I enjoyed this version of the retelling of Clytemnestra. I have read another version of her story recently within the last year and this one seemed a lot darker. I thought this was very well written and really well researched with lots of incredible detail regarding the setting and the religious beliefs of the people of the time. I would recommend this to people who enjoy Greek myth retellings.

Perhaps it’s my life-long exposure to Greek myth and consecutively to the never-ending cycles of violence, sexism, cannibalism and incest inherent to those stories – maybe I’ve become entirely desensitized at this point – but when a retelling turns seriously dark, it almost always gets me by surprise. We look at those stories from the safe distance of millenia past, seldom pausing to consider what the heroes and heroines might have actually felt within their narratives. But Clytemnestra’s Bind forces you to look at the „minor“ players of the Iliad, and with compassion.

This book goes way harder than anticipated. I commend the author for going the extra mile of doing research on Mycaenae and not placing the story in a vaguely ancient Mediterranean setting as many are wont to do. Instead, both the environment and the characters felt real to me - ironically, this brutal novel put me right in the mood for my annual vacation in Greece. Oops.

And some of the deuteragonists give a vastly different, but alluring impression compared to the popular movie and book takes on the market: Menelaus is not just a stupid cockold, Clytemnestra’s sister Helen is more than a naive young woman who elopes with a foreign prince. There is significant build-up for the ultimate betrayal Clytemnestra experiences at the hands of her own two surviving children – dare I say, one she isn’t entirely innocent of provoking.

Clytemnestra’s Bind is ultimately a book about bad parenting on all sides, and if that doesn’t summarize the world of Greek myth, I don’t know what does.

There have been plenty of similar mythology retellings that this novel could be compared to, in the past three years alone, some of which I have yet to get to, but this novel certainly constitutes one of the strongest competitors. I will be reading the sequel and following Helen’s point of view with pleasure.

Before reading this book, I was familiar with the story of Agamemnon and Menalaus, but I had never read Clytemnestra’s story before.

Clytemnestra’s Bind by Susan C Wilson presented me with the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with this important historical figure. Agamemnon brutally murders her first husband and first newborn child, yet she tolerates this abusive man to protect her children born from him.

Her journey of motherhood starts with Iphigenia, her eldest daughter. The author’s vivid prose takes the reader along this journey. While Iphigenia is the child Clytemnestra had always wanted, her next child, Electra, inherits her father’s nature, which saddens her, yet she does her best to guide Electra on the right path. You could easily have been reading a memoir of a mother while reading these passages.

Agamemnon’s dislike for his daughters weighs heavily on their psyche causing Iphigenia to become more docile and making Electra more determined to gain her father’s love which was always unsuccessful resulting in her lashing out at her mother. Yet Clytemnestra takes everything in her stride.

Then comes along Orestes, a son whose birth fulfills Agamemnon’s desire of an heir. His doting on Orestes stands out starkly against his neglect for his daughters.

Clytemnestra may have been vilified as a vengeful woman. However, it’s important to understand what led her to behave in such a manner. She was married to a despicable man who destroyed her beloved family, not once but twice. The trauma that she went through by staying in an abusive marriage would have destroyed any other woman but not Clytemnestra.

Clytemnestra’s Bind is a beautifully written story, and I am looking forward to reading the sequels in this series. Highly recommended.

Clytemnestra was the person I knew least of the 3 cousins (with Helen and Penelope) so it was good to read more of her story. Interesting, gripping and filled out the character beautifully but somehow not the best of the Greek retellings I've read.

Perfect for fans of Circe by Madeline Miller or Ithaca by Claire North. If you are familiar with the Greek myths and love historical fiction but also like strong female characters then this is the book for you.

In myth and legend we don't always get to hear the female perspective. Her story is told through the lenses of her male counterparts. Ariadne is a foolish girl, Madea is a heartless witch, Clytemnestra is a cheating husband killer. But that's not all these women are and were. And through this novel Wilson give's Clytemnestra a voice and a chance to tell her side of the story.

Each character was well written and incredibly complex. I like that even giving these characters a chance to show their side of what happened didn't exactly make them likeable or loveable. We root for them but we also understand that they were incredibly flawed. Their relationships were messy and their actions, though understandable, aren't quite redeemable. And I think this in itself is what makes them more human and relatable.

