This is an amazing retelling of the greek myth of Atalanta.
The writing is great, it flows really well while depicting every character with care and precision, making the story a very compelling one.
The WLW-interracial romance is well developed, enjoyable: I loved the fact that one of them is a biracial lesbian and the other one is bisexual.
This is a great book and I can't wait for the author to publish more books!

So I didn't know this was an lgbt story, what a surprise that was. a good one. about two girls named Atlanta and Kahina. This for me was a solids story! I love Greek mythology so I was happy to read some loosely about that. but it wasn't enough, like it could have had more and I would have loved it even more. I just liked it. that's all. this story is an adventure to go on with these characters. one of the main reason why I requested to read this was because it has Greek mythology inspired. it just didn't live up to the hype I had created in my mind. it started of really promises and then something happens where I was like meh here we go again, another princess. but at the end of the year be sure to go and check this one out, its not terrible. the cover is kick ass I enjoyed that and the witting read fast and not once was I annoyed with how it read, just the plot annoyed me. but again, YA is a tricky genre for me to get into. Overall 3 solid stars.

Since I heard about this book I was so excited about it, even more when I started reading it, and actually, all the way from the first page to the end. I love mythology, I love retellings, I love f/f romances, so Outrun the Wind was everything for me.

I didn't know a lot about Atalanta before so I'm glad I learned so much with just one book. Since this was not a Greek myth retelling about a god or more known heroes, the story felt authentical, I'm not sure I can explain well but there was the right amount of mythology in it. We're in the myth, it's an important part of the story, but it was actually so much more than just that. Like I said, I didn't know a lot about Atalanta but I really enjoyed this take on her story.

I loved both main characters, and especially their relationship. It didn't seem rushed at all, and the mutual respect was really important to me. On their own, Kahina and Atalanta are both strong girls who I admire very much. I would totally enjoy reading more about them.

The book deserves all the stars for its F/F, bi and lesbian representation. Queer Greek mythology is my favourite kind, and Outrun the Wind just. Gets me. It was positively represented, with secondary characters of the Hunt voicing their support, and the way that their affections grew wasn’t painstakingly obvious – slow burn, almost. It was glorious.

The characters were likable and empowering. I loved Kahina, and I loved Atalanta. I loved Kahina and Atalanta. I was pleasantly surprised by their relationship and the way it developed, how gentle, yet fierce, it was. It was all so refreshing. Kahina was just. so. relatable. I need more of this in my life.

Atalanta was a strong female lead who bowed to no man, who wanted to be seen as equal and was just as good, if not better, at archery than the men she fought alongside with. I grew to love her more and more as I read, and I really admired her for her drive.

Kahina. I have so much love for her. I miss her. She was a beautifully developed character and I warmed up to her pretty easily because of it. I thought she was rather mild at the beginning, but she definitely bloomed as the story progressed. She was amusing and quirky, tough and cold, and I just LOVED her.

The writing style was easy-going and not hard to follow. It wasn’t a brick load of information, and the balance between description and dialogue was great. However, I found myself disconnecting with the setting and story because of some word choices or just the way some characters spoke in some parts. Another issue I had whilst reading was that I was unable to tell whose POV I was in the middle of sometimes. Atalanta and Kahina had such distinguishable voices to begin with, but it dwindled in the latter half. Overall, the writing was vivid and imaginative, which is important for a legend/mythology-based story.

I also thought this involved an ample amount of Greek mythology, and I do love anything involving Artemis as she’s one of my favourite goddesses. And the Huntresses – I would do anything for more stories about them, I really would. I loved the focus on women and their presence in a world of men and how empowering some were.

Overall, the worldbuilding was well done, the characters were beautifully alive and their development admirable, and the plot was just…breathtaking. I loved this even more for the relationship between Atalanta and Kahina, a positive representation of bisexual and lesbian women, both sweet and alluring (I need more). This was a really wonderful tale, and I enjoyed every page.

