This was refreshing, modern feminist retelling of Atalanta’s story. I enjoyed this and liked how Saint handled the character and her various adventures throughout this book. The ending was a wee bit unsatisfying but I think that’s usually the case for Greek mythology retellings.

Beautiful retelling! Jennifer Saint is now an auto buy author for me. I adored it, Atlanta is such a strong FMC.

I've been thinking that a lot of these mythological retellings that have been coming out in the last years have the same vibe to them: a lot of them seem to center around a specific character or event, but oftentimes lack that special something that lifts the basic plot up to a higher level worth of novelisation. While I had my problems with this, it certainly wasn't that!

Atalanta is the fierce huntress in Greek Mythology – she was raised by bears and later found herself under the protection of the Goddess Artemis. This novel follows her journey as part of the Argonauts (as their only female member), where she was part of the crew that searched for the Golden Fleet.

I knew of Atalanta before reading this, but wasn't familiar with her story, which made this quite pleasant to read. I enjoyed her skill and strength, both mentally and physically. She knows that she's good at hunting for example and it's kinda fun watching a character believe in herself when so many others (the more arrogant male heroes in here for example) don't want her to succeed out of vanity or pride. She just knows her worth! Jennifer Saint weaved the few details known about her into a coherent and fast-paced plot that contained drama, love and action in equal measures.

However, what I had huge problems with was Saint's dreamy quality of narrating the story. This will be completely up to the reader and probably won't be a problem for anyone who's read Saint's previous retellings before (which I haven't yet), but I occasionally found her way of describing things too loaded with adverbs, which felt like she was decorating her sentences, when really I just wanted to see past that gloss and glitter (after all, this also is quite a violent story). To give an example: Medea's face is described as "a mask of smiling calm, her golden eyes smouldering with quiet determination". Calm can smile? Determination in a face can also be loud? And then there are metaphors, like when she compares inadequate words to "a scrap of driftwood in a raging storm".

I'm torn on this one, because I loved the plot and the outline and it definitely takes a good writer to craft that out of scraps of mythology (Atalanta is usually only mentioned in passing, if at all) but just wasn't too keen on the deliverance when it got to the details. I'm tempted to take a closer look at Saint's other work though.

My daughter first introduced me to this author as she had read Ariadne said it was very good, so thought I should give this a try. This is the first book I have read by Jennifer Saint, but it wont be the last. I' have not heard of the hero Atalanta before and am quite interested in Greek mythology, although this is the first in the genre I have read, having recent watch several tv shows and movies on the subject. I really enjoyed reading this fresh view of the story and the various twists and turns throughout.

This book tells a reimagined version story of Atalanta who was raised by bears and is on the only female argonaut. It is a very descriptive book which helps bring the book and the characters to life.

I have to add that my daughter who is a big fan of Jennifer Saint spotted this on her Kindle (under my account) and was soo excited and hasn't been able to put it down for the last week. She confirmed it was equally as good as the previous book she has read by Jennifer Saint and is now on to Electra.

A big thanks to Netgalley and Headline, Wildfire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I found this book to be a real mixed bag. I absolutely loved the first part which details Atlanta's early life with Artemis. In particular, Saint's characterisation of Artemis as a goddess for whom there are no shades of grey was really refreshing, and the risks the nymphs face away from Artemis' protection are explored without the novel getting bogged down in the relentless awfulness of men thinking they're entitled to women's bodies.

The opening of part two was also great - I was convinced by Atalanta's reception by the Argonauts, and the lack of focus on Jason was also welcome. However, from here Atalanta becomes a bit 'not like other girls' (which of course, she sort of isn't!). I didn't like the way other women in the story were characterised as opposed to Atalanta, such as Hypsiple and Medea; this might have worked better if we'd been introduced differently to Atalanta or to her as an unreliable narrator, but as is the characterisation of these women is pretty unfavourable, which didn't sit well with me considering the premise of the novel. Ultimately, I found Atalanta quite an unlikeable character: not necessarily a problem, but I felt as though I was supposed to like her.

