Hera is usually painted as a jealous, vengeful woman, targeting the women who her husband, Zeus, has affairs with (or whom he sexually assaults). However, this novel shows how Hera changed, from a strong, likeable character, to the victim of sexual assault from Zeus and how this impacted on her. Forced to make choices, she marries Zeus and then has to deal with his betrayal and the suffering and ridicule this brought upon her.

Fighting against a patriarchal society, she does what she can to regain her power and to stop Zeus from targeting more victims. “The women … turn their misery and anger to Hera …To hear of the commonplace tragedies that blight their existence. She never asked to be the goddess of marriage … it was forced on her … and she seethes that her realm is one of empty promises, of stunted hopes and ruined faith”.

The misogyny of Greek mythology is deep, with the goddesses themselves victim to the unfair society “the best way to convince Zeus of her obedience is to give him more children. What else would a dutiful wife do?” and the sexual violence is not restricted to Zeus, but other male gods as well, “… over cups of wine, she listened to [Apollo] brag to Zeus about Daphne, a naiad he pursued through the forests … Apollo had burned for her … his his words like poetry as he described his desire … [how] he gave chase … her fluttering panic only more charming to him”; “Hera can hear Zeus’ voice rumbling … as he set out the steps by which Peleus should overpower the woman. ‘When it’s finished, ‘ Hermes tells him ‘she’ll have to marry you. She can’t refuse … Thetis will obey, following Hera’s example, Hermes explains. This is how the queen of the gods came by her own husband … Her own name, invoked as a justification for rape”.

This novel remains relatively true to Greek mythology as it doesn’t hide from the physical and sexual violence wrought by the gods. Hera is often angry and cruel, but this novel gives some understanding as to why.

A very good novel about a very complicated character.

From my first read of Atalanta, I knew Jennifer Saint was going to be one of my new favourite authors and Hera has cemented that. Another amazing mythological retelling seen through the eyes of one of Greek mythology's most prosecuted Goddesses and giving her back her voice to tell her tale of trials and dangers. Saint gives us the tale of the Goddess Queen, Hera, as she hopes to be a part of the changing Olympus alongside her family, but things are not always that easy, especially for women in mythology.

I absolutely adored Hera from the beginning with the battles against physical foes and mental forces set to make her fail. But Hera proves herself as a Goddess and warrior. That isn't to say she is full of virtues, especially after what she's been through; she is compassionate, angry, irrational, and diplomatic; Hera is a character full of complexities that make her feel human even for a mythological being. Just as the trials her mythological counterpart puts heroes and heroines through, Hera fights through her own and comes out a true queen.

Written with her unapologetic, lyrical style, Saint had me hooked from cover to cover with the compassionate, and beautiful tale. I devoured the book within a few days because the story was so engrossing with the worldbuilding adding depth to the tale. I also love how Saint does not shy away from showing her characters' faults and virtues equally, creating believable and relatable characters even if they are seen as non-human.

I thoroughly recommend Hera to anyone who adores Greek mythology retellings and fantasy lovers who adore a strong female lead who prevails against the worst of adversaries.

Thank you, NetGalley and Headline for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5⭐️

Ariadne is one of my all time favourite books, so I am always excited for a new release from Jennifer Saint.

Hera, daughter of Cronos, helped her brothers Zeus to overthrow their father. Establishing their rule on Mount Olympus, Hera dreams of ruling at Zeus' side. But as time passes she wonders if he may be just as tyrannical as their father.

Born to rule, but trapped in a cycle of violence and cruelty, Hera wonders if there is a way to forge a better world.

"Her mother and her grandmother couldn't do it, but maybe Hera can."

Please do check trigger warnings! As with many interpretations of these myths, beware of mentions of r*pe, misogyny, inc*est.

Saint’s writing is unmatched, and her interpretation of Greek myths and characters never fails to impress. The writing is beautifully lyrical, and her portrayal of the women in mythology is refreshing and I always appreciate how she brings their perspective to the forefront.

This retelling of the myths of Hera follows the gods of Mount Olympus after the age of the Titans collapsed. The pacing is incredibly interesting, time seeming to be fleeting for the gods of Olympus, when really hundreds of years are passing. Hera weaves so many of my favourite myths into the story, really adding to the sense that the gods just watch humanity and their triumphs/defeats/wars pass by, only intervening when it suits.

Hera is often portrayed as the cruel, vengeful wife, but Saint manages to capture all sides of the queen to the gods - her compassion, her loyalty. This feminist retelling is not a redemption story, but one that aims to show the complexity of a ruler who faced (and caused) atrocities and what motivated her to make such choices.

