Here we have a retelling of Hera's story, wife of Zeus and queen of the greek gods. I love these re-imaginings of ancient greek myths and legends.

What I liked about this novel: you are fully immersed in Hera's story. Her actions at times are questionable but in a sense, understandable. She herself is abused, mostly by Zeus and you do feel for her,

What I wasn't so sure about: It took me a long time to settle into this story and I never fully related to Hera in the way I have done with other retellings. I'm not sure why but perhaps the formality of the language didn't help.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC, 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Just because they say it doesn’t mean it’s true. In this retelling, Hera, the vengeful stepmother and jealous wife has been given depth to her character and Jennifer Sant has given the reader the opportunity to see Hera’s point of view.

The narrative unfolds with an exploration of Hera's formative years and her pivotal contribution to Zeus's successful revolt against their despotic father, Cronos. As they ascend to power on Mount Olympus, Hera's aspirations to co-rule with Zeus are swiftly eclipsed by his betrayals and despotic behaviour, reflecting the oppressive nature of the ruler they overthrew. This conflict ignites Hera's personal battle and underscores the book's main motif: the pursuit of authority and the consequent sacrifices.

Jennifer Saint presents Hera in a complex light; she is simultaneously wrathful and merciful, a sovereign with immense power and a spurned woman. The story probes deep into Hera's mind, shedding light on her drives and the rationale behind her actions, which are often misinterpreted. Saint embraces the more sombre facets of Hera's persona, using them to underscore her fortitude and tenacity.
Saint's prose is poetic and captivating, drawing readers into the vivid realm of Greek mythology. Her profound understanding of the lore is apparent, yet she conveys it in a manner that is both approachable and intriguing. The book transcends a mere recounting of tales; it scrutinizes ancient legends through contemporary eyes, challenging traditional gender roles and the essence of dominion.

In essence, "Hera" is an intellectually stimulating and perceptive work that presents a novel viewpoint on a time-honoured narrative. It stands as a tribute to Saint's narrative prowess and her knack for infusing age-old stories with newfound vitality. Boasting intricate characters and substantial thematic depth, "Hera" promises to leave a lasting impression on its audience.

Hera is a complex portrayal of a woman raging against her place in the world. It's visceral, angry, and raw. Whilst the reader might not agree with all of her choices, they can understand her motives. Trauma and abuse at the hands of men compel Hera to lash out but at least she's always fighting for herself and her right to live her life how she would like. This book felt like a farewell to the Greek mythology the author has focused on for a few years now and the poignant final part is a definite change of pace.

Thank you for providing me with an ARC copy of both the E-book and the audiobook of Hera.

This was a really engaging retelling of the story of Hera. This retelling highlights Hera before, during and after Zeus and the impact that a number of Gods, Demi-gods, and monsters had on her. This is something often overlooked in other retellings. Most stories of Hers focus on her vengeance and attacks on other lovers and victims of Zeus and whilst this remains part of this story, I loved that we got to know Hera before marrying Zeus and the threats and actions she faced if she wouldn’t go through with the marriage. It allowed the reader to get more of an understanding of Hera and why she acted in the way she did. Of course Hera still focused on the punishment of other women rather than Zeus for his actions and often engaged in mistreatment of the children who resulted from these relationships. However, Jennifer Saint also skilfully demonstrated Hera’s growth and focused on her realisation that Zeus’ behaviours were his own and her acceptance and understanding of the impact of the Gods on humans and each other. Although, this book doesn’t aim to redeem Hera for her wrongful actions, it does show her as someone dealing with raw and human emotions including hurt, abandonment, and betrayal, without taking away from the impact her actions had on others but whilst providing an understanding of why her feelings and actions were misdirected.

I enjoyed that this was a story about Hera but that many other monsters, Gods etc. featured in and were interwoven into the story. It also helped me to link together other retellings and stories I have previously read from Greek mythology which helped my understanding. I loved the character growth Hera had and that her story could be shared rather than overlooked or overshadowed and that the Greek Gods are acknowledged to have faults and make mistakes just as humans do.

I did enjoy reading the E-book more than listening to the audiobook in this case as sometimes it was narrated without much emotion or change in tone of voice to show the feelings of Hera and other Gods. There were also some different pronunciations which were a little off putting. However, the audiobook did pick up more towards the end, I just would have liked to have seen it get across the emotional aspect of the story as clearly as the writing did.

