I am not normally a historical fiction fan, but this was an excellent retelling of a classic Greek myth. It was fun and exciting. I loved seeing how the myths connected in this story.

4 stars

Jennifer Saint brings to light Atalanta's story, a huntress, Artemis' protégé and the only woman to have sailed on the Argo with Jason and the Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece - 1 have to admit that apart from the name I only had a very vague notion of Atalanta's story but I love Greek mythology and especially the femenist retellings, so I was very excited to read a story I knew so little about.
When a daughter is born to the King of Arcadia, she brings only disappointment - he wanted a son. Left on a mountainside, the defenseless baby Atalanta is left to die but is instead raised by a passing mother bear alongside her cubs under the protective eye of the goddess Artemis. She lives in Artemis' forest with the nymphs and is one of her maidens while also displaying an aptitude for shooting arrows and running.
Swearing to Artemis that she will prove her worth alongside the famed heroes of Greece, Atalanta leaves her familiar forest to join Jason's band of Argonauts and it's not easy for this recluse who had cherished her solitude in forest. Can she carve out her own place in the legends in a world made for men?
As with the author's previous novels her attention to detail and knowledge of Greek Mythology shines through. I lost myself completely in this book, the voyage of the Argonauts and the dangers they faced were exciting, and Atlanta's personal story was intriguing and her questions universal. The writing itself was beautiful fitting it's mythological origins, the plot flowed seamlessly and it was easy to see the excitement of the voyage and the following low of coming home. Beautifully written, this is a powerful and captivating read that shines a new light on the story of Jason and the Argonauts, and introduces us to an inspiring Greek heroine in her own right.
The narration was flawless and easy to listen to.

This novel was very slow to start. I almost put it down and DNF. I'm glad I stuck with it though because the last three-quarters were exciting.
The narrator is a bit annoying because she talks in bursts of four or five words.

This follows closely in the tradition of books like "Circe" or "The Witch's Heart," in that it's a retelling of the myth of a forgotten woman. If you like that subgenre, you're going to like it. It has the same storytelling style of writing, where it feels like you're sitting in Atalanta's cave while she tells you the story of her life. More of a narration than a narrative, which fits very well with the current standard of this style of book.

It also matches "Circe" in that it's allegedly about an independent, don't-need-no-man, men-are-pigs heroine, except that the story and Atalanta's life and fate all actually revolve around men. Not to the same degree as "Circe," but it's still not exactly the girl-power story that you might be expecting.

I particularly enjoyed seeing the journey of the Argonauts from the forgotten perspective of Atalanta, who is so unimpressed with heroes in general and Jason in particular, and I appreciate that it has the guts to portray motherhood as anything other than a transformative, beautiful, necessary experience. Full points for actually acknowledging that for a woman who doesn't want to be a mother, having a baby can be a horrifying idea and won't suddenly transform you into a devoted, doting parent.

I listened to the audiobook version of "Atalanta," and think that the narrator did a great job. She brought the right level of gravitas to this story, and it really added to the experience of being told a story, rather than reading a narrative. I would definitely recommend this audio version.

4.5 stars

I really appreciate this trend of retelling Greek myths from the perspectives of female (and/or otherwise overlooked) figures, and I really enjoy this writer’s storytelling style in particular. Somehow, I manage to remain intrigued and surprised by the outcomes, even when I more or less know how the featured myths are supposed to end. The writing is beautiful, the cover is gorgeous, and while I loved the focus on Atalanta specifically, I also liked the inclusion (and some of the characterization of) Artemis. This was another great read.

Atalanta is the newest mythological retelling from Jennifer Saint and it’s not bad. Atalanta is one that I hadn’t known the backstory on before this and learning the backstory along with the retelling was incredibly interesting.

I do think I would have enjoyed this particular retelling better as an ebook or physical book over the audiobook. Not to say the audio is bad, it isn’t, but something about it didn’t allow for me to easily keep up with the story as I realized I kept drifting off to other thoughts and I had to rewind.

3.5 ⭐️

I've never been big on Greek mythology and I don't know why I thought this one would be different. Totally on me, really. The story itself was written well and the prose flowed. I DNF'd at about 2%.

It says adult but it felt to me more like young adult or new adult at least, so that was something I noticed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an audiobook ARC copy of Atalanta. Jennifer Saint is by far one of my favorite authors. Saint kills it yet again with the retelling of the famous huntress. Atalanta was abandoned on a hillside and left to die due to her gender. Luckily a bear finds her and raises her on her own until she is taken in the care of Artemis and her nymphs. She grows in the comfort and familiarity of Artemis' forest until Jason begins his quest for the golden fleece. Atalanta becomes Artemis' champion and joins the Argonauts.

