Absolutely loved this book. As someone who studied Classics at school I love reading new versions of the myths and legends. I look forward to Jennifer's next book.

I have tried reading this book 3 separate times now, but I just can’t get into it, which is exceptionally unusual for a Jennifer Saint novel as i ADORE her writing! I noticed a lot of reviewers are having the same feelings as me where it just feels like a non-fiction book. unlike Saint’s other retellings which have been gripping stories from the jump, this one has not hooked me at all yet… I’m definitely going to try it again in the future though as i really want to love it…

Hera's anger and subsequent vengeance cycled in tighter and tighter loops until you felt she constantly be thwarted and smothered into a tight ball of anger that collapsed into itself. I didn't love reading about constant anger but it was thoughtfully delivered and an interesting take.

3.5 rounded to 4.

A thoughtful retelling of the Queen of the Gods, Hera explores power, rage, and autonomy with Saint’s signature lyrical prose. The novel humanizes Hera, showing her as both formidable and flawed, but the pacing feels uneven, and some emotional beats lack depth.

🎧 Audiobook adds atmosphere, but narration feels detached ⚡ A goddess torn between duty & defiance 📚 Rich mythology, but slow execution

While the book’s themes are compelling, the storytelling doesn’t always land with the emotional weight it aims for. The audiobook enhances the mythic tone, but some performances feel flat, making key moments less impactful. If you love Greek mythology retellings, this is worth a read—but it didn’t fully captivate me.

This was my first time reading anything by Jennifer Saint, unfortunately I didn’t find Saint’s writing to be for me as I tried multiple times to read this book but it just couldn’t hold my attention. I do think she’s a skilled writer and those who enjoy more literary style writing would lap this up as the subject is immensely interesting.

2/5 stars! I really enjoyed Elektra and Adriadne by this author, but this was a miss for me. It felt more like a non-fictional series of events than a fictional rendering. It was rather exhausting.

Than you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this title.

I'm a huge fan of Greek mythology and retellings, especially when they come from a female POV. It was so interesting to finally see Hera take centre stage. I wouldn't say it gripped me as much as some other retellings have but it was refreshing to see Zeus taken down a peg or two.

This book explores Hera and her surrounding mythology in a fun and enjoyable way! It was so great to read Hera at the centre of the narrative and emphasise with her without being overshadowed by the male gods or hero's of Greek mythological retelling.

The story is narrated in third person present tense. I found this interesting as it gives voice to Hera but not fully, which in a way sort of made it objective.

If you like Greek myth retelling and feminine rage please read this!

I have read other Jennifer saint books in the past and struggled to get into this compared to the others- I would definitely try to reread in future as I think the author is incredibly talented and I believe I was in a slump at the time of reading

Hera by Jennifer Saint is a refreshing take on the Queen of the Gods, giving her far more depth than the usual portrayals of jealousy and spite. The book explores her struggles—not just with Zeus’s endless betrayals but with her own need for power and respect in a world ruled by men. From helping overthrow Cronus to navigating the treacherous politics of Olympus, Hera’s journey is one of resilience and frustration.

Saint’s writing brings the world of the gods to life, with vivid descriptions and a strong sense of atmosphere. The feminist undertones make Hera’s story feel modern and relevant, adding weight to her battle for autonomy. That said, the book does get a bit repetitive at times and some of the side characters could have been more developed.

Still, Hera is an engaging and thought-provoking read that reclaims one of mythology’s most misunderstood figures. A great choice for fans of mythological retellings.

This was my first book by this author and it wont be the last! I really enjoyed the greek mythology retelling. I had too many emotions while reding it!!

Whilst I’ve loved Jennifer Saints other books this was a miss for me. I feel telling the entire story of Hera was a little ambitious and so the story ended up feeling more non-fiction than a fictional retelling. However Jennifer’s writing is engaging as ever which made me continue to the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed this retelling of Hera's life and story. While some aspects were familiar, Jennifer Saint masterfully weaves the tales of the Gods into a believable narrative. Insightful and thought-provoking, this is a truly wonderful read.

A brilliant read from a wonderful writer.

Brings the tale of Hera vividly to life. An engaging and captivating read.

Jennifer Saint never fails to give and immersing and gripping retelling of the Greek goddesses with each book I’ve read, her writing style has captivated me and I can say the same for Hera.

In this book Hera isn’t just the jealous queen she’s depicted to be, she’s so much more complex and I couldn’t help but sympathise with her.

I've read books from this author before. And ultimately, a lot of them end up reading like a textbook. I didn't enjoy the writing style and way the story was being told.
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Thank you to author Jennifer Saint and NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book.

Jennifer Saint does retellings very well and this one was no different. I really enjoyed reading her reimagining of Hera and how the characters were brought to life. Well paced and intriguing, I’d read more by her.

Thankyou Netgalley for this eARC.

I am new to Greek Mythology and after reading a few other books in this Genre I have picked up Hera to give me a more insightful look at the Gods than the usual fantasy books I read this in.

I really enjoyed this book, I found myself angry at the Gods a lot of the time. Zeus is just awful, and I knew that going into this but I think this book really showed me how selfish the Gods can be. Hera goes THROUGH it in this book, and while she isn't always the nicest God around she definitely gets the short end of the stick.

This was a really good way to introduce myself more into the Greek Mythology and I will be picking up more books to take my interest further.

Sadly ,I've had to do a soft dnf for now and come back to the book in the future. I think the writing was very good. Based on what I've read so far I would still recommend this to people I know would love this type of story.

I absolutely love this book. It is so well written. Typically at first glance Hera is not a very likeable character, but Jennifer's writing of her in this story helps you to understand why the Goddess of Marriage, Women and Childbirth became so vengeful.

We read about how she spent most of her time before shape-shifting, hanging out with river gods, and battling the titans - just a typical day in Ancient Greece!

Jennifer does not hold back when describing just how manipulative and horrid Zeus (and some of the other gods let's be honest) treated women. Hera cannot be absolved of her crimes but after reading this you will understand why.

Highly recommend this regardless of how much you know about greek mythology. It's just a brilliant read though there are definitely some trigger warnings that may be too much for some.