Hera | Litsy

Hera | Jennifer Saint

so-so

This is the mythical retelling of the Queen of the Gods, Hera. I really wanted to like it, and the beginning and very end were good but the middle drug. It felt like the longest book, but it was actually under 400 pages.
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons #WGwordsearch #WinterClearDown #SeasonalMonsterSmash @PuddleJumper #AVeryMerryBingo #AVeryScaryChristmas @Jadams89 #Adventathon @BookmarkTavern #LittenListen @aperfectmjk #MidDecemberReadathon

BookmarkTavern This one‘s on my TBR! 1w

54 likes1 stack add1 comment

Robotswithpersonality

Hera | Jennifer Saint

This post contains spoilers

show me

pick

WOW. Knocked it out of the park. 🤌🏻
They're always asking the muse to sing of the wrath of Achilles, but when it comes to rage he's got nothing on Hera. Two thirds of the way through this book, I'd say it was a toss up between survivor narrative or villain origin story, considering the Olympian levels of toxic relationships going on. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? This is the first of the Greek myth retellings I've read where I didn't know where it would go, how it would end, even if I could surmise certain plot beats, but I am so, so pleased with how Saint chose to end it. 2w

Robotswithpersonality 3/? It's a little depressing to realize that she had to extend past canon to make a worthwhile ending because Hera's tales really are that dark, discouraging, she is for the most part a thwarted wife and mother who visits vengeance on everyone else because she doesn't have the power to strike directly at Zeus. 2w

Robotswithpersonality 4/? As someone familiar with the majority of the incidents depicted, I found it impressive to see the author weave them together into one narrative, but I do worry that those not familiar with the many times Hera finds herself in a no-win situation, will find it a special kind of exhausting to see her encounter what is broadly the same issue, Zeus wins and nothing goes her way, over and over again, before the plot proceeds to anything different. 2w

See All 6 Comments

Robotswithpersonality 5/? The ending is worth it to me, because it subverted my expectations and went a different way than I've seen any of these modern retellings go, without truly changing any of the myths we know, but again, if I went into this with less knowledge of her story, I might be frustrated that there wasn't a more cathartic climax to compensate for the torturous tone preceding the ending. 2w

Robotswithpersonality 6/? I appreciate that Saint didn't quite aim for reconciliation or resignation, at least not between Hera and Zeus, because that definitely would have read as loving her abuser/accepting her victimization territory.
Part of me is very curious about what Saint does next, because I'm not sure how you top this take on the Olympians as an ensemble cast, the relation to mortals, the ultimate fate of the Olympians, as antiquity slowly fades 2w

Robotswithpersonality 7/7 into a modern view of the world.
I owe the author a lot for finally presenting me with a version of Hera that I don't just sympathize with, but actually enjoy the existence of. I'm a lot happier imagining her where this story ends, and would gladly see more iconoclastic myth retellings.

⚠️SA, misogyny 2w

2 likes6 comments

Robotswithpersonality

Hera | Jennifer Saint

Low bar! 🫣

11 likes1 stack add

Read_By_Red

Hera | Jennifer Saint

so-so

Saint allows the reader to see Hera in a different light. There seemed to be too many events packed in, taking opportunities to better understand Hera away. Saint does a great job painting pictures of the settings and many of the events; I could really see, with great detail, what was happening. The audiobook was hit-or-miss. I also felt as though Fredrick was too monotoned and even paced in her delivery of the material, even the eventful parts.

4 likes

marleed

Hera | Jennifer Saint

pick

This book read like a pissed off roll call of Zeus‘ descendants (4 of whom descend from Hera, as well), but I enjoyed it. Years ago as a Math/CS major at a liberal arts college, ‘free‘ credits found the way to two particular instructors in the English Dept - one of whom was a master storyteller allowing me into her upper level mythology course - without doubt my favorite 3 credits in those 4 years. This book tested my memory in a great way.

70 likes2 stack adds

TorieStorieS

Hera | Jennifer Saint

pick

I really enjoy Saint‘s Greek mythology retellings! This time, she writes from Hera‘s perspective. Often coming across as the villain, Saint rounds her out here and makes her motivations as more than simple jealousy. Including many of my favorite stories, I enjoyed the narrator‘s performance and this fresh take on these familiar tales! I can‘t wait to see what Saint will write next!! #AudioColoring

TheBookHippie Beautiful. 4mo

TorieStorieS @TheBookHippie Thank you!😊 4mo

39 likes2 comments

MaleficentBookDragon

Hera | Jennifer Saint

I used up my last three credits with #botm and my membership‘s now on hold.
Hopefully I won‘t be having #fomo next month.😜
They put in their volume zero as a little extra.

Avanders lol I always have book #fomo when I‘m on hold… 😜 Nice re Zero - I have it too but haven‘t read it yet… seems fun though! 4mo

58 likes1 stack add1 comment

MaleficentBookDragon

Hera | Jennifer Saint

Finally using up my last three credits for #BOTM.
I think I might actually enjoy these. We‘ll see. 🤞
What has everyone else picked? Or did you skip? Or, have you bailed on them too?

marleed I thought incidents around the world was great! 5mo

48 likes1 comment

Born.A.Reader

Hera | Jennifer Saint

I'm excited for this month's picks! I love some Greek retellings and I've been eyeing this thriller for a while now. 📚 #BOTM

https://www.mybotm.com/phuw7esbgwl5l8fr?show_box=true

16 likes