While there have been many retellings of stories from Greek mythology, particularly from the female perspective in recent years, Jennifer Saint’s Elektra is a refreshing and intriguing book focusing on some of the lesser-known female figures. Told from multiple points of view, Saint manages to give a voice to Clytemnestra, wife of Agamemnon, Cassandra- a daughter of Troy and finally, Elektra, the loyal daughter of Agamemnon. I love mythology and particularly the story of Trojan war so I knew that I was going to enjoy seeing how Saint brings the female voices from this story to life. Although the book is titled after her, Elektra’s voice is only really heard in the final quarter of the book. Initially, we get to see a young Clytemnestra with her infamous sister, Helen, and how they grew up and met their respective husbands. Saint sets the scene for what is to come later in the more well-known part of the story of Troy and I really enjoyed seeing the relationship between Clytemnestra and her sister develop. Taking place over several decades, the pace of the story fluctuates in keeping with the moment that the author is presenting to the reader. Time seems to stand still in poignant moments, heightening and emphasising the emotional responses of the character in question.

This story really focuses on how each of the female characters are subjugated by their male family members and society in general. The characters are all flawed and at times, it was very difficult to like them or their actions, particularly in the case of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. Saint is not afraid to present her characters in this realistic manner which can be tricky when bringing mythological figures to life on the page. I love how each of the three protagonists are strong-willed and not afraid to go against the gendered norms. Saint manages to breathe new life into the characters. Elektra will inspire many readers to go found out more about this Greek myth!

If you have read The Song of Achilles, Circe, The Women of Troy or Daughters of Troy, Elektra needs to be added to your list.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for the eARC in exchange for my review. Elektra will be published on the 28th of April.

I really enjoyed Elektra! It was interesting and fast paced whilst offering something different to retellings; I know the story of the Trojan War, I didn't know much about Elektra as a character so the last quarter was new to me. When I read Ariadne, it wasn't a favourite, maybe because the origin myth is fairly small so there wasn't much to flesh out (hate that term haha). I enjoyed this story lots more and feel like the characters are much more dimensional and dynamic 😊.

I'd really recommend this if you like myth retellings! 🌟 The God's aren't directly in this story, but this book is a great example of the cycles, fate and suffering at the hands of the God's that is shown throughout different mythologies.

This is without a doubt my favourite book that Saint has released, I never knew just how desperate I was for the voices of Elektra, Cassandra and Clytemnestra until I started to read this wonderful novel. If you’re familiar with mythology you’ll know Cassandra as a princess of Troy who was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo, but like an awful human, she dipped out on him after promising him she would be his lover if he gave her this gift so he then cursed her so that although she does have the gift of prophecy, she will never be believed. After the battle of Troy, Agamemnon (who let’s face it, we all dislike very much) claims her as his war prize and takes her back to Mycenae like the absolute dick he is. The namesake of this book, Elektra, is the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra who kills her mother for murdering her father, she is of course helped by her brother.

This wonderful book is told from the POVs of all three women and each chapter is clearly labelled so you know who’s POV you’re reading at any time. Saint really puts her own style and voice to these myths in a way that very few have successfully accomplished, and you really are able to fully comprehend all that has happened to the ladies, and just what mindset and reasoning you would have to kill your own mother and whether or not it was morally right to do so. Because let’s face it, the Gods did not approve of family murders.

I loved reading through Cassandra’s chapters as I do have a slight bias towards her (hi, hello, I’m an Apollo lover) but I think some of my favourite parts to read were Clytemnestra’s interactions with her sister Helen, yes that Helen. Saint really knows how to create a wonderful story that really puts you into the pages of the book, I got so lost in it I could barely put it down once I had started. I’m so very excited for Atalanta, mostly because my girl needs a lot more stories than what she has.

Thank you Netgalley and Headline for sending me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Elektra follows three women over the course of several decades - Clytemnestra, Cassandra, and of course, Elektra.

The characters are flawed and not always easy to like. I did at times find that I would have liked a bit more character development but I'm sure that's a tricky balancing act when you're rewriting stories which have been told for millennia.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book. I suspect I would have done so even more if I didn't know all the associated myths - being a Classics teacher and teaching the Trojan War took some of the mystery away and meant I wasn't surprised by events that I'm sure would have devastated me if I didn't know they were coming. I felt the retelling didn't stray too far from the original material either, whilst still retaining a distinctive voice.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book which I'm sure many will love.

