Reviews

Elektra by Jennifer Saint

pgray15's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

3.25

livampiz's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.5

jenhurst's review

4.0

4.5.
I loved the writing and plot of this. If it’s a feminist retelling I’m sold and it lived up to my expectations.

emilie_anine's review

challenging dark slow-paced

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

1.0

Even months after reading it, I still don’t understand what purpose any of the characters served.

The most interesting character, in my opinion, died somewhat pointlessly and it just felt like it didn’t make sense for her to have been in the book at all

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Grief, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Child death, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Slavery

beanformation's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

I agree with others that the multiple points of view don't necessarily add to anything, really. But, I did enjoy Elektra's pov and thought it was well executed. 

nicole_bazza's review

adventurous challenging sad medium-paced

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

3.5

This is a take on the tale of Paris and Helen, Agamemnon’s call to war, and the war between the Trojans and the Greeks. The tale is told from the perspective of the women involved in the tale, Elektra daughter of Agamemnon left in Mycenae, Cassandra Princess of Troy and cursed by Apollo to see the future but have no one believe her. And Clytemnestra, the sister of Helen and wife of Agamemnon. 

Saint fleshes out these characters often forgotten in history, it gives them and their lives colour, pain and meaning. I love feminist retellings of great legends, where the men are made into minor characters and the women are the key drivers of the story. Jennifer Saint does this well. Her writing is descriptive and engaging, allowing you to feel all of the characters emotions. I felt Clytemnestra’s mourning and pain as well as Elektra’s anger and vengeful grief. 

vivelaviv's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

smitty_sds's review against another edition

3.0

This book was so disappointing.

I really like Ariadne but Elektra did not do it for me. Clytemnestra was a great, very fleshed out character. But Elektra was just annoying. She’s obsessed with her dad who she barely knew and who barely gave her any attention. She hates her mom for becoming depressed after she watched her husband gruesomely sacrifice her firstborn child but longs for her father who left her to lead a war to retrieve one woman?? Obsessed with her father who was actually the biggest, most hated coward in the war?? And poor Cassandra just felt so out of place. I really didn’t understand her purpose as a main character throughout the novel.

It gets 3 stars for how gut wrenching Iphigenia’s murder ws and how well Clytemnestra’s grief and desire for revenge was written.

jesslynnstudio's review

dark tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

I read Elektra by Jennifer Saint and the book was fine. If you're familiar with Greek mythology, this is the story of ~that~ Elektra, alongside Clytemnestra and Cassandra. I can't stand Elektra, as a character, so I didn't enjoy her chapters. Those of the other women were much more entertaining. The author was working within the parameters of an established myth and did a wonderful job fleshing out these characters. If you're a big Greek mythology fan, you'll love this book!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

sonotchelsea333's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.75