Jennifer Saint's newest release is a stunning feminist retelling of the life of Hera, mighty queen of the gods and the immortal goddess of marriage. In Hera, Saint gives a voice to a character who has forever been part of Greek myth but has often been passed over and left in the shadow of the other gods, and whose characterisation has historically been dwindled to that of a jealous, scorned wife. In this newest retelling, the author continues her mission in spotlighting women who have been neglected their entire lives and have had their ambitions disregarded. Saint's signature prose in this story is beautiful and I found myself re-reading lines over and over again to savour each word. Despite covering a vast timeline, the pacing remained consistent and kept me hooked. Hera is perfect for fans of Greek mythology and lovers of well-crafted feminist retellings.

A classic retelling of the myth of the queen of the Greek gods, Hera, by bestseller Jennifer Saint, A well-written and nuanced portrait of a goddess who is often perceived to victim blame and excuse her husband’s crimes. An enjoyable read even if the book barely passes the Bechdel test and Hera is hardly defined as a woman beyond her relationship with Zeus.

I found this book so gripping throughout and it felt like a very refreshing take on classic Greek mythology as Hera is often one of the least spoken about gods/goddesses. This book felt like a very well balanced view of Hera, combining her usual portrayal as Zeus’ jealous wife with a more in-depth retelling of how she went from being the daughter of the Titans to the Queen of the Olympians.
Saint cleverly spun the normal stories of Hera to instead show her as a much more nuanced woman with strong feminist ideals which created a very deep sense of character. At the same time I think she also captured the sense of Hera being bitter and somewhat unlikeable whilst still showing her compassion and desire for a better world; this just made me enjoy the book even more as it felt like Saint took the original mythology from Hera’s perspective as if we just seeing the other side to the original stories, rather than it being a complete rewrite of things to make Hera’s personality more palatable. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it’s retelling of an often-vilified goddess as it presented a well thought out feminist look at Hera, without seeming to stray too far from the original myths.

Saint's narrative highlights Hera's evolution from a carefree deity to a scorned wife grappling with subjugation and betrayal, providing readers with a more nuanced understanding of her character. In my view, I have a penchant for narratives featuring robust, unlikable female characters, yet while I found "Hera" enjoyable, I sensed a dearth of emotional depth and connection with the protagonist. These type of characters were much better executed in ‘Clytemnestra’ or ‘Lady Macbethad’, where they exude a palpable complexity that resonates with me on a deeper level. Moreover, "Hera" primarily revolves around retelling various Greek myths from Hera's perspective, spanning the entire timeline of her experiences. However, in sprawling epics such as this, the intricate layers of character development often become diluted, and unfortunately, I felt that this was the case here.

Despite its occasional shortcomings, "Hera" remains a thought-provoking exploration of power dynamics, gender inequality, and the enduring impact of betrayal. Through Hera's story, Saint challenges readers to confront the injustices perpetuated by the patriarchy and to empathize with those who have been marginalized and silenced. While some scene transitions may feel disjointed, Saint's third-person narration is emotionally evocative and lyrical, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the world of Greek mythology.

Overall, "Hera" is a captivating read for both Greek mythology enthusiasts and newcomers alike. It offers a fresh perspective on a complex deity and prompts readers to reconsider their preconceived notions of heroism and villainy in ancient mythological narratives. Despite its flaws, "Hera" is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling to challenge societal norms and amplify the voices of those who have been marginalized throughout history.

Having previously delved into Jennifer Saint's works with "Ariadne," "Atalanta," and "Elektra," I approached "Hera" with eager anticipation. However, upon completing the journey through this retelling of Greek mythology, I must admit that it fell short of my expectations. While I appreciated the exploration of Hera's character and the weaving together of various myths from her perspective, it didn't captivate me in the same way as Saint's other works did. "Hera" ended up being my least favourite among the four, as I found myself longing for the emotional depth and connection that I had experienced with "Ariadne," "Atalanta," and "Elektra."

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the e-arc of ‘Hera’.

I'm a Greek myth girlie. It started with Percy Jackson as a kid and I have never looked back. This era of grown-up, female-led myth retellings is absolutely up my street. But something about Hera just didn't connect with me.

I loved Ariadne but I feel like in aiming to tell Hera's story in its entirety (covering literally hundreds of years), each myth wasn't explored in as rich a detail as I'd hoped. This could easily have been about three books (and I would have read them all!)

