This latest re-telling from the author offers a different perspective of the Queen of the Gods in an immensely drama packed story.
Greek mythology can become quite complex and knotted in terms of timelines and how each character interlinks and forms into other stories, yet once again Jennifer Saint manages to make it as straight forward as possible while offering a fierce and flawed portrayal of Hera that makes for compelling reading.
Wife and sister of Zeus, Hera’s story is one of struggle and determination as she tries to forge a life of her making and acceptance that she is equally worthy of the power that Zeus wields but she is never acknowledged for just always tangibly out of her reach . Being of no meek and mild temperament, Hera comes up with a variety and increasingly vengeful ways to try and wrestle control from Zeus which has disastrous consequences.
By focusing on Hera, a Goddess and not a mere mortal, Jennifer Saint’s prose comes even more vividly to life truly making the reader believe that they are walking alongside Hera – not matter what we think of her actions. Taking us from Olympus to the mortal world, there are plenty of beautiful descriptions of scenery and characters that draw the reader effectively into the drama unfolding.
She is also able to deftly intertwine other Greek mythological stories as well, just lingering enough over them to give enough context without losing what the centre of the story is about: Hera and trying to create a better world against Zeus’s tyrannical rule.
One coming away from the book will think perhaps that it is difficult to care as much about the actions of the Gods and Goddess’s on Mount Olympus and the reasons behind their behaviour as opposed to the mortal characters such as Ariadne because emotionally they are very separate from the world below. This being said, it is still fascinating to see the way in which the two different worlds collide and the consequences of one on the other.
Emotionally, it is slightly lacking in connection than we have come to expect from Saint’s previous offerings, but the attention to detail and closer examination on how tactical Hera was in her actions ensures that book is continuously gripping to read. It offers an opportunity to humanise the Greek Gods and Goddesses which is a fascinating take.
The whole book has a feel of a cat and mouse game between Hera and Zeus, with the others flitting in and out as they please. We end up seeing Hera as the only immortal willing to stand up to Zeus – no matter what the consequences are for herself, but it is difficult not to wonder what it would have been like had she not chosen to create monsters or dealt with her son Hephaestus (their relationship could have been delved into a little more detail I feel).
Packed with intensity and drama while written with poetic flair, this take on Hera and her story has plenty to offer no matter how well versed you are with Greek mythology – but it is just lacking in emotional connection to give it that soul that Saint’s previous novels have offered in abundance.
By Emma Clarendon
Hera is available to buy and download now.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