Hera

by Jennifer Saint

The enthralling tale of a powerful Greek goddess maligned in both myth and ancient history, as told by Sunday Times bestselling author Jennifer Saint.

When Hera, immortal goddess and daughter of the ancient Titan Cronos, helps her brother Zeus to overthrow their tyrannical father, she dreams of ruling at his side.

As they establish their reign on Mount Olympus, Hera suspects that Zeus might be just as ruthless and cruel as the father they betrayed.

She was always born to rule, but must she lose herself in perpetuating this cycle of violence and cruelty? Or can she find a way to forge a better world?

Often portrayed as the jealous wife or the wicked stepmother, this retelling captures the many sides of Hera, vengeful when she needs to be but also compassionate and mostly importantly, an all-powerful queen to the gods.

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Greek Mythology, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Retellings, Adult

370 pages, Hardcover

First published August 13, 2024

About the author

Jennifer Saint is a Sunday Times bestselling author. Her debut novel, ARIADNE, was shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year 2021 and was a finalist in the Goodreads Choice Awards Fantasy category in 2021. Her second novel, ELEKTRA, comes out in 2022 and is another retelling of Greek mythology told in the voices of the women at the heart of the ancient legends.

Reviews

[Esta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always find it interesting to try to understand the perspective of an unlikeable character. For example, June Hayward/Juniper Song in Rebecca Kuang’s Yellowface. Or Amy Dunne in Gone Girl. Nesta in ACOTAR. Even Walter White in Breaking Bad (who in the beginning, I liked). And Hera, the all-powerful Queen of the Gods, wife and sister to Zeus, daughter of Cronus, Goddess of Marriage... and possibly the gnarliest of them all.

Hera is often vilified in Greek mythology, due to her jealousy and vindictiveness towards Zeus' lovers and their children. She frequently punished Zeus' mistresses/victims and their offspring, even though it was her husband who was the philanderer, sexual predator and rapist.

But before Hera was a vengeful deity, she enjoyed hanging out in the forest with river gods, shapeshifting and winning wars against the Titans etc. you know, the regular. Jennifer Saint’s retelling highlights who Hera was vs. how she got to be that way.

For people unfamiliar with where the root of her wrath began, it had a lot to do with the pain that kindled inside her following Zeus pretending to be an injured bird, then surprising Hera and raping her. That’s just the beginning, there is a lot more that unfolds after these first chapters which I won’t spoil for people who aren’t familiar already.

Notably, this retelling isn't going to redeem Hera’s actions. Yet it will humanise her as someone grappling with subjugation, suffering, ridicule and betrayal, without absolving her. More than anything, it’s probably going to make you despise the patriarchy and Zeus AKA the Greek god version of Harvey Weinstein, more than you already did.

You'll meet a lot of the famed gods, demi-gods and their divine offspring (mostly Zeus'). Some are cameos but it's still cool. I learnt a lot. One of my favourite things I learnt while reading this was also about the monsters of Greek mythology, such as Ekhidna, Typhon and the Hydra. And Jennifer Saint made me empathise with them and see a rounded perspective of their story.

Whether you’re a Greek mythology rookie, dabbler (⬅️ me), or expert/classicist, I’d recommend this for a more holistic perspective of Hera. Although some scene transitions were slightly disjointed, overall the third-person narration was emotionally evocative and lyrical and I felt connected to it.

You'll have to mind your triggers should you choose to read this, because the Greek Gods didn’t know that No Means No and Jennifer Saint does not shy away from lack of consent in ancient times. The Greek Gods can ALL get in the bin. Yep, you too Apollo, you're one of the worst.

My heartfelt thanks to Hachette Australia & New Zealand | Wildfire for the advanced digital review copy, and also to my GR friend, Persephone's Pomegranate, who is a Greek mythology expert and gave me some contextual background knowledge before I dove in. You can read her entertaining Greek mythology reviews here.

Wrote more about Jennifer Saint's Hera here.
_____

Zeus can get in the bin. Thoughts processing on Hera. RTC.
_____

Interested to see if Jennifer Saint can keep pace with Greek mythology retelling queen, Madeline Miller. My heartfelt thanks to Hachette Australia & New Zealand | Wildfire for the advanced digital review copy.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content warning: rape, domestic abuse

Oh no! This was a real miss for me. While I've greatly enjoyed Jennifer Saint's interpretations of Ariadne and Elektra, this felt more like a stilted and removed biography than the imaginative portrayals of women in her past work. The tone suffers greatly from the third person POV, a strange choice for Saint.

The story both tries to accomplish too much--the entirety of Greek mythology, in a nutshell--and too little by making Hera single-minded in her quest for power and revenge. The narrative flies so quickly that there isn't any time for development.

Long descriptions of the physical environment are given in lieu of actual world-building.

Somehow this ends up being a non-feminist take; Hera is saved by men either literally (Heracles) or metaphorically (I won't ruin the ending) rather than ruling in her own right. Even her reflections are centered in the patriarchy and how her existence has meaning because of Zeus and his sons.

