I have always found the story of Elecktra and her family's dysfunction fascinating and as well as enjoying the plays of Sophocles and Euripides, I have really enjoyed other modern retellings, such as Colm Toibin's House of Names. This version gives much more of a voice to Clytemnestra and Cassandra, it didn’t add much to the overall story but it was enjoyable to give these characters more of a voice. Overall this was a good read and I enjoyed revisiting the story but it wasn’t a favourite of the recent Greek myth retellings.

3.5 rounded to 4.

Overall impression is: I enjoyed the story, I was eager to pick up where I left off and continue reading. It was atmospheric, interesting but there was something missing in the writing. I personally believe this book lacked causing me to feel emotions, even though you would expect to feel emotions in a retelling like this.

From our three main female characters, Clytemnestra is by far the most complex and interesting one. Then comes Cassandra and then Elektra.

Elektra was downright infuriating. Now, I don't need to like the main characters, this is something I don't require at all. I can LOVE characters who are absolutely and utterly evil and despicable. But Elektra fell flat for me. You can describe her in three words: angry, spoiled, delusional. Her reasoning and thinking made no sense at all at times, and I definitely wasn't rooting for her. Once again, it's not like you need to be team one or the other, but it's just a general thing you do when you read books: you pick favourites. I think all three characters needed to be more complex, and we needed to understand, see and feel them in their entirety.

If we were to play the comparison game, which I know the author may not like, but it feels a part of every reader's nature to compare, I do like Ariadne a lot more.

If I were to recommend it to someone, I would describe it as a Greek myth retelling that focuses on the cycle of revenge, and the detrimental effects it has on each generation.

Having read previous titles from Jennifer Saint, I knew that this would be another brilliant read. I was not disappointed. I've always loved Greek mythology and this was another engrossing book.

Gorgeous writing, great character development and framing, and a fantastic example of a feminist re-telling. Saint continues to be one of the best of this genre.

I enjoyed this more than the previous novel by Jennifer Saint - Ariadne - but I think maybe I'm alone in that. I found this had less parts where nothing much was happening and I think that's because it had three point of view characters.

Despite being named Elektra I think that her point of view was actually the weakest - she was a hard character to spend time with and to want the best for, especially when she didn't recognise what this actually would have been.

Poor Cassandra was interesting and I knew the least of her story before reading (although, I'll admit that unless it was on the Kevin Sorbo Hercules series my knowledge of the actual myths isn't very in depth). I feel like she got the rough end of the stick throughout this whole story.

Clytemnestra for me was the strongest character in this story and I think the novel should have born her name rather than Elektra's but I'll admit it doesn't have the same ring to it. I enjoyed her point of view the most and felt her emotional depth more than the other two and I also think that she is the wheel that the novel turns on.

Overall, I enjoyed the links between the stories and how it showed the varied response to shared history - also it showed how two people can see the same events so differently and how this shapes the future for everyone.

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Another gem from a brilliant author. I love this author and this is one that hasn’t disappointed. This is a book that has pulled me in and I have devoured in just one sitting.
Addictive plot, great characters and a book that is worthy of all the praise.

Elektra is a beautiful retelling of the lives of three women from Greek mythology, but probably could’ve been a bit shorter.

Elektra tells us the story of Elektra, Clytemnestra and Cassandra, three women all tangled up in the Trojan war, but lesser known than the famous Helen.

It was interesting to read about the Trojan war from a different perspective than the men fighting it. The closest one to the war in this book was Cassandra, and though I understand the purpose of her POV (a different woman than Helen experiencing the war), her story felt a bit like a tool to show how time progressed, while Elektra and Clytemnestra did their thing back in Mycenae.

It seemed most of the focus was on Clytemnestra, with her plotting and planning, while Elektra did little more than skulk around angrily. Which also brings me to my biggest pet peeve with this book: barely anything happened with Clytemnestra and Elektra, but a LOT of words were used for it. There was a lot of repetition with the inner dialogue of these two POVs, which somehow made Cassandra’s POV the most interesting one, despite feeling a bit disconnected from the rest.