That being said, the content is hard to swallow at times. Though I do love a good war story and true crime, I am not really a fan of gore and gruesomeness. There were times that some of the narrative became hard to read. But I think that is also some of the point. Men are expected to be gruesome and women are often supposed to be the opposite of this. Agamemnon is a man who waged war for over ten years. He is known for being cruel and bloody. Why shouldn't the wife of such a man be prepared to be the same way to get what she wants?

Overall I think Wilson does a fantastic job with this book. The writing is well done, the story telling is great, and the characters are complex and interesting. I would recommend to anyone who is looking for something complex that makes you think and makes your feel complex emotions about complex problems.

I do enjoy reading historical fiction, especially when it is stories I am not very familiar with.
The maps and family tree at the beginning of the book really helped, as well as the list of who's who in the back of the book.

This may not be the book you pick up and just read cover to cover, it's the book you read and enjoy with some references to names that will be familiar to many.

I really enjoyed it and I will happily read more work by the author because this book is so brilliantly written it really did reel me in.

There have been made retelling recently but I did really enjoy the way this one was written.

I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour with The Write Reads. Thank you to The Write Reads, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book!

Clytemnestra’s Bind tells the tale of Queen Clytemnestra of Mycenae. Her story begins with tragedy, as Agamemnon destroys her family, takes the throne and marries her. Though grieving her losses, she focuses on her children and doing everything she can to protect them, until Agamemnon’s ambitions begin to threaten them too.

Greek mythology retellings are an auto-add to my TBR at this point, especially any of the stories surrounding the Trojan War, it’s just so fascinating to see them reimagined through various perspectives! There are some spoilers in this review as it’s impossible to talk about the myth without discussing some key points.

When I came across my first retelling of Clytemnestra‘s story last year, I was so excited to see a Greek myth told from a female perspective and hoped I would come across more. And I did, I found the Songs of Penelope series later in the year, and then came across this book. Though the subject matter is not new to me, I love seeing how each author presents the story and the characters through which they do so.

One thing I noticed about this book is that it doesn’t require the reader to have any background knowledge of the story or even Greek mythology, which would make this a great choice for someone new to the genre. It even included a family tree which would certainly be useful to keep track of all the names and relationships between the numerous characters.

Clytemnestra’s Bind started at the events leading up to her marriage to Agamemnon all the way to the Iphigenia’s death in Aulis leading to Clytemnestra’s change of heart, setting her firmly on the path to seek vengeance. With this book doing such a deep dive into Clytemnestra’s psyche, I felt it would have been nice if the story started earlier, during her girlhood in Sparta.

This book was very well written and narrated in such a way that made it easy to read and follow. I did feel that the story dragged a little at times, and the pacing wasn’t the most even.

I’ve read three or four retellings of the Oresteia, and Clytemnestra’s perspective of the events is by far my favorite. Though the core of the character does not change across books, each retelling adds something new. What stood out to me in this book was how angry and set on revenge Clytemnestra was initially, but for her children’s sake, even though she hated Agamemnon, she was willing to set it all aside – until he decided to go and ruin it all again.

While Clytemnestra was a sympathetic character and easy to root for, and her bond with Iphigenia was so beautifully and heart-warmingly portrayed, Electra was the exact opposite, an irritating and dreadfully stubborn child. She has never been my favorite character from the myth and this portrayal of her was rather unlikeable too.

I thought this book ended at the perfect spot, kind of on a high note, seemingly indicating a triumph for Clytemnestra as she takes power, but for the readers who know what is in store, it won’t last long. I’m curious to see where in the story the sequel will pick up and how it will all be tied together as it looks like the POV might switch to a different character for each book in the series.

Overall, this was a great read and a marvellous beginning of a new series. I can’t wait for the sequel! Highly recommended!

Thank you to The Write Reads for organizing and inviting me to be part of this blog tour. Thank you to the publisher, Neem Tree Press, for providing me with a digital copy of Clytemnestra’s Bind for the tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I want to start off my review by saying that Clytemnestra’s Bind has a lot of potentially triggering content. Clytemnestra’s Bind contains scenes of violence, murder, infanticide, rape, domestic violence, and child abuse. There is other potentially triggering content, these are just some of the major potential triggers.

