I hope that you are all having a fantastic week! How was the Eclipse on Monday? Where I live, it was cloudy so we were not able to see much. It did get super dark here, though, black as midnight, and the energy felt so positive! Even the crickets and cicadas began to sing! It was an amazing experience, and my kids enjoyed it as well. Were you able to get outside?
Again, I am very happy to partake in another blog tour hosted by TheWriteReads. I love being able to take part in tours, especially those put on by TheWriteReads, because bloggers have the chance to shine a light on Indie author books and help share them with the world.
Clytemnestra’s Bind 
Author: Susan C. Wilson
Published: June 15th 2023
Publisher: Neem Tree Press
Book Length: 300 Pages
Genre: Retelling, Greek Mythology, Fantasy, Historical
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ (3.5)
Buy the book: Amazon
*I received a free copy for an honest, unbiased review.*
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 towards the wealthy citadel of Troy, his ambitions threaten, once more, to 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.
This is a Greek retelling and I will admit, I did not know of the original story prior to reading this. I think that actually working in the book’s favor, some reviews have mentioned that it is more a “inspired” by rather than a retelling. However, I think going into the book knowing nothing of the Greek mythology the story was based on made it more enjoyable for me. The worldbuilding was great and it did read as if the setting and time were properly researched. Especially the scenes that made my stomach churn with disgust at how women were treated. There should also be a trigger warning for rape.
I do have to mention that, as a mom, the beginning of the book was tough for me. Her baby is killed, and she is now in a marriage to the man responsible, expected to do her wifely duties. I think this allowed me to feel into her character more deeply. Though I may not have experienced anything like that, I can imagine losing my children that way, and I am not sure I would have been as resilient as her. Clytemnestra is a strong female main character and a very devoted mother. Though she was a strong lead, she was not my favorite character; Aegisthus was. He felt so believable, and I felt he became much more than a supporting character. As for Agamemnon, as previously mentioned, I wanted him dead at the very beginning. I despise his character, though his actions were accurate to the time of the book.
The pacing was off a few times; I felt as if I was bogged down with information, and then it settled. Personally, I feel this would have been much better as a longer book, another hundred pages or two even. This would have allowed the author sufficient time to let the story flow and slowly give information as we read. Overall, this was a decent read for me. I do recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical or Greek fantasy retellings with the warnings mentioned above.
What was the most recent retelling you’ve read?
Meet the Author
Susan C Wilson is a working-class Scottish writer. Her lifelong passion for ancient Greece was ignited as a child by stumbling across stories of gods and heroes in the dictionary. She loves to explore what makes us human: the eternal motivations, desires and instincts that cross time and place.
She has a degree in journalism from Napier University and, in preparation for writing her novels, gained a diploma in classical studies from the Open University. Clytemnestra’s Bind, her debut novel, was long-listed for the Mslexia Novel Competition 2019. It is the first in The House of Atreus trilogy and will be published by Neem Tree Press in June 2023.
Author Website: https://www.susancwilson.co.uk/
Author Twitter: @BronzeAgeWummin
Author Instagram: susancwilsonauthor
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