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megelissag's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Really strong start (incredible retelling honestly, from Clytemnestra's POV) but then devolved into a muddy, esoteric slog in the latter sections. He's an incredibly gifted writer, but I still didn't get the questions answered that I really thought were universal, to anyone fascinated with this section of mythology: WHY did Electra take her father's side? HOW does she grow up fiercely idolizing the man who murdered her sister? There's very little exploration of that (or Electra herself) in the book other than some half-hearted comparison of her to her mother's cold, masterful political prowess in the end. It can't just be "she didn't know the truth." There is so much rage in Electra's voice, but no real attention devoted to the foundations of her personality, the things inside her heart that made her that way.
I also think, truthfully, that any take on this story that prioritizes the men's feelings over the women's, is automatically unnecessary. It's been like a thousand years, how is it that there is still no satisfying novel about this mother and her daughters? To kill in revenge for one, only to be betrayed and killed by her second daughter? THAT'S the story I'm interested in, and it's not necessarily the author's fault that it's not the book he wrote, but it made it difficult to wade through the last two-thirds of this. Particularly the sections from Orestes' POV, which were sparsely narrated and a bit boring, honestly. (Although I will say it's super interesting to characterize him as a tragically naïve, manipulated child.)
Also? <Spoiler>Fucking bullshit that he let Aegisthus live, especially since he re-characterized the story to give him MORE power, and Clytemnestra LESS. Sure, realistic, but fuck off, dude!!!
Great political worldbuilding, though. Really if you just read the first section and stop there it's fucking brilliant. This story remains heartwrenching no matter how many takes I read on it.
I also think, truthfully, that any take on this story that prioritizes the men's feelings over the women's, is automatically unnecessary. It's been like a thousand years, how is it that there is still no satisfying novel about this mother and her daughters? To kill in revenge for one, only to be betrayed and killed by her second daughter? THAT'S the story I'm interested in, and it's not necessarily the author's fault that it's not the book he wrote, but it made it difficult to wade through the last two-thirds of this. Particularly the sections from Orestes' POV, which were sparsely narrated and a bit boring, honestly. (Although I will say it's super interesting to characterize him as a tragically naïve, manipulated child.)
Also? <Spoiler>Fucking bullshit that he let Aegisthus live, especially since he re-characterized the story to give him MORE power, and Clytemnestra LESS. Sure, realistic, but fuck off, dude!!!
Great political worldbuilding, though. Really if you just read the first section and stop there it's fucking brilliant. This story remains heartwrenching no matter how many takes I read on it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Child death
Moderate: Rape and Kidnapping
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