What an incredibly powerful portrayal of the life of Clytemnestra, a figure often left behind in legend as an adulterer and murderess. She isn't a villain who seeks murder, she is a woman who has been beaten into submission - only she will not submit. She suffered endlessly at the hands of the man she was forced to marry, and though she was strong-willed from the beginning, his brutality made her heart cold as ice, hard as stone. She had been wronged in many ways, but she will play the long game to exact her revenge, even if it means she will be a heartless monster in the eyes of history.

It is an impressive debut novel, and you can tell the author valued Clytemnestras' story and is well-educated on the subject. I've read other Greek mythology retellings that attempted feminism by forcing the women to be cold and callous when they were never known to be so, but it came naturally for Clytemnestra. It is simply who she is, and Costanza Casati did an honest job of depicting it. Clytemnestra is complex and flawed, but she is powerful and unwilling to let anyone think otherwise.

Thanks so much to Sourcebooks Landmark for the copy of this ARC!

"There is nothing more powerful than a strong-willed woman."

WOW - after a couple of Greek retelling flops, this was incredible! So much drama and a storyline featuring amazing strong women... I'm totally here for it. I absolutely fell in love with Clytemnestra's character and can see myself rereading this book again. This is at hte top of my Greek retellings list!

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati is an ambitious debut that seizes the reins of the Greek epic and steers it to uncharted territories, from the perspective of one of the most notorious villainesses of ancient times.

The book’s strongest suit is its unflinching portrayal of Clytemnestra as a woman scorned, a grieving mother, and a queen full of righteous fury. Casati doesn’t shy away from painting a vivid portrait of her protagonist. From the moment we meet Clytemnestra as a woman wronged, trapped in a marriage with a tyrant, we are thrust into a world where the personal and political are intimately intertwined. The depiction of Agamemnon, indeed, leaves no doubts about his tyrannical tendencies, reinforcing Clytemnestra's reasons for vengeance. This is not a black-and-white world but one painted in strokes of moral ambiguity, where right and wrong lose their absolute meanings.

Casati’s narrative style is equally captivating. With a keen understanding of the classical text, the author subtly weaves the ancient tale with a contemporary touch, resulting in a fresh, engaging narrative. This novel feels authentic to the era it depicts, yet it never loses sight of its modern audience.

The depiction of the Trojan War as a prolonged affair, while historically accurate, adds to the suspense and tension in the novel. It allows the reader to experience, along with Clytemnestra, the uncertainty and dread of waiting for news from a distant battlefield.

However, Clytemnestra might not leave a lasting impression on all readers. It is, after all, a retelling of an ancient Greek story, and some may find the plot familiar. Yet, it is in this familiarity that Casati finds her strength. She breathes new life into Clytemnestra, making her a character that feels both ancient and modern, familiar and foreign.

Despite some minor shortcomings, Clytemnestra is a compelling read for anyone interested in classical literature, powerful female characters, or simply a well-told tale of love, hatred, and vengeance. It's a testament to the author's skill and imagination that she can take a story as well-known as the Iliad and transform it into something that feels both timeless and new.

A solid 4/5 stars, Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati is a promising debut that leaves you eagerly anticipating what this author will produce next.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing an e-Arc of Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati for my review

Clytemnestra is a retelling of the Greek legend. At first, I struggled with it. I thought I would dnf it, as it just didn't get my interest. I'm glad I stuck with it! By the middle of the book, not only was I hooked, I could barely put it down.

Beautifully written. I felt I experienced Clytemnestra's pain and I so wanted to avenge the deaths and betrayals she experienced. This would make a tremendous movie or series.

#Clytemnestra #NetGalley

Greek retellings are all the rage now, and it has led to both well crafted novels and bland retellings. Thankfully, this one was the former. It might actually be my favorite Greek retelling I’ve read. It was heart wrenching and beautiful, simultaneously hard to read and stunning. I loved it

3.5 rounded to 4

The retelling of Greek women in mythology is a trend I am loving. While the story was slow at times, the resilience of Clytemnestra cannot be denied. I enjoyed learning about this lesser known goddess.

Wow, what an intense read. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book as a lot of the Greek myth retellings focusing on the female characters tend to highlight and sometimes almost glorify the trauma and pain these women endure. I liked how the author never really breezed over the horrors Clytemnestra endures but it also showed how continues forward. This woman is a survivor and has mastered the art of patience as she never, NEVER forgets what has been done to her and certainly gets revenge for it. Still, this book was an emotionally heavy read and I had to stop reading and eat some ice cream at one point to make me feel better.

Oh the sorrow and tragedy! As with every Greek myth, all are headed for desolation and we are along for the ride. This version gives us the modern angle with Clytemnestra as our strong woman in the center of it all. But she is not immune from tragedy, in fact she seems to bring a lot of it on herself. Her life is defined by violence and war but we see her transition from victim to perpetrator throughout time.

