"Better to be envied than to be no one."

So starts this extremely well written take on Greek Mythology by Costanza Casati. Clymenestra was a Spartan whose grandmother to her she would be a future queen and it colored her whole life.

Known historically as a villainess, she always had her heritage as a foundation to live up to. She was a powerful woman in a world that did not celebrate that.

Divided into five parts we see the young princess try to outdo her twin Helena. She chooses who she will marry over the tradition of being a pawn between kingdoms. She has a number of children along with marriages and/or affairs. She is her own truth, for better or worse

I am an unabashed lover of Greek Mythology ( I have the Odyssey of Homer- my favorite book- hanging on my wall) and will inhale it whenever I can. This book is a fantastic find and highly recommended. 5/5

[ Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. In no way did it effect my review]

This is an amazing story and beautifully written and the author's first time out of the gate1 I believe. She has been compared to Madeline Miller (certainly as regards subject matter), but she mines a somewhat different vein. While Miller has used the Iliad and Odyssey and Greek myth to spin spellbinding stories, Casati uses the ancient Greek characters from the Orestia . This marvelous rendition stays very close to the original tragedy, but puts more flesh and bones on the characters and her descriptive passages of landscape and ancient Greek architecture show an incredible amount of research. If the reader is unfamiliar with the Orestia, it is the classic Greek tragedy and one of the only ones that was preserved, intact, from ancient times. It is a classic story of love, power with patricide and matricide thrown in. Bloodier than Miller's work, but not in a grotesque way...how could you go wrong with the story of classical tragedy retold in an accessible was to modern readers without losing any of the complex context in which it was originally written? In Casati's hands it is a marvel. Many thanks to NetGalley for providing a ARC. If you are a fan of Miller's work, you will surely enjoy this one. Highly recommended. Available 3/7/2023

Honestly, I'm getting a little burnt out on Greek retellings. However, while the Trojan War was mentioned, it was not the main point of this story, which is a huge difference from every other Clytemnestra story. Thank you, Costanza Casati for creating something beautiful and new.

The story follows Clytemnestra's journey from Spartan Princess to Queen of Mycenae. We all know she kills Agamemnon, We know about her children, but what do we know about her? The time in between? We see glimpses into her life with her first husband and her first child.
We see what growing up in Sparta was like for her with her siblings. Helen and Clytemnestra were inseparable. Her twin brothers' story is also told from her perspective-Castor and Polydeuces. I loved the siblings' relationships and how loyal they were to one another. It's a different side of Clytemnestra we don't usually see. We know her as the cruel queen, unfaithful wife, etc. But that's not the case. That's the men's perspective. Her perspective is eye-opening, and as a woman, you empathize with her. As referenced in the book, songs never tell the truth and Clytemnestra was there. Only she can share her story.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Clytemnestra is a fierce warrior, who became queen with a notorious background. As multiple tragedies hit her family and title, she learns who her real friends are and how to stand up for herself.

Such a great retelling of classic Greek mythology. The characters were complex and while not always likeable, their motivations were understandable. It was long but remained engaging throughout.

Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prerelease book at no cost. This was my absolute favorite title obtained through you so far.

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Clytemnestra.

You may recognize the name from “classical texts” (written by men) you had to read for literature or history class. Aeschylus wrote of her in his play Agamemnon (though technically, the story is incomplete without the rest of the Oresteia), by Homer in the Odyssey, Ovid in Ars Armatoria, and Seneca in Agamemnon.

If you do recall her name, you might immediately associate her with the archetype of the “bad wife”. If you’d like to read something that turns history on its head, offers a completely different take on the mythic tale of the Spartan Clytemnestra and her sister, Helen [of Troy], have I got a book for you.

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati is thrilling. As someone who had to sit through entirely too much pantomimed literature written by long-dead white men, as a student of history, philosophy, literature, and theater, I felt pieces of myself that I had long ago closed off out of cynicism and bitterness crack open, letting the light in, and felt entirely reenergized by this mythic retelling.

