andromache and Rhea's POVs, with Cassandra rounding out the cast.
Told from each woman's perspective, we finally get a look at the Trojan War that makes more sense than a great wooden horse and gods, goddesses & demigods. A hopeful ending to a tragic historic event. The women, as always, are the real heroes.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for this e-arc.*

Full disclosure: I was given a free eARC copy of this book by Dutton Marketing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Since I published my review of "The Shadow of Perseus" by Claire Heywood, I’ve read plenty of retellings of Greek mythology. I have always enjoyed that subject ever since I took a mythology class in high school. One of the things that we did was read parts of "The Iliad" by Homer – the epic story about the Trojan War. It was quite enlightening. A tale like that deserves plenty of retellings, including today’s subject "Daughters of Bronze: A Novel of Troy" by A.D. Rhine (the pseudonym of authors Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson). It’s a wonderful feminist take on the classic epic with its theatricality, understanding of Greek mythology, and the female characters that are brought to the forefront.

"Daughters of Bronze: A Novel of Troy" follows four women in the midst of the Trojan War. Andromache the Amazon has proven herself to be a capable leader, but can she maintain that status now that she’s the mother to the city’s long-awaited heir? She must bring together a divided city in time to make a final stand. Rhea is a Trojan spy, but she never expected to find love behind enemy lines. When the final battle lines are drawn, she must decide where her loyalties lie and how much she’s willing to lose. Helen is no longer the broken woman Paris took to Troy. She must cast off her shroud of grief and use her healing gifts to save Troy’s greatest hope. Cassandra has seen Troy’s fate. However, she knows that the truth is only as valuable as the person who tells it, and only a few in Troy value her. All that is about to change. One hero will rise, and another will fall, and Cassandra will have her say. All four shed unexpected light on the legend of Troy.

This novel is actually the second book in the duology that began with 'Horses of Fire." I didn’t realize this while reading it, but one can still read it as a stand alone.

One of the things that stood out to me was its theatricality. It’s rightfully dramatic because the story is based on one of the most famous legends of all time. The stakes are high since it takes place during a war; therefore, the reactions and emotions are going to be heightened. For example, much of "The Iliad" and "Daughters of Bronze" lead up to the fight between Hector – Andromache’s husband – and Achilles. For those who have read both, Andromache has a perfectly reasonable reaction to Hector’s fate. It also paid tribute to the spirit of ancient Greek theatre not only with the heightened emotions, but also with the intent. The purpose of theatre in ancient Greek times was to show both sides of an issue. For instance, when Hector is looking to go and fight Achilles, Andromache tries to dissuade him since she has just as much of a say in what happens in Troy as much as the heir to the Trojan throne. He counteracts this with his own reasons.

Moreover, Cowles and Stinson have a great understanding of Greek mythology. They clearly did a lot of research while making this and "Horses of Fire" that they were able to infuse it naturally in the story. For example, there were moments, in which Cassandra was sitting in a bathtub while the characters were strategizing, and I immediately thought, “That’s not foreshadowing her demise. NO! Not all!”

Furthermore, the authors use their knowledge to explore certain underlying elements. Even though the gods don’t play a major role in the novel, many of the characters invoke them in a general sense since the Achaens believed in how they controlled fate. At the same time, many, especially Cassandra, are also aware that they have a say in their destinies.

And of course, I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t mention the characters in this book. The Iliad featured moments of character development from various women so much so that scholars have postulated that Homer was a woman. This carries over to Daughters of Bronze since the women are fantastically developed. Each has their own motivations. Andromache wants to prove her leadership now that she’s a mother. Rhea desires a sense of belonging while with Ajax. Helen strives to make it known that she has more strength than people realize, and Cassandra wants people to believe her visions. In addition, I love how they work with each other and how their relationships change during the course of the novel. While these characters were great, my favorite was Cassandra. She has a gift for seeing into the future, yet rarely anybody believes her. Luckily, our protagonists do even if it means death and destruction for Troy. Cassandra even provokes Andromache’s ire when she puts her son in danger.

"Daughters of Bronze: A Novel of Troy" by A.D. Rhine is a wonderful retelling of The Iliad from a feminist perspective. I love how dramatic it is given the source material and how the authors understood Greek mythology. Most importantly, Andromache, Rhea, Helen, and Cassandra are fantastically fleshed out characters, and I enjoyed seeing them interact with each other. It’s no surprise that it’s been getting rave reviews from various readers. I would recommend it for those who love Greek mythology, feminist versions of famous tales, and reading about the Trojan War and the legend of Troy. "Daughters of Bronze: A Novel of Troy" will be out Tuesday, November 26, so go grab it wherever you get your books.

This is a female-focused retelling of the last year of the Trojan War. It’s told in four different POVs of women who had a direct effect on the battle. Andromache, the Amazon warrior wife to Hector, Helen, Paris’ wife/prisoner, Cassandra, Paris and Hector's sister, who has visions, and Rhea, a girl who lives with Hector and Andromache. I love the feminism that is woven into the story and how all the women look out for each other.

The character I connected with most is Andromache. The scene of her giving birth is so powerful. If you have ever given birth, that scene will resonate with you. Rhea is so great at being an informant for Andromache until she falls in love with the enemy. Her relationship with Ajax is very interesting. Cassandra’s POV confused me the most just because of her visions. I wasn’t a fan of her chapters. Helen is a unique character and her healer skills are amazing. In this retelling, she is portrayed as a victim and prisoner to Paris.

There were points in the story where I was confused, but that is because I am not super familiar with the Battle of Troy and all the warriors involved in it. The beginning seemed slower to me, but I sped through the end of the book. Wish I would have known this was a sequel to another book. However, it can be read as a standalone.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this eARC to review. All opinions are my own. This is available on November 26, 2024.

Read if you like:
👧 Strong female characters
🎭 Greek mythology and history
💔 Heavy emotions and heartbreak