Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood is a debut and it is a retelling of the classic greek mythology of Helen of Troy - who I am a bit familiar with. I have to be honest though that Greek mythology is outside of my usual reading and not something I gravitate towards.
From the little that I know about Helen and I know even less about her sister Klytemenstra, from what I can tell, the difference with this retelling is that the story is told from their perspective. I do like when writers give voice to women who in history have had no voice. The story is about family, marriage, betrayal, war, but for me, because of the way the story is told, it’s really about these characters and I think in some ways takes for granted that you know all of the other details.
This is a very character driven novel which I don’t mind. For me this was ok. I liked it but I didn’t love it.

I'm not sure why my review didn't go through the first time, but I just saw this and wanted to send it in again. This was such a pleasant surprise and I wish it had gained more traction but hopefully with continued Word of Mouth it could become a sleeper hit or at least something that people would recommend along with any of Madeline Miller's titles. Very highly recommended2

How to even describe this heartbreaking story of womanhood set to the events leading up to and the duration of the Trojan war. Daughters of Sparta follow Helen and Klytemnestra, two sisters who could not be more different in their wants and choices and yet both of them made victims of the choices the men around them made, and villainized for the moments they "have the audacity" to take control of their own lives and ask for what they want. The story being set to a backdrop many of us already know provides a complex exploration of gender roles as these two very real feeling characters try to navigate the world they are in. Only thing keeping me from giving this 5 stars is the pacing was rough at times.

This book is perfect for anyone who:
- Loves feminist retellings of Greek Myths
- Wants a fictional story that feels like non fiction
- has the desire to fight Agamemnon on sight

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to access this book early! I love Greco-Roman retellings and these are always so much fun to read. It seems like the big thing right now is Greco-Roman retellings - especially female retellings (and I am not complaining).

From Saint's "Ariadne" to Barkers "The Silence of Girls", if you love reading mythology retellings, you will love this book. This particular story focusses on Klytemnestra and Helen, sisters and princesses of Sparta who enter into marriages with cruel and powerful brothers. This is the story of them and how they try to take power back and end up making waves in the process.

very dry but intelligent addition to the wave of Greek mythology retellings. not the most exciting prose but very grounded and a compassionate, nuanced take on Helen, so refreshing in that sense

Entertaining and interesting retelling. I was engrossed from the start. I entered my reading journey with zero expectations. I wish the characters were developed further and Klytemnestra and Helen portrayed as stronger less passive women. The two women came across as bland and empty when they could have been so much more. I also felt the writing language was far too modern. Despite my minor personal grievances, this was still an enjoyable read and I appreciate Heywood’s point of view. Retellings are not easy, nonetheless, Heywood’s knowledge of mythology was noticed. Formidable for an inauguration novel. Interested in Heywood’s next perspective.

“But you must strike while the bronze is hot, while the suitors are still so enraptured by the idea of Helen that they have fooled themselves into thinking they have a chance.”

I loved "Daughters of Sparta". I loved how Claire Heywood gave us a childhood and sisterly perspective to Helen and Klytemnestra. Heywood really filled in gaps of certain logistical points and the perspectives. I am still more compelled by Klytemnestra's story (she may be considered a villain but who can blame her!). I'm still waiting for a slightly more compelling story for Helen.

This is more or less a retelling of the Iliad but we skip all the war parts and focus on mostly before the war and the end of the war. Heywood explores position of greek women - the failures of husbands and the need to secure an heir and really gives a rounded personality to the women.

Overall, a lovely perspective and I cannot wait to read more of Heywood's work.

An enjoyable fictionalized account of the story of Helen of Troy. This was an easy read and held my attention throughout. I especially enjoyed learning about the other people involved in the story that don’t usually get as much focus in the retelling. Thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Historical novels about the ancient Greeks and Romans seem to be enjoying a good deal of popularity at the moment. I have read Ariadne, Elektra and Pandora’s Jar, to name just a few. I have also spent time with Stephen Fry’s retellings of the Greek myths. I wonder if, as our world, seems increasingly unsettled, authors and readers turn to other complex times either for answers or to remember that there have been many other complicated historical eras.

In Daughters of Sparta, Ms. Heywood tells her version of the story about the ever famous Helen and her sister Klytemnestra. Their fates were entwined and the story told here is involving. How did these young girls lives become the subject of love, war, revenge and mythology? Find out in this historical novel. Ms. Heywood does a good job of bringing their world to life.

Many thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I enjoyed both narrators and the author took on a sweeping epic in a kind of domestic novel way; the women's voices were distinct and I was left with a lot of feelings of ambivalence after observing their actions throughout the novel.

