Great take on the story of Hera. Thoroughly enjoyed this title.

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

Thank you Jennifer Saint and Netgalley, for the ALC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love a good greek mythology retelling, however I struggled to keep interested in this one.... Also, I was thrown off with some of the pronunciations.

I’ve read all four books by Jennifer Saint now and this is my second favorite of the bunch. Not only does this book look at Hera from the overthrow of the Titans to the end of the Olympians, it also gives details and depth to the lives of all the olympains that surrounded Hera and Zeus. It was extremely interesting and those who also enjoy mythology will find this one very intriguing. While my favorite of her is Atalanta I did thoroughly enjoy this story and the audio experience!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the alc via Netgalley!

Always enjoy books by Jennifer Saint and was so excited to get approved for this audio book. I liked hearing the story of Hera from and have always loved Greek Mythology. This well written and enjoyable and easy listen and entertaining. The narration was well done and fit the story well. I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc in exchange for an honest review. Rating this 3/3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early release access to Hera in audiobook form.

I had my eye on this after discovering my newfound love for mythology retold. Growing up I typically felt the stories lacking and very one sided, if you get my meaning. Jennifer saint gives us a new perspective and it's not to be taken lightly. I really enjoyed this retelling, and I felt more in truth being tied to an honest lens which was refreshing. A woman, regardless of her level of power, is used as a tool for gains. A mother's love can be harsh and it can be the most saving grace.

The elements boldly discussed during this retelling gave me an outline set yet again by the patriarchal world history. Fantastical stories to say, "See? Even a goddess knows her place and should never cross Zeus let alone any man." My words, my interpretation to be clear. How far things were taken to subdue women in general. I wanted to sit down and have tea with Hera, granted she take a more delicate form as to not burn me alive with her radiance. I would tell her I understand her sorrows and her hate, and let her know I'll meet her at dawn and burn Zeus to the ground. Growing up watching Hercules and Xena (Remember those shows?!) I was always curious why Hera was so angry and devastatingly feared. I get it now. Heavens have no fury. Aside from the treachery this poor woman endured over and over, we also get to see her make leaps and bounds in her personal growth. Caring for certain creatures. Glinting desires to be among those who worshiped her. To gain earthly experiences guiding her changes.

The storytelling itself was well done and had my attention the entire time and I really felt for quite a few characters in this story. I learned some new lore and deepened my understandings of others.
Things that stood out to me:

-12% There are other ways to rule. Sometimes the true power is in the shadows, someone who stays out of the light and watches others shrivel and burn in its glare.
-38% The monsters are here, clad in beautiful immortal flesh...
-66% I'll never see peacocks the same again (Flashback to Hercules show, you'll get it)
- 83% Her own name, as justification for rape... (Referring to Hera. When you get there, it's such an insulting smack)
- 89%We're the ones who need their offerings now. We thrive on what they give us. Without their worship, without their belief, we would shrivel away. Become no more than spirits haunting the earth.

I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll preface this by saying I enjoyed Aridne, although it didn’t blow my mind.

This one fell pretty flat for me. I like retellings, and that aspect of this book was great! I really loved the stories from mythology and seeing them all unfold and how they connected. The plot was pretty good, I enjoyed the journey through time with the immortals.

What did hit the mark for me was 100% Hera. I did not care for her complaining and vindictiveness at all. I understand her female rage. I get the disgust and disappointment she felt and why she reacted the way she did at first, but she held onto every single grudge the entire book and I really didn’t like her by the end. I’ve read ACOTAR and Hera reminded me of Nesta. She does redeem herself in the end by realizing none of it really matters, that she fought so long and so hard for nothing. It honestly should be a depressing ending, but the author does twist some life into it and leaves it a hopeful ending, so I do appreciate that.

I enjoyed listening to the author, but her pronunciations of certain Greek gods was very off putting for me for a while. I did eventually get over it, but it definitely did distract me. The narrator otherwise had good rhythm and flow and was easy to understand. The narration gets a 4.5⭐️ for me but the book only a 3⭐️. Plot was fantastic, main character was not for me.

Blow the dust off of your Greek Mythology. Move over, Zeus. Queen Hera is in the spotlight now.

After Hera and her brother, Zeus escape and overthrow their father, Chronos, Hera desires to rule alongside Zeus. After a traumatic encounter with Zeus, Hera realizes he is just as evil as their father. As Zeus gains power, Hera becomes housewife and mother - not what she expected or wanted. She bonds with her other brothers and her children to forge a better way to her destiny - ruling on Mount Olympus. In this retelling, Hera is the guide and protagonist.

This is my first Jennifer Saint book. I really enjoy retellings of ancient tales and this one had the hamster in my brain wheel working overtime. I felt like I was googling each god mentioned every 5 minutes. Not a bad thing at all. However wonderful these tales are, and I do genuinely appreciate this one being told from Hera's perspective, I found myself disassociating from the storyline OFTEN. I fought to stay captivated and I just couldn't. The writing is wonderful. I don't know what it was exactly. I currently have "Elektra" in my physical TBR pile and still plan on loving it. I'm sure "Hera" will do really well. I want the most for it. It may be possible I would connect with this one in paper form. I don't know. It's not you, Jennifer. It's me.

