Synopses & Reviews
What is it like to be the daughter of the most beautiful woman in the world? Hermione knows . . . her mother is Helen of Troy, the famed beauty of Greek myth. Helen is not only beautiful but also impulsive, and when she falls in love with charming Prince Paris, she runs off with him to Troy, abandoning her distraught daughter. Determined to reclaim their enchanting queen, the Greek army sails for Troy. Hermione stows away in one of the thousand ships in the fleet and witnesses the start of the legendary Trojan War.
In the rough Greek encampment outside the walls of Troy, Hermiones life is far from that of a pampered princess. Meanwhile, her mother basks in luxury in the royal palace inside the city. Hermione desperately wishes for the gods and goddesses to intervene and end the brutal war—and to bring her love. Will she end up with the handsome archer Orestes, or the formidable Pyrrhus, leader of a tribe of fierce warriors? And will she ever forgive her mother for bringing such chaos to her life and the lives of so many others?
Review
"This account should whet readers' interest in additional source material."—
Booklist
"This title would make a great pairing for students studying Greek mythology or reading the Iliad or Odyssey and will appeal particularly to students interested in ancient history."—SLJ
"For readers intimidated by the language of the Iliad, this makes a fine companion piece, highlighting the soap opera of relationships among the key players and the interventions of the gods into their daily affairs."—Bulletin
"Beauty's Daughter burrows into the recent interest in Greek mythology and builds a fictional account of the young womans quest to find her lost love."—VOYA
Praise for Carolyn Meyer's Young Royals books:
"High drama . . . irresistible."—Booklist
"Riveting."—Publishers Weekly
"Masterful."—VOYA
"Captivating."—SLJ
Synopsis
She
is beautiful, she
is a princess, and Aphrodite
is her favorite goddess, but something in Helen of Sparta just itches for more out of life. Not one to count on the gods—or her looks—to take care of her, Helen sets out to get what she wants with steely determination and a sassy attitude. That same attitude makes Helen a few enemies—such as the self-proclaimed "son of Zeus" Theseus—but it also intrigues, charms, and amuses those who become her friends, from the famed huntress Atalanta to the young priestess who is the Oracle of Delphi.
In Nobody's Princess, author Esther Friesner deftly weaves together history and myth as she takes a new look at the girl who will become Helen of Troy. The resulting story offers up adventure, humor, and a fresh and engaging heroine you cannot help but root for.
From the Hardcover edition.
Synopsis
Helen of Sparta wants to be more than a princess and a pretty face--she wants to be a hero.
The traditions of ancient Sparta would have Helen know her place: a beautiful princess, a loyal daughter, a perfect bride. But Helen wants adventure, and she's not looking back. Not one to count on the gods to take care of her, she sets out to see the world and seek her own fate with steely determination. Her rebellious will makes Helen dangerous enemies--such as the self-proclaimed "son of Zeus" Theseus--but it also gains her true friends, from the famed huntress Atalanta to the young priestess who is the Oracle of Delphi. If she is strong enough, if she is cunning enough, if she is brave enough, Helen will find her destiny . . . but what does destiny have in store for her?
In Nobody's Princess, author Esther Friesner deftly weaves together history and myth as she takes a new look at the girl who will become Helen of Troy. The back of the book includes further facts about Helen of Troy and Ancient Greece.
"A must-read for fans of fantasy and mythology."--VOYA
"Along the way, Friesner skillfully exposes larger issues of women's rights, human bondage, and individual destiny. It's a rollicking good story."--Booklist
Synopsis
From the acclaimed author of the Young Royals series comes a powerful story inspired by Greek mythology, told from the point of view of Hermione, whose mother is Helen of Troy. How does a plain girl live up to being the daughter of the woman whose face launched a thousand ships?
About the Author
Nebula Award winner Esther Friesner is the author of 31 novels and over 150 short stories, including the story "Thunderbolt" in Random House's
Young Warriors anthology, which lead to the creation of
Nobody's Princess. She is also the editor of seven popular anthologies. Educated at Vassar College and Yale University, where she taught for a number of years, Friesner is also a poet and a playwright. She is married, is the mother of two, harbors cats, and lives in Connecticut.
From the Hardcover edition.