Nobody's Princess (2007)

This book was really interesting! This is actually the SECOND book I've read that took place in Greece, although this one takes place very very very BC, and the other one ([b:Pompeii|880|Pompeii|Robert Harris|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1157748124s/880.jpg|268880]) took place in 79 AD. BUT, both of them were very cool!

This book is about Helen of Troy when she was a little girl (14 at the end of the book) and still Helen, the crown princess of Sparta. In this version of the story, rather than being a "literal" daughter of Zeus (like mythology says), she is 100% mortal. People in Helen's day are prone to exaggeration of epic proportions: some claim to be the son/daughter of such-and-such a god, while some claim to have defeated miscellaneous mythological creatures. The most exciting thing that ACTUALLY happens is fighting big snakes and wild boars... Cool, but not of the same magnitude as dragons, hydra, or Cerberus, you know? But one thing IS certain: the MEN are the ones who go on grand adventures and fight stuff—the women sit around making clothes—from raw wool to finished cloak. Helen HATES it. She wants to train to fight with her older brothers.... and she's pretty stubborn, so she does.

Anyway, she goes on adventures and meets a lot of really interesting people and does some pretty crazy things. It wasn't the most riveting plot the entire time, but it was just so interesting to be transported back to a time that is so different from our own, you know? I was reading about the Greek Bronze Age on Wikipedia and currency hadn't been invented yet. There was NO MONEY! Shocking! But yeah, really cool take on a great mythological person! She was interesting and accessible and generally cool!

Now if only it hadn't ended all cliffhangery-like... But in the next book, we'll (probably) get to meet Jason and go searching for the Golden Fleece! How cool is that?? ( )

3 1/2 stars

Nobody’s Princess is a retelling of Helen of Sparta. This one is different in that Helen is a child when we first meet her and it only goes up to her early teens. The rest of the story is told in the second book, Nobody’s Prize.

I did enjoy the different take on the typical Helen of Sparta story, especially since it has been played out a bit. From an entertainment standpoint I thought the story was pretty good. It was a fast read, there was a bit of action thrown in and overall it was enjoyable. As a character Helen was on the strong independent side, however, sometimes she did get on my nerves with her stubbornness and attitude. What bothered me about the story was the dialogue and modern tone of it all. The reader must really suspend belief in order to enjoy the story. Although this bothered me and had me rolling my eyes in some parts I still enjoyed the story enough to want to read the second book.
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meh. Not bad, I'd read more of the series, but not great either. I kept wanting more than it seemed to give. ( )

I really like this book. It was definitely something different, something that I've never really read before. I liked reading about Helen's younger years. While I am not too familiar with Greek stories, I do enjoy mythology and reading about people worshiping gods in a different way. I liked seeing Helen rebel. I liked her spirit and her go getting attitude. I'm more surprised at how easily so many people were at letting her do things that were not common for a girl, or a girl so young. Yes, some characters do break the mold, but not many do. I guess I'm more surprised at how willing Helen is to lie to her parents and people meant to protect her for her own personal gain.My only real complaint about this story is how it sometimes tends to drag on a bit. It doesn't happen often, but it does and it's a little frustrating. I will say though, I am a bit disappointed that this book wasn't longer! I have the second and I can begin reading it at any time, I just hoped that I would have more to read! It was such a short little snippet I'm ready to read the next as soon as I can! ( )

I really like this book. It was definitely something different, something that I've never really read before. I liked reading about Helen's younger years. While I am not too familiar with Greek stories, I do enjoy mythology and reading about people worshiping gods in a different way. I liked seeing Helen rebel. I liked her spirit and her go getting attitude. I'm more surprised at how easily so many people were at letting her do things that were not common for a girl, or a girl so young. Yes, some characters do break the mold, but not many do. I guess I'm more surprised at how willing Helen is to lie to her parents and people meant to protect her for her own personal gain.My only real complaint about this story is how it sometimes tends to drag on a bit. It doesn't happen often, but it does and it's a little frustrating. I will say though, I am a bit disappointed that this book wasn't longer! I have the second and I can begin reading it at any time, I just hoped that I would have more to read! It was such a short little snippet I'm ready to read the next as soon as I can! ( )