The Moon Riders

Moon Riders #1

by Theresa Tomlinson

Myrina has prepared for thirteen years to join the Moon Riders—learning the sacred dances, the art of using a weapon, and listening to her mother and grandmother's tales of their time spent with the Moon-maidens. Finally, the day arrives when she will leave her family and devote herself to the Old Woman, Atisha, and her tribe of fearless young warriors. No sooner do Myrina and the Riders leave camp when a stowaway is Cassandra, the troubled young princess of Troy. Myrina is skeptical of Cassandra's "visions" of death and destruction in Troy; and yet when her predictions begin to come true, she and the other Moon Riders have no choice but to get involved. The events that unfold as the Trojan War wages on will affect Myrina, Cassandra, and the Moon Riders in unimaginable, unforgettable ways. Acclaimed British author Theresa Tomlinson expertly brings to life the legend of the Amazons and sets it against a backdrop of one of the most mythic, imagination-inspiring battles in all of history.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Mythology, Romance, Fiction, Historical

381 pages, Hardcover

First published February 6, 2003

About the author

Though I was born in the South of England - my parents moved back to the North when I was one year old, and I have lived in Yorkshire ever since. I spent a few years as an infant teacher, but when my children were young I started making picture books for them and became hooked on writing. I love drawing and painting, but my main love is writing, often using the legends and history around me as inspiration.

Reviews

[Aoife · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Set in the Trojan era, The Moon Riders tells the story of Myrina who joins the legendary and spiritual Moon Riders, aged 13. With the warrior priestesses, Myrina grows in confidence, strength and power and learns how to defend herself and lead an extraordinary group of women. Myrina also becomes best friends with the Princess Cassandra, and has to face the army of Agamemnon, and Achilles, when they come to wage war on Troy.

I remember reading this when I was 13/14 years old and being absolutely gripped. As a young girl, I probably couldn't have read anything better to make me believe in myself and in the power of women. This book is full of powerful woman leaders. Women who aren;t afraid of standing up to men and who can ride and fight alongside the strongest of male warriors. It's also packed jam with female friendships!

I gave this book 4.5 instead of 5 just because on rereading it, I wasn't quite as gripped as i was when I was younger. It was still a fantastic tale about one of my favourite periods of time to read about.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Moon riders is an exploration of what it was like to be a woman among the Mazagardi tribe of Amazons over two thousand years ago. Compared to Alice Hoffman's The Foretelling, Tomlinson's narrative style is pretty pedestrian. That being said, Tomlinson did some pretty nifty things--for one thing, she turned the siege of Troy on its head, telling a tale from the perspective of nomadic tribes who lived in Anatolia, Thessaly and other lands surrounding the both the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara and felt the brunt of a ten year war. She also treated Achilles, Agamemnon, and Menaleus as brutal warlords, willing to sacrifice a girl child so that the siege on Troy could be joined. Yes, one needs to have read Homer's Iliad in order to fully appreciate Tomlinson's sweeping tale.

But at heart, this is a story about a matriarchal society of women warriors, Amazons who ranged from southern Anatolia to Thrace and worshiped Earth Mother Maa. They loved their earth and its elements, and danced their love under the moon, or along the shoreline, or on the backs of their horses. Tomlinson shows great sympathy for the lives of slaves, as well, and they become an important part of the plot. They also engaged in the struggle, as a friend of the Trojans. Nomadic migrations, hunting and gathering for food and medicines, preserving the integrity of the tribe, passing on the worship of Earth Mother Maa and their fierce independence--there's a lot of stuff in this story, which belies Tomlinson's narrative style of simply telling a straight forward story.

[AmbWitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by The Moon Riders. It was a book that I would never have picked up on my own, but read because a friend gave me it after I’d leant her a load of manga. I ended up loving the book and when I reread it I finished it in one day. The Moon Riders is in essence, a retelling of The Trojan War told from the perspective of people living in the land around Troy. It covers different aspects of the legend and weaves a story that had me hooked and wanting more.

