rodiemom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book is an interesting retelling of the Trojan War from the perspective of Clytemnestra, Agamemnon’s vengeful wife. The first half of the book slowly sets up the marriage of Helen to Menelaus and Clytemnestra to Agamemnon before it ever approaches Paris and Helen’s running off to trigger the war. The slow build has a lot more dialogue and bickering between the sisters as children and young women than I was expecting. It felt like the backstories of their childhood were dragging on too long, trying to compel the reader to empathize with the women and point out the misogyny of ancient Greece despite the strength of Spartan women. The author did that well, but often wandered into distracting details that takes the reader away from the point.
In all, I really enjoyed the book and especially the story told from the perspective of the women left behind in Greece. I just would have liked it a little more sharply edited. Definitely an enjoyable and worthwhile read.
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Rape, and War
bex4dayz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Sexual violence, Child death, Violence, Lesbophobia, War, and Murder
Moderate: Incest
allyem_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
I thought this was an excellent retelling of Clytemnestra’s story. I’m well versed in her myth—Aeschylus’s Oresteia was a particular focus of mine in school—so nothing in this book was technically new information to me, but I enjoyed how the author told it. The voice was very clear, vengeful and strong. Very “good for her” vibes. I mean, Clytemnestra is the original “good for her” character, really. Her motivations always made sense and she remained level-headed throughout the entire novel, which isn’t always the case in newer retellings. I’m surprised at the ending, though: it felt rather hopeful, which of course doesn’t really match the source material, but I’m not mad about it.
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death, Sexual violence, Child death, Gore, Blood, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: War, Torture, Suicide, Slavery, Incest, and Alcoholism
quinzel_14's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Violence
stacy_27_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Rape, Death, and Murder
Minor: Child death
mekowaletti's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Child death, and War
jessicalarson125's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Child death, Grief, and Death
Moderate: War and Blood
Minor: Alcohol and Rape
jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I don’t have much critique. It paid homage to the odyssey and its characters a lot so is perfect for fans of the classics and all their drama but I’d say a great starter for those new to the myths as it had a family tree and is a clear and concise overview of the worlds of Greek myth
Graphic: Murder, Grief, War, Violence, Misogyny, Death of parent, Death, Kidnapping, Blood, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Child death, and Sexual assault
abibliophobic_nerd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Pregnancy, Grief, Violence, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Child death, Slavery, Death, Toxic relationship, War, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Blood, Death of parent, Outing, and Murder
Minor: Cannibalism
missgarceau's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Deportation, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Slavery, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Hate crime, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Cannibalism, Classism, Sexism, War, Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Animal death, Body horror, Infidelity, Mental illness, Torture, and Trafficking