I absolutely loved this book! Clytemnestra is a brilliant debut that breathes new life into one of Greek mythology’s most infamous women.

I've read a lot of books about Troy and Greek mythology and I’ve always found Clytemnestra a fascinating character. She was featured heavily in Elektra by Jennifer Saint but I knew very little about her life before she married Agamemnon so I enjoyed how this book explored her backstory.

It was interesting to read about her life before she became queen, from her upbringing as a Spartan princess to the events that shaped her into the fierce and complex woman she became.

The story beautifully captures the power struggles of the time, particularly for women, who had to fight for survival in a world designed to oppress them. Costanza Casati brings Clytemnestra to life as more than just a queen or a vengeful murderer. She’s intelligent, passionate and deeply human.

Her love, grief, and overwhelming need for justice leapt off the page, making her actions feel both understandable and heartbreaking. I could fully empathise with her fury and determination as she sought her own version of justice.

Constanza Casati does a brilliant job of exploring themes like betrayal, vengeance and the constant battle for power in a patriarchal society. She gives voice to a woman who has often been overshadowed by the men around her. Clytemnestra is such a fierce, uncompromising character, and I found myself completely drawn to her strength and determination.

Overall, I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. It’s bold, gripping and beautifully written and up there with some of my favourite Greek mythology novels.

I haven't enjoyed a Greek mythology retelling like this in a really long time! With a vague memory of some basic Gods and their infamous children and the myths surrounding them in school, which I had been obsessed with, this was such an education in Clytemnestra's story and how other more popular characters e.g. Achilles and Odysseyus and events I.e. the Trojan Horse/ War crossed paths with our protagonists own life. I can't say I had heard of Clytemnestra before this book or knew her story. I feel like I can pick up other retellings/inspired books and will have a basic understanding of their stories from what I have taken away from this book, which I really value and laud. Despite there being multiple characters, the narrative was never confusing and the drama, heartbreaking, anger and high emotions played out beautifully- I was taken on a journey through Clytemnestra's life as a fierce child to a ruthless queen and any perception which has painted her in a negative life was thwarted as Casati brought the context to the fore and gave the character her own voice, finally. I read this as part of a book club and couldn't wait to get more recommendations to build up my knowledge (and tbr) on other popular in the Greek Mytho sphere reads and have been encouraged to read books by Claire North and Madeline Miller as a result of this book. Just realised this author also wrote Babylonia so I will be picking that up soon hopefully! Would highly recommend Clytemnestra - thank you Netgalley, Michael Joseph and Penguin Random House for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest unedited review.

Before I began my foray into the novel, the only thing I knew of Clytmnestra - based upon some mentions made here or there in other Greek retellings I'd read - was that she'd killed her husband, Agamemnon. However, I didn't know what had led her to commit such violence. We follow Clytmnestra from childhood, learning about her upbringing, relationship with her family, first love, and marriage to Agamemnon. Cosati went in depth in her study of Clytmnestra, building a clear picture of this polarising character; beyond the act of mariticide which was just a small part in a much wider story that needed to be told. I did find the latter half of the novel, after Clytmnestra's marriage to Agamemnon, to be slightly weaker as we weren't shown much of her role as Queen of Mycenae. Nevertheless, I greatly enjoyed the novel and look forward to reading anything else Cosati publishes in the future.

One of the most feminist retelling of Greek mythology that I’ve read so far!

The book tells the tale of Clytemnestra, a queen notoriously filled with rage from a series of terribly cruel events orchestrated by men. The tale is filled with struggles for power, prophecies, hatred, love and an unforgettable queen who does not care about upsetting the gods to dish out her revenge.

What I liked about it from a feminist perspective (spoilers):

In Clytemnestra’s home city, Sparta, women were allowed to train like warriors and were seen as equals to men. But after her marriage to Agamemnon and her move, she finds out things are not everywhere as they are back in her home. Her daughters are not allowed to train and she receives constant disrespect from around her. The comeback is a slow burn, while Agamemnon is away in the Trojan war she rules the city to be more prosperous than before and rebuilds the army. She gains respect and defies traditions unusually defied by women. Going against the gender expectations of women to be compassionate and kind, Clytemnestra is fierce and filled with rage. She is not afraid to kill those who have wronged her.