"Hera, Goddess of marriage. Doesn’t that please you?"
"Is that what they call me?"
"It’s what you are," he says. "It’s the title I’m giving you. What else could you be?"
Once, she thinks, there were so many answers to that question.
It’s a reminder now and always that no matter who she was before, in the eyes of the world she is Zeus’s wife.

Hera demonstrates both the plight and power of women, and I think it does a wonderful job of showing how the world someone lives in, the things they go thorough, can play a large role in the choices they make. Centering Hera in her experiences allows the reader to understand that she is more than bitterness and rage, but a queen who lost so much of what she fought for and was constantly betrayed by those around her.

"Aren't you angry? The world wasn't theirs to divide between them - it was all of ours!"

Hera is a must read for anyone who loves the Greek myth and want to learn more about Hera's story, but I also think this would be a great starting point (as are all Saint's books in my opinion) for anyone wanting to read more Greek mythology retellings.

This is the fourth book by Jennifer Saint, retelling the myths and legends of Ancient Greece for a modern audience, and is by far and away the most detailed and complex so far. What else would you expect when tackling as your subject matter the most complicated, vengeful and maligned goddess of them all, Hera. Prepare to see her as you never have before.

For anyone who has studied the legends of Ancient Greece in depth and is familiar with the stories, this will cast Hera in a light in which you may never have considered her before. For anyone who is new to the topic and may becoming across these tales for the first time, this book contains a wealth of material to pique your interest and give you a fantastic overview of Greek mythology. Most of the most famous tales are touched upon here from Hera’s perspective over the course of her long reign on Mount Olympus.

Hera is viewed by many as a vicious, bitter and jealous goddess constantly betrayed by her unfaithful husband, Zeus who takes her rage out on the women, both mortal and immortal, with whom he cheats and the offspring born of those unions, rather than on the faithless Zeus himself. The author here does not try to excuse Hera’s misplace vengeance, but rather explain it in a way to which many women will be able to relate.

For Hera is a goddess wronged in so many ways by Zeus. As his sister, who fights by his side to gain for them both the thrones of Olympus, only to be cast aside when victory is won. As a woman who is taken against her will, through deceit and brute force, who is then forced to accept her defiler as her husband. As a mother, whose children are overlooked for the honours which should be theirs. As a wife who is betrayed and humiliated time after time. Snd as a queen who is rendered powerless and impotent in the face of her husband’s strength and indifference. What woman could be roundly condemned for unleashing the roar of abused womanhood on everything that stands in her way?

For in the end, this is a story of the patriarchy and how, since the dawn of time, it has sought to smother and weaken the power of women, through superior physical strength, humiliation and violence. (This is not a book for anyone who shies from descriptions of sexual assault or expects this subject to be tiptoed around.) For it is women who are the power behind the throne, who birth the children, nurture the earth and keep the home fires burning. Without them, the world would be cold and barren and, when they realise their power and seek to harness it, they become terrifying.

This is a book for any woman who has ever raged against the injustices of a world ruled by men where her light has been unfairly dimmed or things have been taken from her which were rightfully hers or which she did not willingly give. You may not sympathise or agree with Hera’s methods but, after reading this book, you will acknowledge her motivations and may even find a roar for furious feminism rising in your own breast.

I received an early e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a huge fan of Greek mythology retellings and Jennifer Saint is one of the best writers in this genre, so I count myself so lucky that I was selected to read this book early. And I absolutely loved it!

Hera's story isn't one I'm overly familiar with. I only knew snippets of her exploits from other myths, so it was great to have a book of just her story. This book takes us from right back to Hera's (and the other original Olympians) birth and follows her journey for thousands of years until the Greek Gods kind of peter out as human society grows.

It was great to hear the story from Hera's perspective. A lot of retellings focus on Hera's jealousy when finding out about Zeus's various conquests, but in this book her feelings and motivations are explored much further and the reasons for her actions are explained very well. Hera's voice is so authentic, and I loved delving into the mind of the Queen on Olympus.