[saffiyah✧ఌ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25★

[tw: mentions of rape, sexism/misogyny and incest]

raw and beautifully poignant, saint writes a tale filled with gorgeous prose and a complex portrayal of the queen of the greek gods, Hera. stunningly feministic, enchanting and filled with depth, it illuminates the reader on how she was more than just the jealous wife, the vengeful stepmother and the spiteful goddess. she was the daughter of cronus, queen of the greek gods and goddess of marriage.

as saint includes many greek myths into this retelling, i feel it would be best suited for someone newer to this subject, who is curious to know more about the "unlikeable" hera. although a very controversial figure, this book does not try to redeem her, but rather make the reader understand her motives.

but above all, it's a story of an immortal greek goddess who was betrayed by those who she once held close. but most importantly are the stories jennifer saint weaves of every woman and girl who has ever felt powerless, when her every call for vengeance was left unheard and her sorrows and worries dismissed. it's for those women and girls who bear the pain and the weight of all that's wrong in this world whilst never being acknowledged for their sacrifices, and the torment their responsibilities had dragged them through. it’s for those women who are constantly degraded, constantly treated as though they are ‘lesser than’ their male counterparts, and for the women who have to try ten times harder, for ten times as many years to succeed. it’s for those women terrified for their safety, for those women who are told to ‘let your guards down’ and to ‘just relax’ and ‘have fun’ only to be asked ‘what were you wearing’ when the night is over. it’s for those women who have suffered through everything, only to be rewarded by nothing.
and this is the heart-wrenching story of the greek goddess of marriage, Hera.


➳ spoilers from here if you are not already very familiar with greek mythology


i have seriously never understood why more people don't hate zeus insead of hera. he would have been all over the aita reddit threads, asking if he's in the wrong for raping his sister, forcing her to marry him, announcing that she is the love of his life, all the while making her the goddess of marriage as he cheats on her with the other women he was raping (making a mockery of her role), having his illegitimate children take precedence over the children his sister/wife bore, betraying and removing all power from this 'inferior' goddess.. but spins the story to make her seem like the overall villain for misplacing her anger towards him onto the women he raped and impregnated. if this book hadn't ended in the way that it did i would have begun a riot.

anyway, more to come later..

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted badass but I got ... mopey. Not quite what I wanted, and sadly kind of dull.

When I think of Hera, Queen of the Gods, I think of petty vengeance and ferocity. I think of her as bold, brave, and confident.

I was excited for a book that would take these things and show us a villain in a new light, but instead this book tries to make her something of a beaten-down heroine? It really didn't work for me.

I didn't like Hera as a character here at all, and I felt the story really washed her out and turned her into a victim. It seemed to be fighting so hard to tell a feminist story that it forgot women can be villains, too. Hera is well-known for her wrath and it was so washed out, here.

The storytelling was also to blame, I feel. It takes all the big stories from Greek mythology and mostly glosses over them all in a sentence or two - as though it was essential to include all these things but the author didn't really want to. I would have preferred less references in lieu of further detail. As a consequence of the sparse detail, it feels like nothing really notable happens - it's just the bland passing of time.

I just wanted so much more story than what I got. It was disappointing to get to the end and feel that I hadn't really felt anything at all.

An ambitious goal, but I do feel it fell flat. Others may appreciate this more sympathetic take on the famous Queen, but it didn't quite meet my expectations.

With thanks to NetGalley for an e-ARC

[Shima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pre-publication:
Okay, we all agree that Hera misdirected her anger from her cheating husband to the women he victimized a little too often.
But, I've always had such a soft spot for her. Who hasn't raged against the wrong things before they realized they were just mad at the patriarchy?
That is all to say, I'm beyond excited about this book.

Post-publication:
This is NOT for you if you want:
- Hera as an uncomplicated woman whose every decision you agree with.
- Hera as a vengeful villain who you can love to hate/hate to love.
- A fast pace book that makes you feel like you're in the midst of legends.

This is for you if you like:
- Introspective character studies while wars and legends happen in the background.
- Complicated characters who slowly change through the book.
- Olympians as a dysfunctional family, headed by a toxic marriage.
- Perfect, bittersweet endings.

My thoughts:
Along the same lines as Ariadne, this is also a quite introspective story. Despite covering the span of eons, it often moves at a gentle/slow pace. Across that story, Hera changes just as slowly. Sometimes dreaming of a matriarchy and sometimes attacking women who are victims of the same system that bounds her, she always remains a complicated, layered character.
To me, Hera was a compelling figure not because of the mythological elements of the story, not because she was the queen of the god, but because her story reflected the story of so many women around me. Her story, her lack of choices, her bitterness, anger and fear reminded me of the generations of women who had no choice but to marry, who had children to carry on their hopes and dreams and angers, and who one day, after those children were gone found themselves bereft of purpose and unsure of who they were.
I trust Jennifer Saint to always make me cry with the way she reflects the collective pain of women.

(If you like, come hang out with me on booktube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnfortunateA...)

