Clytemnestra

 

 I received a copy of this release from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Clytemnestra 

Author: Costanza Casati 

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Release Date: 5.2.23

"You were born to a king, but you marry a tyrant. You stand by helplessly as he sacrifices your child to placate the gods. You watch him wage war on a foreign shore, and you comfort yourself with violent thoughts of your own. Because this was not the first offense against you. This was not the life you ever deserved. And this will not be your undoing. Slowly, you plot."

My Review

Just as every female-led psychological thriller published in the last 11 years has been compared to Gone Girl, every retelling of a Greek myth in the last 5 years has been compared to Circe. I just roll my eyes because they NEVER measure up and I don't even expect them to anymore. 

Until Costanza Casati's Clytemnestra! 

In a word...*wow*

In three words *I loved it*

Pacts and prophecies deal constant blows to "the most notorious villainess of the ancient world" but she is no wilting flower. Clytemnestra becomes "an unforgettable Queen who fiercely dealt out death to those who wronged her." I remember studying all the challenges and victories of Agamemnon, Jason, and Odysseus but Casati made me consider how repulsive these men would have been to regularly be around--the epitome of toxic masculinity. 

An absolutely amazing debut novel. Five stars all the way. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Interesting note about 1st US print run: 

In February all copies of this novel were destroyed in a truck fire on their way to the warehouse, postponing the original publication date from March 7 to May 2. Yes, this book is literally so hot it burnt up before it even reached shelves. 🔥🔥🔥

Personal reading note: 

Despite my general knowledge of Greek myths, I was thankful that this novel included an ancient Greek glossary, family trees, and a cast of characters. I also found the search option on my Kindle to be very useful for looking up secondary characters and locations.