I wanted to like this book so much more than I did, and in a way I really did like it. I think Jennifer Saint has a brilliant prose, a beautiful way with words that made me fall in love with Ariadne. I enjoyed her remaining faithful to the fact that greek mythology is inherently always a tragedy and mostly at the detriment of women.
However, it saddens me that where the myths offer many variations, she always chooses the one where it is women (godesses of mortal) hurting women. I have a few criticisms but I want to start with the good:

- The writing is obviously amazing. The beginning and the end were impossible to put down, I loved it, it made me feel like I was there, with the characters.
- Friendships between the romantic leads is well done and feels organic (it is the transition to romance which did not work for me)
- There is more character development in Atalanta than I saw in Elektra, and for me that was a good sign.
I loved the parallels between Atalanta's upbringing and how she is herself by the end of the book.

I also have two sets of issues: my issues with this book, and my issues with the pattern in Jennifer Saint's books:

The story itself:
While I understand that the Arganaut's story, the the way Jason ended up actually winning doesn't seem very exciting in hindsight, but it baffled me that it was a succession of arriving and leaving islands and then a quick 3-4 pages to get the price.
We are giving a mountain of characters barely introduced until they say something or do something, which made it feel constantly as if "well if they don't matter for this scene, they don't exist" which isn't great for the reader. I feel like many events were thrown in a succession in the middle, with great scenes like harpies wolfing down on a blind prophet being fixed up in a couple paragraphs. it was both too slow and too rushed and I didn't like that at all.
Now my main issue is the romance. Both of them actually. I got intense whiplash from the transitions to romance because they came out of nowhere. While the friendships were set up great, the sudden switch to "okay let's kiss now" each time came out of nowhere, with little indication that the FMC was going to pursue a romantic relationship, aside from maybe two lines here and there clearly only written to guide the reader, which again, is more telling than showing. The entire first relationship was baffling, the characters behaved in jealous manners out of nowhere, nothing was clear, their entire romance felt bland and like an afterthought and it was so jawring that I actually considered DNFing. There is literally no proper character thought process to make the virginal hero of Artemis decide on a whim to abandon and risk her entire life for a married man. This isn't even counting the number of times characters seemed to disappear from scenes out of nowhere which was incredibly confusing.
The ending romance was just the same, we go from a soft "well this is nice, they have an intimacy, a beautiful friendship that could blossom into love" to BAM they are KISSING. Like, Atalanta appreciates a guy, is good friends with him, and yes it's very clear he likes her, but then she decides to save his life, and all of a sudden is kissing him and running away with him...and again, WHIPLASH.
I could spend hours on this but I'm not entirely sure it's worth it since people loved it and it's not like after 3 books any review is going to fix the issues of pacing. I love greek mythology retellings, and I don't always mind slower pace novels, but when there is a constant disconnect between fast scenes and slow scenes, and a feeling that character's decisions switch out of nowhere, or too abruptly, it makes the experience unsettling. Character's deaths felt like they held no emotional weight, important events happen so quickly it's almost too easy to miss out, and crucial events are written in a way that I had to pause several times to wonder "is she implying this or am I imagining it"

My issue with this book also confirms a pattern i've noticed so far: being a good writer is essential and that, Jennifer Saint is, however when you take a story that already exists from beginning to end as Greek myths do, it is disappointing that nothing is added to it. This is as Ariadne and Elektra were: a novelization of the greek myths to the T without adding depth to the characters. That's an issue because the myths as they existed were told orally, which means that motivations and character development weren't that much of a factor, but in writing, if nothing is added to it, it makes the character dull and empty, and the story nearly cartoonish. It's made even worse by the fact that other events and characters backstories are dumped unceremoniously in the story to make sense of it, which means that even the fantastical stories behind the myths aren't really important for the author. There are few greek mythology books out there that are purely greek mythology, and while i dont mind the modern retellings, my first love is the faithful retellings, which is why it breaks my heart to see that while this is a beautifully written book with many, many, MANY good aspects to it, it doesn't feel as if it has any desire to go deeper into the characters and the story than the superficial aspects of it.

So yes, I enjoyed this book despite it all, but where i was sure throughout the beginning of the book that it would be a 4 star, i couldn't get over the fact that there was clearly no intent on adding much to the myth, and that the pacing was so harsh and abrupt that scenes meant to be emotional severely lacked the gravitas they were clearly meant to have.

I think the beginning and the ending of the book show very well what the book could have been but fell short of.