In Clytemnestra, she is the main character. The entire book is written from her, a woman in ancient Greece’s, perspective. She’s not a perfect person. She’s not a perfect mother or a perfect role model. She’s not a perfect woman or a perfect feminist. But she has a traumatizing tale that will gain sympathy from all those who have any to give, as Clytemnestra’s heartbreaking, tragic tale unfolds.

Of course, Clytemnestra wasn’t perfect. She was probably too harsh in raising Orestes, (her son), perhaps to her own downfall (at least, according to classical literature). There were plenty of opportunities for her to take him aside after an altercation or training and reassure him, but instead she didn’t want to make him “too soft”. (Nothing good can come out of societies forcing genders to be raised to completely different standards. Ancient Greece – with its sexism, lack of women’s rights, inequality, rampant rape and abuse of women – is an example of where that leads.)

I’m not sure how much I can reveal of the plot without spoiling some of it for those who have never heard of Clytemnestra. I’m also not sure how much can be considered a spoiler when we’re talking about a story several millennia old. I guess I’ll try not to spoil the novel but I will consider her ‘story’ (the myth, the legend, etc) to be well-known.

Clytemnestra is Costanza Casati’s debut novel and that is a joyous revelation. I tried to find spelling, grammatical, or phrasing errors or even just little quirks that left a bad taste in my mouth and I found only one, and it was entirely forgettable. Casati possesses an intimidating level of skill and talent, a combination that must be the product of both education and raw ability. She masterfully wove this story – at once an epic, and yet so personal – for we see Clytemnestra from the other side, from her side, or even, our side. How did women live back then? We were silenced, so we can only imagine. Is this novel any more fictional than the myths from which its story is derived? I’d like to think not. I’d like to think this story is meatier, realer, stronger than anything those pale poets, philosophers, and playwrights of the past presented us with.

I’d like to think I’ve found the true Clytemnestra.

And she is glorious.

She is real, hurt, strong, suffering. She is loving, compassionate, and unforgiving. She does not forget. She knows how to hold a grudge. And she should.

In a world where men take women for their nightly pleasure, where they take women from their homes and families, where they take women away and never let them see the light of dawn rising over their homeland once again… in this world, we should not forget. We should hold grudges. We should live our pain.

Clytemnestra is often called a “bad wife”. She’s a trope all wrapped up in one character (or, more often, a caricature). What is often overlooked is her righteous fury, her vengeful wrath at the loss of her daughter. And the important question, why should a daughter’s/girl’s/woman’s life be worth less than Agamemnon’s/a king’s/a man’s? It shouldn’t. But it did then, in the times her tale was first told, and it probably would today, too.

In the source I link, the author contrasts Clytemnestra with the archetypally “good wife”, Penelope. What is interesting to note here is that Penelope is married to Odysseus and you will see what that means when you read this book, which you absolutely should. “Goodness” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Ignorance isn’t bliss. Pretending you don’t see the crimes to which you are accomplice does not negate your guilt.

In Clytemnestra’s world, and in ours, women need to stand up and roar. Make noise. Take up space. Be seen. Be heard. Be impossible to ignore. How else can we leave our mark? If by no other means than by fulfilling the “bad wife” or “wild woman” archetype, we must be remembered. It would be devastating if soon there comes to be a new Dark Age of reduced women’s liberties, and yet that is often the direction the wind appears to be blowing. We cannot allow thousands of years of obedience and docility to pass again, cannot allow 51% of our species to fade into obscurity for the sake of niceties or polite company just because “nice girls don’t talk like that”, for it makes some people (men) uncomfortable.

We have made great strides toward progress in the 20th and 21st centuries, but with the repeal of Roe v. Wade in 2022, the disunited states have taken a massive step backwards, with ripples felt throughout every state. Even states that try to offer safe passage to women in need cannot do so under the crippling military state constant surveillance that the red states, which had treacherous trigger laws in place, have enacted and continue to expand.

We need more Clytemnestras in this world.

Be the queen that lies in wait within every woman. Protect your daughters with every fiber of your being (or avenge them if it is already too late).

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage.

