Heroine of the Argonauts

This week I stumbled across Atalanta (2023), the newly released novel by Jennifer Saint. I bought it on impulse and planned to shelve it for future, but quickly found myself engrossed in the tale and read it immediately. I was not familiar with this heroine of Greek mythology who has often been sidelined in tales of the Argonauts, so it was great to read a novel which put her in the centre of the story.

As an infant, Atalanta was abandoned on the side of Mount Parthenion by her father, King Iasus of Arcadia, disappointed that she was not a boy. Instead of perishing, she was cared for by a bear and raised as a cub. The goddess Artemis brought Atalanta to live with her nymphs in the forest and trained her as a skilled hunter. In exchange for her protection and training, Artemis required Atalanta to take a vow of chastity. Atalanta becomes a skilled hunter, gifted with her bow and arrow, and the fastest woman ever seen. 

When Jason gathers the bravest fighters to go on a quest for the Golden Fleece, Artemis sends Atalanta as her representative. The only woman to join this crew, Atalanta has to prove herself worthy. She battles alongside the men as the journey as they encounter giants, harpies, sirens and the clashing rocks of the Symplegades. During this adventure, Atalanta grows close to Meleager, a fellow Argonaut. She breaks her vow of chastity, bears his child, but believes she has still honoured her commitment to Artemis as she will not marry him or any man. 

After her time with the Argonauts, Atalanta is known for heroism in the Calydonian boar hunt and for the footrace her father created to determine which suitor should marry her and inherit his kingdom. 

Jennifer Saint has brought this forgotten warrior to life. Written as a first person account, we view the well-known myth of Jason and the Argonauts through a female lens. This allows readers to understand Atalanta's motivations - how she does not want to be constrained by societal expectations for women and is conflicted about her feelings. Saint has crafted a fully-formed character who is brave, pragmatic, strong and capable of more than she was given credit for. 

I enjoyed Jennifer Saint's previous novel Ariadne (2021) and have her second book Elektra (2022) awaiting my attention. Saint's skill as a story teller continues to grow and she has cemented her reputation as an author of feminist retelling of ancient myths.