Jennifer Saint has taken up the mantle of the ancient. Her novels have centered on such mythological female figures as Ariadne, Elektra and Atalanta. Now she uses her impressive writerly talents to recreate the life of Hera.

In ancient Greece, Hera was the goddess of marriage, women and family. She also was the protective deity of women during childbirth. Queen of the 12 Olympians and Mount Olympus, sister and wife of Zeus, and daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, Hera’s great flaw is jealousy. Those who have offended her receive angry treatment. Zeus and his playboy ways (and the children who come from those infidelities) are particular targets of her anger. Hera is usually seen as a matronly figure. She presides over weddings and blesses bona fide marital unions, supporting women as brides and mothers. She often is holding a pomegranate as an emblem of immortality.

"Jennifer Saint has given us a full-fledged deep dive into the emotional needs and cerebral victories of a heroine who feels as if she could walk into our world and be an activist for the ages."

This is something of an origin story for Hera. She and Zeus hatch a plot against their tyrannical father and overthrow him. When they succeed, Zeus claims the top leadership spot. As his reign continues across Mount Olympus, Hera sees that his character is reverting to the angry, despotic attitudes of their father. She begins to deal with the fact that, although she knows she has what it takes to lead, she has been relegated to the “lesser” positions of wife and mother. As much as Hera accepts her situation, she knows that she must forge a new path or keep the world captive under the spell of her despicable brother. She is aware that his choices of violence over peace in all endeavors can no longer be sustained.

Hera is the thinking woman’s goddess counterpart --- exercising both her nurturing and her dedication to the health and safety of all women. But like a lot of contemporary literature, the struggles that Hera must endure in order to be her authentic self will reach and inspire every reader. She is trying to right a wronged system of governance and a society under attack from a narcissistic and deluded leader. Certainly her fight could encapsulate so much of our present experience, whether it be with social mores, international warfare or climate catastrophes. Hera approaches her crises with a firm hand, a sharp wit and the desire to serve those who feel the most alienated in this kingdom.

Saint has a very simple style of conveying both emotion and plot, giving HERA the opportunity to be considered an exciting and whimsical beach read. Not to denigrate beach reads, but this book has so much more to say than its easy manner lets on. Its gentle, readable voice rightly configures Hera as a complex but responsible goddess, one who knows that to move to a better place requires concentrated planning. However, will her fear at being only a protector and not a fierce champion of all people’s basic rights cause her to misstep? Does she stand a chance against the revolting and dictatorial moves of her brother? Will her father and the Titans with whom he is imprisoned find a way to take back what they think are their rightful places at the helm of their world?

HERA offers a road carved from historically mythological tales but imbues those well-known fights with new and exciting metaphors for the struggles of life as we know it --- and as Hera knew it. Although ancient, like any classic stories, there are truths to which we can draw parallels to our own way of life. Jennifer Saint has given us a full-fledged deep dive into the emotional needs and cerebral victories of a heroine who feels as if she could walk into our world and be an activist for the ages.