[Teres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long may she reign 👑

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a big greek mythology fan and I find Hera absolutely fascinating so when I heard about this book I was really excited for it! I think that Hera especially is one of the goddesses that has so much you can delve into. Her relationship with Zeus, her jealousy, her revenge, the fact that she was called the protector of women.

Overall, however, I felt like this book fell flat when it came to the characterization. I could see what Jennifer was trying to do but for me it just didn't work. I thought that the characters were under-developed with Hera being boiled down to a vindictive unlikeable goddess. I felt like her story lacked nuance. She had been through trauma and is very obviously a strong person but her character ended up feeling a bit like a caricature. The great thing about Greek Mythology is that you can really expand on the stories and add your own details to give life to them - because there are already conflicting versions of each story - but this book seems to just tell us facts and doesn't really weave them into a narrative. It's very "Hera did this, that didn't work. Then Hera did this, and that didn't work either." It tried to shove everything in and I feel in the process I lost out on the chance to connect with Hera or any of the other characters. And the thing is, I know that the gods and goddesses are problematic, we're not supposed to think they're good people - But I just didn't find any depth in the characterization meaning that they were all just a bit whiny. I know we're not supposed to find them relatable but I didn't have any feelings at all towards them except annoyance.
It all felt impersonal, it sorta felt like I was being given the rapid fire info about Hera's mythology. I think the ending would've paid off a lot more and made me more emotional if I'd been given the chance to connect more with her. I did like the ending though, I thought it was a nice finish to her story.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to review!

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This latest feminine retelling was probably not aimed at me. I've read quite a lot of Greek myth - both the original stories and the new feminine retellings - most of which have been really excellent.

I'd say that this is aimed at someone who has read little on the subject. It certainly adds very little to the party, as it were.

We follow Hera's life from birth to a point where the gods are out in the world rather than on Mount Olympus. The stories are pretty much as the original texts with a few twists regarding Hera's state of mind as she took revenge on various nymphs, mortals and goddesses for Zeus' infractions.

I'd hoped that we'd see a totally different Hera but we get a petty, frustrated woman who can't get even. At least in the earlier tellings we were given a woman who (even though she always picked the wrong party) was pretty spectacular in her punishment. Let's face it, trying to get even with the ultimate ruler, you're always going to come off second.

I just felt Jennifer Saint has missed a trick. I felt that Hera was a much paler version of her original self and she came out looking even less of a feminist.

I listened to the audio version and there lay another problem since the narrator insisted on changing virtually every pronunciation. I am still convinced that there is now a new goddess called Hair Bear. It drove me potty. It wasn't even the Greek pronunciation. If I hadn't had the printed version to refer to I'd probably never know it was Hebe or which other gods were there.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Headline for the advance review copies - both audio and ebook.

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[River · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

I adore Saint's retellings. I was so curious to see how she would retell Hera's story, I was particularly interested to find out exactly what it would cover. It turns out it is as vast and intricate as all Greek mythology is. We start at the fall of the Titans and the rise of the Olympians, and span important events from the creation of Athena to the birth of Apollo and Artemis, from the Argonauts to the Trojan War, and far beyond. We get glimpses of all of these events and the tumultuous feelings of Hera as she witnesses them.
I am a very passionate lover of Greek mythology, however I think this book is also incredibly accessible for those that don't know very much, yet still illuminating and intriguing to those that already know all of the stories within it.

I loved Saint's writing, I thought it was beautiful and effortlessly captured such emotion within it. The only reason I didn't rate this higher is because my personal interest does not lie within Hera. I personally think it's far more interesting to read about mortals and their interactions with the gods, they are also much easier to empathise with. Because of this I do prefer Saint's other works, however I still think this is an incredible book and a worthwhile read. I truly did appreciate and admire the reframing of Hera's narrative. While I can't say I am now Hera's number one fan, it definitely did make me sympathise with her moments of grief and forced me to rethink the narrative in which her story is always told.

Hera is such a complicated figure to choose as the protagonist of our story and I would be fascinated to know why Saint chose her specifically. Hera is known for being the sister and wife of Zeus, the goddess of marriage and women. But most commonly, she is known for her jealousy and vengeance. I'll admit, Hera has never been a favourite goddess of mine, she has never really interested me all that much. But this story certainly made my opinions of her more complex.

Practically every god and goddess in Greek mythology has done terrible things, which is why I'll repeat that I find the stories of mortal people surviving the gods' wrath far more captivating. But there are certain stories that stick out more as immoral or wrong. Sexual assault is a common theme and feature within Greek mythology as it was unfortunately an even more common action of the time and was therefore represented in ways we would definitely now find disturbing in stories only told by men. I love that now we are getting vibrant and angry feminist retellings where the women in these stories are recentred and their wounds made visible, their victimhood made into personhood, their lives given more meaning than only an assault used to tell a story.
I say all this because this is very obviously something that Saint's retellings do as well, they are absolutely amazing feminist retellings. However there are aspects of Hera's narrative that Saint cannot erase or rewrite without straying too far from what we know of her, and so she cannot rewrite Hera's punishments for the women Zeus lays with and also those that he rapes. Because of this, Hera has always left a sour taste in my mouth (have no fear, Zeus leaves far worse than a sour taste, I will in no way bypass his actions and blame Hera only for her reactions), it is an element that makes Hera a difficult character to fully empathise with.
This has nothing to do with the book itself, this story is the closest anything has ever come to making me like Hera, I'm only trying to explain why I couldn't personally rate this book higher.

