Atalanta: A Novel

Beautiful writing. This book is such a great read and so well written. I am so impressed and sad that its over

Atalanta by Jennifer Saint is a beautifully written and captivating retelling of the Greek myth of Atalanta. This novel brings to life the story of a fierce and independent woman who defies all expectations and challenges the patriarchal society of ancient Greece.The author's writing style is poetic and elegant, immersing the reader into the mythological world of gods and goddesses, heroes and monsters. The character of Atalanta is particularly well-developed, with her strength, wit, and vulnerability making her a relatable and inspiring protagonist.The plot is engaging and filled with suspense, as Atalanta faces numerous obstacles on her journey to find her place in the world. The themes of identity, gender roles, and the search for belonging are explored with nuance and sensitivity, making this book not just a retelling of a myth, but a profound and thought-provoking exploration of human nature.Overall, Atalanta is a beautifully crafted novel that will appeal to fans of mythology, historical fiction, and feminist literature. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys stories of strong women who defy the odds and challenge societal norms.

A good and decent read. Mildly entertaining. There was a lull in the writing I couldn’t overcome, but that’s just me!

Loved this book. It definitely didn't go where I thought it would. Incredibly surprising. Our true form isn't always what we think.

Jennifer Saint is one of my favorite retelling authors and Atalanta did not disappoint. I loved her take on Ancient Greece's female warrior and like always, the ending was pure perfection.

𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆, 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈...𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔, 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏. 𝑨 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅.One of the lesser known mortals of Greek mythology, Atalanta was famed for both her speed and prowess. Left on a mountainside to die because she wasn't the heir her father wanted, she was raised by a bear and mentored by the goddess Artemis. She grew up in the wild, befriended by the nymphs, and was told by Artemis that if she married, it would be her undoing.I love how this retelling focused on Atalanta's journey with the Argonauts, the only woman to travel with the esteemed group of male heroes to win The Golden Fleece. Because the story is narrated from her point of view, the reader can understand how rebellion will always win. She knew the risks but had an affair anyway, and true to her word, Artemis cast her out of the forest.These retellings drive home the fact that being a woman has always been difficult, but being a strong woman is a near impossible feat. I loved her strength and vulnerability and how she was portrayed in this book.

I haven't read all that many retellings of Greek mythology aside from Madeline Miller (if you enjoy this genre and haven't read her books, go out and get one), but Jennifer Saint has a nice way with words and an easy style to read. I think if I have a criticism, it's that some of the other characters seem more interesting (or maybe more complex) than Atalanta, but we just get a quick overview of their lives. Yes, I know this story is about Atalanta, but she is just not a likeable character, in my opinion.The beginning of her story starts out promising; a baby girl abandoned on a mountain in the woods to die, born to a king who wanted a son. Raised by a bear at the whim of the goddess Artemis until she is old enough to join Artemis' followers, the nymphs, Atalanta grows up in a peaceful world of nature and women. Peaceful, that is, unless one of the women has anything to do with a man. Artemis is cold and cruel, punishing the nymphs when men have their way with them. An example; instead of finding comfort in her home with the goddess after enduring a traumatic rape, one of the nymphs is punished by being turned into a bear.As she matures, Atalanta finds herself restless in the woods. She is terrified Artemis will be angry when she saves a man (and herself) from two drunken centaurs, so she leaves out the part about saving the man when explaining to Artemis. So what does Artemis do? Sends her prized warrior on a quest to join the Argonauts (a band of 50 men) in search of the golden fleece, to bring glory to her, all the while telling her she'd better not get involved with any men! Yeah, you can see where this is going.Long story short, of course Atalanta gets involved with the first man who's nice to her, while being forever spurned by most of the other men because she's better than all of them...at everything. She has no problem sleeping with a married man because hey, his wife's not here, and eventually he'll go back to her, and Artemis will never find out. But no, after the quest (which is built up for half the book, then resolves in a few pages) all hell breaks loose and Atalanta has to go back to Artemis pregnant and tell of her dead lover. She's banished, and despises her poor son, but considers herself a good mother for not killing him! She lets a poor elderly couple raise him while she gets back to doing whatever she wants and lamenting the loss of her previous life. And in the end, her final punishment turns out to be the biggest blessing of her life.3.5 stars for beautiful writing, and I would read another Greek retelling by Jennifer Saint, but perhaps this story just wasn't for me.

Saint explores not just the myth of Atalanta but what it is to leave a legacy, the many faces of love and loyalty, and the desire to be free.

Interesting retelling of the Argonauts myth from a new point of view

Perfect read and knowledgeable

We often hear only part of a story about a mythological figure. This book begins with the abandon of Atalanta at birth and tells her whole story. It's fascinating.

Beautiful words woven together carefully to tell the story of a young heroine trying to find her own way in a male dominated world.

It is a quick and easy read that you can finish in a few days. The story of Atalanta is amazing as well as inspiring, a woman among envious men and thriving above them all.