02/20/2023
Saint (Elektra) continues to breathe new life into Greek myths in this exciting and intelligent reimagining of the story of warrior Atalanta. After Atalanta’s father, a Greek king, abandons her as an infant to die on a mountainside, she’s rescued by a bear and later comes under the protection of Artemis, goddess of hunting, who raises her among nymphs and orders her to fend off men. When Greek hero Jason begins gathering Greece’s greatest warriors to join his quest for the Golden Fleece, Artemis chooses Atalanta, who’s honed her skills at archery, as her representative on the Argonauts. On her way to join the crew, she encounters Meleager, a king’s son, who’s also en route to join up. She overcomes skepticism from her comrades and proves her worth on the perilous journey as they battle monsters, six-armed giants, and hostile soldiers. Readers familiar with the original will appreciate Saint’s thoughtful creation of an inner life for her protagonist, who struggles to reconcile her chaste upbringing with the passions Meleager inspires. For readers who can’t get enough of feminist retellings, this will more than do the trick. (May)
Praise for Atalanta:
A Most Anticipated Book (Goodreads, Cosmopolitan, Reader’s Digest, BookRiot, Tor.com, The Nerd Daily, Gizmodo, SheReads, Beyond the Bookends, BookTrib., and more!)
“Sensational… Readers looking for an incredible female author to add to their shelves should pick up Saint’s entire collection.”
—Reader’s Digest
“The Greek warrior gets her hero’s story as she goes on a quest for the iconic Golden Fleece.”
—Cosmopolitan
“Incredible…A novel full of passion and adventure, where many different myths come together in a bright, joyous tapestry.”
—The Nerd Daily
“In this feminist reclamation of Atalanta’s mythology, we see her fighting for her place in a patriarchal world and proving herself capable beyond anyone’s dreams for her.”
—BookRiot
“Another whirlwind retelling of mythic proportions… In a world where men continually try to contain her, Atalanta must carve out her own place and leave her legendary mark on the world.”
—BookTrib.
“Captivating…The ending is so beautiful it makes every moment leading up to it worth the wait. In her acknowledgements, Saint says she hopes the novel will make readers fall as in love with Atalanta as she did—and her quest has been fulfilled.”
—Kirkus
“Bold…A compelling story about a powerful, observant warrior who loves a good, honorable fight.”
—Booklist
“A stunning retelling filled with breathtaking adventure, Atalanta brings to life a heroine who stands tall among the ancient gods and heroes of legend.”
—Sue Lynn Tan, author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess
“Saint deftly draws the reader into the legends of Atalanta, bringing the world of ancient Greece alive. The detail and description is lush: you can hear the rustle of the green leaves and taste the salty spray of the sea as the Argo rides forth on its quest. A story of adventure and love against all odds, this is an ancient tale limned with gold.”
—Luna McNamara, author of Psyche and Eros
“Absolutely beautiful. This is a retelling that fully inhabits the magical realm of myth while losing none of its human heart. Atalanta is a lyrical, exciting and deeply poignant tale of one woman's remarkable life—and I cannot wait to read it again.”
—Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den and The House with the Golden Door
Praise for Jennifer Saint’s Novels:
“A powerful glimpse of ancient Greece.” —Washington Post
“A vivid reimagining.” —Harper’s Bazaar
"Engrossing...A page-turner." —Glamour
“Wildly compelling.” —BuzzFeed
“Spellbinding.” —Book Riot
“Poignant and necessary.” —Paste Magazine
"Circe fans would do well to take note." —Bustle
“Enchanting." —Publishers Weekly
“Complex—and bold.” —Booklist
“Fascinating and unpredictable." —Chicago Review of Books
Beth Eyre narrates this Greek epic featuring the famed runner and huntress Atalanta. The heroine's full life is drawn in the first person. First, she's abandoned and left to die by her royal father. She's raised by Artemis in the Arcadia woods. Then she joins Jason's Argonauts on the quest for the Golden Fleece. Atalanta must battle all sorts of monsters and beasts, including the sexist kind, to prove herself and earn glory. Eyre's British accent gives the production the feeling of a literary classic--although better sound editing would have improved the listening experience. Nevertheless, Eyre's performance remains constant and matched the story's epic tone. S.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Beth Eyre narrates this Greek epic featuring the famed runner and huntress Atalanta. The heroine's full life is drawn in the first person. First, she's abandoned and left to die by her royal father. She's raised by Artemis in the Arcadia woods. Then she joins Jason's Argonauts on the quest for the Golden Fleece. Atalanta must battle all sorts of monsters and beasts, including the sexist kind, to prove herself and earn glory. Eyre's British accent gives the production the feeling of a literary classic--although better sound editing would have improved the listening experience. Nevertheless, Eyre's performance remains constant and matched the story's epic tone. S.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
2023-03-14
A baby girl is left to die on a mountainside but survives under the goddess Artemis’ protection.
Deep in the Arcadian forest, secluded from Greek society, Atalanta grows into a formidable huntress. She’s faster than any mortal, independent, and confident. In other words, she’s made in Artemis’ image, and the goddess has plans for her. She sends Atalanta to join the quest for the Golden Fleece to bring glory to her name. Atalanta, who has never been among other people, let alone a group of men—some the sons of gods, others the greatest heroes and adventurers in the land—must prove herself worthy of her place in history. Most of the crew of the Argo, her fellow Argonauts, don’t make it easy, but she does find allies, including the famed Orpheus and an uncharacteristically egalitarian fellow named Meleager who becomes her lover as they journey for the legendary fleece. While all the Argonauts encounter tests of their strengths, Atalanta alone faces constant disdain. How can a woman be among the world’s best warriors, a hero poets will sing about for all time? To most minds, it’s impossible. And even when she proves them wrong, they find ways to diminish her. It’s not just people Atalanta has to worry about, either. Like most other gods and goddesses, Artemis is a demanding and punishing champion. Author Saint—author of Elektra (2022) and Ariadne (2021)—has written another captivating protagonist who challenges the status quo to demonstrate the power of women when the odds stack against them. While the story sags here and there, the ending is so beautiful it makes every moment leading up to it worth the wait. In her acknowledgements, Saint says she hopes the novel will make readers fall as in love with Atalanta as she did—and her quest has been fulfilled.
This contemporary rendition of Greek mythology gives the heroine’s journey its due.
