A modern retelling of Greek mythology classics from the point of view of Hera, the Goddess of Marriage. I’m a newbie to Greek mythology, up until recently I didn’t know that Disney’s Hercules was so far off the mark… I know! So I didn’t go into this novel with any preconceptions about Hera, the Olympian Goddess and sister/wife of Zeus.

Beware, consent wasn’t a requirement in Ancient Greece. I had seen some trigger warnings for sexual assault and rape, so bear that in mind if you’re considering reading it. The male Gods were awful, can we please go about cancelling Zeus, Apollo, and the rest of them (I joke, I joke).

I enjoyed a lot of cameos from Greek Gods that I’ve heard of and had a quick Google to find out about them as I went.

I liked Hera, though I can understand the negative press she gets. I thought it a good introduction to the classic Greek Mythology, and I will look into reading more. I’ll look out for more books from Jennifer Saint.

I enjoyed this book and the character of Hera. I was thoroughly interested in who she was as a character. This is more of a character study than a plot based novel which I will admit is not usually my cup of tea.
However, the novel spans such a large time period (from the defeat of chronos to the decline of the Olympians), that not enough time is given to some character defining moments. It feels like it’s a bit rushed in order to cover the time chosen. This means that characters - especially female characters - are skipped over in order to cover the events as quickly as possible.
Hera as a character is interesting and there’s a huge amount to discuss about her, yet Saint sets her up as someone with a very clear goal and yet she seems to forget herself and become exactly what she wants to rebel against, the goddess of a loveless marriage punishing those her husband rapes.
I will reiterate that I did enjoy the character study of Hera, she is just too vast of a character for one singular novel to cover her entire life in. This is maybe Saint’s weakest novel.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of this book.

No spoilers here as always. Hera is one of the most iconic goddesses of Greek mythology. Daughter of Titans, Queen of Olympians and wife of Zeus. She is known for her jealous and vengeful ways to seek revenge on those who did her wrong, namely her husband (and brother- ick!) Zeus.

This book gives a start to finish view of Hera’s story from her own perspective, taming the perceptions we take from the Iliad and other stories and bringing compassion and emotion into her narrative. She is never the most popular of characters and her actions are interesting to say the least but it does humanise her and contextualise her journey from youth to one of wrath. Questions around power, violence, subjugation and asking ‘who is the real monster here?’ Were my key takeaways.

I’ve loved Greek Mythology in fiction for a long time, especially the influx of strong female retellings. This one didn’t disappoint and I would highly recommend!

Firstly, thanks to Netgalley and Headline for my ARC. I was a huge fan of Atalanta and was so excited to read this retelling of the Queen of the Greek Gods.

Saint's talent for breathing life into mythological figures shines once again. Her Hera is a force to be reckoned with – furious at being trapped in a loveless marriage to Zeus, denied true power, and expected to tolerate his constant betrayals. Saint vividly captures Hera's fiery spirit and unwavering desire for revenge.

However, the vast timeframe covered – spanning countless years and events – occasionally left me struggling to fully connect with Hera's emotional journey. The story felt rushed at times, perhaps a consequence of trying to condense such an epic saga.

Overall though, this was a great read and I look forward to Saint’s next project.

I've read a few books in this genre and enjoyed some, but not all, and unfortunately this falls into the latter.

I didn't like the author's writing style in Hera and grew bored of the storyline as didn't find it very interesting or new. Hera clearly had a lot to deal with, but this one's not one for me. The story did improve the more I read but I didn't enjoy it.

I had both the audio and written versions and found the narrator read the book very clearly but a little slow to had to speed her up to at least 1.25 speed.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the advance copy.

🔱🇬🇷⚜️

Bow down to the Queen of Mount Olympus!

Jennifer Saint has done it again! After her previous BEST selling books - Ariadne, Elektra and Atlanta, we now have Hera!

Jennifer Saint's latest work is a breathtaking feminist reinterpretation of the life of Hera, the formidable queen of the gods and the eternal goddess of marriage.

In Hera, Saint amplifies the voice of a character often sidelined in Greek myth, overshadowed by other gods, and historically reduced to a simplistic portrayal as a jealous, spurned wife.

