Thank you Netgalley, author, and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this e-arc.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Elektra by Jennifer Saint is a retelling of the classic Greek myth of the same name. It is narrated by three women. First Clytemnestra, the sister of Helen of Troy, the woman famed for launching a thousand ships. She is also the wife of Agamemnon the king who leads this massive siege of Troy to retrieve Helen, the wife of his brother, Menelaus.Next we have Cassandra the princess of Troy who upon refusing the god Apollo’s advances was cursed to be able to foretell the future but never be believed. Finally we have Elektra the youngest daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. She is fiercely loyal to her father and becomes bitterly estranged from her mother. Much is written of the men, gods and demigods who fought the 10 year Trojan war but very little is ever portrayed about the.women effected by it. By writing this utilizing the 3 female narrators we finally get the female perspective.
I’m Not going to summarize the book any further since it’s a well known story. Suffice it to say it is a twisted tale of vile acts committed and the subsequent feeliings of hurt and betrayal. But mostly it is the tale of revenges planned and executed that makes this a true Greek tragedy.
Due to the numerous storylines and characters involved the book could have become quite confusing. With Ms. Saints considerable writing skills the book avoids this problem and is clearly laid out and entertaining. Utilizing well defined, three dimensional characters and believable dialogue the book for the most part flows easily. Only in the lead up to the climax of the book did I find the story dragged a-bit and became boring.
I listened to Elektra on audiobook and liked this version quite well. I only have one small issue. I wished the chapters were given headings with the name of the speaker. I found that I had no problem discerning Clytemnestra’s voice as it is the voice of a mature woman. I did however have a fair amount of difficulty, in the beginning, determining which character was speaking Cassandra or Electra. I had to wait until enough narrative was given to identify which. I feel the voices of the two women were just too alike, both being young and having a similar tone to their voices.
Despite these minor issues, being a lover of Greek mythology I truly enjoyed this novel and can confidently recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. This fact in no way influenced my review.

Mythology retellings are some of my favorite stories and I really enjoyed this one. Although I will be honest and say I didn’t know much about the story of Elektra, so a lot of this book caught me by surprise. In the end Elektra turned out to be my least favorite character and I loathed many of her actions.

Going into this book I was pretty familiar with the story of Helen and the Trojan war, since it’s one of the most popular mythologies. I however didn’t know too much about Clytemnestra, the sister of Helen. Out of all the characters in this story, she was the one who’s perspective I enjoyed the most and found her character relatable.

I think this book is perfect for fans of mythology, retellings, and those who enjoy strong and flawed female characters.

ELEKTRA by Jennifer Saint @jennifer.saint.author. Thank you to the author, @netgalley, and the publisher @macmillanaudio for the audiobook ARC.

Having just read CIRCE, I was a little worried I would not be giving ELEKTRA a chance by following so close on its heels, however both stories stand alone in my mind as great retellings that flip the script on the portrayal of women in Greek Mythology. Elektra was my favorite character of course but Clytemnestra grew on me over time as well which I was surprised by.

There is a lot of great commentary in this book about how the men and gods of these myths flit about on spite and ego without any thought of the consequences of their actions on others which feels pretty relatable to anyone who has been the innocent bystander to a grown ass human/god temper tantrum. These three women are generally just "along for the ride" as their husbands and fathers and brothers cause mayhem and drag them down with them. And at the center of all the mayhem is a woman that never wanted any of the fuss to begin with - Helen of Troy.

Read this one if you just can't friggen get enough of feminist retellings, you want to know more about Greek Mythology, enjoy multiple storylines weaved together and of course - have a thing for curses!

Synopsis:
The House of Atreus is cursed. A bloodline tainted by a generational cycle of violence and vengeance. This is the story of three women, their fates inextricably tied to this curse, and the fickle nature of men and gods.

Clytemnestra
The sister of Helen, wife of Agamemnon - her hopes of averting the curse are dashed when her sister is taken to Troy by the feckless Paris. Her husband raises a great army against them, and determines to win, whatever the cost.

Cassandra
Princess of Troy, and cursed by Apollo to see the future but never to be believed when she speaks of it. She is powerless in her knowledge that the city will fall.

