Troy

Reader reviewed by Mairi

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.

Reader reviewed by Brittany

I had to read this book for school and I wasn't too happy when I started. But, after I finished the book, I realized that it was one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Full of love and passion...what could be better?

Reader reviewed by Kat

Adele Geras has written a fantastic book, to put it quite simply. The story is about the final weeks of the Trojan war, but mainly focuses on the sisters Xanthe and Marpessa, the latter who can see gods and goddesses in everyday life and speaks to them(this is one of my favorite aspects of the book). It is a little slow to begin with, but hard to put down once you get into it. Probably because i just watched the movie Troy the other night(thus inspiring me to read the book i picked up from barnes and noble months ago), I keep imagining what it would be like if I were to make this into a movie...pretty sweet. the only thing i found frustrating is that everyone but marpessa who happens to see a god or goddess promptly forgets all about it or convinces themselves that they were dreaming...how lame. now i must read the iliad! inspiring book!

Reader reviewed by Morgan

This is a MUST READ! You have got to read this book. Go buy it or pick it up in the library. It's mythical and historica and sad and beautiful and will keep you entranced. You will LOVE Greek mythology and the ancient Greco-Roman world after this!

Reader reviewed by Alli

This book was just wonderful. I was attached to it the moment I finished the first chapter. The book is about the Trojan War, and about everything that happened between several people's lives during it. Love, death, and hate make up a lot of the books emotional side. This book would defintly be good for anyone who enjoys mythology and history!

Reader reviewed by Peggy MacPhie

The interest in Homer's "The Iliad" is increasing this year with the film "Troy" due in theatres soon.

Adele Geras' "Troy" isn't the basis for this film, but is instead a YA adaptation of Homer's original work. All of the elements that made "The Iliad" great are there -- the love affair between Paris and Helen that sparked the war to begin with, the epic battle between Hector and Achilles, and the infamous Trojan horse. Geras tells the story from the perspective of all the major players, mortal and immortal, and also introduces several characters of her own.

At the forefront of the story are the sisters Marpessa, a handmaiden of Helen of Troy, and Xanthe, servant to Hector's wife Andromache, and the love the two girls feel for the handsome Alastor, a Trojan soldier who lives under his dragon-like mother's son.

If you know the original story then you'll know the outcome in the city of Troy, but nonetheless your breath will be taken away by Geras' characterizations and depictions of life in Troy.

Anyone who had difficulty reading the poem in it's many translations might want to try reading this first, as it may help you follow Homer's "The Iliad."