I'm a sucker for Greek mythology, so I was excited to see that this was written from the perspective of the women during the Trojan war. I enjoyed reading about their lives and the way in which a single event affected them in different ways, the book was emotional and did a great job at making you feel for the characters.

The author does a great job at creating unlikable characters through Agamemnon and Elektra. I wish more was done with Cassandra's character but it is a Greek mythology retelling so too much can't be changed.

The cover is absolutely beautiful and would not fail to entice me to pick it up in a bookstore. Ultimately I loved the book and will look out for more books by this author.

Another competent and engaging reframing of Greek myths from female perspectives. Interesting choice of these three women.

Gorgeous, wandering, romantic and timeless.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

I really enjoyed ARIADNE, so was excited for Saint's next retelling. Unfortunately ELEKTRA didn't live up to its predecessor. Perhaps because there are already so many fantastic novels about the Trojan War, but ELEKTRA feels as though it is missing something; even with three POVs it is thin on action and momentum. Still an easy read, just not as engrossing as ADRIADNE.

Elektra tells the stories of three women unwillingly entangled in the events of the Trojan War: Clytemnestra, Cassandra and Elektra.

The Greek myth retelling trend continues - and Jennifer Saint's writing more than lives up to the high standards set by other authors in the genre. It took me a little while to get into the book, but once I got a grasp on each character and the setting of their viewpoint I really enjoyed reading it.

Thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for my free e-copy.

I love Greek Myths and have a little knowledge as have recently read Stephen Fry's Mythos and Heroes books.

This book follows strong female characters who I haven't read about in detail before which I really enjoyed reading about lesser known females and their side of the 'story'

The story begins with Helen running away to Troy to be with Paris the king. I love how the book twists so the fate of Troy falls on the women's shoulders.

Although titled Elektra, we don't really get to hear much about her in the first 3/4s of the book but we soon find out she is very fiery, full of anger and wants revenge for her fathers death.

Revenge, Family and Loyalty are key themes and as usual with Greek myths it can be pretty brutal in places.

I loved this retelling and will be reading more from this author

So confession tune I've read this twice before leaving my review as I wanted to take everything in before I left my review. Gosh if I thought Ariadne was good, it had nothing on Elektra! The writing was immersive, the prose was great. As an Ancient Historian myself, this was definitely a book for the lovers of Greek Mythology.

"The House of Atreus is cursed. A bloodline tainted by a generational cycle of violence and vengeance"
I read this and had to read the book. It is amazing. A wonderful feminist mythological retelling

Ariadne was amazing, Elektra is even better! An evocative and captivating retelling of stories we think we know well, told beautifully through the eyes of women. Loved it!

Elektra - review

Elektra, Elektra, Elektra What a book and what a start into the writing and introduction of Jennifer Saint (for me) I hadn’t Read Ariadne before reading Elektra so nothing to compare just went into it not knowing much… came away from it obsessed and In love with this book and now I do have a copy of Ariadne I’m ready and raring to dive straight into it!

Feminist Greek mythology retelling of the stories of Elektra, Cassandra and Clytemnestra! If your familiar with the original tale on these three women you know bits and pieces but even if you haven’t heard of these three and don’t have much Greek mythology knowledge it doesn’t matter at all as you can just go into this and just get to know the tale of what happened with all three of these women in the way of Jennifer Saint!

What I loved about this was as most of us know the tale of The battle of Troy/Trojan war but to get a whole new perspective of this story and seeing the POV’s of three women away from that battle and it being a backdrop instead of the forefront just so so good and how Saint wrote it was remarkable! While this war is going on we watch as these women become leaders/having to take control but also knowing their worth and taking over!!

Like I said a wonderful new perspective on these three women that are usually dominated by The male Gaze and overlooked in mythological history!!
Loved this book so much and now I need to get to Ariadne Instantly.

In Elektra Jennifer Saint retells the story of Clytemnestra, the sister of the fated Helen. Once her sister leaves for Troy the fates of many intertwine and leave no family untouched by tragedy. Clytemnestra's youngest but sickly daughter Elektra who idolises her father is left bereft and she harbours a hatred that will have deadly consequences.

I was unfamiliar with Clytemnestra and Elektra's tale but from the moment I started the book I was hooked; the writing was so incredibly emotive and immersive that I flew through the story and could easily have read another (I now want to pick up Saint). This was a 5 star read that had me gripped from the beginning to the end.