I still appreciate this depth to Hera's character that we encounter because she commits acts that we, the reader, might dislike or even hate her for. It parallels the moments of deep sympathy Saint is so adept at dragging from us. We mourn with Hera, we shake at the bars of her gilded cage with her, we find small moments of joy with her. And that's all because of how skilfully Saint is able to portray her and the rest of the gods.
The ending in particular was such an emotional, devastating yet hopeful, whirlwind. It was the perfect ending for a story of a god, for the story of all the gods. I think it might have been my favourite part. As I mentioned before, all my favourite moments to witness the gods are when they interact with mortals, at no other moment in time are their immortal presences so tangibly different, at no other time do they appear so frightening and powerful, yet at no other time do they also appear so human.

Another factor I loved with all my heart was how prevalent certain characters were that aren't often focused on in the mythology. I adored seeing Echidna and her care and love for her children, it's a side of her that isn't often portrayed as compassionately as Saint does here. It was thought-provoking and added perfectly to the cast of morally complex characters. I really liked that this story never tried to redeem characters, but always added a lot of insight into their actions.
I adored, more than anything, how prevalent Hestia was, my favourite unproblematic goddess! She's such a warm, comforting presence throughout the story, as is apt, and I was so endeared to her whenever she came across the page.

All of this is a very long-winded way of saying do yourself a favour and go read Saint's superb retellings! I just adore them, they're the perfect feast for your Greek mythology cravings!

Thank you Wildfire for an arc.

[Narissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 48%

Honestly at this point maybe I should finish it, but I have too many exciting books to read to waste my time on a hate read.

Saint’s writing is technically good. I have read a couple of her other books and loved them; it was more the plot and flow of the story that were my main issues with ‘Hera’.

This book starts at the fall of the Titans and follows the establishment of the gods as rulers and the creation of Mount Olympus. Though Hera and Zeus fought side by side in the uprising against the titans, Zeus in a wild act of white man audacity, assumes himself the leader of the gods after the victory. Since none of the other gods want another conflict, they all go along with this. Zeus had been lusting after Hera (HIS SISTER) for a few hundred years he asks her to marry to which she of course says ‘no thank you, I am your sister’ which he doesn’t love. So of course he assaults her. And in another act that was entirely unexplained and difficult to understand, Hera then decides to then marry Zeus but plot against him for the rest of eternity. Plots that prove to fail time and time again. ‘Hera’ is the story of her failed plots against Zeus.


For someone who repeats often that She is as powerful as Zeus she finds herself either not fighting back or creating terrible plans to fight back that are ultimately thwarted. Zeus was intolerable and monstrous and Hera saying for 75% of the book that she is as strong as him yet does nothing about his treatment is actually infuriating. Hera does not fit on Olympus; she has no real attachments and never takes action to find the place she does belong. She hates all the other gods, and they all hate her so why stay? There could have been such a magical way to spin Hera’s story of abuse, yet Saint’s retelling is ultimately a nothing-burger. Hera is too helpless to take any real action but is a victim of all actions against her. She’s a goddess for Christ’s sake but she’s written as a helpless idiot, and I’ll never forgive Saint for that.

The plot is basically Hera complaining about Zeus with small moments of action which makes the book drag out. This already doesn’t need to be 400 pages, 75% of it has been Hera lamenting about the injustice and very little about her actually doing something. Call me crazy but I don’t think of a goddess being this passive. Even more internal dialogue about her feelings would have at least help to characterize Hera. I didn’t feel any attachment to her because she just spent all her time complaining and failing but still saying she was just as strong as Zeus. Ok, but then why are you failing every coup attempt?

[Fairuz ᥫ᭡. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hera was my very first Jennifer Saint book and also my first dive into Greek mythology! I’ve never been a huge fan of mythology, so I didn’t know much about it beyond what’s usually portrayed in popular culture. Hera’s story intrigued me because I’ve heard she’s often depicted as the jealous wife, a role that always seemed unjust given the circumstances she faced. So, I was curious to see her story from a different angle, especially after reading the blurb.

✧ Power Struggle ⚔️
✧ Mythological Drama 🎭
✧ Godly Conflicts ⚡
✧ Feminist Retelling 🌟

Jennifer's retelling of Hera's story shines a light on the complexity of the Queen of the Gods. Traditionally, Hera is seen as vindictive and cruel, punishing Zeus's lovers and their children, even though it was his infidelities that caused the chaos. But this book delves into her backstory, showing us Hera before she became the vengeful figure we often hear about. We see her as a powerful goddess who once enjoyed victories and divine mischief, only to be transformed by Zeus's betrayal and the weight of his actions.

