I'm not well versed in Greek mythology at all and tbh it's not a subject I tend to gravitate towards when it comes to my reading tastes.

This however was excellently done and for the first time I'm super excited to read more about a character in Greek mythology. I knew not a single thing about Clytemnestra when I first started this book, and Susan C. Wilson really made her come alive for me on the page and I was immediately transported into her life and her struggles and continuous heartbreak with her horrible marriage to Agamemnon.

As I've stated, I know nothing about Clytemnestra's story so I'm very invested and interested to see where this series goes and to learn more about her.

I've read a very small amount of Greek mythology and have felt pretty meh towards them for the most part, but Susan C. Wilson has singlehandedly made me interested in reading some more.

I know there are more Clytemnestra retellings out there but I think this is the best one for me to start with, and I highly recommend it. Not only was Clytemnestra's story compelling, but the writing was lush and moving.

This was a very hard book to put down and I'm eagerly anticipating the second book!

《 Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my ow.》

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.
This was an absolutely brutal book. It took me a few days to move past the opening scenes because they were so devastating to read. And it definitely didn’t get better. But that is to be expected. The House of Atreus is a cursed house. The cycle of death and betrayal is certainly well represented in this book.
For anyone unfamiliar with the Atreides, this book includes infanticide, incest, rape, partner abuse, child abuse, infidelity and more. Those scenes are frequently quite detailed from the perspective of the victim and I urge caution for those that might be overset by reading that.
It took a few days for me personally to be prepared to read the book, once I grasped its tenor from the opening scenes. But once I was ready, I flew through this book in essentially one sitting. This was a great look at what Clytemnestra’s experiences in the palace might have been like. What her relationships with Agamemnon, Menelaus, and Aegisthus were, prior to the fleet sailing for Troy. I think it can be easy to only see her famous choices as based on one action by Agamemnon, but what was marriage to such a man like? Especially as a war conquest of sorts, living on that needlepoint and then seeing your children enduring that environment and how it affects them.
The book is entirely from Clytemnestra’s perspective and is quite good at showing her deliberations and torment as her family suffers more and more. I appreciated the depictions of religious practice and the clear attempts to give depth to many of the characters. While I knew what the major twists were prior to reading, I was definitely still caught up in the moment and keen to know how exactly Clytemnestra would react to each situation. This is a complicated story and figure and a brutal, devastating depiction of a life under those circumstances, without making her a hero or angel.

Clytemnestra's Bind is the first in a new series by Susan C. Wilson. It is a historical fantasy/mythology retelling that does a great job of realizing its world and characters. I look forward to more in this series.

I love Greek Mythology and was excited to pick this one up. I am always curious to see how an author takes on known stories. Susan C. Wilson did a fantastic job with this retelling!

Right away, I was drawn into the story. The writing is very addictive and makes it hard to stop. I enjoy retellings from Greek Mythology, but I always feel like they were all cursed. This story is brutal and sometimes makes it hard to read (as a mom). Wilson does not shy away from gory details and ripping out your heart. As a mother, this one was really hard to read. On the flip side, Clytemnestra’s thought process was very relatable. I understood, and I was all for her actions. The amount of strength she shows for her children is amazing. She goes through so much heartbreak and pain.

I’ve read quite a few retellings and know the gist of this story. I was very impressed with how Wilson drew me in and made me feel like this was a whole new story. I enjoyed seeing this perspective to Clytemnestra.

Overall, I enjoyed this! Before you jump in, check out some of the trigger warnings because it’s a brutal and intense book. The amazing writing and pace have you fly through this one because you can’t stop turning the pages! I can’t wait for the sequel!

Wilson plays fast and loose with family trees, timelines, and characterization, but I wouldn’t have minded as much had these changes led to an interesting take on Clytemnestra’s story. I enjoyed seeing her relationships with her children, but so much of this is just meandering or not worth being retold in this way—I hate adaptations that give Aegisthus a less passive role in Agamemnon’s downfall (here, he “lost no time in trying to persuade [her] to overthrow Agamemnon”) and ones that remove Clytemnestra’s wider family from the story (Helen is an important character in Clytemnestra’s story and we don’t even see them as children together!). These are more common tropes of this type of retelling, but I think the changes Wilson made are even worse.