Additional source:
Haynes, N. (2022, March 28). Is Clytemnestra an Archetypically Bad Wife or a Heroically Avenging Mother? Literary Hub via Harper Perennial. https://lithub.com/is-clytemnestra-an-archetypically-bad-wife-or-a-heroically-avenging-mother/

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati will be released for purchase by the public on March 7, 2023. Wishlist it now and tell your book club about it. This author deserves recognition and praise.

The present tense made it harder for me to get into, but it's written well and draws you into the story. It's an interesting and different twist with Greek Mythology (of which I don't claim to be familiar).

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing my the opportunity to preview Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati. This one is going to stick with me for a long time. I won't rehash the plot here; it's a fairly standard retelling of the Illiad from Clytemnestra's point of view. The thing that drew me in was her inner monologue. The reader gets to know the daughter of Sparta and Queen of Mycenae in a much deeper and sympathetic way than Homer could ever portray. I will admit to having previously thought of her as a vengeful traitorous wife; however, now I understand that the pain brought upon her by the men in her life made her that way. This book doesn't shy away from tragedy, including sexual violence, because that was something women of the time experienced.

I highly recommend this book and know that I will be devouring anything else Casati writes in the future.

Jeez Louise, was this book fantastic. I’ve read several Greek mythology retellings and this is one of the best. Certainly my favorite on Clytemnestra. She has one of the more heartbreaking stories and yet, I still found myself in tears several times even as I knew what was coming. This Clytemnestra was an absolute warrior queen and I loved her so much. I loved how we got more insight into her family, especially her relationships with her parents and siblings, Helen in particular. And her marriage with Agamemnon. WHOA. Every scene they had together was so stressful, full of tension and just brilliantly done. Also, this is a debut novel! I was honestly floored when I found that out. If you’re looking for a new Greek mythology book to fall in love with, absolutely grab this one.
PS. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it a thousand more: Agamemnon is a DICK CLOWN.
TW: mentions of rape and incest, animal death, violence, death of a child, domestic abuse, suicide

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

As a huge fan of retellings told from a woman's POV, this was a very interesting book to read. I also liked the unique voice of the Clytemnestra in this book, quite different from the same character in last year's Elektra. I liked getting to know her before she got married and her relationship with her siblings. This book is a nice addition to the genre, and I'm excited to read more from the author in the future.

I really enjoy books that give us alternative perspectives on well-known stories, and this one didn’t disappoint. Clytemnestra, Helen’s sister from the Trojan story, who is often depicted as a villain, is humanized in this version. We get to see where she drew her strength and skill, and the challenging circumstances that led her to make the choices she made.

I will admit I know the bare minimum, maybe even less, about Greek mythology but I am also drawn to these types of stories. Every author has their own story to tell and I always seem to be completely enthralled with this world when I pick a story set in this type of setting.

Clytemnestra may just be my favorite yet. The story was powerful, the prose beautiful. Some authors set the bar high with their debut novels and Casati has done just that with this one. The characters, the emotions, the plot, just really everything kept me turning the pages wanting to get to the end but when I finished I was sad it was over.

I can't wait to see how this author develops because if this book is any indication she has a bright future in the literary world.

First of all, thank you NetGalley for this copy of the Constanza Casati novel. I love retellings, specially the Greek ones, but if you add a powerful female MC, then I am all in! This book is coming out very soon, in March 7, make sure you pick up a copy when it does.

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⭐️ 4.5/5

📚 “The gods can’t find you here.”

“As for queens, they are either hated or forgotten.”

👍🏼 Greek mythology retelling from titular character POV. The Greek myths always laid the heroic actions of the male heroes, but they were actually terrible people. It was interesting to see the events leading up to, and after, the Trojan War from Clytemnestra’s POV. She definitely gave off Cercei Lannister vibes, but in the best way. Her life was nothing but tragedy, but she refused to bend. In a world run by men, she successfully ran the kingdom of Mycenae for nearly 10 years in Agamemnon’s absence. The entire story was interwoven with depictions of harshness, desolation, and downright sadness. However, where the story left off in her life was surprisingly hopeful.
Thank you netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for and honest review :)

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

3.5/5 stars: This is a take on the tale of Clytemnestra, daughter of Tyndareus and Leda, wife to Agammemnon, sister to Helen, and Princess of Sparta and the events of her life.

