Bea Fitzgerald knocks it out of the park with her second Greek re-telling - a sapphic story of Helen and Cassandra during the Trojan War.

With priestess given, and then cursed with, the gift of prophecy and a woman who flees her husband and starts a war, nothing goes quiet as planned for these two women (or the Gods who thought they owned them).

I’m not up to speed with my Greek mythology, but I still loved ‘The End Crowns All’. It was a lot more war heavy than ‘Girl, Goddess Queen’, but the romance and character development of both Helen and Cassandra was fantastic. We love strong women here!

Thank you Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved Girl, Goddess, Queen so so much when I read it last year and I loved The End Crowns All even more which I did not expect going into it but am not annoyed about. <When reading this definitely feels older than Girl, Goddess, Queen with the content and the discussions covered, along with being harder to read with the content in it in many more ways and less of a fun summer romcom feel but not necessarily in a bad way.

The End Crowns All is a sapphic re-imaging of the Trojan War that follows Cassandra who has been gifted prophecy but cannot hold up her end of the deal that comes with it leading to her being cursed and discovering how much worse things can become for her. We also follow Helen who left Sparta for a new love but things are no longer feeling as easy as they should.

As this book is not yet out I don’t want to go into too much detail about what goes down but it was so good and if I could rate it six stars I think I would.

We get both Helen and Cassandra’s perspectives throughout the story which was such a powerful way to tell the story because you can really understand how this impacts them as characters and what they actually want from life instead of what they are being forced to have. The way we began to see Cassandra’s curse impact how she feels, how others view her and what she wants was really powerful and in many ways being in her head and experiencing just some of those visions helped that. And I loved at first seeing Helen from Cassandra’s point of view to then learn her as a character myself and who she was. The way Bea wrote this story was powerful and done in a way that I don’t think could have been more impactful in the long run.

I grew from the start of the book of not being massive fans of either Helen or Cassandra to absolutely loving them by the end. We got to know them in a way that meant I felt I could really understand them and they felt like they had a depth that I don’t always see, especially in Young Adult. The representation that we had was fantastic and the discussions that emerged from their past and present experiences were also done in an amazingly powerful way.
I also really enjoyed getting to know many (but definitely not all of) our side characters. There were a few of Cassandra’s siblings who I really liked and enjoyed reading about when they appeared in scenes and some other characters who we frequently saw that you can’t help but grow to like. The gods were absolutely horrible for much of this book but is that really a surprise?

As we grew closer to the end of the book I really struggled to stop reading needing to know how it was all going to end and as the amount of pages we had less became less and less I was definitely concerned about how it was all going to go down and if these amazing characters would get the happy ending I was desperate for them to have.

This was definitely a more challenging read than Girl, Goddess, Queen that is heavier with the myth however that did not stop it being an amazing book that I am so happy to have now experienced and soon be able to have on my shelves to look and everytime think of how important this story is and will be for so many people. This is almost guaranteed to be one of my top books of the year and I cannot wait to see what Bea Fitzgerald’s third YA will be about because I’m pretty certain I’ll love it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is dark, nail-biting, yet written with a light, gentle touch that makes it easy to read and relate to. Both of the heroines are layered and engaging, which is quite a feat since at the start neither of them are particularly present people! But they are drawn with such skill and humour that they pull you right in, and it's a joy to watch them grow into powerful and compassionate women.
Even though the plot deals with gods and ancient wars, the themes feel very modern - there is definite relevance to rape culture, and an important message for all young women to have courage in the face of systemic abuse. The representation of asexuality within a culture that didn't have the language for it is beautifully done, and helped me achieve a deeper understanding.
It's not 5-star for me because it was a bit too revenge / stabby, but I did thoroughly enjoy this gripping story.

I devoured GGQ so I assumed I would feel the same way about The End Crowns All, however, Fitzgerald's second offering was much more of a slow burn.

The first 50% of the novel was too slow. I had to encourage myself to keep reading, which I hadn't expected. A lot of it felt repetitive and I found it frustrating. Things started to pick up in the second half, but it was probably the final 20% of the novel that pulled this up for me.

I did enjoy it, but it felt a little too long and a little too slow.

I adore retellings of mythology, and this fresh take on the Trojan War narrative was incredibly inventive.

Reading from the female perspectives of that era is something I enjoy, but TECA offers an additional layer with its inclusion of LGBTQ+/Asexuality themes. As a mother to a child who identifies as both queer and asexual, it's wonderful to encounter a book that represents both identities.

The scene involving Apollo, which focused on consent and the right to change one's mind, delivers an essential message for readers of all ages.

My sole criticism is that I found it challenging to make significant progress while reading; I often thought I had read more than I actually had, advancing only 5-10% into the book. However, this could entirely be a personal issue, as I have experienced similar situations with other books in the mythology genre.

Eagerly awaiting the arrival of my preordered copy to enjoy reading it in its physical form once more.