Naomi Fredrick's narration was perfect for Greek royalty. Being American, I had to do a double take on the UK pronunciations of these gods.

Thank you, NetGalley, Jennifer Saint, and Macmillan Audio for the chance to listen to this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Saint’s Hera is a powerful reimagining of one of Greek mythology's most complex goddesses. Hera, the immortal goddess and daughter of the ancient Titan Cronos, is portrayed with depth and nuance, making her journey from a loyal sister and wife to a questioning, independent ruler both compelling and relatable. The narrative begins with Hera aiding her brother Zeus in overthrowing their tyrannical father, Cronos. However, as they establish their reign on Mount Olympus, Hera begins to see alarming similarities between Zeus and their cruel father. Saint masterfully captures Hera’s growing disillusionment, providing a vivid portrayal of her internal struggle and her awakening to the harsh realities of her new world.

As the story progresses, Hera’s suspicion of Zeus’s ruthlessness intensifies. Saint’s depiction of Zeus is chilling and unflinchingly brutal, painting him as a figure of unchecked power and insatiable ambition. The narrative’s exploration of Hera’s perspective sheds new light on her legendary disdain for Zeus’s infidelities and her often harsh actions in mythology. This retelling humanizes Hera, revealing her as a figure trapped by her loyalty and duty, yet yearning for something greater and more just. Each of Hera’s decisions reflects a deep conflict between upholding her role beside Zeus and her desire to break free from the cycle of cruelty that has plagued their lineage.

By the end of the novel, my dislike for Zeus has grown even more profound. Saint’s portrayal leaves no room for sympathy for the king of the gods; instead, it highlights the oppressive nature of his reign and the impact on those around him, particularly Hera. The book culminates in Hera’s realization that true power does not lie in perpetuating violence but in forging a path towards a better, more compassionate world. Hera is not just a tale of myth and legend; it is a poignant reflection on power, autonomy, and the courage to challenge the status quo. Jennifer Saint has created a richly woven narrative that resonates deeply and leaves a lasting impression.

3 out of 5 Stars

It was okay. Much like Jennifer Saint's other novels it was a fun spin on a Greek mythology.

This is Hera's story, told from her own perspective. I usually go into books completely ignorant, and I do that so that I do not have expectations of the material. In this case, I knew about Hera. Because of my expectations, I felt that it didn't fully capture Hera's fierce nature. Hera is betrayed by her brother and forced into a marriage with him. She has always believed she was meant to rule alongside Zeus as an equal, but instead, she is constantly reminded of her roles as a woman: wife and mother. I wished to feel more of Hera's anger, sorrow, indignation, and passion.

This is a well written retelling, and I will be recommending this book to my friends and followers!

A retelling of the Hera focused on the strong, powerful goddess that she is ! It starts at the creation of Hera and Zeus and the evolution of their relationship as children, to enemies, to lovers, and rulers.

When Hera and Zeus are the only living siblings during the titans rule, they vow to rule together. However, when the titans are defeated, Zeus realigns himself with his brothers- Hades and Poseidon- and gives them rule over the seas and underworld, leaving Hera with…….. nothing. When Hera asks what she is the God of, Zeus assigns his sisters with lesser rulings and makes a show of the hierarchy and his power amongst the gods and goddesses. And Hera spends the rest of her existence trying to make him pay for this betrayal and many more to come as he cheats and abuses women, mortals and immortals alike.

From these origins, the book also explores the creation of more gods, the Trojan War, the birth of Heracles, all the gorgons and monsters and more. You don’t need to be a Greek expert to enjoy this story and it will leave you wanting more!

I’m not going to say that this will make you feel good about Hera’s infamous actions, but it will make her “human” and bring perspective to how she turned into that scorned woman.

I requested this after reading the Touch of Darkness series and needing more from the Gods ! I enjoyed the book, I’m no expert on the Greek God world, so the accuracy and comparison to origin stories isn’t something I’m factoring into my rating. I want the version where Hera is in charge, like an alternate reality!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 8/13/24.

Is there nothing Jennifer Saint can't do?

Seriously. Throughout most mythology, Hera comes across as bitter and resentful, jealous of her husband cheating his way through life, siring demigod after demigod. And while this is shown here, you get his emotional story behind why Hera feels the way she does. I have a newfound respect for our mother Goddess. Our queen Goddess. Even knowing Zeus being the terrible and selfish King of Gods, I never thought much of Heras plight.
This has elevated her in my eyes. Her love for what others perceived as monsters. Her misguided love for her children with Zeus, thinking she was birthing allies and learning she loves them for who they are.

Ugh this book was perfect. I just need her to humanize and make me love them all. Well, female wise. Because these stories are amazing.

