This multiple POV telling of Electra, Cassandra, and Clytemnestra breathes new life into these classic intertwined stories

Elektra explores the familial bonds and betrayals that plague the House of Atreus through the perspectives of three women implicated in the cursed bloodline. Agamemnon’s wife, Clytemnestra, daughter, Elektra, and…I guess his war token, Cassandra, each grapple with the trickle effect of a legacy rooted in greed and bloodlust in entirely different ways based on their relation to Agamemnon.
A revenge fantasy as much as a cautionary tale, Elektra is a fierce story of motherhood, sisterhood, and loyalty gone too far.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

A story that seamlessly presents the point of view of three of Greek mythology's most captivating women. Elektra weaves the complexities of mother-daughter relationships against the backdrop of war and all that it entails. This is, in my opinion, Jennifer Saint's best work.

A reimagining of the Greek mythology about the heroine Elektra. The story follows three women: Cassandra ( Princess turned Priestess of Apollo), Clytemnestra ( sister of Helen of Troy married to Agamemnon), and Elektra (daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon). Told from three different perspectives the story covers the events of Helen’s marriage to running away with Paris as well as the war... and the infamous Trojan Horse event as well as the aftermath. The vast majority of the story is told from Cassandra and Clytemnestra’s POV while Elektra didn’t really make any impact until 70% point in the book. While i found Cassandra’s story tragic and Clytemnestra’s story interesting, I found myself flat out annoyed and uninterested in Elektra’s story, which is unfortunate since the whole book is titled after her. Cassandra is dealing with the consequences of just trying to live her life without sacrificing her body... only to be cursed by a god and trying to appease said god to avoid further punishment but her entire life is just one big tragedy. Clytemnestra’s world is turned upside down when her marriage turns for the worst and her husband does the unimaginable... leaving her with her grief, her anger, and her revenge. Elektra’s adoration and love for her father goes beyond reasoning... her entire story arc is her whining and being angry at other people despite them trying to explain to her why they did what they did. I loved reading Clytemnestra’s POV and her story arc, she was the highlight of the book for me, unfortunately Elektra was my least favorite aspect of the book. Overall it’s an interesting read if you are interested in new POVs of Greek mythology.

*Thanks Netgalley and Flatiron Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I loved this book Jennifer Saints writing drew me right in.A retelling of Greek mythology all its drama the characters the conflicts told to perfection.Will be buying for myself as soon as it’s published.#netgalley #flatiron

Jennifer Saint never disappoints, and this book was no exception. I'm a sucker for any type of mythology retelling, especially a feminist retelling, and this book was everything I had hoped it to be! The book is the tale of three different women, Elektra, Cassandra, and Clytemnestra. The book is so gorgeously written, and so many emotions are packed into it, yet it works so well for this book. My favorite part of Saint's writing is that she chooses to create stories for the women who are so overshadowed by the men in the original. The women in this book are faced with revenge and tragedy, and it's a powerful story I will recommend to everyone. I can't wait for the story to be published so more people can get their hands on it!

Jennifer Saint knocks her sophomore release out of the park. Elektra is a fantastic foray back into retellings of Ancient Greek Mythology. It follows three female figures who have thus far remained silent in the backdrop of the Trojan War. We meet Clytemnestra (Helen of Troy's sister and King Agamemnon's wife), Elektra (daughter of Queen Clytemnestra and King Agamemnon of Mycenae), and Cassandra (daughter of King Priam of Troy). All three women tell the story of the Trojan War from their viewpoint.
This book is truly special because the reader learns about the aftermath of Agamemnon's terrible departure from Greece, and the happenings in Mycenae during the ten years he is gone through the lens of his wife and daughter. The reader gets to know both Clytemnestra and Elektra more intimately which adds more depth to their characters and doesn't solely rely on the narrative being focused on Helen alone.
Troy isn't entirely left out of the story, and for once a book isn't all about Helen. It's exciting to learn more about Cassandra from the time of her childhood until the fall of Troy. Cassandra is often written off as a crazed side character, but this book brings more depth to her, and also allows the reader to feel a great deal of sympathy for her mistreatment and ostracism.
I can't praise this book enough because it finally makes Helen of Troy a side character and lets other women from Greek Mythology have their moment in the sun. I was extremely excited to receive an ARC copy of this book after reading Jennifer Saint's debut novel Ariadne. This is a must-read for lovers of Greek Mythology, Mythology with a modern retelling, and Strong female characters.

I always thought Clytemnestra was one of the most sympathetic characters in Greek mythology, and she's brought to life in this new retelling of the Oresteia by Jennifer Saint. There's a richness to the imagery in this story that I appreciated, and a lyrical quality to the prose that immerses you in the lives of its three narrators: Clytemnestra, her daughter Elektra, and the doomed prophet Cassandra whose life becomes tragically interwoven with theirs as a result of the Trojan War.

