Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Elektra by Jennifer Saint

102 reviews

tourmaline1703's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I have been reading many mythological or historical retellings recently because I adoe these influences on literature, and this was another great mythological retelling. Blending the stories of the Trojan War and Orestes whilst recentering the story onto Clytemnestra, Cassandraand Elektra, Jennifer Saint creates an emotional exploration of grief, family and revenge in 'Elektra.' The worldbuilding is great, and accessible to anyone, whether or not you have previous knowledge of Greek myth.

The writing is descriptive and engaging, allowing you to truly feel the characters' emotions as their lives are turned upside down. The story is told from the three women's point of view, and each character's personality and feelings are distinguishable from the way Saint writes in each of their chapters. The contrast between mourning in sadness, in Cassandra's case, tothe vengeful grieving of Elektra and Clytemnestra is beautifully shown.

I found the plot to be well paced and intriguing, urging you to turn the page and see how everything unfolded. I thought the multiple perspectives were very effective and allowed the timeline to be clear, whilst building suspense for when the stories finally intertwined. I liked the characters as they were well developed and their relationships to each other were interesting.

Whilst this was a great book, I couldn't fully invest myself in it and I felt like I wasn't completely hooked. It is undoubtedly an emotional story, but perhaps due to my prior knowledge, the tension wasn't as tense for me and I didn't feel as upset or shocked at certain actions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Abandonment

irinalast's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Confinement, Rape, Child death, Toxic relationship, War, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, and Misogyny

mdal26's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, Animal death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Slavery, Blood, Child death, Death, Infidelity, War, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, and Sexual violence

_vicreads's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was such a beautiful and moving read. The haunting curse of the House of Atreus, and of Cassandra, weaves through the pages and the actions of these women. From Helen and Clytemnestra to Cassandra and Elektra, these mothers, sisters, daughters, both control the story and are helpless to watch as it unfolds. My heart broke for both Elektra and Clytemnestra in their grief but then worried as I watched them pursue vengeance above all else. Poor, unheard Cassandra, woven into this story by Agamemnon and his pride, to find peace in death at last. I found the scene between Clytemnestra and Cassandra so moving, as well as the epilogue as Elektra reflects on all that’s unfollowed. Jennifer Saint writes so beautifully!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

Moderate: Death of parent and War

Minor: Slavery and Rape

amanda_reads89's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Murder, and War

Moderate: Blood, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

lesemaus2303's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, War, Blood, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Slavery

mrsjburgin's review

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery, Murder, Mental illness, Death of parent, Grief, Child abuse, Infidelity, Confinement, War, Rape, and Misogyny

thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Abandonment, Slavery, and War

gabrielleclawson's review

dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Child death, and Death of parent

Moderate: War

sarahbroccoli's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is the best book I have read in a long time

I think a lot of the people who have reviewed this book before me are missing the point that Elektra is who the ~Electra complex~ was named after: the idea that daughters compete with their mothers for their father’s attention and affection. Sound kinda sexist? Absolutely, that’s because it is. Elektra is totally acting on internalized misogyny and rage toward her mother for seeking vengeance against Agamemnon, even though Agamemnon is the one who committed such a terrible act

(and murdered her sister!!)

Also, Elektra holds on to this rage and bitterness throughout the duration of the book, so of course she’s unlikeable. I don’t think we are meant to like Elektra. At the same time, I think to some extent her anger and hurt is justified; she lost her father and her mother has removed herself from her life. That’s part of the beauty of this book, it made me feel for both Clymenestra and Elektra, just to different extents.

Saint does SUCH a great job of showcasing the nuances of family relationships, female rage, grief, and the consequences of seeking revenge. It’s also worth mentioning that Saint does portray the ways that women CAN support and empathize with each other (I.e. the relationship between Clymenestra and Cassandra), even though Elektra clearly does not do that.

Of course besides the content, the prose was beautiful. I enjoyed every second of reading this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, Murder, and War