I went into this book not knowing anything about Clytemnestra and having very little knowledge about Greek Mythology in general. There were a few names I recognized, but most of the characters were completely unknown to me. I spent a lot of time trying to piece together who was who and how they were connected, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it did lead to some confusion.

I enjoyed how the story was told in Clytemnestra’s Bind. I think the author did a good job of telling the story of Clytemnestra without bogging the reader down with an overwhelming amount of information. As someone who didn’t know anything about Clytemnestra, I was able to follow along fairly well.

I also loved the writing in Clytemnestra’s Bind. It was vivid, descriptive, and it flowed beautifully. The writing style really brought the story to life and some of the scenes really jumped off of the page. This was a bit of an issue with some of the more graphically violent scenes, but the writing made for an enjoyable read.

I really did not like any of the characters in this book, though I don’t think they were meant to be likable. Clytemnestra was a complicated character. She was caught in an impossible situation and I think the author did a great job illustrating this. While I felt sympathy for her, and my heart broke for her many times, I still wasn’t fond of her and some of the decisions she made, especially with how she sometimes treated her children.

While I didn’t really like the characters in this book, I did like how the relationship between the characters evolved throughout the story. Alliances and friendships were made and betrayed throughout the book. I liked how it was hard to know which characters could be trusted because it seemed like most everyone had their own agenda. I enjoyed the plotting even though I didn’t like how violent some of the outcomes were.

Speaking of violence, one of the things I disliked about this book was how violent and gruesome some of the scenes were. I’m not a fan of graphic violence and some of the scenes in Clytemnestra’s Bind made me want to put the book down and not return to it. The opening chapters were horrific and hard to get through. While I appreciated their purpose and they did provide some valuable insight into the characters, they were a sign that mythology might not be for me.

Overall, I think the author did a great job bringing Clytemnestra’s story to life but ultimately this book really wasn’t for me. I think this book is perfect for fans of Greek mythology, but I think that Greek mythology is just a tad bit too violent for my tastes.

Book source ~ TWR Tour

Queen Clytemnestra was ruling Mycenae with her husband Tantalus when a blood feud tears her world apart. At the mercy of her new husband, she is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Until she isn’t.

Wow. Greek mythology is pretty brutal, amirite? Clytemnestra may be Queen, but her life sucks. She had a pretty normal and loving childhood, but after marrying Tantalus, who is a decent husband, her life becomes a literal nightmare. Agamemnon is a total asshat in every way possible. Honestly, I would have just slowly poisoned him until he croaked. But that’s just me. This is a hard story to read. It is cruel and barbaric. I waffled between hating it and loving it. So it definitely brings the feels. Just be prepared to have your heart ripped out. That’s all I’m saying.

I always enjoy historical fiction when it’s written well and has a premise that instantly catches your attention. Susan C Wilson’s “Clytemnestra’s Bind” is a superb example of how engaging a book can be, especially when an obvious amount of intense research has been carried out. Together with excellent writing skills and a passion for Ancient Greece, this book with its exploration into what makes us human and a woman’s impenetrable bond with her children, made for an incredible debut read. This book is the first in the “House of Atreus” trilogy series and we hear Clytemnestra narrate her story from the beginning, with the brutal murder of her husband and baby son. I really liked her and my heart truly bled for the pain she suffered so many times. Strong, determined and a woman who deserves happiness, it was quite emotional to hear her most private thoughts and share the most indescribable moments a mother could endure.

As with all Greek mythology, it can be barbaric, coarse and viciously cruel and this re-telling is no exception. Parts really did hurt, as the descriptive writing sadly left nothing to the imagination but hearing about Helen and Paris of Troy, Achilles and the likes, kept me enthralled and I cant wait for the second book to be published.
#ClytemnestrasBind - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Captivating retelling of the story of Clytemnestra in Greek Mythology. This version of the story was told from the POV of Clytemnestra, with a heavier focus on motherhood and her love and protection over her children in her attempt to raise them away from the influence of her second husband, Agamemnon, who had destroyed her house, slaying her first husband and love, Tantalus, and her beloved child, Iphitus, overnight. The cover was what drew me in, but as soon as I read the first few pages, I was already hooked. The writing is spectacular and was one of the reasons I kept turning the pages. It was an emotional and brutal read and, knowing how the original story ends, I'm expecting more heartbreak in the following books, although this book was heartbreaking enough that I've cried a few times. Some scenes felt like my heart was ripped out and some scenes were utterly horrifying. 

