Marpessa is Xanthe's younger sister. Alastor is a young Trojan soldier injured in his first battle. He falls in love with Marpessa. This story would probably appeal more to females and be best appreciated by older readers, eighth grade and up. Students would probably understand the story better with a background in mythology.
Sexuality is fairly central to the plot, but all sexual encounters are presented mildly.
Troy focuses on the lives of young women in Troy at the end of the Trojan War and includes a full cast of characters from old serving women to Greek and Trojan royalty to Goddesses and all of the men these women are involved with. The story's perspective shifts between numerous characters with each chapter representing a different setting and different character's perspective. The book opens with Xanthe's story. She works in the blood room tending soldiers brought into the walls after a battle. Eros who shoots Xanthe with his arrow causing her to love Alastor.