For the Winner (Golden Apple Trilogy #2) By Emily Hauser

A lot of reviewers have explained far better than I could why this is awful. 1473525527 4,5-5 🌟 1473525527 A beautifully evocative read which brings this myth and legend age of Bronze Age Greece to life.

1473525527 An incredible, thrilling read. I adored this book, perhaps even more so than Hauser's first book, FOR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL. Atalanta is a true heroine, driven by an important, singular goal (that isn't finding a man, whew!). She is clever, resourceful and a warrior to be reckoned with--even the gods aren't a match for her cunning. Loved, loved this book. Hauser's books are forever going to be on the top of my must-read pile. 1473525527 I found this one a little hard to get into. Mostly, I think, because the myth of Atalanta is probably my least favourite myth.

I remember hearing a version of it quite often on the kid's radio show on a Sunday morning on a local station. Diana and the Golden Apples. Why that version called her Diana rather than Atalanta, I have no idea, but I could never understand why the silly cow went after the apples instead of keeping going and winning the race. Emily Hauser supplies excellent reasons for Atalanta's behaviour.

It was also nice to see Jason painted as the complete arsehole I've always thought him to be, rather than the alledged noble hero.

A pretty good read, but not as enjoyable as the first book in the series. 1473525527

read & download Æ eBook, ePUB or Kindle PDF Û Emily Hauser

Some three thousand years ago, in a time before history, the warriors of Greece journeyed to the ends of the earth in the greatest expedition the world had ever seen.

One woman fought alongside them.

Abandoned at birth on the slopes of Mount Pelion, Atalanta is determined to prove her worth to the father who cast her aside. Having taught herself to hunt and fight, and disguised as a man, she wins a place on the greatest voyage of that heroic age: with Jason and his band of Argonauts in search of the legendary Golden Fleece.

And it is here, in the company of men who will go down in history as heroes, that Atalanta must battle against the odds – and the will of the gods – to take control of her destiny and change her life forever.

With her unrivalled knowledge and captivating storytelling, Emily Hauser brings alive an ancient world where the gods can transform a mortal’s life on a whim, where warriors carve out names that will echo down the ages . . . and where one woman fights to determine her own fate. For the Winner (Golden Apple Trilogy #2)

In For The Winner Emily Hauser has truly written a superb novel. History really comes to life within it’s pages and is fun, fascinating and very exciting. The book is quite fast paced with not much of a lull in the action, so once you start reading you are hooked and you want to read more to find out what will happen next.

The contrast between the two main characters was brilliant! I !loved Atalanta, I loved how strong she was and how she didn’t let her being a women hold her back from what she wanted to do, especially at a time when women weren’t considered equal to men. She is very brave and stands up for herself, not taking any nonsense from anyone, even those who are meant to be above her. She is also very loyal, she looks after her friends and makes sure they have everything they need. As much as I liked Atalanta, I loathed Jason. He is so cold and cruel and I found that I really didn’t want him to succeed. His attitude towards others is vile and, because of this, he clashes with everyone during the voyage. He tries to assert his authority through fear which does lead to a few unsettling scenes, though I was always pleased to see him get his comeuppance when Atalanta stood up against him. It made for such an enjoyable reading experience having such an obvious hero to cheer and a villain to hate. It made me much more involved in the story and i wanted to continue reading to discover who wins!

This book mostly follows Atalanta’s story as she tries to discover who she is and prove herself, however there are bits throughout the book that describes more about the Gods and how they are viewing the voyage. This was very interesting to read about and helped to provide some comic moments as they argue amongst themselves and disagree about who they should support.

Emily Hauser brings the setting of ancient Greece alive throughout this book. I felt like I was there, walking alongside Atalanta as the images she describes are so vivid. I enjoyed learning a bit more about the Roman’s way of life and their culture. The description of how the slaves were treated was very galling to read about, and did make for some upsetting parts.

This is Emily Hauser’s second book, though it is the first one I have read and I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future. If you enjoyed The Song Of Achilles by Madeline Miller or The Empress of Rome trilogy by Kate Quinn I think you will enjoy this book as I felt they were similar in style. If you are a fan of good historical fiction you must read this book! It’s definitely one of my top books this year.

Huge thanks to Hannah Bright and Doubleday publishers for my copy of this book. 1473525527 I have loved these first two books in Emily Hauser's Golden Apple Trilogy, they are just what I look for in books about mythology, the untold story, the new-to-me story..... these are perfect.

