Friday Reads: ‘The Lost Daughter of Sparta’ by Felicia Day

You’ve definitely heard of Helen of Troy. And possibly her sisters Clytemnestra and Timandra. But, did you know there was a fourth sister? Philonoe was cursed along with her sisters, but you most likely have never heard of her.

Greek myth tells of the sisters, who were cursed by Aphrodite to leave or betray their husbands, due to their father, King Tyndareus, forgetting to honor the goddess.

In the graphic novel, The Lost Daughter of Sparta, Felicia Day and Rowan MacColl share Philonoe’s tale.

Philonoe is desperate not to end up like her sisters and is given the opportunity to lift the curse by Aphrodite, but it will be a difficult undertaking. She is tasked with completing multiple, practically impossible quests. With the help of the goddess Artemis, Philonoe goes on a classic heroine’s journey, encountering monsters and gods and prophecies, learning more than she ever expected about herself and what she really wants and needs.

Felicia Day is one of my favorite geeks and her typical wit shines through in this story of strength and self discovery, bringing an unknown Greek myth to modern audiences. Rowan MacColl’s mostly black and white illustrations, with splashes of dark red, are a perfect complement to Day’s writing.

Day, Felicia. The Lost Daughter of Sparta. Illustrations by Rowan MacColl. Gallery Books, 2026.