The premise of this book was interesting. The author's writing style is simple and easy to follow. However, the story is a bit predictable, there were no great twists for me or need to read more, more, more. Overall, I think it was a great attempt but I might be growing out of my love for YA fantasy...

This review is posted on goodreads as of 6/12/18, and will be posted on my blog the-knights-who-say-book.tumblr.com on 11/27/18.

One question: when you first heard the myth of Atalanta racing her suitors and announcing she would only marry the man who could beat her, did you also sort of hate the guy who won by distracting her with golden apples? Yes? Good, this book is for you.

Because this is the story of Atalanta falling in love with a disgraced huntress of Artemis and the plan they make to keep Atalanta from being married off for politics. It's about how gods suck, how girls deserve better, and finding someone who will always come back for you.

In that respect, this book is great. I love the concept, and I like Atalanta and Kahina together. But it never shaped up to a great story overall. The plot needed more work.

Kahina has the power of prophecy, for reasons I won't spoil. There is definitely some thought put into keeping this power from being the magical solution to everything (for example, Kahina can only magically speak the answer when other people ask her questions, she can't do it herself), but I felt it needed more boundaries and more fleshing out.

And when there are gods involved I think there needs to be more explanation of the limits of their power, because otherwise they can just do random things with no limits and it's bad for the story. This becomes relevant in the epic final battle, when there are gods involved and very vague god powers. Literally deus ex machina. At least the gods weren't present for most of the book, so Atalanta and Kahina were using their own skills.

But frankly, the part with Kahina trying to figure out how to fulfill Artemis's quest could have used more development too. Atalanta just sort of hits on the answer and then we find out it's right without showing us much actual development.

Anyway, it's a book with some flaws that are saved by two girls falling in love and protecting each other from crappy men and gods.

A fun and refreshing twist on Greek mythology, Outrun the Wind was a truly enjoyable read from start to finish (and oh my god, that cover! So stunning!). I especially appreciated how nuanced the gods were - even Artemis, who we're meant to feel positively about isn't all sunshine and rainbows. As someone who studied Classical Civilisations and often marvelled at the general state of f*cked-upedness of the entire pantheon, it was nice to see that none of them were shown to be all good or all bad. An absolutely lovely retelling of the Atalanta story, and one which I will definitely (and happily) accept as canon from now on :D

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

It was the summer between third and fourth grade when I fell in love with Greek Mythology. It was actually part of the mandatory summer reading and I found myself utterly fascinated. So as a general rule I like all things that incorporate those myths.

"Outrun the Wind" is a wonderful retelling of Atalanta’s story with a LGBT spin on it. From the very start it was obvious that this story will be very different than the original myth and that it will explore some difficult, heavy themes. Personally I don’t think they were handled well but I’ve read worse. Actually that handling and the way most men are portrayed are the main reasons why I gave it a 3.5 rating. However, it has that special thing that makes you want to keep reading despite the flaws. So I’d recommend "Outrun the Wind" to people who love retellings and the Greek Myths. I promise you won’t regret giving it a chance.

Thank you to Notth Star Editions for the Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this book started out promising, Greek gods, mythical beasts, but I soon got bored and felt the book went a little flat, I struggled to finish it.

I really try to like this book at the beginning. It took me a while to get into it, because the alternative pout of views of Kahina and Atalanta. Both characters are very similar and it was confusing at the beginning but I have to say that the story grows on you, as things begin to unravel. Is a book that for sure will recommend to the book club I belong to.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I found the pace of the book good. The MC was easy to get into. I don't know this enough about greek mythology to say if this is somewhat true to it, but I still found it engaging and the story quite pretty. i'm glad i read it. the writing will draw you in and wanting for more, at least from my perspective.
I also like that it is a f/f romance which i enjoyed a lot.

i would recommend this to those who have been on the look for an LGBT book and maybe likes a bit of greek mythology.

3.5 stars

I liked this book and especially for a debut I think the author did a great job, but there were also things I was looking for in a book set in ancient Greece that simply weren’t there, and that’s the reason why this isn’t a five star, but let’s slow down a little.

The book is narrated from two alternating POVs, Atalanta’s and Kahina’s. I think this type of narration was the best choice for it, but one problem I had with it is that the two voices weren’t distinct enough. I think it makes some sort of sense, because the two characters are kind of similar on many levels, but that made it difficult to differentiate their internal monologues. But other than that, I think they were both well-written, just like well-written was the whole book. Sometimes, dare I say, a little too well written. This might make no sense, but I don’t know how else to put it. I just felt like every sentence was thought over meticulously, with great attention paid to the show, don’t tell and other rules, but sometimes that made the narration a little dry and perhaps impersonal. That’s obviously a very minor thing and it’s not really something I even thought about until writing my review, and it didn’t influence my rating negatively.

