Nobody's Princess
by Esther Friesner
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Read in February, 2008
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Read in September, 2007
This is the story of Helen of Sparta - the girl who would grow up to become Helen of Troy with the face that launched a thousand ships. But this story is definitely not about her face.
Friesner draws a portrait of young Helen as a true Spartan queen. She is bright, stubborn, and has a true warrior's heart. Tired of spinning and weaving, Helen joins her brothers Castor and Polydeuces in learning combat, archery, and hunting. In this adventurous tale Helen irritates and comforts her sister Cly...more
Friesner draws a portrait of young Helen as a true Spartan queen. She is bright, stubborn, and has a true warrior's heart. Tired of spinning and weaving, Helen joins her brothers Castor and Polydeuces in learning combat, archery, and hunting. In this adventurous tale Helen irritates and comforts her sister Cly...more
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Read in October, 2007
I have to say, this book did not work for me at all. It's a retelling of the story of Helen of ancient Greece. Somehow the modern voice applied to her narration just made the story feel totally shallow. "Like, oh my heck, it's the Oracle of Apollo!" Okay, it wasn't that bad, but the modern language took away the credibility of the story for me. Another problem was that the character's "voice" didn't change to adjust for her age at all. She spoke the same way at 6, at 10 and...more
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I liked it, though it was an earlier story of Helen of Troy. I don't know why, but knowing that the later story is already set doesn't make me enjoy the book as much. Maybe because I already know that when somebody dies, there is no hope that they will come back, because it is history.
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This was a historical fiction book. It is set during the Bronze Age in Greece. Helen, the princess of Sparta, is very free-spirited and does not want anyone to control her life. Therefore, she gets warrior training from her brothers' trainer, Glaucus. He teaches her how to handle a sword. When her sister goes off to get married, Helen goes with her, but on her way runs into an adventure. Disguised as a slave boy, she takes part in a boar hunt. She frees a slave named Milo and starts a new life f...more
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Read in September, 2008
Nobody's Princess is a very entertaining take on the legendary Helen of Troy before she became so legendary.
From her very earliest years, Helen has known that she was loved, favored even, by her parents and under the special protection of the goddess Aphrodite. She also learns that she is beautiful and that beauty wins her attention and approval that she doesn't necessarily earn--as her twin Clytemnestra is always eager to point out.
Helen, however, is not content to be just a pretty prin...more
From her very earliest years, Helen has known that she was loved, favored even, by her parents and under the special protection of the goddess Aphrodite. She also learns that she is beautiful and that beauty wins her attention and approval that she doesn't necessarily earn--as her twin Clytemnestra is always eager to point out.
Helen, however, is not content to be just a pretty prin...more
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
readers of historical fiction or Greek myths
Leave it to Esther Friesner to come up with a really new and strange way to tell the story of Helen of Troy. I think she may have had to condense several Greek myths and legends to set up what she is doing, but so far it’s working. This is the start of a multi-volume retelling of things from her side, beginning with her childhood. By the end of this volume she is 14, rebellious and flatly refusing to sit back and be a typical good girl, even though she is destined to be Queen of Sparta.
In t...more
In t...more
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I'm a big fan of Greek Myths so I practically jumped for joy when I saw this on the library shelves. It was good though not as good as I had been hoping. The plot was a little far fetched for me. No woman in that time period would have been able to get away with doing the things Helen does. She goes way out of the bounds for a normal girl, let alone a princess but I supposed it is fiction so it can be forgived. Setting asside my History Buff self, this was a pretty well written book and quite en...more
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Read in September, 2008
The princess in question is Helen of Troy. Helen is in her younger years, before the whole kidnapping and war that we all know about. She is young, headstrong and stubborn.