Through this fresh retelling, Saint continues her crusade to illuminate the stories of overlooked women, reclaiming their ambitions from historical neglect.

Saint's elegant prose shines throughout the narrative, effortlessly spanning vast stretches of time while maintaining a captivating pace. Hera

is a must-read for enthusiasts of Greek mythology and aficionados of skilfully crafted feminist reinterpretations, showcasing Saint's mastery in giving voice to the silenced.

raw and beautifully poignant, saint weaves a tale filled with gorgeous prose and a complex portrayal of the queen of the greek gods, Hera. stunningly feministic, enchanting and filled with depth, it illuminates the reader on how she was more than just the jealous wife, the vengeful stepmother and the spiteful goddess. she was the daughter of cronus, queen of the greek gods and goddess of marriage.

as saint includes many greek myths into this retelling, i feel it would be best suited for someone newer to this subject, who is curious to know more about the "unlikeable" hera. although a very controversial figure, this book does not try to redeem her, but rather make the reader understand her motives.

but above all, it's a story of an immortal greek goddess who was betrayed by those who she once held close. but most importantly are the stories jennifer saint weaves of every woman and girl who has ever felt powerless, when her every call for vengeance was left unheard and her sorrows and worries dismissed. it's for those women and girls who bear the pain and the weight of all that's wrong in this world whilst never being acknowledged for their sacrifices, and the torment their responsibilities had dragged them through. it’s for those women who are constantly degraded, constantly treated as though they are ‘lesser than’ their male counterparts, and for the women who have to try ten times harder, for ten times as many years to succeed. it’s for those women terrified for their safety, for those women who are told to ‘let your guards down’ and to ‘just relax’ and ‘have fun’ only to be asked ‘what were you wearing’ when the night is over. it’s for those women who have suffered through everything, only to be rewarded by nothing.
and this is the heart-wrenching story of the greek goddess of marriage, Hera.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Jennifer Saint has such a distinctive stamp on the genre of Greek mythological retellings – the narratives are captivating and choose interesting new takes on familiar stories. Saint turns her eye to the Queen of the Gods in this nuanced take on misdirected wrath and humanising a complex, otherworldly figure.

Saint’s retellings are quintessentially complex, sitting in the ambiguities of the story and pushing against the preconceived ideas of her female protagonists. Hera continues in this vein, exaggerated to a greater extent. Hera is not to be fully understood by mere mortals as a deity and yet Saint humanises her to an extent that you can understand the motivations behind her actions, but strays from justifying them. Historically she has been cast as a jealous vengeful woman twisted with hatred and taking out her anger at her husband’s actions against the women he was involved with. Saint adds nuance to this depiction and instead explores the core of that rage - giving it gravitas and slowly building it up. The Hera we initially meet is a respected warrior and an equal (at least in her view). Saint’s narrative is one of being crushed and diminished by a patriarchal force. It is a slow erosion of your being - taking away her power and her autonomy. For me, this formed the emotional core of the book and added a devasting view of Hera.

However, the narrative shows her jealousy and misplaced rage - in fact it makes a point of illustrating just how misdirected it is. Hera is caught up in her fear and rage. It is vindictive and cruel at times. While Saint does not shy away from the monstrosity of Hera’s actions at times, she still squares the majority of the blame on Zeus’ shoulders. He is a despicable figure throughout the book. He embodies a revulsive claim to women’s bodies and beings that he thinks he is owed. Sexual assault and the impact of this trauma is a central theme of the book, so please be aware of your own triggers with reading. Saint allows us to sit in the quiet moments with this - giving time and space to the horror of this trauma. Of all Saint’s retellings, I would say this is the angriest so far. It simmers with a building rage that occasionally overspills in the wrong direction. It is also a cautionary tale of allowing that rage to consume you though.

