I liked the character exploration and the writing was propulsive. I would read more from this author.

I was provided an Audio ARC of this book via Netgally, all opinions are my own.

The narrator was wonderful in this portrayal of Hera as told by Jennifer Saint.

I've really grown to love Saint's Greek mythology retellings from the female perspective. When I was growing up, all of the Greek mythology featured the male heroes and gods. I don't think I realized how terrible the gods and heroes were, or maybe I was reading more sanitized versions of the myths. Hera was always portrayed as bit of a villain especially when it came to Zeus and Heracles. She was one of my least favorite goddesses of the pantheon. Saint's version paints Hera in a different light and explains the motivation for many of her actions.

This tale begins with Hera, Zeus and the others overthrowing the Titans and takes us through her reign as queen of Olympus. She has always been painted as cruel and vengeful, however we learn that her rage and cruelty was not without purpose and motivation. Hera never wanted to be Zeus' wife or the goddess of marriage. We come to find out how that came to pass, and that she wasn't just a petty and jealous wife, she was always plotting against Zeus for making her less powerful instead of his equal. Her schemes to overthrow him and hurt the things he loves always seem to fail, yet it doesn't stop her from trying.

I really enjoyed this. It takes us through many of the well known myths and features all of the well known gods and goddesses from Greek mythology as well as some lesser known stories and characters. I really appreciated Saint's comprehensive look at the creation of the Olympus and the Olympians through to it's downfall. We walk with Hera through her traumas, her joyful moments, her anger, her frustration, and many other emotional moments on her journey to find a purpose and heal from the hurt Zeus has caused her.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this Audio ARC Copy!

Jennifer Saint will always be one of my favorite authors when it comes to mythology and she did not disappoint again. I have always been interested in Hera story but have not read any books that focus on her story and struggles.

One thing that I like the most about Hera's story is how she could just as easily have been an villain. She was a strong and powerful god who was slighted by the other gods and her choices are questionable throughout the story, but regardless of why she made the choices she did she still never gave in for stopped fighting.

Hera is a captivating retelling of Greek mythology, focusing on the immortal goddess and daughter of the ancient Titan Cronos. Saint masterfully humanizes Hera, portraying her as both ruthless and compassionate. The third-person narration is emotionally evocative, drawing readers into the complexities of her character. However, some scene transitions feel slightly disjointed, preventing a perfect 5-star rating. Overall, a must-read for mythology enthusiasts.

4.5 stars rounded down

Hera follows the titular goddess throughout her rule as Queen of the Gods. We watch as Hera transforms from a concealed child planning a revolt with her brother to a powerful goddess to the unwilling wife of Zeus to the jealous vengeful woman she is known as. Hera’s graces and weaknesses are all on display in this sweeping tale.

Jennifer Saint is known for her retelling of Greek mythology and I couldn’t wait to pick up this one about the jealous queen herself. I loved how Hera was portrayed and how her flaws were not skirted around. The scope of this novel was unlike other retelling I have read and I greatly appreciated seeing the entirety of Hera’s rule. The writing was well done and engaging throughout

The audiobook narrator was fantastic and I enjoyed the way she brought the characters to life!

Highly recommend to fans of Greek mythology or those who enjoy a strong flawed female main character

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Jennifer Saint's mythology retellings have become auto-buys for me. I loved Ariadne and Atalanta. Hera's story is incredible as well. Saint's writing breathes new life into these well known stories. She turns them into something unique and adds such a colorful perspective. Hera in this version is more than Zeus' wife. In fact, Zeus' wife is the smallest of her identities. Here she is an Olympian who orchestrated the overthrowing of Cronos. Here she is born to rule... she overshadows Zeus.

I really enjoyed the narration. This is the first book that I have listened to that is narrated by Naomi Frederick. I will definitely look for her books in the future.

I don't know if I missed the TW or if they are not included, so be aware that there is on page SA and other violence in this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an eARC of this audiobook!

HERA is an eloquent tale bringing to life the queen of Olympus. In her usual style, Saint breathes new life into Greek mythology while maintaining the core elements and events.

