Elektra
The mesmerising story of Troy from the three women at its heart
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4.2 • 36 Ratings
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
**The spellbinding new retelling of the story of Troy drawn from the perspective of the fearless women at the heart of it all.**
'The story and its characters swept me up and engulfed me, I could not put this one down' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ REAL READER REVIEW
'I was glued to it from beginning to end and could not wait to recommend to my friends afterwards.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ REAL READER REVIEW
'Jennifer Saint has breathed new life into this myth and put her own stamp on it' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ REAL READER REVIEW
'A brilliant read' Women & Home | 'A spirited retelling' Times | 'Beautiful and absorbing' Fabulous | 'A vivid reimagining of Greek mythology' Harper's Bazaar | 'Jennifer Saint has done an incredible job' Red
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?
Praise for Jennifer Saint and ARIADNE:
'A lyrical, insightful re-telling' Daily Mail
'Relevant and revelatory' Stylist
'Energetic and compelling' Times
'An illuminating read' Woman & Home
'A story that's impossible to forget' Culturefly
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Saint (Ariadne) returns with a brilliant feminist revision of the Greek myth of the House of Atreus. As in the Aeschylus plays, the lives of three powerful women intersect through war and vengeance: Cassandra, daughter of the king and queen of Troy; Clytemnestra, wife of Agamemnon; and Elektra, daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. In alternating chapters, each woman relays her own story and is treated to generous and bold character development. Cassandra, kissed by the god Apollo, receives the gift of prophecy and is disregarded by her family despite the fates she sees for them. Agamemnon wages war against Troy beginning with a treacherous act that Clytemnestra cannot forgive. Clytemnestra soon bears Agamemnon's son, a child she finds difficult to love because of his association with Agamemnon, and joins forces with her nephew, Aegisthus. Saint enriches the tense story with psychological depth, showing, for instance, how Elektra simmers with resentment of her mother and Aegisthus for their betrayal of Agamemnon. The author also does a splendid job managing the timeline, with rich and sustained scenes and seamless jumps. Out of a canonical myth, Saint has built a commanding story of rebellious women.
