I absolutely love Greek mythology and used to love teaching it to my pupils at school, but of course the stories told of the great heroes and women were simply mentioned in passing. Jennifer Saint gives life and voice to the many incredible women of these stories and this is a superb reimagining of the great Atalanta. I knew very little about Atalanta but what an incredible woman and role model she was: fierce, powerful, determined, loyal are all words that spring to mind when I reflect on her character.
The wonderfully lyrical narration of the story performed by Beth Eyre is truly mesmerising and I found myself swept along by her story telling. She brings the adventures, the characters, the battles, the settings to life with her intonation. It’s beautifully performed and does true credit to the incredible writing of Jennifer Saint. I will definitely be recommending this to my friends who enjoy audiobooks!
With many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance audiobook in exchange for a review.

Atalanta has been abandoned by her father for one reason and one reason alone, she was girl.
After being raised by a bear and then taken in by Artemis and her nymphs, Atalanta grows up to be an independent and strong woman. Her abilities make her out to be one of the best warrior/hunter in Greece. Seeing her potential, Artemis tasks her to join Jason's crew, the Argonauts, for the search of the golden fleece, to bring glory and bravery to her name.

Greek and Roman mythology is one thing I have been passionate about ever since Junior High. I took Latin as a class and gladly suffered the grammar lessons, just so that I could listen to my teacher telling us all the tales of ancient Greece and Rome.
So of course, when I saw this book, set in ancient Greece AND focused on a female character, I just had to have it.
The story follows Atalanta during her journey with the Argonauts, but it's also a journey about self discovery. Her, who has never left her home, discovers the wonders of the world and try to figure out her place in it and what kind of future she dreams about. It's a profoundly relatable story, on how you navigate leaving the "parents' nest" and out yourself out there. How you need to confront all the values you've been taught growing up to what you see, and eventually forge your own opinions.
I also loved the feminist take on a mythology tale. Atalanta is the only female on a crew that sets out to accomplish an impossible task. And of course, most men aren't happy with that. But her, being the badass that she is, deals with it in an impeccable way. It's a very empowering story about a female taking charge and not letting men dictate what her life should look like.
The only thing that did bother me was the pace of the story. The writing was excellent but it was a bit too slow for my taste.
I listened to the audio for this and I'm so glad I did. The narrator was really talented and made it an immersive experience. It just felt like I was there, with the Argonauts, sailing across the world and I loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

First I ask - do you know who Artemis is? Jason? Hercules? Argonauts? Golden Fleece? Medea? Atalanta? I’m sure, you would say yes to the first ones, even if you don't know exactly who they are or what role they play in Greek mythology or how these names have come into our everyday lives, then Atalanta is definitely an unfamiliar name. Even the fact that there was a woman among the Argonauts was news to me, although I have read Stephen Fray's books on Greek heroes and mythologies. But yes, this is a book that introduces this little-known character. The character is sometimes a little too modern, but still classic.

This is a good remake. Atalanta's story is interspersed with several other myths related to other deities or heroes with whom she crosses paths. These stories are told as a warning to the Atalanta's, or she experiences them herself, or they are backstories of other heroes, told while sitting around the campfire on the journey. All those heroes and stories that you know on their own are seamlessly woven into one story here, adding the thoughts and feelings of Atalanta as a separate line, giving this little character a much bigger role in Greek mythology than she has had so far.

A good story!

For anyone looking for a retelling of The Argonauts that writes Atalanta back into the narrative, this one might be for you. I would say particularly if you haven't really come across her before, you will enjoy this book. It retells the life of Atalanta from her perspective - her life in the forests of Arcadia as a follower of Artemis, being second guessed as a great hero of the age because she's a woman, journeying on the Argo and hunting the Calydonian Boar.

I was excited to read this one because, put simply, Atalanta is a badass. She is second only to Artemis in her skills as a hunter, she beat a man capable of holding down a sea nymph in a wrestling match and she was generally just running around making arrogant men look like right fools. And not just Jason either, he always looks useless, she makes actual capable heroes check themselves.

This book really shows that, we see her frustration as they don't take her seriously and as she slowly but surely proves her strength, skill and worth to them.

For me though, this book missed the spark of the retellings I really enjoy - Saint's Ariadne among them. The characterisation of every background character just let them all blend into a mix of "there's men around" and Atalanta's left little room for nuance. I wanted to read a feminist retelling thst really centres her agency and marginal view of the world and I just didn't get that from this book. That said, I think that's something you want if you already know this story and most readers won't because Atalanta is relegated to passing mentions in most retellings. It's great to finally see her name emblazoned on the cover. Because SERIOUSLY who on earth would prefer JASON? What a wet lettuce.