Review to be posted on April 3rd 2023 on Instagram and Goodreads.

Atalanta; left to die on a hillside as a baby, raised by bears and grew up to be a champion of Artemis, (Goddess of hunting), joining the Argonauts on their famous quest for the Golden Fleece.

It is no mean feat to take a black/white mythological being and craft her into a multi-dimensional, strong and compassionate woman but Jennifer Saint has absolutely achieved. Just wow! What an epic retelling, I loved it.

Thank you to @headlinebooks and @netgalley for my advanced review copy.

Atalanta is a woman of Greek mythology who is hardly ever talked about, and so Jennifer Saint writing a beautiful, authentic retelling of her story to recover her voice meant so much to me!

The way in which Saint brings to life such vivid characters is amazing, and every single one is incredibly complex in their emotions, thoughts and desires. They all felt so real and I really enjoyed Saint's interpretations of them!
Atalanta as a character is such a unique one. She's wily, incredibly strong-willed, ambitious and entirely independent from the expectations of the societies surrounding her.
Artemis too is expertly brought to life in this book exactly how I have imagined her character to be. She's strong, independent but merciless and tough where she needs to be. I really loved reading Saint's interpretation of her character and found it one of my favourite parts of the book.

My most favourite part was definitely the atmosphere Saint creates in her writing; and this for me was the best thing that carries this book through to being so wonderful. Time and time again she creates such gorgeous atmospheres of the Greek world, and it makes me wish I could just crawl through the book and walk round in ancient Greece myself!
'Atalanta' had an infectious air of adventure and a desire for glory throughout the whole book (especially when with the Argonauts!!) which swept me away entirely into my imagination. I loved every second of it. <3

I'm so incredibly excited every time I delve into a new book by Jennifer Saint because for me, she captures the world of ancient Greek myth like no other!
I can't wait for my physical copy to arrive after publishing on the 13th of April (UK), and I am so grateful to the teams of @netgalley and @headlinebooks for granting me an e-ARC.

Atalanta is finally recovered, and given a voice in this beautiful, rich and immersive book which everyone needs to hear.

This is a fantastic, beautifully written story focusing on a little known figure from Greek mythology. I knew very little about the Argonauts before reading this book, and absolutely nothing about the wonderful Atalanta. A great read with unforgettable characters. Highly recommended.

I love Greek mythology retellings, mostly because I find myself learning every time I read one with Atalanta being no different. Atalanta is the third book in Jennifer Saint's mythological retellings, following Ariadne and Elektra, with Atalanta being my personal favourite of the bunch. The story follows Atalanta, raised under the wing of the goddess Artemis, as she yearns for adventure and becomes the only female member of the Argonauts, the world's fiercest group of warriors. Atalanta must battle between heeding Artemis' warning of never marrying whilst carving her own well-deserved place in a world of men and ultimately following her own heart's desire.

The plot was smoothly unravelled, easy to follow and was gripping from the very first page. Atalanta's strongest point is definitely the lyrical and mystical prose, I found myself underlining snippets on almost every page. However, the characters themselves were the weakest points with not much character development or distinct voices throughout. However, the story definitely prioritised the adventure itself and was captivating enough to keep you swiftly reading forward.

This was a well written book by an author who clearly knows her stuff when it comes to mythology! I knew nothing about the main character or the myth really. I liked that it was from the female perspective again but this just didn’t hold me for some reason and I struggled to get into it.

With beautiful writing, lyrical prose, and thrilling adventure following the life of the only female argonaut, this may have just become one of my favourite greek mythology retelling books.

I loved discovering a less well known heroine in greek mythology who not only drives the action in this book, she actively participates in the fighting and is a skilled warrior. Atalanta is a well crafted and enjoyable character with a fascinating backstory as a princess left for dead by her father who wanted a son, raised by bears, and then taken under the wing of the goddess Artemis. Jennifer Saint also exhibits amazing description and scene setting in her writing which makes for an atmospheric and engaging story.

If you love Greek mythology and amazing female characters, then I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you so much to Headline and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Atalanta" broke me a little bit... Then put pieces back together to break them again and heal them once more. This is a beautifully written retelling, with all the hope and despair, gentleness and harshness, that turns a myth into something that feels like history. Jennifer Saint makes it hard to believe that Atalanta (probably) never existed. More and more and more, please.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

While mythology retellings tend to not be my favorite genre, I did really enjoy this one!
I don't know much about Greek mythology other than the basics, so I was not familiar with Atalanta or the Argonauts at all, but this might be one of my favorite stories so far.
I struggle with the power dynamics and intrigues that are often at play in Greek mythology (at least in the retellings that I have read so far), so I loved that this felt more like an adventure.