Although known mainly to be fierce and cruel, Clytemnestra was also kind and caring (but not always showing it!). When her sister revealed she had a female lover, Clytemnestra supported her. When her other sister left her husband for Paris, causing the Trojan war, she sympathised that Helen was not happy and did good to escape as she hoped to do herself one day. Despite being sent to send back the wives of her cousins who were ‘stolen’ by her brothers, she instead listened to the women and their wishes and helped them to be empowered. When her children were to be married off she asked them first if they wanted this and if not she would stop it from happening.

She openly speaks out about corrupt structures in Ancient Greece and gets rid of gatekeepers (such as the elders and Agamemnon) who stand in the way of her crafting a more just world. When she finds out about Cassandra, Agamemnon’s slave from the Trojan war, she shows her kindness and frees her when she gets the chance. Overall she is openly critical of men’s will to always be at war and the hypocrisy of their judgement vs. the judgment of her and her actions as a women. Killing as a man is normal but as a woman (or should I say mother) is abnormal. Even if it’s in revenge for a daughter mislead to be slaughtered for a puff of wind to sail off for war.

Hello beautiful angry woman. Being fierce, enraged and a strong warrior deserves its own point bc Clytemnestra was BADASS. She carries a diamond encrusted dagger gifted to her from her mother which is often her weapon of choice. I saw this as the passing down of rage from Leda, her mum, in the knowledge that her daughter would use it as a protector of her power. A sort of dual generational trauma and empowerment. Clytemnestra was skilled at fighting, could launch a spear with accuracy and was not afraid of death. Considering the qualities assigned to women in patriarchal structures, living like this at those times was SOMETHING.

Concluding thoughts:

I have read this tale before in Jennifer saints Elektra but I loved this single perspective exploration of Clytemnestra so much more. It could have perhaps been a bit shorter but overall I really loved it and getting to know the notorious queen more!

Thanks to NetGalley for this review copy.

I’m very sadly realising that maybe mythology just isn’t for me anymore. I’ve been really struggling to get into mythology novels and found this one too slow to get through easily! Can appreciate how great the writing is though!

I strive to read every Greek mythology book I physically can…however not all of them capture the characters as well as this one!
Clytemnestra’s silent rage was so well written, to the point i almost didn’t know what she’d do or say next, even though i already knew the Tragedy!
I appreciated the depiction of Penelope (she is one of my favourite characters), the author perfectly captured her brains in the small scenes and interactions she appeared in!
Now HELEN! What a controversial figure in Greek myth! I adored this version of her. She was just a girl seeking adoration/affection and that’s so relatable.
The writing in this reminded me a lot of The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper, mainly for its brutally honest punchlines. Especially in Clytemnestra’s story.
The men were well balanced, it wasn’t an attack on all men that I sometimes find in Greek mythology retellings…especially those based on Greek Tragedies.
I truly loved every page and can’t wait to read more from this author!

After reading other Greek mythology stories I was keen to learn more about Clytemnestra. I knew how her story ended and but I hadn't realised how traumatic her first marriage was. This story shone a light on a lesser known figure in Greek mythology and as a mother I felt Clytemnestra's pain and grief. She was determined, clever and formidable till the end. The only sticking point for me was the length of this book. I did feel my concentration waiver at times and wondered if the tale could have been a little shorter?

Unfortunately books retelling Greek myths have begun to blur into one - this one stood out as a great characterisation of female rage, and I would recommend over many others.

Can't believe this is a debut novel! It is so beautifully written and is up there as one of my favorite Greek retellings. I didn't know much about Clytemnestra before this and the way it was written gave justification for her actions.

I can't wait to see what Costanza Casati come up with next.

This is the story of Clytemnestra. Many know her name but not her story. It's a story of love, Motherhood and family ties. It's also a story of revenge, heartbreak and the unfairness of the Gods. The helplessness of womanhood in a time when they were used as porns in the bigger game of war. Casati has managed to bring the myth of Clytemnestra, her much misunderstood and maligned character, to life here giving her a conscience and a heart to make the reader warm to her plight. Gone is the one dimensional woman scorned of myths and legends, replaced with a complex creature with dynamic and driven ambitions. Clytemnestra demonstrates the power and strength any woman of this time needed to survive.