I'm still glad I have read it but I hope that Jennifer Saint's next choice of heroine will allow her the space to fully explore the gaps the traditional tellings of the myths omit, which she has done so brilliantly before.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Audio | Wildfire for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Saint has well and truly done it again, another incredible feminist retelling under her belt. I absolutely adored the characters, and they were all so strongly developed. This book told so many stories intertwined and it was truly beautiful to read.

thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

jennifer saint’s writing is always beautiful and her feminist retellings are always brilliantly executed.

i’ve never read from hera’s pov, or knew much about her other than she was the goddess of marriage and zeus’ wife. this book explores hera from the rise of the gods to the fall of the gods, and it was super interesting.

zeus is the absolute Worst. most of the male gods are fucking awful and commit horrific acts but zeus goes a step further, and hera shows us this as he changes from powerful brother to tyrannical husband.

i really liked learning more about hestia, god of the hearth and fire (hera’s sister), and also more about hephaestus (hera’s son). i think hera’s relationships with her siblings and children were really interesting to read about, as she clung on to them for revenge and power against zeus and what she believed she was owed as one of cronus’ original kids.

i think this was a really interesting read, and if it wasn’t for the weird pacing in the first 25% this may have been rated higher!

This latest feminine retelling was probably not aimed at me. I've read quite a lot of Greek myth - both the original stories and the new feminine retellings - most of which have been really excellent.

I'd say that this is aimed at someone who has read little on the subject. It certainly adds very little to the party, as it were.

We follow Hera's life from birth to a point where the gods are out in the world rather than on Mount Olympus. The stories are pretty much as the original texts with a few twists regarding Hera's state of mind as she took revenge on various nymphs, mortals and goddesses for Zeus' infractions.

I'd hoped that we'd see a totally different Hera but we get a petty, frustrated woman who can't get even. At least in the earlier tellings we were given a woman who (even though she always picked the wrong party) was pretty spectacular in her punishment. Let's face it, trying to get even with the ultimate ruler, you're always going to come off second.

I just felt Jennifer Saint has missed a trick. I felt that Hera was a much paler version of her original self and she came out looking even less of a feminist.

I listened to the audio version and there lay another problem since the narrator insisted on changing virtually every pronunciation. I am still convinced that there is now a new goddess called Hair Bear. It drove me potty. It wasn't even the Greek pronunciation. If I hadn't had the printed version to refer to I'd probably never know it was Hebe or which other gods were there.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Headline for the advance review copies - both audio and ebook.

Hera Is a story about a woman trying to claim the power she is owed by any means necessary.
It was interesting that Jennifer Saint chose to take the perspective of the gods themselves when previously she has focused on mortals and it worked.
As usual the writing was beautiful
Hera was quite an unlikeable main character but her character growth was good.

Hera is portrayed in this book in a different way to normal. It follows through after the demise of Zeus which makes a refreshing change.

A lot of characters to get your head around especially if you do not know anything about Greek mythology. Hera came across as a strong woman, that was held back by her brother husband Zeus. The mighty powerful one. But she was cunning to say the least to get rid of his offspring.

The way her children were left out of the Gods position whilst Zeus offspring took over, was at the end sorted out.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

HERA is a tale of the capricious gods who sow the seeds of their own destruction.

Unlike Jennifer Saint's other novels, HERA does not follow a mortal tangled in the schemes of gods and the cruel men they favour. This is instead a tale of the gods (though the male gods are certainly still cruel and selfish.) This means the tale does not focus on a certain event, a single myth the heart of the retelling, but rather weaves many of them together into a tale of fighting for power and change.

Hera is an unlikeable main character, as grasping for power as the men around her, full of vengeance and cruelty. She is powerful but afraid, lashing out in fear, plotting to hurt those who Zeus seduces because she can't revenge on him. It made for an interesting main character to follow because you don't agree with her but understand the flaw at her centre.

The ending was the part I enjoyed most, following the story to a place Greek mythology retellings rarely go. The story of Hera in the myths doesn't come with a triumphant victory, some way she triumphs in the end. Jennifer Saint finds a way to bring a closure around the idea of power, using a hollow victory that challenges Hera's world view. It's very satisfying to see it all crumble around the gods and who is able to find a way to survive.

