Clytemnestra is one of my favorite Greek retellings. Costanza Casati did such a good job with the writing and research of the Clytemnestra myth. I loved everything about it and I cant wait for the author to write more retellings!

I always love the Greek retellings. Having read Allegra last year, I fell in love with Clytemnestra and her story. I wished for a book that focused primarily on her and this was the one. Clytemnestra was a powerful woman in a world that didn't want her to be one, and so her lot in life was to never be provided with an easy path to her goals. Neither were the stories told about her willing to paint her in any sort of favorable light. This is the lead up to the Trojan War and impressive in its vast knowledge and fulfilling inclusion of so many recognizable characters. The writing is beautiful and gripping, laced with that addictive, lyrical style that’s needed to make a mythology re-telling really hook you. Clytemnestra herself is the epitome of inspiring, flawed inner strength that comes from love, I was rooting for her from the first to last page.

I wanted to like this more than I did. Could be the myth itself I didn't like enough, because the writing seemed good. I'm glad I read it because I didn't know this story as well as some of the more commonly told myths, and I would read something else by this author, but this particular one didn't stick with me in a lasting way.

An epic revenge story, greek mythology, and powerful women? Yes. YES. This book follows the relentless rise of Clytemnestra, the sister of the well-known Helen of Troy. We see her grow up as she trains as one of the best female warriors in her kingdom. From there we watch her fall in love, watch her heart break, and watch her be betrayed multiple times over. What follows is the wickedly smart campaign for revenge as Clytemnestra systematically takes down those who have wronged her and her family. This book is fascinating, full of ancient political landscapes, sibling relationships, and moments of mythology. It is a reimagining that makes you root for the original villain and question what you know about the original heroes.
If you were a kid who was obsessed with Greek mythology, you will love this book.
If you liked the movie Cruella or other villain retellings, you will love this book.
If you enjoy historical fiction, underdogs, and strong women, you will LOVE this book.

What a fantastic novel. I can't wait to read what Costanza Casati writes next!

This was just not for me. The building up was too slow. I didn’t find any connection to the story and characters unfortunately. I would have liked more action to start and then build everything else.

Really interesting at times and I flew through it once I got the audiobook on Libby, but was pretty slow for a lot of it and was a bit hard to keep reading. But I thought the writing was great! If you're really a fan of Greek mythology, I'd recommend!

This is another excellent book like Circe, Wolf Den, Ariadne, and other Greco-Roman specific historical fiction.

What I loved most about this author’s writing style is that they took elements of other fiction and crafted fiction in the modern style that fit with the original stories of Homer. Clytemnestra takes place in the years before the Iliad takes place and has many of the same cast of characters. We learn histories, motivations, struggles, and successes of Clytemnestra and those around her. The writing was done very well, it felt respectful and not like the author was taking too many liberties.

The only aspect about the writing that annoyed me was the sheer number of times the word “fresco(s)” was used. For this reason alone I cannot give five starts because it annoyed the daylights out of me.

Thanks to NetGalley, Costanza Casati and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy of this book.

I really loved this book. I did not know the story of Clytemnestra so I had no background information or expectations on what I was going to read. Clytemnestra's story is about family, betrayal, strength and loss. So much loss! The author did such a fantastic job that I could feel my heart drop with grief several times during the book. I highly recommend this book for readers who like mythology retellings. This was one of the best I have read.

This was a great book and I enjoyed reading it! I look forward to seeing what this author comes out with next.

WOW! What a fantastic read. Clytemnestra is filled with feminine rage, tragedy, complex characters, and elegant prose. This novel was brutal yet compelling and a fantastic choice for anyone interested in Greek mythology. The pacing of this story was fantastic. It’s a story I will think about for awhile and recommend to many.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Costanza Casati for the opportunity to read and review this amazing book.

From the synopsis: "A blazing novel set in the world of Ancient Greece, this is a thrilling tale of power and prophecies, of hatred, love, and of an unforgettable Queen who fiercely dealt out death to those who wronged her."

The Trojan War period of Ancient Greece has always been fascinating to me. The men are celebrated - Achilles, Odysseus, Agamemnon, Menelaus.... and the women are essentially demonized. Helen's is the face that launched a thousand ships and sent thousands of men into a ten-year war. Clytemnestra is the vengeful queen who murdered her husband. Women are taken as "prizes" from vanquished lands. Men are praised for their conquests. Women are harlots and whores for leaving their husbands. Men are celebrated for taking women to their bed. The double-standard that existed for the behaviors of men and women in ancient times is one that has been discussed at length by historians and English teachers alike (I fall into the latter category). This novel also explored that double-standard, but from the point of view of a woman who has been severely wronged, in general and by the warped expectations that existed of her. Clytemnestra is a figure in Greek mythology who in my opinion deserves to have her story told more often, which is why I was so excited to read this novel. Clytemnestra's story is a horrifyingly sad one - the amount of unfairness, loss, grief, pain, and suffering she had to go through is staggering. And still, she's largely a "hated" figure - too loud, too stubborn, too controlling, too violent. She is a product of the pain and suffering that was brought upon her largely by the men in her life. This novel told her story beautifully and did it great justice. Clytemnestra is a strong woman in a time period where strong women were hated, and she retained her strength regardless. I will happily recommend this book to those who enjoy women-centric mythology stories... and honestly, to anyone, for Clytemnestra's story is one that should be told, and read.

