In Athens, crowds flock to witness the most shocking trial of the ancient world. The royal family is mired in scandal. Phaedra, young bride of King Theseus, has accused her stepson, Hippolytus of rape.

He’s a prince, a talented horseman, a promising noble with his whole life ahead of him. She’s a young and neglected wife, the youngest in a long line of Cretan women with less than savoury reputations.

The men of Athens must determine the truth. Who is guilty, and who is innocent?

But the women know truth is a slippery thing. After all, this is the age of heroes and the age of monsters. There are two sides to every story, and theirs has gone unheard.

Until now.

To the world he's a legend. To her he's a liar. Lavinia never asked to be fought over. But now Turnus, her childhood sweetheart, has waged a war that threatens to destroy all she holds dear, because Lavinia's father has promised her to somebody else. Aeneas, rumoured to be the son of Venus, is famed for his bravery, cunning and his vision for a new great Empire. He is also secretive, slippery, and Lavinia wonders why he will never discuss the past he left behind. So when a stranger arrives in the camp with stories about Aeneas that suggest he is not what she seems, Lavinia realises she has to take her future, and that of her people, into her own hands.

'A deft and clever retelling full of intrigue, rage and pathos' JENNIFER SAINT, author of Ariadne 'An intelligent, highly crafted and necessary book' CLAIRE NORTH, author of Ithaca 'Urgent and furious' ROSIE ANDREWS, author of The Leviathan ___________________ In Athens, crowds flock to witness the most shocking trial of the ancient world. The royal family is mired in scandal. Phaedra, young bride of King Theseus, has accused her stepson, Hippolytus of rape. He's a prince, a talented horseman, a promising noble with his whole life ahead of him. She's a young and neglected wife, the youngest in a long line of Cretan women with less than savoury reputations. The men of Athens must determine the truth. Who is guilty, and who is innocent? But the women know truth is a slippery thing. After all, this is the age of heroes and the age of monsters. There are two sides to every story, and theirs has gone unheard. Until now. ___________________ 'Audacious and spirited' SARAH BURTON, author of The Strange Adventures of H 'A timely and labyrinthian retelling of the trial of Phaedra: breaking down the old walls and illuminating the true monsters.' CARI THOMAS author of Threadneedle 'The Heroines subverts the most enduring myth of all. That women are to blame.' JOANNE BURN, author of The Hemlock Cure 'A mesmerizing read' ELIZABETH LEE, author of Cunning Women 'Fiercely compelling' CAROLINE LEA, author of The Glass Woman 'A stunning debut . . . vibrant characters, dark twists, a shimmering brilliant read.' CARLY REAGON, author of The Toll House 'Beautifully told and utterly gripping . . . The Heroines compellingly asks us to consider how our understanding is influenced by who is telling the story, and why.' CAILEAN STEED, author of Home

Aeneas, the son of Venus, is destined for greatness, prophesised to father a people who will one day rule the world.

But behind every great man are the women the prophecies forget.
Creusa, Dido and Lavinia will never meet, yet they are united by the ambitions of one man whose life is pre-ordained to collide irreparably with theirs.

But if their destiny remains unwritten, can they determine the future for themselves?

This is the story of Rome's origins as it's never been told before, through the eyes of three women whose choices changed history.

*** THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER *** 'A deft and clever retelling full of intrigue, rage and pathos' JENNIFER SAINT, author of Ariadne 'An intelligent, highly crafted and necessary book' CLAIRE NORTH, author of Ithaca 'Urgent and furious' ROSIE ANDREWS, author of The Leviathan ___________________ In Athens, crowds flock to witness the most shocking trial of the ancient world. The royal family is mired in scandal. Phaedra, young bride of King Theseus, has accused her stepson, Hippolytus of rape. He's a prince, a talented horseman, a promising noble with his whole life ahead of him. She's a young and neglected wife, the youngest in a long line of Cretan women with less than savoury reputations. The men of Athens must determine the truth. Who is guilty, and who is innocent? But the women know truth is a slippery thing. After all, this is the age of heroes and the age of monsters. There are two sides to every story, and theirs has gone unheard. Until now. ___________________ 'Audacious and spirited' SARAH BURTON, author of The Strange Adventures of H 'A timely and labyrinthian retelling of the trial of Phaedra: breaking down the old walls and illuminating the true monsters.' CARI THOMAS author of Threadneedle 'The Heroines subverts the most enduring myth of all. That women are to blame.' JOANNE BURN, author of The Hemlock Cure 'A mesmerizing read' ELIZABETH LEE, author of Cunning Women 'Fiercely compelling' CAROLINE LEA, author of The Glass Woman 'A stunning debut . . . vibrant characters, dark twists, a shimmering brilliant read.' CARLY REAGON, author of The Toll House 'Beautifully told and utterly gripping . . . The Heroines compellingly asks us to consider how our understanding is influenced by who is telling the story, and why.' CAILEAN STEED, author of Home