Elektra: No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller from the Author of ARIADNE

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T he story and its characters swept me up and engulfed me, I could not put this one down’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ REAL READER REVIEW Five stars from me, but if you don’t love the Iliad, or Greek Mythology, it may not reach that level for you. It is still well written and a great story of revenge though. Jennifer Saint has breathed new life into this myth and put her own stamp on it' REAL READER REVIEW I think I preferred Ariadne by Jennifer Saint as I was less familiar with that story. Also I found Elektra infuriating. Her constant obsession with her dad Agamemnon was just hard for me to grasp. So, I propose that we all swear that, no matter whom she chooses, we will all join him in protecting her. We will all make a most solemn vow that we shall defend his right to have her—and keep her—with our own lives.”

Following the story of three different but interconnected women, Elektra takes an insightful look at the complex, rich, albeit sometimes tragic relationships between mother and daughter, as well as the devastation of war on both sides of the battle. While I didn't know much of the stories of Elektra, Clytemnestra, and Cassandra before reading, I was able to catch on easily to their roles. Ariadne gives a voice to the forgotten women of one of the most famous Greek myths, and speaks to their strength in the face of angry, petulant Gods. Beautifully written and completely immersive, this is an exceptional debut novel.

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Clytemnestra, wife of Agamemnon, King of Mycenae of the House of Atreus, mother of Iphigenia, Elektra and Orestes. Her rage resulting from Agamemnon’s sacrifice of her firstborn daughter Iphigenia in Aulis before the Trojan War wreaks havoc in Mycenae and the cursed House of Atreus

Helen raised an eyebrow. “And let him grow up like they did? Nurturing the same dreams that they did? Agamemnon won’t want to risk it.” Despite the title being “Elektra” this actually has 3 perspectives: Elektra, Clytemnestra and Cassandra. We see Elektra as a young girl with her love for Agamemnon as a father, (which in parts reminded me so much of the Oedipus complex by Freud- which was rather disturbing to read) and her hell bent on revenge for the murder of him by her mother. We see Clytemnestra as she spends 10 years of the Trojan war planning her murder of Agamemnon, especially after he murdered their first daughter, Iphigenia. And lastly, we see things from Cassandra’s POV; a Trojan princess with the gift of prophecy.. but the curse of no one believing in her.

The house of Atreus is cursed- through generations of murder, usurping’s of the throne of Mycenae, and cannabalism. We are introduced to this house of Atreus in the generation of Menelaus and Agamemnon. First through Agamemnon’s marriage to Clytemnestra; then his daughter Elektra; and then his slave and captive, Cassandra. Saint writes her characters in such a way that they feel entirely real. Fabled figures including Hector and Achilles play small but pivotal parts during the palpable war between Sparta and Troy, but Elektra begins and ends as a story about women. They love and hate and hurt, just like any figure from history. They are victims of the cycle of violence that built their world, but Saint’s expressive storytelling allows their voices to be heard amidst the darkness. Despite their sufferings, these mythological women are cloaked in strength, bravery and a formidable rage that makes reading this novel a powerful and emotional experience. It’s a simply stunning retelling. I shuddered. “He won’t want to kill a little boy, though, surely?” I could understand the brutal logic of it, but I couldn’t bring myself to picture the young men I’d seen in that hall plunging a sword into a weeping child.

An extremely compelling novel, particularly if you haven’t read much Greek mythology. However, I wanted a bit more drama and atmosphere to come through in the writing. Other than that, the positives do outweigh the less good parts and at 3.5 stars I am rounding up. A brilliant read' Women & Home | 'A spirited retelling' Times | ' Beautiful and absorbing' Fabulous | 'A vivid reimagining of Greek mythology' Harper's Bazaar | 'Jennifer Saint has done an incredible job' Red What a great read, I hardly can express my feeling, the story goes on magical, beautiful and fascinating. I thought of Menelaus, the adoration in his eyes when he looked at Helen. I wondered if she was right, if he’d be able to see things the way our father had done. If winning the contest in our halls really would be victory enough, whatever might happen later. Daughter of Zeus, that’s what the stories said of Helen. While I was born red-faced and squalling from the commonplace indignity of childbirth, my sister supposedly tapped her way delicately through a pure white eggshell and hatched whole and beautiful. The legend was adorned with fanciful details—it was well known that Zeus could adopt many forms, and on this particular occasion he had appeared to our mother feathered and snowy white, gliding down the river toward her with unmistakable purpose.

The book was incredibly well researched and kept true to some parts of the story while embellishing others like some of the marriages that took place and the deaths of some of the key characters. It is about the effect and consequences the Trojan War has on these women. How it affects them and their lives personally, during and after the war. Each character was written with the utmost care, particularly the three main woman, in such a way that I was able to discern one's emotions and actions from one another early on in the story. This is something I find particularly important in books including multiple viewpoints; I could tell one woman from another, and I wanted to hear every perspective in turn. None of the women's stories were a disappointment, and therefore, none of the chapters became boring. Admittedly, I didn't particularly like Elektra, as a person, but her story was just as interesting to me as the others'. This book starts us off with before the Trojan war; Helen is in Sparta looking for a suitor and men from all over Greece have heard of her beauty and want her for a wife… apart from Agamemnon who meets Clytemnestra (and Odysseus, who finds interest in Penelope, Helens cousin). We witness Clytemnestra’s journey to Mycenae, the birth of their children… and of course the start of the Trojan war, as well as many more events that take place.