Saint’s overall depiction of divinity is fascinating. We start in the blaze of battle with the war against the Titans finally drawing to an end and a new power emerging. The creation of this new regime and how it begins to interact with creating humanity is so interesting and adds this lofty view of myths we know. There is an overarching arc of the involvement of gods and humans and the co-dependent nature of this relationship. For me, this was endlessly intriguing and asked interesting questions about legacy and faith. Saint builds to a wonderfully cathartic ending but in an unexpected way. Threaded through this is Hera and her journey as a queen, a wife and a mother. Saint pulls in the expected plot beats, but also adds in lesser-known aspects of Hera’s myth and gives them the spotlight. In particular, there is a wonderfully explored dynamic between herself and Gaia that I really enjoyed. It expanded the central theme of femininity and expectations. Also, the dynamic between Hera and Aphrodite was charged with a tension of power and dynastic influences. This and the dynamics between Hera and Hestia and Hera and Athena were my favourites of the book. On the flipside, there is a fantastic plot thread around Hera and Echidna that is wonderfully written and explores another side of Hera’s story. This is also another aspect of grappling with her own trauma and shifted status within the divine hierarchy. It adds a counterbalance to this story of gods and heroes.

Hera is another marvel of a mythological retelling from the mind of Jennifer Saint.

Here we have a retelling of Hera's story, wife of Zeus and queen of the greek gods. I love these re-imaginings of ancient greek myths and legends.

What I liked about this novel: you are fully immersed in Hera's story. Her actions at times are questionable but in a sense, understandable. She herself is abused, mostly by Zeus and you do feel for her,

What I wasn't so sure about: It took me a long time to settle into this story and I never fully related to Hera in the way I have done with other retellings. I'm not sure why but perhaps the formality of the language didn't help.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC, 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Just because they say it doesn’t mean it’s true. In this retelling, Hera, the vengeful stepmother and jealous wife has been given depth to her character and Jennifer Sant has given the reader the opportunity to see Hera’s point of view.

The narrative unfolds with an exploration of Hera's formative years and her pivotal contribution to Zeus's successful revolt against their despotic father, Cronos. As they ascend to power on Mount Olympus, Hera's aspirations to co-rule with Zeus are swiftly eclipsed by his betrayals and despotic behaviour, reflecting the oppressive nature of the ruler they overthrew. This conflict ignites Hera's personal battle and underscores the book's main motif: the pursuit of authority and the consequent sacrifices.

Jennifer Saint presents Hera in a complex light; she is simultaneously wrathful and merciful, a sovereign with immense power and a spurned woman. The story probes deep into Hera's mind, shedding light on her drives and the rationale behind her actions, which are often misinterpreted. Saint embraces the more sombre facets of Hera's persona, using them to underscore her fortitude and tenacity.
Saint's prose is poetic and captivating, drawing readers into the vivid realm of Greek mythology. Her profound understanding of the lore is apparent, yet she conveys it in a manner that is both approachable and intriguing. The book transcends a mere recounting of tales; it scrutinizes ancient legends through contemporary eyes, challenging traditional gender roles and the essence of dominion.

In essence, "Hera" is an intellectually stimulating and perceptive work that presents a novel viewpoint on a time-honoured narrative. It stands as a tribute to Saint's narrative prowess and her knack for infusing age-old stories with newfound vitality. Boasting intricate characters and substantial thematic depth, "Hera" promises to leave a lasting impression on its audience.

Hera is a complex portrayal of a woman raging against her place in the world. It's visceral, angry, and raw. Whilst the reader might not agree with all of her choices, they can understand her motives. Trauma and abuse at the hands of men compel Hera to lash out but at least she's always fighting for herself and her right to live her life how she would like. This book felt like a farewell to the Greek mythology the author has focused on for a few years now and the poignant final part is a definite change of pace.

Thank you for providing me with an ARC copy of both the E-book and the audiobook of Hera.

