{"title":"Claire Heywood","description":"\u003cp\u003eClaire Heywood's novels transport readers to the heart of ancient worlds, weaving rich tapestries of history and faith. Through evocative storytelling, her works explore the lives of remarkable women and the timeless struggles they face amid turbulent times.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBlending \u003cem\u003ehistorical fiction\u003c\/em\u003e with profound spiritual themes, Heywood offers narratives that resonate deeply with those interested in both religion and the human experience. Her books invite reflection on legacy, belief, and resilience across generations.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"daughters-of-sparta-by-claire-heywood-9781529333695","title":"Daughters of Sparta","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo sisters parted. Two women blamed. Two stories reclaimed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRequired reading for fans of \u003ci\u003eCirce\u003c\/i\u003e... a remarkable, thrilling debut\u003c\/b\u003e - Fiona Davis, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Lions of Fifth Avenue\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFor millennia, two women have been blamed for the fall of a mighty civilisation - but now it's time to hear their side of the story...\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs princesses of Sparta, Helen and Klytemnestra have known nothing but luxury and plenty. With their high birth and unrivalled beauty, they are the envy of all of Greece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSuch privilege comes at a high price, though, and their destinies are not theirs to command. While still only girls they are separated and married off to legendary foreign kings Agamemnon and Menelaos, never to meet again. Their duty is now to give birth to the heirs society demands and be the meek, submissive queens their men expect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut when the weight of their husbands' neglect, cruelty and ambition becomes too heavy to bear, they must push against the constraints of their sex to carve new lives for themselves - and in doing so make waves that will ripple throughout the next three thousand years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect for readers of \u003ci\u003eCirce\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eAriadne\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eDaughters of Sparta\u003c\/i\u003e is a vivid and illuminating retelling of the Siege of Troy that tells the story of mythology's most vilified women from their own mouths at long last.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHelen of Troy and her sister Klytemnestra are reimagined in this \u003cb\u003egorgeous retelling\u003c\/b\u003e of the classic Greek myth - not as women defined by their husbands and lovers but as battle-weary survivors of a patriarchal society who take control of their own destiny. \u003cb\u003eAbsolutely riveting\u003c\/b\u003e!' - Alka Joshi, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Henna Artist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47596101828844,"sku":"9781529333695","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781529333695-daughters-of-sparta.jpg?v=1777916515"},{"product_id":"the-shadow-of-perseus-by-claire-heywood-9781529333732","title":"The Shadow of Perseus","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A page-turning retelling . . . so interesting and thought-provoking' JENNIFER SAINT\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A fresh and original take on the myth of Perseus . . . I was gripped by the human drama at the novel's heart' ELODIE HARPER\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMyth remembers Perseus as one of its greatest heroes.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eA slayer of monsters. A rescuer of damsels.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut the women who knew him best have a different story to tell.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHis mother, Danae.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHis trophy, Medusa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHis wife, Andromeda.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs Perseus becomes obsessed with the promise of his own destiny, his heroic journey casts a shadow of violence and destruction across all three women's lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt takes strength to survive a legend.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect for fans of \u003cstrong\u003eJennifer Saint\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eElodie Harper\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eNatalie Haynes\u003c\/strong\u003e, author of \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDaughters of Sparta\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, Claire Heywood returns with an imaginative reinterpretation of the myth of the great hero Perseus. She brings to life the voices of three women who are sidelined in the traditional version, and whose stories reveal a man who might not, in fact, be a hero at all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReaders LOVE \u003cem\u003eThe Shadow of Perseus\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'I absolutely adored this book, I devoured it.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'The book is a real page turner.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'This was such a compelling and wonderful read! I genuinely loved every minute of this book and cannot recommend it highly enough!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A beautifully written, unique, approach to the myth of Perseus. Just gripping' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A masterful voice in the popular new wave of feminist reworkings of Greek mythology . . . A must-read for fans of Madeline Miller and Natalie Haynes' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'As someone who loves Greek Mythology retelling, I absolutely loved reading this book' ⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47600313860332,"sku":"9781529333732","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781529333732-the-shadow-of-perseus.jpg?v=1777987704"},{"product_id":"the-wandering-queen-by-claire-heywood-9781399730266","title":"The Wandering Queen","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA beautifully woven tale with brilliant, confident writing, \u003cem\u003eHeywood\u003c\/em\u003e has illuminated the stories of ladies too often relegated to the role of villain or damsel. — CLAIRE M ANDREWS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe King of Tyre is dead, his final words anointing his clever and strong-willed daughter, Elissa, as the new queen until his young son, Pygmalion, comes of age. But betrayal and danger soon haunt Elissa, and she is forced to flee the kingdom - exiled with a band of loyal followers and a broken heart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter an arduous search for a new home, Elissa and her people settle in North Africa, and she is crowned Queen Dido: the ferocious and devoted ruler of her newly established city of Carthage. Soon a powerful trading hub, Carthage thrives under Dido's governance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut when a band of Trojan survivors, led by the valiant Aeneas, washes up on a nearby shore, Queen Dido is reminded of a promise she made long ago, never to trust or to love another again. Can Dido overcome her past and open herself - and her city - up to Aeneas, or is their love doomed to burn everything to the ground?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47608191353068,"sku":"9781399730266","price":37.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/6886d36852cb94812e96e56a161bafe2.jpg?v=1778202510"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/claire-heywood.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}