Review Detail

Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, has powers mere mortals cannot begin to fathom, and she doesn't like it when people forget it, though in times of war, they sometimes do. She is eager to assert her power during the Trojan War. Thus, she fixes her sights on three young people living in the citadel high above the plains of battle- Xanthe, who tends wounded soldiers in the Blood Room, Marpessa, who serves as handmaiden to Helen herself, and Alastor, a soldier whose mother, "frightful Phrontis," holds him under her thumb.

I can't remember how I found out about this book. As far as I can remember, it was very popular among my friends when I first picked it up in seventh grade- years ago now. I've reread it many times since then, even though I'm not that fond of the sequel, Ithaka.

This is probably one of the first clear-cut YA books I ever read, and in that capacity I would recommend it- it's wonderful writing, besides.