Clytemnestra and Cassandra's narratives were undeniably fascinating, and for that, this was a worthwhile read for me. And so this story does too, though with mixed results. So when you put the two things together, a good chunk of the latter part of this book felt like a trudge, without the spark of something new and exciting to engage the reader.Ī Greek mythology retelling, when done right, takes us into the hearts and minds of seemingly remote characters and makes them come alive. And since the Trojan War is well known in Greek mythology, a lot of what's in here isn't new. Once you get past the exciting initial setup, it feels like things start to slow down. It's ironic that the character whose name is the title of this book is also the one I enjoyed the least and dreaded reading.Īnother issue is the uneven pacing. Her perspective quickly becomes whiny and repetitive, and I could feel my eyes rolling around in my head whenever it's her turn. Her storyline feels one-dimensional, with her only trait being her obsession with her father and how great he is. Where this fell short for me is with Elektra. While she isn't a big character in mythology, her story is definitely interesting. We also follow Cassandra, a princess of Troy with the gift of foresight but the curse that none would believe her. I was instantly swept up in her narrative and felt sympathy and heartbreak for her plight. Clytemnestra, wife of Agamemnon and mother of Elektra, was by far my favorite of the storylines. Though the title would have you thinking this story is centered on one woman, it actually follows three separate women during the time of the Trojan War.

So I'm a bit flummoxed that Elektra didn't turn out to be the reading experience I was hoping for. The tales of passion and tragedy, war and loss, glory and triumph always hit the right spot for me. I cannot hope for the future, for I know what it is to become.Whenever I'm in a reading slump and I need something to shake me out of my funk, Greek mythology is what I reach for.

Elektra jennifer saint review