This review is also found on Behind the Pages: Clytemnestra's Bind

Thank you to Netgalley and Neem Tree Press for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

The prelude to Clytemnestra’s Bind immediately sets the overall tone of the book. Readers will lay witness to the atrocities leading to the family curse, and the seemingly never-ending cycle of revenge. What begins as a horrific meal unfolds into a tale of brutality and neglect as Agamemnon reclaims his father’s throne and disposes of almost everyone Clytemnestra loves.

When Clytemnestra’s family is torn from her grasp and destroyed she becomes the shell of a woman. The emotional heartbreak she endures, while written elegantly, is torturous for the reader. Grief threatens to overwhelm Clytemnestra as she is forced into marriage with Agamemnon. Yet a small thread of hope rests within her. A hope that she will be able to break the curse of revenge.

Susan C. Wilson does not shy away from the abuse and trauma Clytemnestra and her children endure. Living in a society that does not see women as equals, but as objects to be used to better future gains is horrifying. Clytemnestra has no true power, but she does all she can to protect her children. The depth of love she has for them is clearly seen, as is the pain she feels when they experience the wrath of their father and his brutality.

Clytemnestra’s Bind is a read for those interested in Greek retellings and stories leading up to Troy. While it is tragic and deals with many harder hitting themes, this story is expertly crafted and the words flow across the page. ( )

Book source ~ TWR Tour

Queen Clytemnestra was ruling Mycenae with her husband Tantalus when a blood feud tears her world apart. At the mercy of her new husband, she is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Until she isn’t.

Wow. Greek mythology is pretty brutal, amirite? Clytemnestra may be Queen, but her life sucks. She had a pretty normal and loving childhood, but after marrying Tantalus, who is a decent husband, her life becomes a literal nightmare. Agamemnon is a total asshat in every way possible. Honestly, I would have just slowly poisoned him until he croaked. But that’s just me. This is a hard story to read. It is cruel and barbaric. I waffled between hating it and loving it. So it definitely brings the feels. Just be prepared to have your heart ripped out. That’s all I’m saying. ( )

In my last review, I shared how I was starting to feel a bit burnt out from Greek myth retellings so I was extremely cautious when starting this book, especially since it hadn't been that long since I read another retelling of Clytemnestra's story. I worried for nothing though, because Clytemnestra's Bind had me completely hooked right from the start.

"My husband is waging war overseas. How natural it feels to rule in his place, instead of listening from the shadows while he decides our destinies. When he returns, I'll arrange a celebration feast. He will not attend it."

This retelling started a lot earlier in Clytemnestra's story than I was expecting, all the way back to her first marriage with Tantalus, just before Agamemnon took everything from her - including Clytemnestra herself. What follows is a deep, painful and harrowing account of the life of this queen, forced to live with the killer of her husband and son, torn between her duty to avenge the dead and the one to protect her new living children.

I really appreciated the time the author took to explore Clytemnestra's character (who is also our narrator) and the build-up to the terrible events we all know, rather than simply retelling the exact same story. Her grief and multiple traumas are explored in great detail and really help to understand her feelings towards her children, and the sometimes tormented relationships she had with them. Her hatred towards Agamemnon honestly needs no further explanation, yet we are shown time and again just how horrible and misogynistic he could be.

The exploration and unveiling of the pervasive patriarchy in this society is something I particularly liked, especially in relation to Clytemnestra's own gradual awareness of it. Initially, she feels trapped in her role as wife and mother, hoping that by conforming to her husband's and the rest of society's expectations she might finally find the peace she longs for. And yet, this keeps eluding her and she slowly realises that it doesn't really matter what she does, because as a woman she will always be seen as inferior, an object to be used and discarded at will by the men in her life.

"She might be a poor farm wife and I a queen, but our similarities weren't lost on me. We were pieces on a gaming board to be claimed, manoeuvred, and discarded by men. Rich or poor, famous or obscure, men made the rules that ordered our lives, and they broke them. She and I were women."

Clytemnestra's resilience and her mistakes, her slow growth into the powerful and vengeful queen we were told of in the past all contributed to making her a well-rounded and fully developed character, one that I had been longing for in recent myth retellings. I also appreciated the time spent with other often-overlooked characters such as Aegistus, as their relationship slowly developed realistically and organically, and Clytemnestra's children, with the seeds of future tragedy being planted and foreshadowed throughout.

Despite knowing the story fairly well, I kept turning the pages to see what might happen next and desperately hoping for a miracle. This is a testament to the author's talent in weaving a compelling story from a well-known tale and her gorgeous writing, holding me captive well into the night and thinking about the moment I could pick this up again during the day. I am really curious to see what she will do with the rest of the story to continue the saga.

This book also includes a very handy character list, which I expect would be really helpful to anyone who is not familiar with Greek myths and their many, many characters. Also, be mindful that this does get pretty brutal at times, so make sure to check the trigger warnings first.

Overall, this is one of the best Greek myth retellings I have read so far. Definitely one not to miss if you like the genre or even if you enjoy stories about powerful women in historical settings.

CWs: This book contains mentions of death (including child death and murder), grief, misogyny and sexism, violence (including domestic abuse, sexual violence and rape), pregnancy and birth, animal death, incest, infidelity, and references to war.

I received an advanced review copy of this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley as part of the blog tour organised by TheWriteReads. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way. ( )

With the world the way it is these days (literally, the orcas are uprising), we all need some good news. And I'm here with some for all the Greek mythology fans!

Clytemnestra's Bind, the first book in The House of Atreus trilogy by Susan C Wilson, is a beautiful read! This first book is 290 pages and has been published by Neem Tree Press; and came out just last week on the 15th of June!

I am slightly biased because Taylor Swift announced her international tour dates. I will forever associate the hope of seeing my queen live with this book!

Susan C Wilson is a solid writer, and despite this being her debut novel, this book flows like a dream! You don't need to worry about being bored and trudging through the book; it holds onto you! Her prose is eloquent and effortless, eliciting a range of emotions. And this is no easy feat because while Susan C Wilson has made creative use of the myths around the trojan war and the house of Atreus, these are myths we're familiar with and can be dull when not retold well!

Wilson skillfully crafts her characters, imbuing them with depth and nuance. Clytemnestra, in particular, emerges as a compelling and multidimensional protagonist. Her struggles, motivations, and transformation are portrayed with a deft hand, making her a memorable character. I particularly loved how Wilson depicted Clytemnestra's relationship with her children, the ones she lost, and particularly Electra and Orestes, because we know the road that will take!

In conclusion, "Clytemnestra's Bind" is a five-star book that captivates readers with its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and evocative writing style. Susan C. Wilson has delivered a masterful retelling of a classic myth, showcasing her talent for storytelling and cementing her place among some of the best in the genre!

And for all the swifties out there, "Mad Woman" and "I Did Something Bad" will always be the perfect songs to go with Clytemnestra and this book! ( )