Set in Ancient Greece, we follow Myrina who joins the Moon Riders, an honour she has dreamed of all her life. The Moon Riders are known for their horsemanship, spiritual dances and their ability to hunt and fight. If I were to call them by another name, Amazons, you may have more idea of who they are. We see how they live their daily lives as Myrina learns about their ways, but soon their homeland becomes threatened and they find themselves involved in the legend of the Fall of Troy.

There are plenty of nods to the myths and legends of the Trojan war and Ancient Greece, although how they happen in this book often differ from what happened in these myths and legends. At one point Cassandra, who in the mythology is an oracle who was cursed so that nobody would believe her prophecies, joins The Moon Riders. Interestingly, The Moon Riders do believe her prophecies. I am unsure whether this was because they were spiritual themselves, whether it was because they were women, or whether they were just more likely to listen and pay attention. There is the chance that it tells me in the book but I can’t remember.

We also meet Iphigenia who is about to be sacrificed by her father Agamemnon to appease the gods, as it is believed that this will help them in the upcoming battle. In this story she is saved by The Moon Riders but I believe in the myth she is either sacrificed or saved by Artemis, depending on the telling. It could be argued that The Moon Riders rescuing her links to the original myth as Artemis is the goddess of the hunt, and although Selene is the goddess of the moon, Artemis is associated with it. The Moon Riders being hunters, and associated with the moon could link them to Artemis and mean that them saving Iphigenia is akin to Artemis saving her. Or it could just be that the author wanted to include it in the plot because she liked the idea, or that it added to the theme of women saving women, which happens throughout the book. These are just a couple of the examples of when the book retells parts of the myths and legends around Troy, but there are plenty more.

There is romance in this book but it is very much in the background of the story. And he dies. I felt it was a scene that was really well done. It is at the end of the book where they are making their great escape. Galloping away on their horses he is shot, but there is no time for our main character to process this. She sees it happening and there is nothing she can do as she must lead the others to safety. It is only once they are safe that she can acknowledge what has happened and grieve. But even then there is so much that still needs to be done and she must push her feelings aside and continue. This strangely conveyed to me a feeling of numbness; his death happening so fast and Myrina not being able to grieve or do anything. It was a shock, and it was also a nice change as one, the love interest died and two, it happened quickly without a drawn out death or grief scene. Usually in fiction the love interest survives, or they think they are dead, later discovering they actually survived. And if there is a death scene it’s incredibly emotional and has a large effect on the plot. It was nice to have something different.

I am so glad that I read this book and are surprised it took me so long to pick up the sequel. At some point I plan on picking up more from Theresa Tomlinson as I enjoyed her writing style. I do wonder whether had this book been published today, whether it would be more popular, as in 2003, when it was published, feminist retellings of Greek mythology were not particularly popular. But today? Today they are everywhere. If this is a genre you are interested in I would suggest giving this one a go. I am also interested in rereading it at some point as between reading it and now, my knowledge of Greek mythology has grown exponentially and I’ve read quite a few retellings. It would be interesting to see how The Moon Riders stands up against the knowledge I now have, and the other retellings I’ve since read.

Moon Riders Reviews

1. The Moon Riders
2. Voyage of the Snake Lady (RTC)

[Hollie Robb · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the heck, I had a killer review on this book, now I lost it! Well I thought that it was a killer review. Anyway I'll try it again.

This book very disappointing. It was boringly slow, and I am glad that I am done with it. It wasn't what I thought it would be. I wanted to have a good Amazon woman story. Her story about Homers Iliad, you know the Torjan war. Theresa Tomlinson got some of the Greek Mythology wrong, but not all of it.

The Amazon Women were the Daughter of Aries, they didn't worship mother earth. They were known as breastless women. They cut or burned off the right breast,to have better bow aim. They could have posed for Picasso, they were lopsided. Maybe they were his muses?

