Nobody's Princess (Nobody's Princess #1)

Reader reviewed by Mairi

Helen and Clytemnestra of Sparta share a birthdate, but beyond that, they couldn't be more different- Helen has the face of a goddess. She is the sister you would expect to be a picture of grace and poise. That honor goes to the arrogant Clytemnestra, however- Helen, the future queen of Sparta, is a rough- and- tumble warrior in training with dreams bigger than she is, and certainly nobody's princess.

I read the prototype for this book in the Young Warriors anthology, and because it was in the better half of the collecion, I made a mental note that if I ever stumbled across the novel I would read it and now, years later, I have. Though I bought it months ago, I only just read it because I had since heard negative reviews about how its disregard for myth gets in the way of enjoying the story. I am no mythology expert, but I know more than average and I actually thought it was fun how this book stretched the boundaries of canon without ever breaking them, much like, say, a good fanfic should.

For me, though, this book's saving grace was that it reminded me strongly of the Young Heroes quartet by Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris, which I loved when I was younger- they share the same strengths and weaknesses, and those who enjoy one will surely enjoy the other.

Reader reviewed by stephanie

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!