Sparrows in the Wind
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
This novel from Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine about two princesses battling against their fates in the middle of the Trojan War is a must-read for anyone who loves Greek mythology or the Percy Jackson books!
Cassandra, a princess of Troy and follower of Apollo, is delighted when the god himself appears to her. Apollo asks to love her in exchange for giving her future sight, and she agrees—but recoils when he kisses her. Enraged, the god transforms his gift into a curse: Cassandra’s visions will never be believed.
After horrifying images of coming war and death pour into her mind, and with no one to heed her warnings, Cassandra risks her safety again and again to avert the disaster awaiting Troy.
But it will take years—and the friendship of an Amazon warrior princess named Rin—for Cassandra to find hope of success in reversing the course of the war.
With heroines to cheer for and nail-biting adventures, Newbery Honor–winning author Gail Carson Levine once again transports her readers, this time to ancient Troy, where princesses (even cursed ones) will stop at nothing to shape their fate.
Can one cursed princess and a fierce Amazon warrior change the course of the most famous war in history?
Greek Mythology Retelling: Experience the Trojan War from a new perspective, where the god Apollo is a terrifying enemy and a princess’s curse is the most dangerous weapon of all.Strong Female Characters: Follow Cassandra, the brilliant Trojan princess nobody believes, and Rin, the fierce Amazon warrior who becomes her only hope.An Unlikely Friendship: A Trojan royal and an Amazon princess must learn to trust each other to stand against gods and armies.Adventure and High Stakes: Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and Circe, this page-turner is filled with prophecy, action, and the battle to define your own destiny.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Gail Carson Levine puts a fresh spin on the Trojan War in this YA adventure. At just 14, Cassandra is chosen by the god Apollo, but she shudders when he tries to kiss her, leading the petulant immortal to curse her. She can now see the future, but no one believes her dire predictions. That is, until Cassandra befriends a young Amazon named Rin, and together, the young women bravely wade into battle. Sparrows in the Wind stays true to Greek mythos while shifting to a feminist lens, giving the story a lively contemporary energy—and always giving the goddesses equal billing alongside the gods. With its two relatable main characters, this is a thoughtful and enjoyable read.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A nonconformist epic fantasy by Levine (A Ceiling Made of Eggshells) centers the events of the Trojan War around two courageous female protagonists. Fourteen-year-old Trojan princess Cassandra worries about the responsibility of acting as kanephoros—balancing a full basket on her head while leading the city to celebrate a god or goddess. Apollo blesses her with the gift of prophecy when all proceeds smoothly; after she rejects his kiss, however, he appends a curse: no one will believe her portents. Cassandra allies with wind god Eurus to forestall the war she sees coming, but a combination of divine meddling and human willfulness, including the malicious actions of Cassandra's twin Helenus, bring it about anyway. As the war rages, the narrative's focus switches to Rin, a young Amazon princess eager to prove herself in battle. When the Amazons ride to aid the Trojans, Rin befriends Cassandra, and together, the prophet and the warrior work to avoid the terrible future Cassandra has foretold: the enslavement and murder of her family, and the burning of her beloved Troy. Twining the source material with contemporary sensibilities, Levine emphasizes strong female protagonists in a richly imagined, urgently told mythological variation. Ages 10–up.