Agamemon took Cassandra back with him to Mycenae. She gave him twins. Agamemon's wife Chrysothemis, and her lover Aegisthus,killed Agamemon, Cassandra and their children, for revenge for the sacrifice of Iphigenia. What is fascinating is that Orestes,Agamemon's son avenged him, killing Aegisthus, this story was thought to be the inspiration for Shakespeare's Hamlet.

For more Greek Mythology click on the link.http://www.in2greece.com/english/hist...

[Silky Pitterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting take on Greek mythology and plays featuring the Amazon female warriors, the taking of Helen of Troy, the seer Casandra and others.
A very good book. I got the sequel. I can't wait to read it.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Trojan War—told from the point of view of the Amazons who side with Troy during the 10 year siege of the city. Filled with powerful female characters, this is a fund and refreshing take on a classic myth.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read any Greek mythology in a long time. This was a treat. It's not very heavy on the mythology aspect nor even much magic. But it is a great story of how normal events could become myth.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling

Great blending of different mythology, told from the warrior woman's s perspective. Believable actions, smart strategy, and brave heroics. Great read.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a combination of historical coming of age and dealing with the consequences of actions as an adult. Set during the time of the Fall of Troy, it is a book to inspire young people.

[Emilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic retelling of the Trojan War through the eyes of a young female warrior. This story combines coming-of-age, an amazing adventure and a classic epic with characters that captivate and a tale that will thrill readers.

[Jessica Fyffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad historical fiction on the Amazon's. A little juvenile but it was interesting and captivating at times

[JudgyK · Rating 2 out of 5]

Authors have a habit of taking real and/or literary events and adding imaginary characters to them. Sometimes it works out well, like Ragtime. Other times it’s just sort of .. a thing that people do, and can be a little interesting to see how they explain history but can also be awfully predictable and kind of meh. The Moon Riders is more along the lines of the latter.

Your first inkling that something fishy is going on here arrives when you see King Priam, his daughter Cassandra, King Agamemnon, and his daughter Iphigenia all hanging out together near Troy. Then you remember perhaps that CRAP you *did* read this in the book description but totally forgot and UGH now you’ve started but your eyes are involuntarily rolling so hard you’re getting a headache. Maybe.

The titular Moon Riders are a fictionalized version of the Amazons. Being a moon rider is often hereditary, so if your mother and grandmother were moon riders, your sister and you will be as well. In general, the moon riders travel across the land doing sacred dances in religious ceremonies. At times, however, the moon riders “turn warrior” and fight as necessary, so they’re all trained in shooting arrows from horseback. Of course they MUST be turning warrior, if for no reason other than Homer wrote that it was so, but that’s approximately 10 years down the road.

The thing is, I would have really liked this story a lot more if it took place any time other than during the Trojan War. The main character is surprised that Prince Paris seems to have some other dude’s wife with him! And the other dude wants her back? HUH. Achilles will pillage all the lands while waiting to beat up Troy? Cool story bro. I wonder if that guy has a weakness anywhere. Crap, and now I’m stuck rolling my eyes again.

This is a female-centric telling of the Iliad, but not from the perspective of the women who sat around in Troy during the siege or the women who sat around on Ithaka waiting for their husband to take the world’s longest boat ride. The moon riders are active in life and their own destinies; they serve for seven years, and then choose a husband for themselves. They are strong and capable. The nomadic tribes they come from support this and don’t think women are pretty flowers meant as silent decoration. HOW CONVENIENT. The whole moon riders thing is interesting; the customs and magic and travels are each interesting in their own right. Couldn’t it just be that a few years BEFORE the Iliad they existed and turned warrior to defend some random village from something that we haven’t all heard the story of a hundred times? Alas; no. Also, just like the Iliad, The Moon Riders begins with all sorts of backstory and Big Happenings, but then gets bored and says SKIP TO THE END and all of a sudden it’s 10 years later and nothing new has happened. I wish something new had happened once or twice in there. But no such luck.

