I've been mutuals with this author on Tumblr for a couple of years, and I was so happy for her when she announced that one of the novels she'd written was being published! I was even more excited when I found out that it featured a f/f relationship with Greek mythology. Unfortunately, this was not the book for me.

I enjoyed the characters Tammi has written. Atalanta is strong-willed and independent, Kahina passionate and willful. They're all fairly fleshed out and have intricate backstories. I didn't know much about the Atalanta story other than her races, so I learned some more about her.

The writing was really the thing that did it for me. It took me weeks to finish this because unfortunately, I did not mesh with it; it was difficult for me to get into the book, and I was often bored. There are two points of view, Atalanta's and Kahina's, but they both read the same and they're both first person. I mean, I would be halfway through a chapter, and I couldn't tell who was narrating.

Also, this was mostly plot and not romance, which is probably something I shouldn't be complaining about, but the summary writes it out to seem that the romance was part of the plot. It felt like it was supposed to be a slow burn but didn't really have the build-up that the slow burn trope usually has. Don't get me wrong, I did like what parts of it we got, but I felt like it could have been written better and fleshed out more.

Outrun the Wind was not the book for me, but that is my personal opinion. I think you'll like it if you like Greek mythology! And having a f/f relationship is fairly rare in YA right now, let alone in a mythology-inspired novel. Give it a try if you're looking for these aspects.

August 3, 2018 – Finished Reading 3 Show more
Review I was given this book by Netgalley for my honest opinion, these are my thoughts.
First let me preface I minored in Humanities and the Greek myths I read from multiple perspectives. I was soooo excited to get this as a galley. The cover is gorgeous, and the synopsis gave the impression this would be a diverse LGBTQ..with authentic representation of Greek history and mythology. I kept reading past the first few chapters waiting for a plot to solidify past Artemis being angry about her boar being killed ..it never happened. The characters were very underwhelming. .Artemis who could have been crafted as larger than life didn't come across as a true diety. She came across as more of a feared captain of arms in a cult of female followers. The two main characters Atalanta (why..why name her this it was awkward ) and Kahina didn't seem to be truly aware of what they were doing much of the time. When faced with a challenge Atalanta runs away.She is stated to be an expert archer...yet freezes when hunting and takes credit for the death of the boar when this was simply not true. The background didn't FEEL like ancient Greece..there were no contexts or description to make you feel anything other than ea hunting trip in the woods..the towns could have been set anywhere. Disappointing, I gave it 2 out of five stars.
Revamped a bit it could appeal to middle grades who haven't been exposed to the myths yet,YA readers will just be disappointed. (less)

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Outrun the Wind was really good!

This story was a good one. I can tell the author did her research on greek mythology!

Outrun the Wind follows the story of Atlanta and Kahina.

Not gonna say more for spoilers sake, but I would definitely pick this one up when it comes out.

Thank to NetGalley and North Star Editions for letting me borrow this!

Outrun the Wind was everything I dreamed my Classics degree would be like (and wasn't), so it was like age-old wish fulfilment for me. If I could give one book from this year to teenage me, this would be it. It's full of amazing women making choices for themselves -- amazing QUEER women -- and it digs into the most interesting and magical parts of Greek mythology without ever feeling preachy or dry. Feminism! Queer ladies! Adventure and agency and falling in love in a world with gods and goddesses and prophecies and danger! Elizabeth Tammi plays with the parts of Greek mythology that made me fall in love with Classics in the first place, but insists there's a place for women to love each other and be happy: this book was a breath of fresh air and I loved it.

I enjoyed the #girlpower in this book! The story introduced too many important characters and didn't develop each of them in an equal manner IMO. I'm not sure if this book is part one of a series. And while I love how the females here have been given the spotlight, the author takes male bashing a bit too far. I really like the plot and different take on Greek Mythology though. I also love Tammi's writing style. The description of her settings and emotions is so very vivid.

Yet somehow, the beginning failed to hook me in. I gave this book 3 stars because of the number of days and tries it took me to complete it.

I received this book in return for an honest review. What follows are the thoughts, feelings, and general impressions I had while reading this book.

Outrun the Wind is an ambitious and vivid novel set in ancient Greece. It sets out to tell a riveting story of love, betrayal, and defying the odds. Overall, I enjoyed this book. The characters of Atalanta and Kahina are believable and rich, and their feelings for each other - both animosity and love - feel real. The supporting characters, divine and mortal, have their own goals and desires, so I felt like the leapt off the page rather than standing as filler for the story.

