The novel has a dual narration with Helen’s being in the first person and that of Theseus being in the third person which really works since it brings an immediacy to Helen’s story while also allowing us to look into Helen’s world from the outside in.
I’m so glad the author chose not to strip away the gods to ground this tale in reality because I love Greek mythology and the inclusion makes this a far richer reading experience for me. The story is as firmly anchored in Greek history as is possible but the mythological elements are not ignored and the will of the gods is very evident throughout. In Helen of Sparta, events follow a slightly different path as Helen is the one who instigates the flight from Sparta and proves to be a feisty and headstrong young woman rather than the demure character from the myths. While Theseus is trapped in the Underworld, Helen’s brothers attack Athens, rescuing their sister and returning her to Sparta where she eventually marries Menelaus.
Theseus places Helen in the care of his mother, while he keeps his part of the bargain to help Pirithous enter the Underworld where he plans to abduct Persephone to make her his wife. In the original myth, Theseus and his best friend, Pirithous, both demi-gods, vow to marry a daughter of Zeus, and Theseus sets his sights on Helen, abducting her until she is old enough to marry him. Helen is usually portrayed as a victim so it makes a nice change to see her fighting for her destiny and this sees her escaping from Sparta with Theseus. Helen of Sparta is a refreshingly new twist on the story of Helen where we meet a woman determined to escape the fate that has been set out before her by a father who has little love for her.
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