🎧Audio Book Review🎧

Atalanta
Jennifer Saint

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I absolutely loved this book!

I'm quite new to the re-telling genre and although I know some bits of the myths - I have never delved into much detail at all. However, I've always loved the idea of learning more about them.

Jason and the Argonauts is one that my Dad always mentioned (as my brother is called Jason) - but apart from him sailing to get the golden fleece, I knew no more.

So, although this story follows Atalanta, the majority of the book focusses on the journey of The Argo where Jason, his crew of the best men in the country and Atalanta, who has been sent on a mission by Artemis, to find and retrieve the golden fleece.

I loved our introduction to Atalanta who, when born, was left to die in the woods but was found and nurtured by the great God, Artemis. In the forest, she learns to run and hunt at Artemis' side, becoming greater than the greatest men.

Her development throughout the book and the journey was fascinating. The relationships she formed with the men on the ship, good and bad. Her sense when dealing with the many issues that arose throughout their journey and even to the end where her sense of what was good and right overcomes all else. Such a strong character.

The writing style was amazing. So descriptive that I honestly felt as though I was on the journey along with them. Making friendships and feeling the emotions throughout.

I loved all the connections to the other Gods and little bits of other myths I'd heard of before and seeing how they all related to each other.

I'm completely hooked on this genre now and can't wait to start my next adventure.

I really enjoyed listening to Atalanta's story. Super well written and the narrator fab as always.

Thanks to the publisher for granting me access to an eAlc in exchange via NetGalley.

Read this as an arc read. Very lyrical writing. Every sentence perfectly constructed. I understand why people have been raving about Jennifer Saint. Atalanta was a very compelling story.

A Greek retelling of human huntress Atalanta who spent most of her life living among nymphs and the goddess Artemis. The only catch of this peaceful existence is to never lie with a man.

Artemis sends her on a mission to join the argonauts and find the Golden Fleece. Whilst I really enjoyed the story, I was wondering what would make it stand out amongst other Greek retellings. Then I got to the final 100 pages and so much happened I couldn’t put it down. So many twists, down to the very last page!

This was my first Jennifer Saint book and it definitely won’t be my last. Couldn’t recommend this more! Just as good as The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller if not better in my opinion!

I really enjoyed this feminist retelling of Atalanta’s story! I love that it puts Atalanta in the middle of so many famous parts of myths that we know about purely from a male specific.
Fun, frustrating and ultimately made me smile.

A wonderful listen narrated by Beth Eyre. Unlike Jennifer Saint's previous stories, 'Ariadne' and 'Elektra', Atalanta doesn't really get much press, good or bad. Certainly, she is omitted completely from some lists of Argonauts. Really enjoyed this and can't wait for the next re-telling of Greek mythological women. Thanks to Netgalley and Headline Audio for access to this audiobook.

Another excellent audio from Jennifer Saint - I love a Greek retelling and this one was much anticipated - while I’d heard of Jason and the Argonauts I hadn’t really come across Atalanta’s story so the plot gripped me straight in with its feminist angle.

I love the version of Atalanta that Saint has created - she is such a strong, independent badass female. She was an incredibly likeable character and I thoroughly enjoyed her narrative which was engaging and beautifully written.

The narration of this audio was great, they did a wonderful job of capturing the essence of Atalanta’s strength of character. It was easy to listen to and thoroughly held my attention throughout as I felt entirely immersed in the story.

Another great retelling from Saint that I’d definitely recommend to fans of Greek mythology.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my audio copy.

I read the book alongside listening to the audiobook and have written my full review alongside the novel. The narrator has a very clear, crisp and well spoken voice which made it very easy to listen to, however I would have liked a Greek accent for story, to lend authenticity to it. However this is a beautifully narrated tale.

I loved this book and this may be my favourite Jennifer Saint book! Overall, gave this book 4.2 stars.

Atalanta is a Greek myth retelling of Atalanta (as the title suggests) and covers her life from when she was brought to the forest, her adventures as one of the Argonauts, the Calydonian Bear Hunt and then finally the footrace for her hand in marriage.

I loved the character of Atalanta and the way Saint has written her. She’s the literal definition of strong, independent woman and I love how Saint makes that clear throughout her writing. Although she does have love interests throughout the book, I love how it wasn’t made the focal point of the story and the book solely focuses on her achievements and her as a huntress. I also really enjoyed how Saint depicted the Gods and that’s cunning, ruthless and with very little remorse for the mortals that they supposedly care for.

The book itself solely focuses on Atalanta’s story, which is different to Saint’s previous books which also had chapters on other characters. I enjoyed Atalanta a lot more because of that because we got to know the character so much more.

However, I did find that by the end I had begun to lose interest since the story if the footrace was nowhere near as interesting as her as an Argonaut and the bear hunt, which is why I didn’t end up giving it 5 stars. But, can’t really fault the other or the book considering that’s part of Atalanta’s story in the myth.

I listened to this as an audiobook and really loved the way it was narrated. The narrator was so engaging and made the story enjoyable to listen to. Also the way she delivered the last line of the book was just wow.