Naomi Frederick narrates. I liked how stately it was, reflecting the queenly aspect of Hera. It was also interesting to hear the names of the Greek gods, different to the ones I'm probably pronouncing wrong.

Lots of thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC.
I received this on my birthday, and what a present it has been! Not going to lie, I was quite apprehensive before reading this, given that it concerns one of the mythological figures I'm most interested in (one that also happens to be quite controversial) and I was wary about how she and the events she is involved in would be portrayed, but I was very pleasantly surprised.
I was so engrossed in the story that I finished it in one evening, simply couldn't stop reading. I might not have loved every interpretation, there were myths I'd have liked to see and I'm not really sure how I feel about the last part of the book, but I'm quite happy with Hera's characterisation and overall this has to be the author's best book so far and one of my favourite retellings of all time. It keeps true to the source material for the most part while adding inner lives for the characters and bringing forth the complexity that many people ignore, which is precisely what I'm looking for in a Greek mythology retelling.

Hera by Jennifer Saint

Thank you for the opportunity to review this ARC! All views are my own.

Favourite Quote: "A world under the rule of benevolent goddesses, instead of power-hungry gods."

I absolutely love seeing more stories being told from women’s perspectives within the Greek mythology genre. Seeing the story from Hera’s perspective was intriguing, yet a first-person point of view would have made it more relatable and engrossing.I understand that was a purposeful creative choice, but the third-person point of view made it difficult for me to connect with Hera's character, and her thoughts and feelings seemed distant. I also recognise that gods are meant to have a different perception of time compared to mortals, however, the sense of time in the book felt a bit sporadic.

Even though I could not relate to Hera’s character, this retelling provided a deeper understanding of her actions and the motifs behind them. The most engaging part was her interactions with Ekhidna. I also adored her gentle friendship with Hestia as well as her complex relationship with Athena.

It is still unclear to me if Hera has truly obtained her peace and where she ended up settling. She did not seem to belong in the mortal world, as she was never invested in their realm until the very end. She also did not seem to enjoy her time in Olympus. Overall, I wish the ending uncovered more of her thoughts and desires, since, at times, they were conflicting. I also craved a more developed ending between her and Zeus since it felt slightly abrupt. There was a potential to see her grow within her role as a protector of women. I wish we saw her embodying her power by helping women and relating to their pain. Considering she went through a lot of traumatic stuff in her marriage, she could have tried to empower others and help stop the cycles of abuse. Instead, she was very distant towards all the women, both mortal and divine. Ultimately, it is a good retelling, which reveals a different side to one of the most misunderstood goddesses - Hera.

As guessed by the title, the book is about Hera, the Queen of Mount Olympus and her life.

The book is well written and really gives insight to the way Hera acts and why she acts that way. In all fairness I feel sorry for her, she’s misunderstood. The book was a little slow in places but overall it’s a well researched book with a captivating story.

If you’re a fan of Greek mythology this book is for you, just keep in mind there are a lot of triggers in this book, the same as most Greek mythology stories.

And finally, my favourite quote from the book which did make me smile - “What are men, but creations of Zeus that should never have existed”

Thank you NetGalley, Jennifer Saint and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book

Unfortunately I found it a struggle to finish this book..

I love Greek Mythology and was delighted to receive this as an ARC to review, with that being said I found it hard to gel with the character of Hera. Which I suspected I might with Hera being portrayed as a woman who seeks revenge on her husband.

I struggled with the last 45% and wasn't inclined to pick it up which is unusual for me as I'm an avid reader - especially that of fantasy/retellings and mythology. The book jumps around a lot and felt more short story based - which I feel if this was the plan it should have gripped me from the first few pages.

I did however love finding out about the Chimera etc but I struggled finding a character to 'root' for and feel sympathy for any of the characters.

Unfortunately I would say it's not a book for me, but I do have Elektra at home and will be giving that a read!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review!

Jennifer Saint continues to write beautiful stories, even if they support womens wrongs. I loved how we got to see the motivation behind Hera's vindictive behaviour (which pretty much entirely resolves around her getting shafted by Zeus) mixed in with her softer side, woveni n with her relationships to other gods, and even though we got snippets of their stories it was never overwhelming or confusing. Jennifer Saint has gorgeous prose and her stories are always so well paced, lasting years and years but never feeling rushed or dragged out, and I will continue to read everything she writes!