Seeing Hera through the eyes of the author gifts the reader with a whole new perspective. Even though she is a god and a powerful one at that, there are many relatable aspects to her personality. Hera becomes more than a spiteful god punishing Zeus’ dalliances and offspring. Her actions have valid emotions behind them and through the expert storytelling of Saint, the reader gets to feel like they know this queen of the gods on a more personal level.

With each retelling the author crafts, we can reimagine the world from which their lore is derived. Hera, like the women in Saint’s previous books, is given a voice. She becomes more than what the stories originally depicted her as. HERA is a beautifully written novel that shows the layers and depth of the character as she navigates Olympus.

Audiobook Note: The narrator, Naomi Frederick, did a superb job bringing to life Hera’s tale. The pace was spot-on. The inflection and diction added to the overall atmosphere of the mythology. There was almost a sense as if I were listening to a theatrical narration of the book, fit for the stage. This audiobook brought life to Saint’s writing.

🏛️Book Review🏛️
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Summary- When the immortal goddess Hera and her brother Zeus overthrow their tyrannical father, she dreams of ruling at his side. But as they establish their reign on Mount Olympus, Hera begins to see that Zeus is just as ruthless and cruel as the father they betrayed. While Zeus ascends, Hera is relegated to the role of wife and mother, a role she never wanted. She was always born to rule, but must she lose herself in perpetuating this cycle of violence and cruelty? Or can she find a way to forge a better world?

In this enthralling retelling, Greek mythology’s most famous and maligned goddess finally tells her own story, as power, passion, and divine strength collide in the heart of Olympus.
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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My thoughts- what a book 😍 I’m a sucker for a Greek myth retelling and this one is practically perfect. I grew up hopelessly obsessed with Disneys Hercules so this book was just hand crafted for me ! This one did start a little slow but wow the action really picked up and ended with a truly beautiful lesson. Overall highly recommend this one, but check the trigger warning before starting this one, it can be pretty intense at parts! Thank you Netgalley and Flatiron for the advanced audiobook!
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QOTD- do you enjoy retellings? I love a good fairytale or Greek mythology retelling personally !
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The queen of Mount Olympus finally gets her due in Jennifer Saint's Hera, the latest retelling in Saint's series on Greek heroines and villainesses. Much like with Clytemnestra in Elektra, Saint strives to humanize the goddess maligned in myths--largely succeeding, but never quite reaching the same heights as she did in Elektra. Having been forced to marry Zeus after he assaulted her, Hera's story is framed as one of a shamed woman forever bound to her enemy, wrecking havoc on Zeus' lovers as her only meager way of restoring her pride, and always coming up short. Hera is sympathetic, if not likable, as she flits from one failed plot to another, unable to thwart the man who entrapped her. Although there are a number of notable changes to her story, we see the wide canvas of Greek mythology through Hera's eyes, including the creation of Mount Olympus, the births of new gods, and the wars and quests inflicted on mortals by the Olympians.

At times, Hera becomes too much like a travelogue, reciting all that has happened without much development from the characters. When Hera finally begins to grow beyond her bitterness, it feels almost perfunctory, brought on by resignation rather than self-discovery. This leads to the weakest part of the novel, the ending, which is an elongated withdrawal of the gods from the mortal world. The tonal shift doesn't quite mesh with the rest of the story, nor is the resolution of Hera's arc fully satisfying.

On the audio front, Hera is as magnificent as Elektra and Atalanta before her. Saint's storytelling, much like Greek mythology, lends itself perfectly to the spoken word, and it's effortless to listen to chapter after chapter without noticing the time go by.

HERA by Jennifer Saint is my latest Mythology retelling thanks to @macmillan.audio & @netgalley! Narrated by Naomi Frederick, this gives a fresh voice to the Queen of Olympus.

I have really enjoyed revisiting the Greek Myths through the women's perspectives. Once again, this view shows the limits that were offered, even to the Queen of gods. I forget some of the backstories to some of these old tales, and because of Hera's length of existence being similar to Zeus, this is a quick refresher spanning ages.

I loved being able to listen to these ancient stories. I felt like I could be swept away into all the realms along with the gods. I do still find it fascinating that we don't use Greek accents for audios of Greek Mythology. British accents are beautiful and I love it, but I do find it interesting! (And it is a moot point really, as it isn't exactly historical!)

