Reviews with content warning for Violence - Atalanta

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Atalanta by Jennifer Saint

47 reviews

pippling's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

I wasn’t overly familiar with the story of Jason and his Argonauts, and had never heard of Atalanta before this book.

I loved every part of Atalanta’s story, from her beginnings in the forest with Artemis, to the way she took up her challenge without fear, and all the ways she proved herself time and again to be equal to or greater than the men she travelled with.

Her disappointment at the conclusion of the quest matched mine, and after the despair of what came afterwards I was sure there would only be a similarly sad ending to Atalanta’s story. I’m writing this review with tears still drying on my face from the final two lines of the book - an ending which for most would seem desolate but for Atalanta was perfect and rounded off her story just perfectly in my eyes.

Content Warnings

dexlud's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Atalanta was a great book but there were parts where I was struggling to push through. I enjoyed the last two parts however, as I read through half of Part 3 and Part 4 entirely in 1 day.

Content Warnings

elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.5

Content Warnings

courtofsmutandstuff's review against another edition

Go to review page

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

This book was a lot of plot, despite the first person POV. My previous knowledge of Atalanta was from the Percy Jackson Book of Heroes and I only remembered the bears and the footrace part, and enjoyed the reminder about her story. It is very readable, and I enjoy that she directly addresses Jason's fuckboy nature, but while there are moments of interiority, it is very plot heavy and ended up more in "fine" territory for me. I did very much like how the epilogue was framed though, and

that it didn't seem a curse for her to be a wild animal, but gave her happiness and reconciliation with Artemis, which she seemed to want

Content Warnings

skyelerbear's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

No book has ever spoke to me more. To be a woman and to be a “strong woman” or a women with “masculine” interests, you may feel the need to boycott love. But Atalanta shows us that we can forge our own paths and follow our own desires, down whichever paths we choose.
Women have always had lives and dreams and wishes and emotions. I love to read historical fiction which centers of these incredible women.

Content Warnings

hiraeth_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

Content Warnings

hodgeonlucy's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

3.25

Content Warnings

campredwood's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

gracescanlon's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

My favorite of her books to date. Though I didn’t love the ending, it definitely could’ve been a worse one, given the subject matter.

Content Warnings

zombiemozart0725's review against another edition

Go to review page

I was intrigued by Atalanta as a concept. While the Greek mythosphere is dominated by the likes of Heracles, Achilles, Theseus and Jason, Atalanta stands as an exception to the overwhelming presence of men. Atalanta provides much needed representation in the realm of legendary heroines in popular myth and folklore, and is still quite unknown by even those who (like yours truly) made Greek mythology their entire personalities in their teenage years. Known for her speed, much in the same way Heracles is known for his strength and Odysseus is known for his wits, Atalanta's original story sees her outpacing her male contemporaries in the slaying of the Caledonian Boar as well as a race for her hand in marriage. The book by Jennifer Saint paints a picture of a commonly disputed part of her myth: Her place among Jason's Argonauts in the pursuit of the Golden Fleece. While Jason declares the Argo a boys-only ride in many versions of the story, this is easily the part of Atalanta's story with the most narrative potential. The trouble is, almost halfway through the book, that narrative potential doesn't quite hit its mark. I hardly regret reading what I did - it was certainly not time wasted by any stretch of the imagination - but there are some glaring issues with the structure and pacing of the story that made it impossible for me to continue once I noticed them. The book desperately wants to simultaneously be a character-driven piece that sees Atalanta grappling with her oath to Artemis, an adventure book that explores the Ancient Greek world, and a girl power book in which Atalanta works to prove herself in a unfamiliar world made by and for men. Sadly, this lack of clear focus is its downfall. The book absolutely shines when it slows down and takes its time to stay in one place. Atalanta's recollection of her time with Artemis and her nymphs is an enchanting bit of setting that paints an uneasy picture of what women in Ancient Greece went through (and what many modern women still do), and the mystery of the Lemnian women is suitably sinister. The problem is, the book seems to be afraid to stay in these places too long and should have been at least twice as long to explore them adequately. Action scenes go by in the blink of an eye, conflicts of all types resolved in the space of a few pages or fewer, and there are multiple places where the book devotes entire pages to explaining niche Greek myths. The book clearly wishes to emulate the works of Rick Riordan and Madeline Miller, but what made those books so strong in their respective genres was that they didn't overexplain their settings. The characters LIVED their worlds, taking them in stride and interacting with them in an organic way. Miller's Circe character doesn't stop to ask Medea what happened between her and Jason and why they must be absolved of their sins. It is instead left to the reader to infer from existing knowledge. This book's solution to its worldbuilding unfortunately falls into dumping exposition in many places. Telling, rather than showing. Once I noticed these issues, especially after reading the unmatched character work of Miller and the intrigue and adventure of Riordan, they were impossible to ignore. Read this book if you are just starting out with Greek mythology. The characters are charming in a very simple way, the implications of Artemis being a victim-blamer are intriguing, and Jennifer Saint's devotion to exploring Ancient Greece's heroines of old is admirable. The book has something for everyone! Unfortunately, you may have to wade through its chaotic focus in order to find what you're looking for.

Content Warnings

More...