I really enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at the construction of the Trojan Horse and the drama & intrigue among all the different island nations of Greece. The main character, Damian, is noble and trustworthy, interesting and sympathetic. Fans of Greek mythology and the Trojan War will enjoy this book.

Yeah., this was amazing. My first by J Ryan but definitely not my last. Incredibly well researched which is a HUGE plus for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and The Book Guild for the ARC copy of The troy Legacy.

This book is well written but was difficult for me to get into reading. I might give the book another try at a later date but for now I will not be finishing it.

I was drawn to this book due to it being about Greek mythology but for me it did not grab my attention.

I find it difficult to get into the book however that is in no way the authors fault. The book was beautifully written, however it is different from what I usually read and I ended up stopping half way through. I wanted to give something different a try, and I do love Greek mythology but this book just wasn't for me personally. However I would still 100% recommend this book to people who do regularly read books like this.

It’s well written but it didn’t grab my attention so for now I’ll be DNFing. I might give it a try on another time, but for now it’s not my jam.
It does seem to have a good story, but a very slow start.

This is an interesting young adult novel about Damien, a young man who is summoned by Odysseus to finish his father's task of building the Trojan Horse. Damien is not aware of the full implications of this work, but he eventually discovers its darker side.

The book is well researched, and provides references to other aspects of the familiar story of Troy, which provide context in terms of the bigger picture of what is happening here. Indeed, the informational content in this story is a little dense, perhaps because the author assumes that her audience of young readers may not know that much about classical Greek mythology.

Damien is also challenged by the fact that he feels bound to save the Spartan King Agamemnon's daughter, Princess Chrysothemis. Not strange, given that he has a history with her, and her father is not known for being the most reliable when it comes to ensuring his daughters' wellbeing...

This is an engrossing story which provides a good introduction to the wider pantheon of Greek mythology while telling a story through engaging set of characters. It gets 3.5 stars.

The Troy Legacy follows your Spartan Shipbuilder Damian, as he is enlisted to assist in the building of the fabled Trojan Horse.

Like other J Ryan novels, this story is clearly well researched and every paragraph is packed deep with rich historical and mythological detail. Every thought of the characters and piece of dialogue is carefully thought out and constructed in order to further flesh out the ancient past and inform its audience. The target audience of this book is certainly teens or even young adults, beginning their journey in historical fiction and/or Ancient History. There is minimal assumed knowledge (which I think would frustrate older audiences in its implicitly) and it is certainly a story that is more plot focused than character focused. With this is in mind, I did find it a bit difficult to warm to the characters.

As with all mythological retellings and historical fiction, the author must fill in the blanks and choose a version of the myth to tell. I found some of these choices a bit odd, while they are constructed in a detailed manner, I felt like it was a matter of trying to jam as many Ancient Greek sites and mythological references in as possible. Additionally, there are sections of the text that are anachronistic, or even painfully self aware that break the immersion of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Book Guild for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest opinion. These thoughts are all my own.

J. Ryan returns to the Ancient World with her latest historical adventure. Drawing inspiration from fragments of classic literature and her vast knowledge of Greek mythology she has written a fast-paced story with fascinating characters which we all probably remember vaguely from early schooldays.
Damien is a troubled hero, a skilled shipbuilder, now tasked to build the legendary Trojan Horse. In a time of violent conflict he must face many perils to save a princess, the woman who once rescued him from drowning, the woman he now loves.
The action is non-stop with cities under siege; vast fleets of warships; volcanic eruptions; and massive tsunamis; but there are some very powerful characters driving the narrative forwards.
Another splendid novel from this very skilled author.