While I didn't find this story quite as captivating as some, I did enjoy the final chapters where Hera seems to have some internal growth and peace.

For all the retelling fans, this will be another great choice to add to your shelves!

Thanks again, to NetGalley and McMillan Audio!

Yep. Confirmed - Zeus is still an absolute as$hat.
Gods! >>>shakes fist<<< The Hera storyline always feels inherently frustrating (even outside her awful marriage). It doesn’t help that Hera isn’t very warm or likeable either.

Even when Hera is front and center - I felt like I was talked at- told vs. seen- if that makes sense.

Despite Saint’s best attempt, I didn’t like or feel sorry for Hera any more than other retellings. And I understand the pressure to stick true to the original storyline. But by gods, I want a different retelling where Hera gets a different type of redemption.

The more I think about it- the Hera/Zeus generation isn’t my favorite in this category.

As mythology niche grows (and my knowledge of all the characters), I want to be surprised.

I feel like though, if you read Mythos and you thought Hera’s story was too short, this is a decent retelling.

Thank you Netgalley & MacAudio24 for this ARC.

Note for Audio listeners- Hera’s anger sounded more pitch perfect at 1.5x 😅

3.5/5

I've really enjoyed Jennifer Sain't Greek mythology retellings and Hera is no exception to that! Hera is a really interesting character to explore due to the many different (often unfavorable) depictions of her throughout Greek myth stories. I really enjoyed following this perspective that showed more of an idea of 'her story' and how she came to do the things she does. I think Jennifer Saint did an excellent job of showcasing the many complicated aspects of Hera and her role, and her writing is as gorgeous as ever. I read the audiobook version of this one and thought the narrator did a truly fantastic job bringing this story to life. This is an excellent read for any Greek myth fans!

If you, like me, were a die hard Percy Jackson fan as a child, Jennifer Saints retellings are pretty much guaranteed to fill the greek mythology void in your life.

Hera, the immortal goddess and daughter of the Titan Cronos, helps her brother Zeus overthrow their tyrannical father, hoping to rule alongside him. However, as they establish their reign on Mount Olympus, Hera begins to question whether Zeus is as ruthless as the father they betrayed. Born to rule, Hera faces a dilemma: continue the cycle of violence and cruelty or break free and create a better world.

By weaving together various Greek myths, Saint presents this tale in a way that is accessible to readers who may be new to these ancient stories. The book doesn’t seek to redeem Hera but rather to provide a deeper understanding of her motivations. It invites readers to see Hera not just as a controversial figure but as a goddess who was betrayed by those closest to her.

The prose is both lyrical and powerful, offering a complex portrayal of Hera that goes beyond the traditional depictions of her as merely a jealous wife or vengeful goddess. Saint’s narrative is rich with feminist undertones, painting a picture of Hera as a multifaceted figure who was more than just the spiteful deity of myth.

Saint’s portrayal of Hera echoes the experiences of countless women and girls whose voices have been silenced, whose pain has been ignored, and whose struggles have been minimized. It speaks to the fear, frustration, and resilience of women who have been degraded, dismissed, and left to carry the burdens of the world.

I listened to this book on audio, and I absolutely devoured it! The narration gives it a whimsical feel, and really sucked me in to the story. If you’re an audiobook enjoyer and Greek mythology enthusiast, I think you’ll really enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and @macmillan.audio for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

An interesting feminist take on the Greek Gods that I appreciated. I didn't know much about Hera but appreciated her populist message to take down the powerful and uplift the weak.

Jennifer Saint has done it again! For me, this was her best book since her debut. It gave me all the same feelings. The setting and world-building were so well-done. All the characters felt so real. The plot was paced perfectly to drive the narrative. Everything flowed so well and I couldn't put it down. I was so invested and it made me think about the mythology in a whole new way. I'll continue to read every book by this author. I just love her writing and her ability to craft such compelling retellings. The narration was done so well, the perfect voice for Hera and tone for the story. I absolutely loved this. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: August 13, 2024

3.75 stars
I really enjoyed that this book brought so many short Greek myths together into one, cohesive timeline and narrative. It was nice to see how things changed over time with the Greek Gods and another perspective on all them but especially on Hera and why she may have done the things she did.

