I was so excited to get the chance to read Outrun the Wind. Greek mythology has always fascinated me, so when I heard about a book inspired by those myths and had two strong female leads, I knew I needed to check it out. And on the whole, I wasn't disappointed by this book. 

One aspect of a book that can either make or break it for me is the characters. If I don't like the characters, I probably won't enjoy the book no matter what the plot is like. I'm happy to say that Outrun the Wind has some really fantastic characters. I loved the growth of Atalanta and Kahina. While at times it felt a little rushed, I still had so much fun learning about these two ladies. 

The plot moved a little unevenly for my taste. Sometimes I felt like things moved way too slow, and then other times the book felt way too rushed. But, I did enjoy the overall plot. It kept me wanting to read more, even when things slowed down a bit.

So, on the whole, I think this is a great book. If you like Greek Mythology, I would highly recommend giving Outrun the Wind a read!

When I read the synopsis of this book, I was intrigued. For me, this novel needed a lot more character growth. I didn't connect well with these characters. As someone who reads a lot of fantasy, I fell that there are better versions of this story told. It fell a bit flat for me.
If you are new to fantasy, this may be worth a try.

Outrun the wind is a refreshing change from a lot of books I’ve read this year. Not only is it diverse with the love interests but in the characters as well. Elizabeth Tammi takes characters from Greek mythology and adds her own twist that makes this novel incredibly hard to put down. I haven’t read a unique twist on mythology like this in a long time. The perfect mix of women joining forces and a woman taking her own future into her own hands. I can’t say enough good things about it.
What I found just as interesting as the story were the notes she added at the end. I don’t usually find acknowledgements and facts added at the end of a story interesting but the way Tammi explained her ideas and where she got she found them is as intriguing as the story. This is a book that needs to be noticed.

Outrun the Wind is a retelling of the Greek myth of Atalanta. I didn't know much about this mythological character before picking up this book, so have no judgment on if this is an accurate representation of the stories behind this swift footed huntress. The story is told in alternating points of view between Atalanta and Kahina, one of Artemis' huntresses. The stage is set with the Calydonian boar hunt, the events of which create a ripple effect that impacts both characters in very different ways, but ultimately brings them together. Being a story that features gods/goddesses existing in a world with mere mortals, I felt the interactions between these two entities weren't nearly as dramatic and intense as they could have been. I wanted the gods/goddesses to flex their muscles a bit more. Also, the setting didn't really portray Ancient Greece to me either. The relationship development between Atalanta and Kahina was a decent. Interesting story, but felt that the Greek mythology aspects could have been developed a bit better.

I was very excited to read "Outrun the Wind", particularly because I love discovering new interpretations of familiar myths, but also because I have not read many F/F love stories yet and so the one between Atalanta and Kahina intrigued me. The tale of Atlanta - who is unwilling to marry and proclaims that she will only be wed if the suitor manages to outrun her in a race - is well known, as is the Hunt of Artemis which Kahina is part of, so I was curious to see how the elements of Greek mythology would be utilised.

First of all, I should say that the romance is not the centre of the plot. The relationship between the two women - which is at first not the best, to put it mildly - is important and the connection between them is definitely strong, but in my opinion, more attention was put on the individual development of both characters. They change a lot over the course of the book and they need to discover what they really want or need - especially since they challenge what society tells them they should be, which makes their lives difficult. Another point is that both of them faced hardships in the past and got hurt; because of that, they have trouble trusting other people or even themselves. I really liked how both of them started to heal and that they found companionship and solace in each other; it's what made their friendship, and the connotations of something more, very believable and convincing. The development of their feelings for each other was also realistic and while the portrayal of them was occasionally almost too subtle, I enjoyed the moments where they shone through.

