I absolutely love this book. It is so well written. Typically at first glance Hera is not a very likeable character, but Jennifer's writing of her in this story helps you to understand why the Goddess of Marriage, Women and Childbirth became so vengeful.

Jennifer does not hold back when describing just how manipulative and horrid Zeus (and some of the other gods let's be honest) treated women. Hera cannot be absolved of her crimes but after reading this you will understand why.

The narrator did a brilliant job at holding my attention throughout the book. It was well paced and I really felt all the emotions.

Highly recommend this regardless of how much you know about greek mythology. It's just a brilliant read though there are definitely some trigger warnings that may be too much for some.

"Why would I debase myself by submitting to the judgement of a man!" - I feel like we could all take wisdom from Hera's words. The narration had an interesting choice by pronouncing all of the 'e's as soft rather than hard, so for example Athena was pronounced A-then-a. I guess this is probably correct in Greek, but I don't think any English person pronounces the names this way, so it was just a little disjointing. Overall a good novel which tries to explain Hera's complacency and "failings" and give her a voice. But the storyline was only averagely compelling. I did like the ending though,

Probably my favourite Jennifer Saint book so far!! Really thrilling and gripping story told beautifully. It’s raw and it’s poignant and Saint writes these beautifully complex characters. Can’t wait to read more from her!

Wow this book was incredible and by far my favourite Jennifer Saint book to date- Hera's story is massive and because of that this book is such an engaging page turner because there's simply so much ground to cover, having said that it never feels messy or chaotic it flows so well. I have always loved Hera and I think Jennifer Saint gave us Hera in all her dimensions and sides not all of them are likeable but most are justifiable.
Thank you for bringing this powerhouse Goddess to life!
The narration was fantastic and kept my attention throughout, I listen predominantly at 2.5/3 speed and there was no loss of clarity to the performance.

**Rating: 4.5/5 stars**

*Hera* is an exhilarating dive into mythology, intrigue, and power dynamics. From the very first page, I was hooked by the complexity of Hera, a character often relegated to the sidelines in other retellings. This book offers her a much-deserved spotlight, revealing the layers of her personality—her strength, vulnerabilities, and deeply-rooted sense of justice.

The world-building is lush, with vivid descriptions that pull you into the grandeur of Olympus and its tumultuous politics. The pacing is tight, and the stakes are ever-present, which kept me turning the pages late into the night. The relationships between characters are fraught with tension, manipulation, and passion, making for compelling interactions throughout.

Where this book truly shines is in its portrayal of Hera’s growth. Watching her navigate her complicated marriage, her sense of duty, and her desire for autonomy is both heart-wrenching and empowering. The feminist undertones add a modern twist to the story, giving depth to Hera's struggle for respect in a male-dominated pantheon.

While I adored most of the book, I felt that a few side characters could have been explored more deeply. Their motivations sometimes felt surface-level, especially when contrasted with the intricacies of Hera herself. Nonetheless, these are minor criticisms in an otherwise superb tale.

Overall, *Hera* is a must-read for fans of mythological retellings, offering a fresh perspective on one of history’s most misunderstood goddesses. It’s a story of power, love, and the cost of ambition, and it will stay with you long after the final page.

The engrossing audiobook Hera vividly brings the goddess' legend to life. This telling of the story of Hera will captivate you if you're a fan of Greek mythology. The audiobook portrays Hera as a strong sovereign battling treachery and authority, rather than merely the clichéd envious wife or spiteful god. Saint's representation of a well-known individual is complex and subtle, offering a new angle.

You may explore the rich details of Saint's story in a lively, captivating style by listening to Hera. Fans of ancient mythology should not miss Hera's voyage, as her voice adds depth and passion to the story. This audiobook is an engaging and rewarding experience for everyone who is captivated with the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece.

I love these new versions of traditional tales and the way they bring the myths and legends to life.
This was an excellent version of hera’s story. I really enjoyed the audiobook version - a really gripping tale.

I'm sorry that this did not completely hold my attention. I can't put my finger on why - probably something to do with me. I kept going back to it but just couldn't get properly into it. I'm sure there's nothing wrong with the audiobook, it simply came at the wrong time for me. I liked what I heard but was not compelled to listen further. Maybe when the time is right, I'll go back to it.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ALC/ARC of this book

I applied for this book because I love history and mythology & I have heard others excited about this and even heard some say they love it.

This book talks about Hera the queen & mother of the gods who was known as one of the strongest gods as well, we are taken on a journey by the Goddess Hera her life up on Mount Olympus, she is a strong woman who is highly desired by Zesus because of her strength and unfolding nature. As the book slowly builds up to show the tests and trials she is put through we see that Hera as a female Olympian is not above being seen as a prize or a possession by those around her. At one point we have a Scene where Hera is forcefully taken by Zesus (claiming his authority over her to summit) this scene made me uncomfortable ( in the history books about the mythos of Zeus it does claim he was like this with the woman he desired no matter who they where or who they are) still wrong though.

We See Hera over the time of this book question herself, her role and even the kids she has had hoping to overthrow Zeus and try and make something fairer or purer, and at one point she thinks her prayers are answered when she has a child that's been born that's not a child of Zeus ( her love for this child is like no other but we see as it's described that this baby her child is half snake half human and would be seen as an abomination in the eyes of Zeus ). I have always taken this child to be a representation of all the hurt anger and mistreatment Hera Had to deal with in silence given a form but like her pain has to live in the dark underworld with another creature who looks similar in appearance to her child.

