unicorndeburgh reviewed A Heroine of the World by Tanith Lee
Review of 'A heroine of the world' on 'Goodreads'
This book is marketed as a fantasy but it doesn't strike me as particularly fantastical. While I don't recognize any of the names of countries or towns, it could just as easily have been set in the Balkans, with action taking place from Russia down to Greece. The religions don't match what there would have been in that historical period. There's no Christianity at all. There are goddesses and animal totems. It opens with the protagonist, the heroine, as a 13-year-old girl being deposited with her aunt, while her mother leaves to be with her soldier father who is near the front lines of the war. She ends up having many adventures and not in a good way, which is realistic, through war, siege, and retreat. Overall, she's a very traditionally feminine character, passive at first getting somewhat more assertive over time, but generally achieving what she does by being …
This book is marketed as a fantasy but it doesn't strike me as particularly fantastical. While I don't recognize any of the names of countries or towns, it could just as easily have been set in the Balkans, with action taking place from Russia down to Greece. The religions don't match what there would have been in that historical period. There's no Christianity at all. There are goddesses and animal totems. It opens with the protagonist, the heroine, as a 13-year-old girl being deposited with her aunt, while her mother leaves to be with her soldier father who is near the front lines of the war. She ends up having many adventures and not in a good way, which is realistic, through war, siege, and retreat. Overall, she's a very traditionally feminine character, passive at first getting somewhat more assertive over time, but generally achieving what she does by being very pretty, and being taken under the wing of various adults. She does eventually become more independent. Her passivity at the beginning was frustrating, but not unexpected in a sheltered 13-year-old. Towards the end she becomes pretty tough, though the center of her life is pursuing her Mr. Right. She has picked a very challenging Mr. Right. I enjoyed it a lot. Looking at the reviews on Amazon, I see that people seem to love or hate this book, with more liking it.