Disclaimer: Clytemnestra’s Bind was provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to The Write Reads for having me on this tour.
Summary
The House of Atreus is spiraling into self-destruction—a woman must find a way to break the family curse.
Queen Clytemnestra’s world shatters when Agamemnon, a rival to the throne of Mycenae, storms her palace, destroys her family, and claims not only the throne but Clytemnestra herself. Tormented by her loss, she vows to do all she can to protect the children born from her unhappy marriage to Agamemnon.
But when her husband casts his ruthless gaze toward the wealthy citadel of Troy, his ambitions threaten to once more destroy the family Clytemnestra loves.
From one of Greek mythology’s most reviled characters—a woman who challenged the absolute power of men—comes this fiery tale of power, family rivalry and a mother’s burning love.
Review
Clytemnestra’s Bind is a captivating and gruelling story of prevailing in the face of adversity.
Clytemnestra’s story has been told numerous times, and yet this particular retelling provides a twist that has you gripped from the beginning. The safety of her children from their tyrant father is paramount in Clytemnestra’s mind from the moment they are conceived. Her story is riddled with grief and pain that is weaved into every decision she makes.
This retelling provides an insight into the sheer determination and strength it took for Clytemnestra to rebuild after having those she loved most in the world taken from her much too soon. Being forced to marry the evil that took them from her is the cruellest fate she could have been given. It’s impossible to root not only for her survival, but also for her to avenge those she lost.
The most poignant moments of this book are centered around the relationships she has with her children, Iphigenia, Electra, and Orestes. Clytemnestra knew being born girls would put Iphigenia and Electra at an immediate disadvantage. Iphigenia is the calm, sweet and well-mannered eldest child that adores her mother and only aims to please those around her. Electra is fiery and difficult – the opposite of her sister. She is constantly fighting a battle for her fathers affection that she will never win. This battle has the potential to destroy the fragile relationship she has with her sister as she harms her and blames her for the lack of attention they receive from their father. The simple truth is that Agamemnon only wants a son – an heir for his throne.
Eventually, he gets his wish when Orestes is born. His demeanour turns completely to doting father after years spent avoiding and neglecting his daughters. This clearly depicts the way the ancient world had a preference for sons. Throughout the book, a light is shone on the mistreatment of women during this time period. It is obvious that they were treated as second class citizens that were simply there to birth children and carry out ‘womanly’ duties. All the while they were completely silenced in favour of being agreeable to the requests of the men around them.
Overall, I found this book to be heart-breaking, but in some ways, empowering. It felt empowering for the way Clytemnestra never gave up on her children. Truth be told, she didn’t give up on herself either. In my opinion, t wouldn’t have been surprising if she did given the trauma she’d experienced. I highly recommend reading this if you’re a fan of Greek Mythology and retellings. It is a wonderful debut, and I look forward to reading the next instalments in this series.
About the Author
Susan C Wilson has a degree in journalism from Napier University and a diploma in classical studies from the Open University. She has worked in such environments as the Scottish Courts and the Scottish Parliament.
As a writer she loves to explore what makes us human: the eternal motivations, desires, and instincts that cross time and place. She also aims to make ancient stories resonate with a modern audience, through historical fiction and contemporary retellings.
Her debut novel, The House of Atreus: Clytemnestra’s Bind was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Competition 2019 and will be published by Neem Tree Press in June 2023. This is the first of an epic trilogy and explores the Greek myth of Queen Clytemnestra from a feminist perspective.
Author Website: https://www.susancwilson.co.uk/
Author Twitter: @BronzeAgeWummin
Author Instagram: susancwilsonauthor
