In Hera, by Jennifer Saint we learn more about the goddess Hera, and a different perspective on the gods up on Mt. Olympus. If you are at all interested in Greek mythology, this book is a fantastic read. Hera is often portrayed as angry at Zeus for his infidelity or jealous of the other women that Zeus sleeps with, but this story portrays her as concerned about where her children will fit in the hierarchy of the gods. Not something insignificant to worry about as Zeus only had 12 thrones carved for the Olympians. Hera goes to great lengths to eliminate the other women and their offspring. Is she jealous, it does not appear that she would be. All the greek mythology I have been reading portrays Zeus as someone who sexually assaulted his sisters. Yes, Hera and Demeter are sisters of Zeus. The adventures of Jason and the Trojan War are just playing in the background, something to amuse the gods. Until the gods get bored with everything and begin to leave Mt. Olympus and live in the world. I give this book 4.5 stars. Jennifer Saint is a wonderful writer and I highly recommend Hera. I loved the audio book narrator as well. Thank you to Net Galley #netgalley and Macmillan Audio for my advance copy.

Hera is a breathtaking, wildly entertaining reimagining of the Greek goddess Hera’s character that will entrance readers from the first page.

This book was everything I hoped it would be and more. I adored the family dynamics and loved how Jennifer incorporated many Greek myths into the story. Hera’s character is often misunderstood in retellings, so I loved how Jennifer portrayed Hera—thoughtful, powerful, and resilient. Many of the acts Hera committed in Greek myths are retold in this story from Hera’s point of view, which was delightfully refreshing. I fell in love with Hera’s character and am excited to read more of Jennifer’s work in the future!

The audiobook narrator for Hera fits the story like a glove. Her tones, accents, and delivery immersed me even deeper into the rich writing and world-building. I highly recommend listening to Hera on audio!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

Jennifer Saint is one of the best writers of Ancient Greek stories with feminist viewpoints. Her latest novel will be welcomed by anyone who has read her other books and it will also, hopefully, introduce new readers/listeners to her works.

Hera was at the pinnacle. She was the sister of Zeus and was involved in the toppling of their father. As often happened siblings married so she was also the wife of Zeus. Hera has come through the ages to be seen as a difficult figure. This may be true-however, Hera had many reasons to feel aggrieved as readers/listeners will learn in this story.

In these pages get to know this goddess of marriage and fertility. Learn about the ways in which Zeus treated her and the consequences of his actions and attitudes.

This audio version is very well done. The narration is crisp and easily engages the reader.

I very much enjoyed Hera. She is not always likeable but Saint always kept me involved in her story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this title. All opinions are my own.

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

So, the second I saw a new Jennifer Saint book was available, I smashed that request button, so maybe I'm not the best person to review this one! I always get excited when there's a new story based in mythology, and Jennifer Saint is one of my favourite genre authors. This book focuses on Hera, goddess of marriage, (reluctant) wife of Zeus, and chronically angry antagonist in many myths. I like reading books when the main character is somewhat unlikeable- Hera is a good example, as she is rarely painted in a positive light in myths. Exploring her motivations, feelings, and hurt is expertly done, by the author. Hera is often the antagonist in myths, especially ones concerning Zeus' many illegitimate children, and to see her perspective on the gods and their shenanigans is quite refreshing.

JS is amazing as always!

Hera by Jennifer Saint
Narrated by Naomi Frederick
Publication date: 8/13/2024

This is the fourth Greek retelling by Jennifer Saint from viewpoints of female characters, and my third Jennifer Saint book.
I am fascinated by Greek mythology and previously read her "Ariadne" and "Elektra", which are just okay for me, if not disappointed due to my high expectations. I skipped Atalanta, her third book. And now she is out with Hera - and I just couldn't resist. Hera, is a major character in Greek mythology, being a sister/wife of Zeus, and known for her powerfully jealous nature. I didn't know that she is a goddess of childbirth and marriage which seems to be ironic to me given she is known to have broken up marriages. In this book, I enjoyed how she interpreted her episodes and weave them together in a relatable and entertaining manner for general public, including mythology pedestrians like myself. There are a lot of stories related Hera which are so famous that even I might know. One criticism I have is that the last half of the book felt a bit rushed - I felt that the author was trying to include all famous stories that are related to Hera, and and I felt as though she was including episodes just to mention famous stories. Maybe it would have been better to focus on a few events so that we can learn those events more in depth.

Having said that, it's four stars for me, and I have enjoyed this book. It is a beginner friendly and she does a good job explaining each episodes for people who aren't familiar with Greek mythology. If you aren't familiar with mythology - I think you can still enjoy the book.

For an audiobook, I thought the narrator did a good job. Way to go!

An advance copy of this audiobook was provided courtesy of NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for review purposes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⚡️Greek Mythology
💍Hera retelling
⚡️Mentions of SA
💍Cheating
⚡️Female Rage

I received an ALC from Macmillan via NetGalley.

At first I felt so bad for Hera. I was very sympathetic and angry for her! The tellings of Zeus in this book angered so much! After her failed attempt at overthrowing Zeus she changes. The sympathy I once felt for her starts to dim. Towards the end I felt Hera started to live up the things you read about her. Jealousy and anger towards all of Zeus’s children born from other women.
I do still feel bad for Hera’s children. They are constantly overlooked for Zeus’s other children.

I would definitely reccomend this book to others especially if you love Greek Mythology. This was my first Jennifer Saint book!

The narrator was amazing! I was immersed in the story completely forgetting everything around me.

Hera is a beautiful story, but the entire time I listened to this audiobook I felt like I was at arms length.

I am someone who really loves to get into the minds of the characters, so this being in third person and being told almost like an adult bedtime story didn't quite work for me. But that isn't to say the prose and passion behind this story are not for someone else. This is still very powerful, I just wish it was told from a different angle.

3.75 stars rounded.