Elektra
The youngest daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, Elektra is horrified by the bloodletting of her kin. But, can she escape the curse, or is her own destiny also bound by violence?

#Elektra #retelling #macmillanaudio #jennifersaint #booknerd #booklover #bookreview #bookstagram #booksta #booksofig

This definitely grabbed my attention. There's only pov of the women who are in the making of history of Troy. I can see each and everyone's pov of the outcomes. I felt the grieve and I also felt the sense or vengeance or revenge? Still debating what it truly was. The narrator did a good job with the story and dialogue. Definitely worth listening and reading!

I loved this audiobook!! I didn’t get a chance to read the author’s “Ariadne”, but now I must because I adored Ms. Saints gift of story-telling. Elektra was a gorgeous tale that I couldn’t stop listening to. The narrator did a fabulous job. Thank you Macmillan for the gifted audiobook!

The narrators were fine. I guess the story was okay, but it really didn't have to do with Elektra...more people who were associated with Elektra. I believe this was the same case in the previous book Ariadne.

I really enjoyed the story as a retelling of a Greek myth. It was really beautifully written. I appreciated the characters and overall story the beautiful setting. A really fantastic read.

Excellent narrators, great story but I didn't finish. I'm afraid audio books are just not for me. Too easily distracted and my mind wanders. I did enjoy listening but couldn't grasp the whole story. The problem is me not the author or the book.

I had high hopes about this book after reading Ariadne which turned out to be on my Top 5 favorite reads of 2021.
I was confused about the tile of the book.. why Elektra? It should have been called Clytemnestra. Not only is Clytemnestra's story more relevant, but the character is richer, speaks to the reader more than young Elektra.

On a more positive note, I enjoyed learning more about the House of Atreus curse which I was not familiar with. I have to say that I might end up reading this book after listening to the audio version because the story is intricate and it will make more sense focusing on those beautiful words Jennifer Saints is so blessed to put on paper in such an artistic and dramatic way than just listening to the audio version and missing out on precious details because of daily life distractions.

Thank you Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for this ARC in exchange of my honest review.

Before reading this book, I did not know the story of Elektra, Clytemnestra, or Cassandra. Unfortunately as the title character, Elektra was my least favorite perspective to follow. I don’t always have to agree with the characters in books, but I still prefer to like them. I hated Elektra the character. She drove me nuts with her bad decisions and revenge narrative. I still look forward to more books by this author.

I've been so pleased with the amount of retellings around myths about or focused on women. It feels good to see and hear so many of these women centered stories and getting a chance to imagine and wonder about their part in the mythos. Elektra is a dynamic and captivating narrative. The rich stories of 3 women and how their lives were altered and the paths they traveled was phenomenal. This book for me joins Circe in the rich storytelling and left me hanging on every page wonder what more would unfold. The writing was engaging and a real gem that I hope to see more of in the future. So if you loved Circe, then you will fall in love with Elektra.

Much work has been done in last decade or two bringing more voice to the women that are dotted throughout ancient myth. Almost every single creates a huge leap forward for how well that myth can relate to current times. This book joins Circe, Beowulf, and Ariadne in this tradition of rich storytelling completely changing the dynamic of the story. Masterful character work paired with beautiful writing turns Elektra into an instant classic and a guide for how myths can be updated moving forward.

I have never been into retelling books before, particularly of Greek myths, they just haven't done it for me. I'm not too familiar with the background story of this, but once I got into the book, I liked it well enough. Not sure why the title is just Elektra, as there were three main characters, and I thought she was by far the weakest one.

Full disclosure, I received a copy of the audiobook for free from NetGalley and I am giving my honest feedback.

I loved the narrators of this audiobook! I think they did a wonderful job capturing the spirit of their characters and all of the emotions that they expressed. I loved the retelling of the Trojan War through the eyes of the women. Cassandra's sad plight, Clytemnestra's devastation, Elektra's anger, it all came to life so wonderfully. I will admit, I didn't love the ending because I felt so upset that Elektra couldn't understand where her mother was coming from but the author did such a wonderful job of making me feel this emotion through her writing.

