Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati

45 reviews

beanformation's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Incest, Rape, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Animal death, Lesbophobia, Murder, Homophobia, War, Child abuse, and Pedophilia

crazytourists_books's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I had high hopes for this book; Clytemnestra is one of the few and strongest women in greek myths and stories. I wanted to read a book that she narrates. I wanted to hear her. I wanted something new. 
There was nothing new in this book, nothing we didn't know already. 
My hopes were crashed.
I was also disappointed that in a 467-page long book, there wasn't room for her death. 
And another thing... The use of greek words, is not always right. Endings are wrong, words that do not make sense... There are even latin words. Come on people, do some proper research, will you? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Blood, Murder, Death, Child death, Rape, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Violence

saskia_ej's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Blood, Physical abuse, Slavery, Child death, Death, Grief, Murder, Rape, and Violence

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• 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

4.25

 Clytemnestra is a fabulous, fiesty feminist mythology retelling centred on the life of Clytemnestra, half-sister of Helen of Troy and wife of Agamemnon, King of Mycenae . In traditional male-centred mythology she is a side character, often portrayed as insane, an evil husband killer. By centering her, following her story, and convincingly imagining the gaps Casati makes Clytemnestra’s thirst for vengeance totally understandable, a valid and almost unavoidable decision for a strong woman, loving mother and powerful Queen. This book is impeccably researched, action packed and full of all the love, desire, violence, tragedy, betrayal and conniving you’d expect from Greek mythology, while also highlighting the toll both patriarchy and warfare extract from women. Totally absorbing from beginning to end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Murder, Rape, and Violence

Moderate: War and Slavery

whomever_0's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

An amazing Greek myth retelling that focuses much women's rage and ambition. Clytemestra is complex and multifaceted and I love her for it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Animal death

Minor: War, Sexual violence, and Slavery

bex4dayz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Sexual violence, Child death, Violence, Lesbophobia, War, and Murder

Moderate: Incest

allyem_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

7.43 CAWPILE score 

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death, Sexual violence, Child death, Gore, Blood, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: War, Torture, Suicide, Slavery, Incest, and Alcoholism

abibliophobic_nerd's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

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

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

jessrapearce's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Death, Incest, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, Grief, Physical abuse, and Slavery

Moderate: War

Minor: Self harm and Suicide