Elektra by Jennifer Saint
Review by divoratricedilibri2.o blog

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!
Let's talk about Elektra!

"The bards sing of you, too. One woman daughter of Zeus at the heart of their story. Troy was about one woman, for me at least."

For me the most interesting thing of this book is the narration, because I believed that this book talks ONLY about Elektra, when instead it is concentrated on the quarter of the mythical story that revolves around it her and her family: the narration of the Trojan War and revenge. So, in this book we not only have Elettra's POV, but also Clytemnestra's (the mother) her life pre-war, her sister Elena and her's marriage with the Atrides, the War - and the birth of Electra and the inclusion of her POV, and also Cassandra. So these are three POVs, three points of view: Clytemnestra, Elektra and Cassandra.
The book talks about a story that we all already know - but I love it - but from a point of view that is not ever taken into consideration, of women. There are three women who tell us three points of view of wars, of the world, of their life.

Obviously, for me the best pov is Clytemnestra's. Revenge is something that must be meditated upon for a long time and must be served on a silver plate (like we say in italy). When I read the great tragedies in high school, this was one of my favorites, for the cyclicality of guilt and revenge, and because Clytemnestra is a drama queen. I love her. She is a super charming character. For 9 years, FOR NINE YEARS, she thinks about what to do to take revenge, because lost her daughter in that sneaky way will never be forgiven, but above all it is a void that will never be filled. I've always been fond of this revenge which is just too epic.
The beauty of her point of view (but also of Cassandra) is that we also come into contact with other characters who have marked this epic cycle, such as Elena, who in my opinion is perfect, Egisto, but also Agamemnon himself. I absolutely loved it!
Cassandra is a very interesting character at the same time. Her story about has always made me tighten my heart, because although she was a princess and a seer, she had this fate that no one would ever understand what she meant. In fact, Cassandra foresees the entire defeat of her family and her city, from the moment Paris is born, to the famous Trojan horse, everything. And the sad fact is no one listened to her because no one could understand. Really super interesting character and POV, even at the end, even if it is tragic. Really heartbreaking! I always hope to see a very well done reinterpretation of this character because she has always fascinated me. Predicting the future I think is one of the "magical" features that I like the most, so I would like to see it again in a fantasy or in a book in general.
Elektra despite being the title of the book (I'll come back here later) is the most difficult POV to read. Elektra is not an easy character, I've always seen her as a child at the mercy of what happens, but above all very subjected to the feeling of love that bound her to her father, who in reality never considered her, a feeling so strong, almost morbid as to make her completely hostile towards her mother - one thing I noticed is that she never calls her "mother" or "mother" but always Clytemnestra - obviously the situation worsens when Egisto enters the scene and the two begin to plot for double revenge. Let's say that it is the Pov with which I bind less, but simply because Elektra in comparison to the others is much more difficult to digest than the others who appear to us much more interesting.

I really liked the book, both because I love this cycle and because reading it from a female point of view is another thing, it's like reading another story. So, yes, in the end it is like reading something that you already know 100%, but it is something new from this point of view, even if it combines a bit of fantasy with the myth.
In my opinion - as I know in Ariadne - the problem lies a bit in the title which is very misleading. The story that is told in this book in the end is not that of Electra but that of these three women, who we can say are linked together both by war and by the figure of Agamemnon, who was devastating for each of them, even since three different ways. So in my opinion the title is a bit crippled, because yes, it is the story of Elettra, but not only.
For the rest I liked it very much and, indeed, I had a lot of fun re-reading the whole story.

I have read this author's previous books and I really wanted to love this one as much as I did Ariadne but sadly that wasn't the case.

I found that my biggest issue with this book was the writing. The writing just did not engage me at all. I found myself skimming through the book as I wasn't captured at all. I also didn't really care for either Elektra or Cassandra as characters. I would have preferred for it to have just been a story about Clytemnestra.

I was offered this book as an ARC via NetGalley. It is a retelling of the fall of Troy but from numerous female perspectives. Whilst, some may complain that this means that you miss out on a lot of the 'action' as many of these characters hear of the 'heroic deeds' second hand, I found it interesting to have an easy and enjoyable read that rounded out the events. I particularly enjoyed the fact that the book does not end with the fall of Troy so you learn a little more about the broader events. Personally, I have read/watched enough versions of the story from the point of Helen and Paris so enjoyed this different take.

Ah I really enjoyed Jennifer Saint's second novel Elektra, a follow up to last years Ariadne (which I also loved). It follows Elektra and her mother, plus Cassandra, through the Trojan War and before and after it. I knew nothing of these characters before so it was really gripping not knowing where it was going to go!