What fell slightly short for me was the character development. Cassandra is burdened with her horrific foreknowledge, and death is the only thing that can bring her respite. Clytemnestra is a grieving mother whose rage and need for revenge defines her, and she doesn't change. Elektra is a misguided and neglected girl who worships her father, and she never changes either. Although these women each experience immeasurable loss and suffering, there's no journey and therefore no ultimate sense of resolution for any of them, even in death.

I was excited to read this book as I really enjoyed Ariadne from Jennifer Saint last year. This one has 3 POVs of the Greek legends: Cassandra (priestess), Clytemnestra (princess of Troy) and Elektra (Clytemnestra’s daughter with Agamemnon) all around the time of the Trojan War.

Overall this book was just lacking. I already knew quite a bit around these stories. I wished for a while book of her, her life, her thoughts and actions. There were two problems for me and the first is Cassandra’s story. While her story is incredibly moving and unfair it just didn’t fit in with the rest beyond that she knew about the Trojan Horse but no one would believe her and Agamemnon brings her home with him. The second is Elektra’s. She is the main character in the book and yet we only get 1/3 of the book from her POV. She’s also not a very likeable character making dumb decisions, being whiny and believing in people after they’ve done horrific things to those she loves.

This would have been a more successful book if Clytemnestra was the focus. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book

This book left me a good kind of frustrated. I’m not happy with the ending because the characters didn’t have any true happy ending, yet as in many Greek myths, that’s not the goal of the story. I enjoyed Elektra quite a lot! Cassandra’s POV stuck me as a bit unnecessary as by definition she could not affect the plot in any way. I would have preferred a POV from Helen instead.

I feel like I picked up Circe and that sent me on a Greek Mythology craze. After reading Ariadne by Jennifer Saint, I knew Elektra was next on my list from her. In fact, when I got my advanced copy, I nearly shouted out loud I was so happy.

At this point, I have read enough to be familiar with names appearing in this novel. That said, there was enough here to provide me with other viewpoints, with its focus on Elektra, Cassandra, and Clytemnestra.

This is not a happy, feel-good book. My heart broke repeatedly with the terror that was inflicted on women in these stories. I feel like this book would be paired really well with The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. Reading both together would provide so much background information and action surrounding the Trojan war.

If you are on the fence about picking up this book, I strongly encourage you to pick it up. Even with having read several books about Greek women, I still felt like I was reading fresh material.

I really liked Ariadne and wanted to give this novel a try, too. Overall, I think I liked this one better, but I do think that the novel could have benefited from focusing on Elektra and Clytemnestra rather than also including Cassandra's story. I felt like there was untapped potential and themes to explore with Elektra and Clytemnestra that felt short changed by the Cassandra narrative. Still, fans of Greek mythology will find a lot to love in this novel, and I certainly did enjoy my time with it, too.

For many, it was Percy Jackson. For me, it was Elektra that made me fall in love with Greek mythology. I'm a little late to the obsessing-over-Greek-myths club, but better late than never!

Following the story of three different but interconnected women, Elektra takes an insightful look at the complex, rich, albeit sometimes tragic relationships between mother and daughter, as well as the devastation of war on both sides of the battle. While I didn't know much of the stories of Elektra, Clytemnestra, and Cassandra before reading, I was able to catch on easily to their roles.

Each character was written with the utmost care, particularly the three main woman, in such a way that I was able to discern one's emotions and actions from one another early on in the story. This is something I find particularly important in books including multiple viewpoints; I could tell one woman from another, and I wanted to hear every perspective in turn. None of the women's stories were a disappointment, and therefore, none of the chapters became boring. Admittedly, I didn't particularly like Elektra, as a person, but her story was just as interesting to me as the others'.

Next comes the writing: beautiful and poetic, yet not forced. The creative language used in Elektra only made the story richer, and didn't feel like a tool to fluff up an otherwise disappointing author's writing.

I was also impressed that Saint was able to include such a long span of time in just one book, and then make it flow naturally. But that's just what she did.

I don't say it often, but this is an easy five-star book for me. Jennifer Saint is truly a talented writer, and I will definitely be picking up more of her stories in the future.

THIS BOOK BROKE ME!!!! When I tell you the emotional turmoil I went through after part 1....I had to walk away and finish it later I was so upset. Now obviously I knew what was going to happen based on history but Jennifer does such a wonderful job bringing those emotions on paper.

Absolutely stunning perspective of women during this period of time, would highly recommend to anyone!

I really enjoyed Jennifer Saint's wonderful Ariadne, and her newest foray into Greek mythology doesn't disappoint! Elektra contains three POV characters: Clytemnestra, sister to the infamous Helen of Troy (formerly Sparta); her daughter, Elektra; and Cassandra, the ill-fated prophetess and daughter of the Trojan king. These three women are thrust into the heart of the Trojan War, facing conflict both within their families and across the Aegean.