Atalanta is amazing, she's such a strong female character and even faced with the misogyny coming from the Argonauts, she did not back down.
The plot was intriguing, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about their journey.
I adore Jennifer Saint's writing, it is so beautiful and lyrical. This was my first book by the author, but I am looking forward to reading more of her work, she manages to make Greek mythology accessible.

I wasn't super captivated by it, which is an issue I generally have with these types of retellings, but I think if you're a fan of the genre, Atalanta is a book you should definitely have on your radar!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an e-ARC for this book

This was a very well written rendition of the story of Atalanta - very adventurous.

Overall this was well written, but not for me. It felt very episodic, with not much of an overall narrative arc or a sense of direction (and a completely random ludicrous ending, no matter how close it was to the actual original myth). Characters felt very unidimensional, starting from the Wonder Woman Atalanta, who is good at everything (except motherhood, but we don't talk about that), and goes about self-righteously judging everyone else. In her defence, most of the others are reasonable horrible, in the "heroes in mythology" fashion, except the love interests, who had no chemistry with her, but at least were good guys (no distinguishing one from the other though).

It is very well written, and it captured my attention throughout, and it was very adventurous, so readers who like adventure and plot more than character development will enjoy this.

This was incredible! I have read so many greek mythology books but this has to be one of my favourites. The tale of Atalanta's journey was amazing, interlocking with other tales from greek lore. The writing was so good and I was captivated throughout the entire book. It is definitely a girl power book which is so rare in Greek mythology! 💪

I have complicated feelings about this one. It is extremely well-written and engaging and Atalanta is an intriguing and personable narrator but I just felt a little hollow in parts of it. There were many plot points and offshoots that were brought up and then glanced over.

I have always liked the greek story about Atalanta and I do think this is a remarkable retelling of her story and does a good job interweaving the politics and social issues of the time into what is also a fantasy adventure. The way the Gods (particularly Artemis) are handled is refreshing and works very well for the story and what it is trying to portray.

I did really enjoy this one but whilst I can't quite put my finger on it, it did feel like it was missing something essential.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely love greek mythology and retellings and Jennifer Saints writing is beautiful and so easy to get lost in! I feel even those not familiar with the Greek myths will find themselves drawn to the characters in this book.

Atalanta's story is not one I hear mentioned often enough. She is born a princess but left on the side of a mountain because her parents wanted a son. Raised by bears and then taken under Artemis' wing she grows up into a strong woman and one of the most formidable warriors and huntresses the world has seen.

I cannot wait to read Jennifer Saints other books Ariadne and Elektra I absolutely loved this!

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Headline for approving me for an ARC of this book. I have read Ariadne and Elektra so I could not wait to dive into this one.

🎶Can we first talk about how beautiful and lyrical Jennifer Saint’s writing is! Her ability to set the scene and describe picturesque surroundings is second to none.

🏹Atalanta is a formidable woman, full of strength and determination. Her unusual upbringing has shaped her into this force and whilst Artemis has inflicted her views, Atalanta certainly knows her own mind. The way everyone doubted her abilities and she constantly had to prove herself wasn’t unexpected but I loved seeing her prove them wrong.

⚡Every time I read one of Jennifer Saint’s books I feel transported back in time as if I am reliving a moment in history. Greek mythology is a new subject to me and whilst some of the myths, such as Hercules, are familiar I thoroughly enjoyed learning some of the more unusual stories.

⛵The voyage and quest for the golden fleece were entertaining and thrilling. Once again we meet so many interesting characters and Atalanta was in the thick of the action, as always. Despite not being wanted among the Argonauts she held her own and wouldn’t let them knock her bag. Her bond with Meleager was an interesting development but I was pleased with how that story turned out.

⭐ This book deserves all the stars! You need to read this if you are a Greek mythology fan or love stories about women rising up in the face of adversaries. It’s beautiful, lyrical, captivating and over far too soon. My only question is, when can I read the next book by Jennifer Saint?!

Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown books for providing a review copy

An engaging Greek mythology retelling, I preferred the first half of the story, which tells of Atalanta upbringing in the forest.
On the downside there are a lot of Greek names to keep track of, and the middle dragged for me.

