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persephonefoxx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I will always be a little biased when it comes to feminist retellings of Greek Mythology. I will always be a little biased when it comes to Greek Mythology in general.
But of all the things I enjoyed about this book, the titular character was not one of them. I ate through this book and delighted upon Saint’s prose and writing, but whenever I saw Elektra’s name heading a chapter I knew I was in for frustration. And I know, I know, not all characters need to be likeable. But I had a hard time finding much redeemable about our dear Elektra. I couldn’t even attribute her (irksome) unwaving loyalty to her father with a silver lining.
But I gave this book four stars?! Yes, I did. Because two other characters share the POV spotlight in this retelling and I found them much more enjoyable. Although, it wasn’t that hard.
As Clytemnestra’s story evolved I found her more and more intriguing, looking forward to her voice. Some of, no, all of my favourite quotes in this book came from her chapters. The parts I had to stop to read out loud to my wife always in her voice. I began to love the savagery that lie in wait beneath the motherly archetype.
But even Clytemnestra wasn’t the highlight of this book for me. Cassandra. Desperate, tragic, Cassandra. I loved the far too few chapters from Cassandra’s POV. Truly my favourite parts of the story, probably because I am a sucker for tragedy and pain. Where Elektra dared to drag my rating of this novel down, Cassandra pulled it back up. There isn’t much more I can say, other than she was truly the highlight of this novel for me.
If you are happy to go into a book titled Elektra and not like Elektra at all, enjoyed Ariadne, love this surge of feminist Greek retellings, or are just a fan of Greek Mythology who doesn’t get too caught up on factual consistencies, you’ll likely like this book as much as me.
Anyway, I have to go listen to Cassandra by Florence + The Machine for the hundredth time since finishing this novel.
But of all the things I enjoyed about this book, the titular character was not one of them. I ate through this book and delighted upon Saint’s prose and writing, but whenever I saw Elektra’s name heading a chapter I knew I was in for frustration. And I know, I know, not all characters need to be likeable. But I had a hard time finding much redeemable about our dear Elektra. I couldn’t even attribute her (irksome) unwaving loyalty to her father with a silver lining.
But I gave this book four stars?! Yes, I did. Because two other characters share the POV spotlight in this retelling and I found them much more enjoyable. Although, it wasn’t that hard.
As Clytemnestra’s story evolved I found her more and more intriguing, looking forward to her voice. Some of, no, all of my favourite quotes in this book came from her chapters. The parts I had to stop to read out loud to my wife always in her voice. I began to love the savagery that lie in wait beneath the motherly archetype.
But even Clytemnestra wasn’t the highlight of this book for me. Cassandra. Desperate, tragic, Cassandra. I loved the far too few chapters from Cassandra’s POV. Truly my favourite parts of the story, probably because I am a sucker for tragedy and pain. Where Elektra dared to drag my rating of this novel down, Cassandra pulled it back up. There isn’t much more I can say, other than she was truly the highlight of this novel for me.
If you are happy to go into a book titled Elektra and not like Elektra at all, enjoyed Ariadne, love this surge of feminist Greek retellings, or are just a fan of Greek Mythology who doesn’t get too caught up on factual consistencies, you’ll likely like this book as much as me.
Anyway, I have to go listen to Cassandra by Florence + The Machine for the hundredth time since finishing this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Violence, and Suicide
Moderate: War, Slavery, and Rape
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
hiddeninfantasy's review
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, Self harm, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Slavery, Trafficking, War, and Kidnapping
jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, War, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Slavery
Moderate: Infidelity
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