My one niggling issue is with the time jumps, which see Clytemnestra go from her home in Sparta to life with Agamemmnon without any transitional period. As a result we don't really get to see Clytemnestra as a mother, bonding with her children. It makes her relationship with them all the more complicated to unravel, especially Electra. I also found Electra's reasonings towards the end of the novel hard to grasp as we never see her interacting with her father, let alone admiring and avenging him.

In the current sea of Greek retellings, Clytemnestra really stands out for making such a misunderstood character to life in a sympathetic and realistic way.

This was a spellbinding take on Clytemnestra. I don't have much knowledge of Greek myths but that did not matter one bit as this was written with such a great amount of detail. The story really came alive and I was gripped from the outset. Very emotive, perfect for fans of Circe.

Mother. Queen. Wronged Woman. Murderer. Heroine. It’s time for Clytemnestra to tell her story in this glorious feminist retelling.

Before reading this book I’d only heard Clytemnestra’s story as part of the background to the stories of her sister, Helen of Troy, and her daughter Elektra. So I was excited to learn more about this strong and fascinating woman. Though she was born to a King, Clytemnestra always felt second best as the sister to Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world. She manages to find love but it is soon snatched away in a despicable act of betrayal by the cruel tyrant Agamemnon, who is determined to make her his wife at any cost. And so she becomes a woman motivated by vengeance, spending her life plotting and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Exquisitely written, evocative and atmospheric, this isn’t a book you simply read, but one you step into. This phenomenal debut highlights Constanza Casati as a talent to watch and I will certainly be reading whatever she writes next. I listened to it on audiobook and I was hooked from the start. It consumed me, feeling alive as it burned with fury. And although I knew a lot of the things that happened in these myths, I was still on the edge of my seat, listening with baited breath to discover what would happen next, as if it was all new rather than a retelling, something that is a testament to Casati’s masterful storytelling.

Now, let's talk about the woman at the heart of it all: the eponymous Clytemnestra. Fierce, feisty, intelligent, passionate, and unforgiving, she is a remarkable heroine who refuses to be broken or shackled by the rules of the patriarchal society. The fire inside her radiated from the page, Casati making me feel her heartache, rage, vengeance and strength so vividly that it was like it was coursing through my own veins. I wanted Agamemnon dead. Right now! I rooted for her at every step as she bided her time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and avenge all of the betrayal. After all, revenge is a dish best served cold. And when Clytemnestra’s vengeance is served, it is glacial.

A furious, devastating, enthralling and magnificent retelling you won’t want to put down, Clytemnestra is a must-read.

A fantastic read. Greek mythology seems to be continuing in its popularity streak and with reads like this one it's easy to see why!

What can I say?

This is an utterly FABULOUS read! The author brings Clytemnestra vividly to life.

A brilliant retelling of this woman from tragedy! I loved seeing Clytemnestra and getting to really delve into her character

this was a brilliant story of clytemnestra! there were two aspects that made this one stand out for me:
- i loved reading about her childhood, and her relationship with her mother, father and helen
- the war is not discussed at all, this is truly a story about clytemnestra!

you don’t need to have any knowledge of mythology before reading this story, which shows how skilful the writing is.

very much a feminist mythology retelling that i definitely recommend!

I was intrigued by the premise of this book. Unfortunately it wasn't my vibe, but the potential is there.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

I would give this an absolute 5 stars 2 years ago, when i havent worn out by greek myth retelling yet. Now it’s still a good book, but it took me TOO LONG to read from start to finish that the experience wasn’t exceptional anymore.

All hail Clytemnestra, the brave strong resilient woman who refused to bend to men.

I loved this book. Possibly the best Greek retelling I’ve ever read. It’s very rare that I buy books as I’m streamlining my bookshelf but I had to buy this one. It was incredible, and the beautiful cover helps too.

I’m enjoying the retelling of Greek myths that is going on at the moment. They are generally stories I know but with a different take. I knew the story of Clytemnestra, wife to Agamemnon. However I didn’t know the background, Agamemnon desiring her even though she was married to another and pregnant.
What Agamemnon does then, makes Clytemnestra the woman she becomes. Revenge is, of course, a dish best served cold and even though she has to wait years, she gets that revenge.

Well written and gripping. I am reading that people aren’t all enjoying these myths rewritten from a female point of view. These myths are passed down and are mainly about the male heroes. In that time, women didn’t seem to matter. So it is interesting to have these tales told from a female perspective. Thoroughly enjoyed this book, would recommend it and hoping the author will return to the Greek myths and write another book.