I was happy to check Helen's Judgement out after really enjoying the first book in the series, Clytemnestra's Bind. While it was definitely a solid, well written story, I sadly didn't enjoy it as much as the first installment.
The main reason was that, while in the first I got really attached to Clytemnestra, here I struggled a little with Helen. While I mostly sympathized with her, and understood her actions even if I often didn't agree with them, she didn't leave a lasting impression on me.
Another reason I didn't completely love the book was the fact that, while half of it followed Helen, the other half followed Achilles. On one hand, I understand why the author made this choice, because having the whole book told through Helen's eyes would have been probably a little boring and Achilles' narration gives us a view of the Greeks. However, I never cared for Achilles (not only here, but in general - I must be the only one), and I would have much preferred another point of view's, possibly a woman's (Briseis?).
Still, the problems I had with the book were mostly a matter of personal preference and, as I said, the story was definitely well written, with some very raw, painful moments, and an especially powerful ending which I really didn't see coming.
I'm looking forward to the next installment, where hopefully my darling Clytemnestra will come back and get her revenge.

The beautiful princess Helen is married off to Menelaus of the house Atreus and torn away rather harshly from her former life in Sparta. Menelaus is not a bad husband, but Helen would rather have accepted the young Achilles his proposal. When Prince Paris of Troy comes to stay with them, he sets his eye on her. Hoping for a better life, Helen decides to go with him to Troy, upon which Menelaus' brother Agamemnon sees his chance to start a war.

I really enjoyed Wilson's first book about Clythemnestra (Clythemnestra's bind), which really added something to the genre and is perhaps my favorite Clythemnestra book (and there are so many!). So I had high hopes for this book, the sequel. Although I didn't expect that a book about Helen was actually going to be a complete retelling of the Trojan War.

Besides Helen, Achilles is a dominant perspective in this book. Why Achilles again, no idea. The problem is that this makes this story begin to look very much like “A song for Achilles” and “The silence of the girls" where both Achilles is a dominant character.

Helen is a rather shallow character at times and Paris is a sex-crazed good-for-nothing. Those two, I don't like them and no book manages to change my opinion :). Achilles, in turn, is an ambitious young man blinded by his love for Patroclus. He too is not my favorite character. If this had been the very first retelling of the Iliad I read, I would have loved this book. Now I mostly have a “I have already read this” feeling. I would have loved to have read from Menelaus, Agamemnon, Hecabe, Priam or Cassandra's perspective...

However, there are some 'new' little elements in the story. Like the dramatic circumstances of Helen's marriage to Menelaus, Agamemnon himself provoking Helen's robbery, Helen's betrayal and her end. I also liked the role of Calchas and his daughter Astynome, though it is unfortunate when they suddenly disappear from the plot.

I wonder if Wilson will write a third book about the House of Atreus. I suspect we will go back to Clythemnestra and both Cassandra and Elektra will play a role (a bit like Saint's Elektra). I also read in the note afterwards that Wilson wrote this book first and then Clythemnestra's bind, so in that case I have every hope that her next novel will be even more interesting.

This is not a bad book to start reading about the Trojan War, but if you have already read other retelling about it you can skip this one.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

s also as intimate as can be as it spears Helen’s life and lays it bare'.

Epic and intimate - this is exactly how I like my historical fiction. It's what I love to read, and it's what I endeavour to write. I'm a huge admirer of Sigrid Undset and of Robert Graves' Claudius novels. These two writers give us the emotions, the personal lives, the family dramas. We get the bigger picture, too, the seismic events encroaching on the characters' worlds.

as a greek, its hard to come across a retelling that I enjoy. this was good, and if goodreads wasn't insufferable I'd give it more specifically 3.5 - whilst this was about Helen, it often fled from her. Equally, like most retellings, the focus is on the drama, the tragedy, and whilst thats accurate to our mythology, our mythology in almost ALL retellings I've ever read is missing the beauty, the joy. With all books, my angle is if there is deep sadness there is also deep contentment; not in the artificial form of victories but pure, genuine happiness. and that's just missing, as always in retellings, from this. Still yet - it was written well and I had some quotes I absolutely loved.

The second novel in The House of Atreus trilogy, I have been looking forward to reading it since picking up Clytemnestra’s Bind last year.

Like its predecessor, this book brings alive history and myth, sharing the author’s passion for ancient Greece. While Clytemnestra’s story was new to me, that of her sister Helen – thought to have been the most beautiful woman in the world – is one I was already familiar with.

Married to King Menelaus of Sparta, she ran away with (or was abducted by, according to which side you listen to) prince Paris of Troy, thus causing the (in)famous Trojan war.

While I somewhat struggled with the gory details of the war and the deaths it left in its wake, I loved seeing the events from Helen’s point of view. Normally portrayed as an object of beauty to be fought over, the author gives her a voice, a heart and her own mind.

I also loved that the other eyes we see these events through are those of Achilles, as I have a soft spot for him and Patroclus.

I can’t wait to read the next (and last) book in the trilogy!

Thank you to Neem Tree Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 Stars.

Helen’s Judgement, the second installment in the House of Atreus series, is a gripping retelling of the Trojan War that can be read as a standalone. I have not yet read Clytemnestra’s Bind but that did not hinder the reading experience nor my understanding.

