ExlibrisJessica

Book Synopsis:

 A reimagining of Euripides, the story centres on Jason’s treacherous quest for the Golden Fleece with the Argonauts, but shifts the spotlight to expose the cost of his ambition, the women whose lives he disrupts and destroys.

Natalie Haynes is, without a doubt, the reigning goddess of Greek mythology retellings. Her depth of classical knowledge is unmatched, and her genuine passion for these ancient stories leaps off every page. In her latest novel, No Friend to This House, she once again showcases her signature flair for the dramatic while deeply honoring the original sources.

However, I’m really in two minds about this one.

Despite the gorgeous prose and a plot packed with action, I heavily struggled with the execution. The novel features an overwhelming number of perspective shifts. Just as I would start to invest in one character’s journey, the book would yank me into a completely different point of view. This constant shifting, paired with a remarkably slow start, turned what should have been a breezy read into a month-long trek. Because we kept circling back to the same events from different angles, certain portions began to feel quite repetitive, which ultimately limited my enjoyment of the first half.

That being said, Haynes pulls off some incredibly bold structural choices that kept me reading to the end. She brilliantly switches up the format, blending traditional storytelling with poetic and theatrical monologues. These stylistic changes injected a lot of energy into the story and helped move the slower chapters along.

Thankfully, the pace in the latter half of the book accelerates drastically. I just can’t help but wish the overall structure had been a little more streamlined to match that ending energy.

One major saving grace for me was her handling of the central figures. If you are a fan of Euripides, this book is worth picking up for them alone, it’s still my favourite modern version of Medea’s story.

Ultimately, while No Friend to This House lost momentum at times, it’s still definitely one to try if you’re a die-hard mythology fan.

*Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan for the review copy in exchange for my honest review.*

“Men were very quick to fear what they didn’t control.”

Have you read this one? Did you like it more, less, or the same as other books by Natalie Haynes? Let me know!