Release Date: April 11th 2023
Publisher: Headline
Pages: 352
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: I bought a copy of this book from my local Waterstones
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis

Princess, Warrior, Lover, Hero

When Princess Atalanta is born, a daughter rather than the son her parents hoped for, she is left on a mountainside to die. But even then, she is a survivor. Raised by a mother bear under the protective eye of the goddess Artemis, Atalanta grows up wild and free, with just one condition: if she marries, Artemis warns, it will be her undoing.

Although she loves her beautiful forest home, Atalanta yearns for adventure. When Artemis offers her the chance to fight in her name alongside the Argonauts, the fiercest band of warriors the world has ever seen, Atalanta seizes it. The Argonauts’ quest for the Golden Fleece is filled with impossible challenges, but Atalanta proves herself equal to the men she fights alongside. As she is swept into a passionate affair, in defiance of Artemis’s warning, she begins to question the goddess’s true intentions. Can Atalanta carve out her own legendary place in a world of men, while staying true to her heart?

Full of joy, passion, and adventure, Atalanta is the story of a woman who refuses to be contained. Jennifer Saint places Atalanta in the pantheon of the greatest heroes in Greek mythology, where she belongs.

Review

I completely fell in love with Ariadne and Elektra and Jennifer Saint has quickly become an auto-buy author for me. In her newest release, we follow Atalanta  – raised in the forest by a bear, Atalanta is a favourite of the goddess Artemis. When Artemis sends her on a voyage to be part of an epic quest to find the Golden Fleece, Atalanta is excited for the chance to prove herself. Before she leaves Artemis warns her that a man will be her undoing. Will Atalanta succeed in her quest to prove herself and will she stay true to the oath she swore Artemis?

I admit I don’t know an awful lot about Atalanta, she does feature a little in Luna McNamara’s Psyche and Eros which I read recently but otherwise, I don’t know much about her original story. In Jennifer Saint’s tale, Atalanta is a strong, brave, and fiercely compelling character. I loved watching as she fought to prove herself the equal to any man. She is strong minded, determined to succeed in her quest, but she’s also physically strong and incredibly fast. Like in her previous books, Saint gives a voice to a female from Greek mythology that doesn’t often get one. I knew a little about the Argonauts but certainly didn’t know there was a female one, so it was fascinating to read her story.

Saint has a truly gorgeous writing style and the world of Ancient Greece really comes to life in her prose. I found it so easy to get lost in the story and was completely engrossed in the plot. The story felt well researched and incredibly detailed. Much like her previous books, I completely devoured Atalanta and cannot wait to see what Jennifer Saint writes next. If you’re a fan of Greek mythology retellings with beautiful writing and vivid characters, then Atalanta is an absolute must read.