If you’re interested in Greek mythology like myself, you’ll like Atalanta. I was not super familiar with her story but I really enjoyed this one. Raised by bears, taken under the wing of Artemis, joining the argonauts, searching for the Golden Fleece and facing giants are some of the adventures Atalanta faces. The narration was excellent, soothing an d really kept me engaged. Read this if you like Circe.

This book was very much just okay for me. I felt like I was waiting for it to grip me with its excitement or dramatics or emotion, but I felt very neutral through most of my read. I listened to the audiobook, and while the narrator’s voice was mellifluous and nice, it felt a bit removed and far off from the events of the story. That could have also been the writing. Despite reading from Atalanta’s perspective in first person the entire time it felt much more like she was narrating her story than experiencing it or telling it. My investment felt very removed.

The writing overall was nice and I enjoyed the story being told, just not necessarily the way it was told.

Another enjoyable Greek mythology retelling from Jennifer Saint! I really like her writing style and find it really easy to read, I always fly through her books.

Compared to the previous stories she’s written, this one was less emotionally heavy hitting - I think mostly because Atalanta is such a unique case in that she is so much more independent and hasn’t had to spend her whole life submitting to the whims of men. So, while it’s a less emotionally intense read, it’s also really nice to read a story about a female character within this world of Greek mythology who is so fully her own - even after she leaves the forest and joins the world of men, she still maintains that independence. It’s really refreshing!

The ending did feel a little rushed, it wrapped up really quickly, but other than that last bit, I thought the pacing was just right and it held my attention all the way through.

I enjoyed the audiobook narration, it was a nice performance and while I don’t think it took the story to a new level or anything, it didn’t detract from or take me out the story either.

I can’t wait to see which myth Jennifer takes on next, I will happily read as many as she chooses to write!

Thank you to Macmillian for an advanced listener copy of this book.

Description: Atalanta was meant to die on top of a hill after being abandoned by her parents. She's taken in by bears, then eventually by Artemis. Artemis tells Atalanta to join the Argonauts in their journey to get the golden fleece as Artemis's representative of sorts. Atalanta leaves the forest for this quest and is forever changed. Will she bring honor to Artemis, or will she be forgotten in history because she's a woman?

The good:
- I like the overall remembrance of Atalanta and her personality.
- The action during the travels of the Argonauts and coming home were excellent.
- I enjoyed the tension between Atalanta and the other Argonauts (whether romance or not)
- I feel like this was pretty quick-paced.

The loss of a star: While the pace was quick, I do feel like there were point so the book where a lot happens in a short amount of time, and others was drawn out. It was not as consistent of a flow for the book as I would have enjoyed. I found myself going back to listen to the faster paced parts because I was not expecting them. Also, and this is just me, the names get me all turned around and confused

Overall: If you liked Song of Achilles, Elektra, or Circe, you'll enjoy this book! However, I may not pick this one up as your very first greek mythology re-telling.

Atalanta by Jennifer Saint was excellent! I love Greek mythology but did not know about Atalanta who was cast out, grew up in a forest, and had Artemis as a guide. She was the only woman to sail on the Argos. Hearing more about that adventure was great too. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who already loves Greek myths or anyone who is just jumping on board. I definitely recommend the audiobook version if you like to listen!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook! I am not normally a reader of Greek Mythology or retellings. Atalanta piqued my interest so I decided to check it out.
The first part of the book is quite interesting and engaging. However, toward the end it starts to drag. There’s some moments that are a little pushy for my taste. Subtlety is not a strength of this book. Another concern I have about the book is the disjointed nature of the storyline. Of course, traditional Greek myths drop and pick up characters without a second thought; my frustration was the incredible detail and time spent on some moments while other times in the book breezed past without explanation. I liked the premise of the novel, but the follow through was a bit lacking. I think if the ending was trimmed down a bit, it may be a smoother read.

Let's face it: women were not treated well in Greek myth. This is no exception, but it tries to be.

I've read the author's "Ariadne," and I had the same reaction to her story of Atalanta. The writing is good, but not lyrical. The characters are interesting, but not nuanced. The plot follows the mythological timeline, but is not exactly aligned. Atalanta has several different stories in myth, and this book combines them all into one.

One difference from "Ariadne" is that not all the men in "Atalanta" are totally despicable. That's a relief!

Beth Eyre does an excellent job with the narration of the audiobook, produced by McMillan Audio.

This was my second Jennifer Saint book and it made me remember how much I love her writing! A mixture of classic tale and modern lens. Atalanta was such a great female main character: feminine, strong, skilled, and emotionally self-aware. The audiobook narrator's accent lent well to the genre- I felt I could listen to her forever! The pacing was uneven at times and some of the plot points that could have packed more punch did not, but altogether a great retelling!

Thanks to Macmillian Audio and Netgalley for an Advanced Listener's Copy. All opinions are my own.

I've wholeheartedly enjoyed all of Jennifer Saint's mythological retellings, and Atalanta is no different! The way Saint is able to center the reader on the women in mythology is moving and it's what keeps bringing me back for more.

In total honesty, I had never heard of the heroine Atalanta before reading this book. And how fitting! A big part of the plot revolves around women being constantly erased from history and important stories, much like Atalanta's contributions to Jason and the Argonauts on their quest for the golden fleece. I couldn't help but admire her strength, resilience, and willingness to go against the grain while remaining steadfast and dedicated to Artemis.

The plot of the book dragged for me in a few places (I found many of the quests/sidequests to be tiresome, but I think this is more a reflection of long quests like hunting down the golden fleece instead of Saint's ability to tell an interesting story), but the ending was *everything* to me. That final line? It gave me absolute shivers.