I love a mythology retelling, especially Troy! But this spin on the story was so creative and new. I love that more authors are taking female POVs from this era, but TECA goes the extra mile with the main characters. Cassandra’s personality at the beginning was so different to anything I’ve ever read, it was really enjoyable seeing her from a totally different angle. Also, changing the scene with Apollo was very impactful - centring around consent and right to change your mind.. a really important message for readers of all ages. The pace and the action was great! I have a lot of mythology retellings and would definitely recommend this one!

A truly glorious, beautiful retelling with more strands of twists than anything I’ve ever read. A beautiful love story with the most incredible description, story and characters.
It is truly remarkable. One of my favourite books of all time.

This is the Trojan War, but not as we know it. Firstly, a massive thanks to the amazing people at @penguinukbooks for the @netgalley approval. As per, it hasn't affected my opinions.
@chaosonolympus' blue era is electric. Just as bright and brilliant as Girl, Goddess, Queen, Helen and Cassandra's personal tragedies have always been a footnote to the glory of the men of the Illiad but Fitzgerald's take is utterly fresh, modern, and fierce.
She embraces the duality of Helen's character which is both the soft, feminine beauty of tradition and yet reminds us that before she was "of Troy" she was "of Sparta" a martial state that trained its women for combat as much as its men. Cassandra's character is much more rounded than the raving mad woman punished by a callous Apollo her ambition and her need to secure a life that didn't force her into a marriage with a man she could never tolerate let alone love is fascinating and I love the asexual rep and the way Fitzgerald carefully and sensitively deals with Cass' lack of sexual desire for others and how that does not diminish her love for Helen. It's so much fun watching the relationship between these two women, both victims of the Gods, played as pawns in a game they never wanted any part of, develop and the way they seek to fight back and wrest some control and hope for their lives as they fight curses, fate, and the gods themselves.
All the Olympians featured in this short of Iris and Tyche can die in a ditch because they're all horrible. Iris is a little rainbow and Tyche is a sneaky one.
Once again Bea deals with real and very serious issues and yet this book is still so much fun and I can't wait to learn what Book 3 has in store for us!

Let me preface this by saying how much I adored "Girl, Goddess, Queen already, the way that Bea Fitzgerald portrayed Persephone and Hades.
The End Crowns All sets a very similar tone as the characters are very tender with each other but strong-willed at the same time.
The story follows Helen and Cassandra, both women who had their life decided for them by men and when they dare to take their future in their own hands, even the Gods themselves try to stop them.
Similar to Girl, Goddess, Queen, this book is definitely a feminist retelling of the Trojan War and how it came to be, portraying the women breaking out of the respective societal norms and taking matters into their own hands while the men are at war - as well as not shying away from showing that a lot of men merely view women as something to be owned.
I loved the Queer representation, it felt extremely natural to me. There wasn't a big discussion about characters being attracted to the same gender, and even asexuality was explored throughout the whole book. The relationship between Helen and Cassandra was definitely more of a slow burn, and incredibly tender and heartfelt in a way that made me crave something just like it.
Bea Fitzgerald once again swept me away with her poetic prose, and I cannot wait to read more of hers - or revisit this story in the near future!

Bea is back with another Greek Mythology retelling after the outstanding Girl Goddess Queen

This tale focuses on the prophetess Cassandra of Troy and her family, including her brother Paris. Thought to be dead, he returns as an adult and steals away Helen of Sparta to become Helen of Troy

Cassandra made a deal with Apollo to become his prophetess but when she rescinds on part of the deal, he makes her visions a curse.

Helen is coming to terms with the fact her previous husband will not let her go that easily and Aphrodite wants her and Paris' tale to be one for the ages, the girl who started a war that launched a thousand ships

The two girls become close in their shared turmoil, but is it enough to defy fate and save the city...

I really enjoyed this story and was gripped throughout. Another great tale from Bea and I cannot wait to see what she does next

Worth noting as well, you don't need to read the first book to enjoy this one as the stories are completely independent... but saying that, I highly suggest you do

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the early review copy.. as always, all opinions my own regardless.

Out July so you've loads of time to read the first and preorder this one!

I loved Girl, Goddess, Queen but this was not the fun lesbian romp I was expecting.

Positives:
Cassandra and Helen slowly falling for each other was cute.
The main characters trying to change destiny causing the war to take place over a few months rather than ten years.
Finally meeting Agamemnon, Menelaus and Odysseus in an intense final scene.

Negatives:
Helen kisses Cassandra without asking for permission despite knowing that Cassandra doesn’t feel erotic attraction and despite giving a little spiel about consent earlier in the book.
English language puns despite acknowledging that the characters aren’t speaking in English (Bea is not the only author guilty of this)
The Trojan women are all smuggled out of the city inside hollow statues. Wait, what? So apparently Troy has hundreds of hollow statues with cleverly disguised openings and none of the Greeks think ‘Cor, these are a bit heavy innit?’ or ‘Wot if all the women is hiding in these big ‘eavy statue fings?’

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

4,5 stars.
I entirely understand where people were coming from and I am glad I have requested this book. The Trojan War reimagined by Cassandra and Helen having been given more agency and voice.

A great and engaging read for YA audiences indeed.
The writing style and pacing are good. Characterisation and reimagining of the myth are great.