This was my first time hearing of Atalanta, The narrator did an amazing job of portraying Atalanta. Saint has always known how to write a scene with such eloquent words. Readers can see that throughout the book. But I think it really shines through towards the end. *Spoilers* With the help of Aphrodite Hippomenes became victorious in a race to win Atalanta's hand in marriage. After the race, the couple goes into Rhea's temple and defiles it. Aphrodite takes her revenge with Rhea's furry which turns the couple into tigers. Due to them not properly thanking Aphrodite for her help. During these scenes and the epilogue, usually, a reader like myself would be so upset that a character I've grown to like has such a demise, but Saint turns the goddess's fury into a blessing. Atalanta thrived as an animal alongside her lover. After being shunned by Artemis there's still a part of her that the goddess lets her be near. Atalanta doesn't fault the goddess for what they've done. She uses it to her advantage and she's happier for it.

Saint also has a way with how she writes motherhood in her books. Through her works, there's a growing spectrum of how each protagonist in their books views their new life with their children versus their old life. In Atalanta, I see her in a grey area that ultimately ends up for the better. She isn't the fiercest mother figure, she does distance herself from her child. but she did care for him and loved him in the best way she could. she didn't fault him for being alive or abandon him as she was. She kept her needs as well as his in the forefront of her mind. so we do see her as a mother but she didn't lose the part of herself that a woman misses when they're fully engulfed in motherhood.

Another one of my favorite portrayals in this book was Medea. Saint shows how important her role was in Jason's life. As well as how manipulative she was. She wasn't portrayed as this cold woman who clearly looks like she can stir trouble. She was a maiden who was tired of being in the shadow of her tyrant father. She is calm, collected, and calculates when she enacts plans. It's almost normal or second nature in Medea. Only a very observant person such as Atalanta saw who she was.

Overall I loved this book, I hope to read more of Saint's books. She gives a shining light to an underrated hero in her own right. May she continue to pass the beacon to other untold stories of women behind the myths.

As far as retellings/reimaginings of classic tales, Jennifer Saint is unparalleled to this reader. ATALANTA was masterfully crafted and positively spellbinding from beginning to end.

The way the author takes a mythical character and breathes new life into her is amazing. Just as in the books before this, this strong, smart, and vulnerable woman takes center stage, and the reader is gifted with narrative from her point of view. It is so refreshing to see female characters, many of whom have taken a backseat to the men in mythology, become the main focus. By addressing what it means to be a woman in a society determined by men while still wanting to stand on your own, there is a strongly feminist point of view without it being in your face.

As the reader enters into a world with Gods, Goddesses, heroes/heroines, and duplicitous figures, the people and sometimes mythological creatures are shown with careful attention to the nuances between good and evil. Nothing is black and white. More often than not, there are varied shades of gray with the actions taken within these pages.

Saint eloquently weaves together the original lore with an entirely new perspective all the while entertaining her readers with quests, love, and self-discovery. Even though ATALANTA is brilliantly conceived historical folklore, there is an element of the female struggle and coming of age that resonates in modern life. This is the talent the author has. She can distract you from your life and bring you to another time and place. She gives you a glimpse at characters whose tales are centuries old while still making you relate to them. Honestly, Jennifer Saint has a fan for life in this reader.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. It it a beautiful retelling of Atalanta's story. And you get to see some of the other great heroes from Greek mythology (Jason, Hercules, Medea). It's a grand adventure story. Atalanta is a great main character; you can feel her passion. I loved that this was a story centered on the woman in the story, when they are usually on the periphery of Greek myths.

The narration is fantastic, I could listen to this voice forever.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an ARC of this audiobook.

Atalanta was a wonderful book. I really enjoyed the beginning and the end, but the middle did slow down a little too much for me and I found myself losing some interest. I'm really glad I stuck with it, however. The characters were strong and well-developed, and I really enjoy Jennifer Saint's writing style.

Atalanta is a fierce female warrior raised by bears and later taken under the wing of Greek goddess Artemis. Atalanta joins the fiercest of men on the quest to find the Golden Fleece. Her one warning from Artemis is not to fall in love.

Atalanta is full of action and power. I really enjoyed this story and writing. The middle dragged a bit but made up for it in the end. I listened on audio and enjoyed the narration. One of my favorite Greek mythology retellings now. I’ll definitely be checking more out from Jennifer Saint.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

✨ Review ✨ Atalanta by Jennifer Saint; Narrated by Beth Eyre

I've never been a big fan of mythology but have read some retellings lately that have gotten me more interested. I didn't know anything really about Atalanta or Jason & the Argonauts before reading this (other than just being familiar with their names).

