Black Ships by Jo Graham

Black Ships is an historical novel based on the Trojan War, specifically on the events of Vergil's Aeneid. The narrator, Gull, is the offspring of a Trojan captive and Greek soldier. She becomes a priestess of the 'Lady of the Dead' (a pre-classical version of Persephone) after an accident leaves her unable to perform other work. When a war band led by Prince Aeneas arrives on a mission to rescue the captive Trojan women and children, Gull leaves with them and becomes their resident priestess.

Personally, I love historical fiction as a form of escapism, so the slightly slow-moving plot did not bother me. I'm all about enjoying the layers of detail and the recreation of a vanished world.  I enjoyed many elements of the storyline, such as Gull's romance with one of the Trojan captains and the time the group spends in Egypt. (Vergil's character Dido is transformed into an Egyptian princess called Bastaemon.) If you are intrigued by the ancient Greek and Near Eastern world and would like to learn more in an entertaining, engaging way, I would recommend Black Ships. Pin It