Clytemnestra
A Novel
On Sale: 03/07/2023
Clytemnestra
A Novel
On Sale: 03/07/2023
Format:
About the Book
Warrior. Mother. Murderer. Queen.
You are born to a king, but marry a tyrant. You stand helplessly as he sacrifices your child to placate the gods. You watch him wage war on a foreign shore and comfort yourself with violent thoughts of your own.
You play the part, fooling enemies who deny you justice. Slowly, you plot.
You are Clytemnestra.
But when the husband who owns you returns in triumph, what then?
Acceptance or vengeance - infamy follows both. So you bide your time and wait, until you might force the gods' hands and take revenge. Until you rise. For you understood something that the others don't. If power isn't given to you, you have to take it for yourself.
A blazing novel set in the world of Ancient Greece and told through the eyes of its greatest female protagonist, this is a thrilling tale of power and prophecies, of hatred, love, and of an unforgettable Queen who fiercely dealt out death to those who wronged her.
Critical Praise
“Clytemnestra is a literary tour de force—a novel of passion and vengeance set in Ancient Greece.” — Foreword
“Savage, passionate, and absolutely spellbinding. Costanza Casati’s recreation of Sparta is astonishing—you feel you are with Clytemnestra, completely immersed in the brutal world she inhabits with her siblings, whose complex relationships are drawn with skill and tenderness. Clytemnestra’s rage, her heartbreak, and her determination radiate off the page—I was utterly gripped.” — Elodie Harper, bestselling author of The Wolf Den
"What a pleasure to fall in love with Clytemnestra through the mind of Costanza Casati, who renders a singularly vibrant Greece, populated by familiar characters and absolutely alive with emotion and suspense. Casati reveals a Clytemnestra we’ve never met before: fiercely intelligent, passionate, and loving – and willing to do anything to avenge the ones she loves." — Naomi Krupitsky, New York Times bestselling author of The Family
"Ablaze with transporting moments of deep tenderness and visceral ferocity, Casati's Clytemnestra gives the phrase 'fight like a girl' its rightfully heroic and empowering meaning! Beautifully told in a style that pays nimble homage to classic Greek mythology, Clytemnestra is a rich and compelling read, and even more so for every woman who has ever had to fight in any arena of life to reclaim her power. I thoroughly enjoyed Casati's Clytemnestra, and highly recommend it as a brilliant and exceptional new addition to the pantheon of Greek myth retelling must-reads!” — Buki Papillon, author of An Ordinary Wonder
“Crackles with vivid fury, passion and strength. A powerful, thought-provoking portrayal of a fascinating and complicated woman framed in beautiful prose. I loved it.” — Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne and Electra
"Bold and elegant, Costanza Casati’s debut bursts onto the page in flashes of light. This book deconstructs Clytemnestra’s infamy and then, with tremendous empathy and wisdom, reconstructs her into an enthrallingly complex figure filled with passion and spirit. This fiery tale of revenge and desire really is the stuff of legend—Casati’s unflinching storytelling is irresistible.” — Sarah Priscus, author of Groupies
“Powerful and sympathetic, Clytemnestra shines a light on Helen of Troy’s overshadowed sister. Crafted with page-turning suspense, Casati spins a mesmerizing story of an ambitious warrior queen who must use all her skill to protect herself and those she loves from men who view women not as equals, but as pawns to be sacrificed upon the altars of lust, greed, and fame. An ancient and intriguing tale made fresh for today’s 21st century battles.” — Liz Michalski, author of Darling Girl
“Clytemnestra redefines the retelling genre with a heroine who, instead of enduring suffering, avenges it. Complex characters, stylish writing and a glimpse into the heart of one of history’s most reviled women – Casati’s Clytemnestra is a self-determined warrior queen." — Annie Garthwaite, acclaimed author of Cecily
“A blaze of a novel, fiery and furious - and alight with murderous revenge. Like Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint, Casati offers the female perspective on the old, patriarchal tropes of the Greek myths.” — Daily Mail (London)
“Rivals House of the Dragon in conspiracies and feminine brutality. Here is a complex and courageous woman, all flesh and blood, simmering with passion. Facing the grimmest of betrayals, Clytemnestra's ruthless desire for revenge powers a thrilling plot. This is an electrifying read that shocks and fascinates in equal measure.” — Liz Fremantle, the critically acclaimed author of Queen's Gambit
“A heroine of fierce spirit caught in a world ruled by men, finding a way through with a sharp, unquenchable courage. With the fire and spark of Madeline Miller and the depths of Mary Renault, Clytemnestra will keep you reading well into the small hours, and your dreams will be of worlds where women reach for the gods.” — Manda Scott
“Clytemnestra, whose name has come to epitomise female wickedness, has found a worthy advocate in Costanza Casati and this fascinating Greek myth retelling . . . Casati brings the blood-soaked world of Greek mythology fully alive in this powerful novel.” — Woman & Home (UK)
“A swift-paced telling of the story of Clytemnestra, the fierce but loving princess of often-brutal Sparta . . . The easy-to-follow storytelling and well-rounded characters in the novel really draw in the reader.” — i
“A thrilling reimagining of an infamous Greek figure.”
— RED
“A thrilling tale of power and prophecies, and the fierce Queen who fought back at those who wronged her.” — Cosmopolitan
“If magical mythological books call your name, Clytemnestra is the one for you.” — Glamour
“If magical mythological books call your name, Clytemnestra is the one for you.” — Scotsman
“A passionate picture of a fiercely patriarchal society and her heroine's refusal to be bound by its rules.”
— Sunday Times (London)
Product Details
- ISBN: 9781443470384
- ISBN 10: 1443470384
- Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers
- On Sale: 03/07/2023
- Pages: 448
- List Price:26.99 CAD
- BISAC1 : FICTION / Classics
- BISAC2 : FICTION / Historical / Ancient
- BISAC3 : FICTION / Historical
