McCullough has written some masterpieces, but this isn't one of them. Yes, the writing takes its style from Homer. But each of the many first-person-viewpoint characters speaks in exactly that same writing style. It wasn't until more than halfway through the book that my interest was finally engaged. It made me wish for her Roman series instead.

I almost gave this one star, but since the book doesn't do really anything bad - it's just not good and so disappointing - I'm settling for a very low two stars (if it was a one star, it would be a high one, so it could be a round up...). I bought this second hand at the book fair two years ago, and this 100% not going back on my shelf, I'm donating this next chance I can, maybe this will be for someone!!!
This to me, it helped me figure out what I want from Greek Retellings, by being exactly not that, this one read like the movie Troy, which I watched once and have zero interest in rewatching, this just brought nothing new to a tale almost as old as time (or what was new was also bad...). Just not wroth the pages it was, it lost from the start, and it dragged on in uninteresting ways...
As it was obvious, this was not for me, if you're looking for something like the modern retellings from names like Madeline Miller or Natalie Haynes, this is also not for you... if you're looking for something else, maybe... (but also for this type of story, just read the classics, start with The Illiad, and you'll be better for it!!!)

I've read many books about Troy from any perspective possible but this one was exceptionally good. Narrated by all the personages who made Troy a legend, this book gives the reader insight on what was truly happening, the mechanisms of war, minds and beauty and the aftermath of it all. Very loyal to the legends surrounding this fabled city, The Song of Troy is a must read to all history lovers and to those who just want a truly great read. :)

The Song of Troy is thus far my favourite book dealing with the Trojan War and I’m lucky I even found it at all because it was in the ‘Almost New’ section of my local bookstore. I almost never found it, except that the picture of Helen on the spine drew me to it. Yes, I judge books by their covers; I’m a horrible person. It’s nearly five hundred pages long but they read fast and before too long, it’s over and you’re left feeling sad. You probably know how the Trojan War ends (hint: the Greeks kick butt), but after falling in love with the characters over 500 pages, it’s hard to let go.

In any other author’s hands, each chapter being told from a different point of view would be annoying head-hopping. Yet in Colleen McCullough’s book, you don’t really get that sense. Each chapter is clearly labelled as being a new point of view and when each new person picks up the tale, they are moving the action forward, not merely recounting what happened to them up until that point. Of course characters like Helen, Odysseus, Achilles and Agamemnon get more page time than minor characters like Diomedes, Automedon and Nestor, but you get the sense that you know each character intimately.

What I like best about The Song of Troy is that we get behind-the-scenes explanations for each character’s motivations. Achilles, instead of being portrayed as a complete [expletive of your choice], we see how it was necessary to have a very public break with Agamemnon over—you guessed it—a woman. Odysseus is my favourite character in the whole book because he’s intelligent, crafty and politically savvy. He’s notorious for his irreverent, but utterly brilliant advice on how to win the war:

“You could, of course, starve them out.”

Nestor gasped in outrage. “Odysseus, Odysseus! There you go again! We’d be cursed to instant madness!”

He wriggled his red brows, unrepentant as ever. “I know, Nestor. But as far as I can see, all the rules of war seem to favour the enemy. Which is a great pity. Starvation makes sense.” (Pg 182)

This was my first Colleen McCullough novel and I’m most definitely looking forward to reading her famous series, The Masters of Rome. If The Song of Troy is any indication as to how much research she does, how well she plots novels and how sympathetically she portrays historical figures…well, let’s just say I will have stumbled onto my new favourite series.

I give this book 5/5 stars.

This was my first read from historical fiction heavyweight Colleen McCullough. The story of the Trojan War isn't anything new by a longshot, but McCullough presents the tale through multiple POV's from both sides of the conflict, creating an interesting experience. I really enjoyed this book even though, like the siege of Troy itself, it started to wear me down by the end.

3.5 stars rounded up to a 4

Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2JZ2c6h

Deben darme tiempo para una reseña digna.

Probabilmente, se l'avessi letto tutto di un fiato piuttosto che interromperlo e poi riprenderlo, l'avrei potuto apprezzare di più. Così, invece, ho la sensazione che l'idea dietro il libro fosse molto più interessante della messa in pratica del libro stesso.

C'è anche da dire che io sono sempre stata più dalla parte dei Troiani, e il palese patteggiamento dell'autrice per la fazione greca, con tanto di caratterizzazione da idioti per ogni personaggio troiano ( persino questo voler riscattare Elena a tutti i costi!) mi hanno urtato abbastanza.

