Sparrows in the Wind

by Gail Carson Levine Narrated by Rachel LeBlang, Tara Sands

Overview

This latest novel from Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine about two princesses battling against their fates in the middle of the Trojan War is a must-read for anyone who loves Greek mythology or the Percy Jackson books!

Cassandra, a princess of Troy and follower of Apollo, is delighted when the god himself appears to her. Apollo asks to love her in exchange for giving her future sight, and she agrees-but recoils when he kisses her. Enraged, the god transforms his gift into a curse: Cassandra's visions will never be believed.

After horrifying images of coming war and death pour into her mind, and with no one to heed her warnings, Cassandra risks her safety again and again to avert the disaster awaiting Troy.

But it will take years-and the friendship of an Amazon warrior princess named Rin-for Cassandra to find hope of success in reversing the course of the war.

With heroines to cheer for and nail-biting adventures, Newbery Honor-winning author Gail Carson Levine once again transports her listeners, this time to ancient Troy, where princesses (even cursed ones) will stop at nothing to shape their fate.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Editorial Reviews

APRIL 2023 - AudioFile

Narrators Rachel LeBlang and Tara Sands bring the Trojan War to life from a female perspective. LeBlang voices the Trojan princess Cassandra. Her voice is smooth and soft, pairing nicely with Cassandra's gentle character. LeBlang calmly narrates the first part of the audiobook, explaining how the war started. Sands narrates the second part, moving several years into the war. She voices the Amazon princess Rin. Sands has a bit of grit in her voice, which helps to convey the tenacity and toughness of the Amazons. She narrates the action of fighting a war animatedly. LeBlang and Sands complement each other as their characters navigate their way out of a war that brings them together as friends and allies. A.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Publishers Weekly

★ 09/05/2022

A nonconformist epic fantasy by Levine (A Ceiling Made of Eggshells) centers the events of the Trojan War around two courageous female protagonists. Fourteen-year-old Trojan princess Cassandra worries about the responsibility of acting as kanephoros—balancing a full basket on her head while leading the city to celebrate a god or goddess. Apollo blesses her with the gift of prophecy when all proceeds smoothly; after she rejects his kiss, however, he appends a curse: no one will believe her portents. Cassandra allies with wind god Eurus to forestall the war she sees coming, but a combination of divine meddling and human willfulness, including the malicious actions of Cassandra’s twin Helenus, bring it about anyway. As the war rages, the narrative’s focus switches to Rin, a young Amazon princess eager to prove herself in battle. When the Amazons ride to aid the Trojans, Rin befriends Cassandra, and together, the prophet and the warrior work to avoid the terrible future Cassandra has foretold: the enslavement and murder of her family, and the burning of her beloved Troy. Twining the source material with contemporary sensibilities, Levine emphasizes strong female protagonists in a richly imagined, urgently told mythological variation. Ages 10–up. Agent: Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown. (Oct.)

From the Publisher

"Cassandra and Rin’s friendship and their attempts to change Troy’s destiny make for a compelling read, weaving history, legend, and imagined possibilities. This welcome addition to Greek mythology–inspired stories centers multidimensional female characters often lacking in traditional tales. An original, superbly executed reimagining of a story with enduring appeal." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Twining the source material with contemporary sensibilities, Levine emphasizes strong female protagonists in a richly imagined, urgently told mythological variation." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Levine's simple, crystalline prose is pure pleasure, and with so much ground to cover, events are often dispatched in brief passages, reflecting perhaps a Homeric style. All in all, a delight for young fans of Greek myths and a thoughtful adventure for fans of upper-middle-grade fantasy." — Booklist (starred review)

"Levine immerses readers in a Bronze Age society, contrasting the strictures placed around Cassandra and other Trojan women with the freedom and agency enjoyed by the Amazons, whose culture is also meticulously portrayed. Cassandra’s friendship with the Amazon princess adds another intriguing strand to the narrative." — Horn Book Magazine

APRIL 2023 - AudioFile

Narrators Rachel LeBlang and Tara Sands bring the Trojan War to life from a female perspective. LeBlang voices the Trojan princess Cassandra. Her voice is smooth and soft, pairing nicely with Cassandra's gentle character. LeBlang calmly narrates the first part of the audiobook, explaining how the war started. Sands narrates the second part, moving several years into the war. She voices the Amazon princess Rin. Sands has a bit of grit in her voice, which helps to convey the tenacity and toughness of the Amazons. She narrates the action of fighting a war animatedly. LeBlang and Sands complement each other as their characters navigate their way out of a war that brings them together as friends and allies. A.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2022-07-27
Inspired by the saga of Cassandra and the Trojan War, this retelling takes a fresh, female-centered view of events.

All 14-year-old Cassandra wants is to perform well as the kanephoros, leading a procession to the altar in the sacred grove for the upcoming festival honoring Zeus. Well, she would also like the god Apollo to give her the ability to foretell the future. All goes well until she rejects Apollo’s advances and he attaches a curse to his gift of prophecy: She will be able to see what is to come, but no one will believe her pronouncements. Not only that, he also bestows the gift of prophecy on Helenus, her twin brother. Helenus foresees the conflict over beautiful Helen and pursues her even though he knows her kidnapping will have dire consequences for their family. Meanwhile, Cassandra is befriended by Eurus, the god of the east wind, but between her curse and the culture’s limits on women’s lives, her efforts to save her family, her people, and her city seem doomed. Enter Amazon Princess Rin, whose life is the opposite of Cassandra’s—Amazons hunt, fight, serve as mercenaries, and govern themselves. Cassandra and Rin’s friendship and their attempts to change Troy’s destiny make for a compelling read, weaving history, legend, and imagined possibilities. This welcome addition to Greek mythology–inspired stories centers multidimensional female characters often lacking in traditional tales.

An original, superbly executed reimagining of a story with enduring appeal. (cast of characters, author’s note) (Adventure. 10-14)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175861489
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/25/2022
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	904,147

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