Other than this, the novel is beautifully written and I sped through reading it. I give it 3 and a half stars, and look forward to further treatments of mythical women by Saint.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

How can I summarise my feelings toward this book? Well... Let me put it this way:
Not everybody can write like Madeline Miller = the goddess of retelling Greek myths.

Jennifer Saint's rehashing of the Atalanta myth feels a little lackluster in comparison. Something is missing.
Her characterizations aren't all that gripping. She doesn't give enough background to the names she throws in - like Atalanta's father, the nymph Callisto, Hippomenes, etc, Even her major characters feel a little flat. As if Jennifer Saint isn't entirely certain what her main character Atalanta is all about. What are her actual motivations?

This all might sound a bit harsh, but I love Greek mythology. And Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, should be a tasty goddess to get one's teeth in/write about, or so I would think, but somehow for Saint, the spark didn't seem to ignite, while she wrote about her. Again, it is hard to gauge her motivations.

I also didn't like the omissions. Spoilers only from the beginning. Like, why did the bear stumble upon baby Atalanta? (Artemis sent it) And why were the centaurs actually celebrating in the forest and drunk? (They had been hunting and celebrating success) And was Callisto turned into an animal by Artemis or someone else that had before done something horrible to her, then put her amongst the stars? (Zeus) Things like that.

All in all, it took me quite a while to get into the book. Still, I appreciate that Saint tried to shine a light on the only female argonaut. And while I am longingly waiting for Madeline Miller's next offering, this will help me keep afloat.

Thanks for the advance copy.

Atalanta explores the story of the only female
Argonaut, told by Jennifer Saint, the bestselling author of Elektra (which I loved and reviewed last year!) and Ariadne. Thanks to the publishers Headline books for an Advance Review Copy though Netgalley - full review below.

🏺Synopsis:
When a daughter is born to the King of Arcadia, she brings only disappointment.
Left exposed on a mountainside, the defenceless infant Atalanta is left to the mercy of a passing mother bear and raised alongside the cubs under the protective eye of the goddess Artemis.
Swearing that she will prove her worth alongside the famed heroes of Greece, Atalanta leaves her forest to join Jason's band of Argonauts. But can she carve out her own place in the legends in a world made for men?

🏛️Review:
I found myself racing through Saints vivid writing to see each twist unfold in Atalantas tale. The accessible writing style makes this an engaging read whether you are new to mythological retellings or a historical fiction lover. I found some sections of Atalanta to align closely with other retellings and Greek texts, but as always, Saint delivered brilliantly unique explorations of lesser seen characters. I admire Saints talent for weaving complex characters that you build a genuine emotional attachment to.

I particularly enjoyed Saints fresh take on Atalantas life with Artemis and the lush settings in the forest with her nymphs. It also felt like a very original retelling of Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece told through Atalantas very honest and cynical voice. I always enjoy an exploration of the ‘temper of the gods’ theme and I loved Saints portrayal of the dynamic between Artemis and Aphrodite

Out on the 13th April, I can’t wait to get a physical copy so I can re-read. Will you be picking this up?

I've been reading quite a lot of Greek mythology recently, both with retellings and the original texts but Atalanta was a character that was totally new to me. Abandoned on a mountainside by her father the King of Arcadia, raised under the eye of Artemis and the only woman to join the Argonauts as they quest to find the golden fleece.

I looked up on Wikipedia about her mythology (because I am a nerd and I love that stuff) and while some legends of the voyage of the Argonauts include her others such as Apollonius of Rome's version say she wasn't allowed on the ship because women cause issues and all that. Honestly, I am fuming on her behalf! I'm totally with Jennifer Saint on this one, I expect she went, proved herself amazing and then the men kinda glossed over that bit.

After it sat on my kindle for a while I raced through this book in two days. I loved the strong character of Atalanta, her adventures and relationships. Carrying the story on through all of the events in her life allowed the story to be three dimensional and I really felt for Atalanta. The male characters in the story were also really well written and I now really want to find out more about Hercules and Hylas.

I was really curious about the story of Atalanta as I'd never heard of her before. I also had never read or learnt a lot about the adventure of the argonauts as well so all of that was very interesting for me. Unfortunately other than what I learnt, I wasn't too drawn in by this story. I felt like the book could have been shorter as the last 3rd just felt a bit like filler.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review

"Atalanta" by Jennifer Saint retells the story of the only female Argonaut in Greek Times.