Despite of these things, I still very much enjoyed Elektra. The way it was written is beautiful, as we by now expect from Jennifer Saint. It was interesting to experience the war from different POVs, to see how life went on for the women that were left behind. Despite very little happening, it still felt like an epic story.

I absolutely loved this retelling of the story of the Trojan War, from the perspective of some of the women at the heart of the story. Jennifer Saint really breathed life into these classical characters, all of them flawed but their motivations now made understandable (particularly Clytemnestra, I felt.) The three viewpoints of Elektra, Clytemnestra and Cassandra were all very different and gave a well rounded feel to the story. If I had to say where my sympathies lay, however, it certainly wouldn't be with the titular character. Get a grip, love.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book – Jennifer Saint has done it again! I love the way it explored all the character's conflicting motivations, which provided great insight into why they behaved the way they did.

I dove straight into this title after reading Jennifer Saint's first novel 'Ariadne', as I loved it so much. I do like retellings of Greek mythology/characters, regardless of how much I already know about them/the history/mythology.

Told from the point of view of three women: Elektra, Clytemnestra, and Cassandra, during the Trojan war and its aftermath.

Elektra - missing her father terribly, and watching her mother Clytemnestra sit in his seat, ruling in his place, and flaunting her lover before the court. Clytemnestra - mourning the murder of her firstborn child by her husband Agamemnon, and plotting her revenge against him on his return. Cassandra - a Trojan princess punished by the God Apollo, cursed with uttering prophecies that no one will believe, captured and brought to Mycenae as a spoil of war.

I enjoyed that this was form the point of view of those suffering outside of the Trojan War, with the added benefit of having an alternate POV from inside, in the character of Cassandra.

We have heard realms of facts surrounding the classical story of the Trojan War over the years, but prepare yourself for a fresh twist - Jennifer Saint brings new insight by focusing on the perspective of three women, who are impacted by the events preceding, during and post the Trojan War: Clytemnestra, the wife of Agamemnon and sister of Helen, whose life is torn asunder as her husband pledges the highest offering to the gods for safe passage to War; Cassandra, Princess of Troy, who is gifted by Apollo with foresight, but cursed as no one hears or pays attention to her warnings and finally Elektra, the youngest daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, who is horrified by the bloodiness of the war her family are embroiled in. The House of Atreus is cursed to this cycle of violence and bloodshed. Can it be broken?
The book cleverly jumps between the perspectives of the three women to unravel their stories. The story of the women is gripping, heart-rending in places, and emphasises the potent inner strength of these women in the face of seeming powerlessness at the hands of selfish men and gods. Perfect for fans of similar female centred classical stories like Circe by Madeleine Miller, and Ariadne, also by Jennifer Saint. #elektra #netgalley #jennifersaint

A great retelling of the events of the Trojan war from the point of view of three woman whose lives were changed forever as a result of the actions of Agamemnon. Whilst staying true to the original myths and Homeric stories, this book delved into the psychological impact that the war had on the women left behind and the woman captured and taken. This book is vey well written and gives you a real insight into life in ancient times during a time of turmoil.

Thank you for the advanced copy.

I enjoyed this book, it was easy to read and held my attention. I will be reading more from this author :)

I wanted to love this, especially as I recently read and was totally gripped by ARIADNE. The sad reality is, ELEKTRA just isn’t up to the same standard in my opinion. I found the story lacklustre and we skipped over large time periods where nothing seemed to happen, the characters were flat (especially Elektra and Cassandra), and as someone who has not extensively read Greek mythology, I found myself having to Google gods and myths that weren’t explained. It took me days to finish as I wasn’t excited to come back to it and I was relieved when I reached the end. Second books are tough, hopefully the next will be better!

