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A review by ramreadsagain
Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an advance proof copy of this book.
Clytemnestra has long been one of the more vilified female characters in Greek myth, often known only as the scheming adulterer who murders her husband. Casati takes us beyond this one-line story and gives us 400+ pages of Clytemnestra's life, and it is glorious.
We follow her childhood as a Spartan princess and see how her upbringing lays the foundations of her belief system. I enjoyed the family dynamics and subplots in this section as well as a look at younger versions of some of the key players of the Trojan War (particularly Helen and Odysseus). What follows is a series of betrayals and losses that turn Clytemnestra into what she is more known as: a woman seeking revenge.
It is incredibly well-written and I loved how it balanced a discussion on the toxicity and futility of the cycle of revenge while also making us side with Clytemnestra and feel her bloodthirst.
The only other greek retelling book I have read is The Song of Achilles so I don't know if this is commonly done or not, but I do like how in Clytemnestra the gods aren't necessarily 'real'. They don't feature as characters, and there is even an alternate (though ambiguous) explanation for Helen's father (who in mythology is Zeus).
The only issue I had with this was some pacing troubles in the first half, and two years-long time skips that mean we don't actually see the immediate repercussions/reactions to two of the most traumatic events of Clytemnestra's life. I understand that her long-weaved vengeance is the main event but would still have liked to see some more short-term reactions.
Clytemnestra has long been one of the more vilified female characters in Greek myth, often known only as the scheming adulterer who murders her husband. Casati takes us beyond this one-line story and gives us 400+ pages of Clytemnestra's life, and it is glorious.
We follow her childhood as a Spartan princess and see how her upbringing lays the foundations of her belief system. I enjoyed the family dynamics and subplots in this section as well as a look at younger versions of some of the key players of the Trojan War (particularly Helen and Odysseus). What follows is a series of betrayals and losses that turn Clytemnestra into what she is more known as: a woman seeking revenge.
It is incredibly well-written and I loved how it balanced a discussion on the toxicity and futility of the cycle of revenge while also making us side with Clytemnestra and feel her bloodthirst.
The only other greek retelling book I have read is The Song of Achilles so I don't know if this is commonly done or not, but I do like how in Clytemnestra the gods aren't necessarily 'real'. They don't feature as characters, and there is even an alternate (though ambiguous) explanation for Helen's father (who in mythology is Zeus).
The only issue I had with this was some pacing troubles in the first half, and two years-long time skips that mean we don't actually see the immediate repercussions/reactions to two of the most traumatic events of Clytemnestra's life. I understand that her long-weaved vengeance is the main event but would still have liked to see some more short-term reactions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Incest, Suicide, and Death of parent