Another great adventure of a Greek Goddess by Jennifer Saint. If you like history based stories then this is for you. Can’t wait what the next work will be.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

"Hera" offers an interesting perspective on Hera and her role as Queen of the Gods, but I felt like the characterization wasn't really deep enough to really make me care. The ending also didn't really work for me.

Throughout all Greek fiction, Hera is typically depicted as a jealous, spiteful and enraged Goddess who directs her wrath for Zeus at everyone else. While, Saint's work also depicts the Goddess as these things, the she is also able to weave so much more into Hera's personality. I felt myself rooting for her more than ever before and I even though Zeus will never learn from his mistakes or change his ways, I felt as though Hera was able to grow so much in Saint's depiction of the Goddess.

This was a wonderful read and a fantastic addition to Jennifer Saint's mythology retellings. I'm eager to see who she'll depict next.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Another great Greek Goddess adventure by Saint. This time around we follow Hera's mythology. Hera is not as likeable as previous Saint women. However, Hera's ups and downs are fascinating to imagine through Saint's eyes and although Hera's actions are explained and justified they are not glorified. I look forward to her next retelling.

Right now, writing this review, I’m honestly more than a little bit awestruck. As a fan of Greek mythology retellings, whose adored books by the author in the past, I had high expectations for this book; particularly as it promised the story of the Queen of the Gods. Yet this book didn’t just meet those expectations, it utterly obliterated them. How could anyone resist such a beautifully crafted, enchanting, powerful tale?

First of all I should admit that my knowledge of Hera was nowhere near as good as it should have been going into this book. When I read in the blurb that she was Zeus’s sister I was stunned. I’d heard of some of her actions – such as those surrounding Heracles – but not all of them by any means. So some of this story was new to me, other aspects of it familiar but even if you’re well versed in the original Greek myths I still believe that this book will show Hera to you in a wholly different light. Universally she seems known for being a jealous wife but within these pages her motivations and emotions are so much more complex than that. Anyone whose familiar with recent releases within the genre will know how it tends to craft it’s women – and often it’s beloved heroes too – in a whole new light and this book captured those feelings and sentiments beautifully.

From the very first page of ‘Hera’ I was riveted by this book. It dived straight into a vital moment in her immortal life and enchanted me instantly. Its writing was mesmerising and cast a spell on me within seconds (something that didn’t come as a surprise as I’ve fallen for the author’s prose in the past) and the story kept its hooks into me throughout. Seeing the worlds of the Gods and the mortals through Hera’s eyes was fascinating, as was discovering all that she’d achieved and endured and untangling the true motives behind her vengeful antics.

All of the Gods, Titans and surrounding characters were depicted beautifully within this book. All felt true to what I’ve learnt of them in the past; all felt believable too which is a feat in itself when capturing the Gods on the page. Whilst lost within the pages of this book you all too easily forget the world around you, losing yourself fully to the world that its crafted. There are some beautiful tender moments scattered throughout which caught me utterly off guard and some really powerful, gorgeously depicted sentiments too.

Throughout I was bewitched by this novel and could constantly consider it my favourite by the author yet the ending was somehow still on a whole other level. Oddly it was probably the least action filled segment of this book and yet it was simultaneously the most poignant and my favourite. Something about the writing and sentiments left me utterly spellbound. It had such strong and captivating emotional resonance within its end scenes and captured certain ideas tremendously that I truly hadn’t expected. I wasn’t truly sure what to expect from the book’s end but it certainly wasn’t this; something crafted so gorgeously that it haunts me and will play on my mind for weeks to come.

Let’s be honest if you’ve read the rest of this review then it goes without saying that I recommend this book; whether you’re new to the genre or familiar with it ‘Hera’ is an absolute must read. It’s a beautifully crafted novel that left me utterly bewitched by its spell. It was pure pleasure to read and utterly impossible to tear my eyes away from. And not only is it my favourite novel by the author it’s also now probably my favourite Greek retelling to date. Needless to say I absolutely adored this book.

Jennifer Saint is an auto read author for me so I was delighted to read this arc. Hera was another brilliant addition to Saint’s oeuvre, returning women to classical stories that they have previously been written out of.
I hadn’t enjoyed Atalanta as much as Saint’s earlier work but I thought Hera was an excellent character to receive a feminist retelling, removing her from the constraints of the wicked stepmother role that has dominated her narrative until now. A really compelling read.

Here's Jennifer Saint again doing what Jennifer Saint does best - taking a reviled mythological character and showing us another side to a woman who has been painted as one-dimensional: jealous, petty, angry and vindictive.

In Hera, Saint demonstrates how the Queen of the Gods suffered terribly at the hands of her husband Zeus, and sustained loss after horrible loss through her endless, unhappy life.

While her vengeance may not always have been fairly targeted, Hera's bitterness has roots that can be easily recognised. And in this rendering of her story, we have the opportunity to see how Hera changes over the span of her immortal existence.

I would have liked perhaps less of a laser-sharp focus on her hatred for Zeus, whom she initially helped to overthrow their father Cronus the Titan, but that may be too much to ask, given what he put her through.

Offering a more layered understanding of Hera, this is an interesting mythology retelling and will be greatly enjoyed by Saint's legions of fans.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This was an interesting read. I really enjoyed the writing (much more than Jennifer Saint’s previous novel, Alatanta), and the re-telling of the Olympian Gods. The insight into Hera, her bitterness and rage, her desire for revenge that gradually, over the centuries of her existence, subtly changed, was well done. But the thing that really irritated me, that got really tiring after a while, was how the Goddess was constantly motivated only by her hatred of Zeus. Maybe that hatred festered and twisted her? Maybe she had more selfish reasons for what she did? And maybe, in a retelling, some of that could have been reimagined. Still, it was an interesting read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC for reviewing purposes.

Jennifer Saint never disappoints, her prose is beautiful. She builds these characters that are so fully formed that you don’t need to question them because you feel like you know and understand them.

Hera has always been a part of Greek Mythology who has slipped under the radar, depicted as the jealous and bitter wife and little else, her role always in the shadow of Zeus. Jennifer Saint’s mission of giving these women in Greek mythology their own rightful spotlights has shown me a new side of Hera, a woman who was wronged and neglected and misused her whole life, whose potential and ambition was pushed to the side.

Something I particularly admired in this book is how different it felt to Saint’s other novels. Ariadne, Elektra and Atalanta have all followed mortal women and their mortal lives, spanning a few decades before they reach the end of their lives over the course of 400 or so pages. Hera, however, is a goddess with an immortal life, spanning centuries in this book, possibly millennia, so characters such as Atalanta (who is mentioned) are of little consequence, these heroes come and go. Their existence expires within a single page. If Hera is a whole book, some of these so-called “giants” of mythology are a single sentence.

This book gave me a new perspective on Hera’s struggles within herself, especially on the topic of her children. It was particularly painful when she was watching Heracles, the “glory of Hera”, slaughter the monsters, Typhon’s offspring, her own grandchildren, while earning greatness in her name. There is also a scene earlier in the book where Hera is facing the fact that her life has been changed by Zeus and she has no say in it. She is lying still, holding onto the past in hopes to put off the future, and I had to read one particular passage 3 or 4 times before I felt ready and able to move on to the next page, wanting to savour each word and understand it as complexly as Saint wrote it.

Overall, Jennifer Saint gives us an insightful journey through Hera’s stories, bridging gaps and bringing forward yet another woman who deserves the attention most men get within mythology.

I am a lover of retold Greek Myth, and a big fan of Jennifer Saint, having greatly enjoyed her previous books, particularly Ariadne. This book is from the perspective of Hera, Queen of the Gods, wife and sister of Zeus. We have always been presented with Hera as a vengeful God, punishing women for Zeus' many infidelities, but this book really puts us in her golden sandals. For those who are fans of Greek Myth, there are so many side references that you will pick up on. It is a great book, telling a different perspective of a well known figure.

A delightful read. The prose was wonderfully written. The story was well-paced and captivating. Everything was explained well and I never felt lost at any point. I found myself unable to put the book down. I felt myself really empathising with Hera and all her decisions.

I really enjoyed parts of this. I liked that there was a rereading of Hera- that felt really original. It also challenged me more broadly by reminding of the truly dark side of Greek Mythology. I found it hard how often sexual assault was a focus as a result. I thought the ending was thoughtful, but a bit rushed. Overall I would recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rating:3/5
Greek mythology retellings are so overdone these days that it's hard to find a unique one. I've never seen a Greek mythology retelling from Hera's perspective and so I really wanted to read this. It's my first Jennifer Saint book and I really liked it for the most part.


First of all, the pacing is perfect. There's not a single dull moment in this book and even though I was familiar with all the stories mentioned in this book, I never felt bored. Saint has done her research really well. Hera is one of the most fascinating yet underrated character from Greek mythology. Sure, she did some pretty terrible things to people who did not deserve it, but she suffered quite a lot herself. The author did a great job at exploring this side of Hera. However, it often felt like she wasn't the centre of the story. A lot of the book is about Hera fuming in rage at Zeus and his children but doing nothing except petty revenge. I understand that there aren't many myths focusing on Hera, but this just didn't work for me. The author makes it difficult for the reader to sympathize with Hera. She's depicted as unlikable and petty and full of misdirected rage. This book made me hate Zeus even more than I already did, especially after what he did to Hera, but I didn't really like Hera much either. She does get some character development overtime, though. Part 5 was my favourite part of the book, and while I cannot spoil anything, I can say that it explores an aspect of mythology that is often ignored and I thought it was very creative and well done.

Despite the cons of this book, I enjoyed revisiting Greek mythology through it. Even if you are not familiar with Greek mythology, you might enjoy this book and learn many new stories. I'll definitely be checking out the author's other works.

