Oh my god, Jennifer Saint did it again! This honestly is probably my favorite of her books. I LOVED it!! I didn't know much about Atalanta going into this book so I was super excited to read it and I was not disappointed at all.

Atalanta's retelling is absolutely gripping, leaving me unable to stop. She's a badass and I absolutely loved seeing her adventures with Jason and the Argonauts (and more) through her eyes. I really enjoyed the different view of the classic myths we all know.

I love how developed all of Saint's characters are, even the most minor ones seem like she spent hours on end fleshing them out.

I loved this book so much, I already purchased a physical copy because I know I will want to go back and reread it at some point in time. 10.

If you are even just somewhat interested in Greek mythology, I highly recommend. If you love Greek retellings, you HAVE to read this!

I listened to the audiobook and thought it added significantly to the story. The narrator was great and really added to Atalanta's character.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillian Audio for the advanced copy of this book.

I loved this audiobook. Beth Eyre did a phenomenal job voicing Atalanta. This has always been on of my favorite myths, so to read it turned into an even more feminist statement than it had already been was just *chefs kiss*.

The development of Atalanta's own view point and perspective as she leaves her sheltered life among Artemis and the Nymphs to join Jason and the Argonauts was beautifully done. Her understanding of men and their cruelty juxtaposed to Artermis' own cruelty toward her nymphs who never had a choice before being banished for bearing that cruelty was also artfully done.

Jennifer Saint has delivered one of the best re-tellings I've read in a while. I'd honestly wanted to give up on the genre after a few disappointments, but I loved this.

A beautifully narrated version. Of the Greek myth of Atalanta, heroine of the Argonauts and greatest huntress to ever live. Left ona mountainside because she wasn’t born a male, Atalanta rose to fame through her swiftness and skills with a bow. After taking down 2 centaurs that threatened her forest home, Artemis, Atalanta’s patron goddess, charged her with questing with the Argonauts and bringing back the Golden Fleece in her name. Warned by a prophecy that marriage would be her undoing, Atalanta swears to bring glory to her name and to Artemis.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this e-audio arc.*

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC! Jennifer Saint continues the line of Greek mythology retellings with Atalanta. We follow Atalanta's life from birth (and early care by a she-bear) to the famous race. There are bits of major reversioning with Atalanta being taken in by Artemis and sent out as an Argonaut that create a new tale in this narrative. Saint's writing is lush and atmospheric and the story is expertly narrated by Beth Eyre (who also narrated Saint's Elektra). This book will appeal to fans of Greek mythology and their retellings.

I have never given Artemis much thought before but this book made me think of the goddess a lot more. I really enjoyed this book. Atalanta was abandoned as a child and Artemis eventually found her and helped raise her. She taught Atalanta how to shoot a bow and arrow and how to hunt, eventually becoming as good as Artemis. She then sends Atalanta on a quest, and the story really picks up from there. I would recommend this to fantasy lovers!

Atalanta by Jennifer Saint is an absolutely beautiful book.
Atalanta is abandoned by her father in the woods since she is not the son, he hoped for. She is taken in by a mother bear and manages to survive. Since the bear is under the protection of Artemis, Atalanta soon falls under Artemis' protection as well. As long as she follows Artemis' one rule, she cannot marry. When Atalanta is tasked with joining the Argonauts in their search for the golden fleece, Atalanta finally gets a look at the world that she's long been kept away from.
Saint does a fantastic job of telling the story of Atalanta. She manages to keep the key details of Atalanta's story while still making it feel original and new.

I did not know the myth of Atalanta prior to reading this book. I loved the writing of seeing Atalanta across time and her growth as a character. She was a tough character and I liked reading about her time with the Argonauts.

Jennifer Saint really brings myth to life. I adore how she weaves together different stories in a cohesive way. I didn’t know much about the story of Atalanta, but loved learning about her in this book. Saint even touches on the fact that Atalanta is often forgotten in myth, and as someone who knows quite a bit about Greek/Roman mythology I appreciated that nod. Atalanta reads in a very matter-a-fact way, but I feel that that helps to characterize her. I've read the three books Saint has widely published at this time, and I'm excited to see what the future holds for this author!

Atalanta is a retelling worthy of you shelves!

Left on a mountain side to die, Atalanta embodies perseverance from the very start. Readers follow her through her wild and humble upbringing, her youth as she is molded by Artemis, and eventually as she seeks adventure with the Argonauts.

Whimsical and wild, Saint has retold Atalanta's story in such a way that readers can't help but see themselves amongst the pages.