I find Clytemnestra to be such an interesting character in Greek mythology, After reading this book, she has locked in being one of my favorites. I have read a few books lately that include Clytemnestra's story and this one is by far the best. It does such an amazing job of diving into her mind and also what drives her to make a lot of the decisions she makes in her life. All of her relationships and the things that have happened to her are wild, and this book highlights some that I hadn't heard of before. Clytemnestra coming from a Spartan mindset and using a lot of the values she grew up with as she got older along with being a just ruler was so interesting. At times when you feel like she is losing control, she somehow gains the upperhand. As much as I admire her character, I feel bad for her too. A lot of the heartache she goes through as a mother is nothing you wish on anyone. As a woman in Greek mythology, she somehow still triumphs and challenges every man that comes into her path. She is just an astounding character and I love reading about her. This was amazing!

I didn't finish Clytemnestra. I found the writing to be boring and straightforward to a fault. There was nothing interesting to keep me going and no reason for me to be invested in Clytemnestra as told by Casati. This book was compared to Madeline Miller's novels and while I can see the comparison here between Circe and Clytemnestra, ultimately Clytemnestra lacks the lyrical storytelling that lovers of Circe crave. Clytemnestra was a retelling in the literal sense of the word, despite being from our main character's POV the story felt sterilized and lacked emotion. Even the strongest of Spartan women have vulnerabilities and desires and dreams but Clytemnestra was a cardboard cutout of all that Casati could have made her.

I was drawn to this book by the cover and the ancient Greek premise, but stayed for the woman at the center, Clytemnestra. Casati breathes life into Clytemnestra and the choices that made her legendary. If you grew up reading Greek inspired fiction this is a brilliant entry point into the wonderful world of adult Greek myth explorations. Casati presents a layered woman who is strong who remains "unbowed, unbent" throughout the schemes and legendary efforts of the men around her. Strength of will, strength of character, strength of love, these all describe our brilliant heroine. I heartily recommend this novel to all! Happy Reading!

This is probably my favorite Greek myth retelling I've ever read. The rage and vengeance from a female protagonist was both powerful and brutal to experience.

Clytemnestra is such a wonderful, strong character who endures so much. The things she survives are heart-rending. So many parts of this book were incredibly hard to read, but it was so worth it for this amazing piece of storytelling.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Started off a little slow, but well written. Not quite what I expected based on the description. Worth it in the end.

Title: Clytemnestra: A Captivating Retelling of Ancient Greece's Legendary Queen

Costanza Casati's debut novel, Clytemnestra, offers readers a riveting journey into the tumultuous life of the most notorious heroine of the ancient world. Drawing inspiration from Madeline Miller's Circe and the complexity of Cersei Lannister from the Game of Thrones series, Casati weaves a stunning narrative that explores the transformation of Clytemnestra into a legendary queen.

From the very beginning, the novel grabs hold of the reader's attention, immersing them in a world where queens are either despised or forgotten. Clytemnestra's heartbreaking journey unfolds before our eyes as she endures a life not of her choosing—an arranged marriage to a tyrant and the heart-wrenching loss of her child sacrificed in the name of appeasing the gods. As her husband wages war on foreign shores, Clytemnestra finds solace in her own violent thoughts, understanding that her life was never meant to be one of subjugation.

Driven by a burning desire for justice, Clytemnestra begins to meticulously plot her revenge. She understands that acceptance and vengeance both come with their own price—infamy. Thus, she patiently waits, manipulating the gods and orchestrating a game of retribution. Casati brilliantly captures the essence of power and prophecies, painting a picture of a queen who fearlessly administers death to those who wronged her.

This debut novel proves to be a powerful exploration of Greek mythology and historical fiction. Readers who have been captivated by Jennifer Saint's Ariadne and Natalie Haynes' A Thousand Ships will find themselves engrossed in Casati's tale. The author skillfully intertwines the intricate threads of ancient Greece, breathing new life into Clytemnestra, the sister of Helen of Troy.

The pacing of the narrative is relentless, making Clytemnestra a very fast read. Each page turn reveals new layers of intrigue and captivating storytelling. As readers delve deeper into the world of Ancient Greece, they are enveloped in the profound emotions of anger and hatred that Clytemnestra harbors towards her husband, Agamemnon. The unforgivable act of sacrificing their daughter to the goddess Artemis fuels Clytemnestra's unyielding determination for vengeance.

Overall, Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati is a remarkable debut novel that seamlessly blends Greek mythology, historical fiction, and a compelling exploration of a formidable queen. With its intriguing and captivating narrative, it will undoubtedly leave readers eagerly awaiting Casati's future works.

Book was interesting, but in a saturated market of Greek myth retellings it did not stand out the way others have.

This is such a strong book. It is well written, and does not feel like a debut novel.

My only qualm is it also doesn't feel very unique. It lacks the ability to be memorable and that may come from the choice of POV.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an early copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

I have been disappointed by many of the Greek retellings of the last few years, so I did not have high hopes for this one. Especially for a story so steeped in tragedy and violence, Clytemnestra manages to be engaging the entire way. I found myself hoping that somehow she would get out of it, that she would be able to save them this time, that it wouldn't go the way it does. I really think that Casati manages to flush out the best parts of these myths -- the people who are mentioned once and never again -- and makes the entire landscape of Clytemnestra's life layered and tragic but not so much so that I couldn't continue. In fact, I found myself reading with rage and hoping to get to the end so I could see her get her revenge.

4.5 stars.