Review Detail

Is it myth or history? When it comes to the ancient Greeks, the line is often blurred. This book continues that tradition with an immersive, episodic tale of Gorgo, daughter of the King of Sparta and the fateful Persian wars.

I enjoyed this as an overall story, and a collection of tales. From her youth, Gorgo's life is steeped in tales, from her lineage which traces back to Perseus and Zeus, to rumors of the snake that lives under Athens and the women who roam the hills as bears. Some of these were familiar to me, others completely new, and readers of all ages can find something to love in the variety of stories. The early chapters especially seem to entice younger eyes, since Gorgo herself is a child and observes the world through that lens, although fair warning, this is ancient Sparta - death and violence are a natural part of life and faced head on. Victory is mixed with sacrifice, heroism with loss.

Beyond the text, I also loved the illustrations (at least one full spread per chapter) and printed hardcover art. The oversize pages are a bit too heavy to hold for long, so be prepared with a prop or table, because after the first few stories, you won't want to put it down.