Who is Hera? Goddess of marriage and childbirth, Queen of the Olympians, and the woman scorned who unfairly punished those who were preyed on by her almighty husband Zeus - right?

Think again! Prepare for all your preconceived notions about Hera to be shattered in this stunning feminist retelling.

This is the absolute dream novel for a lover of Greek mythology. You could have a bingo card of all of the most famous (and infamous) stories - so many are incorporated into this novel, in a very subtle and seamless manner.

Saint's characterisation of Hera is masterful. The tone is set perfectly from the very first chapter, as she calmly steps through a bloody battlefield. She is highly motivated throughout the novel and as such, I was absolutely hooked. I particularly loved how she interacted with the other gods and goddesses, especially her sisters. This novel doesn't shy away from the highly incestuous nature of the Olympians, which leads to a charged and fascinating dynamic between all of the characters here.

I've read Saint's previous novels, 'Ariadne' and 'Elektra', with a hard copy of 'Atalanta' in my literal to-read pile, and it's safe to say that with her latest wonderful venture, I will continue to eagerly seek out her work!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Headline for the ARC!

Hera has never been my favourite of the Olympians, but when JS announced the subject of her next book I was intrigued. Hera is typically depicted as spiteful and selfish, punishing the women Zeus is involved with, often against their will. JS did a fantastic job of delving into the many layers of Hera and it has certainly helped me to view her stories differently. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to JS's next book!

Unfortunately, Hera was not for me. I did not click with Hera and the third person present writing style was not for me. Especially given the mythology context.

Although, I've been reading more books based on mythology recently they tend to be a bit hit or miss for me but may be good read for fans of Circe or Saint's previous novels.

(I have added Content Warnings to the end of my review, for those who find them helpful, so be warned there may be minor spoilers at the end)

Jennifer Saint has accomplished the impossible – she has turned the irredeemably cruel Hera into a symbol for hurt & mistreated women fighting for freedom from oppressive and violent patriarchy. It is a true testament to Saint’s incredible abilities as an insightful and compelling storyteller that, time and time again, she is able to champion these mythological figures and finally do their stories justice.

Now, let’s not go overboard here: as anyone who knows even just the basics of Greek mythology is already aware, Hera torments and sometimes kills innocent women & children whose only ‘crimes’ were being the playthings of the Gods (especially Zeus). She still has the trademark narcissism and capriciousness of many Olympic deities, and she seems incapable of identifying (or maybe just incapable of caring?) when she is perpetrating the exact same injustices on other women that she has suffered herself.

Suffice it to say, this story hits differently than Saint’s previous books, especially Ariadne and Elektra…

However, the author does an incredible job of tying *so many* different stories from Greek mythology together to collate major events in Hera’s life (and events in Greek mythology in general) into one overarching narrative. That is no easy feat, but the story we’re presented with flows extremely well, and provides very thought-provoking context for some of Hera’s decisions and the ways in which she changes over time. Saint is a born storyteller, and shares some hard-hitting perspectives that draw out the deeper meaning in some of Hera’s most notorious relationships and punishments. She has a way with words, describing both the beautiful and the monstrous in very creative and poignant detail.

There is so much more I want to say (especially to highlight some of the specific jaw-droppingly astute interpretations that Saint has added to her telling of these stories), and there are so many moving lines that I want to quote from this book! However, I will refrain from both, to avoid any spoilers given this book hasn’t been published yet – on which note, my eternal thanks to NetGalley and Headline Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**I will now provide some Content Warnings for those who find them helpful, so reader beware, here there be spoilers**

Content Warnings:

- Ableism
- Bereavement (including loss of a child)
- Child abuse, endangerment, neglect and murder – including toxic parent-child relationships
- Forced marriage (multiple instances)
- Misogyny (throughout)
- Psychosis including violent outburst
- Sexual assault, rape and victim-blaming (multiple instances – just *so many* instances)
- War (multiple)

Hera might be the best one yet. There is something so magical in how Saint spins stories. Hera is known for being the worst, let’s be honest. But Saint forces the reader to see that Hera is a victim of abuse and while that does not condone her toxic behaviour, it does force you to see how she came to be.

Honestly, never thought I’d feel compassion towards Hera but I did.