Jennifer Saint, author of the much loved “Ariadne”, begins “Elektra”, a timeless story caught in a dazzling new light, retelling the Greek myth of the House of Atreus, set against the background of the Trojan War.

“Elektra” is told from multiple points of view. In alternating chapters, each of the three women tells their story. Among the themes of the novel are war, vengeance, obsession and women’s rage.

Here are three powerful, very angry women, whose lives are linked through a war not of their making. The three narrators have been well chosen for their roles.

Clytemnestra, the wife of Agamemnon, Queen of Mycenae, and sister to Helen of Troy, is held up as an example of a bad wife, but she is driven by maternal love for her only daughter, Elektra. She’s very relatable as a mother.

Elektra, Agamemnon and Clytemnestra’s daughter, is a mystery. She hates her mother and is obsessed with her father. Her family is cursed, and she is the only one who can choose to end the curse. On the face of it, her actions are the most difficult with which to relate. The entire novel builds around her decision.

Cassandra, the daughter of the king and queen of Troy, a priestess kissed and then cursed by the God Apollo, can see into the future, but no one will believe what she sees. Cassandra is trapped in a besieged city, unable to escape.

When Troy falls, Cassandra is taken from Troy by Agamemnon as a spoil of war. Clytemnestra is seized with sexual jealousy.

In “Elektra”, the Gods are terrifying figures. They are involved in the Trojan war, and curse Agamemnon’s family, yet remain distant and unknowable.

It is satisfying to hear the three women’s stories told in an alternative fashion. Elektra” will transport you to a ancient world of bloodlust and passion.

A huge thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the advanced audiobook.

Elektra was an enjoyable Greek mythology retelling. Saint weaves a character-driven story from the perspectives of Clytemnestra, Cassandra, and Elektra before, during, and after the Trojan War.

If you are a fan of Greek mythology and reimagined tales, then this novel is for you. Saint has created a story full of family curses, fickle Gods, war, grief, loss, and revenge.

I enjoyed the perspective of the Trojan War from the women involved. So often history only includes male perspectives, especially in times of war, so it was a breath of fresh air to have 3 FMCs.

That being said, this story is dark. It is heavy. It dragged during some parts (like when we’re waiting for the Trojan War to end). And, I was left not particularly liking any of the characters because they’re all selfish, vengeful, and manipulative in their own ways.

HOWEVER, this is what also made the story so captivating and thought-provoking. It left me wondering if there can be any ‘winners’ when it comes to revenge. It seems that all that comes from war and revenge is more death and destruction.

Overall, Elektra is an interesting audiobook with no shortage of drama for lovers of Greek mythology.

Following up on "Ariadne", Jennifer Saint once again brings Ancient Greek mythology to life for a new era. I only wish stories as well told as this had existed decades ago when I had my first (enforced) encounter with the Greek myths in middle school. The source material obviously is among some of the best anywhere in the world, but most retellings of the Ancient Greek myths are dry and academic in feeling. Saint and other authors in recent years have done a lot to adapt these epic dramas in a manner befitting their intensity.

I absolutely was enthralled by "Elektra". Told from the perspectives of three women in pivotal roles, all connected to Greek King Agamemnon--his wife Clytemnestra, his youngest daughter Elektra, and his captured sex slave from Troy, Cassandra the prophetess--the story could easily have been titled Clytemnestra, as she probably is more prominent as a narrator than Elektra, but that title would've been a mouthful, so I assume this is why Elektra has been chosen to bear that role.

Saint's prose is exquisite. Her understanding of the various myths and her ability to weave them in and out of each other, creating a seamless narrative, really makes this ancient story read like a modern drama. Telling it from the perspective of three important women brings a new appreciation to aspects of the myths that are generally overlooked, or are at best peripheral to most tellings (Oh gosh, the king killed his daughter, how sad! Oh the king took a concubine as spoils of war!). I am loving the new feminist wave of stories rooted in the myths. It's about time that the daughter or the concubine or the grieving mother gets to have a say.

