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reading_and_dreaming's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a huge fan of Greek mythology, so I was very pumped after reading the summary of this book. After reading it, I'm still in a pretty good mood. I would have liked more background on our main gals - I think it would have helped their emotions and outbursts make more sense. I wanted more about Artemis's huntresses as well. Basically I just wanted more of the Greek mythology.
cealion's review against another edition
4.0
get yourself a girlfriend who murders the men who assaulted you both
lizbethandthelifeinbetween's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review. This has in no way influenced my opinion.
This book was pretty good. I read through it in practically one day and enjoyed it. Its scenery was great and the female leads were powerful and portrayed a good image of femininity, but there were a few things that did not escape my attention and nothing really stood out as extraordinary.
First, while the chapters alternated POVs on a patterned basis and there were indications at the beginning of each chapter, both the perspectives were very similar. There wasn't a clear individual voice coming through for each of the characters and I honestly struggled near the tart of each chapter getting used to seeing the switch between the use of the names Atalanta and Kahina because the Is sounded so similar. I went back quite a few times to check who's perspective I was reading in. But, the author did quite a good job of depicting Artemis. I'm not a fan of retellings that make the gods/goddesses soft, and Tammi did an excellent job of keeping Artemis' wilder and cold side.
Secondly, the first part of the story dragged a bit. I might be because I'm quite familiar with Atalanta's tale, but I did find that it was very slow. After a while, the set-up died down and I was almost into the story, but I felt like the author was glossing over some of the more action-packed parts in favour of characters observing each other and musing about how beautiful Greece is (okay, not the worst thing to muse over) and their pasts. The flashbacks were done a very neat way, told in the third person while the rest of the story was in first, but there were only two of them and they were for Kahina. I would have liked to see some from Atalanta too. She mentioned her past, and, as I mentioned before, I am very familiar with it, but I would have liked to have a better feeling of how the author was interpreting it because she did make a lot of changes to Atalanta's story. And I wish there had been some more flashbacks, in the first person preferably. I found that there was a lot of fuzziness around the hole oracle of Apollo thing and I wasn't really getting why it was a bad thing other than Kahina hated it.
Lastly, this book was very, very light. The story of Atalanta is a rather gruesome one and this was a very light reimagination. In the original version I read, Atalanta murdered all the competitors if she caught up to them; in this one she just made them leave. The romance seemed to come slightly out of nowhere. The love interest spent a good chunk of the book trying to forget the other existed and were very focused on their own problems and then they were in love and killing for each other. while it wasn't the worst (it could have been insta-love!) it was not the best either. It would have benefited from some more development and build up.
However, I did like some of the creative liberties the author took with this work. It was interesting to see how the transformations and prophecy's played out in a way that connected the two girls and it made the ending very solid because I could pick out the elements of the original tale that were being played upon and I thoroughly enjoyed the ending.
In all, I think this book could have been a bit longer with some more build-up and some more backstory, but it's still a very enjoyable read, especially if you're not all that familiar with Atalanta. I think those who don't know her story will like it a bit more.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review. This has in no way influenced my opinion.
This book was pretty good. I read through it in practically one day and enjoyed it. Its scenery was great and the female leads were powerful and portrayed a good image of femininity, but there were a few things that did not escape my attention and nothing really stood out as extraordinary.
First, while the chapters alternated POVs on a patterned basis and there were indications at the beginning of each chapter, both the perspectives were very similar. There wasn't a clear individual voice coming through for each of the characters and I honestly struggled near the tart of each chapter getting used to seeing the switch between the use of the names Atalanta and Kahina because the Is sounded so similar. I went back quite a few times to check who's perspective I was reading in. But, the author did quite a good job of depicting Artemis. I'm not a fan of retellings that make the gods/goddesses soft, and Tammi did an excellent job of keeping Artemis' wilder and cold side.
Secondly, the first part of the story dragged a bit. I might be because I'm quite familiar with Atalanta's tale, but I did find that it was very slow. After a while, the set-up died down and I was almost into the story, but I felt like the author was glossing over some of the more action-packed parts in favour of characters observing each other and musing about how beautiful Greece is (okay, not the worst thing to muse over) and their pasts. The flashbacks were done a very neat way, told in the third person while the rest of the story was in first, but there were only two of them and they were for Kahina. I would have liked to see some from Atalanta too. She mentioned her past, and, as I mentioned before, I am very familiar with it, but I would have liked to have a better feeling of how the author was interpreting it because she did make a lot of changes to Atalanta's story. And I wish there had been some more flashbacks, in the first person preferably. I found that there was a lot of fuzziness around the hole oracle of Apollo thing and I wasn't really getting why it was a bad thing other than Kahina hated it.
Lastly, this book was very, very light. The story of Atalanta is a rather gruesome one and this was a very light reimagination. In the original version I read, Atalanta murdered all the competitors if she caught up to them; in this one she just made them leave. The romance seemed to come slightly out of nowhere. The love interest spent a good chunk of the book trying to forget the other existed and were very focused on their own problems and then they were in love and killing for each other. while it wasn't the worst (it could have been insta-love!) it was not the best either. It would have benefited from some more development and build up.
However, I did like some of the creative liberties the author took with this work. It was interesting to see how the transformations and prophecy's played out in a way that connected the two girls and it made the ending very solid because I could pick out the elements of the original tale that were being played upon and I thoroughly enjoyed the ending.
In all, I think this book could have been a bit longer with some more build-up and some more backstory, but it's still a very enjoyable read, especially if you're not all that familiar with Atalanta. I think those who don't know her story will like it a bit more.
conjurerachel's review against another edition
3.0
OUTRUN THE WIND by ELIZABETH TAMMI
• Tying their destinies together after saving her life, a hunter of Artemis needs to prove herself to her patron goddess as she falls in love with Atlanta.
