My first Jennifer Saint, but certainly not my last, as she lives up to every last bit of the hype that's created around each of her releases.
ATALANTA was simply breathtaking - lyrical in prose, and very strong in terms of voice, this did feel like an epic being breathed new life into.
I was in two minds about the pacing, as I felt events that felt monumental were breezed past quickly, but at the same time that does work with the idea that they were mere moments in the larger life of a great woman whose story encompasses much more.
Overall a success, and I'm sold on both Saint as an author and Beth Eyre as a newly found favourite narrator.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Headline Audio and the author for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A princess abandoned as she was supposed to be a prince, left to die and raised by a bear under the protection of Goddess Artemis to be a celibate, we follow Atalanta's journey through her eyes in vivid description. When she finally gets the chance at adventure she has always yearned for in the form of joining the Argonauts to track down the golden fleece, Atalanta see a side of the world she was shielded from. Slowly settling down into the 'worldly ways' of men having to prove her might, strength and talent in every step of the way, Atalanta begins to questions the world she knew, she now knows and the possibility of what it could be for her, in spite of the ire of the Goddess waiting for her.

Atalanta is a story about breaking the glass ceiling, the boundaries set by men, often followed even in defiance by women as a form of protection and how everything and anything starts and ends with restrictions for the whole gender. But as always with Greek mythology there is aspects I don't morally agree with like cheating, sexual assault but they are unavoidable as the source material is full of them and worse. Having consumed a lot of retelling, I will maintain this is one of the good one's.

The narration was a bit hard to get into in the beginning and got better as the story progressed.

I think the vivid descriptions of the scenery and the way Atalanta saw things was amazing. I like that the story was detailed from the start so that the reader can know all of the information needed for who she is and how she got to where she ended up. I liked the description of Artemis and her personality of a ruthless goddess. I also feel like the nymphs were well thought out and I liked getting a few of their story lines. I liked this description from her point of view of her journey and how she met important characters and joined the argonauts. I loved the stories from the mission getting to the golden fleece and the challenges and losses along the way, it was detailed, had a lot of strategy and action and friendships. I think Atalanta is an interesting character as her approach to relationships with people is altered by how she grew up and it is interesting to see someone who disconnects from people the way she does. I also like that it was written to bring back certain parts to lead into something from the beginning to the end and how Atalantas choices changed things. I was not expecting how they ended up at the end but I find it interesting the ways her thoughts changed and the affects , as well as it being a somewhat nice ending. I know this is based on a Greek Myth/tragedy and the main point was Atalanta but I would be intrigued to know more about Hippomenes, there was obviously a lot of thought and research into writing because of how well executed this was.

Jennifer Saint has found a great niche in Greek mythology, and she does it quite well. Overall, I found this story to be fascinating, even if I knew about Jason and the Argonauts before. A truly beautiful story that finally does justice to a character ignored during centuries.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for a review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Having read and loved Ariadne and Elektra I was looking forward to getting stuck into Atalanta. Admittedly, I wasn't familiar with this story so was very intrigued to read a book that has her as the central character. This is told in the first person format and the fluidity of the narration done by Jennifer Saint doesn't disappoint. It was interesting to see well known stories such as the Argonauts and the Calydonian boar being told from Atalantas perspective. I enjoyed hearing her take on her fellow Argonauts and seeing how she had to continuosly prove herself over and over again to prove she was the same in terms of skill and intellect, if not better, than her fellow men. However, Atalanta lacked the intensity that both Ariadne and Elektra had. Atalanta came across a lot more passive to the circumstances around her, despite this being a feminist retelling. It also seemed like most of Atalantas narration was heavily dominated by the mens exploites in her life.

Overall I enjoyed this, it just wasn't what I expected from Jennifer Saint, 3.5 stars.

I am not a huge fan of greek mythology retellings so it took me a while to get through this audio book. I did end up liking it but it is just not my cup of tea. However I think people who like these kind of stories would really enjoy it.

Whilst the market has, arguably, been oversaturated with Greek Mythology retellings, Atalanta is actually my first! I'm very glad this was my entry into these retellings. Atalanta isn't a tale I was familiar with before picking up the book and so I was really enjoying learning more about the original mythology throughout the book. I had hoped that Atalanta had been a bit stronger, a bit more fierce and fire-y. A lot of her life is dominated by the men in it and their choices, with Atalanta herself being fairly passive. Whilst this might be true to the original myth I feel like a retelling would be the place to break that mould. But I did still enjoy reading about her adventures and I'm excited to read more from Jennifer Saint in the future. The audiobook was a great way to dive into this book and Beth Eyre does a great job at narration.

A fan of all things relating to classical mythology, I was really excited to listen to the audiobook of Atalanta by Jennifer Saint.

Born in the wilderness and raised by animals, Atalanta strives to prove herself in the world of the male Argonauts.

Unfortunately, for me, the narrator's accent and inflections, especially when giving voice to some of the characters, was just too jarring and I wasn't able to finish the book. DNF.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of the audio book in exchange for an honest review.