Beth Eyre gave life to Atalanta's thoughts, decisions, and her adventures. A wonderful narrator who snagged my attention and didn't let me go throughout the entire story. This is a solid 4.5 stars, for me. I can't wait to see what Saint cooks up next, but for now I will heartily recommend this book to any and all of my peers who enjoy female mythological retellings!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this audio ARC.

The audio was brilliantly performed by Beth Eyre. She brought life to Atalanta and others.

The story was well written, great pacing. The ending seemed rushed, like something was missing. I couldn’t put my finger on what though.

I enjoyed Atalanta’s journey and kind of want to brush up on Greek mythology.

I really love how Jennifer Saint retells Greek mythology while centering women's stories. Atalanta is her latest and while it's not my favorite of hers, it's still very good.

I'll be honest, the first half of the book I was much less invested in Atalanta as a character and her journey with Jason and Argonauts, but it really gets interesting and more meaningful in the second half. This is exploring ideas about rape culture, victim blaming, gendered double standards of sexual behavior, and the ways in which marriage (especially in the ancient world, but sometimes today too) places constraints on women. I also liked the way Saint interpreted the ending, and how in this story, motherhood does not mean the end of autonomy and sense of self. Definitely worth the read if you've liked her other books! The audio narration is also quite good. I received an audio review copy of this book from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Exquisite and stunning, Atalanta retells the story of one of greek mythology's most forgotten characters. It was such a joy to see this formidable and powerful woman brought to life on the pages of this book by an author I love. Saint does an incredible job of stringing together all the mythology about Atalanta: her hard start in life, followed by her voyage on the argo, and even the realities of being a woman which she must face upon her return home. It was about time someone let the world know of our phenomenal heroine Atalanta, and by god - this does not disappoint!!!

Atalanta was the first work by Jennifer Saint that I've read and I LOVED it. I love Greek mythology and the stories of Artemis and her followers are some that I haven't explored much. And this audio was STUNNING. The narrator's voice was perfect! I am so, so glad that I was able to listen to and review this title.

Another beautiful Greek Mythology retelling centered around the women who get forgotten or their importance diminished. This time we get Atalanta's story from her birth/abandonment, upbringing by Artemis, heroic journey with the Argonauts, boar hunt, prodigal return home, and fulfilling of her prophecy. This story was so well done reframing the narrative of the traditional patriarchal mythology while still keeping core points the same. The gods/goddess still provide their vain retribution, Jason, Heracles, and many other of the "heroes" and men are oblivious and intentionally misogynistic. Atalanta is a badass just trying to carve out her own glory!

Atalanta is another excellent book by Jennifer Saint. Our heroine is fully her own person, wise and careful, strong and proud. She finds herself in extraordinary circumstances and takes us on a thrilling romp through Greek mythology.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date: May 9, 2023

~3.5 stars rounded up. This is my third Jennifer Saint novel and I was really excited going into it, I have loved the other two. While not terrible this just didn't live up to my expectations with the other two. The writing in Elektra was so poetic and emotional and I just didn't get that here. Perhaps that is because Atalanta was a warrior so she was writing in a different voice for her but I just felt like it could have been more. I thought the ending worked really well, I just struggled through much of the earlier parts of the book to get engaged.

I enjoyed the narrator and enjoyed the fact that she was one of the narrators from Elektra that I had listened to before. She had a lot of good emotion and pacing to bring the story to life. I am wondering if I read the book I would have enjoyed it more but I don't think that is the fault of the narrator, I think that is just something that would have worked better for me for this particular book.

Just like the physical book Atalanta is spell binding; in comparing the two I found that I enjoyed the audiobook more the narrator does an amazing job given a literal voice to the protagonist and the struggles she faces. I will be picking this one up on audible on release day.

I love a good mythology retelling, especially those that feature strong women. Atalanta definitely got some hard breaks in life, but Saint has brought her to life and helped fill in some of the gaps around the whys. I loved following her story from infant to warrior to independent woman.

Atalanta is not as well known as a number of other characters whose stories have been rewritten in recent years, but I think you can enjoy this book without knowing her story beforehand. I chose to refresh my memory before starting this one and found that Saint stuck closely to the common mythology.

If you enjoy mythology, this is a great pick.

This was a solid 3.5 stars for me. I've been interested in Greek Mythology since I was a child, so overall, I really enjoyed this retelling of Atalanta's story. I didn't know all of the details of her stories, but from what I've researched since reading this book, it covers pretty much everything. My only complaint is that because there is so much content, it moves a little too quickly which makes it feel a little emotionless. I, personally, am a fan of flowery tales that go into detail and really capture the heart of the character. I'm not sure if Atalanta felt cold and distant because she actually was, or if it just felt that way because there wasn't enough time to delve into her emotions. Overall, I'm still glad I read this book, and will recommend it to others who are interested in Greek Mythology. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book for free from the publisher through netgalley.com. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I have always loved mythology. I remember hearing of Atalanta as a kid listening to the album Free To Be You And Me - I was always in awe of the woman who could run faster than anyone else.

She has all but been erased from mythology - rarely do we ever hear about the only female argonaut who sailed to claim the Golden Fleece.

This book tells her tale, from her abandonment as an infant, being taken under a Goddesses wing, to finding herself the only female on the ship that sets off on a grand adventure.

In a world where men fear strong women it's no wonder her story is rarely told. This is a brilliant book and an excellent audio. The ending matches the mythology except in myth it was supposed to be a punishment but the book gives it a different take which I loved. The narrator was excellent at bringing Atalanta's story to life. If you love Mythology this is one not to be missed.