Book 1 and speculation

The beginning of this story is quite unusual compared to the mythos that we as a society have built up around the Greek culture and religion. Despite the belief that the gods are these powerful being who bend the knee to no mortal and treat them as mere playthings in their games, it appears that this is not even close to the case within this story. For not only does Achilles not bow to the gods, he demands compensation of his birthright from them, whatever this birthright may be. Despite being only a mortal, he is born of a sea nymph, making him more than a normal human, something akin to what Heracles was before he underwent his 12 trials, but without any of the same potential or power. Zeus, king of the gods and vanquisher of his father, the great Kronos, is shown to have fear and those who can manipulate him, using simple favors, which conjures the image of a feudal monarchy with its intricate webs of alliances, favors, and very weak balance of power keeping things in check, where the king despite being the absolute ruler is easily manipulated and pulled in various directions just to keep the subjects who should be bending the knee to him under his control. It will certainly be interesting to see where this goes, how the ebb and flow of the gods' interference with this war and the way they oppose both the humans on one side and each other will affect both the war on the ground in troy or what may become a civil war in the heavens.