This was a fantastic book and I would highly recommend it (and any of Jennifer Saints other books) to anyone with an interest in Greek mythology :)

Once again, Jennifer Saint knocks it out of the park with a fantastic and beautifully-written account of the goddess Hera’s story. As a figure often villainised in mythological fiction and non-fiction alike, I knew I had to read this and view Hera’s story from a more understanding point of view. I wasn’t disappointed as the author did a fantastic job of showing how things affected Hera and rightfully put her centre stage as Queen of the Gods. I went into this feeling fairly neutral overall about Hera and came out finding her incredibly fascinating and just as nuanced as Athena. Other goddesses like Hestia were incredibly developed and I loved seeing how each of the goddesses had lots of depth to their stories. This was a fantastic book and I’ll definitely be recommending it!

Not my favourite Jennifer Saint book.

Although the ending was really good and I enjoyed the story more as it progressed I struggled at times to connect with Hera as parts felt more like she was reporting what happened and not like I was experiencing it with her. Part of this was because the book tried to cram in so many events so we never really got to go in depth into each scene and know what Hera was feeling.

There were a few changes from the original mythology, some which worked and some which felt a bit random.

Overall, whilst I enjoyed Jennifer Saint's in depth knowledge of Greek mythology and her ability to make me empathise with Hera at times, I was a bit disappointed in this one as it felt like it was trying to do too much and cover too much so parts felt a bit emotionless and hard to get into.

Hera returns Jennifer Saint's retellings firmly back in the hands of the Gods, as we follow the Queen of them all, the sister wife of Zeus, Hera. The reader follows Hera from the early days of the Olympians overthrowing the Titans, the splitting of powers and responsibilities and through to the inception of Zeus' growing brood of offspring and Hera's increasing struggles to reclaim what she feels she deserves.

I found Hera an interesting character. She's not likeable - she's filled with self importance and rage, a simmering boiling pot of emotion that manifests in the cruellest ways. Yet I found myself, through Jennifer Saint's writing, being drawn into her desperate plight. By recentering the stories to show Hera's side, the loss of everything she'd worked for and repeatedly forgotten in favour of Zeus's children, becomes intensified. Zeus is not a nice guy. None on the Gods are nice, taking what they want from whomever they want, but Hera shows a tenacity to survive.

I particularly loved all the drama with the Gods. Although they delight, certainly later on in the story, in flaming drama and spectating on mortals, I found the opposite in myself. I loved the drama between Zeus, Athens and the rest. The power struggles and family dynamics have always been what appealed to me about Greek mythology the most. And Jennifer Saint captures this well, developing some compelling relationships among the Gods - especially Hera and Hestia, her quiet eldest sister.

If anything I found the pacing didn't quite work towards the end third of the book, with the ending feeling a little rushed after such a long build up. I would have liked to have seen Hera strike out on her own, away from Olympus, more and explore her new role in a world freed from the influence of the Gods. However, overall I really enjoyed this.

Thank you to Headline/Wildfire for the ARC.

This is a retelling of Hera's life from almost the beginning right to the end. I've read a few Greek mythology retellings but this is my first centred around Hera, so it was interesting to learn some of the lore for the first time.

Right, then. Why wasn't there a content warnings page? As new books are being written and published, many MANY authors and publishers are listening to readers and including (literally the basics on one page) content warnings, and I am so disappointed Hera didn't have this. Considering this is basically a book of rape, with a rape being described right at the get-go in the second chapter, and there being either a description of, mention of, recalling to, etc, etc, of rape or sexual assault in almost every chapter, it really left just a foul taste in my mouth. Reading descriptions of assault, naturally, makes me uncomfortable. Having a warning at the start about the level of detail and 'amount' of instances would have given me the opportunity to mentally prepare and would have made the reading experience far more tolerable. And I don't want this to be dismissed as 'well that's to be expected with Greek mythology' because it absolutely isn't, it's a retelling, and both the accuracy to the original texts and the level of detail involved are entirely up to the author. It's probably not too late to include one in the ebook and audiobook, I'm jus sayin. Pull yourself into 2024.

Hera is a flawed character. I wouldn't go into this book expecting to like her; she is what she is infamous for, her wrath, jealousy, and vindictiveness. I can't tell if it's Hera or Saint who are guilty of victim blaming when it comes to Zeus' victims. I'm disappointed in either answer. Hera is informative and interesting and definitely well written, but I do feel like there was a lack of or disconnect with anything emotive. It felt more analytical than a creative interpretation, which is fine if that's what you're looking for.

My favourite parts were Hera finding joy with her monster grandchildren, and the desertion of Olympus near the end. I do like that Saint kept all the absurdity with the myths, a lot of authors write it out to make it more 'palatable' but I do appreciate it being as accurate as it was. I own Saint's other 3 works and will be reading them very soon.