I also liked how the author incorporated elements of the myth of Atalanta. There is an afterword in which she explains how historically accurate her book is and while it shows that she took some creative licenses, the book still managed to make the ancient world come alive. The story itself was interesting for the most part, but I did have some issues with the idea that Atalanta would be allowed to run away from Artemis like she did in the beginning, which lessened the tension of the moment a bit, and there sadly were some chapters where I felt like little of consequence happened. Another point is that some stuff just occurs in the background which felt wrong since a lot of importance was placed on these events at first. An example would be Kahina’s quest - she needs to prove herself, but then the solution is discovered almost by chance and the reader does not get to see her work on it a lot. Because of that, there was some lost potential which was a shame. The final conflict is also resolved way too quickly and it was hard to feel the emotional impact of what was going on since everything was over so soon, but the fight itself was well written and the loose ends were tied up nicely.

These points aside, I did enjoy the book. I would have liked a stronger focus on the romance, but considering the setting it was well done, particularly in showing their friendship and their changing feelings for each other. It was great to see a completely different interpretation of the myth of Atalanta and it's for the most part a compelling read, even if there were some chapters where the story was not really moving forward.
3.5/5 stars

The premises of this book were very interesting, I mean Greek mythology? Hell, yeah! I love it! So, I expected very much from it but... alas, it didn't work for me.
The writing style was not so impressive, the difference between the dual POV was nonexistent since both the characters' thoughts were almost the same, the worldbuilding felt more a fantasy one than Ancient Greece and the whole plot didn't captivate me enough.

I love books with mythology. I think the plot was well thought and great, but I wanted more out of the writing. There are two distinct characters in the novel, Kahina and Atalanta, but I sometimes was confused by who's view I was reading.

I loved the romance, the F/F. I don't think there are enough books out there like that. The writing was well done, considering this is a debut novel, I was rather impressed with Tammi and her writing style.

My final criticism of this book would be the Gods. I felt like they weren't really powerful enough to be Gods, I guess I would have liked if the story would have delved a little deeper into them.

Overall, I enjoyed the read and would definitely pick up something by her in the future. Great debut.

3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Robin Hood meets Wonder Woman. The story starts out with a bang. Artemis is mad and sends one of her monsters to destroy a kingdom, however, when one of her own huntresses gets in the way, new hope arises out of a country almost forgotten. Atalanta is your typical teenager in some ways: a little cocky, ignorant to her own faults, and insecure at the same time. But, also a monster butt-kicking legend...at least to those who don't know the truth.

"The trees tremble, and it is not from the wind.

I clench my fists so my fingers don't follow the trees' example, and reach behind my back, pulling out an arrow and nocking it in a motion so practiced that I don't need to take my eyes off of the treeline. Sunlight glimmers like a jewel through the shifting leaves.

"It's here," Meleager says, his voice solid and unafraid."

As we all know, fame can blind us. People who once were nothing to us suddenly gain interest. And in the limelight of being accepted by those we have always wished, we don't always see the truth behind the sudden attention. This is exactly what happens to Atalanta.

The story came in hot, but then the middle took a complete 180. All of the action I was relishing turned into love. And while love it nice to have around, it is also nice to have action during the same time, and that didn't happen for me. There was some disconnect. Almost like an aside from the action. Not only that, but, like always, the author always makes the characters pick the person I don't want them to. Why can't they ever pick the super nice ones (Wahh!)?!

If not for the little love aside, I really enjoyed the novel. The action scenes were great and there is so much potential for either a series or other novels based in the same universe.

The Huntresses of Artemis must obey two rules: never disobey the goddess, and never fall in love. After being rescued from a harrowing life as an Oracle of Delphi, Kahina is glad to be a part of the Hunt; living among a group of female warriors gives her a chance to reclaim her strength. But when a routine mission goes awry, Kahina breaks the first rule in order to save the legendary huntress Atalanta. To earn back Artemis's favor, Kahina must complete a dangerous task in the kingdom of Arkadia-where the king's daughter is revealed to be none other than Atalanta. Still reeling from her disastrous quest and her father's insistence on marriage, Atalanta isn't sure what to make of Kahina. As her connection to Atalanta deepens, Kahina finds herself in danger of breaking Artemis's second rule.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I was drawn to this story by the Greek mythology in the story and intriguing summary. The cover was also beautiful and the title was unique among the other books I had to choose from. I really looked forward to reading this book this week.

The story alternates point of view between Kahina and Atalanta. Both characters are strong, independent women. They’re fun to read from, as they have strong conflict that blossoms into more as the story develops. I would have loved to see more differences in their personality and voice between chapters, but the different in point of view was still fun none-the-less.

