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Nov 27, 2008

Elizabeth marked it as to-read

Do you like heroines who are strong, independent, and self-sufficient? You may want to meet Helen.

She's not your average princess. Sure, her mother and father are king and queen of Sparta. And sure, she may grow up to be "Helen of Troy." But Helen is a young firecracker of a character.

She is not going to stand around learning how to do needlework while her two brothers, Castor and Polydeuces, get to have all the fun of learning to ride and hunt.

Sh More...

0 comments like (7 people liked it)

Mar 17, 2008

Kit rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

3 comments like (6 people liked it)

Oct 18, 2007

Rachel rated it:

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...

1 comment like (11 people liked it)

Jan 18, 2009

Slumbering Rose rated it:

The description says you'll find yourself rooting for Helen. I beg to disagree. I felt just the opposite. Helen is a spoiled, stubborn, selfish, impulsive, immature, bratty child. She is inconform with everything. She gets her way with everything. She is smarter, slyer, and altogether better than everyone else at everything by the ripe old age of fourteen (she is actually much younger throughout the first half of the book, yet that doesn't impair her knowledge or skills at all). The other charac More...

0 comments like (7 people liked it)

Oct 28, 2011

Paige rated it:

This does not warrant a proper review, but there is something I need to say about it:

Despite what you may have heard, this is not a feminist book.

If it were, it would not scorn the feminine nor would it scorn the idea of a woman marrying and having children. Nobody's Princess does this in excess. Being feminist isn't just about one or two female characters being butt-kickers; it's about the treatment of all women in the novel, be they antagonists, protagonists, supporting More...

6 comments like (4 people liked it)

Feb 06, 2009

Sella rated it:

This book was pretty good...Some parts were exciting, while others were kind of boring. I thought the idea was pretty interesting, since I love Greek mythology, and I'm fascinated with the legend of Helen and Troy...It was cool to see this author's view on Helen's childhood, though it wasn't written that well.

There were only a few things that bothered me. The author italicizes words way too often, about ten times every page, and so that was quite frustrating.

Also, the a More...

5 comments like (6 people liked it)

Nov 25, 2010

Rachel rated it:

This book is crap. It's about a little girl who crossdresses and goes on adventures!!! I mean, what the heck was the author thinking when she wrote this?!?! And even if ur into little crossdressing female adventurers, this book is a waste of life. It has no substance and is more work to read than it's worth.
Dear Author, please stop causing innocent readers to waste money and time!

Warning: DON'T READ!! Even if someone has a gun to your head ordering you to read it, it's bette More...

2 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jun 10, 2008

Amy rated it:

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 thou More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 02, 2009

cecilia rated it:

What a lovely retelling, and this is just the beginning of Helen's story! In the original myth, you do not hear a lot about Helen - only that she is the most beautiful woman in the world. Indeed, she is forever remembered as Helen of Troy. Even I did not remember that she came from Sparta. The most beautiful woman came from Sparta? How interesting! I am glad Esther Friesner decided to investigate further into Helen before she became "of Troy."

What I really enjoyed about Nobod More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 17, 2009

Lesley rated it:

I don't know what's wrong with me. I want to like the books I read and yet I'm constantly disappointed. Then I read the reviews and other people did like them. So I think the problem is me.

I can definitely see recommending this book to fans of re-told Greek myths, especially ones featuring strong heroines. But here's what I wanted: If it's supposed to be historical fiction, I wanted to know more about what it would have been like to be Helen of Sparta (before she became Helen of Tro More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 19, 2012

Emily rated it:

Why I picked it up: It’s my historical book groups’ read for January 2012.

This is “retelling” of Helen of Troy. We start when she is four years old, though for the bulk of the book, Helen is fourteen. As a child, she is aware that everyone always comments on how pretty she is and she gets treated differently because of it. She doesn’t like this, and when she realizes that in Sparta, the women inherit the throne therefore she will be Queen, she wants to learn more than spinning and More...

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Nov 26, 2011

Heatheraine rated it:

I picked up this book at the library because of the pretty cover. I didn’t read the synopsis, I just checked it out. When I got home and read the synopsis, it was interesting enough… but… I found it to be so ridiculous. I didn’t like this story all that much. It was rather disappointing.

First and foremost, I don’t like stories about overly independent women who think that they are indestructible and need no one. I do realize that there is a reading audience for this kind of characte More...

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Nov 06, 2011

Mara rated it:

At first, I was concerned that Helen was going to be the typical man-hating, I-can-do-anything, noodle-arms, flirtatious girl that so often populates modern literature. And I was not certain that I would be able to finish Nobody's Princess. But like Sphinx's Princess and its sequel Sphinx's Queen, Esther Friesner presents a strong female character who displays not the best common sense, but a will of iron and the correct attitude toward a life that tries to dictate how she ought to be. While I f More...

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Oct 24, 2011

Helen rated it:

I love this book. I've always heard the name "Helen of Troy", but before I found this book, I didn't know who she was, why she was famous. This book may be very fictional, but it's still very informative. I also like the spin that Friesner put on Greek myths. Rather than have the story take place in a mystical world where there are vicious monsters and the gods actually interfere with everything that humans do, Friesner has the story take place in a Greece where storytelling is so More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 04, 2011

Amanda rated it:

Nobody's Princess tells the untold story of the young Helen of Troy (who, in this story, is known as Helen of Sparta), and is given no back story in classical mythology, save her role in The Iliad. Friesner's vision of young Helen's life is wonderfully fresh and somewhat unexpected for a women who was known for being the face that launched a thousand ships.

