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**

Title: Outrun the Wind
Author: Elizabeth Tammi
Publication Date: 11/27/2018
I have to say this book surprised me in the end. A word of warning: if you are a true classicist and do not like interpretation of classical mythology don't read this book. The author has her own take on the Atalanta mythology and her life, not just the races.

I admit I stopped reading at chapter 2 at first. I had to put it down and come back later. It was the writing that put me off. Epic sagas are difficult to write and multiple POV's can be an added strain instead of flavor. But, when you retell the same events from different POV'S in great detail...the adage the devil is in the details holds true. The devil this time was boredom.

Yet, finally I got over it and pushed through. I was pleasantly surprised. A rich story filled with societal differences and challenges. Spiritual diversity and dare I say it: sexism bordering on misogyny but not as we know it today. Last but not least...LOVE! Different kinds but love nonetheless.

The author really put time, energy, and life, into her telling of the epic story of Atalanta. It may start slow and yes at times the details are too much but the heart and passion of the characters still shines through.

A blessing to all the LGBTQ friends - This book is fantastic! I appreciate and respect the way the author handled the romance, and all the historical elements in the book. With a brilliant plot and loveable characters, what is there not to love?

I typically know if I will like a book about 50-100 pages in. With this book, I had a hard time getting past the first 10. The writing style is different than books that I am used to so I pushed along and decided to give the book a chance. The f/f relationship was cute and I was pleased that it wasn't the focus of the story since I don't typically enjoy LGBT romances. I was a little disappointed in the Ancient Greece aspect of the book. I almost feel as if you could change the names of the characters and it would be just like any other fantasy novel out there. This book had so much potential but for me, fell short of my expectations.

“Among all these men, these famous warriors and princes and heroes- I made it here. I will show them what my name means. Atalanta, equal in weight.”

3.5/5 stars

There are several key tales in Greek myth that converge the key players of their time into one setting. Many people write about the Trojan War, and sometimes, they will mention Jason and the Argonauts. But....in my experience, people rarely write about the Caledonian Boar. People rarely write about Atalanta, and that’s a shame, because her story is so unique if you consider it in context of ancient Greece: She’s a woman who refuses to take a man’s hand in marriage. She’s strong and intimidating enough to earn a place among the heroes of Greece. She’s a freaking badass is what I’m saying here, and Elizabeth Tammi has brought her to life in Outrun the Wind.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I came across this book, but I definitely know what to say about it now that I’ve finished it. Outrun the Wind will tell you a tale of Atalanta like you’ve never heard before, and it will do that by *drumroll* giving us a wlw romance.

!!!! yes !!!!

So here’s what to expect from this book:
- two strong heroines
- a cute platonic m/f friendship
- horses (yes)
- appollo being a f*ckboy
- cute ! romance !
- girls escaping from sh*tty men and misogyny

I wished that even more time was given into the development of Kahani (our other main character) and Atalanta’s relationship, but I think the author did a good job at explaining their importance to each other. I definitely feel that Outrun the Wind’s strongest point is in its characterization: it was so easy to want to root for the characters in this book.

Surprisingly, I think this book could have benefited from more content. Ancient Greece and its elaborate mythology is always a boundless setting to explore, and I think that Elizabeth Tammi could have developed more of her own unique interpretation of that atmosphere. More elaboration on the progression of the plot could have helped us to understand the journey in this book, too.

Overall, I think this book was a short, enjoyable read. It’s a good debut.

(and gdi, i want more now)

*furiously tries to look for more wlw greek mythology novels*

***I will post my review to Goodreads in the month of publication

The blurb and cover made me want to read this book so bad. The first 30% were confusing to me, some things were vague and didn't make sense and I just didn't understand, I guess. After that it got better, but the story still didn't trigger that much in me. I see pros in this book as well and I do think that this is an okay debut for Elizabeth Tammi.

Pros
Title: I'm always so satisfied when I understand the title for a book. The title fits this book and when you read it, you will understand at some point why the title was chosen.
Love story: I love me a good love story, when people get to know each other and then fall in love, instead of seeing each other and feeling the butterflies already. This was build up slowly and that's what I liked.
Truth: Kahina MUST tell the truth at all times and that was such a cool aspect in this book that I haven't seen a lot yet. It was used in a nice way to give the story a little bit more.
Writing process: What I appreciated was the author telling you about the writing process at the very end of the book. I felt like I got to know the author better and I liked the way she was thinking about the book and the research she did. I almost gave the book 4 stars, because this addition gave me a bit more insight. I didn't give the book 4 stars, because it wasn't really part of the book.

Cons
Confusing: There were a lot of names and places that were a bit confusing, as well as the story in the beginning of the book. I couldn't get into it the story for the full 100%, because there were some really big question marks.
POVS: Another confusing part. Were following 2 girls in this book. Every time I was switching POV's I had to tell myself a couple of times which POV I was reading now and sometimes I mixed them up and had to start the chapter all over. I felt that there was a lack of personality in the inner conversation and feelings about things. The writing style was exactly the same in the chapters, maybe the author could've chosen for something unique in both POV's.
Crying: At some point in the book there is a lot of crying and tears and I'm like: "Why are these fierce warriors crying?". It didn't really make sens and I felt that it was unnecessary for the story and that particular scene.

