Outrun the Wind
Author: Elizabeth Tammi
Release: November 27, 2018
Pre- order/ buy: Amazon
Genre: Greek Mythology, Fantasy, LGBT
Outrun the Wind Versus Original Atalanta
Are you familiar with Greek myths, particularly one that is about a huntress name Atalanta, I think she’s on the cover for Outrun the Wind. The bow and arrow gives it away, as the girl in the story who uses them is Atalanta. If you are a fan of girl- power with the little bit of sapphic love, this is one for you.
I am a little torn, writing this now as I remember how the book made me felt. Not empowered, the story is not one that empowers or inspires. Let’s start with the plot: strange main plot with some interesting subplots, not enough to hold my interest.
Characters
The story starts with Atalanta going on a hunt with Meleager’s hunting team. This was an interesting chapter for me, because I had no idea who she was initially. I Googled her after I read the book, so I don’t have any predispositions about this uber- kickass girl I’m reading. In Outrun the Wind, Atalanta is fierce, feisty and in love with Meleager…
Kahina is one of the huntresses of Artemis, sent to spy on the Calydonian Boar. Actually she was told not to kill it, and prevent it from getting killed. During the hunt, she wanted to save Atalanta from certain death, hence… she broke one of the two rules of Artemis.
Hippomenes in Outrun the Wind is a villain, from start to finish. He was creepy and had a very chauvinistic view. The author made it so, I guess to showcase some really sick stuff. Overall, he’s not very well fleshed out, his meanness shines through.
Story: Outrun the Wind is about…
Girl power and love. Not really sure about the love part, it’s pretty vague! I mean, you get this two girls with some interest into something more, but where’s the action? A touch here, a look there… Kahina does a lot of Atalanta, while the latter looks after Kahina as well. As punishment, Kahina was “banished” from Artemis’ hunting party to restore her temple, but the story somehow isn’t about her temple?
Even the footrace was a little off, Atalanta does not want to marry, so Kahina proposed that idea. In the “original” myth (I don’t really know which one is?), she raced men and killed the losers. In this one, the real reason the race was on, was to avoid marrying someone she didn’t want. Another interesting theme in the book: girls escaping fate. Kahina escaped hers, her story told in snippets here and there. Not that it was hard to guess, but it did lend some character building and understanding.
Atalanta though, she’s a hunter who does not use her instincts very well in the book. Not really a fan of this version, particularly after she slayed the boar. Well, fierce and feisty does not make a great read, especially when the character fails to grow as a whole. I wanted to like her, but I didn’t connect very well with her, Kahina or the story at all. I suppose that is one of the reasons why I read this book slow, it wasn’t very gripping to me.
As good as an archer, Atalanta missed my heart.
Verdict
Could have been a tighter book, all that frolicking and worrying could have been less. The story is good, but getting from one good bit to the other was a little bit too long journey for me.
Copyright © 2018 Ailyn Writes. All Rights Reserved.