I am docking my rating based on the lack of content warnings. Please consider including them in any work that describes heavy topics and themes, especially SA. Statistics say 1/3 women will experience assault in their lifetime, but honestly I'm yet to meet a woman who has *not* been sexually harassed, assaulted, or raped. Do better.

3/5

I love Greek mythology and Jennifer saint never disappoints. Hera is always portrayed as an unlikable side character so it was good to see another side to her. Seeing what she’s been through helps to give some perspective and understanding but she isn’t fully redeemed either. Having such a flawed main character makes for a great story and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you netgalley for an eARC.

This book was such a captivating read, the writing style is beautiful with it almost feeling poetic at parts, the story gripping, difficult and challenging all at the same time

I throughly enjoyed this book and it was interesting to see how hera has been portrayed. If you are interested in Greek mythology and retelling then you will thoroughly enjoy this book! If you are just dipping your toes into mythology this will make you much more curious and have you reaching for the next retelling.

This review is for Hera by Jennifer Saint which releases in the UK on the 23rd May! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Headline books for giving me an eArc copy for this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good Greek goddess mythology retelling, and when I saw this was coming out I was so excited! I’ve read Jennifer’s other retellings and really enjoyed them.

This story focuses on Hera, Queen of the Gods, and shows the story of how the Greek gods came to be in power. It features a wide variety of the well known Greek gods and goddesses while also showing a few lesser known ones as well.

Hera is not a likeable character in this story. especially towards the end. You do start off feeling very sorry for her and what she’s had to endure to get to the place she in, but the way she can treat others and the way she ends up using them for her own purposes without thinking how it will affect anyone else is very frustrating. Hera is often known in Greek mythology as a jealous and vindictive, mainly towards Zeus’ lovers and the illegitimate children created from these unions. And you do very much see this in the novel, but also see it from a very different point of view showing how her jealousy stems from something different. Especially as she hates Zeus (I won’t spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read any of the mythology). She still comes across as equally selfish and frustrating as Zeus at times, but different none the less.

This retelling isn't going to redeem Hera's actions, yet it does humanise her as someone dealing with a lot of issues including; subjugation, ridicule and betrayal, without absolving her. More than anything, it's probably going to make you despise the patriarchy and Zeus and everything he stands for (he’s a massive prick).

You'll have to be careful going into this, should you choose to read this, because the Greek Gods didn't know that No Means No and Jennifer Saint does not shy away from lack of consent in ancient times. The Greek Gods can ALL get in the bin. It can also feel a bit disjointed at times, but that’s mainly due to the jumping time periods which can throw you off a bit. Would 100% recommend this, especially if you enjoy mythology!

4.5 stars!

I have always loved Greek mythology and was thrilled to see this take on Hera's story. Hera is often portrayed as a vengeful and jealous goddess, but she had her reasons!

This retelling is beautifully written, and all the God's are brought to life. The author brings the reader to Mount Olympus with her descriptions of the temple and surrounding lands, and you teally get a feel for the Gods up in the clouds peering down at their mortal creations.

This is a misogynistic world,  where rape and control of women is seen as the norm in the world of God's and men alike. Hera has everything taken from her, her sense of self, her dignity, and power. Her husband makes a mockery of their marriage, taking lovers or forcing himself upon his helpless victims. Hera deals with this by trying to thwart his attempts of searing children to put on the thrones of Olympus. However, Zeus always seems to win. But Hera is not to be deterred in her attempts to bring all he has built crashing down.

The author does a great job of exploring Hera's loss of self and her resulting bitterness. For most of the book she is portrayed as one dimensional, and there is not much depth to her character as she is reduced to her obsession for vengeance and often lets her own vanity and pride get in the way. Hera has some misplaced cruelty, but when seen through her own lens of trauma, it is understandable she feels such hatred. I thought this was handled well throughout. I found myself really wanting her to come out on top and for all the Gods and even mortal men to get their comeuppance!

I was so glad to receive an early copy of Hera, being a huge historical fiction fan, and a huge lover of mythology. I love Jennifer Saints writing, I felt truly immersed into the world of the Gods.

What to expect:
Gods and Monsters
Mythology
Greek History
Unspeakable actions of Gods

Hera is not a likeable character or figure. But this book helps us to see her in a more human way.
I was so intrigued to read about her before she became Zeus wife, a fate she did not want and was forced in to. You feel for her, one womans plight to another. However it doesn't excuse all her spiteful and wrathful deeds to punish those who were also victims of Zeus, or innocent children whom she tested relentlessly.