In this version, Aegisthus is Agamemnon and Menelaus’ brother—why does Clytemnestra actually fall in love with him (I could believe her pretending to for her end goals, but she ACTUALLY loves him)? Why is Menelaus portrayed as a shy, sensitive little brother who just wants to make Clytemnestra feel better and had to ~repress his emotions~ for Agamemnon’s sake? With such a huge focus on her relationships with her family, why not open with her childhood and see her sibling and parental relationships? Why skip over so much of the year(ish) she gets with Tantalus (as opposed to what happens, which is her occasionally reminiscing—less effective than us actually reading these scenes in the beginning).

I had high hopes for this, but I think most of the changes were unnecessary and it was incredibly frustrating. It wouldn’t be hard to focus on familial bonds in Clytemnestra’s story while keeping the family trees, timelines, and characterization consistent within the story AND the original myths.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

In a sea of mythological retellings, did we need yet another Clytemnestra story? It turns out we did! Clytemnestra's Bind is an incredibly well written saga - the first in a series about the women whose lives are upended by the Trojan War. This one tells the story from the perspective of Queen Clytemnestra, sister of Helen and wife of Agamemnon., delving deep in to the tale of her tragic life. Wilson goes all the way back, to her first marriage, forced second marriage to Agamemnon after he murders her first husband and child, and the raising of her children to a father who only wants sons. Clytemnestra's strength of character carries this book through its end, and keeps the reader invested as each new tragedy emerges. As she evolves throughout the story, I appreciated that at heart she remained a mother, and her relationship with each of her children was showcased. Watching as they turn against her, and as her husband destroys all she holds dear, you can feel her desperation, rage, and need for vengeance. She provokes a lot of emotions for murdering her husband on his return from Troy, but this book provides a clear understanding of the motive that drove her to such an act. The book ends as the war begins, and the next in the series involves Helen. I am interested to read Wilson's take on the woman most famous for her beauty.

Thank you to Netgalley and Neem Tree Press for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

The prelude to Clytemnestra’s Bind immediately sets the overall tone of the book. Readers will lay witness to the atrocities leading to the family curse, and the seemingly never-ending cycle of revenge. What begins as a horrific meal unfolds into a tale of brutality and neglect as Agamemnon reclaims his father’s throne and disposes of almost everyone Clytemnestra loves.

When Clytemnestra’s family is torn from her grasp and destroyed she becomes the shell of a woman. The emotional heartbreak she endures, while written elegantly, is torturous for the reader. Grief threatens to overwhelm Clytemnestra as she is forced into marriage with Agamemnon. Yet a small thread of hope rests within her. A hope that she will be able to break the curse of revenge.

Susan C. Wilson does not shy away from the abuse and trauma Clytemnestra and her children endure. Living in a society that does not see women as equals, but as objects to be used to better future gains is horrifying. Clytemnestra has no true power, but she does all she can to protect her children. The depth of love she has for them is clearly seen, as is the pain she feels when they experience the wrath of their father and his brutality.

Clytemnestra’s Bind is a read for those interested in Greek retellings and stories leading up to Troy. While it is tragic and deals with many harder hitting themes, this story is expertly crafted and the words flow across the page.

I haven't read the Illiad and only knew parts of the story, specifically the part with the Trojan war. So this book was kind of my introduction to the other characters in Helen and Menelaus family.
The writing is pretty standard and the character building, quite straightforward. There were parts where the story got interesting and drew me in, and then there were times I got so bored, I wanted it to be over soon. Lots of highs and lows there. Overall, this is a pretty engaging read.
Since I read an advanced reviewers' copy, I am hoping that the tedious parts have been edited out in the final draft.
Rating this 3.5/5

So I am a sucker for a Clytemnestra Retelling, and oh my gods, this book did not disappoint! I absolutely loved it, such a passionate and raw view of the story of Clymtementsra. We follow her as she's thrown into the horrible life of being married to Agamemnon, see her birth her first daughter and see her deal with her unrully daughter Electra. The harsh contrast of Electra and Iphigenia was so fun to read, in other retellings the older wasn't really focused on and the younger was more of a focus, here we got an equel view. As well as a unique view of Clytemnestra's relationship with Aegisthus, we see him a protective noble man instead of a quiet tool in helping her get her revenge. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recomend it to anyone who loves Greek Mythology and historical fiction.

I love feminist retellings, and Clytemnestra’s Bind is an exemplary representative, where our protagonist gets to tell her side of the story as a fully nuanced person: She is not painted as the hero, just as human.

We see her dealing with the hardships of motherhood in a hostile environment despite living in luxury. Sometimes, she seems more worried about the status and potential glory of her children than their own safety and healthy upbringing, resenting those who take after their father’s brutality. She makes sure her kids stick to gender roles (men as leaders, women as wives and childbearers) to avoid awakening her husband’s ire, in her mind guaranteeing their happiness and success.

