Medea by Rosie Hewlett

Medea by Rosie Hewlett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 2 days

Pages - 432

Publisher - Penguin

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Shunned by her mother. Beaten by her father. Separated from her sister. Medea has never fit in because she possesses a unique and dangerous power - witchcraft.

When the dashing young hero and leader on the famed Argonauts, Jason, arrives to claim the Golden Fleece that her father fiercely protects, Medea takes her opportunity to escape.

Her offer to help Jason overcome the trials set by her father sets in motion a journey that will test see her battle monsters, dethrone kings, fall in love and reclaim her power.

But when faced with the ultimate betrayal, just what will Medea be prepared to do for love?


My Review

Holding my hands up guys I do not know a lot about the Greek mythology but have found myself picking up and enjoying these retellings. I do feel I should probably get some of the originals but when I come upon these I will be picking them up. This one focuses on Medea and Jason of the Argonaughts. Medea first, her upbringing, how poorly she is treated and how her father uses her for her magic. So when Jason comes and is kind, attractive and promising all sorts Medea takes her chance to try and get some freedom, something for herself and of course love. In doing so she embraces her power for which she has always been judged, shunned, used and of course betrays her loved ones which is a huge no no in any civilisation.

So I liked it, I obviously don't know Medea's actual story nor how close to it this author kept, the few Greek mythology I have read the women have been powerful. Yes Medea is powerful, she is a powerful witch but I was so desperate for her to stand up for herself and I don't think she ever really did. Ok maybe once but I mean like really stood up for herself and Carrie White everyone who was bad to her. I don't feel like she really got her redemption although does anyone ever really in these stories.

And I know I know it happens in these stories, animal harm because of the sacrifices and offerings to the Gods but I really wish they wouldn't. It is just horrible and I hate that stuff, it does impact the enjoyment of the stories like come on, can't we offer other stuff.

Poor Medea couldn't catch a break and made so many bad bad decisions, I did feel sorry for her and a wee bit annoyed at times. It was good but not my fave and if you know her story I am not sure if you will love this or not because I don't know just how different it varies. Sometimes you love a retelling when things are changed for what you consider the better but it swings the other way too, overall 3.5/5 for me.

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Hera by Jennifer Saint

Hera by Jennifer Saint
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 400

Publisher - Wildfire

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Hera, immortal goddess and daughter of the ancient Titan Cronos, helped her brother Zeus to overthrow their tyrannical father so that they could rule the world. But, as they establish their reign on Mount Olympus, Hera suspects that Zeus might be just as ruthless and cruel as their father was, and she begins to question her role at his side. She was born to rule, but does that mean perpetuating a cycle of violence and cruelty that has existed since the dawn of time? Will assuming her power mean that Hera loses herself, or can she find a way to forge a better world?

Traditionally portrayed as a jealous wife, a wicked stepmother, and a victim-blaming instrument of the patriarchy, Hera is ripe for a retelling that shows her as a powerful queen―ruthless when she needs to be, but also compassionate, strategic, and ambitious. With Hera, beloved and bestselling author Jennifer Saint delivers another epic and enthralling reimagining of a Greek heroine we only thought we knew.


My Review

I don't know a whole lot of the Greek Mythology, like you know some or snippets of or the legends so when I see Saint has a new book coming out I tend to grab it. They are really interesting retellings and as I have little knowledge on the originals I am not sure how much is different but I do enjoy them (although enjoy seems the wrong word at times for some of the shocking stuff they get up to!).

So this book is about Hera and how she is left with no choice but to accept Zeus and his marriage proposal. Many of the Gods feature in this and their own actions/legends but it is Hera who is the main character and this is from her view point/interactions with the others.

The Gods are not very nice people, Zeus, Zeus comes off terribly in this, he doesn't know the word no, consent, he forces himself on females more than once and often they then suffer again after his initial assault. Hera I really felt for but at times, her choices with her revenge/vengeance against innocents, I struggled at times with her and her choices.

Constant drama/retribution(s)/skulduggery and overall shady behaviours by most if not all of them but it does make for interesting reading, 4/5 for me this time.

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Elektra by Jennifer Saint

Elektra by Jennifer Saint
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 304

Publisher - Wildfire

Source - Sent by a friend

Blurb from Goodreads

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

So apparently a lot of this is very well known but I am not up on my Greek myths and legends. We hear from three Clytemnestra, Cassandra and Elektra (Clytemmnestra's youngest), Clytemnestra is Helen's sister and Cassandra is Princess of Troy. The story goes between the three and has some pretty tragic heart breaking emotive moments.

I love reading about these type of legends and the retellings, certainly J Saint does it ina way that is very engaging and pulls you in. In actual fact we watched Troy for the first time the other night and the way a movie goes and you watch it - that was the imagery the book/descriptions provoke.

There are many tragedies and a few topics will be triggering for some, murder, sacrifice, infidelity, abuse honestly so much action/horrific and shocking moments. If you are familiar with the legend(s) then it won't hold a ton of surprises for you but for me it did and did it pretty well. I always find after reading these I want to sink my teeth into more, 4/5 for me and looking forward to her next offerings.

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