Hera, Jennifer Saint
As a detailed introduction to the multi-faceted queen of the gods, Hera achieves what it sets out to do – to provide a backstory to how she became one of the most hated gods of Greek mythology without justifying her actions. With detailed descriptions throughout, this book would be more suited to those who are less knowledgeable on Greek mythology; however, Saint does provide fresh viewpoints through which to interpret these figures.
Hera does not shy away from the more disturbing details of the mythology, particularly the sexual subjugation of its key female figures that shape a significant amount of Hera’s story. The effects of patriarchy run riot throughout Hera, allowing readers to understand some of the suffering that led to Hera’s consequent and unforgivable atrocities; it’s a call out to all the women and girls whose sacrifices have gone unappreciated, who bear the pain of their unchanged history, and who do their best to keep going.
By the end of this book, I truly felt all the emotions possible towards her. However, I did not feel an emotional connection throughout. At times, this connection felt lost as a result of the novel’s writing style, as it often felt I was being told the events rather than experiencing them alongside Hera. Although the first two-thirds of the book were relatively slow-paced, I sped through the last quarter with so much enjoyment that I was left with a hopeful, fuzzy feeling.
This was my first book by Saint and will by no means be my last, as I look forward to uncovering new stories to satisfy my curiosity about this fascinating mythology.
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