This was a really engaging retelling of the story of Hera. This retelling highlights Hera before, during and after Zeus and the impact that a number of Gods, Demi-gods, and monsters had on her. This is something often overlooked in other retellings. Most stories of Hers focus on her vengeance and attacks on other lovers and victims of Zeus and whilst this remains part of this story, I loved that we got to know Hera before marrying Zeus and the threats and actions she faced if she wouldn’t go through with the marriage. It allowed the reader to get more of an understanding of Hera and why she acted in the way she did. Of course Hera still focused on the punishment of other women rather than Zeus for his actions and often engaged in mistreatment of the children who resulted from these relationships. However, Jennifer Saint also skilfully demonstrated Hera’s growth and focused on her realisation that Zeus’ behaviours were his own and her acceptance and understanding of the impact of the Gods on humans and each other. Although, this book doesn’t aim to redeem Hera for her wrongful actions, it does show her as someone dealing with raw and human emotions including hurt, abandonment, and betrayal, without taking away from the impact her actions had on others but whilst providing an understanding of why her feelings and actions were misdirected.

I enjoyed that this was a story about Hera but that many other monsters, Gods etc. featured in and were interwoven into the story. It also helped me to link together other retellings and stories I have previously read from Greek mythology which helped my understanding. I loved the character growth Hera had and that her story could be shared rather than overlooked or overshadowed and that the Greek Gods are acknowledged to have faults and make mistakes just as humans do.

I did enjoy reading the E-book more than listening to the audiobook in this case as sometimes it was narrated without much emotion or change in tone of voice to show the feelings of Hera and other Gods. There were also some different pronunciations which were a little off putting. However, the audiobook did pick up more towards the end, I just would have liked to have seen it get across the emotional aspect of the story as clearly as the writing did.

Jennifer Saint's newest release is a stunning feminist retelling of the life of Hera, mighty queen of the gods and the immortal goddess of marriage. In Hera, Saint gives a voice to a character who has forever been part of Greek myth but has often been passed over and left in the shadow of the other gods, and whose characterisation has historically been dwindled to that of a jealous, scorned wife. In this newest retelling, the author continues her mission in spotlighting women who have been neglected their entire lives and have had their ambitions disregarded. Saint's signature prose in this story is beautiful and I found myself re-reading lines over and over again to savour each word. Despite covering a vast timeline, the pacing remained consistent and kept me hooked. Hera is perfect for fans of Greek mythology and lovers of well-crafted feminist retellings.

A classic retelling of the myth of the queen of the Greek gods, Hera, by bestseller Jennifer Saint, A well-written and nuanced portrait of a goddess who is often perceived to victim blame and excuse her husband’s crimes. An enjoyable read even if the book barely passes the Bechdel test and Hera is hardly defined as a woman beyond her relationship with Zeus.

I found this book so gripping throughout and it felt like a very refreshing take on classic Greek mythology as Hera is often one of the least spoken about gods/goddesses. This book felt like a very well balanced view of Hera, combining her usual portrayal as Zeus’ jealous wife with a more in-depth retelling of how she went from being the daughter of the Titans to the Queen of the Olympians.
Saint cleverly spun the normal stories of Hera to instead show her as a much more nuanced woman with strong feminist ideals which created a very deep sense of character. At the same time I think she also captured the sense of Hera being bitter and somewhat unlikeable whilst still showing her compassion and desire for a better world; this just made me enjoy the book even more as it felt like Saint took the original mythology from Hera’s perspective as if we just seeing the other side to the original stories, rather than it being a complete rewrite of things to make Hera’s personality more palatable. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it’s retelling of an often-vilified goddess as it presented a well thought out feminist look at Hera, without seeming to stray too far from the original myths.

Saint's narrative highlights Hera's evolution from a carefree deity to a scorned wife grappling with subjugation and betrayal, providing readers with a more nuanced understanding of her character. In my view, I have a penchant for narratives featuring robust, unlikable female characters, yet while I found "Hera" enjoyable, I sensed a dearth of emotional depth and connection with the protagonist. These type of characters were much better executed in ‘Clytemnestra’ or ‘Lady Macbethad’, where they exude a palpable complexity that resonates with me on a deeper level. Moreover, "Hera" primarily revolves around retelling various Greek myths from Hera's perspective, spanning the entire timeline of her experiences. However, in sprawling epics such as this, the intricate layers of character development often become diluted, and unfortunately, I felt that this was the case here.