There's some really strong themes in here, particularly around motherhood and family, revenge and power. It was interesting to see a take on the myth where Helen or Achilles weren't the protagonist, though they do feature prominently.

Overall another heartbreaking retelling. Something about these feminist retellings really appeals to me. The writing in this one is gorgeous.

I have read quite a few greek adaptations recently, especially of Hades and Persephone which I have loved. Unfortunately I am not familiar with this story or the names within it and so have decided to wait to read it until I have more understanding as I can see it being quite complex.

This book is a fantastic story about Clytemnestra and Cassandra, I am very confused about why its called Elektra as it has very little to do with her and up until 75% she has no effect on the story. I loved the characterisation of both Clytemnestra and Cassandra both interesting and complicated, Clytemnestra's need for revenge propelling the story forward. The writing is beautiful and the intertwined stories were amazingly done. Unfortunately there were also the paragraphs from Elektra's perspective which I found dull and the character both unlikeable and extremely boring, she was one dimensional and her mind was not interesting to explore unlike the other 2 characters. Without Elektra this would have been 5 stars but unfortunately those paragraphs bring the book down to 3 stars and was almost a dnf.

Thank you to Netgalley/author/publisher for a review of this book!

I’m not sure I can put into words how much I loved this book! Elektra is an retelling of Ancient Greek mythology and had me hooked from the start!

I LOVED the writing in this book, it was epically beautiful!

The book follows the lives of three very different women over a period of around 30 years and I have to say all the characters are amazing!!

Their stories were brilliant, and I love that we got a POV from each of them. I haven’t read too much Greek mythology before but this has definitely made me want to read some more!!

Immersive from the very first page, Elektra is a brilliant retelling of Ancient Greek mythology.

Elektra was one of the books I was most looking forward to reading this year, after enjoying Ariadne, the author's debut, last year. However, I have to say that Elektra surpassed my expectations and I actually ended up preferring Elektra to Ariadne. Jennifer Saint has really outdone herself with the quality of this book.

The book follows the lives of three women over the course of several decades. Little do they realise initially, but they are all linked together by the hands of fate. Clytemnestra is sister to the infamous Helen of Troy. When she is married off to Agamemnon and sets sail to become queen of a distant land, the sisters' fates diverge forever, setting an unexpected chain of events in motion.

The House of Atreus also suffers from a ruthless curse. Clytemnestra is determined not to let the curse affect the youngest generation of her new family, but with youngest daughter Elektra's headstrong personality and wayward tendencies, her task is more difficult than she could ever have imagined.

The third woman featured prominently in the book is Cassandra, princess of Troy. Poor Cassandra has also been cursed by the Gods and is left powerless and friendless. She is even an outcast among her own family. But what else do the fates have in store for Cassandra, and how does she end up tangled with Elektra and Clytemnestra's fates?

Told alternately from three different points of view, Elektra is engaging, gripping, and enthralling. From the rich descriptions to the sheer amount of research that evidently went into this book, it's a gem from start to finish. Whether you're familiar with Greek mythology or not, Elektra certainly won't disappoint!

I will always want to read a retelling of a Greek Myth. I just can't get enough. Especially when it centres around events during the Trojan War.

This story is told from the POV of three often overlooked characters, Cassandra, Clytemnestra and Elecktra. I found it interesting that these three ladies were chosen to tell the story of the lead up to the Trojan War and the aftermath. I thought that the characters were well written and fleshed out so I understood their motivations throughout the story.

Saint has packed so much mythology into so few pages with this book that it is truly astounding. You can tell that great care and love has been taken in the research and retelling.

I will never ever get over Greek myth retellings told from a woman's perspective, I find they just add so much more to the story, especially when the original myths diminish women to nothing but a footnote. Thankfully Saint has worked her charm again and Elektra is a lyrical and astute retelling from three perspectives: Elektra, Clytemnestra and Cassandra.

I loved Elektra, it's brilliantly written and Saint really captures the emotions all three women deal without throughout this story in such a way that you can almost taste Clytemnestra's rage, Cassandra's frustration and Elektra's obsession with vengeance almost becomes your own.

The prose is outstanding and the three points of view blend together seamlessly, the themes throughout this book are dealt with carefully, Elektra is a really well written and thought provoking retelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this E-Arc!

I am a bit of a newbie when it comes to the fantasy and mythology genre, but, I am widening my perspectives and so dar loving it. The author has done this brilliantly. The story is beautifully written, the characters come alive on the page, the settings pop and all characters have a believable voice. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I loved Ariadne so I had high hopes for this follow-up. It definitely did not disappoint. I love the current resurgence of Greek myths. When this is released I will be buying a copy as it's one to keep and treasure.

