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Clytemnestra's Bind (The House of Atreus #1) by Susan C. Wilson: A Book Review

Clytemnestra’s Bind (The House of Atreus #1)

Author: Susan C. Wilson 

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy 

Publisher: Neem Tree Books

Publication Date: 2024

Pages: 288

Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review 

Synopsis: Clytemnestra’s Bind is a bold and brutal first-person retelling that redefines her story, unveiling the untold depths of her soul and the legacy she forged as a mother, wife, and queen.


     Queen Clytemnestra's world shatters when Agamemnon, a rival to the throne of Mycenae, storms her palace, destroys her family and claims not only the throne but Clytemnestra herself. Tormented by her loss, she vows to do all she can to protect the children born from her unhappy marriage to him. But when her husband casts his ruthless gaze towards the wealthy citadel of Troy, his ambitions threaten to once more destroy the family Clytemnestra loves.


     From one of Greek mythology's most reviled characters—a woman who challenged the absolute power of men—comes this fiery tale of power, family rivalry and a mother's burning love.


       My Review: Clytemnestra is one of Greek mythology’s most ruthless queens. She is known for murdering her husband, King Agamemnon of Mycenae. However, this book gives a different understanding of Clytemnestra. Ever since Agamemnon destroyed her family and forced her to marry him, Clytemnestra secretly hates him. However, when Agamemnon sacrifices her beloved daughter for the sake of war, Clytemnestra vows revenge.


     I have always found Clytemnestra to be a very tragic figure. She has to marry a man who killed her son and husband. Then Agamemnon kills her daughter, at which point she has had enough of his cruelty. In this novel, Clytemnestra is a strong woman. She is very resilient and intelligent. I like how she is portrayed as a pote queen. I also like her romance with Aegisthus and how she hopes she could find love again. Therefore, Clytemnestra is a commendable queen! I wished that her ending would have been different!


      Overall, this book is about motherhood, loss, and revenge. Even though I like Clytemnestra, I found all the other characters to be one-dimensional with no real depth. I also didn’t care for the brutal, graphic scenes in this book and thought that they were unnecessary. So far, I have read four books on Clytemnestra. I liked this book more than Constanza Casati’s version. However, I did not enjoy it as much as Victoria Grossack and Alice Underwood's version as well as Penelope Haines’s novel. Still, this book is well-written and the author did a wonderful job in making the Bronze Age of Greece come alive! I also like how Clytemnestra is portrayed as a misunderstood but powerful queen! Clytemnestra’s Bind is an emotional journey that is perfect for fans of Greek mythology! I recommend this for fans of Helen of Sparta, Cassandra, and Hand of Fire!


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars


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