Jennifer's portrayal of Hera is raw and beautifully poignant. The book doesn’t shy away from Hera’s darker actions but seeks to humanize her, revealing the pain and betrayal that fueled her responses. It’s not about redeeming her but understanding her motives and the harsh realities of her existence. The narrative is a potent commentary on the patriarchy and the often-unseen struggles of women, even in mythology. 🌌🗡️

Jennifer's writing is evocative and lyrical, capturing the turmoil and emotional depth of Hera’s journey. While some scene transitions felt a bit disjointed, the overall effect was still compelling. As someone who’s not a mythology buff, I found this retelling to be accessible and engaging. Jennifer's portrayal made me rethink and empathize with Hera’s complex narrative. 🌟

Content Warnings (CW):
- Rape
- Sexism/Misogyny
- Incest

The ending was a whirlwind of emotions—devastating yet hopeful, perfectly encapsulating the highs and lows of divine existence. Despite not being a fan of mythology, I appreciated the depth and nuance Jennifer brought to Hera’s story, making this a worthwhile read. 📖✨

[mishaal !]

Does this novel feature Hera or does Hera feature novel? Hmm.

Anyways, purr queen #slayy4evaaaaaa.

[Zoë · Rating 3 out of 5]

me, a person who has a degree in Ancient Greek art and knows the stories of Hera my heart: “bitch, I was rooting for you”

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Hera returns Jennifer Saint's retellings firmly back in the hands of the Gods, as we follow the Queen of them all, the sister wife of Zeus, Hera. The reader follows Hera from the early days of the Olympians overthrowing the Titans, the splitting of powers and responsibilities and through to the inception of Zeus' growing brood of offspring and Hera's increasing struggles to reclaim what she feels she deserves.

I found Hera an interesting character. She's not likeable - she's filled with self importance and rage, a simmering boiling pot of emotion that manifests in the cruellest ways. Yet I found myself, through Jennifer Saint's writing, being drawn into her desperate plight. By recentering the stories to show Hera's side, the loss of everything she'd worked for and repeatedly forgotten in favour of Zeus's children, shows to an extent that her actions in her eyes are justified. Zeus is not a nice guy. None on the Gods are nice, taking what they want from whomever they want, but Hera shows a tenacity to survive. She's not just a scorned woman, a vengeful queen. She's a warrior, a fighter.

I particularly love all the drama with the Gods. Although they delight, certainly later on in the story, in flaming drama and spectating on mortals, I found the opposite in myself. I loved the drama between Zeus, Athens and the rest. The power struggles and family dynamics have always been what appealed to me about Greek mythology the most. And Jennifer Saint captures this well, developing some compelling relationships among the Gods - especially Hera and Hestia, her quiet eldest sister.

If anything I found the pacing didn't quite work towards the end third of the book, with the ending feeling a little rushed after such a long build up. I would have liked to have seen Hera strike out on her own, away from Olympus, more and explore her new role in a world freed from the influence of the Gods. However, overall I really enjoyed this.

[bookishcharli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well it’s official, Jennifer Saint has accomplished something I never thought possible, she made me dislike Hera a lot less than I did before (I don’t think I can ever say I truly like her)…. Not only that, but she made me sympathise with her too. For as long as I can remember I have disliked Hera with a burning passion, I hated how she always punished the victims of Zeus instead of the God himself. In everything I read she always came across as a victim blamer, and torturer, and I just couldn’t stand that in any way. And so my hatred for this Goddess continued to slowly build until I picked up this wonderful book. The more engrossed I became in this retelling of Hera, the more I found myself sympathising with this scorned Goddess, and while I can’t condone any of her actions, I can say that I understand being constantly hurt and pushed around to a point where you will blame and punish the innocent because it’s easier than trying to punish the person you are truly mad at. While this book does a great job of listing Hera’s various crimes against victims, it also takes us on the journey of how and why she is the way she is without removing any blame on her part (because she’s guilty as sin). If you’re looking for your next Greek mythology fix that will make you angrier than a hornet trapped inside a coke can then pick this one and let your feminine rage run free. F*ck the patriarchy.

Now, you may be wondering why I would want to read this book if I hated Hera so much, and it’s very simple… I will read anything that Jennifer Saint writes, and quite frankly, with the way she expertly weaves storytelling into the old myths that gives them a brand new lease of life for modern readers makes me question whether or not she is in fact a Goddess herself.

Thank you so much to Headline for sending me a gorgeous proof of this one. I can’t wait to see which deity or hero Jennifer tackles next.

[S. ≽^•⩊•^≼ I'm not here yet · Rating 4 out of 5]

"you can’t banish an idea once it’s been born"

Hera, forever the ruler of her own destiny by Jennifer Saint, if I didn't know her works better, gave up it and that would be a mistake!


QUOTES with some minor spoilers maybe

The gods created humans, but now Hera is seeing humans create gods, just as Athena told her they did: in their artworks, in their poems and plays, in their philosophising. She isn’t sure now that they need the actual gods at all – only the versions of them they construct for themselves.
And the balance of power has shifted so far that it’s the gods who need them.

