Atalanta Review

Hello, all!

Let's chat about Atalanta by Jennifer Saint.

Pub Date: 4-11-23
Adult - Retelling

When Atalanta was born, her parents left her on a mountainside because she wasn't the son they desired. But, instead of succumbing to the elements, Atalanta survived. Under the watchful eye of the goddess Athena, Atalanta was raised by a mother bear. She spent her days running through the forests, but her freedom came with one condition: she must never marry, or it will be her undoing.

As much as Atalanta loves her home, she yearns for adventure. So when Artemis presents an opportunity to fight alongside the Argonauts, the fiercest band of warriors the world has ever seen, Atalanta seizes it. The quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece is troublesome, but Atalanta proves her worth with each hardship they encounter. But despite Athena's warning not to get involved with the men on her journey, Atalanta finds herself swept up in a passionate affair, leaving her rethinking the goddess's intentions. When her estranged father comes back into the picture with a plan of marrying Atalanta off, Atalanta is left wondering if she can carve out a legacy for herself or if she'll always be a footnote in another man's story.

One thing about me: if Jennifer Saint writes it, I'll read it. I've adored her previous books, so I had high hopes for this one. While I don't think it hit me as hard as the others, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I grew up obsessed with Greek mythology, so I was already familiar with Atalanta's story, and I couldn't wait to see Saint's take on it. I liked it, but I thought Saint could've gone further with her character. Atalanta was still as fierce and strong as I imagined her to be, but she felt almost mild, in a way. She didn't feel as strong as Saint's previous heroines, so I was slightly underwhelmed. It's still a brilliantly woven story, and I highly recommend it, but it fell a little short of my expectations.

Rating: 3.5/5

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