I went into this book thinking I was going to hate Hera and for part of it I really did. She was petty, jealous and quite a monster. However, I also sympathised with her as her story with Zeus, and what she endured was horrific.

Overtime Hera’s character does change and grow and she becomes really likeable. She is trapped in an abusive marriage, been assaulted, witnessed her child and grand children killed, so it’s easy to understand why she was the way she was. There are many times I had to put down the book for the outrage I felt on behalf of Hera and many of the other characters in the book. It is not an easy read in some places, but that is to be expected with how the gods were.

I went through a rollercoaster of emotions reading this book. I really have a hatred for a good few of the male Greek gods and this just solidified those feelings.

Saint’s style of writing is very engaging and draws you into the story. If you enjoy Greek mythology retelling this is the book for you. I really recommend it.

Thank you to Jennifer Saint, NetGalley, Wildfire and Headline for this ARC

I have thoroughly enjoyed Jennifer Saint's other books and this title did not disappoint. It is full of rich language and imagery as you would expect from her other books. Greek mythology isn't something I was ever particularly interested in until I discovered this books and they were brought to life for me. The rich characterisation really captivated me and the story of the gods was an absolute pleaure to read.

Went into it hating the Hera of greek myth. Left one of her biggest fans
Saint lyrically details Hera's story in a semi-biographical manner, pulling from a wide range of myths that many would know, delving into the mind and heart of the queen of the Gods.

I have loved all the books I have read by Jennifer Saint and Hera is now beloved by myself. Jennifer adds to much strength and courage to woman of Greek mythology and shows they are more worth more than just being know by their male counterparts,

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Headline for this ARC.

I am a big fan of Jennifer Saint's work; her novel Elektra is one of my favourite books full stop and I always read her new releases as soon as I possibly can. That being said, this was only fine for me. Don't get me wrong, I could certainly see what she was going for, but it just didn't wow me like Elektra did.

Hera is a mythical retelling of the life of the goddess, Hera, in the Greek tradition. Hera, queen of the gods, wife to Zeus, famed for her jealousy and spite, is often portrayed as an antagonistic figure, which Saint takes and reframes to somewhat explain some of her vengeful actions. This is very much a retelling in the tradition of Wicked, where it tries to add context that softens the crueller side of the chosen character, making them misunderstood rather than bad. In some ways, Saint was very good at this. She provides a solid basis and tended to be fairly consistent with her choices. For instance, she portrays a Hera that just doesn't value or care for mortals very much, and this doesn't flip flop around throughout the book. But personally, some of the choices she made weren't to my preference.

A significant portion of the book's reframing comes from positioning Hera as the victim of rape by Zeus whom she decides to marry to 'destroy' him from the inside. While I understand what the intention was with Hera's portrayal, it did not always work. It felt like Saint was trying to empower a survivor, only to then have her be disempowered and fail at every instance. Hera is queen of the gods but that doesn't seem to come with any actual power, and the things she is supposed to be the goddess of she shows no interest in, leaving her with very little she is actually doing other than monologuing about the wrongs that have befallen her (not unjustifiably). I just feel like, perhaps more could have been done if this was the direction that was chosen with the fact that Hera is the goddess of women and marriage, maybe having her experiences create a kind of fierce protectiveness for her charges, or even a sense of solidarity. It doesn't have to change the narrative events as something Saint does brilliantly is depicting the fact that the gods have a different notion of morality, that a 'kind' act from their perspective could translate as more of a curse for the mortals it has been bestowed on. I think this would have been more effective for the themes Saint is using.

I can see that she was trying to make the point that Hera's thirst for revenge twisted her so much that she could not enj0y anything, that it completely prevented her from moving on, but in a story about a woman marrying her rapist, this felt... well cruel. Like an exercise in futility and sadness. I did not get the same sense of catharsis from this novel that I got from Chapter 9 alone of Elektra.

However, what I will say is Saint did a great job of not sanding down the edges of her gods and goddesses. In the wake of Madeline Miller's Circe and Natalie Haynes' Stone Blind, I have noticed a trend of trying to make the goddesses relatable by essentially making them 'ordinary' girls for the reader to project onto. This was not a trap Saint fell into. The gods and goddesses felt different from when Saint writes human characters and their separateness from humanity was felt throughout which I really liked.

I think that a lot of people will really like this book, it just didn't hit for me. This interpretation of Hera just wasn't quite what I wanted, but it is a solidly written novel with a lot to like.

Hera is the Greek mythology book I have been waiting for!
A tale of the Olympic gods told from Heras perspective. Hera is always betrayed as wrathful but as her story is told her reasons behind her vengeful behaviour is almost understandable. As the wife of Zeus, forced into marriage with a husband who fathers multiple children and Gods with mortals and nymphs.
I found Hera to be slower paced compared to Ariadne, but it worked perfectly for this book.
I love Jennifer’s writing and cannot express my utter joy at reading her fourth Greek mythology book.

This was brilliant. Jennifer's writing and ability to tell a story, that many may already think they know but don't until they've read this, is incredible.