In every book captures the uniqueness and complex knot that is sisterhood. I adore how she captures it, it’s always so raw and tender!!

I was so excited to get Saint’s new novel early and it did not disappoint. This is my favourite of her work so far by a long shot, it warped my perception of such a prominent character in a lot of feminist greek myth retellings I’ve read so dramatically and in such a devastating way. Not only that, but to get such a detailed description of ancient Athens as it would have been when the Dionysia was occurring through Saint’s reimagined prose was an absolute treat.
Overall I loved this book, the weaving of so many different myths together to fit Hera’s narrative is exceptionally clever and captivating. A perfect 5* book for me!

I love mythology retellings and Jennifer Saints are amazing. This may be my favourite of hers if not joint first with Atalanta. I don't think I've ever read about an Olympian, and it was amazing to feel the grandness of the scale whilst getting a good grasp into Hera's character and aspects of her humanity. It must be incredibly hard to find a satisfactory ending to a story like this, but I think this was done well, and I really enjoyed it! I'd recommend this story to all mythology lovers, I loved it 🥰🦚

3 stars

This was a me issue rather than a book issue - this is written much more in a short story format, as makes sense with the way the information on Hera has been recorded throughout history. I don't mesh well with short stories so this just wasn't a wow book for me.
HOWEVER, as always Saint packs so. much. emotion into her writing, and her words have this flow to them that makes them so so readable and consuming. You feel everything Hera feels right along with her, from beginning to end. And it was so refreshing to see Hera written as something other than an outrageously jealous spouse - to see her as warrior and mother and an individual.

The story of Hera, Queen of the Olympians and goddess of marriage, from the war against the Titans through to the rise of mortals; and it was a really interesting character arc. From reading the Greek myths over the years, I expected not to like Hera very much - it always annoyed me that she attacked the women Zeus 'seduced', rather than maybe doing something about her husband's behaviour. Here, there's a bit more explanation, and the male entitlement really made me wince. I still found Hera's behaviour difficult in places (particularly in the way she treated Hephaestus), but Jennifer Saint does a good job in showing how lonely Hera is, and how she's been manoeuvred from equal partner to being sidelined. Her anger and frustration is evident (but she definitely trusted the wrong gods/goddesses).

There were elements of the mythology I hadn't come across before, which I really enjoyed.

I also liked how Hera changed. It took her almost eternity - but the last confrontation between Hera and Zeus was excellent and really showed the difference between them. The ending (no spoilers!!) was very satisfying :)

What a gorgeous book! The author has a great gift for characterisation - nuanced, interesting, believable people.
Well worth a read!

This is my favourite Jennifer Saint book to date.

I've been doing a university module on classical retellings, and it's definitely made me appreciate just how much life a novelization can bring to the overlooked women of Greek myth - and this is no exception.

Having read all of Saint's previous work, I was curious to see how things would change when she was writing about a goddess, rather than a mortal - and if anything, I enjoyed this even more.

Saint's Hera draws on the complexity of her myths - her status as a queen, wife, and mother, and how she can fit this with her own sense of self. Different myths are drawn in from across the canon, and as a classicist, it was really fun to see how she built on and subverted some of them, without relying on the reader to have studied them before. My only complaint would be that there are a few myths I wish had been in there too!

The world of the Greek gods she builds is rich and complicated, and she's clearly considered the effects of immortality on the minds and morals of these timeless beings. I particularly enjoyed her chatacterisation of Athena and Hestia (but then again, I've always had a soft spot for Hestia!)

There's so much I want to say about this book - about how I absolutely tore through it when I had plenty of other things that needed doing, and that ending - but I'm trying to fight the urge to spoil it. If you're looking for a new mythology fix, this is definitely worth a try.

Books with similar vibes - Atalanta by Jennifer Saint, Circe by Madeline Miller, Winter Harvest by Ioanna Papadopoulou, Clytemnestra by Constanza Casati, and The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood.

I was very excited to read this retelling of Hera by Jennifer Saint and it didn’t disappoint! Unlike the very black and white image of the jealous, vengeful Olympian queen we’ve been given previously, Jennifer Saint explores the psyche of a woman repeatedly scorned and humiliated by Zeus over thousands of years of immortality, and what happens when she eventually reaches her limit. I found this book to be character driven, philosophical and beautifully written. It really swept me into life on Mount Olympus and the various events and relationships from Greek mythology told from a fresh lens. For a full review see my Instagram account.