The story alternates between the perspectives of Helen and Achilles, offering a balanced exploration of both the Trojan and Achaean sides of the conflict. Spanning from their adolescence, the narrative delves into the motivations of both characters: Helen’s longing for the familial warmth she lost, which drives her to escape with Paris, and Achilles’ relentless desire for glory despite knowing the fatal prophecy that shadows his path.

What really stands out is how raw and unflinching this retelling is. There’s no romanticising the Trojan War here, Wilson dives into the brutality of it, especially the toll it takes on women.
Helen’s character is richly developed, moving beyond just "the face that launched a thousand ships," to reveal a nuanced figure driven by longing and survival. Achilles, on the other hand, brings the grit of battle, always torn between his thirst for glory and his loyalty to his family. Their perspectives balance each other well—Helen’s introspection contrasts with Achilles’ focus on the war itself.

The pacing dips a bit around the middle, but the climax more than makes up for it. All in all, Helen’s Judgement is a gritty, compelling take on the Trojan War, with well-developed characters and a fresh perspective on familiar myths. I can’t wait to read Clytemnestra’s Bind and any further instalments in this series.

I loved getting to know Helen more. There have been so many stories about her but not actually about her. So this was a pleasant and enjoyable read to get to know more.

I want to read more from Susan

Helen’s Judgement offers a compelling retelling of the legendary story of Helen of Troy, casting a fresh light on her infamous decision to leave her child and husband, Menelaus, for her lover, Paris. Haunted by guilt and the consequences of her actions, Helen seeks solace and a new life in Troy, hoping to reclaim the sense of family she lost when she married Menelaus. However, her estranged husband’s fury knows no bounds, and he raises a vast army to bring her back by force.

Told from two perspectives—Helen's own and Achilles'—the book skilfully weaves together both the Trojan and Achaean sides of the conflict. Helen's viewpoint allows readers to understand her inner turmoil, the judgement she faces from all sides, and her struggle to find where her true loyalties lie. Achilles’ perspective provides a fascinating insight into the Achaean campaign, adding depth and balance to the narrative.

What makes Helen’s Judgement stand out is its nuanced portrayal of Helen, who is often seen in myth as a mere symbol of beauty or betrayal. Here, she is a fully realised character, torn between love, duty, and the desire for safety in a world ruled by power and war. The tension builds as Helen must face the consequences of her choices, not just from the armies clashing over her fate, but also from within herself.

The book’s exploration of loyalty, identity, and the weight of personal decisions breathes new life into the ancient tale, making it feel both intimate and epic. Helen's Judgement is a well-crafted and engaging retelling, perfect for readers who enjoy mythology with emotional depth and complex characters.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

I read this in one sitting - it's a familiar story but well told from the perspective of Helen and Achilles, the two great characters in the Trojan War. In this, Helen's judgement takes twists and turns as she seeks out what she thinks is a better life with Paris but as things go increasingly bad, their relationship suffers andshe looks back on what she has done with regret and tries to engineer events so she can return home. But it's a brutal time for women and none of women in this tale come out well. It's a rugged and sharply felt tale and I would recommend it.

Great retelling of the story of Helen of Troy. The story is told from two perspectives, Helen herself and Achilles, whose viewpoint enables the Achaean side to be told.

Helen, is portrayed as a young woman very much disillusioned with her life and future, after she is suddenly betrothed to Menelaus. She wishes to have a marriage like the family she grew up in, failing to see that she could have had this, if not for the way in which she was forced to marry Menelaus and (of course) traumatised by the incessantly awful Agamemnon and his exploits. She enters her marriage resentfully and is perpetually disappointed. Menelaus cares for Helen and their daughter Hemione but, in this story, he is portrayed as fairly meek and nothing like his brother and Helen keeps him emotionally at arms length during their marriage.

When young Paris of Troy sweeps her off her feet Helen feels this is her chance to have the kind of marriage she dreamed of, intoxicating, passionate and loving. We all know the Trojan war comes next, devastating both sides of the war. Helen is left in an impossible situation, knowing she is blamed by both sides of the fighting and fighting for her own survival.

Helen is portrayed as a more rounded character in this tale, most seem to make her quite weak. She handles the hostility well and continues to try to integrate herself into her Trojan life and new family. I enjoyed reading her perspective and enjoyed the counterbalance of Achilles. I felt for Helen throughout this book as she was had any say in her own future taken from her, married off and couldn’t see what she could have had if things had been different and she had not been so opposed to Melelaus from the off (understandably so but still..)

I enjoyed this book and I’ll be looking to read Clytemnestra’s Bind as well. Thanks to NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for an ARC of this book. This is an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. I want to state upfront that I DNF this book at 10% after realizing it wasn't the right book for me.

I usually do love Greek mythology retellings, especially when they are connected to the Trojan War and its surrounding stories. But with this one I found that I have to push myself to keep reading it. The writing style isn't exactly my cup of tea and the changes in the particular myths of Helen and Achilles aren't my jam either. I do understand that it's a retelling and that the author is absolutley valid in making any changes she wants but for me, personally, it wasn't it.

I do apologize for not finishing the book but I'd rather DNF it now than finish it reluctantly and having to give a low rating. I don't rate books on social media that I haven't finished so it will be the same with Helen's Judgement. Since I have to pick a rating here in NetGalley I'm choosing three stars to be somewhere in the middle. I'm sure other readers will enjoy the book more but at this moment it just wasn't right for me.