This was a fun book that I flew through. It's told in alternating first-person perspectives of Atalanta, the legendary huntress who has proven herself worthy of joining an otherwise all-male hunt, and Kahina, a member of Artemis' inner circle.

While Atalanta is hunting with a group of men to kill a creature created by Artemis, Kahina and other members of the Hunt are present to observe. They have been given orders by Artemis not to interfere with or help the hunting group - but Kahina disobeys the goddess. Things inevitably go terribly wrong and Kahina is essentially exiled from the Hunt until she can earn back Artemis' favour through a quest.

I love Greek mythology. I devoured Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series growing up, and I could tell that Elizabeth Tammi has the same passion about it. I appreciated the little nods in her novel to important Greek figures like Odysseus, and key places such as Corinth and Delphi. I've never read any tales about Atalanta, though I've heard of her, so I really appreciated this novel for introducing me to a version of her life.

I hadn't fully read the blurb about the novel (I feel like they spoil too much sometimes) so I had a few pleasant surprises as I read. I really enjoyed the changing dynamic between Atalanta and Kahina throughout the novel. In a male-dominated world where women's roles seem limited to servants or mothers, both girls found ways to challenge these expectations.

Sometimes, I found the alternating perspectives a bit confusing to keep track of who was narrating, since it was first-person for both girls. If I happened to zone out mid-chapter or the chapter didn't mention Kahina or Atalanta's name for a while, I'd forget who was the "I". The girls had unique voices in the first few chapters, but they sounded nearly the same after a while, and I needed reminders of who was narrating.

I found the characterization of Artemis a bit strange at the beginning of the novel, as she defers to a male prince to get Atalanta to join her Hunt. Artemis traditionally doesn't respect male authority and she'd certainly never ask a man to do something she could do for herself. Atalanta is also able to just casually run away from Artemis, while Artemis and her huntresses just stand there without doing anything. It was just a small, unrealistic moment that took me out of the novel.

I also feel like Kahina's backstory and relation with Apollo could have been better explained.

But overall, I enjoyed this novel! I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys Greek mythology or a story about female relationships.

This review will appear on my Goodreads account, along with a short, spoiler-free blurb on my Instagram (@karenwrites7), on June 7, 2018.

Outrun the Wind by Elizabeth Tammi was intriguing to start but hard to finish. The myth and the characters around the myth make for a unique story without having to world building but Atalanta and Kahina do not keep their distinct voices throughout the book. I feel that both girls began individualized but in the rush to the ending melded into the same voice even though the POV changed.

Rep: f/f romance, lesbian mc, bi mc 

I received an arc from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review 



Outrun the Wind is a fantasy inspired by Greek Mythology, one of the main characters Kahina being a huntress of Artemis and the other main character Atalanta being accused of killing Artemis's boar, and wanting to be recruited by her.  Atalanta doesn't want to be part of the huntresses though. Atalanta is really good at archery, and is on a team of only men. However she does struggle with men judging her ability, which is an interesting juxtaposition to Kahina's experience.

I did enjoy both Kahina and Atalanta as character, which was one of the higher points for me. I did however not love the plot. When it's revealed Atalanta is a princess and must marry, the plot kind of dulled. There were attempts to make it more interesting but it didn't work for me. The romance was also a surprisingly minimal part of the book. As Kahina is forbidden from love and marriage due to being a huntress of Artemis, the romance took its time. However, I think it could've been developed a little better due to the forbidden factor to it. 

I enjoyed both the main characters a lot though and really liked the world. I would likely read more of them but this particular story didn't work for me.

Characters:
The story is told in chapters alternating between Atalanta, the legendary huntress, and Kahina, one of Artemis' inner circle/huntresses. I found it interesting to follow the story from the POV of both characters and get their impressions, feelings, and reactions to things. However, since both POVs are young female characters with similar backgrounds (e.g. hunting, the male characters who have done them wrong in the past, etc.), their narrative voices could become a little too similar. I was often confused as to whose POV I was reading and had to check back with the chapter heading if there weren't any mentions of the other characters in the chapter. I also found that the character motivations are somewhat unclear and murky or shaky. The characterization itself was sometimes inconsistent and the development of changing feelings (especially on Kahina's part) was a little abrupt and not easily understood. When it came to the side characters, I enjoyed Phelix the most and would have liked to see more of him.

