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

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Trapped between two mad kings, Penelope must find a way to keep her home from being crushed by the machinations of a battle that stretches from Mycenae and Sparta to the summit of Mount Olympus itself. Her only allies are Elektra, desperate to protect her brother, and Helen of Troy, Menelaus' wife. And watching over them all is the goddess Aphrodite, who has plans of her own.

Throughout, as some of Penelope’s suitors hatch a nasty plot, as a young woman is murdered, as ships are set alight, as a daring escape is made, and as Spartan soldiers are defeated, those awful creatures, the Furies hang over Orestes, exacerbating the effects of whatever mortal poison ails him. Cranky old Laertes gets a decent role in this instalment, with some splendid dialogue, and Kenamon the Egyptian also shows his worth.There’s a tone and flavor to the writing style that is so smart and clever and witty. It both left me laughing out loud and also slowing down to reread passages that were emotionally beautiful. I am the goddess of queens, wives and women; my tasks may be thankless, but I perform them nonetheless.” But while the men: the Council, the suitors and their fathers, her son, all regard the women as unimportant, of no account, Penelope is no mental slouch. She and her women have been quietly busy behind the scenes: all those grieving widows and mothers, those fatherless daughters, the women who have been farming and hunting and crafting and trading in the absence of their men will be, it turns out, not only prepared to, but with a bit of training, also capable of, defending Ithaca. The story is told from the goddess Hera’s slightly detached perspective. Snarky and often acerbic, Hera brings a unique voice and point of view to the story, and her caustic wit spotlights the inequities between men and women regardless of station, as well as the injustices women face for duty, honor, and the patriarchy.

House of Odysseus by Claire North is an extraordinary and enthralling journey that intertwines the timeless tale of The Odyssey with a modern, feminist twist. This book is the second of the series focusing on Odysseus’ wife, Penelope. It is a fiercely feminist book, but it’s not a preachy book. It tells a story that is full of betrayal and scheming, of friendships forged and friendships broken, of goddess and queens, love and death, and of fate and free will. This "powerful, fresh, and unflinching" reimagining from the award-winning author of the Penelope trilogy breathes life into ancient myth and gives voice to the women who stand defiant in a world ruled by ruthless men (Jennifer Saint). 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—a peace that is shattered by the return of Orestes, King of Mycenae, and his sister Elektra. This time I find the characters most developed and fascinating, truth to be told, CN' Helen is the one that for so long I was looking forward to finding her in a retelling, Helen I always imagined in my mind, well down! When I read Elektra, I was eh on her character, but North really brought Elektra's story to life in House of Odysseus with her love for Orestes and her general upbringing. It's so sad how she views love and relationships because of her father.

I was intrigued when I heard that Claire North would be switching it up and moving to a new genre from her traditional sci-fi arena, but she treats this subject matter the same as she does her wild sci-fi concepts: with great care for worldbuilding (here, mostly historical details and musings on the place of women in Ancient Greece), character, and theme. These are the men of note. We regard them as one might regard a rash – hopeful that it does not spread further – and then move on." Having already loved Claire North’s science fiction works, I was surprised and delighted to learn she was writing a series of Greek mythology retellings- a sub-genre I adore! North’s writing is evocative, lyrical and always a little surprising, so I expected to love Ithaca. Ithaca is Claire North's idea of just what might have been happening in Odysseus's house while he was... lost... or being held hostage... or slaying cyclops... Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK (Orbit) via NetGalley for giving me a chance to read House of Odysseus (The Songs of Penelope #2) by Claire North, I have given my honest review.