RaveBuzzfeedSaint follows up her lovely debut Ariadne with another retelling of Greek mythology...This time Saint tackles one of the best-known stories from Greek mythos—the fall of Troy and the subsequent repercussions—by following three pivotal women...In Troy, Cassandra longs for Apollo to grant her the gift of foresight, but when she refuses to have sex with him, he curses her...She will become the most powerful seer in history, but no one will ever believe a word she says...In the future, Elektra, Clytemnestra and Agamemnon’s daughter, grapples with her father’s bloody choices and her mother’s constant anger, though she finds her father more sympathetic than her mother...She wants to escape the curse that plagues the House of Atreus, of kin murdering kin generation after generation, but she wonders if it’s possible to break free of destiny...As gorgeously written as her debut, this feminist historical fantasy is a must-read for anyone who enjoys Greek mythology.
Maria Dahvana Headley
PositiveBuzzfeedOf the four translations I’ve read, Headley’s is the most readable and engaging. She combines a modern poetry style with some of the hallmarks of Old English poetry, and the words practically sing off the page. Her impetus for translating the text was specifically the depiction of Grendel’s mother as monstrous in previous translations, despite her not being characterized as such in the original. In fact, Headley argues that the closest translation for how Grendel’s mother is described in Old English is \'formidable noblewoman.\' ... Headley’s translation shows why it’s vital to have women and people from diverse backgrounds translate texts. If you haven’t read Beowulf before, start with Headley’s version, and if you have read Beowulf before, then it’s time to read it again.
