Elektra: The mesmerising story of Troy from the three women at its heart

The tone and content is decidedly feminine, reflecting the ruminations and intrigues of the female mind. Both Ariadne and Elektra have similar treatment. Personally found it a bit excessively embellished but an experience that mythology buffs should enjoy nevertheless.

This book was an average read. Like the writing was pretty decent, nothing extraordinary. I guess when it comes to Greek Mythology you need to make your writing pretty much impactful as everyone already knows the story. Like for example The Song of Achilles. Everyone knows the story but still it left a really strong impression- that's good writing. This book was a fast read, loved the characters but the writing was decent and didn't have any effect on me as a reader.

An ARC of a book on mythical women? Sign me up! Review up on my Bookstagram along with similar books: @sto.ries_by.tJennifer Saint was on my radar ever since I discovered Ariadne, so I scooped at the opportunity of reading this book before its release, major props to the folks at NetGalley!If there's one thing that the Classical myths establish, it is that morality is grey, and man's actions are not monolithic events growing out of themselves. Every decision, choice and action is a leaf on the branches of a tree that is life, influenced by the winds, the soil, the creatures living in it, and the trees around itself. This book makes it clear like no other. It gives voice to the voiceless women on Oresteia by Aeschylus, and Electra by Euripides: women of the household of Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek Army in the Trojan War, well known from Homer's Iliad. So this is a collection of events that happen at the intersection of several myths.It starts from Clytemnestra's childhood, her lax days with Helen, until they are swept by their husbands to their new lives. Things seem good, although Agamemnon isn't the ideal man one would imagine heroes to be, until Paris abducts Helen (or probably Helen went voluntarily, she never gets to tell us in the myths). Thanks to loyalty for his brother, Menelaus, whose wife was Helen, and being bound by an oath, Agamemnon goes to lead the huge army of Greeks against Troy, except his hubris causes him to displease Artemis. Here begins the bloodshed of his generation, carrying forward the curse of his ancestors (that often happened among these mythical characters). As Agamemnon kills his daughter Iphigenia in cold blood, tragedy unfurls.This is the story of the women where they get to voice their thoughts, their perspectives, and their tug of war with fate and choice. The complex premises of destiny, divine intervention, ignorance and revenge come together in a simple narrative of personal thoughts from the perspectives of Clytemnestra, Iphigenia, Cassandra, Elektra and more. The narrative moves from Greece to Troy, showcasing a sort of unity in the diverse lives of these women, with their varied exoeriences. It evokes the question the myths intended to: who was wrong? And like the myths intended, no answer is yielded.If you're still wondering if this book is worth it, it absolutely is. Forget the traditional plots and the mystery of ends. This is a story you know, yet at every juncture there is something new. It makes you feel what the women had felt. It makes you grind your teeth at the irony of life, as you silently watch the tragedy unfurl. It's like going back to the festival of Dionysa in Athens, but now it's the women who write their stories.

Llegó maltratado de las esquinas y sin el plastiquito protector, parecía usado

Erg mooie cover. Boek kwam goed verpakt aan, zonder kreuken. Heb het nog niet gelezen dus kan nog niets zeggen over de inhoud.Past ook erg mooi bij "Ariadne", qua cover.

Love the way this author brings the myths to life. Can't wait for her next book.

A telling / retelling of one of Greek mythologies best known stories - the siege of Troy as the author breathes life, personality and soul into the story of Troy and all the best known characters with a lot of new faces as this particular story focuses on the women of this timeless tale.Clytemnestra, Cassandra and Elektra are the women bearing the brunt of a war created by men and gods in this story of Troy. Women who carry the scars of war, seek retribution and in some cases become slaves to the victors and enemies even to their own family.What I lovedWell its Greek mythology and for me that brings its own air of mystery, intrigue and tragedy. A sub-genre I will never tire off. The story of Troy is fascinating and for those that want to know more of it, this books packs a lot into one novel, although it focuses on the women rather than the main characters like Achilles.It is another feminist story, and these women are by no means shrinking violets. The wives, daughters, and mothers created their own brand of magic and menace as we learned of the dangers and terrible atrocities committed, by them, in the name of love, survival and revenge. Women who carried a grudge: unforgiving and unrelenting. However, I loved the portrayal and depth of Agamemnon’s character in the book – not likeable but it was great to see more depth and colour to this very powerful character in Greek mythology.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.The story telling flows and the author did really well to breathe life into centuries old myths and legends that makes the reader really connected with the story. Then there is a but…What I didn’t likeI felt there wasn’t enough new material built into the story, so it felt like a ‘telling’ rather than ‘retelling’ of a story I was already very familiar with. If you don’t know much about these legendary tales then this would not be a problem, but for me I wanted a bit more originality in the whole story and I wanted more twists to a story I already knew. This is personal preference not a criticism.The criticism I do have however, is that I missed the Greek tragedy and there was plenty of incidents, events, deaths, and curses to create the prefect atmosphere and build new drama, but the author did not quite get it right with the atmosphere, drama and sense of theatre we get from the writing. It felt rushed in places because there was so much to pack into the book. So in this case I would have been happy too read a longer book with detail that added to the story.The interest was also mainly in the second half of the book, and completely absorbed me at the end with a more than satisfying ending as the characters wrestle with their moral dilemma and thirst for revenge because that was what tradition dictated.A very 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.

Really enjoyed reading this, this is the second Jennifer Saint book I've read. I really enjoy reading from the female narrative and also gaining knowledge in Greek Mythology.