4/5: Well-written and engaging, Elektra is another great women-centered mythological retelling. (I would've enjoyed it more personally had I more sympathy for the titular character, but not even Jennifer Saint could make me like, let alone root for, such a horrible woman.) Fans of Circe, The Witch's Heart, The Silent Girls, and of course, Ariadne, will want to get their hands on this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is another impressive retelling of Greek myths by Jennifer Saint, highlighting the female characters in these dark stories. Though titled Elektra, the book is just as much Clytemnestra's story while Cassandra's plot line offers insights into the experience of the Trojan War from her unique vantage point. Recommended for fans of retellings of Greek mythology.

Beautifully written. I love Greek mythology, but so often you see the same five stories revisited, so it was really refreshing to read an oft ignored one. And then to have it written by Jennifer Saint was of course a treat.

I have many mixed feelings about Elektra. All in all it was a brilliant book, I'm just not sure it was my taste. After Ariadne, I wad so excited to read Elektra. Ariadne had an energy I can't describe to it that I have not found in any other book and I was hopeful that Elektra would carry that same energy, but it did not. That doesn't make it a bad book, it was just not what I was in the mood for.
Elektra focuses a lot more on motherhood than Ariadne, and it is much darker. As I am not a mother, there was less for me to relate to. The book is split into three perspectives and unfortunately the character I like the least gets the most page time. Elektra focuses on a much heavier topic than Ariadne so it makes sense that the vibe of the book itself is much more grim.
With all of that being said, I did greatly enjoy reading Elektra! Once I got used to the setting of the Trojan war and the very dark, revenge driven headspace of one of the narrators, I was fully swept away. Jennifer Saint is a master of writing the female perspective. She show cases so many complex themes and life struggles in a masterful way. She writes her characters emotions so that the readers can feel them as their own. That is a very rare skill. While there was a narrator I couldn't stand, I understood her emotions and her motivations. It takes skill to write a character that is hated but is loved for their complexities and their humanity.
Despite me not liking this book at first, it is a brilliant piece of work worthy of utmost respect. It was not my cup of tea at times, but the skill and dark beauty of Jennifer Saint's writing is to be commended and celebrated!
Overall, Elektra is a fantastic feminist spin on the Trojan War that showcases multiple view points and emotions from women throughout the war. I will highly recommend this book to my customers once it is published!

Song of Achilles' popularity on Tik Tok has triggered an appetite for retellings and reinterpretations of this classics, so "if you liked this, read this."

While I preferred Ariadne, Saint's first novel, Elektra is engaging, although I think it has more structural issues. It comes out of the heels of Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood, and Clytemnestra's narrative perspective takes center stage in both. What's interesting is how both Heywood and Saint create such vastly different Clytemnestras within the same events. Saint's Clytemnestra is very much a Spartan, a warrior avenging her child whose mental toughness surpasses all the men in the book. She gets her hands bloody, then she accepts the consequences of those actions and works throughout the rest of the book to accept and mitigate them. She makes some terrible mistakes as a mother to her living children, but in the end, she sees it and does the only things left in her power to make them better. I liked this Clytemnestra immensely, and I wonder if maybe this isn't more her book than Elektra's.

I wanted to have sympathy for Elektra. She's a daddy's girl who shows us the death of Iphigenia from his reasoned perspective, She has no real sense of loss of her sister. Iphigenia's death served a purpose. Instead, Elektra embarks on a path parallel to her mother's in her unflinching, unflagging quest for vengeance. Long before Agamemnon is actually killed, Elektra blames her mother for killing her family, slowly, component by component. But Elektra is also such an unlikable bitch and snob that when she finally is avenged, I just felt "meh." Part of that was also due to Elektra's post-revenge life feeling so rushed. After killing their father's killers, Elektra and Orestes and this other guy ran for a while then Orestes went home and Elektra hooked up with the other guy. Oh and the husband she married for reasons and ditched because she's a snobby bitch? Her brother gave him a position at court. The end. It really felt that fast.

Cassandra also serves as one of the narrators, and she is very much what we would expect of Cassandra. It's the Helen we see through her eyes that I found most interesting. Nothing touches Helen. Cassandra doesn't see any evidence of a grand passion for Paris. Helen is very openly and consciously just along for the story. Helen feels sympathy for people who suffer in the story, but she herself never does seem to really be personally much invested in what happens. She leaves one husband for another. The second dies. She goes back to the first husband and her daughter like nothing happened. Helen doesn't even suffer injuries or abuse the other women do during the sack of Troy. This is the most effective portrayal I've ever seen of Helen's supposed divine blood. Yeah, she's super pretty, but she's more like the gods in the sense that mortal issues don't have any kind of real impact on her. In contrast, the very human Cassandra's life is shattered first by Apollo then by the fate of Troy-in which the gods had a hand.

Elektra does get the last word in the book, so perhaps this is why she gets the title. She survives with all the suffering and scars.

I love retellings of mythology, and I loved this book too! Taking a character who may not be familiar to many lay readers, he imbues her and the other women who become entangled with her story with a life and vitality. A great retelling that doesn't get bogged down!