I would give "Atalanta" by Jennifer Saint a 2-star review because, 1; I like the idea of this retelling but 2; things just didn't fit with me.

In a time where greek retellings are extremely popular, it is so refreshing to read yet another fantastic novel about the many voiceless women of the greek era, a feat which Saint consistently executes so well.

Atalanta tells the story of a girl abandoned on a mountain to essentially die, and against all odds. grows to be one of the most formidable warriors of the time.

This book was a total joy from start to finish, the manner in which Saint writes female characters is just exquisite. The story is set against a backdrop that addresses the role of women and what they are supposed to be. By creating a fluidity that allows her main character to be much more than her gender, Atalanta quickly becomes a stark representation of how women are not always one thing and can be a thousand different things.

I also appreciated how Saint depicted Atalanta as a woman with zero interest in any of the things that women are stereotypically supposed to dream and hope for since little girls such as marriage and having children. At times I found this difficult to understand but it honestly prompted me to give more thought toward this perspective which is always a good sign for me when reading a book. I say this referring to Atalanta and her relationship with her son. Although she cares for his well being, she clearly fails to form a maternal bond with him and much prefers the the company of the dog and the solitude of the woods.

Her skill at writing and captivating these amazing side characters from ancient Greek myths is one of the main reasons I drift to her books often. Her writing never feels like it is meandering, there is always a reason for something and I was hooked to every page. Her ability to weave all of these different sections of greek mythology into one neat little story is impeccable, leaving no stone unturned. Her writing improves with every book she publishes and I am sure that this one is her best one yet. Whilst Ariadne and Elektra were more soft focused, Atalanta was a total contrast which made it all the more enjoyable.

I loved this! I've always loved mythology retellings but read almost too many so that they lost their impact for a wee while. Atalanta, however, I loved throughout as I'm less familiar with the story of the Argonauts (apart from Medea) and Atalanta (I knew her story vaguely but had forgotten enough of it that the end was still a surprise). She's an interesting character and very likeable, although her childhood has led her to be a morally complex character in some situations, for example, skimming over elements of Jason and Medea's darker actions. It is clear, however, that she is kind and very determined. I loved the pacing of the story and the weaving of other myths throughout. The ending of her story isn't my favourite, although I appreciate that myth retellings can't stray from the source material and I think Jennifer Saint managed to maintain her version of Atalanta's character and journey very well whilst paying tribute to the original myths. The writing also beautifully brought to life all of the places Atalanta visited and made me really crave time in nature! I'm very thankful to have read this and would recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity of reading this arc.

I've read both of Jennifer Saint's previous works, Ariadne and Elektra, and loved them both. I was so excited by to see that her next book was the story of Atalanta. A fearless warrior who joined Jason and his Argonauts on his quest for the golden fleece.

Saint has a beautiful writing style brought this oft forgotten heroine to life. I really enjoyed this retelling and found Atalanta's story compelling and was often unable to stop reading.

Highly recommend!

BOOK REVIEW

A BIG thank you to Netgalley and Headline for the opportunity to read this arc.

I have read both Ariadne and Elektra in recent weeks and absolutely loved them both. I particularly enjoy retellings of Greek myths and Atalanta was no exception. Who even knew there was a female Argonaut let alone how completely amazing she was? I certainly didn’t and we just spent an entire term studying the Greeks and learning about the Gods and the mythology at school!

As with her previous books, Saint’s writing is beautiful creating a sweeping story of adventure and triumph over adversary. Atalanta is a formidable woman surviving against all odds after her father has her abandoned on a mountainside for the criminal act of simply being born female. Such was the life of a woman in Ancient Greece!

We follow Atalanta from early childhood, through her teen years with Artemis where the realities of life for women are brutally portrayed in several incidents that she both witnesses and is subject to. Jennifer Saint succeeds in bringing Atalanta to life on the page and creating a memorable heroine whose strength, skills and determination allow her to journey to the edge of the ancient world with a ship full of hateful men and return triumphant.