Female retellings of Greek Mythology have definitely been in abundance over the past couple of years and, as a reader, I have enjoyed many of them. This being the case, I was looking forward to picking up Jennifer Saint’s ‘Elektra’ whilst also thinking that I may encounter a similar reading experience from what has gone before and that I would not be offered anything new. Fortunately, I was utterly wrong. Jennifer Saint’s novel brings women’s voices to the fore in a way that is emotionally compelling and original.
The book centres around three female protagonists: Clytemnestra, Cassandra and Elektra. All the narratives are linked together and we as readers are asked to question and re-examine their relationships not just with each other but also the men and Gods that dominate their lives as well as the ever present war, conflict and strife pervading their physical and emotional landscapes.
Even though the book is titled after Elektra, who confides to us that it was Agamemnon her father who named her, ‘he named me for the sun: fiery and incandescent’ and indeed she is, it was Clytemnestra who provided much of the emotional intensity for me. Forever synonymous with murdering her husband, the writer goes to great length to present us with a woman who is nuanced, intelligent and passionate. Her moments in the narrative were some of the most intriguing and absorbing of the whole text. She poignantly states, ‘I could not deny the odd pang of envy that had reared up inside me, cold and poisonous growing up alongside a twin whose magnificence would always throw me into shadow’. She is heartfelt and honest going to great lengths to protect her children and her sister. The scene where she prepares her daughter Iphigenia for her ‘marriage’ was one of the most moving and heart wrenching pieces of Literature I have read in a long time.
As the narrative develops towards its inevitable conclusion, I was totally absorbed by the motivations and psychology of all the women whose destinies had been set before them long ago. Their perspectives draw sympathy from you as a reader despite the growing resentments particularly between a mother and her daughters. Each striving for some autonomy in a patriarchy dominated by bitterness and resentments. This is a book I would read again; a wonderful exploration of female perspectives that offers a fresh lens on these well-known individuals.

I cannot explain how much I am enjoying this current surge of retellings of Greek Myths from the perspectives of the women. It's so interesting to consider how these women, whose stories have not previously been told in such depth, would have thought, wanted, suffered and sought revenge for crimes perpetrated against them. Jennifer Saint does this extremely well; I read Ariadne in January and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I was very much looking forward to Elektra. As with Ariadne, one woman has the privilege of the being the title character but the book actually tells the stories of multiple women: Elektra, her mother Clytemnestra, and the Trojan Princess, Cassandra.

The theme permeating the entire novel is revenge. The desire for vengeance drives the plot from the moment Helen sails to Troy: Agamemnon seeks revenge on behalf of his brother Menelaus, Helen's husband; Aegisthus wants to avenge his father's death at the hands of Agamemnon; Clytemnestra wants to punish Agamemnon for the murder of their daughter, Iphigenia; Elektra is furious at her mother for plotting against her father and plans to make her pay. Honestly, it's an exhausting and never-ending line of people punishing each other and you would think someone at some point would have learnt a lesson from all the bloodshed. But, this is the crux of Greek Myth I suppose, someone always has to be punished. The only person who doesn't fit in with this theme is Cassandra whose story is clearly included to narrate the events happening in Troy and isn't important to the story occurring in Mycenae between Clytemnestra and Elektra.

I enjoy Saint's writing, it's engaging and expressive, conveying the anger and despair felt by all three women in beautifully emotional language. I felt empathy for all of them for different reasons, particularly Cassandra whose cursed life is heartbreaking at times. Though I didn't agree with the actions of Clytemnestra and Elektra, the switching of narration means that you get their perspective and can understand why they end up at points they do, making awful decisions that don't really solve anything, but spurred on by their need for revenge. The only issue for me was the relaying of events in Troy, as I have read so many books that tell this story that I was more interested in the events in Mycenae. I understand that the events of Troy impacted that part of the story, but I don't think it was necessary to retell every important event of the war which means that Cassandra's entire story is somewhat superfluous.

Overall, another great retelling of Myth from the women's perspective. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Electra last saw her father when he left to help return Helen from Troy. 10 years pass and on his return he is murdered. Electra cannot forgive her mother and bides her time to avenge her father.

The Greeks believed in the Gods and so followed paths that were hard to bear. Well written and with sympathy to those who must obey the Gods.

Another feminist Greek myth retelling? Go on then, if you insist!