Going back and forth between the three narratives, we see the Trojan Wars and their effects from something other than the positions of power. Sure, all of the main characters are royalty, but they are "merely" women--prized as ornaments and sexual objects primarily, and generally kept safely to the side of the real power and action, as "befitting" their sex (so it was believed), so any story from their perspective will necessarily be one told from a non-ruling perspective.

We learn all about the world's most beautiful woman, Helen, and what a curse that was to her. We learn about her family and the family of Clytemnestra's husband, and the violence that is endemic in that bloodline. I've always read the Greek myths as being largely family dramas, and those extremely dysfunctional families had drama by the Trojan horseful. The myths are often cautionary in nature: "revenge never pays" being the loudest message and moral. Who will break the curse and escape from the cycle of violence? Anyone at all?

Clytemnestra, wife to king Agamemnon, and Elektra, their youngest daughter, have the most to say, because most of the drama centers on the familial relationship and its breakdown in the wake of their patriarch's murder of their daughter and sister. Each of them feels quite differently about this pivotal moment, setting the stage for many years of each of them nursing their own unique resentment and each of them brewing up quite different plans for revenge.

Cassandra's own story is, of course, incredible, as she narrates the effects of the Trojan Wars on her city, complete with the famous eponymous wooden horse. As a prophetess, she can foretell and foresee the future, yet she is cursed to never be believed. So despite her best efforts, Cassandra is unable to warn her countrymen about the Greek soldiers inside the horse, and ends up being captured as Agamemnon's sex slave, setting her up for her own sad confrontation with Clytemnestra.

Even though the stories are well-known, Saint's versions are uniquely her own, as she creates dialogue and imbues the characters with deep-seated emotion and expressive feelings. Anyone who's attempted to read the ancient myths knows that the genaologies can be a bit difficult to unwind. Saint's done a good job of explaining who's who, but a reader who's new to the myths might benefit from a quick look at a family tree as they go into this. Five stars for the concept, five stars for the prose, and as I listened to the audiobook, five stars for the narration. "Elektra" was thoroughly pleasing to listen to and hard to put down.

Many thanks to the publisher for an advance review copy.

"Elektra" by Jennifer Saint was one of my most anticipated reads this year. I love this author and was looking forward to diving back into greek mythology. I enjoyed that the author's retelling put a new spin on the familiar plot lines and enjoyed the multiple POV and hearing the distinct characters. I did notice that while listening I had to pay close attention to the speaker or I would forget where the story was and who was speaking. Usually I listen while running or working, but this one I really needed to focus in on a bit more while listening. Overall, I enjoyed this one and would recommend it!

Elektra is based on Greek Mythology, centering on the time of the Trojan War. It is the story of three women, Elekra, Clytemnestra and Cassandra, and their lives as they are affected by Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae. The House of Atreus is cursed with a bloodline tainted by violence and vengeance. Clytemnestra is Helen's sister, married to Agamemnon. When Helen is taken to Troy, Agamemnon raises an army and is determined to defeat Troy. There is a terrible incident that happens before he leaves that causes Clytemnestra to hate her husband and vow vengeance on him. Elektra is the youngest child of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, and idolizes her father. She is not happy with her mother's actions. Cassandra is a Princess of Troy, who is able to see the future but due to Apollo's curse, she is never believed when she speaks of it.

I thought I was familiar with the myth surrounding Agamemnon and Troy, but apparently memory did not serve me well. As I read this story, I learned more that I was not aware of. This was a bloody time to live, especially if you were female. Women were used as pawns in war and peace and this book shows them not sitting back and accepting this easily. The characters were well written and developed, and I became invested in their stories. I will say, I did not like Elektra very much, as she was focused on her love for her father, and failed to recognize all he did to others and that effect on them. It definitely kept me listening to this story long after I should have gone to bed one night. Although longer than most books I read, I am glad I picked this one up. If you enjoy retellings, like mythology or want to learn more about this myth, I recommend you pick up Elektra. The audiobook was narrated by Beth Eyre, Jane Collingwood, and Julie Teal. I liked that each POV was narrated by a different performer, thus giving them their own voice. A story that I enjoyed listening to, but was also glad I had the ebook to refer to when I had questions.