The prose transfixed me from the start and I was instantly transported to the setting. The book elicits strong emotions with the blatant misogyny and cruelty Clytemnestra suffers, making her not justified but at least understood for her decisions.

Thank you to Netgalley and Neem Tree Press for the ARC of Clytemnestra’s Bind! Having been in a bit of a reading slump, I’ve been looking for something I knew I would enjoy. Clytemnestra remains one of the women in mythology I am fascinated by, and I resonate with her story. The market is awash with Greek mythology retellings, and I’ve read a few different versions of Clytemnestra’s story, but this one stuck with me.

Susan C. Wilson’s Clytemnestra is complex, complicated and imperfect. The whole narrative echoes grief, pain and the complexity of family dynamics. Clytemnestra, a Queen who’s suffered immense loss, loves her children fiercely but struggles with motherhood in such a brutal, patriarchal society. The House of Atreus is like the Targaryens in the worst way possible, and Wilson’s writing is haunting and evocative, perfectly capturing the grief that underpins the whole story.

Clytemnestra’s Bind is a beautiful story that I cannot recommend enough. It gets four and a half stars from me, rounded down to four for Goodreads.

The story was retold by Clytemnestra the Queen and The House of Atreus has been thrown into a disarray. Homer tells the myth through the epic poem ‘The Odyssey’. Agaamemnon, King of Mycenae, stormed the castle and murdered Clytemnestra’s husband and young son. Later Clytemnestrawas forced to marry Agamemnon. According to Eupides, she took the life of her second husband. She eventually gave birth to Agaamemnon’s children, which she fiercely protects.

I thought the story was interesting, and I understand it is one of many. I'm interested in reading about strong independent women. Thank you Susan C Wilson, Neem tree limited, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the novel.

4.75⭐️

Summery

I have to thank the author for the family tree at the beginning of the book. There are a lot of characters, and how they are all related can become a bit confuddled. This helpful tool came in very handy.

This is the tale of Clytemnestra and her tragic life. The murder of her first husband and son. The forced marriage to the murderer of her family. The raising of her children, and a mother strength and love against all odds.

My Thoughts

The book is incredibly well written. Often, i find that historical fiction (that isn't romance) can be a bit bland/dry. The author has done a remarkable job of blending historical mythology with easy engrossing reading. A tip of the hat to her 🎩

I dont know how many people remember the movie Caligula, but this book definitely had that feel minus the erotica. The sexual horrors that can befall people during the time period. Not to mention the pure murderous brutality that was common place among royalty then.

"I mustn't think of dead children, I mustn't imagine them weeping in the corridors of the palace."

Clytemnestra's strength of character is a wonder to behold. She caries herself through some of the absolute worst tragedies imaginable with grace and determination. She raises her daughter with lioness protection and a swans fineness. She is admirable and uses her meekness as a weapon.

I greatly enjoyed this book, even if it was a tough read being a mother myself. I can't wait for the sequel.

Trigger warnings ⚠️
* infanticide
* child murder
* child abuse
* sexual abuse
* rape
* unwilling cannibalism

Thank you to The Write Reads, NetGalley, Neem Tree Press and the author for granting me a digital review copy of this book. My review is honest and my opinions are my own.

Clytemnestra’s Bind is the first in a trilogy of ancient Greek mythological retellings. Clytemnestra is the sister of the more famous Helen. I had not heard of Clytemnestra before reading this book. She is the tragic wife of brutally cruel warlord Agamemnon, who seizes her as his wife after murdering her teenage husband and infant son in vengeance for his family having previously been ousted from the throne.

The lives of high-born women in Ancient Greece were far from fun. Baby daughters were considered useless in comparison to a male heir. Their only worth was as a possible bargaining chip for a future alliance through their betrothal to a king, allowing their fathers to grab more land. Women had no say and must always defer to their husbands.

Clytemnestra had been lucky up until the point that Agamemnon entered her life, since her first husband, Tantalus was kind, gentle and caring. He had even allowed her to help him rule and make decisions regarding their petitioners. Her marriage to Agamemnon is as different as possible from such a partnership. When she bears him two daughters he treats her with violence and scorn and is not in the slightest bit interested in their childhoods except in the hope that they might soon be of marriageable age.

I found this book compelling and difficult to put down. As brutal and often difficult to read as it was, I had to keep turning the pages in order to find out how Clytemnestra would survive each of the gut-wrenching events that occurred, how she managed to keep going through it all is testament to her love for her children, not wishing to bring shame on them or endanger their lives by fleeing their father. She is betrayed by her servants as well as her husband and her only friend is Aegisthus, the foster brother of her husband, who quickly develops feelings for her and tries to protect her and her children. 