*****

At the lush, rolling vineyards, she sometimes thinks she spots the laughing eyes of Dionysus in a jovial winemaker selling his wares. In the forests, she’s convinced she catches a flash of Artemis, running in pursuit of a stag, or else she recognises her determined jawline in a defiant girl. In smoky forges, where blacksmiths wipe the sweat from their brows, she feels the patience of Hephaestus; and she is certain that Ares still runs wild on the battlefields, filling every fighter’s heart with his destructive rage. Hestia is there, of course, in every kindly friend, at every welcoming hearth.
She wonders where they see her – in rebellious wives, she hopes, in the iron souls of powerful queens, in resilient girls who find the strength to keep going.

Elektra 5⭐️https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Atalanta 5⭐️https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Amanda fitzjarrell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Watching paint dry would’ve been more climactic then the plot

[Book of the Month]

Why I Love It
By Rachael Burlette

What makes certain retellings stand out from others? For me, it’s confronting the villain of the story and creating a more complex character that allows us to look at a story we’ve heard time and time again in a new light. Jennifer Saint’s latest book, Hera, does just that. With intricate storytelling, Saint creates a new narrative for one of Greek mythology’s most notoriously unlikable figures.

We’ve all heard of Hera—immortal goddess, sister, and wife to Zeus, who did not tolerate Zeus’ infidelity. But what if there was a different side to Hera’s story? After the defeat of their father Cronos, Hera and Zeus take over Olympus. As she observes her husband, she begins to question if Zeus is any better a ruler than Cronos and her own role as queen. In trying to understand her place in this world, Hera will have to face larger questions about what it takes to rule and what she must do if she truly wants to create a better world.

There is something truly special about a story that can flip the script and make you root for a character that has historically been deemed wicked. I found myself loving this portrayal of Hera and eagerly turning pages to discover more of her story. Hera captures a side of Greek mythology I haven’t read before and should not be missed by anyone looking for a truly epic story.

[MimSy · Rating 5 out of 5]

От край време харесвам историите за неразбраните герои, които са съвкупност от сложни емоции, и мисли. Сейнт за пореден път не ме разочарова с разказа си за Царицата на Боговете.
- Не забравяй, че много от нас ненавиждат Зевс толкова, колкото и ти, дъще на Кронос, при това по-отдавна от теб.
Историята на Хера е именно това, как от войн изправил се срещу жестокият си баща бива принизена от брат си до съпруга, на която изневеряват. И въпреки това гордостта е най-голямата тегоба на всички в книгата и историята от както свят светува.
Виждаме една също не лека вътрешна борба, както и външна, защото тя се противи с всеки жест, и всяка подбрана дума. Как нейните деца не са признати, а само тези от изневерите на Зевс. (Като изключим Арес и Хефест).
Също ми беше много интересен преразказа за раждането на Тифон. Съюзите, които успя и не успя да сключи Хера.
А финала точно в стила на авторката.

[Rebecca Mann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is a testament to a woman who only wants what is rightfully hers.
Saint demonstrates the generational cycles from Uranus to Cronus to Zeus. How each is entitled, greedy for power, and selfish.

”Hera, Goddess of marriage. Doesn’t that please you?”
“Is that what they call me?”
“It’s what you are,” he says. “It’s the title I’m giving you. What else could you be?”
Once, she thinks, there were so many answers to that question.
It’s a reminder now and always that no matter who she was before, in the eyes of the world she is Zeus’s wife.

Saint shows how the lesser Olympians are the ones who are the ones who end up being the most important and influential to the workings of the human world.

By demonstrating the importance, yet snide undercutting and power-grabbing, the insulting and vindictive gods, Saint shows that there is no real hero in Greek myth.
Indeed, everything seems more a tragedy.

As a side note, I would love a book on Athena after this book. She is disliked by so many and yet delivers her cutting lines with such clear wisdom despite her antagonism.

Ranking:
1. Atalanta
2. Hera
3. Elektra

Thank you to Headline Audio for providing the arc in exchange for a review.

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[Άννα Morta 💀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone. Everyone. Anyone. Hera. 🦚🇬🇷👑

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

"She wonders where they see her - in rebellious wives, she hopes, in the iron souls of powerful queens, in resilient girls who find the strength to keep going."

As a person who has had a deep interest in Greek Mythology since childhood, these retellings, really were an amazing find for me. I have found myself able to get lost in an ancient and captivating world, full of history and myth, with the most interesting characters. One of those characters, that is always intense and captivating on her own is, of course, Hera.

Hera is, most likely, one of the most disliked members of the Olympian Gods. And it is easy to understand why, for instead of directing her fury and hatred towards Zeus, she often directed it to the poor women, or Goddesses or Titanesses, that were victims of his actions, or even their children. Still, she remains one of the most interesting Olympians, exactly because of the role she played in the story of so many heroes, but also due to her own feelings towards her domain and duties.

