Reviews tagging 'Death'

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati

121 reviews

youmns's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Very heavy-handed with the message that women are maligned and regarded as less than men, that women's pain and anger are minimized while men's wrongs are amplified.

The writing was pretty good, the narration was very good. 2 stars because I've read much better reimaginings along the same vein - Circe, Ariadne, The Song of Achilles - and this one fell flat. I think I'd have enjoyed it significantly more if it was among the first I read, rather than the latest.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Death of parent, and War

jesslynnking's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and War

clys_nyx's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, and Murder

missvanillanilla's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Sexual harassment, and War

fkshg8465's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I liked the story. I like most of the mythology. I did not love the storytelling. While I appreciated the retelling through her eyes, I spent way too much time looking up characters I couldn't remember from my Classics studies from over 30 years ago - the key motivation for what happened to Iphiginia, for example and all the other minor characters - which were historically known and which ones the author created. However, I think if the author writes a follow up of Elektra's story, I might be readier for it (hopefully, I'll remember a lot of what I researched today).

I've always hated Freud (he's a horrible misogynist), and of course I cannot help but think of him with the name Elektra. I hope Elektra's voice is claimed for herself as well in a way that lets Freud suck it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

tiiiger35's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Poor Clytemnestra, what a tortured soul. Forced by men to live a life of loss, brutality and grief. All she is left with, is her vengeance. She is intensely brave, strong willed and loving. She fiercely loves her siblings and children. I commend her for always supporting and loving her sister Helen, to me, it seemed Helen was the catalyst to all of Clytemnestras struggles. Had Helen refused Menalus as she was asked to do, perhaps Clytemnestra would have lived happily with her own little family. 
If anything, this story reminds me how cruel life can be and that our actions, always have consequences for us & those around us.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War

blissofalife's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I knew nothing about the myth before starting, so I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Clytemnestra. I also loved all the cameos of mythic heroes and legends. 

She’s not obviously likeable, which was refreshing. Clystemnestra is full of rage for much of the book, and spends much of the time plotting revenge. I loved how sure of herself she was, even if I didn’t always like her actions. A very strong character.

Overall slow paced with large time jumps, but an enjoyable read.

I really loved the letters in the middle of the book, I liked the window into the lives and thoughts of her loved ones and the outside perspective it gave, I would’ve loved to see more of that.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Slavery, Blood, War, and Classism

Minor: Domestic abuse, Incest, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

livcashmere's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed reading this but I think it’s my least favourite in the ‘mythology from a female perspective’ genre. It started off really slow, but began to pick up its pacing about a third of the way in. I loved the way Clytemnstra and Helen’s relationship was depicted. I think the relationships between the female characters throughout this novel is it’s most redeeming quality. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Grief, Murder, and War

literariumterrarium's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail