It's the time of Ancient Greece, and the Trojans are fighting a war that surpasses any other. Well to be honest, barbaric bloodshed is closer to the mark. And even behind the palace walls, rumors fly as fast as the arrows. Prince Paris has to ignore not only his growing waistline but also the stories of his possibly unfaithful (but still beautiful) wife Helen. Superhero commander Hector shows his valiant side in battle every day but leaves his wife Andromache and their son to nervously await his return. Not every problem is large-scale, though. Musician Polyxena begins to see Iason, the lowly shepherd's boy, in a totally different light, but Iason in turn wishes to spend his future with healer Xanthe. However, it's love at first sight for Xanthe when Alastor, a wounded soldier comes into her care. But her loyal sister Marpessa knows it's not a good idea to tell Xanthe exactly what happened between her and the young warrior on that night.It's complicated enough without divine intervention. And who in their right minds would expect the all-mighty gods, especially the Greek ones, to care? I mean, really!
As a self-proclaimed enthusiast of Greek myths, Adele Geras' historically (or poetically, as it happens) accurate young-adult version of the famed Trojan War was a natural read for me. I didn't know much about it before, but Troy outlined the plot of Homer's epic in a believable fashion and contained many tweaks to make it appeal to a younger audience. Just try reading a couple sentences of the original and you'll see what I mean. Though it must be said that the book contained a storyline woven with about, oh, a hundred different threads, they were each tied up with either the appearance of some familiar mythological figures or by the captivatingly fiery end. Staying true to the saga while consistently wrapping you up in the dilemmas of each perfectly imperfect character, experiencing Troy is a wonderful way to spend a couple hours of your day.