Hera is another beautiful feminist retelling by Jennifer Saint. Dare I say, maybe her best one yet.

Jennifer breathes life back into Hera Queen of Olympus as we have never seen her before. So often in Mythology the goddesses are portrayed as vengeful and cruel and petty and Hera is no exception - I love how we are given an intimate look into her psyche and fresh perspective into her character.

Hera's background as a wife, mother and grandmother is explored in this compulsive and engaging tale. All Hera endured evoked much empathy in me and nearly brought me to tears in both rage and sadness in parts.

Jennifers writing is just lyrical and a joy to read - you don't need to be overly familiar with the mythology surrounding Hera to enjoy and understand her story. I was totally gripped by this wonderful retelling and transported away into the relms of Ancient Greece once again.

Highly recommended. I adored this book.

The first book i have read of Jennifer saint and I absolutely loved it I rated this 4 stars. For a more in depth review check out my tiktok review on the book

wowww that was beautiful and impactful. i was curious what the author was going to do re: hera’s tendency towards cruelty with the women zeus cheated with/straight up assaulted, and she definitely felt a lot more likeable than i expected (but not an overall likeable character). adored the ending and the exploration of how the gods began to stop being as important to humans. would absolutely recommend.

This is the story of hera the venegful queen of anxient Greece. She is the wife of Zeus and it was nice.to read a story from her point of view. It also gives a fresh perspective on the story. It was good to see the greek legends through heras eyes.

A powerful retelling on Hera, vengeful queen of the gods and wife of tyrannical Zeus. I haven’t read much focused on Hera before and I adore Jennifer Saint’s writing so I was very happy to read this new novel!

As with Saint’s other novels, this one gives us a new perspective on Hera’s story. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the legends we know so well through Hera’s point of view. Saint manages to lay bare Hera’s flaws and weaknesses, including her jealousy and power grabs, but in a way where we understand her motives. The injustices and trials she faces were so frustrating to read but the ending was satisfying and quite moving. Saint’s writing was as lyrical and beautiful as always and draws you in to the world of the gods.

This feminist retelling of Hera, Queen of Mount Olympus, Goddess of Marriage and Wife of Zeus, is a beautifully written look at one of the most misunderstood and complex female characters in Greek mythology.

Historically, Hera has been depicted as a jealous wife and cruel stepmother. In this book, Saint provides a new perspective, showcasing the other sides of Hera, a goddess who is also compassionate and powerful, and who was mistreated and wronged by those around her.

I think this book is incredibly powerful, engaging and thought-provoking, as all of Saint’s retellings are. It’s now up there as one of my favourites of hers, after Atalanta which does still just about have the top spot!

If you’re a fan of Greek mythology, this is one you absolutely must have on your radar.

𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚊 𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠

𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ★★★★★
𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎: ☆☆☆☆☆

“𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗’𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚒𝚝’𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚗”

When the immortal goddess Hera and her brother Zeus overthrow their tyrannical father, she dreams of ruling at his side. But as they establish their reign on Mount Olympus, Hera begins to see that Zeus is just as ruthless and cruel as the father they betrayed.

When it comes to Greek mythology retellings, Jennifer Saint is one of my holy grails and yet again she does not disappoint.

While typically one-note and villainised throughout Greek mythology, Saint illustrates Hera as a goddess fuelled by grief, loss, love, hope, and pure female rage. While not watered down or veering away from the mythology, you’re drawn to Hera’s reasoning and drive - a rich and deeply tortured woman who never asked or wanted the life she was forced into. There was no glorification of Hera’s choices, but ultimately an understanding.

Saint is a master of weaving historical events and mythology into her retellings, and bringing them to life not just for the goddess the story is focused on, but the humans and everything that event touches. The lore around the Titans and the patriarchy of Mount Olympus was explained beautifully, without feeling like I had to memorise a history lesson.

While there were slow parts of the book, I found the pacing overall really had me gripped. I found myself constantly looking for a spare 5 minutes to dive back into this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline Publishing for providing a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Loved this book. Hera’s isn’t a story that’s commonly told (or re-told) and it was refreshing to read this. Well-written and engaging throughout. Would definitely recommend.