4/5

I adore Greek mythology retellings, I love how they are all so interwoven. In every story you read, you inevitably encounter other great heroes you've read about before. It's fascinating to read about these well-known heroes both before and after their own great stories.
I find it incredibly interesting, when I sit down to read a retelling like this one, to discover which of these legendary figures will be painted in a sympathetic light—which will be noble and brave and compassionate—and which will be antagonised. Because, for most of them, you could argue their case for both hero and villain. It all depends on what (or whose) story you're telling.
This is only one of many factors that I adore about Greek mythology retellings. How will I encounter this hero? Who will they be in this iteration?

This retelling is one of the most blatantly feminist of the ones that I've read and I adored the themes that we explored all throughout. I loved seeing these themes develop throughout the course of the story as Atalanta, our main character, developed alongside them.

I really enjoyed reading this and (even as someone who already knew the story of Jason and the Argonauts) I loved seeing Atalanta written back into it. There were some beautiful descriptions and it was extremely evident how passionate Saint is about the Greek myths.
One of my criticisms, however, is that I thought that Saint's writing style often pulled us back to witness the story from further away, which impacted my ability to feel connected to the characters. I wish we had spent longer in each moment in order to feel them more deeply and I think that the story could have benefitted from being longer.
I also found that the voyage of the Argonauts sailed by (no pun intended) slower than I anticipated and with less stakes than other parts of the book.

Atalanta started as a story I thought I would know nothing about, yet I slowly began to realise that I knew these myths—I knew these myths without her in them. I love that Saint restored her presence in these stories as she expertly whittled at the question of why it is Atalanta, the only female Argonaut, who isn't remembered.

This was my first of Saint's retellings and I'm incredibly excited to read both Ariadne and Elektra! Atalanta is a great retelling to pick up.
Thank you Netgalley and Headline for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Atalanta
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Jennifer Saint
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Mythology
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 13th April 2023
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 3.5/5

”I needed to remember who I was, who I had always been. A woman who was unafraid.”

Whilst Atalanta is a new heroine for me, I’m very familiar with the story of the Argonauts and honestly it’s not my most favourite Greek tale. But, I’ve never once heard of Atalanta and her triumphs so I loved that Jennifer Saint provided a refreshing retelling that was more feminist rather than the standard story of typical testosterone-filled men each wanting a slice of golden glory.

On the surface, Atalanta is a really good story, one you’d reiterate to grandkids as a lesson to never underestimate women. However, I felt like it lacked a depth. I couldn’t connect with the characters emotionally as the story in itself, whilst engaging, was rather flat. Atalanta lives her life in service of Artemis, and I felt like I learned more about the character of Artemis than I did Atalanta.

Jennifer Saint’s interpretation of Atalanta’s life in Greek mythology stays true to fact (or as much fact as is available). Whilst I loved the story as a whole, I also found it quite restricting to Atalanta. I mean, she’s a forgotten heroine of Greek mythology, what we have been told about her is quite probably a minimized version of her true self and her true contribution to significant Greek quests. I realise that this is personal preference, but it would have been nice to flex a bit of creative license, just as men have been doing for their heroes since the dawn of time. I’m thinking of retellings such as Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati and Joan by Katherine J. Chen (not Greek but a historical heroine all the same).

Overall, this is an engaging retelling of Atalanta that depicts the favour and fury of the gods in the life of one woman who defies all expectations and prejudice against her.

𝑲𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉 @ 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒉 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒚
🧚‍♀️🤍

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?

RTC

Beautiful writing and world building. I loved how vivid the settings were and how alive the characters became when they were amongst them. This retelling is my first encounter with Atlanta and I loved her story as well as having glimpses into that of others such as Jason and his quest for the fleece. I really enjoyed how this book was written and the story that is portrayed.

Thanks to NetGalley, Headline (Wildfire) & Jennifer Saint for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this, pure and simple. When it comes to Greek mythology retellings, I am generally quite easy to please, but Atalanta really drew me in. I was not as familiar with her story as some other women from Greek myth, and I loved learning about her role in the mythos. I love how Saint weaves in elements of many other myths to create a rich and multidimensional context. I really appreciated that Atalanta's role as one of the Argonauts, whilst important to emphasise as she is often forgotten, was not the entire focus of her story. My only criticism would be that the novel covers many, many years and is therefore very fast-paced; sometimes this sacrificed character development. I would have loved Meleager and Hippomenes' characters to have been fleshed out a bit more. However, I did love the depiction of Atalanta's relationship with Artemis.