Staff Review – Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati

She has dared much in life and paid the consequences each time. She has been called "proud," "savage," "single-minded," "mad with ambition," "a murderess." She has been called many things, but none of those matter. "It is the will of the gods," the priestess has told her all those years ago. "You will be despised by many, hated by others, and punished. But in the end, you will be free."

Are you familiar with Clytemnestra? A memorable name, it would be quite hard to forget a woman with a name like that. However, you're likely more familiar with some of Clytemnestra's family, such as her sister Helen or her husband Agamemnon, both prominent players in the Trojan War. Personally, I think I first heard Clytemnstra's name when reading A Thousand Ships (review found here), which told the story of the Trojan War through the eyes of the many women involved and affected. However, this only told me part of Clytemnestra's story, and I was eager to learn more once I discovered this book. We meet Clytemnestra as a young woman in Sparta, daughter to King Tyndareus. Women in Sparta learn to fight, and unlike her sister Helen, Clytemnestra is one of the strongest women in Sparta. Soon, the time comes for the sisters to marry, but that only brings heartache and rage to Clytemnestra. Time goes on, and her husband Agamemnon is a tyrant and worse. As the Trojan war begins, her rage swells inside her as more unspeakable atrocities take place, and Clytemnestra's life is guided by one thing: revenge.

This story was an epic tale of loss, rage, grief and identity. Clytemnestra, as a woman in Ancient Greece, is not meant to amount to much more than someone's wife. However, through her cunning, her strength and her perseverance, she is a woman remembered and revered, both loved and feared by her people, becoming Queen of Mycenae. Her and her sister Helen received a prophecy when they were young which stated, among other things, that they would be long remembered, more than their brothers ever would be, and that absolutely came true. Castor and Polydeuces are minor characters in Clytemnestra's story and in Ancient Greece altogether, whereas Clytemnestra and Helen's names have lived on. Clytemnestra always stayed true to herself and the values she was taught at a young age, even through all her heartbreak and struggles. Strong physically and mentally, she is a force to be reckoned with.

As mentioned, Clytemnestra's story is motivated by revenge. Without revealing anything, Clytemnestra was severely wrong and deceived, beaten and mocked. Casati does a fantastic job of humanizing this woman through her pain and suffering, and while she commits terrible acts to seek her revenge, the reader can only cheer her on; getting her revenge and finally being at peace. Clytemnestra does not know peace for the majority of her life, and whole-heartedly deserves to have some. Naturally, the book also shines a light on the way women and men were so differently treated in Ancient Greece - sexual abuse and murder done casually and without thought. There is also much talk of the gods, who have many stories of abuse and murder of their own - as close to home as Clytemnestra's mother Leda, who was said to have been raped by Zeus when he took the form of a swan, resulting in the birth of Helen. While some characters in the story believe fully in the will of the gods, Clytemnestra is not one of them, and is much more likely to take matters into her own hands.

A powerful tale of a woman wronged and looking for revenge, of justice and the lengths some are willing to go to get it, this immersive novel should not be missed. Be sure to check out Clytemnestra today!