I honestly did not remember much about her specifically since it has been ages since I last took a mythology course, but after reading the summary, I was excited to read this. There were appearances from many (more familiar/"mainstream" Greek heroes/heroines, and so pieces began falling back into place as I read. The events of this story unravel over Clytemnestra's life and are both interesting and tragic, describing well how Clytemnestra earns her titles: warrior, mother, huntress, etc.

The pacing throughout felt odd to me, with the beginning dragging (until the events of her romance with Tantalus), and the narrative also dragging/becoming a bit more fractured in the last third. I think the biggest obstacle for me to become fully immersed in the story was also the tense; this was written in more or less present tense, which was just irritating enough for me to be aware of it the entire time, and thus, fairly often wondering why it was told in this way vs. past tense. I know that's a minor point but it is something that kept me from investing quite as much in this as I could have.

That said, it is a good story although Clytemnestra isn't generally a heroine I would have considered as such. As a debut, this is decent and I would consider reading other works by this author.

What I love most in this retelling of Clytemnestra's life and myth is that it doesn't go out of its way to punish her, but rather allows her to be a morally complex character in her own right. Everyone who knows mythology knows the basics of Clytemnestra: sister of Helen, wife of Agamemnon, and mother to the sacrificed Iphigenia. It's known that she murdered Agamemnon upon his return from Troy due to his murder of their daughter. But what this retelling does is show who Clytemnestra was before and after the most traumatic events of her life.

I loved seeing her go from a hopeful and lovelorn young woman to a mother who has seen countless tragedies and has to find a way to live through them. Every action she takes, while not the most healthy obviously, make complete sense for her and how she was raised to take action. You also get a greater understanding of the people around her, including Penelope, Helen, Electra, and countless other female characters who round out the experiences of Clytemnestra.

If you're a big fan of Circe, you're going to really enjoy this retelling and I can't wait to see more from this author.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this book because I LOVE retellings and reinterpretations of Greek myth. I am also a staunch Agamemnon hater, so this book was perfect for me. I think that this retelling works well with the source material and expands on Clytemnestra’s point of view in a nice way. Clytemnestra’s rage was palpable and you could easily follow her thoughts as she shifted through emotions. The writing is beautiful and I found myself highlighting so many quotes as I read either because of the beauty in the prose or because of the profound statements that were made. This book is easy to follow if you don’t already know the myth of Clytemnestra or the Trojan War, but having an understanding of them helps contextualize the events. Overall, this is a solid take on the myth of the Trojan War, and I will be adding a physical copy of this book to my collection when the book is released.

I highly recommend this novel to anyone, especially fans of Greek mythology retellings.

What I loved:
1. The telling of Helen of Troys sister, Clytemnestra - her "side of the story" is one we haven't seen in this light before.
2. A strong female protagonist who loves fiercely and brings her rage to those who betray her.
3. The writing is beautiful and brings you face to face with the harsh and beautiful time/place of Clytemnestra.

What I wished were different:
1. Felt like it could have been 50 pages shorter.
2. Lots of characters - wondered if we needed to have all of them developed as they were.

Releases March 7, 2023

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for the advance copy of this novel!

Whew. The world of Ancient Greece is full of blood, drama, cruelty, and did I mention it’s a veritable soap opera? This one was hard for me - I don’t read much set in Ancient Greece, so I don’t feel like I was ready for the brutality. It took me a bit to settle into that. But if you like that sort of thing, this is a good read. I enjoyed the literary history lesson, and I definitely went on a deep dive about a lot of the characters afterward.

This was such an interesting retelling of the story of Clytemnestra! It was wonderfully written and fully gave credit to the powerful women in this story. Even though this story is not told from a single person's point of view, the author is able to create a well rounded picture of each character, as well as the story as a whole.