It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t terribly good either. In its defense, it was infinitely more faithful to its source than that horrible Brad Pitt movie.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is okay. but… the whole book is fakish. it's not that…realistic. i mean, going to the war, coming with the 'plots' … nothing gripping, nothing really adventurous. it felt like the 'adventures' and 'dangers' seems sort of fake, you know, not that DANGEROUS or ADVENTUROUS.
Plus, some statements are pretty…you know, famish again. it's like the author wanted to complete a sentence by adding pointless, or things that aren't really what it originally is, into it. like ( it's not really in the book but it's an example): she smiled, and touched her nails. ok, i have no idea how to explain. just for those who haven't read it yet, look out for these. it's like… it seems that that particular statement wasn't what the author originally thought the character or thing to do or look,but she just added it so she can make her sentences more complete. those who also write stories will understand. like you might not have really thought of the girl to be tying her hair up, but you saw the lack of action between the conversations, or something, and you'll want to make her be tying he her hair when she's talking on the bus with her friends. something like that, you know. all through the books i met those kind of statements/ sentences, and was quite aware of it. i hope someone does, too.
in conclusion, i think it seems that the author is trying a little too hard on the writing, making things…(i have no word for it) fakish. andd the plot is kind of scattered. either way, the book is fine.

[Penelope Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Moon Riders, the story of Myrina, head of the legendary Moon Riders, after the fall of Troy. I was interested in these stories because they relate to Archaeologist Jeannine Davis-Kimball's work in Warrior Women. Davis-Kimball's book follows nomadic Sauro-Sarmatian women from Kazakstan to the Mongolian steppes, clearly showing that a blond modern day nomad was related to a Woman Warrior Priestess buried in Pokrovka, Kazakstan. Tomlinson's books illustrate how those Amazon women of myth and history could have made the trip from Troy; by crossing the Black Sea and intermarrying with the Sauro-Sarmatian Nomads. Tomlinson's books blend Amazon history and myth with magic in a very believable way. You truly care about the characters and are cheering them on their way.The story continues in the sequel, Voyage of the Snake Lady, by Theresa Tomlinson.

[*TheWrittenWord*Mo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an ok book, It tols a good story and when things happened to the main character Myrina I did cry and laugh, but for me it lacked that little bit extra that makes a book unforgettable.


I really liked the Moon Riders though, I thought it showed how women were powerful even then and respected. Myrina was a character you could easily like, as was Cassandra of Troy what I most liked about the book was the fact that the Moon Riders believed Cassandra, whereas in mythology it was said none believed her and her visions, it made me smile that a group of fighting and dancing 'Amazons' would be realistic and believe.

I think this book definitely adds something for those who know the story of Troy and Cassandra, other than the usual story of Helen and Paris.

[Amber 7-3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful story full of action and adventure! The story is based off the Trojan War but in the eyes of the Moon Riders, or more commonly known as the Amazons. The book is fantastically written and tells a compelling story of a girl and a journey that could make her lose everything that she hold dear to her heart. The Moon Riders is an exciting tale that keeps you reading the book. I would highly recemend this to people who like a book with a little bit of everything. This story has some histery, action, a tiny bit of romance, tradgity, death, happyness, and a whole lot of adventure. The Moon Riders is an amazing book!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

SOOO GOOD!!! I read this a while ago, but I found the sequel at the library while I was working and knew I had to reread this. I had forgotten just how much I love it! Very excited, very good characters, especially because they weren't all the same. They all had the same goal, but sometimes an author makes secondary characters all about the same. Not so here. I also loved that Myrina had no problem with kids. It always irritates me when the warrior woman doesn't want kids because she's just "too tough for that sort of thing". Gag me. I love how Myrina can be kind, but when she's fighting she is very buisness-like. Oh, and Tomi might possibly be one of the cutest fictional guys.