This book does not disappoint on any front. The characters are beautifully written, the adventure is nail biting and the action, bloodthirsty and brutal - it is Ancient Greece after all. The story encompasses many important themes including; being true to yourself, following your own path, relationships (familial and romantic), duty and loyalty.

Jennifer Saint is definitely an author to keep coming back to, I look forward to her next retelling! 5/5 ☆

🏹atalanta by jennifer saint🏹

thanks to netgalley for an arc of this book which will be published on april 13th.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I ADORE ariadne & elektra so I had to request a copy as soon as I saw atalanta! and it did not disappoint!! I love greek mythology retellings and jennifer saints books always hit different. this story weaves together often forgotten and ignored tales of atalanta, a wonderful, fearless & strong warrior woman who has to stand up to male heroes to show that she is not only as good as them, but better. a story of a woman making her own narrative in a world that set out a boring, traditional path for her. and as always with jennifer saints books, it was written beautifully. I can't recommend her work enough if you're into feminist retellings of greek mythology, definitely grab a copy of atalanta while it's out, and for now you can read ariadne or elektra! 💙

Not sure who unbiased this review will be, as I am a die hard fan of both the author and the Greek myths. As Greek myself, I am beyond ecstatic that the myths are having a momentum in literature at the minute, and more especially the many voiceless women, who are finally given a voice to tell their stories first hand.

This is exactly what Atalanta is about as well. Growing up, I read the myth of Jason and the Arginauts and Atalanta's name was mentioned in passing. So, going into this book, I knew hardly anything about Atalanta's story and her myth.

This heroine, may very well be my new role model. Atalanta's journey is one of duty and destiny, without compromising her truest self. She is a modern woman, trying to survive and co-exist in a man-made world, without diminishing her abilities indulge the fragile male egos, that she's surrounded with. She is what we call a true badass of a character, taking no BS from anyone, unless you were Artemis, her protector.

I did love the relationship she forms in the first part of the book with the nymphs and Artemis, given her space to grow into the fierce warrior she is, builder her character into this strong woman, who will later on taken on a whole ship of doubtful men on what she can achieve.

Atalanta also has a tenacity of emotional strength, that even though she is a woman, she won't submit to the whims and passions that consume the men around her. She has a clear understadning of the world she inhabits and how her talents are often scrutinised because of her sex. Her pathos and zeal to carry on in proving herself, are what make her such a wholesome heroine.

I absolutely LOVED reading Atalanta's story. Possibly my favourite Jennifer Saint book yet and cannot wait for this book to be out in the wild for everyone to enjoy. Just like Atalanta would have wanted.

Thank you so much to the publisher for granted me early access for this book.

Loved this book; it was light and uplifting 😊
Combined in this lighthearted book are suspense, relationships and love; all brought together by an admirable female heroine.
For readers who have an interest in Greek Mythology.
Looking forward to reading the other books by Jennifer Saint.
Thanks NetGalley for the advance copy!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for granting me access to an ARC.

I love myth retellings and Jennifer Saint has a gift when it comes to retelling the stories of the women who are often left behind in Greek mythology. She brings to the forefront stories which I might not have known or read about.

She also has the gift of beautiful prose. The picture she paints of ancient mythological lands is captivating. I really enjoyed the story of Atalanta and getting to know her better. Now I must pick up Elektra next, and I will definitely be picking up a hard copy of Atalanta so that I can re-read it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read this beautiful book. I couldn't put this book down. Complex, beautiful and addictive

Recommended for those who love a complex read and those who are fans of mythology. A great read just like the authors previous books. Looking forward to a reread when the book is published.

While ARIADNE was an enchanting and accomplished debut from Saint, I found ELEKTRA disappointing, thin in female agency and offering little fresh perspective on a well-worn tale. Now we have ATALANTA, which for me lands somewhere between the two. Saint has a real gift for weaving words, with a style that perfectly encapsulates the oral origins of the Greek myths - even when meandering, I'm always enjoying the read - and Atalanta's story is compellingly rounded out with a large cast of characters without losing focus on our heroine. Whilst lacking in pace in the middle, and feeling a touch rushed towards the end, ATALANTA is still an absorbing read and one fans of feminist retellings won't want to miss.