Great historical fiction and works really well as an audiobook.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

An interesting story about Greek mythology - refreshing to follow a less famous Argonaut, and the audiobook was a great way to become immersed in the world. Jennifer Saint’s writing style is lovely and compelled me to keep reading.

I can see why some people found this dry and a bit hard going. Most would have heard of Jason and the Argonauts, but probably not Atalanta, who was abandoned at birth, raised by a goddess as celibate, and then joined the Argonauts’ quest for the Golden Fleece. I know this story is based on the myth, but I can’t say the affair with the married man, or the ending, enamoured me of Atalanta. It was just not the book for me in the end.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review. Apologies for the delay in providing this.

Unfortunately had to DNF around 35%. I love the story of Atalanta so I had a lot of hope going in. Part of me thinks its how the audiobook is done as it’s probably a great book, but just wasn’t the best audiobook that kept me wanting to listen. I am grateful for having access to the early access, and I will likely give it another go.

I always adore Jennifer Saint's work, and to have it narrated to me was exceptional.

Heroines from Greek mythology, being reframed, told from the female point of view, will always capture my attention.

To hear the tale of the only female Argonaut, a true warrior, was wonderful.

I really enjoyed this one, i am not normally a fan of books based on mythology but this one had me hooked throughout!

The audiobook really help you become immersed in the story too so I would highly recommend it if you listen to them!

Will definitely be reading more from this author

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Headline audio for giving me the chance to listen to Atalanta by Jennifer Saint as an audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

A perfect read be it audiobook or not, I loved Atalanta with all my heart. A greek mythology heroine getting her story told the way it does her justice is always a good choice, but to be able to listen to the story -almost like a fable from times of old- makes it all the more good.
The heroic tale of the only female Argonaut makes not only for a compelling story that comes more so alive and vivid thanks to Beth Eyre's narration. Every character comes to her so smouth, the changes between them so smooth and yet distinct, it makes for a beautiful experience as an audiobook.
I would definetely recommend this to readers who are new to reading/listening to audiobooks, because its easy to fall into the story's rhythm and enjoy it as if the way the would by reading the book in a physical copy

I loved reading this tale about a female warrior from Greek mythology. I'd previously only been peripherally aware of Atalanta as a character, so I enjoyed seeing her story fully fleshed out here - from her abandonment as a baby to her voyage with the Argonauts and beyond. This is the type of myth usually reserved for male heroes, and so is set apart from many other retellings of women from Greek mythology. The struggles she faces to be taken seriously in a man's world, including at the hands of well-known heroes such as Jason and Herakles, still resonate. The fierceness, determination and independence of her character was well developed throughout. A satisfying read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Audio for the advance audio copy.

Preliminary 5-star review. Will post a full review and adjust the rating accordingly after I finish the book.

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

I really enjoyed this retelling of the myth of Atalanta, the huntress raised by bears and the only woman Argonaut.

Like other retellings of Greek myths, I find that despite the misogyny and patriarchy that is evident throughout, at its heart we have a feminist role model who, despite every single hurdle put before her, she succeeds. However, this book is also heartbreakingly realistic in that, like other female protagonists, Atalanta cannot have it all and she has difficult choices to make (and made for her).

This audiobook was so engrossing, my walks to and from work flew by and I was sad when it ended.

I have now added Elektra to my TBR list!

A really enthralling and exciting read.

Jennifer Saint's Atalanta is a masterfully crafted historical fiction novel that retells the heroic story of the only female Argonaut. The story follows the life of Atalanta, a daughter of a king born to bring only disappointment to her family. She was left exposed on a mountainside, where she was raised by a mother bear and the goddess Artemis, who watched over her and protected her from harm.

Determined to prove her worth, Atalanta leaves her forest to join Jason's band of Argonauts, where she faces challenges, adventures, and battles that test her limits and courage. Despite living in a world dominated by men, Atalanta carves out her own place in the legends of Greek mythology, becoming an inspiration to all who read her story.

What makes Atalanta stand out from other retellings of classic tales is the author's lyrical and insightful writing style. Jennifer Saint weaves together the threads of Atalanta's story in a vivid and absorbing way that transports readers to another world. Her attention to detail and deep understanding of Greek mythology make this book a must-read for anyone who loves stories of strong female characters and epic adventures.

The book has received high praise from readers and critics alike, who describe it as a beautiful and absorbing reimagining of a classic tale that leaves readers feeling inspired and uplifted. I highly recommend this book to all readers who are looking for a powerful and unforgettable reading experience. Whether you are a fan of Greek mythology or simply enjoy a good story, Atalanta is a book that should not be missed.

I enjoyed learning about Atalanta, the forgotten warrior of the Argonauts. Set across four parts, the story revisits much of the Classic tales from the Odyssey and the myth of Jason and the Argonauts as Atalanta joins their crew. I'm surprised not to have come across Atalanta before so this was a real treat for me to explore a new character. I liked the strong spirit of Atalanta and how, even when she tried to outsmart the God's and the King, she still lost. I enjoyed her ending even though it was perhaps a cruel twist of fate, I think it suited her free spirit.