Overall
This book has potential and Tammi as an author triggers me. I am curious what's to come next. I don't know if this book was confusing for just me, or if more people felt like that. I'm curious to read more reviews and see others point of view. If you like Greek Mythology and LGBT stories, this could be a good read for you.

I enjoyed this, but not as much as I expected to.

The idea of the story really hooked me. And I love books with multiple narrators/character voices. But here, the voices weren't distinct. I honestly wouldn't have been able to tell the difference of they weren't labeled.

I did enjoy the inclusion of Greek myths and legends. It's one of my favorite forms of literature and I love retellings and new takes.

I thought it was a quick, enjoyable read.

Thank you for an ARC of this book for an honest review.

I hate to say that I just could not get into this book. Everything about it seemed to be calling my name, the cover, the synopsis, the cover....but it just fell flat for me and I had such a hard time actually reading it. I kept putting it down and it took days for me to pick it up again. I think I just didn't feel fully connected with any of the characters. It's not to say that others will love this, it just didn't seem to be the right one for me.

This book seriously surprised me with how entertaining it was!

It's set in ancient Greece, when there were Gods and demigods and all that jazz, which do play a roll in the book, but it definitely read like a normal YA Fantasy book so don't let that scare you off if you're not into ancient Greece!

PLOT:
I found the plot to be fast paced enough that it kept me engaged, but I would say it leaned on the slower pace side of the spectrum - which is definitely not a bad thing! I like a good slow burn read where the author takes the time to flush out the scenery and setting and gives you some day-to-day normalcy that some fast past books lack. A lot of people probably don't like that in a book, but I definitely do! However I do think it was a little bit repetitive for the middle section, and I would have liked a little more action or drama in that portion of the book.

WRITING:
I loved that it was descriptive and filled with imagery without being metaphoric or pretentious. I will say one thing, you can tell it's the author's first published book. And by that I mean that it was a little basic in writing style and I could sometimes predict what people were going to say or how they would act. But that's just something that improves with time and experience so I by no means hold this against the author/book; I seriously applaud her for her work and all that must have went into writing and researching for this book.

CHARACTERS:
Guys, this was a LESBIAN FANTASY, HECK YES!!
I really enjoyed both characters, Kahina and Atalanta, and loved getting both of their perspectives! Sometimes they felt a little too similar, and I would have liked to see more distinct personality traits in them each, but seriously they were a joy to read about.
Atalanta's hard on the outside but gooey on the inside and Kahina was similar yet a little less hard and a little less gooey.
I loved their relationship and guys, this was slowwww burn romance. I loved that about it, but also wouldn't have minded seeing a few more lovey-dovey romance moments hahaha.

OVERALL:
I really loved it! I hope there is a sequel because I need to see what happens to these characters and need more romance scenes between my two gals!!!

This was the first Greek mythology retelling I've read in a Young Adult novel and I enjoyed it a lot.

Atalanta and Kahina's character developments were great and unlike some reviewers, I found their voices resonated quite differently once you got to know them. Atalanta's stoic realism is what proved this a success for me.

I would have liked more detailed descriptions. I know a bit about Greek mythology but I wanted more of my general questions answered. I wanted some deeper world building.

The romance was a sweet cherry on top, but I would preferred if it was more front and center. However, I am a romance novel reader so I do like heavier romance themes.

I would likely read another book by this author and I thought it was very well done as a first debut.

This was a fast read for me. Interesting and well written, I was initially intrigued by the storyline (I love Greek Mythology) and for the most part felt that that author retold her variation well. I was disappointed with the ending. Out didn't feel right with the initial part of the book. However, the author did an excellent job at character development and descriptions.

*I would like to thank the author/publisher/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review *

I love Greek mythology. I just finished The Song of Achilles and Circe by Madeline Miller and was just itching for more! Out Run the Wind came just at the right opportune time!

Tammi did a wonderful job at bringing Artemis’s Huntresses to life with vivid description and characters you can connect with. Kahina kept to herself and seemed distant and cold until the day she saved Atalanta and opened up. She’s strong and brave and is willing to do anything not just for Artemis, but Atalanta. And those two's relationship is epic! It was slow and wasn’t too heavily drawn on in the plot, which made it so cute. I loved the fact that the POV was both girls and we got to be in their heads on what they were thinking, especially about each other.

The only problem I had with the book was that I wanted more Ancient Greece. More setting and description. Given that the reader knows its set at this time, I would have preferred to see more of the descriptions of the cities and surrounding areas on Kahina’s adventure. Of the culture and mythology.

Should you read it? Over all it was a great read and if you love Madeline Miller’s book this book could be for you!

This novel was a little rough around the edges, but I liked the overall story. With the success of Circe, any books retelling Greek myths are bound to interest readers. The characters were a little underdeveloped, but it was a good read, and I would recommend this to teens at my library.