Writing:
The writing itself is very readable and fluid. No big complaints here. I think the author has a talent with words, and while the prose itself might not be too evocative or imaginative, it managed to be immersive and easy to follow. I believe with more experience in writing, the author will become even better in the future. There is definitely much potential here!

Plot:
The plot was pretty straightforward and not too intricate or too complex, which can be very nice and relaxing for a change. I found the part of the story taking place at Arkadia a little repetitive after a time since it mostly focuses on Kahina trying–without success–to destroy Apollo's temple and prepping Atalanta for her life in society, as well as Atalanta racing her suitors day after day. The culmination of the conflict in Delphi was exciting and evoked many emotions, especially sadness because of a certain character death. What I noticed often was that information of a character's past was withheld from the reader until a moment where it could be used to create a plot twist or obstacle in the plot. However, instead of making the plot more exciting in this case, it sometimes felt like the “twist” was thought up on the spot to create artificial tension and not something that was an intrinsic part of a character's motivations. I liked that we got to know the protagonists' backstories in small puzzle pieces and not in an info dump, but I think it would have worked better for this novel to implement more elaborate flashbacks with more showing and not telling.
The love story between Atalanta and Kahina itself was a little underwhelming and I expected more. It was really not that elaborate with little buildup (Kahina inexplicably hates Atalanta for most of the novel, then there is an awkward dance scene where Atalanta off-handedly mentions she could kill Kahina easily and it was more awkward then full of romantic tension), and the kiss only happened about 75% into the book. I liked their ending and hopeful outlook to the future in the last chapter, though, and would be interested in their story after that point.
I also enjoyed the author's notes at the end of the book concerning mythology and historical (in-)accuracies as well as making a story their own. Even though not everything about the mythology was executed perfectly (I had somewhat of a problem with Artemis as a whole), I can respect taking artistic liberties in a mythological reimagining.

In Conclusion:
For a debut novel, this was a definitely well-written and easily readable as well as enjoyable. I would recommend this looking for a light read on a mythological character who is not often the focus of stories and retellings. I think this book may be used as a good jumping-off point for further venturing into mythological retellings. I am looking forward to what the author will come up with in the future.

Modern take on the Artemis rule breaking - lesbians of course The bold take in a typical mythological young adult novel kept me going from start to end.

Average retelling of the myth of Atalanta. The writing was juvenile but there are lesbians. And that it where it counts.

This was a good variation of Atalanta's story. The author explored various topics including treatment of females in that time period and types of love. I was genuinely impressed with the storyline.

My digital ARC did not download correctly so I kept rereading the same chapter over and over. Seemed interesting so I will give a shot on release day!

This is such a highly predictable book.

Honestly, I don’t think it’s that I read too much (though I do). It’s just that there’s literally nothing new here. Every time you read this and say “by the end of the book she’s going to” I can tell you that YES she will.

The romance is okay (and predictable).

The drama is okay (and predictable).

The ending is okay (and predictable.)

I read for entertainment, yes, but part of that entertainment is being enthralled and surprised.

I mean…I literally got to the point where I was predicting what would happen in the book on Twitter to other book friends.

This book has been written before…and before and before and before…

3 Stars. It’s acceptable and probably good if you’ve never read a clone book before.

Why..Why is this book over... I need more... Like please write book two now. This book was really well written. I found this novel to be one on my top 5 favorite lists of mythology re-tellings. I believe this is her debut novel but yet she writes like a seasoned author similar to that of Rick Riordan.

Overall I found the plot interesting and sharp. The writing was flawless. The characters were well built and grew throughout the story. The world building was so well done. 

This is a one click read and gives a fresh take on a lesser known mythology retelling. I can see this book rising to the top.