Readers have been blessed with a handful of authors that can transform a retelling into something magical. Something in this genre has immense competition. I think Saint has woven a tale that will stand with the best of them!

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for an earc of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot get enough of the Jennifer Saint retellings of the stories of famous women in Greek Mythology. While these stories are usually told from the male gaze, Saint has the ability to draw from the original stories the places the women displayed their autonomy and it's a beautiful thing to read. Atalanta was a warrior in her own right and most of her story is told from the perspective of the men who came in and out of her life while Saint's diverges from this habit it still honors the source material just from a new perspective.

The only issue I had was the love between Atalanta and Hippomenes does seem to come out of no where. I think Saint did this to stay true to the heroines POV but I think there could have been a better balance struck.

I also loved the ending being turned into a reward, not a punishment. Atalanta was able to become her most pure self.

I cannot wait to see what Saint gives us next.

I was not familiar with Atalanta’s tale, so it was worth listening to. I love mythology but the gods/goddesses are always a tad evil or ruthless. Change a follower into a bear while pregnant after being raped by your dad? Change a nymph into a stream because a river god tried to attack her? Curse a pregnant mother to stay in labor and never be able to deliver on land or water? See. They are ruthless. But yet mythology is intriguing.

Atalanta was a human that was abandoned by her parents as an infant for being a girl. Artemis took her in after the bear who raised her turned on her. While Artemis helped Atalanta and raised her, she wasn’t overly kind with her. Atalanta became the fastest being and greatest hunter of her time. She was Artemis’ champion chosen to join Jason’s quest for the gold fleece.

Oh and Hercules is mentioned. That fellas story is awful depending on who tells it. Regardless though, he murdered his wife and children. Whether he did it out of anger or being cursed by a goddess is depending on the tale being told.

The narrator did a great job with the characters. There was an accent I couldn’t place but loved for Atalanta.

(4+ stars)
Abandoned by her father and left to die in the woods, she is found by a bear who saves her and nurtures her until she eventually joins the nearby wood nymphs under the protection of Artemis. She grows up wild and free, enjoying the companionship of the nymphs all the while becoming evermore strong, skillful at hunting and extraordinarily fast at running.

Jennifer Saint's retelling of the myth of Atalanta is fully fleshed out and a pleasure to listen to thanks to excellent narration by Jennifer Eyre. The action leads the story with character development and dialogue a distant second, but the suspense in many scenes (especially during her quests with Jason and the Argonauts) makes up for any lack of great complexity in the thoughts and feelings of this epic character. Even so, Jennifer Saint deftly brings Atalanta out from under the shadow of Artemis and creates a character who just might manage to create a life on her own terms. I appreciated this empathetically nuanced and feminist take in the telling of this tale.

3.5 stars

Jason who? Admittedly, I was pretty clueless on Atalanta's backstory and never heard a version of Jason and the Argonauts that involved her. However, this was still classic Saint and I enjoyed going on Atalanta's quest but I actually found myself more interested in Atalanta's life in the woods with Artemis and the nymphs. For me, there wasn't enough depth in Atalanta to make this a full novel and I think would have benefitted from being a short story instead. Either way, I can't wait to see who Saint writes about next!

"Atalanta", the latest work from Jennifer Saint, is a thrilling retelling of the Greek myth of the fierce huntress who became the only woman to join the world-famous band of heroes, the Argonauts. From her birth as a princess unwanted by her parents, left to die on a mountainside, to her upbringing by a mother bear under the watchful gaze of the goddess Artemis, Atalanta's story is one of survival and determination.

Saint's writing is beautiful and evocative, transporting the reader to the wild and enchanting forests where Atalanta grew up. The character of Atalanta is brought to life in vivid detail, with all her strengths and weaknesses on display. As she joins the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece, Atalanta's bravery and skill in battle are equal to any of the men she fights alongside.

At the heart of the story is Atalanta's struggle to balance her desire for adventure with her love for her home and the warning from Artemis that marrying would lead to her downfall. Saint explores the themes of female empowerment, freedom, and the constraints placed on women in ancient Greek society. The passionate romance that blooms between Atalanta and one of her fellow Argonauts adds another layer of complexity to the story, as Atalanta must navigate her own desires while staying true to herself.

Overall, Atalanta is a gripping and captivating retelling of a classic myth, and a celebration of a female hero who refused to be contained. Jennifer Saint has once again shown her talent for bringing ancient myths to life in a fresh and exciting way. Saint added a fresh and beautiful layer to Atalanta's story, a well deserved feature and one of my favorite reads of the year so far.