I liked seeing the same story from a different angle. We learn about how Odysseus chooses Penelope instead of Helen, how Meneleus and Agamenon end up marrying the sisters and get a new perspective on the Trojan war and how the kingdoms ran without their men during the decade of war.

Read this if you enjoyed Silence of the Girls, A Thousand Ships or Elektra.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

One of the best Greek mythology retellings I’ve read since Circe, Casati gives us a rich, in-depth look into the life of Clytemnestra, wife of Agamemnon and vilified queen of Mycenae. From her childhood as a Spartan princess to her survival of some of the most horrible things a Queen could imagine, this is an unflinching survival story of a woman who refused to learn her place.

I really to enjoy retellings that give us a sense of where and when we are in the ancient world, and this book does that well. We get both glimpses and in-depth entanglements of Clytemnestra’s story with her sister Helen (Helen of Troy), her cousin Penelope and her marriage to Ithaca’s Odysseus, her brothers’ journey with Jason (and the Argonauts), and the Trojan War.

My only complaint was that Clytemnestra’s story was not completed, which would have significantly changed the tone of the ending. There are no gods or fantastical monsters here, only real ones. If you enjoy Greek mythology retellings with a thirst for feminist vengeance, this book is for you.

Clytemnestra released May 2, 2023. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.

What a great debut. It's been years, when I was in college, that I have read any Greek Mythology. I recognized the names in the book, though.

Clytemnestra is a Princess of Sparta. She is a married to a tyrant. She has seen a lot in her life. She has been beaten, betrayed, heartbroken and has never deserved the life she has been given.

Her husband goes off to battle Troy. So she bides her time and ends up forcing the hands of the gods. She has understood, since she was young, that if power isn't given to you, you have to take it yourself. And Clytemnestra does!

Full of power and prophecies, hatred, love, vengeance and of an unforgettable queen who dealt out death to those who wronged her.

Published May 2, 2023

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 🙃

#netgalley
#clytemnestra
#sourcebookslandmark

I never thought I could care about Clytemnestra. Or have my heart broken for Iphigenia more than it has been before.
And the ending? What a place to end.

By the time I finished reading this excellent novel, Clytemnestra had branded my soul. It’s one of those books I’m reaching for the moment I open my eyes in the morning to get a little more reading time in before work, after work, all the reading times in between. Could not put it down. The writing is excellent and the unfolding of the plot, all the awful atrocities committed by the men in power while the women can only stand by and become, step by bloody step, twisted by their circumstances, is pure art. At the end of it all, I felt devastated and uplifted at the same time; well, throughout the story, this is how I felt, but the writing and the story kept me reading.
Lots of books come along. Few books hold this kind of power over me.
1o stars if I could

I've read several of the adaptations where the authors have taken the female protagonists from Greek mythology and expanded on them. So far these stories have been hit or miss for me....some I've really liked and others not so much. But this one was a definite winner. Clytemnestra kept my attention and thus kept me turning the pages until I finished.

It's so interesting to me that Clytemnestra has always been portrayed as such a horrible woman. She was seen as dishonorable for cheating, murder and so on. When in fact, people don't look to see what she endured and the things that led her to do the horrific things she did. She was actually a strong and patient woman who waited until the right moment presented itself to take her revenge on others who had wronged her. And she had definitely been wronged in unimaginable ways. But during those times, the pain women endured was overlooked because they were often viewed as property and not really as people. However, when things were done to men, it was an entirely different thing.

My heart absolutely broke several times for Clytemnestra. Even though I'm familiar with the mythology and often knew what was coming, it still didn't make experiencing her anguish any easier. She truly lived through such intense heartbreak that the fact that she kept moving forward was amazing in itself.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

this book really surprised me, and I loved it! i was nervous going into this as i am not familiar with greek mythology, which has made me dislike similar retellings in the past. luckily, Clytemnestra gives you all of the relevant details/history that you need to know to enjoy the story without feeling like you are missing something. the pacing of this book made it impossible to put down since it was so action-packed. i wasn’t familiar with clytemnestra’s story prior to reading this, but it was sooo sad yet inspiring. Glad I got an ARC of this from NetGalley! 4.75 stars.(-.25 because at some times, the writing felt like it was just there to be highlighted and taken an instagram pic of, lol)

This book was fantastic further solidifying my obsession with the female Greek retellings. After having cameos in several retellings that I have read over the last couple years, I was stoked for Clytemnestra to get her own book. The writing was done beautifully. World building was great and stuck really true to the events of her story. I loved Clytemnestra's character she is a force to behold and and I feel like Casati did a fantastic job of conveying that. All of the side characters were well written and I was really excited to see more of Helens back story. I cannot wait to see where Casati's writing takes her next!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC of Clytemnestra.

This book follows Clytemnestra from her childhood as a young Spartan Princess, to mother and Queen of Mycenae. Her strength and family are used against her for the benefit of others, leading to a life of tragedy and pain, one from which Clytemnestra cannot escape. Thus, she turns her grief into rage and her rage into the promise of revenge on those who took everything from her.