Jennifer Saint explores all this in "Hera". She does not try to redeem an irredeemable character, but tries to allow the reader to understand and realize the events that made her act the way she did. And for that, I really enjoyed this novel. This is a book with depth and complexity, that spans almost the entirety of Olympian rule, until the age where humans become greater than even what the Gods that created them could predict. It is a book full of Gods and Goddesses, Titans and Titanesses, nymphs and heroes, their myths and legends, their actions and their fights and pettiness... but also, the moments in which they found themselves a (dysfunctional, but real) family.

For all this and for the fact that this is a Greek Mythology retelling that focuses on a Goddess, instead of a human that was affected by the actions of the divine, this story felt fresh and immersive and I loved it! It felt like, through Hera, the reader could stand amongst the councils of the Olympians and their discussions, see their decisions and their fights first hand, it was fascinating!

But this book is also good at bringing out emotion! While Hera is often ruthless and terrible, it does come from a place of deep suffering and a constant humiliation by Zeus, something that humanizes her, in a sense. It was also really interesting to read about her relationships with other deities and I especially loved reading her scenes with, Hestia, Klymene and Ekhidna! I liked how she could relate to them in a deeper way and be more honest with her feelings of betrayal, hurt and hatred for Zeus. And finally, I also liked how she started to connect more with humans, by the final chapters of the book.
In a way, she is a relatable figure not because she is a great Queen of the Gods, but because she was forced to be a wife, expected to be subversive and even expected to carry children. She is a goddess and a queen, a Titan slayer, the one who fought and won against Cronus himself, but was she not treated much the same as a regular woman? I think that is a point of connection to humanity not all Olympians can reach quite in the same way!

All in all, I loved this book and my only complaint is that I wish it was longer, since so many myths I love to read about were only mentioned in passing (even though I understand why, of course). There are a lot of deities present in this story, alongside Hera, and a lot of detail, which will, for sure, make me read this book again! I especially loved the fact that Iris was present in the story too and throughout so many scenes! I definitely have a soft spot for her and am always extra happy when she is mentioned in books of this genre! This was a great read, for sure!!

[Emily Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I normally enjoy books with an unlikeable character as the main protagonist, so I was really excited about this one. Unfortunately, I feel as though it didn’t really meet my expectations.

Jennifer Saint’s writing is gorgeous, and I really enjoyed that aspect of the book, but her Hera fell flat.

To me, she was almost one-dimensional, and some chapters felt like less of an exploration of Hera as a complex mythological character, and more like a recitation of myths that featured her.

She was surprisingly inactive? For a feminist retelling, Hera wasn’t powerful in the way I would have liked. I felt like Hera relied on the other people around her to work on her behalf, and never really found her own strength, or made Zeus pay for everything he had done. It was basically just circumstance that led her to end up where she did.

It’s a shame because I really enjoyed Ariadne and I’m a big fan of Greek retellings, but this just didn’t do it for me. I’m sure other people will enjoy it more, but I think I’ve read such a lot of retellings that my standard is super high now.

Also, I was thrown off by the narrator’s pronunciation of some names and places. I know some names can vary in pronunciation but it was quite jarring to hear some being said so wrongly, and it kept pulling me out of it. Other than that, the narrator was great though.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wildfire for giving me this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Aya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Още когато обявиха, че последната книга на Дженифър Сейнт от тази поредица ще е "Хера", нямах търпение да я прочета. Заобичах "Ариадна", в "Електра" харесах много историята на Клитемнестра, а "Аталанта" ми беше so-so. Но историята на олимпийската царица знаех, че ще е много любопитна, предвид какви неща знам за нея от митовете.

"Хера", подобно на "Аталанта", е разказана само и единствено от самата богиня, за разлика от книгите "Ариадна" и "Електра" (там историята се разказваше винаги от няколко персонажа). Ако сте чели предишните книги на Сейнт, ще забележите различното изграждане в "Хера". Стилът на авторката е еволюирал, като тя задълбава доста повече в душевността на главния си персонаж.

Хера е един от най-комплексните персонажи в древногръцката митология. Богиня, царица, съпруга, майка, войн и още много, много. В нея бушуват много различни емоции, като всяка от тях се мъчи да надделее над всички останали. Гневът винаги е вървял редом до името на богинята, но Сейнт се е опитала да обясни на какво и защо се дължи той. Най-хубавото е, че не се опитва да оправдае главната си героиня, а просто да даде обяснение. Както споменах по-горе - Хера е много комплексен и сив персонаж, с който в дадени моменти ще сте съгласни, в други не. Понякога ще я разбирате, понякога не.

Няма да задълбавам в самия сюжет, тъй като предполагам, че знаете това-онова за богинята. Мога да кажа, че структурата на романа е изградена благодарение на крайъгълните камъни, които оформят цялостната история на Хера - титаномахията, сватбата със Зевс, провъзгласяването ѝ за пазителка на брака, раждането на децата ѝ, похожденията на съпруга ѝ и така нататъка. Ако четете митовете за богинята, със сигурност ще останете с впечатлението, че тя не е правила друго освен да отмъщава и да интригантства, но Дженифър Сейнт се е опитала да вдъхне разбиране зад действията на богинята. Със сигурност е имало причини за всичко, което е правила, но древногръцката митология не се е занимавала с тях.