If you take anything from this book let it be this - women have been bad ass warriors since the dawn of time.

The audio was excellent, it really allowed me to finish the book once I switched to it.

* SPOILERS*
Thank you Headline Publishing & NetGalley for my audio ARC of Atalanta by Jennifer Saint. 

Ancient Greek retellings are very on trend right now, and Atalanta certainly delivers. Yet another retelling which highlights the women previously left behind in these tales, and I am absolutely loving it! This is my first of Jennifer Saint's books and I'm certainly more inclined to potentially pick up Ariadne or Elektra. 

Saint did a great job of balancing this feminist icon alongside the sheer misogyny of that world. Her writing is stunning - I'd go so far to say that parts were certainly beautiful, lyrical prose.

Plot wise I felt like it all came together very well, however I wasn't a huge fan of the voyage with Jason and the Argonauts. I felt myself getting bogged down and wasn't overly engaged with it. Hearing Atalanta finally return to her father, only to have him attempt to marry her off was frustrating, until she took it upon herself to turn the tables and turn the entire farce into a footrace. It genuinely gave the same energy as "I'll be shooting for my own heart" from Brave's Merida and I feel like there is some overlap between the two characters. 

Narration by Beth Eyre was sensational, and I felt she did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. 
I did not see the ending coming and it definitely swept me off my feet. 

"I am wild, I am free, I am Atalanta."

I loved Atalanta's story , whilst I'd heard of her name I didn't know much about the Greek mythology behind her. I really enjoyed her strength of character and bravery , the ending was perfect .

An engaging retelling by Jennifer Saint of Greek myths about Atalanta who was abandoned as a baby and grew up in a forest, first with bears and then with Artemis’ nymphs. She joins Jasón as one of the Argonauts tasked with retrieving the Golden Fleece and recounts their adventures during and after the voyage. While most of the stories were familiar to me, I enjoyed hearing them from a female perspective, with a fearless and independent heroine. Very good narration by Beth Eyre, and a good pace. Held my interest throughout. Thank you to Headline Audio and NetGalley for a review copy of the audiobook.

As a huge fan of Greek mythology retellings and of Jennifer Saint herself, I was delighted when I was approved for the Audio ARC of Atalanta. I finished it earlier today, and whilst I thoroughly enjoyed it, I do have to admit that my first thought was, ‘Is that it?’

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that I feel Atalanta was lacking compared to Saint’s previous works Ariadne and Elektra. With those two, one of my favourite elements was the multiple POVs and getting to read how the same events were often perceived in wholly different and usually biassed ways. This meant that the reader had to consider both interpretations in order to form their own understanding, which is always a gratifying reading experience. During my Atalanta read, I kept waiting for the POV to switch, especially when Medea was introduced, but it never came. Not that I didn’t enjoy Atalanta’s POV, but I think it would’ve been fascinating to explore Medea’s role, especially knowing what came next for her. But maybe she’ll get her own novel.

Atalanta also just didn’t elicit as much of a reaction from me as Ariadne and Elektra did. With those, I would often be overcome with emotion, whether it be tearing up at a particularly sad moment or clenching my fists with how much I wanted to smack Elektra. Atalanta still managed to have emotional scenes, especially the climax of the novel, but for the most part I was able to listen with a straight face.

All that being said, the novel really was wonderful. It is arguably Saint’s most feminist novel yet, and I can totally see this being a lot of people’s favourite of the three. It was beautifully written, and I loved learning so much more about myths - a few I was somewhat familiar with and some I had never heard before. I definitely recommend it to any lover of Greek mythology retellings, especially feminist ones, and I look forward to reading Jennifer Saint’s work for years to come.

Thank you to Headline Audio and NetGalley for the Audio ARC. All opinions are my own.

Hopefully I have made absolutely no secret of the fact that @jennifer.saint.author is one of my favourite authors, so a new novel from her is always huge cause for celebration in my eyes - and Atalanta is certainly no exception 👏

A feminist take on a Greek myth I hadn’t heard of before (I know, I’ve lived under a rock 🤷‍♀️), Atalanta is probably the physically toughest and bravest of Jenny’s characters so far, rivalling any man with her speed, and prowess with a bow and arrow. This novel was an epic adventure as Atalanta joins Jason and the Argonauts on a mission that leads to his fame despite most of it being due to her abilities. I just loved what a total badass she was, but I also enjoyed watching her discover a tender side of herself as she eventually fell in love and realised she could be more than one thing.