I have always loved stories of Greek mythology, so my opinion may be a little bit biased when I say that I really enjoyed this book. Helen and Klytemnestra were such interesting characters to get to know and follow as they grow up as very close sisters and move on to start their own lives apart from each other. This is a very character-driven story and is a pretty straightforward and enjoyable read that I would highly recommend.

Greek mythology is something that always ends up being rewritten into fiction, but the thing of focus as times is the heroes and men of war rather than the women of the time. Yes, everyone knows about Helen, and Klytemnestra is legendary but this book hits a different note about these well known names. I loved this story of women, about women, about survival and the good, bad, ugly and beautiful of these women and what they endured. We forget they are sisters and how their lives are connected,. This book did such a good job in storytelling that it's hard to not want to continue onto the next chapter, and then the next chapter. A good book to get to know more about women who are often projected and described usually in 1D rather than more.

I love a retelling and this one was great! You can tell the author knows her stuff and the story flowed easily, with alternating POVs. Highly recommended!

Yes! Finally a Greek historical fiction that doesn’t try to mimic Madeline Miller’s style. Well told and very engaging story of two sisters who had to lead very different lives.

This story tells the story of Clytemnestra and Helen of Troy. Both of these characters are misunderstood in Greek mythology. Therefore, I was interested to see how they would be portrayed. The characters came off as bland. They were not given any depth to the story. I did not like how the author took away the fantasy elements in Greek mythology. Therefore, for a Greek myth, it did not really work. The writing is very beautiful and it remained faithful to Homer. Still, there were better versions of these sisters that were already written. Two of them in particular are Amanda Eliot and Margaret George. Still, I recommend this for fans of Greek mythology.

This is perfect for fans of Natalie Moynes and Jennifer Saint. I loved every minute of reading and taking in the relationship between Helen and Klytemnestra

I really enjoy re-tellings of various classical myths and have read quite a few lately that cover the Trojan War from varying character viewpoints. Daughters of Sparta is another re-telling, this time focusing on Helen & Klytemnestra, the titular daughters of Sparta. The story switches back and forth between the two beginning with the sisters as young girls. and ending with the end of the war.

I'll admit I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Klytemnestra or Nestra as she's called by Helen, being married off to Agamemenon (who always is depicted as a brute), then watching as he runs off to rescue his brother's wayward wife (Helen), but not until he sacrifices his eldest (Iphigenia). and then disappears for 10 years just to come back with a woman half his age on his arm expecting everything to be hunky-dory. I'd be livid too. I enjoyed that the author began the story when the girls were younger, usually they are fully grown and like most ancient myths, barely fleshed out characters. Nestra's sense of duty to her family, Sparta and her husband is noble, but you also see the optimism and hope that she has at the beginning of her marriage.

Helen is also more fleshed out in this book, but she's still represented as a spoiled child who grows into a bit of a spoiled adult. The author however creates a narrative that Helen's actions are less about being a flighty nitwit who runs off with the first pretty boy (Paris) who crosses her path and more of a woman dealing with rejection by her mother, neglect by her husband and physical trauma. This again makes Helen more fleshed out as a character but she's still kind of annoying, but at least the author makes the character somewhat aware of her poor decision making in running off to Troy.

I really enjoyed this re-telling. By focusing more on these two women and the near-glossing over the interminable Trojan War, you feel as though it is more of a story about the women and their relationship with each other, their respective families and even their roles as queens.

I received a free ebook from NetGalley & Penguin/Dutton

I adore historical references and I also find tales of Greek lore especially fascinating, so I thought this debut novel would be right up my alley . . . and I was totally right!

This novel is a retelling of the politics and conflicts between the nations of Greece and Troy as seen through the eyes of two sisters born of Sparta.

We often think of royalty in terms of its power and opulence, but through this particular lens, we get to explore the enormous burden of obedience and responsibility required of women in high ranks.

It's a man's world and a Queen's position isn't quite as glamorous or as privileged as it might appear at first glance . . . which makes me even more curious about the inner workings of the modern royal families.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Dutton for an advanced copy of Daughters of Sparta for my unbiased evaluation. 4 stars

Good book with a solid story. It was a bit slow in parts and a bit wordy. However the story is good and will catch your interest if you like history.

Daughters of Sparta is Claire Heywood's debut novel, and an evocative re-telling of the stories of Helen and Clytemnestra. Starting from childhood, Heywood taps into a compelling inner-monologue from both sisters as they navigate marriage, domestic expectations, affairs, children and most importantly/controversially, being a woman.

Heywood does an exceptional job setting each side of the story up for landing a dramatic punch, especially as the two sisters make life decisions that critically impact each other's lives. The intent behind both sister's actions is so similar at times, with the most different outcomes. If you are a lover of all things Trojan War - this is a must-read!

If you loved - Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, Circe by Madeline Miller, A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes, Ariadne by Jennifer Saint - you'll love Claire Heywood's Daughters of Sparta.