I found the characterisation in this book to be excellent in most cases, I particularly liked Clytemnestra’s character and that of Aegisthus, and Electra who took after her father quite alarmingly. It was very easy to connect with Clytemnestra quickly, perhaps the first-person narration helped with this. I did feel that Agamemnon was a little one-dimensional. He was a stereotypical brutish warlord and there really was nothing about him to like. 

The customs, both religious and cultural, of this society were mentioned naturally throughout the book and showed a lot of historical research, which made the narrative come to life in a really interesting, educational way and painted a more detailed picture of the daily life of these characters.

I really enjoyed this book and will be looking out for its sequel and possibly a few other Greek myth retellings as well, since this is a new genre for me.

First off let’s begin this with if you’re new here you may or may not know that I absolutely detest Agamemnon, he triggers me so much, no matter what story I’m reading. I always hate him 😅 I really enjoy Clytemnestra’s story it’s utterly heartbreaking and full of woman’s rage as well as a great revenge story. I really enjoyed this retelling,it was a hard one for me to put down since the beginning. There was a lot more Aegisthus than I was expecting, he is around a lot more with this one. We also see everything from Clytemnestra’s pov not third person. I think we also get more personal info with her children in this book,with how they are treated and how they act towards Clytemnestra. I had some teary eye moments with this one too. I would highly recommend if you love Greek myth retellings or a fan of Clytemnestra 🖤✨

Clytemnestra’s Bind, by Susan C. Wilson, is a powerful historical fiction novel that breathes new life into Greek mythology. Portraying the intense struggles of Queen Clytemnestra, Wilson's impactful writing brings out the complexity of motherhood and womanhood amidst family rivalries and power dynamics. The book stands out in a crowded market of retellings.

Full review on Geekyst available now. Special thanks to Neem Tree Press for providing me with an eARC and theWriteReads for the opportunity to participate in the US tour.

I will be honest: was I nervous to start yet another Clytemnestra centered retelling? Yes. But man was I in for a treat with this short retelling (especially after my not so great time with my last read). ❤️‍🩹

This retelling is focused on a historical view of Clytemnestra and the House of Atreus. I loved the way Wilson wove in ancient forms of deity practice and the names of those gods into the tale. It really provided a wonderful element to the story and I’m just a sucker for good historical representations. 🏺

This Clytemnestra was a mix of two different versions I’ve read before while still being unique. She reminds me of the softer Clytemnestra from (EDIT: I got the wrong surname 🥲) Heywood’s Daughters of Sparta and the vengeance ruled Clytemnestra from Casati’s eponymous character towards the end. But what really made me love this version of the woman was her love for her children. The grief and pain she suffered from loosing her firstborn to watching her two youngest get turned against her was so sad and you can feel her pain as Agamemnon continues to destroy all that she holds dear in life. 😢

The only thing I wish I could’ve gotten more of in this book was time with the characters. But, I’m super excited to see Wilson’s second novel, Helen’s Judgement and get to see her take on the infamous beauty. 🪞

Thank you to Neem Tree Press and NetGalley for accepting my request to read in exchange for a review and to the author, Susan C Wilson, for crafting such a beautiful historical retelling of this vengeful woman. ❤️

Publication date: April 9 for US, UK already out!

Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️

This book was almost a DNF for me. The dialogue was clunky and parts misplaced it seemed. I felt a bit like I was trying to read it on a tilt a whirl. Added to that the prose world building seemed out of place with the goalie. This just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Obviously there should be very loud TW. Most of us know how mythology is about ease, infanticide, petricide etc. so if you haven’t read a lot of this type book definitely make sure none of those things trigger you.
Overall I feel like the book could be further polished and perhaps it would have been a better read for me.

I received a ARC. All opinions are my own.

It is a captivating retelling of the ancient myth, focusing on the resilient queen's journey to defy the destructive forces of fate and protect her children in the face of turmoil and tragedy. Wilson's narrative shines as it explores Clytemnestra's evolution from a naive young queen to a formidable matriarch, driven by her unwavering love for her children and her determination to break free from the constraints of destiny. Through vivid characterizations and rich world-building, Wilson breathes new life into the tale, offering readers a poignant exploration of grief, revenge, and the enduring power of familial bonds. Clytemnestra's Bind is a triumph of storytelling, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in this enthralling series.