Scan barcode
A review by dragoninwinterfell
Hera by Jennifer Saint
dark
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Jennifer Saint's Hera is everything I've ever wanted in a Greek mythology retelling. The gods, including the titular protagonists, are depicted as relatably flawed and messy, but on a massive scale. This is one of the few retellings I have found that seemed to capture the complexity, grandeur, and dysfunction of the Olympian gods.
While many are tired of Greek and Roman mythology retellings, I would argue that this book was an incredibly fresh take on the trend as the novel is told from the perspective of Hera, the common villain in many of the myths. Saint brings Hera to life beautifully, honoring the classic works she was included in while also giving her added dimensions. Rather than white washing the character's actions, Saint gives additional motivations to Hera's choices. Rather than being the one-dimensional jealous wife and wicked stepmother, she is a woman forced into a role she never wanted only to be humiliated again and again. Striking out at her husband and brother only leads to her own failure. So she aims her attacks at easier and more innocent targets: Zeus' illegitimate children and the women he assaults or seduces. Seeing Hera depicted as a heroine in the war against the Titans, a victim of assault and oppression, a vengeful wronged wife who terrorizes women and children, a protector of women, a champion of heroes, etc. all at once was so refreshing.
In addition to Hera's excellent characterization, I also loved how the other female characters were handled. There's a tendency to depicted women as either helpless or all powerful with very little middle ground. Either depiction is reductive, in my opinion since both types leave out complexity and humanity. That's not the case here as even the side characters have layers to them. All of the female characters are unique with their own strengths and challenges. Their relationships with Hera are just as complex as they can be mentors, rivals, friends, enemies, and allies, some of them fluctuating between the roles depending on the circumstances of the moment.
My only complaint about the novel is that we didn't get very much of Hera's life before and during the war against the Titans. Seeing that would have given a firm picture of what Hera was forced to give up while bring forced into the role of wife. That wasn't enough to ruin the book for me though.
I'm rating this a solid five stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While many are tired of Greek and Roman mythology retellings, I would argue that this book was an incredibly fresh take on the trend as the novel is told from the perspective of Hera, the common villain in many of the myths. Saint brings Hera to life beautifully, honoring the classic works she was included in while also giving her added dimensions. Rather than white washing the character's actions, Saint gives additional motivations to Hera's choices. Rather than being the one-dimensional jealous wife and wicked stepmother, she is a woman forced into a role she never wanted only to be humiliated again and again. Striking out at her husband and brother only leads to her own failure. So she aims her attacks at easier and more innocent targets: Zeus' illegitimate children and the women he assaults or seduces. Seeing Hera depicted as a heroine in the war against the Titans, a victim of assault and oppression, a vengeful wronged wife who terrorizes women and children, a protector of women, a champion of heroes, etc. all at once was so refreshing.
In addition to Hera's excellent characterization, I also loved how the other female characters were handled. There's a tendency to depicted women as either helpless or all powerful with very little middle ground. Either depiction is reductive, in my opinion since both types leave out complexity and humanity. That's not the case here as even the side characters have layers to them. All of the female characters are unique with their own strengths and challenges. Their relationships with Hera are just as complex as they can be mentors, rivals, friends, enemies, and allies, some of them fluctuating between the roles depending on the circumstances of the moment.
My only complaint about the novel is that we didn't get very much of Hera's life before and during the war against the Titans. Seeing that would have given a firm picture of what Hera was forced to give up while bring forced into the role of wife. That wasn't enough to ruin the book for me though.
I'm rating this a solid five stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.