4/5 stars

***I received an e-arc of this title through NetGalley via the publisher in exchange for an honest review*** 

#OutrunTheWind #NetGalley
Paperback, 360 pages
Expected publication: November 27th 2018 by Flux
Shelved: YA, Fantasy, Mythology Retelling

I LOVED this book. My only issue is that there wasn't more of it. I felt that some aspects deserved to be delved into deeper.

This book had the perfect elements for me to love it: Artemis, badass female characters, lesbians, a great setting. This book is going to stay on my mind for a while. I can't wait to read more of this author.

This review appeared on my blog, Valley of the Books, on 28 May 2018.

Greek mythology was my childhood obsession. Ever since my parents gave me a wonderfully illustrated storybook of Greek myth retellings, I fell in love with the complexity of the heroes' position between fate and free will, as well as the flawed humanity of their gods. Percy Jackson and the Olympians was the series I grew up with, solidifying my love for moody deities and merciless monsters. And this year, I was able to experience Greek myth in all its glory and gore while reading Madeline Miller's Circe. In this context, I expected to enjoy Outrun the Wind immensely, even if it wasn't anywhere near the level of its predecessors. But I found myself frowning at the first few chapters' portrayal of Artemis, and I've come to the reluctant conclusion that this book will not do my beloved myths justice. Its representation of Greek myth so far is just not... well, realistic.

I know, I know, how can I be arguing for realism in myth?

Let me recap the scene: Atalanta and four guys were hunting Artemis's giant boar, but one of her huntresses - Kahina - kills the boar when it seems like it would harm Atalanta. Atalanta pretends she killed it, and Artemis and huntresses arrive to seek justice for the slayer of her monster. Artemis invites Atalanta to join her hunt; Atalanta refuses.

Here are some examples of what I deem an unrealistic portrayal of Artemis:

"Princeling. Tell her she will join my huntresses."


YOU ARE AN ALMIGHTY GREEK GODDESS. WHY WOULD YOU NEED AN IRRELEVANT HUMAN PRINCE TO ENFORCE YOUR WILL???

I [Atalanta] shift my shoulders, just to make sure my quiver is still strapped to my back.
Though I'm not sure what good my arrows will do against an Olympian.


A BIG FAT LOAD OF NOTHING. YOUR ARROWS ARE LIKE TOOTHPICKS TO A GREEK DEITY. IF SHE WERE TO SHOW HERSELF IN HER TRUE FORM, YOU WOULD MELT INTO A POODLE FROM THE MERE SIGHT OF HER DIVINITY. WHY ON EARTH AREN'T YOU ON YOUR KNEES BEGGING FOR MERCY?!?!

I start to reach for my bow. [...] Artemis's lips slide into a grin, and as she raises her own bow, she shakes her head.


YOU. DO. NOT. PICK. FIGHTS. WITH. GREEK. GODDESSES!!!!!!!!! YOU'RE NOT EVEN A FREAKIN' DEMIGOD!!!!!!!!!

And what does Atalanta do when faced with Artemis's refusal to accept the girl's decline of the goddess' offer?

My whole being responds, my mind locking one command into place: run.


That's right. She RUNS AWAY. And Artemis would just stand there sighing like a powerless maiden, letting her get away? Really??? And she would let herself be blackmailed by a son of Poseidon who happens to be working for her brother, because Apollo would go against his own twin sister in order to defend some measly half-god? Really?????

And don't even get me started on Kahina's motivations for saving Atalanta. Because there are NONE. Girl was simply in the mood to throw a knife given to her by Artemis herself at Artemis's own monster. Because logic.

I meant to read at least 20% before I call it quits, but my patience has worn thinner than Arachne's net. 3 stars for above average writing and some potential I'm too enraged to see through. DNF at 13%.

Note: All quotes are from an uncorrected ARC, and are subject to change.

I found the pacing of this story to be very off making it really hard to get into the book. A lot of the character interactions and conflict also seemed incredibly forced. I'm disappointed because it's a great premise, but I just couldn't get into it or feel emotionally invested in the characters.