I LOVED 'Girl Goddess Queen', so was delighted to have the chance to read Bea's next Greek myth retelling; and wasn't disappointed.

This was much larger in scale, with a heavier subject; but it really explored so much from the perspective of the women, including not just the princesses but the women of the city. An exploration of the literal and societal sisterhoods. of a diverse range of characters in all ways, and a new perspective on a famous tale.

Plus (no spoilers) the ending!

This book gave me a whole load of mixed feelings. Initially I was so unbothered with Cassandra and Helen - both of them were very entitiled, as women had to be in Troy and Sparta I now realise retrospectively, but it just did not warm them to me.

Apollo... I have never hated a Greek God more at this moment... a God with a fragile ego that he has to punish Cassandra to such an extent is enough to make any woman's blood boil. And women saying 'no' and defending themselves is still a huge problem we have today.

About 50% of the way through my whole thought process on Cassandra changed, swiftly followed by my adoration of Helen. By the end of the book I was cheering for the women of Troy who defended themselves and fought for their own lives, not expecting the men to do so for them.

This is a beautiful sapphic romance with asexuality representation, female empowerment and a 'defy the odds' storyline.

Absolutely incredible.

Following up the fantastic Girl, Goddess, Queen was never going to be easy, but Bea Fitzgerald has truly excelled all expectations with The End Crowns All!

It's a story we all know so well - Cassandra's prophesies are ignored, Helen marries Paris, and Troy falls - so it would be easy for one to assume they know how this retelling will go... you would be wrong. Fitzgerald manages to keep the heart of the original story alive whilst adding in suspense, angst, and at least 80 pages of sapphic pining. It is incredible that, although you logically know that Troy must fall, you get so swept up with the characters that you start believing too that they can change the prophecy.
The dynamic between Cassandra and Helen is so engaging that you find yourself forgetting the old story as you become so engrossed in this new one. I was also blown away by the representation of asexuality, so nuanced and beautifully woven into the mythology, and it was great to see something so rarely represented given a voice.

I devoured The End Crowns All and haven't stopped thinking about it since, so whether you (think) you know these characters or not I can guarantee you will get pulled in from the first chapter and fall head over heels for Fitzgerald's Helen and Cassandra.

Love caused this war, at least, that what the stories will say. When Cassandra’s patron god, Apollo, offers her the gift of prophecy, and all the power that comes with it, she seizes the opportunity. But when she fails to uphold her end of the agreement, her curses her, and she discovers how very fair a women in her position can fall. No one believes her visions.

One girl is going to start a war. Helen left her husband and her home in pursuit of love, thought that proving to be more elusive that she hoped. Far from home, she has to navigate all the politics of court, and Cassandra is intent on driving her from the city. But when the war finally strikes, it’s more than the army at their all they will have to contend with to win. Cassandra and Helen might hold the key to reweaving fate itself, especially with the prophetic strands drawing them together, but how do you change your future when the gods themselves are dictating your demise?

A book filled with feminine rage and power, brimming with romance and filled with the prophetic strands of fate weaving the destruction of the main characters. There is something incredibly beautiful about reading a retelling that changes the fate of the women and direct their stories into the light to be shared and told forevermore. This story weaves together the power of timeless gods, the intimate complexity of family relationships and a fierce protagonist who would rather burn than see her home destroyed. Everything about this novel was delightful, beautiful and filled with yearning.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 reader 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘴 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘺 𝘉𝘦𝘢 𝘍𝘪𝘵𝘻𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘥

What an incredible retelling of the infamous battle of Troy! The story is told from Cassandra and Helen's POVs as they struggle to navigate a world in which they are treated as objects to be won and dismissed, and I could not get enough. There are so many incredible moments that BF managed to get across and some important messages too. I will update my review after publication as I don't want to include any spoilers, but seriously - read this book when it comes out.

First THANK U NETGALLEY!! I cried happy tears getting approved for this!

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Things we need in 2024

-more mythology
-more sapphics
-more books from bea fitzgerald

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I will be honest, this was harder to get into than GGQ … i was very slow till reaching around 30%, afterwards it felt very fast paced and i was super into it.

Cassandra is a piece of work, but once you connect with her i did understood her reasoning BUT PLS FOR F*CKS SAKE DONT ANGER GODS ??!?!?!?

Helen was easier to get into but also felt all over the place ( which is just her way to get through live i guess )

I loved loved loved not only Beas starting words, but also a totally open space to talk about sexualities and spectrums..

As an epic the musical stan my heart was crying because of Odysseus and the horse and the infant was tragically stuck in my head ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´Д｀ﾟ)ﾟ｡

The end had me tearing up, but well greeks were tragic..

10000000+ points for the Hades cameo
Also even tho I didnt think it would happen -2000 points for not more

Overall i had a fun time and I’m really sad I’m done and have to wait 100000 years till we get a new book

Very excited for this gun YA Greek mythology inspired novel! Have a Greek heritage definitely makes this one at the top of my reading list. Cannot wait to share my thoughts and a full review very soon!