Non è scritto male, ma non saprei.

In general, I did like this take on the Trojan tale, but I have a couple of criticisms.

The narration device of having a different viewpoint in each chapter is one of my favourites, but in this case it was often difficult to tell one from the other. I think having fewer voices, more clearly defined, would have made the story immeasurely better.

My other criticism is that the author clearly has her favourites. Achilles and Odysseus have been firmly manipulated, with portions of the story greatly changed to put them to their best advantage. Achilles, in particular, seems to have been painted in a unfairly flattering light. Meanwhile, the women have been universally condemned. Hekabe does nothing but howl and scream and bewail her fate. Andromache is weak, guilty and ungrateful. Helen is a heinous slut who has no positive character traits at all. Even Brise, who starts out as a strong character, quickly degenerates into yet another of Achilles' loyal devotees.

All in all, a reasonable novel, but not my favourite version of the story by a very wide margin.

So here’s the thing. The first part of this novel is brilliant. McCullough knows her genre and her mythology. I loved her characterizations. I think she showed an incredible command of her material and added something new to to Homeric Cannon we all know and love. I especially enjoyed her Diomedes and Odysseus, a dynamic I don’t think is explode nearly enough. I thought her initial portrayal of Achilles and Agamemnon were also really, really well done.

I thought this would easily fly to be my favorite of the Trojan War media I’ve consumed but the second part of this novel ruins it for me.

Spoiler warning, from here on out.

The choice to have Agamemnon, Achilles, and Odysseus work together was a bizarre one. I think it really detracts from their characters and I think it takes away the flaws and growth we see from Achilles later on. Her initial portrayal of Briseis and Achilles's relationship was really good and I loved the trust they had started to build so I was looking forward to the climax of the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon but it kind of just never came.

I’ve read sprinklings of this author’s other historical fiction and I have to agree with other reviewers when they say she really does pick a favorite character and protect them. She clearly has chosen Achilles here but she’s essentially erased all his flaws and put him in a position where he’s really done nothing wrong. I think it really detracts from the impact of the book and it doesn’t even really make sense.

The two stars are for the incredible start but the middle and ending are god awful.

The most detailed among all the Troy war novels I have read, both in charachters and events descriptions, I also loved how it all begins with the fathers of the heroes we all know so well, so that we can know their roots.
Every main charachter has a chance to tell the story in one or more chapters, and even though you can't really see a huge difference in the ways they talk, maybe they don't really convey their different feelings and attitudes properly, but it's a nice shot anyway to know them better and closer.
It's a pity that things are so slow and detailed when the war hasn't even begun and so fast in the end, when a lot of amazing charachters (like Pentesilea and her amazons) join - just to be quickly dismissed.
I lernt a lot of new notions about the Troy war from this book and I guess I'll check them out to see how much the author has mixed up among fantasy and actual documents.

Un retelling dell'Iliade piuttosto fedele, con tutti gli antefatti, dalla nascita di Achille alla costruzione delle mura di Troia, e con l'epilogo che prende invece spunto dall'Odissea e da altre opere classiche per completare la storia con le sorti degli altri personaggi sopravvissuti.
Si tratta di un romanzo corale, narrato in prima persona direttamente dai protagonisti, uno per capitolo (alcuni intervengono più volte, come Priamo, Achille, Ulisse, Elena, Agamennone; altri una sola volta, come Briseide, Nestore o Automedonte), che ho trovato però un po' troppo monocordi nel modo di raccontare le vicende. Il risultato, pur non essendo certo politically-correct (ma ci mancherebbe: mica si può cambiare la storia o il mito!), mostra un Achille più umano verso Briseide, Ettore e Priamo. Un uomo, non un assassino spietato con un'unica finalità nella vita.
«I nostri odi e i nostri amori appartengono al mondo dei vivi. Nessuna cosa così forte può esistere nel mondo dei morti. Io ho fatto del mio meglio. Non c'è altro. Ho pregato affinchè il mio nome continui a essere cantato attraverso le generazioni degli uomini che verranno. Questa è tutta l'immortalità che un uomo può sperare. Il mondo dei morti non dà gioia, ma non dà nemmeno dolore. Se io posso combattere Ettore un milione di volte sulle labbra di uomini vivi, non sarò mai veramente morto.»

Siempre he tenido una admiración por esta historia, sus personajes son increíbles, traición, ambición, engaño, deshonor, astucia, un clásico en toda regla.