Overall, a wonderful book. The writing was great, the characters were also very well written and the pacing and plot itself was fluid and smooth. This was a page turner and I felt myself flying. There were moments where I blink and I'm a good chunk of the way through. I'm very much eager for the next book.

At the beginning of Clytemnestra’s Bind by Susan C. Wilson, Queen Clytemnestra is happily married to King Tantalus of Mycenae. She has just given birth to their son, Iphitus.

Unfortunately, Agamemnon and Menelaus storm the castle in an effort to take over the throne of Mycenae. King Tantalus and the baby are killed. Agamemnon takes Clytemnestra as his wife.

Clytemnestra hates Agamemnon but she does her duty as the queen. They have three children together: Iphigenia, Elektra, and Orestes. She does her best as a mother but the king does not seem to notice his children. He’s not a decent person and doesn’t pretend otherwise.

The king’s foster brother, Aegisthus, comes back to Mycenae. He forms a friendship with Clytemnestra, which is sometimes her only solace. He wants to run away together but she wants to protect her children above all else.

When Agamemnon heads off to the Trojan War, he sacrifices his daughter, Iphigenia, to appease the gods. There is no wind for sailing and the fleet is desperate to get to Troy.

When Clytemnestra hears the news of Iphigenia’s death, she knows that she will never let Agamemnon rule again. She doesn’t even want him to breathe another breath. I believe her when she says that she won’t let him take another thing from her. She’s done with that jerk and no one can blame her.

In this retelling, I like her quite a bit. She has suffered more than anyone has a right to and she deserves to have justice or revenge.

Historically, Clytemnestra hasn’t always been well-liked. I don’t know why exactly. No one likes Agamemnon either. I’m not mad at her for falling in love with someone else. I’m not mad at her for taking over the throne. She’s a survivor. She doesn’t owe anyone an apology, not even her children.

If she did kill the king, then it is justified. Yes, killing is terrible but he killed two of her children. Plus, he’s a dumpster fire of a human being on a daily basis. If only there was a shirt that said, “Agamemnon is the worst.”

If you enjoy books about strong, female characters then this book will be perfect for you. Also, if you enjoy stories about Greek mythology, then this book is a fantastic retelling. I am 100% team Clytemnestra.

If you are a member of the Agamemnon fan club, then I’m sorry that you won’t find any books that show him in a good light.

This book left me wondering how anyone, going all the way back to Aeschylus in Ancient Greece, was ever able to present Agamemnon as anything other than a villain and grade A dickhead. Even before the whole daughter sacrifice for personal glory business, the guy was just an unbearable bully. But I digress.

This novel throws you into a very domestic, almost claustrophobic, version of Queen Clytemnestra's world. Wilson takes us on a journey where Clytemnestra's life is upended by Agamemnon. He's not just a conqueror here; he's a force that reshapes her entire existence. The way Wilson explores Clytemnestra's struggle to protect her children in the midst of this turmoil is both compelling and emotionally charged.

What's really intriguing about this book is its focus on Clytemnestra's children - Iphigenia, Elektra, and Orestes. Their development under such extraordinary circumstances adds layers to the narrative. The dynamics within the family, especially between Clytemnestra and her daughters, are portrayed with a depth that's both touching and at times, quite raw. In a lot of retellings, the children are reduced to pawns or simplified allegorical figures. Here they feel very real, which means sometimes they're being annoying bratty teens and you think "ugh, I wish someone WOULD sacrifice you to the gods already". Realistic.

Wilson's writing style is a blend of lyrical and vivid storytelling. She brings a new depth to Clytemnestra's character, allowing us to see her motivations and inner turmoil in a way that's rarely been explored in other retellings. Clytemnestra's Bind stands out for its unique angle on the Trojan War era, focusing more on personal and family dynamics than on the war itself. It's a refreshing take for anyone who enjoys mythology or historical fiction, especially those who appreciate stories of strong women facing challenging situations.

Thank you to Netgalley, Neem Tree Press & Susan C. Wilson for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Clytemnestra’s Bind is the first instalment in the House of Atreus trilogy and the debut of author Susan C. Wilson. Many stories have been written about Clytemnestra’s life, yet none have tackled this story from a different perspective or with a feminist lens. For a story so well-known, I did wonder whether this would really shine a new light on the story of Queen Clytemnestra.


