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A review by thesawyerbean
Elektra by Jennifer Saint
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
3.5
I believe in Clytemnestra supremacy. Retitle the book in her namesake, I implore you.
Jennifer Saint is a very talented writer, and knows how to weave a story in a way that is both enthralling and poetic. I loved the style of multiple narrators in <i> Ariadne</i>, and the style is utilised to good effect in this book as well.
However, the book, while not boring, did become very monotonous. Especially considering that for the most part, the three narrators weren’t directly involved in the central events of the Trojan war: it came across as detached and in some ways simply a recounting of events rather than a perspective (with perhaps the marked exception of Cassandra’s point of view). What made this book was the building of tension, expectation, excitement for a justified vengeful climax.
The culmination of the majority of the book, the scene which was meant to release the tension built up the entire novel, was over so quickly. It didn’t feel particularly satisfying, and then you had to read on for another hundred pages of Elektra ruminating and marinating in her venom.
On that note, Cassandra was killed off halfway through, and Elektra was just acting like an irrational brat which made her point of view extremely agitating to get through; leaving only Clytemnestra’s account which was the best anyway - so in conclusion this is a Clytemnestra stan account.
I will never say no to a Jennifer Saint book, because they’re always interesting, always wonderfully written and always enjoyable. But if I’m honest, I wish this one hadn’t dragged as long as it did; perhaps the pacing would’ve been more optimal if it was 50 pages shorter.
Jennifer Saint is a very talented writer, and knows how to weave a story in a way that is both enthralling and poetic. I loved the style of multiple narrators in <i> Ariadne</i>, and the style is utilised to good effect in this book as well.
However, the book, while not boring, did become very monotonous. Especially considering that for the most part, the three narrators weren’t directly involved in the central events of the Trojan war: it came across as detached and in some ways simply a recounting of events rather than a perspective (with perhaps the marked exception of Cassandra’s point of view). What made this book was the building of tension, expectation, excitement for a justified vengeful climax.
The culmination of the majority of the book, the scene which was meant to release the tension built up the entire novel, was over so quickly. It didn’t feel particularly satisfying, and then you had to read on for another hundred pages of Elektra ruminating and marinating in her venom.
On that note, Cassandra was killed off halfway through, and Elektra was just acting like an irrational brat which made her point of view extremely agitating to get through; leaving only Clytemnestra’s account which was the best anyway - so in conclusion this is a Clytemnestra stan account.
I will never say no to a Jennifer Saint book, because they’re always interesting, always wonderfully written and always enjoyable. But if I’m honest, I wish this one hadn’t dragged as long as it did; perhaps the pacing would’ve been more optimal if it was 50 pages shorter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and War