Thank you to Negalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC!

My 4 stars are a very picky four stars, because while Jennifer Saints writing is insanely good (lyrical but also clean), she cannot make me love or feel sympathy for Elektra. But Elektra has always been a tough character to take on and this was an ambitious project for Jennifer Saint.

Yet, I do feel like Jennifer Saint was able to make us understand her a bit more, if not love her. Elektra, is like her mother in that sense, she does not need our sympathy or our love, she condemns her siblings, and like Clytemnestra, gives more time to the dead than those who are alive. Her entitlement is that of her fathers, for example her poor friend who supported her unconditionally was tossed aside the second she could find a suitor of rank. She assumes that Cassandra would have told her wonderful stories of her father, without the slightest thought of the fact that he had killed her family and assaulted her. Elektra belongs to another time, the time where you were supposed to revenge your fathers ghost and be glad that he has slaves (she says that her mother would deny her father the comfort of slaves in that sense*), and a sacrifice for the gods (the sacrifice of Iphigenia) is perfectly necessary and appropriate, and she represents that thought fully. I feel like she can be appropriately compared to Ajax, from the play by the same name by Sophocles in the sense that the death of Ajax can be compared to the death of a particular style of hero. The death of Clytemnestra and Menelaus’s subsequent refusal to support Orestes and Elektra, and also not take revenge for the sake of Agamemnon, feels like the end of the curse, especially with Orestes and Elektra purified as well. But Orestes rules, and Elektra who has demanded this, hides away and presumably never really gains power again. Her hiding away parallels Ajax’s death; and her style of revenge, the ways of the old die with her even if the family line continues.

The book has three POVs, Cassandra, Clytemnestra and Elektra, and does a fantastic job of complicating each woman. We have doses of Helen, she is the daughter of Zeus, and entitled to her share of bloodshed, but she’s also kind, warm and loyal, and able to see past the curse of Apollo.

Elektra was a happy surprise, i did not request the book since even though I want to read Adrianne I haven't read it yet, but the publisher sent the e-ark to me, and I am so happy I got to read it. I loved the story and the pace, the writing style made me want to not put it down. I love the mythology/ancient Greece inspiration and setting, and I liked how it is told by three female perspectives. Sometimes I did feel that I didn't really know where the story was going, or what the main focus was, I think I still don't, but something about the lyric of the story was so enchanting that I had to keep reading!
The story is told by three POVs, Elektra, the kind of main character, daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, being Clytemnestra another of the POVs and sister of Helen, from the myth of Helen and Paris that led to the downfall of troy, and Agamemnon the one that made Troy fall, the last POVs is Cassandra the kind of mad sister of Paris, and princess of troy. The story is woven in such an intriguing way, with the classic sense of tragedy and forthtelling.
The ending is not surprising and kind of sad, but it is also fitting to the type of story, fitting to the myth that it is inspired in, Elektra is a classical tragedy with all the three acts, that inevitably leads to the downfall of our "hero".
I did enjoy the book quite a lot, and would recommend a read, and now I’ll definitely will have to give Ariadne a read.

I'm a huge fan of Greek myth and their retellings, so I was super excited to pick up Elektra. While I have not read Ariadne yet, reading this has made me excited to pick it up. Jennifer Saint's writing was beautiful and kind of reminded me of Madeline Miller's prose. I don't think I've read about the Trojan War in the way it was written in Elektra, which I think makes it a pretty unique retelling. The story flows wonderfully well and gives us the viewpoints of three very different women, Clytemnestra, Cassandra and Elektra; all of whom have plotlines that neatly tie up in the end.

I loved reading from all their perspectives, but my only qualm with this is that there was too less of Cassandra in the story. Her point of view was my favourite to read about it and I felt that her storyline ended a little abruptly.

But all in all, I enjoyed reading Elektra a lot and the gorgeous writing made the reading experience a lot of fun.

I struggle with stories reimagining Greek myths but I enjoyed Ariadne so much I wanted to read this. I was not disappointed and think that Jennifer Saint is my go-to author for gripping stories which educate as well as entertain me!

Insightful and gripping retelling of Aeschylus‘ Oresteia, seen through the lens of the female protagonists; Electra, Clytemnestra, Cassandra, Helen. Jennifer Saints’ ‘Electra’ examines the gendered narratives that inform the classical canon, giving voice to the silenced and disenfranchised.