Hera - by Jennifer Saint

Book Synopsis

An ENTHRALLING retelling from the #1 INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING author of Ariadne, Elektra, and Atalanta!

Greek mythology's MOST FAMOUS AND MALIGNED goddess finally tells her own story, as power, passion, and divine strength collide in the HEART OF OLYMPUS

Even the gods must have their queen.

When the immortal goddess Hera and her brother Zeus overthrow their tyrannical father, she dreams of ruling at Zeus's side. But as they establish their reign on Mount Olympus, Hera begins to see that Zeus is just as ruthless and cruel as the father they betrayed.

While Zeus ascends, Hera is relegated to the role of wife and mother, a role she never wanted. She was always born to rule, but must she lose herself in perpetuating this cycle of violence and cruelty? Or can she find a way to forge a better world?

Review Quotes

Praise for Hera:

A Most Anticipated Book (Goodreads, Publishers Weekly, The AV Club, Booklist Queen, Screen Rant)

A Book of the Month Club Selection

"In Hera, Saint recasts the goddess as a powerful, cunning deity in her own right, rather than just the petty, jealous wife of Zeus...Feels like a necessary and overdue corrective."
--The New York Times

"Hera is a delicious treat that readers will gobble up. Saint's prose is lyrical, lush, and eloquently frames the endless contest between Zeus and Hera as a contemporary commentary on men and women."
--Historical Novel Society

"The gods of Olympus deliver Real Housewives-level drama in this juicy interpretation of Greek myth from bestseller Saint...As Hera strives to outmaneuver her self-obsessed, rage-filled husband, the unruly pantheon surrounding her engage in Machiavellian power plays, one-upmanship, and petty vendettas. Readers will savor the theatrics."
--Publishers Weekly

"Jennifer Saint has such a distinctive stamp on the genre of Greek mythological retellings--the narratives are captivating and choose interesting new takes on familiar stories. Saint turns her eye to the Queen of the Gods in this nuanced take on misdirected wrath and humanizing a complex, otherworldly figure...Hera is another marvel of a mythological retelling."
--The Nerd Daily

"I didn't think I could love Jennifer Saint's books more... and then she wrote Hera. Hera is an exceptional achievement...One of the most original, thought-provoking meditations on ancient mythology I have ever encountered."
--Elodie Harper, author of The Temple of Fortuna

"Saint has a knack of making even the immortals relatable and she brings this most dysfunctional of families into vivid life in her thrilling depiction of a much misunderstood Goddess."
--Elizabeth Fremantle, author of Disobedient

"A sweeping, epic story of Greek mythology's most complex goddess. Saint weaves her own original threads into the ancient tales, resulting in a story that is subtle, nuanced, and utterly gorgeous."
--Sarah Underwood, author of Lies We Sing to the Sea

"This is a very special novel...With echoes of Miller's Circe, Hera is an epic novel...The goddess is transformed from a bad-tempered wife to a compelling character readers can root for, even when she is being wicked...Unforgettable."
--Costanza Casati, author of Clytemnestra

"Hera is Jennifer Saint's best book yet, and every bit as fierce, powerful and captivating as the Queen of the Gods herself...Saint does a masterful job of humanizing Hera...She is still a fearsome queen, but we are able to understand and sympathize with her like never before. This is a must-read for fans of mythology!"
--Rosie Hewlett, author of Medea

"Hera is THE essential mythological book of the decade. With lush descriptions, beautiful worldbuilding and powerful prose, Saint tells the necessary story of the most vilified goddess...I will be handing this book to everyone I know. Breathtaking work as always from Saint."
--Nikita Gill, author of The Girl and the Goddess

"[A] pacey, triumphant reimagining...Vast in scope and thoroughly entertaining, this portrayal of the most maligned Olympian goddess is a fantastic feat of storytelling as well as a satisfying study of the limits and connivances of female power in a man's world."
--Nikki Marmery, author of Lilith

"Jennifer Saint has an extraordinary ability to craft a tale that is at once sweeping and intimate...Hera is not only a shrewd depiction of a complex female character but an expansive dissemination of the patriarchal pantheon, the roles allotted to women and the inherent power of storytelling."
--Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen

"Hera is an absolute triumph! An utterly captivating foray into the world of this much misunderstood goddess. You will experience her in all her power and glory, held beautifully at all times by Saint's spellbinding craftsmanship. A must read."
--Jasmine Elmer, author of Goddess with a Thousand Faces

About the Author

Due to a lifelong fascination with Ancient Greek mythology, Jennifer Saint read Classical Studies at King's College, London. She spent the next thirteen years as an English teacher, sharing a love of literature and creative writing with her students. She is the #1 internationally bestselling author of Hera, Atalanta, Elektra, and Ariadne.