I’m giving this book 3 stars because, even though the story is enjoyable, and the LGBTQ+ element is important, there were problems with the execution and the story. Without giving too many spoilers, this book starts off with a bang. We see our characters in a high-tension situation - Atalanta taking credit for slaying the Calydonian Boar, and Kahina, after saving Atalanta, getting banished by Artemis. The backstories of the characters, and the way they both got to where they are in the beginning, and the event that sparks their future encounters...it all feels rather broad and grand, and I had high hopes of an epic story. But then the story just sort of...settles into a rather predictable path, with a narrower focus on the expectations of an aging father and a rather vague fear of “The Past.” The progression of the plot and actions of the characters had quite a few logical mistakes, and it kept me from wanting to keep reading in parts. I felt like the climax made up for some of the slog of the middle, but ultimately it felt empty and lack-luster. So many things aren’t explained, or glossed over, and I felt like many of the themes were half-baked. And that includes the love story. I just didn’t believe in it. It felt almost like a last-minute thing, thrown in there to give the characters a happier ending. I did not get any sense of foreshadowing at the beginning of the story, and so when the characters begin to fall in love, it felt forced. I so wanted it to feel real, but it just didn’t deliver as forceful an emotional punch as it promised.

Ultimately, that’s my final feelings on this book. Entertaining, lovely, heart-pounding, but in the end, it left me wanting more. The author did a lot of work with her research and world-building, and it shows. I would definitely read more from this author, she has a lot of passion in her writing and characters. I hope her next work shows more of that passion.

Quick thoughts:
- Greek myth retelling of Atalanta
- Hate-to-love f/f romance
- Dual POV w/o distinct voices
- Questionable portrayal of popular Greek figures
- Angsty & boring
- Weakly written & forgettable
- Neither impressed nor blown away
- Trigger/Content warning: implications of sexual assault

* Note: Full review to come near its publication date.

I’ve been wanting to read Outrun the Wind ever since Elizabeth Tammi said that she was writing a book about Atalanta and lesbians. I’ve been following Elizabeth on tumblr since 2013, primarily for the book and Percy Jackson content on it. I knew from reading her fanfiction that she is a good writer, and I had high expectations for Outrun the Wind, but it met and surpassed my expectations.

Outrun the Wind is a retelling of the story of Atalanta from Greek mythology, and follows, in a first-person dual perspective point-of-view, Atalanta and Kahina, one of Artemis’s huntresses in this story. Atalanta is a huntress of legendary speed and fighting ability, who was raised by hunters and later recruited by Prince Meleager to join the hunt of heroes for the Calydonian Boar, which the goddess Artemis had sent as revenge against King Oeneus for not honoring her. Kahina is one of the huntresses Artemis sent to follow the boar and ensure its safety, but in a moment of compassion, she violated her mission. As punishment, Artemis required her to restore a temple of Apollo in Arkadia to one honoring her, and there Kahina’s path crosses once more with Atalanta’s, where Atalanta is forced by her father to choose between suitors. Here is where Atalanta announces the races that are told of in mythology, in which Atalanta refused to marry any man who could not beat her in a foot race.

Atalanta and Kahina are two of the strongest female characters I’ve ever read of, and two of the only ones I liked as characters. Atalanta is a female hero who is driven by desire for pride and respect – she is equal and often superior to the other Greek princes and heroes, but they don’t take her seriously, thinking of her as a prize to be won. She desperately wants respect and to be her own person, but she is also compassionate. Kahina is a huntress with mysterious ties to Apollo, and is equal to any man in fighting abilities, but her main goal is to escape being under the thumb of the gods. She is empathetic and has a dry sense of humor. Kahina is also half-Ethiopian, but her racial heritage is definitely not a defining characteristic in this book.

The story itself was great, right from the beginning. It immediately hooks you in and does not let you go. As soon as I started it, I wished that I didn’t have to go to work the next day, even though I’d only read the first chapter. It has good pacing, nicely weaving in the action/adventure, political intrigue, and romance plot lines. The characters were compelling, including the secondary and side characters, and villains. Character development was also spot-on, especially with King Iasus. I knew it was coming, but I liked him so much when I met him, I didn’t want him to betray me like that.

Outrun the Wind is a spectacular debut for Elizabeth Tammi, and if you are looking for a book based on Greek mythology, with strong female characters, or LGBTQ characters, you should definitely check it out. Or just check it out as it’s an awesome book as a whole.

This book was hard for me to get into after the opening of the story line. It just seemed to get slow and long winded. Then it picked the speed back up and became quire interesting again. The author knew what she was talking about but at the same time put her own twist on the lore and mythology. I loved that. She kept true to the original lore but added her own little twists that did not interrupt or harm the lore and mythology. The characters were a little sketchy written up but you could fill in the details that the author left out. I would have like to have more of the back story on Kahina but that might be another book or a forth coming book. Atalanta was a very interesting character and deserved more backstory then the bit we got in my opinion.

