Blood of Troy

December 9, 2022
Grades 10-12 Daphne has returned to Sparta after a quest to return the Olympian gods' power to them, though as a sworn protector of Olympus, she could be called upon by Zeus at any time. Enemy goddess Nyx might also return, to finalize the death she has promised Daphne. As Daphne trains to become a Spartiate warrior, Artemis demands her help again. This time, she must win a competition to be Helen of Troy's bodyguard. Lest this quest seem lower-stakes than her previous adventure, the whole of the Pantheon, spurned lover Apollo included, now demands her obedience, and unfortunately, each god seems to want something different from Daphne. She finds herself fighting not only to protect Helen but to save herself from gods both evil and neutral. This solid follow-up to Daughter of Sparta (2021) effectively stands alone. The gods are well characterized, and Daphne remains strong and staunch throughout. Hand to teens who can't wait for more of Daniel Jos� Older's Ballad & Dagger series.

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February 1, 2023

Gr 7 Up-Daphne ended Daughter of Sparta promising the Olympian gods to answer if they called upon her again. When they do, she is directed to become one of Queen Helen's guards and discovers the conclave King Menelaus is hosting wants nothing more than a reason to go to war with Troy. Headstrong Helen and Daphne flee to warn them and discover a city that values culture over warfare-until the Achaeans arrive with 1,000 ships. Not even Apollo's wall can protect the city if the gods have turned against them. Andrews's writing and worldbuilding run closer to the Homeric epic than other retellings, while abandoning the traditional story of Helen's abduction and giving the women more agency. VERDICT This myth-infused adventure grounded in historical details is recommended for all YA collections.

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Starred review from July 15, 2022
Directed to become personal guard to Sparta's Queen Helen, Daphne searches for the deities' lethal hidden agenda. Bonding with strong-willed, courageous Helen, Daphne experiences Menelaus' cruelty firsthand. Realizing the conclave of Achaean leaders he's hosting is seeking an excuse to go to war with Troy and fearing for the safety of Troy's emissaries, Daphne and Helen slip away to warn them and flee to Troy, where they're warmly welcomed. Unlike Sparta, vibrant Troy, protected by Apollo's wall, values arts and culture over warfare, but when 1,000 Achaean ships suddenly arrive, everyone recognizes that the gods have intervened on the Achaeans' behalf. Fighting off their onslaught alongside Amazons and Trojans, Daphne struggles to learn why the Olympians are invested in this war--and in her. Although she loves Apollo, she despises gods who demand much but give little, ensuring that humans pay the price. Free of vanity, indifferent to the male gaze, and portrayed without objectification, Daphne's the compelling hero of an epic that is closer in tone to its Homeric source than to many pop-culture iterations. Abandoning the traditional casus belli--Helen's beauty and abduction--Andrews grants her agency, too. Greek myths describe a world ruled by flawed gods, their inhumanly vast powers accompanied by petty desires; yet many other retellings soft-pedal the costs of living there. Daphne's choices exact a high price, but for true heroes, winning isn't everything; it's not even the point. Characters are diverse in appearance. A vivid, riveting sequel. (map, author's note, glossary) (Fantasy. 12-18)

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