But neither is truly party to the action, so you hear about it all indirectly. And I suppose Elektra is also interesting for a similar reason. Clytemnestra is interesting as far as where she stands politically she’s Helen’s sister, and her husband and Helen’s are brothers, and this is an important factor in the messy politicking she engages in. So, while I didn’t feel that the take on her was anything revolutionary, she’s always a joy to read about regardless.īut neither Clytemnestra nor Elektra has much to offer. But I think having read others authors’ takes on it has influenced my perspective, as I felt really let down.Ĭassandra is always my favorite character, and I feel like she sees most of the direct action, due to her being in Troy and witnessing Paris return with Helen…not to mention the seeing-the-future thing. But I was still excited to try Elektra, as it’s about the Trojan War, which I’m already familiar with. I own Jennifer Saint’s prior book, Ariadne, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet (for various reasons). But can she escape the curse, or is her own destiny also bound by violence? The youngest daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, Elektra is horrified by the bloodletting of her kin. She is powerless in her knowledge that the city will fall. Princess of Troy, and cursed by Apollo to see the future but never to be believed when she speaks of it. Her husband raises a great army against them and determines to win, whatever the cost. 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. This is the story of three women, their fates inextricably tied to this curse, and the fickle nature of men and gods. A bloodline tainted by a generational cycle of violence and vengeance.

Elektra book review