Overall this was an interesting book though I have to be honest, I don't know if I will read another of her books. This one did not really make me want to read another, but that may change if I look at another one of hers. I rarely choose a book based on an author but more on the story it is supposed to or going to tell.

I was very excited to read this book as the synopsis sounded great. Unfortunately this one just didn't connect with me. I didn't think there was enough plot to keep me fully engaged. It just kinda felt generic and both main characters seemed exactly the same. It wasn't horrible by any means, it just didn't do it for me.

I’m not overly clued up when it comes to ancient Greek mythology, but this didn’t dull my enjoyment of Outrun The Wind at all.

I mean, what’s not to love about kickass girl warriors trying to find their place in the world and falling for each other in the process?

I love that this was a slow burn romance, and that part of the connection between Atalanta and Kahina felt real, but sometimes I wasn’t sold on whether it was a romantic connection or something else entirely. It definitely strayed into frenemy territory at points and therefore the payoff between the two felt a little undeserved.

The power dynamics however were interesting, and I love that no matter other people tried to change them, they stood true to their values.

Outrun The Wind deals with some complex issues in a relatively delicate manner and isn’t afraid to showcase strong, complex female characters. For that, it’s a must read.

I don't know much about Greek mythology other than the basics, so Atalanta was someone I'd never heard of. Didn't even realise the book was based on the author's interpretation of the stories about her until I read the notes at the end. I researched her after I finished reading this, but I much prefer this version of her life! Bit gutted that Kahina is purely fictional though and that Atalanta actually did end up married to the guy who won the race. I connected with all the characters, have a soft spot for Atalanta's brother and was really rooting for Atalanta and Kahina. Wasn't sure what sort of connection it was they had at first, but I'm glad it turned out the way it did.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I adored the fierce female characters in this book. It was altogether a pretty good book but I just couldn’t seem to get into it. Maybe partly because the reader I was using kept messing up and moving me back multiple pages. I would still recommend this book to anyone who like fierce female leads

Outrun the Wind was a good book.

The story is a f/f retelling of a famous greek myth. The problem is it reads more like a generic fantasy. I wouldnt say it was based on anything in particular and besides the names and references didnt quite read with a greek aesthetic.

But it was still good. It is a good fantasy story. Its solid if you're looking for some time to escape and be in a new world. The romance isnt the focal point, which is nice for me. Sometimes I like my fantasy to be first and foremost a fantasy with a romance subplot and less a romance wkth a fantasy subplot, if that makes sense? So it was refreshing in that way.

The plot moves along with above average writing that is very polished. The only issue being that sometimes its hard to feel like there are two separate POV's. The writing stays the same through both without the voice changing.

Overall it is a great career beginning. I would recommend it to anyone big on light fantasy or looking for an afternoon escape!

I enjoyed this book. A huntress of Artemis defies her and is sent away to prove herself. She is in danger of breaking the other rule and falling in love with the princess she was sent to protect.

4.5 stars!

I enjoyed it! A fresh new tale of greek mythology!

The writing style was fluid and both the character development of Atalanta and Kahina were great!

I had a great time reading this!

Edit: I just added my full spoiler-free review for this book! The link is attached below!

This book is a YA & LGBT spin on the story of the legendary Atalanta. I liked that it followed her story, because it was new to me and it made me feel like getting into running again. A famous huntress, Atalanta joins several ancient Greek heroes to kill a boar created by Artemis. Events transpire that one of the maidens of Artemis's hunt is sent on a quest, and crosses paths with Atalanta. There is conflict between mortals and between gods. The book was OK, but there were several points that bugged me almost from the beginning of the book - we hear that Atalanta is an amazing huntress without any proof, the character that instigates the event that underpins the book and the ensuing relationship never says her reasoning for doing so, the conflict between the two main characters at the beginning and then the romance that followed seemed a bit manufactured, in general characters seemed underdeveloped, and the pacing was slow at times.

So the other day, i was able to snag an arc of Outrun the Wind by Elizabeth Tammi for a honest review!

I am a lover of mythology and this book definitely brought me that. Elizabeth Tammi clearly did lots of research to make this book as accurate and amazing as she possible could. This book was quick and definitely an easy read, especially perfect for the summer time.

The story follows two girls, both huntresses. One who belongs to the hunt of Artemis named Kahina and the other named Atalanta who discovers she is a lost princess/royalty.

Since the story was told from 2 POVs it got kinda confusing sometimes but i was able to sort out who was talking after a bit.

In the book, Atalanta, with the help of Kahina creates a foot race challenge to avoid marrying the suitors that her father brought to the kingdom. Atalanta, the fastest in the lands, races all the suitors that come her way but unable to race the last. This part is definitely where a major part of the myth comes into play! you don’t really need to know the greek myth of Atalanta before hand but if you do, it will create an even greater depth in the story.

