Elektra by Jennifer Saint

Summary:

The House of Atreus is cursed. A bloodline tainted by a generational cycle of violence and vengeance. This is the story of three women, their fates inextricably tied to this curse, and the fickle nature of men and gods.

Clytemnestra
The sister of Helen, wife of Agamemnon – her hopes of averting the curse are dashed when her sister is taken to Troy by the feckless Paris. Her husband raises a great army against them and determines to win, whatever the cost.

Cassandra
Princess of Troy, and cursed by Apollo to see the future but never to be believed when she speaks of it. She is powerless in her knowledge that the city will fall.

Elektra
The youngest daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, Elektra is horrified by the bloodletting of her kin. But can she escape the curse, or is her own destiny also bound by violence?

My Review:

I loved Ariadne and it was my fiction book of the year for 2021 and Jennifer Saint now returns with Elektra (Wildfire Books) which is released on 28 April, so not too long to wait and if like me you really enjoyed Jennifer’s writing then you are going to love Elektra it is well worth the wait.

What Jennifer Saint has given us in Elektra is the story from three women of the Trojan Wars. Clytemnestra who is the sister of Helen and is the wife of Agamemnon, Cassandra who is the Princess of Troy and is cursed by Apollo and then there is Elektra who is the youngest of the daughters of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon and she conspired with her brother to eliminate her mother.

This is a fabulous sweeping mythological story that now gives voice to the three women. Their lives are now brought to life and each of the characters are complex, and each has their own destiny and their ambitions. Admittedly I found the story to focus more on Clytemnestra but that does not in anyway detract from the voices of Cassandra and Elektra. Each of the chapters is by one of the three women in their own voice and their stories of revenge. There are a number of themes that are written into this story, but Jennifer writes with great sensitivity.

I have to say that I have come to really love the way Jennifer Saint writes and how she weaves the stories in both books, all the characters really come to life, with all their own induvial tragedies and I found as in Ariadne easy to follow and I just really enjoyed the interactions. The is complex at times as you would expect with Greek mythology, but it is a joy to read and beautifully written.

I am not going to give any spoilers here; you are just going to have to wait for publication day and you can enjoy. Elektra is already my favourite book of the year so far. It will take some beating. It is compelling as it is rich. I have no idea how Jennifer Saint is going to follow this, but I for one and intrigued and look forward to book three. Elektra is one book not to miss.

352 Pages.

My thanks to Caitlin Raynor (PR Director for Headline Books, Tinder Press and Wildfire Books for the review Copy of Elektra by Jennifer Saint.  Published on 28 April 2022 and can be pre-ordered through Waterstones, Amazon and through your local independent bookshop or through Bookshop.org that supports your local independent bookshop. UK Bookshop.org