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A review by saraverboom
Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of this book. Thank you to Caitlin Raynor from Headline books for sending me this proof. This book will be released on 13 April 2023.
Atalanta by Jennifer Saint is a beautifully written account of the only female Argonaut. If you're a fan of Saint's earlier books "Ariadne" and "Elektra", then you won't be disappointed by "Atalanta". Out of Saint's three books, Atalanta is my new favourite.
Synopsis (spoiler free)
When a daughter is born to a king who desperately wants a male heir, he abandons the girl in the wild. A mother bear finds the child and adopts her. Years later, the child is taken in by Artemis, virgin goddess of the hunt. She teaches her how to hunt and names her Atalanta. Atalanta grows up in the forest among Artemis and her nymphs, who advise her to stay away from men. When she reaches womanhood, Artemis tells her of Jason, an untried lad who is recruiting a crew to retrieve the Golden Fleece. Artemis encourages Atalanta to be her champion on this quest and to join the men on the Argo, but warns her: she must remain a virgin if she wants to rejoin Artemis after the quest is concluded. The goddess also informs her of a prophesy; if Atalanta were to marry, it would be her downfall. Atalanta's dedication to the goddess is unrivaled, so she volunteers to join Jason and his band of heroes and she promises not to marry. At first she is denied and laughed at by Jason and his crew, but eventually she is given the chance to prove her worth. She joins the Argonauts and sets sail for adventure and glory. During the quest, Atalanta meets friend, foe, and lover. Atalanta must decide whether to stay true to Artemis and the life she's always known, or to choose her own path in life.
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Fans of Greek mythology must have noticed that the ancient classics mostly focus on male narratives, but as we have entered what I like to call "the golden age of retellings", we now get to read the classic myths from the long awaited perspective of women. Atalanta is a perfect example.
Atalanta is often associated with the story of Jason and the Argonauts. All versions seem to agree that she volunteered to join the quest for the Golden Fleece, but most versions deny her role in the heroic journey, explaining how she was rejected for being a woman. Jennifer Saint chose to work with the version in which she did join, and this novel is the wonderful result.
Jennifer Saint has outdone herself again. Her eloquent writing, fast pace, and strong characters make this such a fantastic read. Atalanta's character is admirable and impressive, but not without fault. Despite her love for the goddess who raised her, Atalanta struggles with keeping her promises as she discovers more of what the world has to offer and as she learns more about what drives her. The flaws in her character make Atalanta a character who I can relate to, which makes her so much more interesting to me.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Greek mythology, feminist retellings, a strong female lead, and adventure. This book is a solid 5 stars for me.
Atalanta by Jennifer Saint is a beautifully written account of the only female Argonaut. If you're a fan of Saint's earlier books "Ariadne" and "Elektra", then you won't be disappointed by "Atalanta". Out of Saint's three books, Atalanta is my new favourite.
Synopsis (spoiler free)
When a daughter is born to a king who desperately wants a male heir, he abandons the girl in the wild. A mother bear finds the child and adopts her. Years later, the child is taken in by Artemis, virgin goddess of the hunt. She teaches her how to hunt and names her Atalanta. Atalanta grows up in the forest among Artemis and her nymphs, who advise her to stay away from men. When she reaches womanhood, Artemis tells her of Jason, an untried lad who is recruiting a crew to retrieve the Golden Fleece. Artemis encourages Atalanta to be her champion on this quest and to join the men on the Argo, but warns her: she must remain a virgin if she wants to rejoin Artemis after the quest is concluded. The goddess also informs her of a prophesy; if Atalanta were to marry, it would be her downfall. Atalanta's dedication to the goddess is unrivaled, so she volunteers to join Jason and his band of heroes and she promises not to marry. At first she is denied and laughed at by Jason and his crew, but eventually she is given the chance to prove her worth. She joins the Argonauts and sets sail for adventure and glory. During the quest, Atalanta meets friend, foe, and lover. Atalanta must decide whether to stay true to Artemis and the life she's always known, or to choose her own path in life.
--------------------------------
Fans of Greek mythology must have noticed that the ancient classics mostly focus on male narratives, but as we have entered what I like to call "the golden age of retellings", we now get to read the classic myths from the long awaited perspective of women. Atalanta is a perfect example.
Atalanta is often associated with the story of Jason and the Argonauts. All versions seem to agree that she volunteered to join the quest for the Golden Fleece, but most versions deny her role in the heroic journey, explaining how she was rejected for being a woman. Jennifer Saint chose to work with the version in which she did join, and this novel is the wonderful result.
Jennifer Saint has outdone herself again. Her eloquent writing, fast pace, and strong characters make this such a fantastic read. Atalanta's character is admirable and impressive, but not without fault. Despite her love for the goddess who raised her, Atalanta struggles with keeping her promises as she discovers more of what the world has to offer and as she learns more about what drives her. The flaws in her character make Atalanta a character who I can relate to, which makes her so much more interesting to me.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Greek mythology, feminist retellings, a strong female lead, and adventure. This book is a solid 5 stars for me.