Synopsis
Queen Clytemnestra's world shatters when Agamemnon, a rival to the throne of Mycenae, storms her palace, destroys her family and claims not only the throne but Clytemnestra herself. Tormented by her loss, she vows to do all she can to protect the children born from her unhappy marriage to Agamemnon. But when her husband casts his ruthless gaze towards the wealthy citadel of Troy, his ambitions threaten to once more destroy the family Clytemnestra loves.
_____

I feared this may fall into the typical trap of retellings where women are painted as victims with no voice, as opposed to focusing on the bonds and strength women possess. This story, on the other hand, did not become a victim of its own trope like so many others before it. Wilson has skilfully shifted the narrative from being a story of Clytemnestra, to Clytemnestra’s story. A story that only the Queen herself can tell.

Focusing on her relationship with her children, her marriage to Agamemnon and the horrors she experiences, we start early on in Clytemnestra’s life with her first marriage to King Tantalus. Warmth and contentment pour through the pages as Clytemnestra experiences life with a loving husband and a small baby. This happy bubble tragically bursts when as Agamemnon storms the city's walls murdering her husband and child. For me, this exploration of Clytemnestra truly humanises her; making her heartbreak and sorrow far more harrowing.

A mothers love
Clytemnestra’s children and her fierce love of them become the focal point of this story. We see an intriguing exploration of family dynamics, loyalty and childhood experiences which I felt were cleverly twisted together to create something meaningful. There were moments within these interactions which I felt resonated with me.

With the loss of her first born, an icy determination to protect her children at all costs, builds within Clytemnestra. Iphigenia, her eldest daughter, is unassuming, well-mannered and gentle. Her little sister Electra, is fiery and pushes the boundaries of what is expected of a young woman and yet Orestes, the heir to the throne, is their privileged yet somewhat lacking brother. The dynamic between the siblings is fractious and this rivalry and resentment stems from their relationships with their parents. Despite Clytemnestra’s unconditional love, her children are used as pawns and manipulation to control and restrict Clytemnestra. Wilson perfectly illustrates the dangerous balance between being a mother and a woman in this world.


A woman's place in a patriarchal society
Susan C. Wilson is able to equally portray the brutality of men against a backdrop of a womans’ pain all whilst shining a light on their own unique and immense power. Having had somewhat of an equal footing in her first marriage by supporting Tantalus with petitioners, Clytemnestra is what many women today would find relatable - offered a chair but yet not fully at the table. The scorn shown for women is difficult to stomach but tactfully portrayed. Clytemenstra has straddled two sides of this from respect to downright contempt and her difficulty navigating these waters to protect her children is very emotive. Another interesting portrayal of this was between Electra and Iphigenia. Electra and Iphigenia represent two very real expectations of women, even in modern times - In a man’s world, Electra suffers from wanting an active father and understanding ‘her place’ as a female. Whereas Iphigenia fulfils the expectations placed upon her and yet loses her life as she is seen as indispensable. Something which I felt Wilson was able to detail beautifully.

____

Susan C. Wilson has taken on one of the most well-known characters in Greek mythology and made this story utterly heartbreaking yet empowering at the same time. It is a wonderfully enthralling retelling of Queen Clytemnestra and one I would add to your tbr right away. A fantastic debut and it can only mean great things are yet to come.

Oh, wow! What a great debut novel, and what a great start to a new trilogy. Clytemnestra is normally remembered as vengeful, cold and heartless. What about her strength, her resilience, her love for her children? She persevered and made the best of a situation that was forced upon her at a time when women were treated by men as mere possessions. History and myth come alive in these pages, which I was glued to whenever I could carve some time out for myself in these busy pre-Christmas days! The author’s passion for ancient Greece clearly shines through!

This story is brutal and hard hitting, so much so that at times it can be hard to read. It's a book that shocks and disturbs the reader from the very beginning. There are scenes of horror and brutality and particularly violence against children, but it never felt gratuitous. It felt like it was there for a reason, and not just because it came from the Greek mythology that Clytemnestra's Bind draws upon, but because the actions of the characters have to be seen in the light of that brutality. What we're watching throughout this story is the lasting damage done by that violence.