За финал мога да кажа, че ако обичате митове и легенди, "Хера" е за вас. Сейнт отваря вратичката на това какво стои зад всяко действие на богинята, а това е изключително важно и интересно. Древногръцките митове доста пъти разглеждат само едната страна на проблема и в повечето случаи това не е страната на жените. Много ми хареса и ми беше любопитно да се потопя отново в историите около боговете и техните, понякога, крайно нелогични действия.

[Syndi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought Hera with a hope that I will be entertained by a good Greek gods story. Turns out the book is zonk. The family history is very confusing.

I know Miss Saint is trying to contrast the old gods and new gods. But... way too many characters woven into one.

2 stars

[Mylissa B · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 30%. Nothing was happening and it was so boring

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this book out through my local public library via Libby since they had it available for rental. I’ve read Jennifer Saint novels before so I wanted to give this one a try when I saw that it was released somewhat recently.

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“Hera” is a classical retelling of the Greek myth surrounding the wife of Zeus. Hera is seen as the sister-wife of Zeus and the daughter of Cronos and his sister-wife Rhea. Instead of being eaten like their siblings, Hera and Zeus are spirited to safety by Rhea and Gaia.

After Zeus takes over as ruler with the assistance of Hera and the other Olympians, Hera begins to suspect that Zeus is going to turn into a tyrant like their father and grandfather before him. She now tasks herself with a way to prevent this from happening.

Even though she is typically seen as a jealous wife, wicked stepmother, or a victim-blaming instrument of the patriarchy, this novel portrays Hera as a powerful queen who uses ruthlessness as needed but is also compassionate, strategic, and ambitious. Will she be successful?

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I got bored with this one when I first tried it and didn’t get very far before I put it down. I’m a mood reader so I sometimes just am not in the mood for certain genres. This seems to be the case with Greek myth just like anything else.

I decided to give this one a second try after completing my yearly reading goal for 2024 and I’m glad I did. I wasn’t bored this time so I suppose I’m in as close of a Greek myth retelling as I’ll ever be. I knew almost nothing about Hera before reading this book so this was a treat.

I’m not sure how I feel about Hera, though I’m glad for the insight into how she thinks since I knew next to nothing about her. I knew, walking into reading this novel, that I wouldn’t like Zeus and I wasn’t surprised to find that this is the case for this novel as well.

I’m happy with the amount of description used for the nature in this novel since I’ve always been a huge lover of nature. I love spending time outdoors whenever I can, which is sometimes difficult since I work night shifts for my employer.

I didn’t realize that I would be learning as much about the Greek myths as I have through reading Jennifer’s books and I’m glad for it, especially when diving into the Dark Olympus novels by Katee Robert. I have enjoyed reading the actual myths rather than a modern take on it.

The one draw-back I have on this retelling is that even though this is more of a feminist retelling, in my opinion, I still find Hera to be quite petulant and childish. I suppose that’s more of a nod to people’s public perception of her but I still find it a bit annoying. Oh well. That’s just me.

That’s not to say I don’t understand some of the choices she made or why she made them. Her power was taken from her and she was given a placeholder title just to placate her. I understand that she felt like Zeus was making a fool of her title but that’s no real excuse for murder.

But, again, this is all just my personal opinion. I found Hera to be insufferable as we dive further into the book but that didn’t stop me from wanting to read this book in its entirety. I will say that this book does give me more insight into Hera as a “person” and as a character.

Seeing this original take on Hera has been an enjoyable read, now that I’m in the mood for it. I would definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a more classical retelling of the myth without the modern-day touches that a lot of retellings have. I promise it’s worth your time!

[Nads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this! I just LOVE Jennifer Saint and everytime she brings a new book out, I can't request it fast enough!
This feminist retelling follows Hera, Goddess of Marriage and Wives, Wife of Zeus and Queen of the God's. Having only learnt about Hera from Greek plays, short stories or the odd non fiction book by Stephen Fry, I went into this book with a negative view of Hera. She has always been portrayed to be nothing but a jealous wife obsessed with power and having Zeus under her control.
And yet with every retelling that Saint writes, we consider a different point of view that actually would make a lot more sense and doesn't demonise women in the way that most Myths do. In this novel, Hera is a goddess yes, but a woman all the same, with feelings and emotions. I wouldn't say the book flows naturally. Greek Mythology is made of many different stories with many time lapses between them so at times, I felt as though the book was slightly disjointed and could be seen as going through the motions to include each tale Hera was prevalent in. HOWEVER!!! There is no other way it could have been done and actually what it gives us is a view to how Hera may have dealt with and felt about each of the famous events. We see her love, her hate, her flaws, her strengths. We see a woman and I really enjoyed it. Thank you netgalley and wildfire!