Maiden of Artemis - Book Review
It’s normal for any woman to look up to someone as her role model, or a hero. But, this doesn't necessarily mean helplessness or weakness on her part. Otrera explicitly explains this to her travel companions. While the Maiden of Artemis tries her best to protect her friends, she worries that she cannot be there for them at all times. Hence, she empowers them. She says that women are strong and are capable of defending themselves amid adversities.
Maiden of Artemis follows the story of Otrera, a slave girl who has been serving a master for 15 years. One day, while serving her master’s guests, something happens that disgusts her. Of course, Otrera could not protest against it; otherwise, she faced punishment from her master. Fortunately, she gets the opportunity to make a stand on the situation that concerns her life. Otrera did what she did and ran away from her master after that eventful night. As she takes her flight into the wilderness, another unexpected event happens. A goddess takes pity on her and helps her move forward.
Realizing that she does not have anything to protect herself from the elements, Otrera returns stealthily to her master’s house to retrieve her little belongings. One of the other female slaves and a male slave in charge of the stables decide to flee with her. Together, they journey into the unknown. Along the way, some women join them with a single purpose - to run for freedom. Throughout their journey, Otrera and her companions encounter many challenges. Threats pursue them wherever they go. Sometimes, they argue with each other when the going gets rough. But, no one decides to split from the group. One of Otrera’s pursuers was a man named Ariston. Although he does not harm her physically, Ariston’s presence is intimidating.
About the Book and the Author
Eloise Bahr’s Maiden of Artemis is full of twists and turns. I like her style of keeping the reader constantly on the edge of their seat. She provides vivid descriptions of each scene, and in effect, she virtually brings the readers right where the action takes place. The major characters are well-established and consistent throughout the story. What I like the most in Maiden of Artemis is the plot. Bahr skillfully maneuvers her story in a way that each turn surprises the reader. The dialogues are carefully crafted.
Moreover, if we look deeper into the story, the author promotes women's empowerment. It is particularly shown when Otrera tells her companions to stand up and defend themselves, saying that she may not always be there for them. This part sends an important message not only to the characters but also to the readers. Otrera shows that every person possesses strength in the face of adversity.
On the technical side, I notice two things that the author might want to consider if she intends to reproduce more copies of Maiden of Artemis. First, there are a few loose ends that are left untied. Second, there are a handful of grammatical errors in the book. For these reasons alone, I withhold one star from my rating. I give Maiden of Artemis a score of 4 out of 5 stars. However, I still highly recommend this book to readers 16 years old and above. I don’t suggest it to younger readers because some parts are not suitable for young minds.
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