Book Review: Atalanta by Jennifer Saint

Atalanta, a champion of Artemis and warrior with the Argonauts, must navigate all facets of what it means to be a woman, lover, hero, and so much more while in the spaces and roles designed by men.

I may not have met my goal of reading all of Jennifer Saint's books by the May Hera release date, but I finally got my hands on both books and was able to finish Atalanta while my car was in the shop. It's all about the silver linings guys!

This book follows the mythical life of Atalanta, who was abandoned as an infant by her royal father since she was not a son. She was raised in the wild and became a subject of Artemis, perfecting her aim with a bow and becoming a formidable warrior. When the Argonauts come calling, she promises to represent Artemis as her champion aboard the crew, but Artemis' blessing comes with a price. She cannot marry a man, or it will be her downfall.

Atalanta 's story was that of a naïve young woman learning through hardship that the world is unfair. She is treated poorly by her fellow Argonauts, she has her heart broken by a man, she has to make choices that do not benefit her for the sake of another, and she must return to a father that abandoned her in the first place- all because she is a woman in a man's world. To me, this all felt very run-of-the mill for how most of Saint's adaptations and many other Greek myth retellings go, but what set it apart was the throughline of Atalanta's relationship with Artemis. Atalanta is reverent of the goddess and her abilities, then confused by her cruel reaction in turning one of her nymph companions into a bear since she was no longer chaste (spoiler, it was not her companion's choice to be this way). Atalanta wants Artemis' blessing to leave and be her champion with the Argonauts, but as she becomes involved with one of her fellow warriors, she desperately wishes for Artemis never to know of where she let her heart lead her. She questions the limits that Artemis places on herself and other women while also recognizing how Artemis has been able to help protect the women that call out for her- in their times of need, in childbirth, in times of war, etc. Artemis is portrayed as equal parts supporter and villain, and it is this dichotomy that ultimately makes Atalanta feel different.

I give this book a 3.5/5. I have loved the Atalanta myths since I was a grade school girlie, so this was a book that I was BEYOND PUMPED to read. But while it did include the races that suitors ran against her to win her hand in marriage, that was a very, very small portion of the book. For some reason, that was always my favorite Atalanta myth, and I just wanted more!