There are a few powerful themes running throughout the narrative. One is vengeance. So much of the action and the story are driven by the characters' need for revenge. What I found fascinating about this was the way it was presented for Clytemnestra. For most of the characters, revenge is something they're obliged to seek to please the gods. The gods demand blood for blood, and there is an obligation on surviving family members to avenge their dead kin. It's different for Clytemnestra though. For her, the revenge she seeks isn't to satisfy the gods but to satisfy herself. Then as her circumstances change, so does her outlook, as protecting her new family becomes more important than avenging her old family. These competing priorities are fascinating to watch play out in her, as she feels the push and pull of different pressures, but always motivated by her family, and not the gods.

The gods do make their presence felt throughout the story too. Different characters feel them in different ways, but they're always powerful, unknowable forces that have to be appeased, but can be bargained with in different ways. I thought the Greek theology came across really well throughout. The gods are scary and fickle, but how much of that is people using them to justify their cruelty is left up to the reader to decide.

There are themes there too of motherhood, and of the different expectations and obligations placed upon a woman than a man. For all of her skill in negotiation and politics, Clytemnestra is expected to have no involvement in ruling with Agamemnon, and he is very clear that her place is raising their daughters. This is in sharp contrast to some of the other men in her life. And her ideas about motherhood, often in sharp contrast to Agamemnon's, are a powerful driving force for her. As well as the gender divide, there are also divides explored between rich and poor, and how much this impacts on the different genders. A poor woman is seen repeatedly, seeking help, and her powerlessness in some ways reflects that of Clytemnestra's, but in other ways she serves to show how much more power the queen has in comparison to a peasant. Clytemnestra sees similarities between them, however different their relative positions are.

The story ends at a very exciting point. Students of Greek mythology may know what is coming next, and it feels like there's potential for a lot more in this series.

Clytemnestra's Bind is a powerful, thoughtful and harrowing depiction of a really intriguing figure from Greek mythology, helping us to see her motivations and see her in something of a sympathetic light. It is brutal, heart breaking at times, but all the better for that.

#Blogtour stop

Clytemnestra’s Bind by Susan C Wilson

Thank you @thewritereads and @neemtreepress for having me along.

You know me, I love me a bit of ancient world historical fiction. Clytemnestra’s Bind is the debut novel by Susan C Wilson and the first in a trilogy titled The House of Atreus.

I’m sure most people at this stage are familiar with Aeschylus character of Clytemnestra as she has become somewhat of an embodiment for female revenge, murdering her horrendous husband Agamemnon as he bathes on his return from sacking the City of Troy.

What’s really interesting, certainly in this first instalment of the trilogy, is how the author has focused our gaze at the family unit and in particular the early-years of Iphigenia, Electra and Orestes, the children of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. How their childhood experiences, the relationship with their parents and the wider subjects of the Kingdom of Mycenae, the dynamics within their own little subdivision and feelings towards their own set of circumstances, have all shaped their beliefs. It was a great tool to help visualise why these children develop into who they will become later on, an aspect I’m sure we’ll see more of in the books that follow. The pace was fast and lively, the writing was good with great characterisation of time and place, and overall I found the plot satisfying.

Do you need to be familiar with Aeschylus The Orestia to enjoy this, absolutely not and that’s what’s exciting about these Greek retellings. Yes the story adds, let say, artistic flare, to some parts of the mythology, but I say why not. This is fiction, not academics, and as always, I’m a big champion for anyone who takes stories that were written to entertain, to teach people about human behaviour, and reshapes them for the modern reader of creative writing.

I’m excited to see where Susan C Willson takes these characters and what’s to come for the cursed House of Atreus.

Book one in The House of Atreus Series and whilst I haven’t read a lot of Greek mythology retellings this was one of my favourites. From the start it was action packed although there was some very upsetting brutality early on in the book. It opens with the terrible deaths of young Queen Clytemnestra's husband Tantalus and son Iphitus at the hands of their cousin Agamemnon. Told from Clytemnestra’s POV and retrospectively as she looks back over her life.

Briefly, Clytemnestra is forced to marry the now King Agamemnon of Mycenae and whilst she hates him with a passion they have two daughters, Iphigenia, Elektra and then a son Orestes. Whilst Clytemnestra loves her children deeply and determines to do her best for them their father shows no interest in his daughters but is immediately besotted by his son. Closest to her eldest daughter her relationship with her two other children is made difficult as they both vie for their fathers attention and approval.

