Hera: A Novel
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?
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Community Reviews
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
I’ve always admired Jennifer Saint’s writing, but until now, Ariadne was the novel that resonated with me most deeply. With Hera, though, I’ve found a true contender. Some days I lean toward Hera, other days I return to Ariadne—a testament to how powerful this new story is. Hera is masterfully written, emotionally compelling, and beautifully imagined.
Reclaiming Hera’s Voice
As with Saint’s previous novels, Hera reimagines Greek mythology from a feminine perspective. Hera—long painted as the bitter, vengeful wife of Zeus—finally gets the chance to tell her side of the story.
We meet her not just as Zeus’s wife, but as an individual: a warrior goddess, a daughter of titans, and a woman who made a conscious choice to marry a god who would ultimately strip her of her power and autonomy. Saint paints Hera with empathy and complexity, allowing readers to both question and understand her actions.
Power, Betrayal, and the Cost of Marriage
Hera’s pain is layered. Zeus not only betrays her through constant affairs, but publicly humiliates her by elevating his illegitimate children and marginalizing her own. Her rage is not rooted in petty jealousy—it’s a response to repeated dehumanization.
Throughout the novel, we see her challenged by her sons, confronted by failure, and constantly trying to reclaim her power. Her war isn’t just with Zeus—it’s with a world that reduces even a queen to the role of scorned wife.
Saint’s Signature Style
Jennifer Saint’s prose is lyrical and mythic, reminiscent of Edith Hamilton’s classic Mythology. Her storytelling blends emotional nuance with grand, sweeping narrative arcs that elevate the gods to their mythic stature while grounding their struggles in painfully human themes.
The book spans Hera’s life, showing her evolution and longing to return to the warrior she once was. Fans of Blood of Zeus will recognize the tone—divine conflict, psychological tension, and emotional vulnerability woven together in epic fashion.
The Shifting Power of the Gods
One of the most compelling elements in Hera is the shift in divine dynamics. The gods begin to rely on mortal devotion—offerings, prayers, and belief—for their strength. This dependence reshapes Olympus, creating new hierarchies and insecurities. Saint explores this theme with elegance, showing how power, once absolute, becomes conditional and fragile.
Final Thoughts
Hera is a triumph—a fierce, empathetic, and emotionally intelligent reimagining of one of mythology’s most misunderstood figures. Jennifer Saint reclaims Hera’s narrative, giving her voice, agency, and emotional resonance in a way that both honors and challenges the source myths.
It’s not just a story about gods—it’s a story about being seen, being heard, and reclaiming power after loss. For fans of mythological retellings, powerful female characters, or simply excellent storytelling, Hera is a must-read.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
Jennifer Saint’s Hera is a powerful, emotionally rich reimagining of the queen of the gods—giving voice, depth, and agency to one of Greek mythology’s most misunderstood figures.
I’ve always admired Jennifer Saint’s writing, but until now, Ariadne was the novel that resonated with me most deeply. With Hera, though, I’ve found a true contender. Some days I lean toward Hera, other days I return to Ariadne—a testament to how powerful this new story is. Hera is masterfully written, emotionally compelling, and beautifully imagined.
Reclaiming Hera’s Voice
As with Saint’s previous novels, Hera reimagines Greek mythology from a feminine perspective. Hera—long painted as the bitter, vengeful wife of Zeus—finally gets the chance to tell her side of the story.
We meet her not just as Zeus’s wife, but as an individual: a warrior goddess, a daughter of titans, and a woman who made a conscious choice to marry a god who would ultimately strip her of her power and autonomy. Saint paints Hera with empathy and complexity, allowing readers to both question and understand her actions.
Power, Betrayal, and the Cost of Marriage
Hera’s pain is layered. Zeus not only betrays her through constant affairs, but publicly humiliates her by elevating his illegitimate children and marginalizing her own. Her rage is not rooted in petty jealousy—it’s a response to repeated dehumanization.
Throughout the novel, we see her challenged by her sons, confronted by failure, and constantly trying to reclaim her power. Her war isn’t just with Zeus—it’s with a world that reduces even a queen to the role of scorned wife.
Saint’s Signature Style
Jennifer Saint’s prose is lyrical and mythic, reminiscent of Edith Hamilton’s classic Mythology. Her storytelling blends emotional nuance with grand, sweeping narrative arcs that elevate the gods to their mythic stature while grounding their struggles in painfully human themes.
The book spans Hera’s life, showing her evolution and longing to return to the warrior she once was. Fans of Blood of Zeus will recognize the tone—divine conflict, psychological tension, and emotional vulnerability woven together in epic fashion.
The Shifting Power of the Gods
One of the most compelling elements in Hera is the shift in divine dynamics. The gods begin to rely on mortal devotion—offerings, prayers, and belief—for their strength. This dependence reshapes Olympus, creating new hierarchies and insecurities. Saint explores this theme with elegance, showing how power, once absolute, becomes conditional and fragile.
Final Thoughts
Hera is a triumph—a fierce, empathetic, and emotionally intelligent reimagining of one of mythology’s most misunderstood figures. Jennifer Saint reclaims Hera’s narrative, giving her voice, agency, and emotional resonance in a way that both honors and challenges the source myths.
It’s not just a story about gods—it’s a story about being seen, being heard, and reclaiming power after loss. For fans of mythological retellings, powerful female characters, or simply excellent storytelling, Hera is a must-read.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
I have always been a lover of mythology, this novel is a lovely fleshing out of Hera’s story, an origin story if you will, fleshing out what might have been going in her mind, why she did the things she is said to have done in the myths about her.
This one will be a re-read for sure ❤️
3.5 stars. Interesting take as far as trying to change Hera’s narrative into one that is not so problematic, but it doesn’t work as well as Saint’s other works have. I have found Saint to be extremely hit or miss (hits being Ariadne, Atalanta) (misses being Elektra). As a whole Saint falls far short of Natalie Haynes and other greats of the genre, and this book is another lackluster showing that doesn’t live up to the potential that Saint has shown in Ariadne and Atalanta. And very much misses the mark like Elektra.
A solid interpretation of the classic myths, told from the viewpoint of the very tragic, yet powerful character that is the queen of the gods.
Her trials, suffering, flaws, and machinations are all laid bare, until she comes to the final realization to just... be. Rather than be in control.
She gains a final, true victory over her oppressors by learning to let go of what once was, and accept change, that the world is moving on, with or without her.
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