Actually really enjoying this, especially as it was free!
I can echo the above post ^
Love the economy system and the fact it forces you to have to be involved in diplomacy, make barter deals all the time etc.
The gods thing is quite cool and adds a bit of interest.
It isn't perfect though because it sort of all feels a bit fake/unbalanced as many other factions have insane amounts of food. I realise this is likely so it forces you to have to barter with them to get food, but it would be better if there wasnt a forced/fake way of doing this.
Along those lines, i just become the favoured son (playing as Hector) and i though that would mean i would get all of Priam's and Paris' resources, but no. Instead i got a couple of regions and about 4 new armies (one of which is amazing, but the upkeep is insane). So that immedietly put me from +2000 food to - 15000 food....(!)
So i had to disband almost everything i received anyway (except the amazing army with all top tier units and the highest rank). I have made it work, but there is no logical reason why you shouldn't receive Priam and Paris' resources : / and it makes receiving their units pointless as there is no way you can afford them.
Defending a large kingdom/multiple islands is pretty tricky too because enemies just pop out of the fog of war in the sea every turn with big stacks and unless you have upgraded a settlement to the max with the highest tier Trojan tower the garrison doesn't do much. It keeps you on your toes i guess.
So, i would say it is good that it is challenging and i am enjoying it....but it sort of feels like the challenge is forced/fake in away.
Oh i also hate the hitpoints system. I know this has always been there to a certain degree, but it seems excessive here. For example a unit can take multiple volleys of arrows before losing even one soldier. Just spoils the immersion/realism factor. i know it is a game, but i would prefer this to be more balanced so all units dont have some magic aura around them for the first few attacks. I remember in the old games (mainly before Total war and before we had hero units), the first volley of arrows or first charge would still pick of soldiers straight away.