I always enjoy books that take place out of traditional medieval fantasy worlds, so I was really looking forward to explore a world based in ancient Greece. I believe this book is supposed to be set around 3500 B.C. While I knew that the story was set in a unique place, it was hard for me to tell that exactly what the setting was. If you hadn’t told me what the setting was, I would have assumed it was a traditional medieval setting. I would have loved to see more set this world apart from others.

The story of the book truly was exciting, from the conflict between characters to the antagonistic elements. The rich characters background were fun to explore, and definitely added to the development of the story, which is always a big plus. However, I felt like the main story line was disappointing. I had been hoping for an action-filled survival and escape story, but after the initial inciting the book was mostly quiet and filled with slow plot revelations etiquette lessons for the first half of the book. I would have loved to see more of the action that the book opened with.

Outrun The Wind is a fun and unique read. The ancient Greek setting is different than most books you’ll read. The characters are fun and I enjoyed the alternative point of view. The plot is quieter than I expected but the twists were still enjoyable to watch unfold.

Thank you to netgalley I received this as an ARC. I enjoyed it very much was good solid read. Solid 3.75 Stars for me!

While I did enjoy this book and the story, the pacing felt off. It was slow in the beginning but then picked up and then before I knew it everything was over and everything was resolved. I think this could have been a duology or a lengthier book to compensate for the story depth.

But I did enjoy it and I loved seeing LGBT+ characters as well as Greek mythology. The cover is also beautiful.

I jumped on this title right away because of a few keywords in the description: goddess, legendary huntress, Oracle of Delphi, set in Greece....I am in! I feel like Greek mythology is so underrated and I just can't get enough of it! I was in love with the setting and the backstory of Outrun the Wind. I could really tell that Elizabeth Tammi did her homework on the world into which she put her characters, and she did a wonderful job breathing life into everything she wrote.

I really loved the relationship between Atalanta and Kahina. It was so fierce, yet beautiful. I admit, though, that sometimes the POV's got me a little mixed up towards the middle of the book. Otherwise, though, I thought they were a great representation of an LGBTQ ship, and that's not typically my thing.

My biggest quip with the book is Kahina's relation to Apollo. I never understood how that played into things or what exactly that was. But other than those couple things, I enjoyed the book and would recommend for those who enjoy LGBTQ ships and/or Greek mythology.

Story has a great premise with good characters. I struggled to get through to the end however. Whether it was the author's style of writing or too many sidelines being noted too quickly, I wasn't sure. It was overall good, but not quite great.

3.5
This ARC was provided by Flux and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In all honesty I am not sure what I think about this book. I’m a fan of Greek romances and all but I just felt that there was something missing from this book. I did like the characters Atalanta and Kahina as individuals but I didn’t buy it as love interests. I’m taking it that the whole moral of the story is to not have Atalanta married off to save her father’s kingdom and to a horrible man. How women deserve more than to be used as property and be able to marry for love.

Now, on to some good notes. I did like the storyline and plot. I felt that it was fast paced and held my interest and I wanted to read on. I like how Atalanta stuck it to the men that were there for her hand.

I would have liked to see more of the gods in the story. I would like to have seen more of the battle between Artemis and her brother. The story felt loosely based on Greek mythology, throw in a temple here or worship there kind of thing.

Not a bad start and I would like to see how this story would continue.

DNF'd at 53%

The characters make no sense, the dialogue is worse, and the world building is non-existent. I don't know if the author was leaning so heavily on the myth that she didn't realize she was doing this, but either way, it doesn't make for a good novel, unfortunately.

The POVs of Atalanta and Kahina have them each appearing so fearful and all over the place internally, but somehow externally, they're both larger than life and confident and otherworldly in a way that cannot be reconciled with their inner musings. It doesn't help, either, that their POVs sound exactly the same, but somehow they're supposed to be two different characters. Despite being in both their heads, I feel like I barely know anything about them. Despite all these other characters they're supposedly tied to, I feel nothing about their history with these characters because well... There's nothing there. I wasn't a big fan, either, about how the author switched from first-person present tense to third-person past tense for weird dreams and flashback scenes, especially since those brief moments were actually stronger bits of writing than the rest of the book.