I couldn't decide if I liked her or just found her to be a brat. She didn't want to use just her beauty to get through life, and I respected that, but she still was a brat. I was also annoyed at her willingness to put herself (and others!) in danger, especially since she is the heir to the throne. A risk to her life i...more
I couldn't decide if I liked her or just found her to be a brat. She didn't want to use just her beauty to get through life, and I respected that, but she still was a brat. I was also annoyed at her willingness to put herself (and others!) in danger, especially since she is the heir to the throne. A risk to her life i...more
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Read in August, 2008
A fascinating look at not just the childhood of Helen of Troy, but of the era in which she lived. The historical notes at the back of the book talk about how Helen would have lived not in Greece's Golden Age, when Homer was writing the Iliad, but centuries before in the Bronze Age. It put a whole new spin on the story: reading and writing were nonexistent, as was money, and the women of Sparta really would have been huntresses in their own right. Very intriguing! My only complaint is that th...more
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This was a fun read. It was an interesting take on who Helen of Troy was before Troy. The author started Helen's story as a young girl and the adventures she went on. I liked that the author made her into a great person with an overwhelming desire for adventure, compassion, and abilities for leadership. Most stories you hear about Helen have her painted as just this object of Paris's desire and the cause of the downfall of an entire population. I like to think that there may have been a lo...more
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Read in November, 2008
recommended to Mel(issa) by:
Dani Kennelly and Ferre Hodgesrecommends it for: Anyone who likes Greek myths and Homer's epic poems
Great book, I read it in no amount of time at all!
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i actually give it 1.5 stars. it was just kinda boring & there wasn't really a point. or i missed it. the only thing i can think of...and i'm reaching...is that the journey is more important than the goal and her character is what will bring her to her ultimate place in life. but it's a book and a book requires a plot not just a character. so this book is kinda junk. and what is more annoying is that there is a book 2 and i probably have to read it b/c i want to know what happens even ...more
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Read in April, 2008
I loved it!!! It's about Helen of Troy when she was young. It skips about in the beginning to get to the better parts, but it's kind of a neat transition to her different ages.
I think I love this book because she's so head strong, and she was talking back before she was 10!! I would swear it would have been about me, if she weren't (in the book) the future Queen of Sparta--which in itself, is pretty cool, b/c I love Sparta, ever since 300 came out.
Anyway, I'm going to read the sequil to ...more
I think I love this book because she's so head strong, and she was talking back before she was 10!! I would swear it would have been about me, if she weren't (in the book) the future Queen of Sparta--which in itself, is pretty cool, b/c I love Sparta, ever since 300 came out.
Anyway, I'm going to read the sequil to ...more
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If you love mythology, you'll get a kick out of Nobody's Princess. It is the story of who Helen of Troy was a young girl. The author uses mythological legends and weaves them throughout Helen's childhood experiences. Wonderful!
I can't wait to read the second book...Helen is joining Jason and the Argonaughts on the quest for the golden fleece...she's dressed as a weapon's bearer, a boy, and it promises to be a grand adventure.
I can't wait to read the second book...Helen is joining Jason and the Argonaughts on the quest for the golden fleece...she's dressed as a weapon's bearer, a boy, and it promises to be a grand adventure.
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Read in July, 2008
She never had to use her knife. Helen is a tomboy princess, but there isn't much unique about her. She disobeys, learns to fight and ride horses, but no one's out to kill her (unless the wild boar counts), she'sn't being forced to marry yet, she's already heir to the throne....what is the conflict? She wants adventure and runs away. Oh, and she's so beautiful that she often gets her way.
And there's only the smallest mention of magic.
And there's only the smallest mention of magic.
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Huh. I'm just not sure how to rate this book. It wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't terrible either. I guess the bottom line is that I felt like nothing really happened. Maybe this book is just the set up for the sequel. I'll probably read it once it's out in paperback. I am curious to see where it goes, though we all know how the story of Helen of Troy ends. But I doubt Friesner takes it that far.
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
Greek myth lovers
While definitely not as good as Adele Geras' phenomenal <i>Troy<i>, this is a pretty good book 115 pages in. It's definitely a quick read! The author takes a whole "grrrl power" approach to the story, and while I'm not sure how accurate it is, I think it works for this particular book. Ironically enough, it's better than <i>Alanna: The First Adventure<i> by Tamora Pierce, whose blurb is on the back!
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Read in April, 2008
I enjoyed Friesner’s rendition on the story of Helen’s youth. I really liked getting to know more about the ancient Greeks and their customs. The plot flows well and is interesting throughout the entire story. I can’t wait to read more about Helen’s character and her adventures in Nobody’s Prize. If you enjoy historical fiction or mythology, I think you would enjoy this book!
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Read in June, 2008
I thought it was pretty good; not amazing, but good. I thought it had a cool plot, how all the greek history and legends were tied in. I luv greek mythology, so I liked that! One thing that annoyed me though was that the author has this annoying habit of writing every other word in italics!!! That kind of got on my nerves... but other than that, a good book over all.
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