[Kiersten]

A pretty good book; a solid combination of high heroine adventure and classic myth and history. Compelling, immersive, actually charming, and very sad. The emotional connection felt a little bit on-and-off, however; I felt very drawn to some relationships in the story and not at all affected by others. That's really my only negative comment; I fully enjoyed reading this. I don’t know if I will read the sequel, though, if I ever come across it – it just wouldn’t be the same. The Moon Riders is a strong standalone novel.

[Terri Pray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, a completely different take on the Trojan wall. The Moon Riders are a twist on the Amazon mythos, and a compelling twist at that.

The story follows the one Moon Rider, Myrina, from her entrance into the Moon Riders (which is supposed to be for 7 or so years before she returns and takes a mate), through to the defeat of Troy.

I'd recommend this book to those who love stories about the Trojan war, with the caveat that this deals more with one group of people caught up in the war, rather than focusing on the Paris/Helen story.

[Lucy Booth]

Though hard to get into, i have so far found this book to be brilliant - to see the development of Myrina from an unimpressed teenager who has found herself exactky where she wanted to be in life, in the respected gang of Moon-Riders, to a strong young Snake Lady who has seen too much for her age and has a critical part in the War of Troy. I am almost at the end and can't wait to see how the whole mystery resolves itself!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myrina has always wanted to be a Moon Rider, what the Achaeons call Amazons. This isn't a traditional story of Amazons, however, as the Moon Riders marry and move out of the tribe after seven years. Myrina begins her training when the princess of Troy, Cassandra, joins training.

Cassandra won't be able to stay the whole seven years. Events in Troy change the future of not only Cassandra, but of all the Moon Riders.

This is a great retelling of the Trojan War. There are sequels.

[Jacqueline Curry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always loved this story, even though it's aimed a little younger than me now. It's one of those epic adventures in a different world that I always like. The only complaint I have is that the secondary characters could have been fleshed out more, some of them are a little two dimensional. There is also a bit of a gender imbalance, but it is perhaps unavoidable to not have a lot of important male characters in a story about warrior women.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have given up on this book. It's just not my style and a bit boring and sloooow. The only reason I gave it two stars is that it's not a bad book, I just can't get into it. I gave it a good try though - made it halfway before going on to other books.
If you are into the Battle of Troy and the legend of the Amazons, then you should give this a go.

[Giulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this quite a while ago and I thought it was really really good! Albeit, I was young, but I still remember falling in love with the characters and the setting...
However, I have a hard time remembering everything, save the last scene of the book which is forever seared into my mind (in a good way!)

[Kira Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok. So I just reread this book and I remembered how much I LOVE IT!!!! It happens during the time of the Trojan War which makes it have some very sad parts, but I love this book just the same. It is written with great characters and the story is well put together. I Highly recommend it. You'll cry though, just warning you!

[Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myrina's story is one of courage, bravery, and about being able to do what's right. At the start of the book Myrina is like any other girl her age going to ride with the moon riders, however the carefully way that Tomlinson unfolds the story leaves you gripping the pages of another story about leaving your girlhood behind.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me cry on two separate occasions. Without moving music or stirring visuals, Theresa's writing moved me to tears. Despite having read many well written books of various genres, it is rare for a book to be able to do that. Theresa doesn't pander to her characters. This isn't a 'happily ever after' type story but it is just as beautiful, if not more so.

[Laney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished the boo and it was SOOOO GOOD It left me near tears but it was an excellent read. It does, however, have a lot of death and despair so for anyone can't handle that, this isn't the book for you.

[Denise Ashlock-Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I don't know that it would be teachable because it is so long and some of the students would have a hard time with the book. I would definitely recommend it to students that wanted to read a good book based on mythology though.

[Carolynn (Molly.Groot) Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story of strong, confident and courageous women- both young and old, written for young adults... it would make a great gift to a middle school girl. The rewrite and alternative take on the Trojan Horse tale is incredibly well done, easy to read while not dumbing it down for kids.