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!