Overall, really loved this adaption and loved listening to it in audiobook format.

3.5 stars

Headlines:
Warrior status
Quests and journeys
Misogyny

Atalanta is not a character I was already familiar with in terms of the original myth and so I'm grateful to now know much about this amazing woman. And she was amazing, forging a path not trodden by women, a warrior, hunter, fighter who wasd hugely loyal.

This story had many phases, Atalanta's beginnings and her patronage to Artemis, her journey to fight and quest with the Argonauts and some of the weird scrapes and situations she then found herself in. The story brought her full circle back to her absent father and a competition to end all competitions.

Atalanta showed bravery, intelligence in a situation that many of the men just didn't have. I loved how she held her own while surrounded by egos. While Atalanta had an ego and a desire to be remembered for her skills, she was grounded. However, this is greek mythology and herein lies tragedy, misogyny, patriarchy and fickle, cruel gods and goddesses. That ending, my goodness, I didn't see it coming but it settled well for me, strangely.

My rating comes down to my peaks and troughs my interest felt in the story as it moved between parts. I had periods of not connecting with the story even though I connected with Atalanta as a character. However, I have come away from this book with an overall good experience.

I listened to this story on audio, the narration was good and expressive.

Thank you to Headline Books for the review copy.

I knew very little about Atalanta’s story before listening to this book so I really enjoyed learning more. From her harsh beginnings, abandoned on a hillside as a baby by her father, a King, to being rescued and cared for by a goddess and then to become her champion aboard the Argo as the only female Argonaut was an exhilarating journey. It was wonderful to see her as faster and stronger than the other heroes, so different to how many women are portrayed in Greek myths. Her end, although to some seemingly tragic, gave her the freedom she had always longed for.

Beautiful writing did Atalanta justice and I’m very glad she is being brought more into the spotlight. Great narration added to a wonderful reading experience.

This was so good. Thank you for letting me listen to this audiobook early it was such a delight. The story of the argonauts is one I new very little about before listening to this story. And to learn about it within this beautiful book was so nice.

I remember watching Jason and the Argonauts when a child and at no point did they give information on this character! This book needs to be made into a film asap

jennifer saint did it again!

atalanta’s story isn’t one i know much about, so when i saw that she was the focus of this latest feminist retelling i was instantly intrigued. as with her other stories, the writing in this is absolutely beautiful and merges an ancient myth with modern day themes. atalanta is an incredible character and i was absolutely rooting for her, she was made to feel so unwelcome on the quest but she didn’t let the petty remarks whittle her down.

great story, and i need to know if katniss everdeen was inspired by atalanta??

The author has knocked it out the park again with this wonderful retelling of one of the most forgotten Greek mythology characters
Atalanta has been left, unwanted, on a mountain as an infant and been brought up by a mother bear which turns her into a very badass woman who is known as a huntress. She is then taken under the wing of Artemis and her nymphs. We follow her journey to the voyage on the Argo telling the story of Jason and the argonauts told from Atalanta’s perspective as she tries to prove herself while travelling across the sea with all the people and dangers that they face
The writing was evocative and beautiful while the author really brings the characters and stories to life. The narration was fantastic on audio and really did the story justice. Loved this so much

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

A girl was born, and the King exposed her on the mountain, a mother bear raised her, she grew strong on bear milk and learned to wrestle with bear siblings, then Artemis came for her, and gave her to the nymphs to raise her in the forest of Arcadia. She got strong, fast, and fearless, her name is Atalanta.

Artemis was Atalanta's sister, mother, guide, teacher all in one, and when the time come, Atalanta become her champion.
A gathering of the greatest band of heroes from across all of Greece wants to sail on his ship, the Argo, in search of a Golden Fleece; and Atalanta the only woman in the group boards on Argo, as Artemis's champion to be the best of them all.

We all know the story of Jason and Golden Fleece, you might have heard about Atalanta, one of a few hero women in mythology. Her story in this book passes with Hercules, Medea and Ares's son, Meleager. There are many short myths and games of gods in her voyage, and I loved reading them from Atalanta's point of view.

I really enjoyed this retelling which was rare in my last few ones, although I expected this, after all this is Jennifer Saint, her characters are remarkable and the story, she tells the tale that you know it, but still so engaging, beautiful and heartbreaking.

My huge thanks to Headline Audio via Netgalley for giving me a chance to listen to this fantastic book, Atalanta by Jennifer Saint with fine narrator Beth Eyre, I have given my own honest review.
Pub Date: 13 Apr 2023

I really enjoyed Atalanta. It kept me enthralled throughout and the prose was beautiful. It's rare to find a likeable male character in these types of Greek retellings but there were a few in this book that made my heart warm. Especially at the end.

I've always loved the story of Atalanta but there's never been much written about her - thank goodness that has changed! Atalanta is one of the few women from Greek mythology who was ever given some small freedom to be a hero, and JS puts such a refreshing spin on her tale. I adore Greek mythology but the more of it I read the more frustrated I feel over the treatment of the women in those tales - here we have one woman who managed to find a way around her suppression and make a name for herself, and I love her that much more for it