" A well-intentioned book, but so depressing. It takes an incident from the Iliad and examines it from the point of view of a female character. In so doing it depicts the hopelessness and powerlessness of women taken captive in war. This is consistent with what we know from the conduct of the Islamic State in their treatment of Yazidi women, Boko Haram kidnappings, and gender-based violence in Afghanistan and Yemen. (There are many other examples too). As such it is a worthy text, but dispiriting in the extreme. I could not finish it. Finally, I would also note the problem that authors face in choosing a narrative voice in historical fiction - Barker chooses contemporary colloquialisms which seem rather out of place. "
— milt, 1/20/2024