Despite its occasional shortcomings, "Hera" remains a thought-provoking exploration of power dynamics, gender inequality, and the enduring impact of betrayal. Through Hera's story, Saint challenges readers to confront the injustices perpetuated by the patriarchy and to empathize with those who have been marginalized and silenced. While some scene transitions may feel disjointed, Saint's third-person narration is emotionally evocative and lyrical, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the world of Greek mythology.

Overall, "Hera" is a captivating read for both Greek mythology enthusiasts and newcomers alike. It offers a fresh perspective on a complex deity and prompts readers to reconsider their preconceived notions of heroism and villainy in ancient mythological narratives. Despite its flaws, "Hera" is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling to challenge societal norms and amplify the voices of those who have been marginalized throughout history.

Having previously delved into Jennifer Saint's works with "Ariadne," "Atalanta," and "Elektra," I approached "Hera" with eager anticipation. However, upon completing the journey through this retelling of Greek mythology, I must admit that it fell short of my expectations. While I appreciated the exploration of Hera's character and the weaving together of various myths from her perspective, it didn't captivate me in the same way as Saint's other works did. "Hera" ended up being my least favourite among the four, as I found myself longing for the emotional depth and connection that I had experienced with "Ariadne," "Atalanta," and "Elektra."

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the e-arc of ‘Hera’.

I'm a Greek myth girlie. It started with Percy Jackson as a kid and I have never looked back. This era of grown-up, female-led myth retellings is absolutely up my street. But something about Hera just didn't connect with me.

I loved Ariadne but I feel like in aiming to tell Hera's story in its entirety (covering literally hundreds of years), each myth wasn't explored in as rich a detail as I'd hoped. This could easily have been about three books (and I would have read them all!)

I'm still glad I have read it but I hope that Jennifer Saint's next choice of heroine will allow her the space to fully explore the gaps the traditional tellings of the myths omit, which she has done so brilliantly before.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Audio | Wildfire for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Saint has well and truly done it again, another incredible feminist retelling under her belt. I absolutely adored the characters, and they were all so strongly developed. This book told so many stories intertwined and it was truly beautiful to read.

thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

jennifer saint’s writing is always beautiful and her feminist retellings are always brilliantly executed.

i’ve never read from hera’s pov, or knew much about her other than she was the goddess of marriage and zeus’ wife. this book explores hera from the rise of the gods to the fall of the gods, and it was super interesting.

zeus is the absolute Worst. most of the male gods are fucking awful and commit horrific acts but zeus goes a step further, and hera shows us this as he changes from powerful brother to tyrannical husband.

i really liked learning more about hestia, god of the hearth and fire (hera’s sister), and also more about hephaestus (hera’s son). i think hera’s relationships with her siblings and children were really interesting to read about, as she clung on to them for revenge and power against zeus and what she believed she was owed as one of cronus’ original kids.

i think this was a really interesting read, and if it wasn’t for the weird pacing in the first 25% this may have been rated higher!

This latest feminine retelling was probably not aimed at me. I've read quite a lot of Greek myth - both the original stories and the new feminine retellings - most of which have been really excellent.

I'd say that this is aimed at someone who has read little on the subject. It certainly adds very little to the party, as it were.

We follow Hera's life from birth to a point where the gods are out in the world rather than on Mount Olympus. The stories are pretty much as the original texts with a few twists regarding Hera's state of mind as she took revenge on various nymphs, mortals and goddesses for Zeus' infractions.

I'd hoped that we'd see a totally different Hera but we get a petty, frustrated woman who can't get even. At least in the earlier tellings we were given a woman who (even though she always picked the wrong party) was pretty spectacular in her punishment. Let's face it, trying to get even with the ultimate ruler, you're always going to come off second.

I just felt Jennifer Saint has missed a trick. I felt that Hera was a much paler version of her original self and she came out looking even less of a feminist.

I listened to the audio version and there lay another problem since the narrator insisted on changing virtually every pronunciation. I am still convinced that there is now a new goddess called Hair Bear. It drove me potty. It wasn't even the Greek pronunciation. If I hadn't had the printed version to refer to I'd probably never know it was Hebe or which other gods were there.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Headline for the advance review copies - both audio and ebook.