Daughters of Bronze by genius writing duo A.D. Rhine (Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson) picks up a few months after the conclusion of Horses of Fire, with Andromache's web of female spies working all throughout the Achaean camp to gather information to win the war. Since Odysseus fights so dirty, having already caused a plague in Troy and then almost decimating the city under a reign of fire, Andromache has needed to not only develop her spy ring, but also bring together Troy's allies. So much so, that they now fight under her banner, the Alev, the fire, as they call her, instead of Troy itself. She is now quite far along in her pregnancy, carrying Hector's son and the hope of Troy, but what world will he enter if there is nothing left of Troy for him?
These days, Rhea spends more of her time in the Achaean camps than she does in Troy, carrying messages back to Andromache, although things have been all too quiet lately. Well, not quiet, exactly... Odysseus and his men are definitely building something behind the walls of his secretive camp. Since meeting famed warrior Ajax the Great in the forgotten ancient shrine on the edge of the Achaean camp, Rhea has a new reason to make her way back to the enemies' camp each night. Not only has their friendship been growing, but the giant lets down his guard with Rhea in a way he doesn't with others, and Rhea has acquired a wealth of information for Andromache. It's getting more difficult for her to do so, even as she develops deep feelings for Ajax and it seems, he does for her as well. Betrayal is not in her nature and she will eventually face an impossible choice between the two men she loves the most.
Helen is a much different woman now. Since miraculously surviving the deadly fires of Troy, she has become a sought-after healer and has finally broken free of Paris, although while he had her locked away in the tower, she often heard him scheming with a familiar voice. She'll be invaluable for Andromache during the birth of her son, Scamandrius/ "Andrius," and will become a trusted friend to Andromache and Rhea, but also to Hector's oft-shunned sister, Cassandra, who made a brief appearance in Horses of Fire at the end.
Cassandra sees visions of the future, but they can't always be trusted. Her parents have shut her away in a tower since childhood, but she's become a valuable source of information as to the future of Troy. They never know which personality of Cassandra they'll be dealing with - the Crone, the Child, the Wraith, the Fury, or the Hawk, and sometimes, even Cassandra herself, although that part of her is often buried quite deep. She and Hector have been very close since she was a young child and she would do anything to prevent the end she sees for him.
Choices are made, some based on Cassandra's visions, which end in tragedy and become the catalyst for what could be the end of the war. Betrayal runs amok in Troy, so Hector, Andromache, Rhea, Helen and Cassandra must make impossible choices to ensure the survival of baby Andrius, but at what cost to themselves? Let's just say that as I was reading this book, I felt like I was sliding down a steep and rocky hill, unable to stop, although I was scrabbling as best I could to not experience the eventual ending I knew was coming. Dramatic much? Yes, but this book gave me real feelings for these characters and made me weep. Not just shed a few tears, fricking weep at certain points.
I have two questions for A.D. Rhine (Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson) - 1) what kind of brilliant, twisted minds must you two possess to come up with this genius story around the happenings of the Trojan War and 2) when can we hang out?
This book and its predecessor, Horses of Fire is perfection captured in a two-book experience. I have had a favorite book for some 20 years, but this two-book set has usurped its place. I am in awe of the story these two women have created based on what we know of Troy and it is absolutely fierce. There is love, romance, betrayal, devotion, and even dyslexia, sexual trauma and mental illness. If you've ever read something of Troy and thought, "Well, that's weird," there's an answer for it here. They've literally thought of everything. I want to go back and reread both books immediately, knowing how they end, because I will catch even more interesting things.
If you have a passing interest in classical studies or the Trojan War, read these two books. They are incredible. I can't recommend them any more highly.