As with any Greek myth, there’s violence, misogyny and tragedy, but Jenny’s storytelling is just exceptional and gives women some of their power back at last - I’ll never get enough 🙌

I wish I was eloquent like Shakespeare or Jennifer Saint herself, then I’d have words like “shall I compare thee to a summers day?” to describe this beautiful and exquisite tale.

I am under no illusion that I know every mythological character but I’m stunned I never knew of Atalanta and that she was an Argonaut! So I’m grateful that her story has been told and in such a mesmerising way.

I was fortunate to have the audiobook, which meant I could lie back and let the words almost hypnotise me. The narrator, Beth Eyre, is amazing. She made me feel as if I was listening to Atalanta recounting her own tale. I will happily listen to (pretty much) any book Beth narrates.
But it wouldn’t have been possible for the world, characters and even the senses to come to life if it wasn’t for Jennifer’s evocative and sumptuous words.

I loved learning about the beautifully fierce, Atalanta & getting lost in Jennifer’s words again. And once again, I cannot wait for whats to come next from JS.
I have already preordered my copy, so I can have it on release day. 🧡

A compelling story of strength, resilience and love.

Thank you, Wildfire & NetGalley, for the audiobook in return for my honest review.

Atalanta was raised with bear cubs under the watchful eye of Artemis. Her childhood was unconventional but, as she grew, the rest of her life proved to be even more so, as she journeyed with the Argonauts, as the only woman among them, and carved out her place alongside them in pursuits reserved for men alone.

Jennifer Saint never fails! I have adored each of her feminist mythological retellings and this was no exception. The same key themes were focused on throughout this, regarding a woman's place in society and the disregard towards them for their value in anything other than breeding and home-making. I love how she challenges these historical norms through her female-led storylines and all-female perspectives.

Atalanta was a strong individual who never sought to be anything less. Her entire existence had been one long and exhausting fight for dominance and autonomy and I admired and adored her in equal measures, whilst also grieving when any plight that befell her. Her character quickly entered my heart and added tension to later portions of this book, where the success of her endeavours and the continuation of her life were put at risk.

While I really do enjoy a good retelling of Greek mythology, I, sometimes, feel a little bit bummed when the story is over...

I am a sucker for a happy (romantic) ending... But then I remember that there aren't really a lot of those in Greek mythology - and what is perceived to be a happy ending in "those days", doesn't really work for us today... So basically - I just need to get a grip on myself.

The story of Atalanta was so beautifully told - Loved the audiobook...

Thank you to Headline Publishing Group for sending me the audiobook arc to review!

Atalanta doesn’t need any retelling to make her into a feminist role model. She has always existed as a fearless woman famed for being faster, stronger and more brave than even the greatest male heroes. So, of course she is deserving of her own book!

Atalanta has one of the most distinctive voices I’ve read in feminist retellings, apart from maybe Miller’s Circe.

Her adventure as a women among men is inspiring. She is not only wary of her quest, but also of the men around her, her supposed allies.
As with all Greek myths, women are seen as lesser, and she is constantly undermined and undervalued. However, I liked how some of the males grow to admire her and protect her.

This was an enjoyable retelling, especially after some of the recent ones I’ve read, even if the ending did leave more to be desired.

"I am wild, I am free, I am Atalanta."

What a book. This is definitely up there as one of my favourite Greek myth retellings!

Atalanta is an absolute badass. Jennifer Saint done the argonaut proud with this one 👏

I do love a retelling! Especially when it’s telling the story from a Woman’s point of view!
I love rediscovering the Argonauts, Hercules, Jason and Medea from a different point of view! And learning more about the goddesses!

dnf at 65%

i might still try to read this once it’s out and i can read it for myself instead of listening to the audio book cause i just kept losing focus so many times.

the story started out great but it got so boring once the men showed up. this book might be good for people with a longer attention span than me.

i received the arc in exchange for an honest review.

'When I was born, they left me on a hillside'...

In 'Atalanta', Jennifer Saint recasts a well known piece of Classical Greek narrative as if it is new. Saint reckons plot through character interaction and dialogue, which is always a thrill for me - no 'she was angry', 'she felt sad' or reams and reams of information about the classical figures just lumped upon the reader in vast information dumps, as Natalie Haynes does in her latest book 'Stone Blind'. Rather, Jennifer Saint lets the characters carry their stories through the novel in what they say and do; a form of writing edited and tightened till it rings with clarity. Action energetically conveys the meaning here, and that is gloriously engaging for the reader.