This is also supposed to be a forbidden romance between the two women, and it's just... not done well at all. Again, there's nothing there to make this interesting or tingly or any of those great words a forbidden romance is supposed to make you feel.

Finally, Artemis and Apollo are far more interesting than what was actually depicted here. I'm especially offended on behalf of Artemis. You deserved better than to just be The Bitch trope, fam. Maybe I'm biased, but I just find this author's grasp of famous Greek figures and their characterizations to be questionable at best.

so, i do have a bit to say about the book. one of my main problems with it was the lack of connection i had with the main characters.. I didn't care about them. also it is a personal opinion but i don't like when charcters HATE each other for all of the book and then suddenly end toghether.. overall the book was a bit slow for me, and at the end it started getting packed with action, which was interesting, but all the previous pages had already decided that the book was a boring.

I expected to like this a lot more considering it is (loosely) based on Greek mythology. I wish there were more mythological references in this book besides just naming names. I enjoyed the first half of the book, but once I reached the midpoint and Atalanta's races started, it just got SO repetitive, I was ready for it to be over. I nearly skipped over the last 10% of the book just so I'd finish it.

3.5

This book was pretty good. I read through it in practically one day and enjoyed it. Its scenery was great and the female leads were powerful and portrayed a good image of femininity, but there were a few things that did not escape my attention and nothing really stood out as extraordinary.

First, while the chapters alternated POVs on a patterned basis and there were indications at the beginning of each chapter, both the perspectives were very similar. There wasn't a clear individual voice coming through for each of the characters and I honestly struggled near the tart of each chapter getting used to seeing the switch between the use of the names Atalanta and Kahina because the Is sounded so similar. I went back quite a few times to check who's perspective I was reading in. But, the author did quite a good job of depicting Artemis. I'm not a fan of retellings that make the gods/goddesses soft, and Tammi did an excellent job of keeping Artemis' wilder and cold side.

Secondly, the first part of the story dragged a bit. I might be because I'm quite familiar with Atalanta's tale, but I did find that it was very slow. After a while, the set-up died down and I was almost into the story, but I felt like the author was glossing over some of the more action-packed parts in favour of characters observing each other and musing about how beautiful Greece is (okay, not the worst thing to muse over) and their pasts. The flashbacks were done a very neat way, told in the third person while the rest of the story was in first, but there were only two of them and they were for Kahina. I would have liked to see some from Atalanta too. She mentioned her past, and, as I mentioned before, I am very familiar with it, but I would have liked to have a better feeling of how the author was interpreting it because she did make a lot of changes to Atalanta's story. And I wish there had been some more flashbacks, in the first person preferably. I found that there was a lot of fuzziness around the hole oracle of Apollo thing and I wasn't really getting why it was a bad thing other than Kahina hated it.

Lastly, this book was very, very light. The story of Atalanta is a rather gruesome one and this was a very light reimagination. In the original version I read, Atalanta murdered all the competitors if she caught up to them; in this one she just made them leave. The romance seemed to come slightly out of nowhere. The love interest spent a good chunk of the book trying to forget the other existed and were very focused on their own problems and then they were in love and killing for each other. while it wasn't the worst (it could have been insta-love!) it was not the best either. It would have benefited from some more development and build up.

However, I did like some of the creative liberties the author took with this work. It was interesting to see how the transformations and prophecy's played out in a way that connected the two girls and it made the ending very solid because I could pick out the elements of the original tale that were being played upon and I thoroughly enjoyed the ending.

In all, I think this book could have been a bit longer with some more build-up and some more backstory, but it's still a very enjoyable read, especially if you're not all that familiar with Atalanta. I think those who don't know her story will like it a bit more.

First of all the cover is gorgeous. I like reading Greek mythology so this book was perfect read for me. I really loved the world building and strong female characters. I think this was an amazing debut.

I loved this book! Huntress of Artemis and lesbian forbidden romance! This was such a great young adult fantasy novel. The plot and characters are really unique and fresh.