Elizabeth Tammi did a wonderful job of creating a old greek style fantasy world. I loved how the greek myth, Atalanta, was used in this story since its quite and uncommon myth.

Overall this book was filled with twists and turns! although it was her debut novel, it was jam packed with greek myths and interesting plots. A 4 star read for me! I would definitely recommend this to whoever is a fan of greek mythology, fantasy or LGBT reads.

This book draw me in at first because of the cover – it’s beautiful. I kind of want to have that in my shelf some day.

And then the description. I love mythology and I love retellings of myths, especially when they involve the ladies of myths falling in love with ladies and/or getting their happy endings.

This book ended up being very different from what I expected it would be, but that is neither bad or better. It was different than I imagined, but I still liked it very much.

I liked the aesthetic, the gods walking amongst humans and badass warrior ladies. At times I thought the characterization of Atalanta was a bit off (in a way that after we met her again at Arkadia, she didn’t feel like the same person we’ve seen before), but I liked both main characters and some of the side characters. And the oracle-storyline was a pretty cool detail.

Oh and all the men are losing against the girls (unless they’re cheating), which I appreciate. And I sure didn’t mind Atalanta stabbing a guy for Kahina.


One thing tho – for me, it kind of feels like a book that’s a setup for a longer series. Like this first book where the characters meet and the reader gets to know them and they grow together by overcoming a (in the bigger picture of the series) minor challenge and NOW we have a common basis for the main story to unfold.

That’s not supposed to be a real critique, it’s not like the book itself feels unfinished, it’s just how I felt after finishing it. Like we have the introduction done, we have established how the world in this story-verse works and met some gods and now our heroes are off to their adventures, that we will read about soon.

… what I want to say is, will there be a second book??

“Outrun the Wind” is Elizabeth Tammi’s debut novel. It’s a fast paced Greek myth retelling that I flew through in one sitting. Although the myth retelling part is kind of loose (something I hadn’t been aware of until after I’ve read it… someone needs to dust off her knowledge of mythology!), this is a story of two young women whose paths cross at the most inopportune of moments but because of how it happens, what leads to it and what repercussions it bears for the future, it also inadvertently saves their lives from unkind fates in a world ruled by law of men.

The story is told from two points of view and as someone who is quite sick of dual POV narration, I also think it worked perfectly here. Atalanta and Kahida are each other’s polar opposites as their agendas are seemingly too far away from one another for any partnership to blossom there. That’s where you’re wrong, though.
Atalanta is desperate to prove herself as a skilled archer and Kahida, being a huntress for Artemis’ elite squad, has got lots to prove, too. Their paths did meet and they, as it turns out, can find common ground if they work through whatever differences they have, use the similarities to their advantage and unite against their oppressors. Their journey of getting there is showcased by the dual POV approach.

It was a good story which kept me engrossed till its very last page. How action packed it was definitely factored in there but regardless of the reason, it was a solid page-turner I’m glad I got the opportunity to read before its release date.

As I said, I wasn’t aware of how the Atalanta’s myth exactly went so the inner workings and influences of the story were all a mystery to me. Of course one could guess and be right about this or that but having now read the actual myth, I’m glad that the author decided to spice things up for the two protagonists and make their struggles the highlight of what I was reading about. Neither one was a pawn or a tool in this story, in turn they were the center of it and their pending happiness and fulfillment the point of the whole book.

I have to say I find it hilarious how much of a villain in modern YA fantasy literature Apollo has become. Greek gods were all self-serving bastards for the most part but no one holds a candle to Apollo’s level of douchery. For someone who is a fan of books that highlight the villains and focus on the grey areas of morality (from recent releases “The Cruel Prince” by Holly Black comes to mind), I have to say I had quite a laugh about it.

Other than my inner struggles regarding Apollo which are beside the point here, I noticed one thing that is actually worth mentioning. Tammi seems to have taken quite a liking to two phrases that stuck with me: “in periphery” (or variations of it) and (to lesser extent) “…fringe my vision”. Now, I am aware that every book has its quirks and every author their favorite (or just frequently used) phrases. Maas keeps saying “the apex of my thighs” and at this point it’s like a space in text, not an actual phrase that you read. It’s funny because I’ve read it on paper so many times I don’t mind the repetition anymore. Tammi’s “periphery” was, and I swear, almost in every chapter of the book. Like, it’s okay, we all see things out of the corner of our eyes! However, I know that in large quantities even a valid observation can annoy an easily irritable reader who notices such things. I’m not one of those irritable ones but I did notice its omnipresence.

I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys Greek mythology with a twist, women uniting for a common goal and a lighter sort of YA. Why lighter? As the protagonists were in great adversity, the drama was obviously there but it wasn’t the tear-jerker kind you have in Madeline Miller’s books. It was something you can find compelling without making it rain on your face.

**massive thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**