Thank you to the publishers for the gifted copy.
Pub Date 09 May 2023 | Macmillan Audio | Flatiron Books | Wildfire

*I was given an audiobook version of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I will start this review by reminding everybody that I love class greek mythology retellings and I am generally very okay with authors changing the "history" as much or as little as they want. I also have to admit that I went into this knowing the general gist of many stories Atalanta is involved in, but honestly not knowing her at all.

The story begins with Atalanta being abandoned as a child by a father who wanted a boy and subsequently being scooped up by Artemis. She is raised rather unconventionally and ends up journeying with the Argonauts on the quest for the Golden Fleece. Cue adventure, romance, heroism etc etc.

This was my first book by Jennifer Saint and I am now more interested to read her other books because I loved the feminist retelling of this and the core idea of "who's stories are told" which feels extremely relevant as we look at our own history. I think at times the narration dragged for me and I wonder if I would have liked it more had I not done the audiobook, but overall I truly did enjoy this retelling!

I received an audiobook copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I’ve always enjoyed modern retellings of ancient myths and legends and Atalanta has always interested me. I’ve read Jennifer Saint’s other mythology novels and quite enjoyed them and this one was no different.

Being the only female Argonaut makes for an intriguing starting point, but Atalanta’s story begins long before the famous quest. I really liked how fleshed out not only Atalanta was, but minor characters as well. Even if you only have a passing interest in Greek mythology, I would recommend giving this novel a try!

I enjoyed this book. The narrator was excellent. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me listen to it.

I was given this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.. Spoiler free!

This Mythology retelling is action backed from beginning to end! it follows Atalanta, is fiece and despite all the obsticles put in her way she overcomes them! This is girl power in a book! It is told competely in Atalanta's POV.

Book tropes:

- mythology retellings
- badass FMC
- forbidden romance
- action

Thank you @MacMillan.Audio for the #gifted ALC of ATALANTA!

Atalanta is one of the Greek heroines whose story I wasn’t very familiar with. And I’m happy to say that for a Greek heroine, her story is one of the happier ones.

Atalanta is a total badass. When her king father abandons her on a hillside (he wanted a boy b/c #thepatriarchy), Artemis leads a mother bear to the infant. Atalanta is then raised by the mama bear and her cubs until she joins Artemis’s nymphs in the forest.

She’s wild. She’s strong, She can outrun any man. I loved her.

Her adventures with Jason and the Argonauts lead her to cross paths with other heroes and myths. I really enjoyed reading about familiar heroes (like Hercules) through Atalanta’s perspective.
This one is perfect for Greek mythology fans or fans of books with strong female MCs.

ATALANTA comes out on 5/9/24!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5526125450
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr6CZOfLf8f/

I’m not sure why I’m loving the HELL outta the myriad of #greekmyths retold but I’m LOVING it!!! And I have to say, I think this one so far is my favorite! #Atalanta is a great story about a young girl, abandoned on a hilltop by her father (a despot of a king) who is sheltered and raised by bears, then is taken under the patronage and protection of the #Artemis #goddess of the forest, huntress, protector of children and chastity, her nymphs live innocently in the forest, with no men to interrupt that innocence. It is here where Atalanta grows up, becomes a skilled bowman and huntress, devoted to the goddess who gave her the gift of swiftness and guides her arrows with accuracy. Atalanta takes a vow of chastity to the goddess so that she can live this charmed life in the forest, with the wildlife and nymphs, which she holds close to her heart. BUT, one day, Artemis sends her on an #adventure…. To join Jason and the #argonauts on the #quest for the Golden Fleece. And you can just imagine the flack the men have her, always testing her. She proves herself worthy, brave, swift and strong and so she joins the quest!
I just loved this story and it’s audiobook! I really became invested in Atalanta’s journey and she really experiences some amazing things! I HIGHLY recommend this retelling as the best one I’ve read so far! Totally engrossing, totally amazing. I LoVE a female underdog who comes out on top! If you read one retelling this year, let it be this one!!!! Many thanks to @netgalley and the publisher and @macmillan.audio for the opportunity to read this for review. @macmillan.audio always has a fantastically done audiobook and #BethEyre does a great job on this!!! What a joy. @jennifer.saint.author this was #rightonTarget as also one of my favorite books of the year so far!!
#greekmythsretold #greekgods #greekgoddesses