Inside The Walls of Troy Book Review by Adam

“Inside The Walls of Troy”, by Clemence McLaren is a fiction-historical novel. This book has two different parts where the book changes the point of view of the character that it is about. The first part is seen through the eyes of Helen of Troy/Sparta from her childhood kidnapping by Odysseus all the way to her second kidnapping by Paris, the second part is seen through the eyes of Cassandra- a girl who has the gift or curse of seeing glimpses of the future. Helen’s true Love- Paris -is Cassandra’s brother, and as the Trojan War is raging around them the two of them develop a deep friendship.

In this book, there are many different problems for each character that the book is seen through the eyes of-Helen of Troy and Cassandra. Helen is the most beautiful mortal (can die, she is not a god) that has ever existed-for then. At the young age of twelve she is kidnapped for the firs time by Odysseus. After that, she is forced to marry king Menelaus even though, she doesn’t want to. Helen is unhappily married; therefore, she pleads to her servants to send messages out in Greece asking for help. Helen then gets kidnapped once again and gets even more well known in Greece which means that even more men want to marry her and are ready to kill for it. For Cassandra it’s different, she got cursed by Apollo at a very young age so she now can see glimpses of the future; though her curse makes everyone that hear her prophecies thinks she is either mad or doesn’t believe her (for example; in her parents’ case, they are ashamed of her and her brother whom also shares the curse).

“Inside The Walls of Troy”, is a really descriptive book and really introduces the characters well with tension and their gifts. Clemence McLaren is a very descriptive writer and includes a lot of action, though in the book the time and settings change often and quickly so it is hard to follow. The book really makes you feel like you are in and experiencing the story, when anyone dies or gets hurt you really feel for them which means that the book is very well written. The author clearly has experience writing stories, since in “Inside The Walls of Troy” there are a lot of good hints of the outcome and if you know about Greek mythology you can really relate to this book.

“Inside The Walls of Troy”, is a very fast moving novel that will help many people get a small idea of ancient Greek lifestyle and warfare.