The book takes us from Atalanta's childhood, raised with bears and nymphs, through her journey with the Argonauts and beyond. I enjoyed the sense of adventure throughout the book, and the way that Atalanta is constantly surprising others with her skills. The way that she interacts with humans, gods, and animals alike was really fascinating.

The audio was engaging and easy to follow (minus the list of names of people on the Argo because there were JUST. SO. MANY. of them!) I did feel like the book was kind of long, but it was probably more my own state of mind than anything else.

From what I understand, this book is more of a narration of the traditional narratives of Atalanta than a feminist retelling, but because I didn't have a lot of familiarity with the story, I still found it enjoyable, and definitely will check out more books by Saint.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Greek myth retelling
Pub Date: out now!

Read this if you like:
⭕️ women in Greek mythology
⭕️ women showing up men
⭕️ the woods, nature, and hunting
⭕️ quests and adventures

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!

4.5⭐️

I knew almost nothing about the myth of Atlanta apart from her being an incredible huntress. This story was vivid and entertaining from start to finish. It’s a compelling story with a badass female at its core and I was 💯 here for it!

I highly recommend this one to all my Greek Mythology loving friends!

Thank you Flatiron Books for the alc via Netgalley!

This was just a really fun listen. To hear a Greek myth from the perspective of a largely forgotten character and giving her agency in the process? Heck yes! Atalanta is a beautifully told story with a sensual style that brings all descriptions to life without any hint of cheesiness that so many re-tellings can have. The depth of feelings these characters have is so immersive, it was hard to stop listening. Serious praise for the narrator - she knew how to convey the mood! My only critique is that, though it's not a long story, it felt quite long at times as we jumped from early life to quest to hunt to race and on. There was very little transition so each "task" felt like the end of the story only for another to pop up. This won't surprise those familiar with the tales of Atalanta, but it was a bit jarring to think the story was done when there were hours to go.

**Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC**

I really enjoyed this story. I remember those really bad movies from the 60's that had Jason and the Argonauts and this totally made me picture them as the same characters. I have am new to mythology and it can be really intimidating but this was a story that kept me engaged. I think anyone who likes this subject matter will enjoy this read.

I was given a free audiobook of Atalanta in exchange for an honest review.

Atalanta is the story of a girl raised by bears, nymphs, and Artemis. A young woman who styles herself as the goddess who protects her, becoming the fastest runner and most adept huntress she can be. She becomes so skilled that Artemis sends her to be her champion on the Argonauts’ quest for the Golden Fleece. The caveat: she must not lose herself to the world of men, she must remain unattached like the nymphs in Artemis’ forest. The story that follows is as much about the quest for the Fleece as it is Atalanta’s quest for self amongst the world of men.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I appreciated the ways the author wove together the different variations of the myth, the way she juxtaposed Atalanta’s independence against the way the world around her reacted to her despite her prowess, the way the men who loved her supported her and how that changed the way she came to understand the world of men. It’s a modern tale to be sure - but she captures the different ways that men and women seek power, fame, independence and love in fascinating ways - and the punishments and rewards that come from those quests.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio galley in exchange for my honest review.

Jennifer Saint never fails to breathe life into a long-forgotten Greek myth. She lends a new clarity to a vaguely familiar story.

Left by her parents on the mountainside, Atalanta is raised alongside bear cubs and given an education in tracking, running, fighting, and hunting that no other man or woman will ever have. Favoured by Artemis, she leaves her mother bear for her wood nymphs. When she comes of age, Artemis gives her a quest. The Golden Fleece.

Atalanta joins the Argonauts on their ship to assist Jason in his pursuit of the fleece. Over the course of the journey, she seeks to prove herself the best of the Argonauts. She rescues them more than once, sets them back on course, and watches her comrades fall in battle. There is only one setback. She is sworn to Artemis. Atalanta must never marry.

She never plans to marry, until she meets a handsome Argonaut. I will say, however, this is not a romance. It’s an adventure.

The rest is for you to find out.

If you enjoyed Ariadne, or Elektra, then Atalanta is a must-read. I can’t wait to see which heroine Jennifer Saint sets her sight on next.

The writing style of this book was simply not my cup of tea! While the narrator was lovely, this is my favorite greek myth and I was incredibly disappointed with how boring this was.

No thoughts, just vibes, but the vibes are incredible. Jennifer Saint does a great job of immersing you in an ancient fantastical world. She portrayed Atalanta in such a warm and loving way that I've never seen before. It feels like such a love letter to the character.
The narrator's performance is a great compliment to the story.