The narrator did a really nice job with this as well.

Wow i’ve read so many books on Greek mythology and I just cannot get over how amazing Jennifer Saint has the sway with creating This world that so many people have heard of, but in a new way in a new light. I loved reading Ariadne that book had me in a chokehold for months. I felt dread and joy all at once, this book. somehow I never thought in my life that I would be able to connect with Hera ever! But here I am at 11:04 pm In shock with how much I see myself in her. I can see (obviously not exactly every single thing that she had been through), but just her characteristics and who she wanted to be and who she is. Also her feeling stuck, feeling not sure. Trying to figure out who she was and where shes been placed! Wow, her journey as a mother to feel so much conflict with her children and love which I hadn’t really read about before was so amazing to hear. I hope this is not Jennifer‘s last book in this genre . I am definitely reading the last two very soon because they’ve been on my TBR for sometime, but I got the arc of this and I could not resist starting soon. This is a absolutely five star book ! Never was I bored or waiting for more constantly I was loving her as thoughts and actions. Sad to have finish but happy to continue with the rest

This book really has a way of transporting you right there within it. In the wasteland with Typhon to the ruins of Olympus stood face to face with an ashen once-was king. The ending had my heart seized. I look at Hera as so much more than a jealous bride now

Hera

By ~ Jennifer Saint-I've read Ariadne, Elektra, and Atalanta-all 4/5 ⭐ reads

Genre ~ Greek mythology, historical fiction, fantasy, retelling

Setting ~Mount Olympus

Publication date ~ August 13, 2024, Read ~ August 13, 2024

Audio length ~ 13 hours 48 minutes

Narration ~ Naomi Frederick voices all characters. The narrator's voice fit the characters with standouts from Hera, Zeus, and Athena. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

🙏🏽Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC❤️! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are mine alone.

POV ~ single, 3rd person

Tropes~ feminism, marriage, family drama, secret pregnancy

⚠️TW ~ SA, abuse, incest, murder, misogyny

Hera is the Queen of gods and goddesses, and together she and her brother Zeus overthrow their cruel and power-hungry father Cronus to rule Olympus. Little does Hera know that Zeus is just like their father enacting cruelty and violence to his own purposes. He ascends the throne when Hera thought they would rule together. He makes her his wife and Hera shares her tale of frustration and powerlessness against the patriarchy.

I've believed the narrative about Hera as a jealous wife who got revenge on Zeus' mistresses and illegitimate children. This novel put it all into perspective. She was still cruel at times, but knowing the reasons made me sympathize with her and all Zeus' victims. This felt like an origin story for the gods and goddesses Gaia created. It showed the forming of the council of the gods, demi-gods, and their offspring. Hera became a reluctant wife and mother who dealt with her husband's cheating and plotted her revenge on him. I enjoyed the story of Typhon, how and why Ares treated Hera, and how Hephaestus was underestimated by both Zeus and Hera.

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the gifted ALC of HERA!

I hate to say it but traditionally Hera has been my least favorite of the Olympian gods and goddesses. I found her to be a cold, cruel and jealous goddess. So when I saw that Jennifer Saint was featuring Hera next, I was excited to learn more about her from Hera’s own POV.
Saint does for Hera what she’s done for all of the goddesses and heroines featured in the books. She’s taken a misunderstood (and sometimes hated) character and made her actions understandable (and even relatable.)

Hera thought that by conquering the Titans at Zeus’s side she would be given what was rightfully hers. Instead he forces her into marriage to him and then pigeonholes her into being the goddess of marriage, women and childbirth.

Hera’s story is one of betrayal and scheming. She just wants the power that should have been hers. And instead of being a loving husband, she is forced to sit by and watch Zeus have affairs with goddesses, nymphs and women all across their world. Making a mockery of their marriage and her role as goddess of marriage. I would be furious if I was her too! But Hera also has great love for her children sired by Zeus, especially Typhon, even if she births them in hopes of overthrowing Zeus.

While this wasn’t my favorite of Saint’s books, I really enjoyed it and it gave me a fresh perspective to think about Hera the next time I read Greek mythology or a book inspired by it.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6731790869
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