There’s no better endorsement I can give a book, than starting it and finishing it in a single day. I couldn’t put this novel down. The Agamemnon side of the Trojan war is a fascinating one, as it provides for the culmination of a much more ancient myth, that of Tantalus and his cursed line. The angles chosen are also very interesting. I always thought that if Agamemnon and Clytemnestra were to compete in the awful people Olympics, they would tie for gold in all categories. I think this book, despite being a feminist retelling, doesn’t shy away from that type of depiction. Clytemnestra is so single minded in her quest for revenge, she doesn’t stop to consider her husband is a victim as well, in a world where gods do demand sacrifices. If I recall correctly, Agamemnon feels extremely angry and humiliated for being forced into this sacrifice, and it is brought up again when the issue with Achilles ensues. Either way, I enjoyed this depiction of Clytemnestra that shows her sympathetically without necessarily taking her side. The contrast with Elektra is particularly inspired, as Oedipus’ fold is shown as everything Freud thought she was. I’m joking, Freud misappropriated these myths horribly, and Elektra is a devoted and betrayed daughter that fights for the status quo of her family for the benefit of herself and her brother. I felt very compelled by her longing for her father, especially in the face of her mother’s treachery. The contrast between the two made the novel very engaging. Cassandra also adds an interesting perspective, and I really enjoyed seeing her famous curse developed into a full narrative, it was fascinating and tragic at the same time. As always, knowing the ending makes the journey more fun to me, and I appreciated all of the details in the various sides of the story. The only nitpick I have is that Elektra is merely one third of the story, so the title doesn’t feel super earned. But that’s irrelevant when the content is so good!