The Gods sit atop the great mountain and direct the fates of mortals on Earth below. They have their favourites and their rivalry is a game of entertainment. Meanwhile on Earth the mortals have to suffer the capricious choices of their Gods as played out with their lives. As his reward for favouring Aphrodite above other goddesses Paris has stolen the most beautiful woman in Greece as his bride, unfortunately Helen was married and now her husband and his allies are coming to Troy seeking revenge. Krisayis is the daughter of a priest and companion to the Trojan princess but when her lover is killed by the Greeks, Krisayis realises that her loyalty lies to her people and her city. Briseis is a princess newly married and newly widowed, as a slave she understands the power of love and honour.

Emily Hauser has taken a well known story and created something new in this novel. A modern interpretation which takes the best aspects of historical and women's fiction but underlies them with a strong core of learning and knowledge. Whilst occasionally seeming light and superficial there are deep meaning cutting below the simple story - feminism, honour, love and strength. This is a really enjoyable read and the debut of an interesting new voice. ( )

3.5 Stars
A novel meant for a younger audience (NA/YA) or just a more simplified version of the fall of Troy as told from the perspective of two young women. This variation is original and intriguing, but some parts felt rushed or glossed over. Other parts are better than the Iliad original. The segments with gods and goddesses is amusing and I like how the author alludes that Homer plays a part as well. Overall, a good adaptation of the traditional story and an easy read.

Net Galley Feedback ( )

In the spirit of transparency, Emily was a reader for my own novel and her expertise in the Latin language and her knowledge of the ancient world was an incredible help for my book. It also showed me that she knows her stuff. Her book is clearly meticulously researched and her background as a classicist shines through each character and place, on every page.

For The Most Beautiful is a wonderful novel about the women of the Trojan War. The familiar myths are all there; a quarrel of the goddesses resulting in a choice marked by a golden apple, the stories of Agamemnon and Hector, of Helen of Troy and Paris, Achilles and his tender heel. The myths are woven into the larger tale, told from the perspectives of the women of Troy. It's historical fiction but within this novel the gods have agency. They are participatory in the lives of their believers. I loved every second of this book and can't wait till the second book in the series comes out!

It won't be out in the US until January 2017, so I count myself lucky to have had the chance to read it stateside so early. ( )