I really enjoyed Ariadne by Jennifer Saint last year, so when another classical retelling was announced I requested an ARC, and was lucky enough to be approved. This has another stunning cover. This turns out to follow not just Elektra’s story – daughter to Agamemnon, walking dumpster-fire that he is – but also Clytemnestra, her mother, and Cassandra, famously disbelieved oracle of Troy. Once again the theme in these retellings focus on the women’s side of the story – we all know the tale of Troy and its heroes, but not so much the royal women connected to these heroes. I knew parts of the story, but not all of them, and it was a suitably uncomfortable read – and very quick to, considering it is a classical setting and tale. Very keen to see whose history Saint will cover next!

I loved Ariadne and it has been one of my most recommended titles in store this year, having chosen it for my book of the month at the point of paperback release, as well as having Jennifer across for an event. I was concerned that Elektra wouldn't capture my attention in the same way - but I needn't have worried.

Just like Ariadne, the author had me invested in the characters almost immediately. Although I, like many, was well versed in the myth concerning Helen and the Trojan Wars - I had very little knowledge of Clytemnestra and Elektra, or even Cassandra. All three women take centre stage with the novel focusing on their POVs. Their complexities are explored and they come alive on the pages. Jennifer Saint excels in creating well rounded and relatable women, fleshing them out with flaws, whilst sensitively navigating their often difficult relationships and their roles in the myth.

Jennifer Saint has without doubt become a must buy author for me, and I cannot wait to read more from her.

Oh god this book was everything I wanted and more. I was scared that I wouldn't love this as much as Ariadne but I honestly think I ended up loving this one more.

I love Jennifer Saint's writing style, how it completely grasps hold of you and has you never wanting it to let you go.

I loved seeing this story told from the perspective of these three women, who you honestly don't see a lot of. Cassandra is such an interesting character and I wish more authors wrote from her perspective!

I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book and I cannot wait to read what Saint comes out with next.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cassandra, Clytemnestra and Elektra. Three women linked by misfortune and war. Play things of the Gods and men, this is their story, told in their own voices and how the curse of Atreus destroyed them all.

Clytemnestra is by far the most interesting character. Driven first by ambition and a desire to escape her sister Helen's shadow, she's forced into the role of Queen and wife to Agamemmnon - a man obsessed with the city of Troy.
Her devotion to Agamemmnon is destroyed by the ultimate act of betrayal, and left to fester leads to some deadly consequences. She's a multi layered character, intelligent and a capable leader who seems to think she's putting her children first but really she's blind sighted by revenge. Cassandra is also an interesting woman. Cursed by Apollo himself to see visions and have no one believe her, her desperate attempts to save Troy fall on deaf ears. The frustration, the despair is always at the forefront of every action Cassandra takes. And all because she refused a God.

Elektra I was less taken in by. Her devotion to her father is admirable, but I didn't really see the logic behind it. She puts Agamemmnon on a pedestal even though she was a very small child when he sailed away after committing an atrocious act, and this build up of waiting for his return just never felt believable to me. She's incredibly selfish, self centered and just won't accept anyone else's point of view if it deviates from one she agrees with. Especially if that other person is Clytemnestra.

I do also think that I've reached my limit to Troy/Iliad retellings. Its just not really a Greek story I enjoy anymore after rereading the same tale over and over. Although in this version it does give a voice to the women of the story who are often overlooked, I just think at this point that the story has been done to death. Give me an Odyssey retelling, please.

If you've read other Illiad retellings you might not find anything particularly new here, but the writing is well done and I do think this tries to give readers an insight into these forgotten women and their actions. I'll continue to read Jennifer Saint's Greek stories for as long as she carries on writing them.

Christ that was so intense. I now understand the origins of the ‘Elektra Complex’. It was gripping and very intense, and every single one of the characters are my favourite shade of morally grey - though leaning more towards immoral. Good, but don’t think I’d read again (Ariadne was better)

I absolutely loved Ariadne, so it’s no real surprise that I adored Elektra.

Jennifer Saint wonderfully weaves Greek myth and brings female voices to the forefront in the best way.

I was enraptured and captivated by this narrative. Her writing is lyrical yet easily accessible.

Perfect for fans of mythical retellings