'Atalanta' is so inventive, familiar characters so enlivened. Saint makes the rewriting of classical myth seem effortless. I was lost in this book whilst listening to it. It's one of those novels that just gobbles you up. Saint's style is characterised by a sense of awe at the beauty of words.

Further to that, I'm sure I've said it before in reviews, but I will listen to anything Beth Eyre narrates on audiobook! Her soft and velvety shaping of Saint's word-craft is so indulgently good!

My sincere thanks go to Wildfire at Headline Publishing Group Ltd for a pre-release audiobook for review through NetGalley.

Atalanta | Jennifer Saint | Performed by Beth Eyre

When we think about the quest for the Golden Fleece, we talk about Jason, the hero who rounded up the mightiest of their time, we note Heracles was there, dipping his hand into the adventure, whilst in the middle of his labours; rarely do we think of Atalanta, the only woman Arganot.

When we think about her, we might recall stories of her overshadowed my the men in her life: Hippomenese tricked her in a footrace, or how Meleager fought for her right in the Caledonian Boar hunt. That is, if we remember her at all. Here is the story in the eyes of the frequently forgotten mortal heroine, at a time when feminism was only a thing for witches and goddesses.
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The thing about mythology retellings, is the need to consolidate and marry all the notable stories of a certain character into a sensible plotline that suggests a "full history," amidst conflicting accounts. While also findingaa the humanity in it, to give value to the piece. Jennifer Saint does this well by exploring Atalanta's past to build into what will be known of her.

I love the section of the quest because she had such an intuition to her about knowing how to manage people, how she had the fire in her to keep standing despite being looked down to just because of her gender. I liked that Jason and Heracles are not so much glorified in here because there is already a lot of that in literature. Although I think Jason' s went a bit too far as only one task was featured to get him to win the Golden Fleece. It made the entire quest sort of underwhelming. Saint's Jason is an enigma to me as he felt like he was just a lucky guy who everybody listens to. I was surprised that Medea was so tame here at first, as well. I always pictured her as outrightly ruthless. She had no qualms killing her brother afterall.

Plotwise I felt like it made sense how the stories tied in together, whilst also incorporating two of her lovers. However I' not such a fan of infidelity plotlines therefore it kind of made the whole Menelager storyline bland for me. Which is a shame because I like his character here. Although all that might be due to my personal preference. I think it would it still work had Meleager wasn't actually married like in some lores. But its possible that Hippomenese would be overshadowed by the build up of the Meleager/Atalanta angle as his development with Atalata had an element of feeling rushed.

Overall, I did enjoy moments of it, if only to find the humanity in the Greek mythical character of Atalanta.

This is the adventure of Atalanta, a strong in body and will wild girl who finds her place among the Argonauts.

If you are ready for an adventure across land and sea, with a brilliant atmosphere that submerges you into Ancient Greece, then you need Atalanta in your life.

I enjoyed this story more than Elektra, I found Atalanta more likeable and the story more cohesive. An excellent retelling of a woman I knew little of, but now feels like a found friend.

I really enjoyed this audiobook from beginning to end. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, but haven't so far listened to (or read) any of the Greek Myth retellings that are currently so popular. I didn't know what to expect, as Atalanta's story isn't one I'm very familiar with, but I found her character so engaging that it really hooked me in.

Not knowing the outcome of Atalanta's tale entirely, I spent most of the time expecting disaster but I found the ending very satisfying. Her's is an astonishing story of determination and courage.

It was quite a voyage in more ways than one, taking in other better known myths such as Jason and the Argonauts, the Labours of Heracles, Adonis, Callisto and more, without giving away any spoilers. A true adventure quest from start to finish.

I enjoyed the feminist retelling aspects of the novel. Jennifer Saint's writing is well crafted and engaging, her description evocative with excellent dialogue, both between characters and with Atalanta's own deep internal voice.

The narration by Beth Eyre @beth.eyre was riveting: suitably composed and noble as the voice of Atalanta, or Artemis or even Heracles himself – as you would expect any ancient Greek heroines/goddesses or heroes to be.

I would say this is the perfect read for anyone with a love of Greek Myths but prefers to keep the blood and guts out of their literature. That's not to say that there aren't dark moments or themes, but it allows the reader to use their imagination and I like that. I will certainly be reading more Jennifer Saint retellings and listening to more audiobooks featuring Beth Eyre.