Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Marla Arbach, Foreign Correspondent

Helen of Troy: her name is synonymous with the fatal beauty, irresistible to mortals and immortals alike, that led to the downfall of one of the greatest classical civilizations. Everybody knows how the story ends, but how did it all begin?

In Nobodys Princess, Esther Friesner imagines what Helen must have been like as a girl, before the famous Golden Apple incident led her to Troy. Protagonist and narrator Princess Helen of Sparta is a down-to-earth, clever, gutsy girl who doesnt like being told what to do. When she realizes that the men (and perhaps even the gods) in her life are trying to control her destiny, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Her candid and perceptive first-person account of everything from the smallest learning experiences to the greatest exploits is what makes this novel especially fun to read. Esther Friesner has perfectly captured the character of a spirited young girl fighting for control of her own future and has made a one-dimensional historical figure into a heroine that readers of all ages will really get behind. Equally well drawn supporting characters and exciting adventures will make this a favourite for years to come. Hopefully its newly-released sequel, Nobodys Prize, will live up to the high standard it sets!