Horses of Fire

A Novel of Troy

By: A. D. Rhine

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld, Hillary Huber, Vaneh Assadourian, Eva Kaminsky

Length: 20 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

“One of those singular books that pulls readers into a completely immersive world with a dazzling story and characters so deftly drawn that you can’t help but ache for them.”–New York Times bestselling author Lisa Maxwell

I know the stories they will tell. I’ve heard the echoes of their songs—songs that will outlive us all. But this song is not theirs. It is mine.

Behind the timeless tale you know is the captivating story you never heard: a sweeping epic in which Troy’s strong, yet misunderstood women take center stage in the most famous war in history.

Andromache is cast as the doting wife of Prince Hector, yet her Amazon warrior name means “battler of men.” The only one with the cunning to outwit the invading Greeks, she must gather a band of outcasts and become the military commander she was born to be before the life she and Hector have built is reduced to ashes. Rhea is a war refugee and a horse whisperer who finally earns a place and sense of belonging in Hector’s stables. To save her new home, she must become an unlikely spy and face down a forbidden love that will test all her loyalties. Helen is blamed by all for starting the Trojan War, but no one knows her real story. To escape her tormentor and foil a plot to undermine Hector, Helen must risk everything by revealing her true face to the one who despises her most.

Set in the wider landscape of the late Bronze Age collapse, this realistic and immersive Troy is a perilous battleground for warriors and politicians alike, not a playground where the fate of men and women make sport for gods and goddesses. The first book in an epic duology, Horses of Fire is a harrowing novel of palace intrigue, the transcendent bond of female friendship, and the everyday bravery of invisible heroes in times of war.

The women of Troy are threads spinning on a single loom. Can they reweave the tapestry of fate?

©2023 A. D. Rhine (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Four intrepid narrators perform this creative retelling of the Trojan War from three Trojan women's perspectives plus a bird's-eye view from 'the Hawk' and Cassandra. Narrator Saskia Maarleveld voices Prince Hector's wife, strong-willed Amazonian Andromache. Vainglorious Helen of Sparta, whose capture by Paris launched this ten-year war, is portrayed by Hillary Huber. The enslaved Phrygian horse whisperer, Rhea, is performed by Vaneh Assadourian, using a Slavic accent. And the ever-mysterious, truth-telling Cassandra is portrayed by Eva Kaminsky, who also narrates the Hawk poems." (AudioFile)

"Feminist re-tellings of Greek myth are having a moment, but Horses of Fire is destined to stand out, spinning a fresh take on classic themes with mesmerizing energy. AD Rhine crafts a distinctive trio of heroines: Prince Hector's wife Andromache, less demure queen-in-waiting and more embattled Amazon; Rhea, an enslaved horse-girl seeking to carve herself a new life in Andromache's household; and war-prize Helen, despising both the battles fought in her name and the vicious prince who brought her to Troy. Lovers of the classics and lovers of fierce female characters alike will rejoice!"—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

“Narrated by the fierce women of Troy, Horses of Fire is epic in scope and intricately vivid in the details. Reminding us why myths are timeless and sacred guides, A. D. Rhine brings the ancient world to vibrant life while expertly planting us firmly in history. With lyrical language and spellbinding details, this is a re-imagining that captivates and enchants. I felt every pound of the horse’s hooves, heard every whispered desire, tasted the dust of the land, and fell in love with all four complicated women. You’ll never see the old stories the same way again. Horses of Fire is an immersive and sensory experience of page-turning adventure.”—Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author

"The Trojan War is a much-storied saga of brave men, of treachery, and loss. Not since Euripides have the Trojan women been so celebrated in all their sacrifice and courage, as they fight for their children, their parents, and their right to be recognized as the warriors they are. In Horses of Fire, A.D. Rhine has written a novel of substance that you won’t soon forget."—Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean

Incredible Performance!

The four narrators for HORSES OF FIRE are incredibly talented and brought each of the characters in this sweeping story to life, which made for a truly epic audiobook experience.

Vibrant

The narrators were truly brilliant. They brought these fierce and misunderstood women to vibrant life.

Interesting twist to a Trojan War story

I enjoyed the characters that were built in this retelling. And I appreciated the Luwian and Hittite influences, which are much more academically appropriate for Troy, instead of the seemingly Greek(-ish) city so often depicted in modern stories. I liked the combination of two Andromaches into one; it surprisingly makes sense. I will say it was a slow start. And while we know that Troy falls, I did feel that the story leaves the reader with unanswered endings and questions. I wish the end was better fleshed out, but I still found the novel worthwhile.

The Women Of Troy

Feminist or YA retellings of Greek mythology have been in vogue since Madeline Miller released her opus “Circe”. Since that release, mythological figures like Helen, Medusa, Clytemnestra, Ariadne, Briseis, and many others have had their stories told with a modern voice. The men of Greek mythology too have also gotten gotten the 21st century treatment. Heroes like Achilles & Patroclus, Jason, Perseus, and even Odysseus have been shown to us in ways we’ve rarely seen them before. It’s a remarkable time to be a lover of Greek mythology. It’s fascinating to see how and why these stories and icons speak to us and what they say about our time as well as their own. And while I unabashedly enjoy all of these tales, I find that the stories reinterpreting the Trojan War/Greek mythic tradition while also offering a woman’s perspective are often the most compelling and rewarding reads. Seeing these disparate authors use those timeless stories to offer new perspectives and open dialogues about women in the ancient world as well as our own time has been entertaining, rewarding, and illuminating. The authors add to that tradition with “Horses Of Fire”.
With compelling and rounded characters, several very capable narrators, and a fresh (though by no means entirely faithful to the source material) take on the Trojan war, I found “Horses of Fire” to be a very addictive read. Readers who enjoyed “A Thousand Ships” by Natalie Haynes or “The Women of Troy” series by Pat Barker will find a lot to appreciate here. The character work in particular deserves acclaim. This is a book with multiple POV characters similar to George R.R. Martins ASOIAF series. Yet it was the Amazon trained Andromache’s POV I found most rewarding. Seeing her actively strategize and war after centuries of seeing her depicted only as “Hector’s wife” in pieces of media was truly refreshing. There is also a new and interesting perspective on the Trojan side of the war-effort told through Andromache herself to keep readers invested. We don’t usually see the factions and squabbling in the Trojan camp. The tension between Troy’s ruling class and their ostensible allies in the midst of a devastating war was a take and conflict I’d never seen mentioned before let alone depicted. To see Andromache as she plots a kind of guerrilla war against the Achaeans in an attempt to win respect for the Trojan “allies” bearing the real brunt of the war from the Trojan elite was honestly a very rewarding read and novel idea. It’s encouraging to see that authors still have so much to say and do with these stories. Stories like these remind us just why these myths are so timeless AND so malleable.
My only complaint is that I think the reader (or at least this reader) might’ve benefitted from a more complete resolution instead of the one we get. Yes, we all know how the story ends, yet I felt the abrupt ending left what was an otherwise very entertaining novel on a bit of an unfulfilling note. That said, on the whole I would give “Horses Of Fire” a hearty recommendation. If you’re looking for a familiar tale with a modern perspective or just need a little adventure in your literary diet then give “Horses Of Fire” a read. It resonates.

If you enjoyed “Horses Of Fire” by A.D. Rhine as much as I did and are looking for similar titles then check out “A Thousand Ships” or “Stone Blind” by Natalie Haynes, “The Women Of Troy” series by Pat Barker, “Circe” or “Song Of Achilles” by Madeline Miller, “Clytemnestra” by Constanza Casati, or even “Atalanta”, “Ariadne”, and “Elektra” from Jennifer Saint.