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There is no peace for a woman with ambition: Reviewing Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati

Hello everybody! I hope your summer is going well and you’ve found time for yourself lately. If not, this is your gentle reminder to take time out of your day for yourself. None of you will be shocked by this review as I am immediately intrigued by any book having to do with Greek mythology. I have been waiting for this book to come out for a bit now. I know it doesn’t matter too much but I am trying to stay on top of new releases. Now, let’s talk about Clytemnestra.

Content Warning: Graphic Violence, Graphic Injuries, Abuse, Sexual Assault, Sexual Content, Grief and Loss, Death of Children, Harsh Language

Clytemnestra is not a woman to be trifled with. As a princess of Sparta, she was raised to be a warrior alongside her siblings. Just when she thinks she has claimed the power she wants, she is betrayed by her own father and forced to marry the man who ruined her life. For years, Clytemnestra waits for the right moment to take down her husband, Menelaus. When he is called to fight a war against Troy, Clytemnestra seizes the opportunity to plot her revenge but that revenge may come at a cost that she is not willing to pay.

I absolutely loved Costanza Casati’s interpretation of the story of Queen Clytemnestra. I loved how complex and understandable all of the characters are made out to be in this novel. Clytemnestra is a great protagonist to follow as you want her to get her revenge. I found myself saying “good for her” more than once while reading this novel. Casati understands that women in mythology are often looked down upon and examines that aspect further throughout the story. The perspective of the story is interesting as it shows how stories like these become mythology as people look for explanations for the actions of others. This book has definitely become one of my favorite Greek mythology retellings and I would highly recommend it if you want a story with a badass woman on a quest for revenge.

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True gods have no beginning. True gods have no end: Reviewing Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long

Hi everyone! I hope you are all cozy and warm while the snow piles upon us. I know it has been a while since I posted last. I’ve been dealing with some things and my health has been a little wonky. It’s nothing that can’t be dealt with, but it’s just inconvenient. I want to feel good so I can continue reading, you know? Anyways, there’s nothing like a good book to make you feel better. Let’s talk about Hall of Smoke.

Content Warning: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Blood and Gore, Graphic Descriptions of Bodily Injury

Hessa prides herself on being an Eangi, a priestess of the Goddess of War. She is sent into exile by her goddess after refusing to kill a stranger. Upon returning to her village, Hessa discovers that raiders have destroyed her entire world and everyone she loved. She takes it upon herself to hunt down the stranger she failed to kill in the hope that her goddess might forgive her. On her journey, Hessa finds herself in the middle of a war between clans and gods. As everything Hessa once believed begins to fall apart around her, she must face a fate worse than death and battle against an ancient power coming to destroy everything.

Heavily inspired by Norse mythology and sagas, Hall of Smoke is an epic tale of revenge and war. I enjoyed the intricate mythology that H.M. Long creates and utilizes to drive the story. I don’t want to call Hessa a “strong female lead” because I know people tend to roll their eyes at that description but I do genuinely mean that she is a strong female lead as a compliment. I also appreciate when fantasy novels like this are still somewhat realistic when it comes to characters being tired while journeying or getting injured and having to recover. The pacing is steady and the plot has a great buildup. This is a perfect adventure fantasy for winter, so I would recommend Hall of Smoke.

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What is hell but the life I had lived?: Reviewing The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home by Joseph Fink and Jeffery Cranor

Hi everyone! I hope February is at least a slight improvement over January for you all as well. I am continuing to cope with stress by reading books in rapid succession. When I am not reading or working, I am most likely napping. Thankfully, I have two little dogs who love to take naps. That has nothing to do with this review, though. Let’s talk about The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home: A Welcome to Night Vale novel.

The faceless old woman who secretly lives in everyone’s home has been a longtime resident of Night Vale. Her current fixation is on a man named Craig, who she sabotages and loves in equal parts. She was not always this not – ghost, however. Before coming to Night Vale, she was a girl who rose from tragedy to the top of a criminal empire. Now, the faceless old woman reflects on the swashbuckling adventures and twisted paths over the decades that eventually took her to Night Vale where she has discovered her true purpose.

Much like the podcast this novel was based off of, I never knew what to expect and that was probably the best part of this novel. Each chapter was a completely new experience. I love an adventure based – novel and this delivered. It was also an excellently crafted tale of revenger with some heart to it. It certainly delivered on the existentialism and overall weirdness that is a trademark in anything related to the Welcome to Night Vale podcast. I don’t want to spoil anything so I will simply give my most sincere recommendation of this book if you are a fan of Welcome to Night Vale.