Mestra by Madeline Miller
Madeline Miller burst onto the literary scene in 2012 with her huge bestseller, The Song of Achilles. Now she continues her shrewd, sensitive and sensational take on ancient Greek history with Mestra, an absolute must-read for anyone fascinated with the thin line separating fact and legend from myth.
With her smashing debut, Madeline revisited the Trojan War from the viewpoint of Patroclus, Achilles’ best friend and lover. This time out, she introduces us to Mestra, daughter of the King of Thessaly whom the gods have imbued with the ability to transform herself into any being she can imagine. Unfortunately, the gods have punished her father for a transgression with perpetual hunger. What can a loyal daughter who can shape shift do to help? That’s the dilemma facing Mestra, as she tries to use her gift to satisfy her father’s insatiable appetite without endangering his kingdom.
Mestra is more of a novella in length, but sometimes big things come in small packages. Just as she did with Achilles, Madeline treats Mestra as a fully drawn character and not merely an invention of myth. The result is a beautifully drawn, vibrant tapestry portraying an ancient age where morality comes in all shapes and sizes. There is truth in all myths and the truth about Mestra is that it’s a stunning achievement in period perfect writing.
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