“There is no peace for a woman with ambition, no love for a woman with a crown, she loves too much she is lustful, her power is too strong she is ruthless, she fights for vengeance she is mad, kings are brilliant mighty godlike, queens are deadly shameless accursed.”
Clytemnestra had all of these strengths and more. She was shaped by her Spartan upbringing, her family relationships, her few joys, and her many tragedies and sorrows. In regards to the flaws she had many but only a few of those for which she was blamed.
Most of the other books featuring Clytemnestra have treated her as a minor character in the life of her sister Helen (of Troy) or at most felt the need to tell her story combined with other female characters splitting the focus. This book does a wonderful job of keeping full attention on Clytemnestra. I learned more of her backstory than in any other book and greatly appreciated this dedicated focus.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of mythology retellings and for stories about strong, complex women.
Clytemnestra had all of these strengths and more. She was shaped by her Spartan upbringing, her family relationships, her few joys, and her many tragedies and sorrows. In regards to the flaws she had many but only a few of those for which she was blamed.
Most of the other books featuring Clytemnestra have treated her as a minor character in the life of her sister Helen (of Troy) or at most felt the need to tell her story combined with other female characters splitting the focus. This book does a wonderful job of keeping full attention on Clytemnestra. I learned more of her backstory than in any other book and greatly appreciated this dedicated focus.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of mythology retellings and for stories about strong, complex women.