I know it’s myth but it’s just heartbreaking how women and children were treated in those times. There are few likeable characters, although the most vile were Agamemnon and Electra, and it’s easy to see why women like Clytemnestra were inclined to act the way they do. It’s a cruel and dangerous life. I enjoyed the bond between Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, born of their feelings of hate towards Agamemnon and their treatment by him. This was an exciting, troubling but very compelling read which started in a shocking manner and ended in a similar vein, leading nicely to book 2.

In my last review, I shared how I was starting to feel a bit burnt out from Greek myth retellings so I was extremely cautious when starting this book, especially since it hadn't been that long since I read another retelling of Clytemnestra's story. I worried for nothing though, because Clytemnestra's Bind had me completely hooked right from the start.

My husband is waging war overseas. How natural it feels to rule in his place, instead of listening from the shadows while he decides our destinies. When he returns, I'll arrange a celebration feast. He will not attend it.

This retelling started a lot earlier in Clytemnestra's story than I was expecting, all the way back to her first marriage with Tantalus, just before Agamemnon took everything from her - including Clytemnestra herself. What follows is a deep, painful and harrowing account of the life of this queen, forced to live with the killer of her husband and son, torn between her duty to avenge the dead and the one to protect her new living children.

I really appreciated the time the author took to explore Clytemnestra's character (who is also our narrator) and the build-up to the terrible events we all know, rather than simply retelling the exact same story. Her grief and multiple traumas are explored in great detail and really help to understand her feelings towards her children, and the sometimes tormented relationships she had with them. Her hatred towards Agamemnon honestly needs no further explanation, yet we are shown time and again just how horrible and misogynistic he could be.

The exploration and unveiling of the pervasive patriarchy in this society is something I particularly liked, especially in relation to Clytemnestra's own gradual awareness of it. Initially, she feels trapped in her role as wife and mother, hoping that by conforming to her husband's and the rest of society's expectations she might finally find the peace she longs for. And yet, this keeps eluding her and she slowly realises that it doesn't really matter what she does, because as a woman she will always be seen as inferior, an object to be used and discarded at will by the men in her life.

She might be a poor farm wife and I a queen, but our similarities weren't lost on me. We were pieces on a gaming board to be claimed, manoeuvred, and discarded by men. Rich or poor, famous or obscure, men made the rules that ordered our lives, and they broke them. She and I were women.

Clytemnestra's resilience and her mistakes, her slow growth into the powerful and vengeful queen we were told of in the past all contributed to making her a well-rounded and fully developed character, one that I had been longing for in recent myth retellings. I also appreciated the time spent with other often-overlooked characters such as Aegistus, as their relationship slowly developed realistically and organically, and Clytemnestra's children, with the seeds of future tragedy being planted and foreshadowed throughout.

Despite knowing the story fairly well, I kept turning the pages to see what might happen next and desperately hoping for a miracle. This is a testament to the author's talent in weaving a compelling story from a well-known tale and her gorgeous writing, holding me captive well into the night and thinking about the moment I could pick this up again during the day. I am really curious to see what she will do with the rest of the story to continue the saga.

This book also includes a very handy character list, which I expect would be really helpful to anyone who is not familiar with Greek myths and their many, many characters. Also, be mindful that this does get pretty brutal at times, so make sure to check the trigger warnings first.

Overall, this is one of the best Greek myth retellings I have read so far. Definitely one not to miss if you like the genre or even if you enjoy stories about powerful women in historical settings.

Clytemnestra’s Bind by Susan C Wilson is a beautifully written Historical Fiction novel about the story of Clytemnestra and her life as the Queen to Agamemnon’s rule over Mycenae in Ancient Greece.

Wilson’s telling of the trials and tribulations that Queen Clytemnestra survives is emotional and inspiring! The writing so imaginative, it makes it nearly impossible to not read in one sitting. The characters are all well depicted, so that the reader can easily follow along and not have to flip between the pages of the story and the character guides.

As far as historical fiction goes for the time period of Ancient Greece, this was incredibly enjoyable and fairly accurate. Definitely a book I’d recommend to the readers who love Greek Mythology and History.