When Kronos, the god of Olympus is overthrown by his children, Zeus steps up to declare himself god of the heavens and assigns his brothers to rule over the other realms while ignoring roles for his sisters. When Hera protests, Zeus offers to make her his wife which she reluctantly agrees to, thus becoming the goddess of women and marriage. Secretly, Hera hopes to one day convince her children to overthrow Zeus. As time goes by, Zeus continues his philandering and the gods create the well known stories from Greek mythology whenever they are bored and Hera alternates between seeking revenge and advocating for women who are wronged.
While Hera was the main focus of this book, the author also did a nice job of including many well-known stories and I appreciated the recap of these myths as well as the explanations of the various relationships between the gods and goddesses. Hera is a strong and likable character and was someone to cheer on. My prior impression was that Hera was harsh and a goddess to be feared but this story provided her side of things which made this perspective entertaining. I listened to the audio version of the book and the narrator was very good. I did feel like some of the stories were rushed and would have liked more details even if the book would have been made longer.

Hera
A Novel
by Jennifer Saint
Narrated by Naomi Frederick

I received an ARC of this audiobook through Netgalley.

This beautiful work of Jennifer Saint’s is soul stirring in the most magical way.

She brings myths and magic into reality in such beautiful and believable ways. This is my second audiobook of hers and I find it just as alluring and wonderful as I did Atalanta.

The last time I felt anything in my soul from a book like Hera was when reading Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Avalon books, I love those preceding Mists of Avalon the best, but I love them all.

I recommend this book highly. It is deep and full of mythology - so be prepared to pay attention. It will 100% be worth your time and attentiveness.

The narrator, Naomi Frederick, was remarkable. Truly wonderful narrator.

Normally I would give a synopsis here, but I just can’t summarize this book. But, I can name myths you may be familiar with:
Jason and the Argonauts
Helen of Troy
Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Metis, Gaia, Cronus, Hercules, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Demeter, Cora, Persephone, Hermes, Iris, Hephaestus, Ares, Aphrodite

I love this book and I hope you will too!

Another great read by Jennifer Saint! I was skeptical going into this one, as Hera has always been my least favorite Greek goddess, but Saint does a wonderful job of bringing Hera to life and making us see her nuances and struggles in a different light. This novel is a powerful tribute to a goddess who has often been relegated to the sidelines in classical myths. Jennifer Saint's novel reclaims Hera's story, presenting her as a multifaceted heroine whose strength and determination resonate through the ages.

I have always felt Hera has gotten a bad rap in history. From being SA'ed by Zeus who then forces her to marry and then tortures her by cheating on her, Hera had a rough life. However, it doesn't excuse the pain she inflicts on others.

This story does a great job addressing the complexity of Hera's character. Saint does a great job portraying Hera not just as the victim or aggressor, but also Hera the mother, Hera the goddess of the married, Hera the young goddess who fought the Titans, Hera the goddess who wanted to protect herself, and Hera the woman. This story was difficult to listen to because Saint is able to show the pain of womanhood and the joy through the telling of the Goddess Hera.

I rounded this book from a 3.5 to a 4. This was my least favorite of Jennifer Saint's books. I was expecting a jealous, fierce, starting Queen. This Hera left me wanting more. So many of the Gods and Goddesses were only briefly touched on and the narrator mispronounced SO many of their names - it was maddening.

Find your inner goddess and unleash your rage with this book.

I love that Hera's story is one of feminine rage, and power. I love Greek mythology and retellings. So I came into this book already knowing a lot about Hera. Unlike most other gods from Greek mythology, she doesn't have her own story. Instead she pops up throughout the stories of others from Hercules to the Trojan War and more. She steps in an out of stories, taking her vengeance and then leaving. In this retelling, we follow Hera as she pops in and out of the many stories we know her from, which makes the book feel more like a collection of short stories.

If you don't know a lot about Greek mythology, this is a great book to learn from, as Hera touches all of the major gods and heroes.

Since Hera doesn't have a trusted friend, love interest or really anyone she can talk to, this book feels one-sided and lonely. Which I know it Hera's story ultimately, but since this is a retelling, I was hoping for something to make the story more dynamic or feel more cohesive.

The ending of this book was fascinating and attempted to provide an answer to 'what happened to the Greek gods'? I love Jennifer Saint's approach to this. I had to stop listening to the book in the car because I was so focused on the story.

I've read the other three books in this series, Ariadne, Elektra and Atalanta. This is probably my least favourite of the series. That said, Jennifer's writing is always so strong, that's not to say this book is 'bad'. It's just not my favourite.

Naomi Frederick does an amazing job at the narration for this book. Her voice control comes across as commanding and as intimidating as I assumed Hera would be. And she is able to make it soft, for the moments the book asks vulnerability of Hera. It was a joy to listen to her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

This book is best read while sitting on a golden throne.

Jennifer Saint takes a lethal stab at legitimizing Hera, the oft regarded jealous and vindictive wife of Zeus, as her husband's equal. This retelling of her mythology is raw and unflinching while laying the deeds and misdeeds of all Olympians bare. Fans of Saint's other work will be sure to like this one too.

Who is Hera behind the facade of the archetypical jealous wife? Like Saint's other works of mythological retelling, this seeks to fill the gaps in myth with ebullient emotion. The anger, scorn, grief, shame, indifference, and perhaps a bit of joy all come through in this audiobook,