A review by serendipitysbooks
Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati

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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