A review by asourceoffiction
Elektra by Jennifer Saint
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.0
I've recently been loving Greek novels led by women, and I've already read two others about the Siege of Troy. But I still enjoyed reading about it again. Clytemnestra and Cassandra have both come up in other novels but Elektra's perspective was new, and also adds a level of moral complexity to Clytemnestra's story.
There were definitely some sections that felt repetitive after A Thousand Ships and The Silence of the Girls. But that was entirely down to my experience and no reflection on the writing, which is fantastic.
As Agamemnon returns to Mycenae we entered newer territory, particularly in Elektra and Orestes' stories, and I found myself much more engaged. But like with Ariadne, there is no happy ending or redemption in these stories. There is a sense of futility to the vengeance Clytemnestra and Elektra crave, and an inevitability to their stories.
I'm excited to read Atalanta, which is a completely new story to me.
There were definitely some sections that felt repetitive after A Thousand Ships and The Silence of the Girls. But that was entirely down to my experience and no reflection on the writing, which is fantastic.
As Agamemnon returns to Mycenae we entered newer territory, particularly in Elektra and Orestes' stories, and I found myself much more engaged. But like with Ariadne, there is no happy ending or redemption in these stories. There is a sense of futility to the vengeance Clytemnestra and Elektra crave, and an inevitability to their stories.
I'm excited to read Atalanta, which is a completely new story to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Rape