First published 2019
Paris faces an impossible choice when three goddesses demand he settle their divine contest. He awards the prize to Aphrodite, who promises him Helen of Sparta in return. Helen is the most beautiful woman alive, but she belongs to Menelaus, a powerful king whose marriage is protected by oaths from rulers across Greece. Paris accepts the goddess's gift, knowing it will bring catastrophe. His decision pulls Troy toward a conflict that will consume heroes and mortals alike. Clarke opens this Troy Quartet by exploring the human desires that drive mythic events. Paris must navigate between divine will and mortal consequence, between love and duty, as his choice threatens to destroy everything he holds dear. The novel examines how personal passion collides with political power, and how individual actions can reshape entire civilizations.
Genres: historical-fiction, fantasy, greek-mythology, ancient, epic, classical-studies
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, epic-quest, love-triangle
Setting: Troy, Sparta
Period: Ancient Greece
400 pages · Kindle Edition · HarperVoyager