I know very, very little about Greek mythology. I was introduced to many of these legendary characters for the very first time by reading this book. However, I was never confused about who was who; Costanza Casati masterfully juggles this vast cast of characters, giving each of them a distinct 'feel' and purpose.

I had no idea where this story was going (again: Greek mythology beginner here). The tragedies that unfolded were a total surprise to me. Despite that, Casati has a way of writing with an almost sickly feeling of impending doom. I knew something awful would happen (or, in this case, many awful things), but I didn't know what they were and I didn't know when they'd occur. And let me tell you, I LOVED that feeling. So ominous, so good. I kept asking myself, "Oh, Clytemnestra, what have they done to you?"

Casati delivered a gripping story full of beautiful metaphors, stunning environmental descriptions, and vibrant characters that I could not put down.

All I can say is: Burn it all down, Clytemnestra.

"Well, I am no man."

Five stars.

Clytemnestra is one of the best books for 2023
Clytemnestra along with her sisters were meant to be queens, but men from other lands were not used to the type of women that Clytemnestra and her sisters were trained to be. They were trained to be warriors and to be cunning. Clytemnestra was always the brains of the bunch, while Helen was the beauty.
When it was time for the sisters to we'd Helen chose a marriage out of anger, one that would be known throughout history.
Clytemnestra true love was torn away from her, along with their son, all so she could marry Helen's husband's brother.
While married they had their own children and at her husband's behest sent for their eldest daughter to marry during wartime as an alliance.
However, once again Clytemnestra is deceived and her eldest daughter is taken away from her, right in front of her eyes. While she watches her husband partake in the madness.
Clytemnestra is beside herself with rage, no more will her children be taken from her.
While her husband is away at war she gathers the favor of the people. Upon his return, she seeks her revenge and takes what belongs to her in the first place. With regards as to what has happened to her husband, no one is interested in challenging Clytemnestra for the throne.

Casatis Clytemnestra is a very compelling book that draws you in from the first chapter.

Clytemnestras strength and determination alone will have you cheering out loud for her.

I could not read this fast enough, that's how splendidly good this book was.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves strong, independent, MFC, you won't be sorry at all.

Thank you, NetGalley \SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, Sourcebooks Landmark\Costanza Casati\ For this eARC in advance for my honest review. My opinions are of my own volition.

2 1/2 stars

Clytemnestra has a worse reputation than her sister, Helen of Troy. She was known as an unfaithful wife who murdered her husband, Agamemnon. This new retelling is very sympathetic to the ruthless queen. Clytemnestra is portrayed as a powerful queen who gets vengeance on those who have wronged her. Clytemnestra is a very sympathetic retelling to an ancient myth.

Clytemnestra is the most likable character in the book. She is a strong warrior and a clever leader. She is also a capable ruler. However, she suffers through many hardships and has lost those dearest to her. The novel shows her as a sister, wife, and mother. I found her journey to be very fascinating as she grows from a spirited princess to a grief-stricken queen. Thus, I liked her transformation and was invested in her story.

Overall, this novel is about sisterhood, motherhood, and revenge. Even though I liked Clytemnestra’s journey, I found it to be the worst Clytemnestra retelling that I have ever read. Aside from Clytemnestra, the other characters are flat. Some of them are unnecessary and add nothing to the story. The story also feels disorganized and has many random time jumps. The writing style was very simplistic. I also did not like how the story tried to take the fantasy elements out and made it a more realistic interpretation. There were also many questions that remained unanswered. It could have been a solid retelling but was not executed well. I did like the setting and the Spartan culture. I recommend this for fans of Greek mythology. This would appeal to fans of The Silence of the Girls, Goddess of Yesterday, and Helen of Troy! Still, I have read better retellings of Clytemnestra. I advise you to skip this and read Clytemnestra: The Mother’s Blade and Helen Had a Sister! Clytemnestra is a weak retelling of a much maligned queen.

Gritty and raw, Clytemnestra is a huge story that is as gripping as it is marvelous. A stunning debut novel from Casati. I explain it to others as "if all of Game of Thrones was packed into one novel and set in Greece". I absolutely tore through this book, and I am not much one for politically-motivated plots, if you can even call this one. Clytemnestra is a woman driven by allegiance to those that she chooses to love, her husband, her children, her family. Anyone who crosses those close to her all feel her vengeance in time. I would have read this as three or four novels, but as one it really packs a punch. Lots of recognizable historical elements made the story and characters all the more believable. If you like a story about men getting what's coming to them, you'll love this book.

Many content warnings including sexual assault, murder, slaves, concubines, war, etc. What you would expect from an ancient Greek novel about conquerors and the ruling class.

This book absolutely hooked me from the beginning. I tried to read Circe earlier this year and struggled to get through it but this book was so good!!! The style of writing and the flow of the story was easy to read and understand. I was pulled in immediately and flew through it. I will be recommended this to all my friends and family who enjoy Greek mythology/history.