Elektra is the follow up novel to Saint's Ariadne, and personally, I found this book to be far superior to her first. There's far more blood thirsty action, revenge and all the betrayal and plotting you'd want from the Greek myths.

Although, titled 'Elektra', this novel is told through three separate POV's; Elektra, her mother Clytemnestra and Cassandra, a princess of Troy. It takes the story of Helen and the sacking of Troy and spins it away from the central characters of Helen and those who set sail upon the thousand ships to bring her back to Sparta.

Elektra herself is a character who I just could not sympathise with in any shape. She's selfish, vengeful and obsessed with the glory of her father. Her decisions are hateful and she has a total disregard for the lives or feelings of those around her as she becomes obsessed with seeking retribution.

Her mother, Clytemnestra, is a fascinating character. Growing up in the shadow of her twin sister Helen, Clytemnestra has always been the second choice. She grows so much throughout the narrative, dealing with the cruelties and arrogance of the men who control her life. Her journey from the naïve bride of Agamemnon to vengeful wife and mother, trying to halt the curse that wracks the house of Atreus, is heart-breaking and engaging.

I had so much sympathy for Cassandra, the Princess of Troy and Priestess of Apollo, cursed with seeing prophesies and being shunned by her family and citizens. I adored her gentleness and strength of character.

I really enjoyed this novel. These retellings are so popular right now and it's so easy to see why when you get lost in these timeless stories.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this novel.

In this latest novel from Jennifer Saint, we find ourselves immersed in the lives of three women during the Trojan war and it’s aftermath. Clytemnestra and her daughter Elektra are waiting for Agamemnon to return from Greece, while Cassandra is at the heart of the war, frustrated that no one will listen to her prophetic cries.

I fell completely in love with this book and it’s protagonists, particularly Clytemnestra, whose heartbreak and strength stole the show for me. It’s fast paced, powerful and moving, and really brings the Trojan war to life once more. If you’re a fan of Natalie Haynes, Pat Barker and Madeline Miller -and like me will never tire of Greek mythology - then you don’t want to miss this one!

Elektra is written in three perspectives in first person. Elektra follows Clytemnestra, Cassandra and Elektra. It primarily takes place around the Trojan War. Clytemnestra is married to Agamemnon and is Helen's sister, Elektra is her daughter. Cassandra is the daughter of Priam and Hecabe. This follows the same vein as The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker. In that this is a feminist retelling of the Trojan War from different perspectives. The characters are written extremely well and they are really easy to relate too. The pain they suffer resonates with every woman. The story was beautifully written and I read this very quick. From the first page I knew I would love this just like I loved Saint's previous novel Ariadne. I cannot wait to see what Saint comes up with next. Everyone needs to read this, it is just beautiful and the ending made me so emotional. This is definitely five stars and one of my favourite novels of the year so far.

I really enjoy this genre so this was a must read for me. The book has 3 different narrators but it's not at all confusing. The feelings from all three women were amazingly described and I almost found myself feeling those emotions with them. I hope the author is working on something else as I think her writing and creating a sense of place is fantastic! Though I didn't like it quite as much as Ariadne I'd absolutely recommend if you're into Greek mythology/ancient history.

Jennifer Saint is back with another novel set in the realms of Ancient Story - my excitement was ridiculous and I devoured this book very quickly. It is a solid and moving addition to the literary tradition and is interesting in the way that it depicts the stories of ancient epic and tragedy through the eyes of women.

Following the success of Ariadne, I think many will pick this book up on the strength of the authors reputation - they won't be disappointed with the viewpoint or the pace of this story. In fact, I think readers are going to be delighted with this easy and engaging retelling of the events surrounding Agamemnon's leadership if the Greek army at Troy.

Elektra is his daughter. Despite being the titular character, it is not the life of Elektra, or indeed her voice, that shines through this book. She is largely absent for the most part. Instead, it is the life experience, grief and revenge of her mother, Clytemnestra, that really propels this novel. This surprised me as I would have liked to see more of the next generation -of Elektra, Orestes and even Hermione as they learn to live with the knowledge and repercussions of their parents transgressions for the remainder of their lives.

The book has three points of view - all three women are characterised as quite blinkered about their own main goal at times. I found this interesting as it helps within the narrative to explain to a modern audience how on earth we get from point a to point b in this story. That said, if Clytemnestra, Cassandra and Elektra had been characterised as more conflicted in their aims, more aware that what the world was pushing them towards was hard and against their innate desire, I think the sense of divine force and the overwhelming snowball effect would have been stronger.

Overall, this is a great introduction to these characters and this story, but I think many will find themselves most drawn to Clytemnestra, not Elektra.