In this story, young Helen quickly finds that she dislikes the traditional role of Spartan women (and isn't exactly that respectful More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 08, 2011

Paradoxical rated it:

Nobody's Princess is a cute story. Shallow, a wandering plot, meh-ish characterization... it's still cute. That's pretty much all you can say about it. Helen is an interesting character as she grows up, but she comes off rather selfish (which isn't all that bad), and she always gets her way. All of the female characters are rather strong, which isn't a bad thing to see, but it was rather... hm. Like instead of being equal with men, they're written as better, only with added bonus of the men beat More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 07, 2011

Karissa rated it:

The premise of this story sounded wonderful. A strong Spartan princess who wants more than just to be a princess, she wants adventure and will buck traditions to get it. I was excited to read this book. Unfortunately the book wasn't as astounding as I had hoped; the writing is simplistic, the characters two-dimensional and it just wasn't the exciting book I had hoped for.

Helen is the beautiful and oldest daughter of the Spartan king. She will be Queen when her father passes away. More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Apr 23, 2010

Penwiper rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 22, 2010

Janice rated it:

CHARACTERS:
FATHER-king of Sparta
MOTHER-queen of Sparta.(for some reason queens are better than kings in this book)
CLYTEMNESTRA-her twin, is younger.Is very different from her sister because she is more girl like. Clytemnestra likes to weave and do girl stuff.
CASTOR and POLYDEUCES-twin brothers
IONE-babysitter
GLAUCUS-teacher of Helen and her brothers
MILO-slave but was freed by Helen
EUNIKE-can have visions from Apollo
ATALANTA-boyish like Helen. More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 12, 2010

Becky rated it:

I really liked Nobody’s Princess. But it’s worth noting that, while I read a few myths back in middle school, I am hardly a classicist. Those looking for mythological purism would probably not like this book much at all.

But, well… That’s sort of why I like it. Jessica has mentioned the problem with mythological retellings that don’t reclaim characters and storylines (link: http://www.active-voice.net/2008/02/03/m...), and I’m right there with her. I don’t want to read a story about h More...

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Nov 01, 2009

Izzy rated it:

Nobody's Princess was about Helen of Sparta growing up in her parent's palace in ancient Greece. She did not like obeying all the rules of being a princess and snuck away to watch her brothers, Castor and Polydeuces, as they trained to become warriors. Her twin sister, Clytemnestra, did everything right and got married. As for Helen, she learned how to fight from her brothers’ teacher and used those skills at the Caledonian Boar Hunt. She ultimately assisted Atalanta in killing the boar. She wen More...

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Sep 24, 2009

Katie rated it:

Everyone knows the story of Helen of Troy. But no one knows the story of Helen of Sparta, the girl who becomes the face that launched a thousand ships. Friesner draws from classic texts and historical events to weave a tale about the childhood of Helen and her family. Helen is the heir to the throne of Sparta, but she wants to be anything but a princess. She longs to join her brothers and learn to fight. When her wish comes true, Helen packs up with her brothers and set out for an adventure of h More...

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Feb 02, 2012

Kate rated it:

This is the fictional version of Helen of Troy's life - before the whole Troy thing. Helen, a princess of Sparta, is very different from her twin sister, Clytemnestra, both in looks and in interests. Helen wants to learn to fight like her brothers, Castor and Polydeuces, not weave and wait for a husband. She dresses like a boy and figures out how to get what she wants, and along the way meets many a legendary hero.

Atalanta, Theseus, and Jason are only three of the heroes that walk t More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 25, 2011

Janus Vielle rated it:

Nobody’s Princess a fresh new intake on Helen’s life. Yes, that Helen; the face that launched a thousand ships. The girl who lead two capitals to war and lead men to their deaths. But this story is set before this all happened of course.

Readers are introduced to our heroine, Helen. A spontaneous and temperamental girl who wants to do more than just sit and embroider, and other lady-like work, she wants to go out to and explore the world and do what men are only supposed to do More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 22, 2011

Carolyn rated it:

Before Helen of Troy became "the face that launched a thousand ships," she was a gangly, tomboyish Spartan princess, at least in this retelling. Determined to make her own destiny, Helen secretly studies the masculine arts of fighting. The book is rather episodic; Helen meets up with and hears about many characters from famous Greek myths as she bounces from story to story, including Theseus, Atalanta, Meleager, Jason, the Calydonian Boar, and the Oracle at Delphi (who becomes close More...

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Sep 03, 2010

Lauren rated it:

This book is centered on Helen of Sparta. If this you are familiar with Greek mythology, you probably have guessed (or will soon say oohhhh!) that this is the famous Helen from the great siege of Troy. This is supposed to be a prequel of what Helen would be like before she is stolen away to Troy by Paris.

The story begins with plenty of background highlighting scenes from her younger years that explain her character and her values. Already she is shown as a strong woman, albeit favoring the go

More...

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Jul 10, 2010

Julie rated it:

From antiquity on, authors have been drawn to the enigmatic figure of Helen. In Homer, she is the face that launched 10,000 ships; later her culpability and motivations were endlessly debated. In this re-imagining of her childhood, Helen is a willfull princess who rejects the feminine role she is expected to play, instead sneaking out to train with her brothers, Castor and Polydeuces. She has adventures, accompanying her sister, Clytemnestra, when she goes to Mykenae to get married (oddly, to More...

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Aug 20, 2010

Sara ♥ rated it:

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 (Pompeii) 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 i More...

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Mar 31, 2009

Tenny rated it:

for greek myth lovers like me, this book caught my attetion. i loved that helen's character was a tom boy who loved adventure. i loved her relationship with atalanta. i loved...well...everything!

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 18, 2009

Erin rated it:

It felt soooo loooong. And I didn't like Helen. She was whiney and selfish. But, I will read the sequel if I get bored enough.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)