My favorite aspect of the book was probably the f/f romance, and not just because it’s f/f. It honestly wasn’t even a huge part of the book, it’s just something that happens within the book, but that’s what made it special. I don’t really want to say much about it because it should be experienced while reading the book.

The plot was at times a little slow and I think a few elements could have been removed or made less relevant in order to focus more on other aspects. Something else I didn’t necessarily agree with is the characterization of Artemis and Apollo, but I respect the author’s choice, and it’s true that Greek mythology isn’t always consistent and that there’s not two versions of a god or a Greek hero that are the same.

But speaking of ancient Greece, I didn’t find it in this book. If you replaced the names of places and people with random ones, this would read as a generic fantasy. I didn’t see Greece in the culture, in the way gods were worshipped, in the way men and women related to each other, I simply didn’t see it anywhere. The author note explains that liberties were taken, since the mythological Atalanta belongs to the first generation of heroes, even before the Trojan war, and not a lot is known about many aspects of life back then. This, in my opinion, resulted in a worldbuilding that’s not here nor there. You could tell me it’s set in the same universe and time period as Cinderella and I’d believe it. I think that a retelling of a Greek myth loses a lot of its value if it doesn’t transport the reader back to ancient Greece, and that’s truly what bothered me most about an otherwise above-average book.

All in all, I would recommend it if you can look past the missing ancient Greece and are looking for a f/f romance that’s not the focus of the book.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of this book.

I love books that deal with retellings of myths, legends or history, and that is what first drew me to Outrun the Wind. What made me devour this book from start to finish was a strong action packed opening you did not want to tear your eyes from all the way to an end that was fit to be a Greek myth in its own right. The author really did her research on Greek mythology, and while the story does not go along with the actual tale of Atalanta it does hit on all the key parts of her tale and weaves them in a more compelling story for current readers. The problems that the characters face also touch on a lot of the problems that existed in Greek society at the time, and some issues that are still current to today.

I would really say this book reminded me a lot of The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller which is perhaps one of my favorite books of all times. I would say this book is not quite as good, as the love story in Achilles really makes you feel the pain, while this love story does seems to rely on the archetype of fate and they were destined to be together but does not really develop why they like each other. This does not mean I did not like the relationship of the two main characters, I just felt it could have been developed a little further. However, I really would strong recommend this book as a must read.

If a fun female-female romance that takes time involving Artemis and her Huntresses doesn't convince you then I don't know how.

I'm very sad to say that I had dnf the book about 50% through it. I liked the idea of the book. It was really interesting but I don't think I was in the right headspace to read it in order to give it a proper review. The parts I did read were good but it was hard to stay interested in the book.

** 3.5 but rounding up **

A fast pace retelling of a Greek myth with a few twists to make it a story highlighting the strength of women when faced with adversity and that love can be found in the strangest of places.

“Outrun the Wind” tells the shared story of Atalanta, a girl determined to prove herself among the men and Kahina, a huntress for Artemis, who cross paths on the Calydonian Boar Hunt and as a result of that meeting find themselves desperate to seek the approval and redemption of those closest to them. As they struggle with their respective tasks they find they have more in common than originally thought and when their pasts catch up to them they have to team up in order to make sure they have a future worth living.

I have to say I knew very little of the Atalanta myth going into this book and decided to keep it that way until after I finished so it was interesting to have this version first and I have to say I like it a lot more than the original, though that’s probably because some of the characters in this are painted in a much different light than the latter so I’m probably biased.

There was also a change in the God playing the antagonist that I also think is a strength to this novel given the overarching theme of the treatment of women at the hands of men and having Aphrodite be the villain so to speak would lessen the impact of that message.

I really enjoyed this story and it was a great idea to have each of our leads share the narrative because both were understandably distant and cautious while navigating this world and without that insight into their minds this could have read very differently showing us two characters made of stone when in reality they each have fire in their hearts and the determination to live for themselves and no one else.

If you’re looking for something that highlights Greek mythology but with less angst granted to that of Madeline Miller’s work this is perfect for you and it doesn’t hurt that this comes with a great romance between two amazing women.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**

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.