The book does speed through a large chunk of history so be prepared for this, sometimes time jumps quite rapidly. But as the Gods lives span thousands of years this is to be expected and didn't take away from the story for me. I was hooked to see how the Gods weaved and interfered with the lives of the humans they had created.

In my opinion Jennifer Saint has done it again. Any fans of her previous books are sire to love this. And I highly recommend picking it up.

4.5 ⭐️

It was interesting to read about the backstory of Hera, Queen of the Gods and how she came to be. As someone with only a basic knowledge of Greek mythology, it was also interesting to hear the backstory of other gods, demigods and monsters of Greek mythology. This is split into five parts and it starts with the Olympians defeating the Titans, then covers Hera marrying Zeus, all of their children, Zeus's affairs/ other children and battles in ancient Greece. Zeus really is the worst but I think we all knew that!

This was my first book by Jennifer Saint and I'll definitely be checking out her other ones!

I so wanted to love this book.

What's better than a Retelling of the Goddess Hera.
Unfortunately this was just flat for me. I wanted Hera to come across as some powerful entity. Yet she just came across as a whiny petulant child.

I was so intrigued to read this book, as Hera has often been portrayed as one of the more unlikeable female Greek figures in literature. Truth be told, her tendency to punish the women Zeus involves himself with, rather than Zeus himself is a difficult quality for Saint to contend with, but Saint traces Hera's life from young girl in the forests to betrayed woman. This is a beautifully written vengeful novel.

This is my first read from the author's work and Greek mythology is something I love to read over and over as each time I get a new perspective to the history. The writing style was very interesting and initially it took some time to settle down with the background and plot but once I was comfortable it was a delightful ride throughout the book.
I will be looking forward to read more work of the author now .

Hera, a clearly unlikable character amongst a set of pompous and petty Olympian Gods, takes us on the journey that turned her from the powerful young Goddess who helped overthrow the Titans to the (rightly) bitter wife of the serial r*pist Zeus. Let's get things straight: you won't like her, she's a pretty awful character, but you'll enjoy her story and understand why she's fundamentally unhinged.

I have to admit that this is the first time I'm hearing Hera's story in full, with the retellings I've read in the past being focused on other aspects of Greek mythology & Hera being a side player. Saint tells Hera's story with captivating prose, taking us on a swift yet thorough history from her early days on Olympus to the Gods' ultimate downfall.

One thing that I loved about this book was the general overview we were given of the history of the Olympians. I was missing chunks of their story and this retelling really filled in some gaps and made a lot more sense of the parts I knew, giving me chance to set things in chronological order.

If you're looking for a great introduction to Greek mythology then this would be an excellent place to start!

This work of fiction draws on Greek mythology to create a story of Hera. It attempts to explain the reasons and motivations for what she is most famous and feared for - her jealous and vengeful nature.

We first meet Hera as the joyful and confident warrior who fought alongside her siblings to overthrow the rule of the Titans. She takes her place next to the other victorious gods on Mount Olympus, aware and proud of her significant contribution to their victory. With alarm she witnesses Zeus’ power grab as he divides the world, taking the Heavens for himself, the Seas go to Poseidon and the Underworld to Hades. Zeus fears Hera’s challenge and forces her into marrying him to curb her rebellion, knowing that together they are a formidable force. Hera’s initial disbelief turns into anger and resentment, she feels trapped and powerless and plots revenge. As his wife and queen, she is also the custodian of marriage, which only adds insult to injury, given Zeus’ endless adulterous affairs and numerous illegitimate offspring. With all hopes of power-sharing gone and reduced to the position of the wife of the all-powerful Zeus, she puts all her resources into bringing him down.

All her attempts seem to be doomed to fail and, in the end, help comes from an unexpected source. Zeus had become a tyrant like his father and his father before him; and like all tyrants he feels secure in his own self-belief, not capable of understanding the shifting zeitgeist. The world is changing and the reign of the Olympian gods is coming to an end. Whilst Zeus, living in denial and not being able to adapt simply petrifies, Hera immerses herself in the human world and finally becomes the ruler of her own destiny.

This book is not simply a re-interpretation of a mythical figure, it also covers highly relevant themes like male dominance, the corruption of power, domestic violence and rape, difficult family relationships like sibling rivalry and generational conflicts. It is also a battle cry for the right of self-determination of women.

I enjoyed re-visiting so many of the old Greek heroes and heroines, meeting them in a different context that shed a new light on them. Plenty of food for thought.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Wildfire / Headline Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.