“Have you not learned already? Do you think men the only creatures who go to war? The only ones who gird themselves in armour?”

Janell Rhiannon’s Song of Sacrifice is easily one of my favourite reads of 2019. This book is the ultimate amalgamation of everything I love and want in a book. Forgive me readers, if I swoon and fangirl very hard as I write this review. I will try my best to keep it together and thoroughly edit, so I keep my love of this series succinct.

Song of Sacrifice is the first in the Homeric Chronicles series, a series detailing the Battle of Troy; this book is a precursor to the war and the events that set the war on its course. Rhiannon writes from the perspective of the women and lesser understood characters of Troy, and of Ancient Greece, weaving together mythological and historical stories about a war that has persisted in cultural knowledge for the past 3,000 years. Song of Sacrifice is beautifully written. Rhiannon effortlessly weaves the politics and games of the Greeks gods and the mythology of Ancient Greece into real events.

The book begins with the birth of Paris, and with his birth a warning that he will herald the destruction of Troy. It is only by the intervention of Athena that he lives after his own birth. Honestly, I have always viewed Paris as a bit of a selfish soul, one who sat in Hektor’s shadow willingly, someone who allowed an entire war to happen because of his own wants. I have never really taken to him as a character… though I will admit, this book did have me empathising and caring about him a lot more than I thought I would, which is evidence of good writing and plot structure.

Now, Ancient Greece and the Battle of Troy have always held a deep fascination for me. I was that teenager that read The Iliad and The Odyssey, and that person who took Ancient History because I wanted to. I am well-aware of the history that Song of Sacrifice deals with. Rhiannon’s research into the period is thorough and structured. I can be sceptical of retellings in general and, although this book is a retelling, it offered a take on the Battle of Troy that I think I’ll likely carry with me forever. I have a new appreciation of women like Clytemnestra, Hecuba, Briseis, and of course, Helen of Sparta.

“Every step you take, every word you utter is a strategy in a war for control of your world… Gird yourself, my darling, with your words, your plans. Don’t let him win the war”

The realities of the period and the rights and opportunities of the women were very real throughout. I was with these women and acutely felt their struggles. My heart was with Clytemnestra as she was forcefully and violently made the bride of Agamemnon, it was with Helen who seemingly had it all except the power to choose her own life and destiny. It was with Thetis as she tries to protect her newborn son, Achilles, from walking his predetermined fate toward Troy. As I was reading, I got a sense that sacrifice is what leads many of these characters through their character arcs. It is not just a sacrifice in the literal sense, but the myriad of choices in their lives that ultimately carry them to the impossible decisions that lead to war and loss. These women are just as fearless and powerful as the more famous men to which they are aligned. But, it is important to note that they are not powerful because Rhiannon writes it so; I realised as I was reading that these women were always this strong, they just needed a voice to show that.

Upon finishing Song of Sacrifice, I immediately checked the publication dates for the rest of the series and eagerly purchased Rise of Princes, book two of the series. I will be reading that very soon. I can’t recommend Song of Sacrifice enough if you are familiar with the Battle of Troy, or if you just want to read something with some solid research and writing.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review