THE PLOT: ‘Clytemnestra’s Bind’ by Susan C. Wilson is a feminist retelling of a Greek myth. Clytemnestra’s world shatters when Agamemnon takes the throne of Mycenae. She vows to destroy this boorish, cruel man but is forced into a loveless marriage. As she bears his children, she transmutes her enmity into a protective love for her kids. But, when Agamemnon seeks to destroy the wealthy citadel of Troy, his ambitions push Clytemnestra too far.

SUMMARY: Clytemnestra is my favourite character in Greek Mythology. A strong woman who manoeuvres like a man, she was originally supposed to be a cautionary tale, but – in modern times – she has inspired women across countries. Overall, I felt this was a sympathetic, dynamic portrayal of Clytemnestra which captured her many complexities. I also really enjoyed the rich the setting and world-building, as if I was transported to Ancient Greece. However, I found the book a bit slow and felt it could have covered the whole myth – rather than being dragged out for a sequel.

GOOD BITS:  The world-building is spot-on, as the author evokes the rich setting of ancient Mycenae. You can almost smell the incense and feel the heat of the sun in the olive groves. By focussing on the rituals that make ancient Greece so alien to our modern society, the author transports you back in time. I particularly loved how the Gods were referenced. Rather than being anthropomorphised, the Gods were shadowy yet ever-present in a way that centred the ritual in the religion. Finally, I loved how complex and nuanced Clytemnestra’s characterisation was. This felt like a realistic and moving portrayal.

NOT SO GOOD BITS: I found this book slow and cumbersome. Although the dark corners and whispers added to the setting, it slowed the pacing and made it feel a tad laborious to read. In my opinion, the author wanted to write a sequel so she ended the book with Iphigenia at Aulis (IFYKY). I would’ve preferred a snappier story with this at the midpoint, ending with Agamemnon’s return from Troy. While the author did a great job with a nuanced portrayal of Clytemnestra, I also felt the other characters – particularly Agamemnon and Electra – were one-dimensional and needed more explanation for their actions.

OVERALL: I’d recommend this book to fans of ‘The Silence of the Girls’ by Pat Barker, ‘Electra’ by Jennifer Saint, and ‘Circe’ by Madeleine Miller. If you love a mythology retelling that actually feels like Ancient Greece – as opposed to our idealised white column version – this is a book for you.

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