Published: 2021
Series: Daughter of Sparta (Book #1)
Author: Claire M. Andrews
Illustrator: N/A
Genres: YA Fantasy, Greek/Roman Myth Legend, Retellings, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Feminism, Adult
Audience (Grade Levels): Grades 7-12
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads Link: Daughters of Sparta
Triggers / Content Warnings: Mythological warfare, violence, and intense family peril.
Review By: Lisa McPherson
Publisher’s Summary:
For millennia, men have told the legend of the woman whose face launched a thousand ships–but now it’s time to hear her side of the story. Daughters of Sparta is a tale of secrets, love, and tragedy from the women behind mythology’s most devastating war, the infamous Helen and her sister Klytemnestra.
As princesses of Sparta, Helen and Klytemnestra have known nothing but luxury and plenty. With their high birth and unrivaled beauty, they are the envy of all of Greece. But such privilege comes at a cost. While still only girls, the sisters are separated and married to foreign kings of their father’s choosing–the powerful Agamemnon, and his brother Menelaos. Yet even as Queens, each is only expected to do two things: birth an heir and embody the meek, demure nature that is expected of women. But when the weight of their husbands’ neglect, cruelty, and ambition becomes too heavy to bear, Helen and Klytemnestra must push against the constraints of their society to carve new lives for themselves, and in doing so, make waves that will ripple throughout the next three thousand years. Daughters of Sparta is a vivid and illuminating reimagining of the Siege of Troy, told through the perspectives of two women whose voices have been ignored for far too long.
Review:
It is nice to see a strong, young, female character who is relied upon by MEN! YEAH! The play on Greek mythology is refreshing and creative. Daphne is a character that young adults can relate to and sympathize with. Her desire to do what is best for what she believes is right, even though it is hard, will ring true for young readers. She is fallible, makes mistakes, but never gives up. That is a character that will appeal to many young people. The book itself was slow at times and then ended abruptly for me, but overall it was an interesting read.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- ELA (English Language Arts): An excellent mentor text for middle and high school students to analyze classical archetype subversion, evaluate first-person heroic journey structures, and study character foil dynamics (Daphne vs. Apollo).
- Social Studies & Classical History: Integrates seamlessly into world history units exploring the cultural structures of ancient Sparta, the socio-political hierarchies of classical Greek city-states, and the evolution of global mythologies.
- SEL (Social-Emotional Learning): Provides vital talking points for discussing academic and social perfectionism, processing high-stakes familial expectations, building emotional resilience through failure, and identifying personal agency when confronting systemic authority.
- Extension Activity / Library Application: Perfect for use as an interactive school library application or media center extension project. Librarians can coordinate a “Mythological Reimagining & Media Literacy Campaign.” Students can select a marginalized or minor character from classical folklore and draft a creative, modern book blurb or a short opening chapter that centers their unique voice, practicing foundational creative writing skills while critically questioning historical bias.
- Diversity & Representation: The book demonstrates strong standards of diversity, equity, and inclusion by actively dismantling the patriarchal constraints that traditionally dominate ancient epics. By centering a fallible, highly complex young woman who commands authority and respect from powerful male figures, the narrative amplifies female agency and intersectional perseverance, providing a validating literary mirror for young readers finding their own voice within historically rigid spaces.
Readalikes:
- A Spartan’s Sorrow by Hannah Lynn
- Clytemnestra: A Feminist Greek Myth Retelling of Fury, Fate, and Survival by Costanza Casati
- The Shadow of Perseus: A Novel by Claire Heywood
- Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
- The Great God Pan by Donna Jo Napoli
- A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
