House of Odysseus: The breathtaking retelling that brings ancient myth to life (The Songs of Penelope)

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I loved everything about House of Odysseus, and will be counting down the days until the final installment is released. The Last Song of Penelope promises to be an absolutely fantastic finale, if it lives up to its two predecessors. And if it does, this will become my favorite historical trilogy of all time, and quite likely my favorite Greek myth retelling. Which is really saying something, as that’s one of my favorite subgenres. North has done something really special with this series, and I can’t wait to see how the story ends. The worst part of finishing House of Odysseus is waiting until June 18, 2024, to find out how North wraps up this trilogy. There are a lot of questions to be answered: Will Odysseus really kill them all? Will Telemachus be there when it happens? But most importantly, who is North recruiting to do the narration? My money is on Athena, but she seems a little too no-nonsense to tell an interesting story; she is more of a how-to kind of narrator. I would kind of like to see Artemis, she is the kind of girl to put an arrow through your eye just for looking at her the wrong way or any way at all for that matter. She would tell a fun story. Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK (Orbit) via NetGalley for giving me chance to read Ithaca (The Songs of Penelope, #1) by Claire North, I have given my honest review. House Of Odysseus is the second book in The Songs Of Penelope series by award-winning, best-selling British author, Claire North. Perhaps a year after Orestes has slain his mother Clytemnestra on Ithaca’s shores, and Penelope’s son Telemachus has set out to search for his father, a ship quietly arrives from Mycenae into the burnt out harbour of Phenera. Elektra has brought her brother, the newly crowned king of kings, the greatest of the Greeks, seeking the refuge she hopes Penelope will provide.

This is also hands down one of the most feminist works I’ve ever read. I’ve loved the recent trend of taking such classic, masculine myths and examining the women of those tales, giving them voice and agency for the first time in millennia. Works like Circe and Stone Blind and Clytemnestra have done this beautifully, with power and poignancy. But the Songs of Penelope series has done this with a broader scope, showing the vitality of an entire island of women instead of a select handful or a single woman. I love that it has also included the major goddesses, Hera and Aphrodite, Athena and Artemis, giving more dimension to these deities, as well. And our titular queen, Penelope, is more than a match for her wily husband. Reading about her cleverness has been a joy. Please tell me now if you killed any of them,” sighs Penelope. “I would rather not be embarrassed by the revelation later.” This isn't a bad book, yes hard to read and follow, and yes there are a lot of names and people who seem their existence wasn't necessary, but it is a GOOD story, not perfect, though I like to read the next book.When the others are dead and gone, when Clytemnestra’s body is burnt and Penelope has breathed her last, only Elektra will remain, the last woman to carry my fire. But not yet–not yet." No one man is strong enough to claim Odysseus' empty throne—not yet. But everyone waits for the balance of power to tip, and Penelope knows that any choice she makes could plunge Ithaca into bloody civil war. Only through cunning, wit, and her trusted circle of maids, can she maintain the tenuous peace needed for the kingdom to survive.

Caught between Sparta and Mycenae, Penelope must protect Ithaca from two mad kings on the edge of war. Her only allies are Elektra, desperate to protect her brother, and Helen of Troy, Menelaus' wife. Each woman has a secret, and their secrets will shape the world . . .Here’s a joint review by myself and Beth on The Fantasy Hive: https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2022/08/it... A]ll the war, all the rage and hurt and loss and pain - had been for nothing. For what? For a single night of flame and a few kings taking the spoils? When the sun rose over the ashes of her city, the soldiers of Greece were still hurt, still bloody, still lost, only now there were no stories left, no poets to tell them that they were heroes. So instead they became beasts performing sacrilege upon the living and the dead, for their fathers had taught them no other way to be a man than to howl at the crimson sun. A word about content warnings: if you’re a fan of this genre you’ll know that women are not often treated well in the traditional tellings. While North doesn’t shy away from the reality that women in that time period were mistreated in myriad ways, the violence that exists is far less graphic than in the originals. With its well-written, fluid and elegant prose, even pacing throughout the novel, and themes of feminism, survival and loyalty Claire North’s Ithaca is an engaging read that I would recommend to fans of Greek Mythology and those fond of feminist retellings. I eagerly look forward to reading the next two books in this trilogy.

Wow. Just wow. As a huge fan of Claire North's writing, I had no doubt that I would enjoy Ithaca. But the sheer brilliance of this retelling exceeded my wildest dreams. The story is intimate, emotional, and full of drama. I realise that what makes him king amongst the gods is less the thunderbolt he wields and simply that he believes himself set upon high."* Imagine my surprise in finding out Ithaca was not a standalone novel, and the second book was available to read? My heart soared I was so excited and with good reason. This was a fantastic book, some of the best writing I’ve ever been privileged enough to read in regards to Greek myth retellings. It is told by the goddess Hera, who feels largely forgotten by the poets in the shadow of her husband Zeus, and step daughters, Athena and Artemis. On the isle of Ithaca, Queen Penelope maintains a delicate balance of power. Many years ago, her husband, Odysseus, sailed to war with Troy and never came home. In his absence, Penelope uses all her cunning to keep the peace - but this is shattered by the arrival of Orestes, king of Mycenae, and his sister Elektra.

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If you look for an engaging Penelope's retelling, a story that you may know of her and her son Telemachus, her love and passion for Odysseus, do this is NOT your book. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Claire North and Redhook Books for this ARC. Ithaca will be out September 6th, 2022 **

Penelope knows destruction will follow in his wake as surely as the furies circle him. His uncle Menelaus, the blood-soaked king of Sparta, hungers for Orestes' throne—and if he can seize it, no one will be safe from his violent whims. Like The Penelopiad (which I haven't read yet, but will be reading soon for one of my IRL book clubs), Ithaca tells the story of Penelope left behind by Odysseus in the twenty years he is gone, first fighting at Troy, and then making his way home. And North doesn't just play it straight, either. Here as we enter the story, it's been eighteen years since Odysseus left for Troy, taking all of the eligible fighting men of Ithaca with him, and we hear about the passing events from the POV of Hera, wife of Zeus, god of marriage and women. Hera, being a god, can not only tell us what's going on in Ithaca and in her surroundings, but what is happening to Odysseus at the same time (she wryly gives us updates, most of which center on her sarcastic descriptions of him being so tortured about being sexily held prisoner on Ogygia with Calypso).I have a smile on my face after reading this brilliant book. Claire North made me laugh my head off at this excellent re-telling of the Penelopiad. This time around our narrator is Aphrodite, goddess of desire, and she brings a different perspective to these well known characters, these three great queens of Greece. Penelope is as sharp minded as ever and again uses her brilliance to hold power, Elektra shows some vulnerability, and we are introduced to the infamous Helen of Troy who for me personally, was the most interesting and emotionally engaging character of the three. North refreshingly depicts their tale of survival as the King of Sparta plots his next move. This imaginative and fascinating take on Penelope’s Ithaca is broad in scope, populated by resourceful females, and decidedly feminist in its orientation. A familiarity with the Greek pantheon and many of the stories in Greek mythology is essential to understanding Hera’s quips and barbs and references—the source of much of the humor in the narrative. The occasional shifts in point of view from first-person to third may be disconcerting for some. But the writing is fast-paced and engaging. The lens on women and their intelligent, behind-the-scenes activities under the very noses of men is intriguing. Although the focus is ostensibly on Penelope, it is actually Hera who commands the spotlight with her narrative voice, irreverent attitude, sharp tongue, and brutal honesty.