The House of Atreus: Clytemnestra's Bind by Susan C. Wilson
From women-led publisher Neem Tree Press comes this fiery first instalment in an epic three-part Greek mythology series. Perfect for fans of CIRCE and THE SONG OF ACHILLES.
Synopsis:The House of Atreus is spiralling 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 towards the wealthy citadel of Troy, his ambitions threaten to destroy the family Clytemnestra loves once more. 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.
My review:
After destroying her world, Agamemnon claims the throne and makes
Clytemnestra his wife. Although she desperately wants to kill him, she can’t. As
a man, if Agamemnon avenged deaths, he was a hero, yet if Clytemnestra did the
same thing, she would be damned, and so would any future children she is forced
to have. So, for the time being she has to go along with the marriage and eventually
gives birth to three of Agamemnon’s children: Iphigenia, Electra and Orestes.
This book is heart-breaking, Clytemnestra goes through
unimaginable pain throughout her story, but her strength, courage, and
determination keep her going. Every time you think Agamemnon can’t get any
worse, he does. I really hated him! Even though Clytemnestra’s children are the
centre of her world, Electra and Orestes will be her eventual undoing. However,
Iphigenia and Clytemnestra have such a close bond, and this was one of my
favourite parts of the story. I also enjoyed reading how the relationship
between Aegisthus and Clytemnestra developed over the years.
I thoroughly enjoyed Clytemnestra's Bind, I am familiar with her story, there have been numerous modern
retellings, but this one is different. The way the author wrote about the
trauma Clytemnestra's goes through from losing her first husband and baby son
made this version very human. Reading the story from Clytemnestra’s point of
view also helps the reader understand her later motivations. The historical
accuracy of the culture, fashion and rites was also a huge bonus for me.
What an amazing debut novel! I finished this book in a few sittings
and I am genuinely excited to read book 2.
The House of Atreus: Clytemnestra’s Bind is now available to buy here!
Author bio:
Susan C Wilson is a working-class author from Scotland. She has a degree in journalism and a diploma in classical studies from the Open University. By day, she works as an administrator in the Scottish Courts, where she learns fascinating things about human nature. As a writer, Wilson aims to make ancient stories resonate with a modern audience. Her debut novel, Clytemnestra’s Bind was long listed for the Mslexia Novel Competition in 2019.
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