The way this story was written is beautifully done, almost poetic really... drawing you in to feel her pain and strength.

Hera is a phenomenal depiction of the Queen of Gods! I have read various Greek mythology retellings and even with the focus on women, Hera would still be relegated to a side character more often than not. I loved seeing her story in its entirety and felt her struggles so acutely. Full of justifiable female rage and definitely inexcusable cruelty due to her husbands infidelity. I adore seeing complex female characterisations and felt the narrator did a fantastic job of bringing this story to life.

I will definitely need to read more from Jennifer Saint and would highly recommend this to lovers of Greek mythology retellings!

"Hera" retells the story of the often-misunderstood queen of the gods, diving into her background, rise to power, and challenges. Hera, daughter of Cronus and Rhea, begins her journey with Zeus as they overthrow the Titans with the help of the Cyclopes. Saint blends well-known myths with fresh takes to great effect.

Hera is transformed from a sidelined goddess into a feminist figure of resilience and authority, with her complex relationships, especially with Zeus, explored in depth. Secondary characters are well-crafted but some of them lack Hera's depth. Saint's vivid writing captures the mythological world's grandeur, exploring themes of power, loyalty, and women's roles in a patriarchal society.

I enjoyed Hera and its twist on the classic is captivating giving an alternative understanding of Hera and her role at Mount Olympus. I found the pacing to be a little off at times.

Overall, it earns 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I already read Hera as a novel but I also listened to the audiobook! I really loved the narration in this one, Hera is proven in her voice to be powerful through her strong tone and confidence in speaking. An absolute delight and I'd recommend listening along while reading the novel.

After hearing so many good things about the author's storytelling, I have wanted to read Jennifer Saint for some time now. Imagine my delight when I was approved for Hera, a book that delves into the life of the Queen of Mount Olympus. Since I am in my Greek mythology retelling era, this book was fantastic.

Saint's storytelling brought the Queen of Mount Olympus to life compellingly and engagingly. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrative and would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Greek mythology retellings. I am eagerly anticipating Jennifer Saints' future publications, having thoroughly enjoyed Hera. But for now, I am going to enjoy their back list.

Naomi Frederick, the narrator, did a fantastic job. Her pacing was perfect, and she portrayed the nuances of emotion beautifully, making it easy to listen to. The audiobook is 13- hours long, making it an ideal companion for long drives or daily commutes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Audio, Wildfire, for gifting me the audio-ARC of this book.

Although I am a real Jennifer Saint fan, unfortunately Hera didn't quite hit the mark for me. I felt the story of Hera was not centred, but more places amongst the rest of the God's.

The tale also felt too long - I'm unsure if this was partly due to the narrator, who's voice I feel did not do justice to the tale, and meandered, rather than drawing in the reader.

A solid tale, but not up there with the rest of her books.

I always love a Jennifer Saint story - I love hearing the stories of these well known figures from their POVs with thoughts, feelings and emotions.

Going in I think I thought I knew more about Hera’s story than it turns out I did - I’m not sure she’s the most likeable of the Greek ladies, but it was really fascinating getting to know what events shaped her into the complex and layered character that she is.

This was a great narration, very engaging and I really enjoyed it. Saint is an auto buy for me all day long.

I likes this book but didn't love it, I didn't find myself hooked from the beginning and I think it's only due to the fact that I was listening to it and not physically reading it as Greek mythology is a little complex. I did enjoy.

Another gem of a book from Jennifer Saint!

One of my favourite from her. Such an easy listen, the narrator does such a good job. Highly recommend the audiobook

Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy.

When I requested this book I was very sceptical as to how the story will be portraited. At the end of the day it's just Hera, the vengeful goddess that nobody really liked. But no one really saw her point of view. And no I'm not saying what she did was good and she should have done worse. I just think that it makes sense. So yeah I loved it, I grieved with her, got angry with her. I wish she could have done some harm to Zeus directly but alas the ending was fitting regardless.

Thank you for Netgallery for this Arc audiobook.

I love Jennifer Saints Greek retellings.

Hera is one of my least favourite Greek goddess but this story highlighted a different side to Hera and her full story.

I would highly recommend this to any Greek mythology lover.

The narrator was great too

Many eloquent analyses have been written about Jennifer’s Saint latest epic, so I will be brief:

First, I have read one other novel of Saint’s - Atalanta - and I enjoyed it much more. It’s interesting to note that the other retellings of mythology that I have enjoyed, have been tales of mortals, and not of gods.

I felt this was not truly the story of Hera, but the story of the gods (and their eventual obscurity). I felt more intrigued by Hera in Ithaca than in this very book about her.

The gods are just about always wholly unlikeable, so perhaps it is not surprising that it is the stories of mortals, and their interactions with the gods, that are more successful. Even though I grew to “understand” Hera more, I didn’t feel that she became three dimensional to me.

The themes of relevance, holiness, and progress were interesting, and might make for good discussion.

I read an audiobook for review (thanks, Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group) so it is also worth noting that I did not enjoy the narrator’s reading, especially pronunciation of some names, and the pace. I found it best listened to at x1.25 speed. I definitely preferred the narrator of Atalanta.