Clytemnestra
- Brand: Unbranded
Description
There were time shifts throughout the novel, always following a tragedy that had befallen Clytemnestra. Early in the novel, a priestess delivers a prophecy that ‘the daughters of Leda will be twice and thrice wed…and they will all be deserters of their lawful husbands’ and over the course of the story we see this prediction begin to come true. I will recommend this book to anyone who loves history, myths or simply a well-written and absorbing story. This is the latest in a series of books about her and her more famous sister, Helen–but the one that stands out to me as both the most appealing to a grimdark audience and the one with the clearest focus.
This has lead to a well-rounded, tense and perfectly paced story with nuance–and an ending that is surprising even to those who know what to expect. She’s a strong character from the outset, hard but fair, notably kind to her younger sisters, and closely bonded to her beautiful sister (not twin here) Helen.I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The thing I particularly enjoyed about this novel – and the thing that makes it different from others I’ve read – is that it focuses not just on Clytemnestra and Helen, whose stories are well known, but also on their other siblings. A spellbinding reimagining of the story of Elektra, one of Greek mythology's most infamous heroines, from Jennifer Saint, the author of the beloved international bestseller, Ariadne. Clytemnestra herself is the epitome of inspiring, flawed inner strength that comes from love, I was rooting for her from the first to last page. If their lower positioning in the social hierarchy is not apparent at first, it becomes abundantly clear when Theseus, the king of Athens, kidnaps and rapes Helen.
Look no further for an outstanding portrait in humanity, motherhood, sisterhood, grief, loss and revenge. Casati’s clear feminist stance makes this retelling fresh despite being based on stories that are thousands of years old. Clytemnestra is often condemned by history, regularly depicted as a fickle, devious, and murderous wife. I did think this one was a little slow in the beginning and the lapses of time seemed to not develop growth in the characters, but overall I found this an enjoyable story. Ablaze with moments of deep tenderness and visceral ferocity , Casati's Clytemnestra gives the phrase 'fight like a girl' its rightfully heroic and empowering meaning!Some of my favorite books of recent years have been Circe, Stone Blind, Ithaca, and Stephen Fry’s Mythos. Both Jennifer Saint’s Elektra and Claire Heywood’s The Daughters of Sparta, where Clytemnestra takes up a large role, ultimately cover a far larger chunk of story, and while excellent books in their own right, end up less character-driven. The novel is perfect for those interested in learning more about a misunderstood figure in Greek mythology, and Casati will be an author to watch in the years to come. This dazzling debut is an imaginative retelling of Ancient Greece’s most infamous protagonist’s life and legacy.
- Fruugo ID: 258392218-563234582
- EAN: 764486781913
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