With 'For The Winner' we get the story of Atalanta and a telling of her story and the story of the infamous Argonauts within her story. Atalanta is a warrior, she's strong and fierce but she is also a woman and women aren't supposed to be any of those things in the eyes of her male counterparts. Not only must she fight for her life and her compatriots lives but she must also fight for her place among them to win the destiny she wants.

Atalanta's story is compelling and adventurous, she is a wonderful character and one I hadn't really had much knowledge of before reading this telling of her story but is a fascinating character to read about.

As with Hauser's previous novel this one is also a must read for any fans of Greek mythology and I highly recommend it to one and all.. 1473525527 “….an enchanting, dramatic novel that brings to life iconic mythic characters, including a woman whose voice had long been silenced.”

Recent U.S. and world events have forced many of us to confront the sad reality that we must place in the forefront the daily job of examining, discussing and ripping to shreds the old misogynist attitudes and institutional blocks against women. A fine way to engage in that process is by reading a book.

Emily Hauser is a classicist who turns Greek mythology into imaginative, engaging novels. Her latest, For the Winner, expands the myths about Atalanta and Jason and the Argonauts to build an enchanting, dramatic novel that brings to life iconic mythic characters, including a woman whose voice had long been silenced.

Although this is a grand adventure story with twists and turns, fights and romances, it is also at its core a weighing of the difference between a woman’s view of governance and a man’s. A dramatic battle between these two visions arises partly from the particular details of one well-developed female character, Atalanta, and her male opponent, Jason, but the battle also raises questions of the innate differences between male and female understandings of leadership. Do they exist and are there men and women who transcend them? These are all good things to float in your mind while flipping pages quickly in an entertaining tale.

I’ll quote from Hauser’s author’s note: “I looked instead to the story of a woman who has tended, in spite of her brilliance, her courage and her determination, to be ignored. I decided to tell the story of Atalanta, to focus on the struggles of a woman and a warrior trying to make her way in the world, to prove herself the equal of a man.”
Not a bad action plan for a novelist who knows her Greek mythology and ancient world with great depth, accuracy and warmth. 1473525527 Atalanta has always been one of the more interesting heroines of Greek myth: a fleet-footed huntress who challenged her suitors to a foot-race, slew the Calydonian Boar, and made a name for herself as the only woman to join the quest for the Golden Fleece. She makes a bold and appealing heroine in Emily Hauser's For The Winner, which simultaneously grounds the legend of Jason and his Argonauts in a grittier, more realistic ancient Greece than we usually see in the myths, and weaves in the gods themselves as they comment on the human adventures below. Atalanta, determined to prove her worth to the kingly father who abandoned her as an infant, disguises herself as a man to join the cold-eyed Jason and his Argonauts as they set sail for Colchis. Atalanta battles the hardships of the voyage, the dislike of Jason who I was pleased to see as the villain of this piece rather than the hero (I never liked him, even in the myth), and the mistrust of her fellow Argonauts who will certainly cast her out if they discover her secret...or will they? Periodically the gods interject themselves from Olympus, deliciously and hilariously vain, more inclined to screw things up for the hyper-competent Atalanta than aid her along. For The Winner is a delightful read, all pathos and humor and a heroine to make you cheer--I can't wait for Hauser's next. 1473525527
Where the heck was this level of quality of writing in For the Most Beautiful? I felt like I just read a book by an entirely different author!

For the Most Beautiful read like a Young Adult book, with juvenile vocabulary, angsty protagonists, insipid dialogue, and – despite the author’s stated aim to let Briseis and Krisayis break free from the stories of well-known male protagonists such as Achilles, Hektor, and Odysseus – they utterly failed to do so.

For the Winner is orders more sophisticated and engaging. The writing is more complex, and whilst still not breath-taking, the jump in quality makes me wonder if Hauser’s editors held her back in her debut novel, in hopes of appealing to the broadest possible audience. Atalanta, our protagonist this time, reads like a mature adult instead of a teenager by turns frightened and rebellious. Best of all, she is truly freed to take significant action in the plot and determine her own destiny, in a way that Briseis and Krisayis simply were not, the latter two barely making a ripple, while Atalanta engages in meaningful deeds. This in turn fuels the tension and investment I had in the story. The one sour note I thought was the continuing childishness of the gods, which sucks some of that tension out by being too comedic, and I’m just not a fan of.

I would say give For the Most Beautiful a miss, but by all means try out For the Winner.

7 out of 10 1473525527