Clytemnestra (add-on) : Discussion Thread

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

As for queens, they are either hated or forgotten. She already knows which option suits her best...

You were born to a king, but you marry a tyrant. You stand by helplessly as he sacrifices your child to placate the gods. You watch him wage war on a foreign shore, and you comfort yourself with violent thoughts of your own. Because this was not the first offence against you. This was not the life you ever deserved. And this will not be your undoing. Slowly, you plot.

But when your husband returns in triumph, you become a woman with a choice.

Acceptance or vengeance, infamy follows both. So, you bide your time and force the gods' hands in the game of retribution. For you understood something long ago that the others never did.

If power isn't given to you, you have to take it for yourself.

A blazing novel set in the world of Ancient Greece for fans of Jennifer Saint and Natalie Haynes, this is a thrilling tale of power and prophecies, of hatred, love, and of an unforgettable Queen who fiercely dealt out death to those who wronged her.

[Vicki]

Through Ch 10 / 31%

(view spoiler)[ I have no idea where to begin. lol There's so much in these chapters! I love that the women seem to be strong women and fierce women. Clytemnestra is most definitely a strong woman. She believed her grandmother's "prophecy" of being a queen and look at her now; however, the priestess told her that she'd be despised and punished. I think that was because she said Leda's daughters would all marry 2-3 times and leave their husbands. So I'm guessing that Clytemnestra's marriage to Tantalus won't last and she'll leave him eventually.

I love that Odysseus is in the picture now. His tale was so epic and now he's married to Penelope. I know they'll have a son named Telemachus, but I don't know if that'll happen in this story.

I'm also assuming the story of "Helen of /Sparta" and possibly her affair with the Paris, Prince of Troy. I'm curious if the Trojan War, Charybdis, Scylla and other monsters such as Polyphemus will be in this story. Guess I could look at all the names at the beginning. lol (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Stopped at PART III - stopped early because I HAVE to comment now!

(view spoiler)[OMG!!! I am SOOOOOO angry!!!! I was obviously wrong about her leaving Tantalus. I can't believe that number 1, Agamemnon killed both her husband AND (especially) her baby. 2. Her father forced her to marry him and he also obviously had a hand in setting up the murder(s) so that (I assume)) Agamemnon could marry his daughter and be more powerful...SO DISGUSTING!! And then Agamemnon ends up raping her! Ugh...she never would submit to sex willingly, that's for sure. I know she's going to get revenge on Agamemnon and probably her father too! (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Through Ch. 18 / 51%

(view spoiler)[I can't believe that Clytemnestra has had four children with her murderous "husband"! Ugh...but they give her life. I worry he might do something to them, he's SO cruel!

I knew Clytemnestra would start her revenge soon. So she killed Cynisca. Can't say that I blame her.

Timandra is now married to King of Arcadia, but not sure of him. And Helen poor thing. Obviously she married the wrong guy and she's miserable. Ugh...these men!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Through Ch. 27 / 75%

(view spoiler)[So much has happened and I've read on and off all day because of things going on, so I'm trying to remember. lol

First, let me say that I can't believe that Agamemnon had something to do with Iphigenia's death!!! What a jerk! I mean WHY would he do that to his own daughter. Just UGH!!!

I also am seeing another side of Odysseus that what I taught to 9th graders. We read only 9 books of The Odyssey and the way it was presented he was a great warrior. I had no idea that he could/would have Clytemnestra attacked. I wouldn't have thought he'd be with someone like Agamemnon.

It's interesting to read more about Helen and Paris, too. I didn't know that she ended up hating him and leaving him and taking up with yet another man!

I loved the letters between the sisters and Penelope. So heartfelt and sad for all of them.

Now Aegisthus shows up to see Clytemnestra while Agamemnon is gone. I know they say he was basically an honorable man, but I don't trust his motives for being there.

Loving this book! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Through Part 1

(view spoiler)[ooooh I don't know the story of Helen of Troy
so I definitely don't know Clytemnestra!

I love how easy to read this one is. It was so easy to just slide right into this family

love the brothers - but I worry one of them won't come back from this fight
and what was up with Penelope. She felt. . .like she was scheming

and poor Helen. to be so pretty that girls hate you and love to let the rumors swirl. I like that Clytemnestra keeps clarifying - raped. the rumor is their mother was raped. I've definitely heard that story before (the swan and all that) although, again, they say it was forced but always grossly romanticize it (hide spoiler)]

this one is really good so far!!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Through Part II

that was a tough part to get through
(view spoiler)[ the loss of her husband and baby was just awful

but the loss - due to the scheming of these 2 men and her father, and that one girl (C something)
that was all just awful

I am completely in favor of Clytemnestra getting her revenge

interested to see where it goes from here

I feel bad for Helen too. I know more about her story and knew nothing of her sister. I have to be honest, I didn't even know she had multiple sisters and even brothers! I wonder if/when her brothers will come home, if they will be mad that someone else will take the throne when their father dies

what a horrible thing her father has done. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Through Part III

(view spoiler)[ how awful, I hope Odysseus pays for his deceit, eye for an eye. he can lose a son to match Clytemnestra's daughter

I can't believe she hasn't taken her revenge. why is she still living with this man? she hasn't broken him, not even close
he's just won and won and won

this was a frustrating section and took me forever to read because it was huge and just full of misery (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

and done

This was a brutal story
(view spoiler)[ becoming like those you hate in order to kill those that betrayed you
I was so glad she finally killed her husband. it was just awful that he was still alive to just torture more
to have taken a "slave concubine" Ugh, just awful

I loved her mixed bag of children - even those she had lost.

this was a good book but it was hard to read at times (hide spoiler)]