• I love the slow build of Kahina’s relationship with Atlanta. Some of the best scenes with them together are the dance lessons, the practices for races, and the epic dance of love. The way they move from friendship to romantic partners is organic and made my heart all soft. These moments are when her writing shines the strongest.
• Atlanta is buff. I hate how certain books make their character dainty when they’re in positions of being the muscle (the fighter in the group, the hunter, etc.). Tammi has no problem showing the physical prowess this hero has, and how badass it makes her.
• The female friendships in the book are all wonderful.
• Speaking of which, I wouldn’t mind seeing a short story about Isidora. Hint, hint. I would love to see her side of how she entered the hunt.
• What Outrun the Wind lacks is atmosphere. While she uses ancient Greece as a backdrop, it feels like they could have been replaced aby any other fantasy-like name and it would not have made a difference.
• Other than that, this a solid debut, and I will recommend this to my friends who want to read more Sapphic stories
I've received the arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
• Tying their destinies together after saving her life, a hunter of Artemis needs to prove herself to her patron goddess as she falls in love with Atlanta.
• I love the slow build of Kahina’s relationship with Atlanta. Some of the best scenes with them together are the dance lessons, the practices for races, and the epic dance of love. The way they move from friendship to romantic partners is organic and made my heart all soft. These moments are when her writing shines the strongest.
• Atlanta is buff. I hate how certain books make their character dainty when they’re in positions of being the muscle (the fighter in the group, the hunter, etc.). Tammi has no problem showing the physical prowess this hero has, and how badass it makes her.
• The female friendships in the book are all wonderful.
• Speaking of which, I wouldn’t mind seeing a short story about Isidora. Hint, hint. I would love to see her side of how she entered the hunt.
• What Outrun the Wind lacks is atmosphere. While she uses ancient Greece as a backdrop, it feels like they could have been replaced aby any other fantasy-like name and it would not have made a difference.
• Other than that, this a solid debut, and I will recommend this to my friends who want to read more Sapphic stories
I've received the arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
paukinra's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
3.5
sophiekmiller's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.25
sapphicsolace's review against another edition
3.0
Review on my blog • Twitter • Instagram
Rep: f/f romance, lesbian mc, bi mc
I received an arc from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Outrun the Wind is a fantasy inspired by Greek Mythology, one of the main characters Kahina being a huntress of Artemis and the other main character Atalanta being accused of killing Artemis's boar, and wanting to be recruited by her. Atalanta doesn't want to be part of the huntresses though. Atalanta is really good at archery, and is on a team of only men. However she does struggle with men judging her ability, which is an interesting juxtaposition to Kahina's experience.
I did enjoy both Kahina and Atalanta as character, which was one of the higher points for me. I did however not love the plot. When it's revealed Atalanta is a princess and must marry, the plot kind of dulled. There were attempts to make it more interesting but it didn't work for me. The romance was also a surprisingly minimal part of the book. As Kahina is forbidden from love and marriage due to being a huntress of Artemis, the romance took its time. However, I think it could've been developed a little better due to the forbidden factor to it.
I enjoyed both the main characters a lot though and really liked the world. I would likely read more of them but this particular story didn't work for me.
lifeamongpages's review against another edition
4.0
I knew very little about this book going in. I requested it on Netgalley because it was set in Ancient Greece and the blurb hinted at a f/f relationship and I was very intrigued by that. It wasn't until the afterword that I became aware that this was historical fiction based on the life of Atalanta, as I had never heard her tale or name before. I wish I knew this before I started so I could have the relevant background information as I might have engaged with the material differently.
The beginning was quite interesting with the hunt of the Caledonian boar, seeing the dynamics between the hunters and also how ruthless people were back then really set up certain aspects of the story. Then it meandered quite a bit with Kahina's chapters when she was sent on her "mission", honestly I didn't engage me until she and Atalanta meet back up. That being said Kahina has such a fascinating backstory with the Oracles of Delphi... it was just her chapters were a bit dull without the spark between her and Atalanta.
Atalanta is quite the fiery warrior. Her time in Delphi was interesting as she creates a pop-up sparring ring to earn money. But obviously most of the novel focuses on her Merida moment
The plan was clever especially the way it played off the pride of her potential suitors thinking as a woman she was no match for them.
Artemis and her huntresses, I quite enjoyed their scenes, Artemis had so much sass. Kahina's friends were amazing and I wish we had more of them.
Overall while my engagement with this book varied I quite enjoyed it and am probably going to look into the stories of Atalanta. I also thoroughly enjoyed the slow burn romance between the girls.
The beginning was quite interesting with the hunt of the Caledonian boar, seeing the dynamics between the hunters and also how ruthless people were back then really set up certain aspects of the story. Then it meandered quite a bit with Kahina's chapters when she was sent on her "mission", honestly I didn't engage me until she and Atalanta meet back up. That being said Kahina has such a fascinating backstory with the Oracles of Delphi... it was just her chapters were a bit dull without the spark between her and Atalanta.
Atalanta is quite the fiery warrior. Her time in Delphi was interesting as she creates a pop-up sparring ring to earn money. But obviously most of the novel focuses on her Merida moment
The plan was clever especially the way it played off the pride of her potential suitors thinking as a woman she was no match for them.
Artemis and her huntresses, I quite enjoyed their scenes, Artemis had so much sass. Kahina's friends were amazing and I wish we had more of them.
Overall while my engagement with this book varied I quite enjoyed it and am probably going to look into the stories of Atalanta. I also thoroughly enjoyed the slow burn romance between the girls.