Thank you to Neem Tree Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I say I love retellings of Greek mythology, THIS is exactly what I mean!

Clytemnestra's Bind pulls no punches in this rendition of one of the greatest tragedies of Ancient Greece. It's brutal, it's unflinching, and best of all, it's unafraid of the horrors of the original story. It's a story of the ever-turning wheel of how death begets death, how cruelties become atrocities, and how even if someone tries to break the cycle, they can only be wronged for so many times before they finally break. And while this book did not see the end of Clytemnestra's story, as I had expected, I can't wait to pick up the sequel and watch the wheel continue spinning.

Steeped in cultural and religious morals and practices that are foreign to us today, it really felt like stepping through a portal into Bronze Age Greece, in a way I have rarely ever experienced before. If you love the ancient tragedies for their brutality and morality, this is definitely the book for you!

(Trigger warnings: Murder, violence, child/infant death, cannibalism, rape, domestic abuse, child abuse, incest)

I'm a sucker for retellings! So you can imagine how excited I was when I got this arc! It gives you a great view on the trojan war and a perspective that wasn't told a hundred times. The writing was good. Sometimes I had to go back a bit to understand fully what was going on exactly and who was involved in everything. So you really have to keep track of what you're reading and it's not here for you to skim over the pages. Other than that it was super enjoyable!

Big shoutout to NetGalley for the advance reader copy!

Sooo, I just had a wild ride with "Clytemnestra's Bind." I think that if you're a Greek mythology enthusiast, this one's a must read, and if, like me, you aren't that familiar with it, I'm still urging you to give this book a try. It takes you on a unique journey through the events leading up to the Trojan War. Quick tip for fellow readers: flip to the character list at the back if you're not on a first-name basis with Greek mythology figures. It'll save you from the "who's who" moments.

Our protagonist Clytemnestra is a force to be reckoned with. A strong leader, a devoted mother : her character shines in unexpected ways. I have to say, I am not really familiar with her character, I think I remember her from a few books and movies and I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy her story as I did. Which is to say that even if you are not really into greek mythology, this is still a book that will draw you in with its protagonist and its storytelling.

Now, about the ending : it's a rollercoaster. A mix of hope and victory but you can sense the storm on the horizon. It leaves you hanging, which in a way, reflects the unpredictability of life. But I have to say that I did have mixed feelings about the ending, which is why I'm rating the book 3.5 stars instead of 4.

However, the story itself gave me a new appreciation for greek myths and their retellings.
Will be coming back for more.

This novel was quite interesting to read. I already knew Clytemnestra’s story before reading this novel, but I still thought it was intriguing. But what made me really appreciate this book is actually its writing. It is a perfect mix of somehow simple and yet compelling writing. It is not overwhelming to read and it isn’t pretentious — in a way of being too complicated for what it is — and I loved that. Clytemnestra is a character I did not relate with at all but the internal monologue on sorrow and grief was interesting to read. But I hated Agamemnon (obviously) and I did not remember that Electra was such a brat.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

i love clytemnestra i cannot stand electra and this was a fantastic look at the early days of clytemnestra’s queenship (both times) that most books skip over

"Clytemnestra's Bind" is another retelling of a Greek myth from the woman's perspective and, overall, I enjoyed it. Unfortunately, the writing style didn't really work for me and the characters didn't really get a lot of development in my opinion.

I am so shocked at this powerful story. Clytemnestra is a resilient woman. I have never read any retelling of Clytemnestra, but was familiar with the general myth. In Clytemnestra’s Bind, Clytemnestra herself is victim to all imaginable, yet perseveres and does not begrudgingly accept the title. She stays true to who she is. She is a mother, wife, queen. I enjoyed her story and am proud of who she is, but I can’t say it was an easy read. Women all throughout time and place have experienced some of what Clytemnestra has. I feel a kinship with her, woman to woman.

On a more technical note, the author does an incredible job at bringing her characters to life. I’ve read elsewhere that this book does not encompass the entire myth, so I am very excited to read more of what Wilson has to offer. Her settings are vibrant and transporting (My pet peeve is historical fiction written with a modern tone. This has none of that). I’d also compare her writing to that of Madeline Miller, who does not simply retell the plot points, but paints a stunning and detailed story out of it. Wilson’s voice is for storytelling, not just to deliver the myth

Recommended for fans of Miller, Greek mythology, as well as historical fiction/women’s fiction. Big thanks to Neem Tree Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to review!

I've read a lot about Queen Clytemnestra lately, so it's great to see this retelling and learn more about her.

Thank you Neem Tree Press and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

"Clytemnestra's Bind" by Susan C. Wilson retells the story of Clytemnestra during her second marriage to Agamemnon and the events leading up to The Trojan War.


I would give "Clytemnestra's Bind" by Susan C. Wilson a 4-star review because, the writing is quite well, I was worried this would be very similar to all the other retelling's of Clytemnestra but I could see some differences, I liked how this didn't start with her daughters Iphigenia death, and it's always interesting to see how someone perceives another.