DAUGHTERS OF SPARTA

Mira Dovreni's narration of this reimagining of the Trojan War from the points of view of Klytemnestra and her sister, Helen, will enthrall lovers of mythology. Tyndareos offers his daughters to Agamemnon and Menelaos as a means of enhancing his power. Helen marries Menelaos, and Klytemnestra marries Agamemnon, each enduring as dutiful, if resentful, wives. Dovreni's Greek pronunciations are excellent, and her storytelling skills are exceptional. Paris spirits Helen off to Troy, the Greeks gather for war, Agamemnon sacrifices his daughter, Iphigenia, for a favorable wind, and Klytemnestra swears vengeance. The novel's focus is on women and their place in society rather than on the war. Dovreni makes each poignant moment ring true, and Heywood makes us wonder: Was Helen solely to blame for the Trojan War? S.J.H. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2021]