Ithaca takes us on a true retelling of the traditional epic tale of the Penelopiad or, Penelope and Odysseus.

Throughout the novel, North wrote beautifully, constructing the world and cast of characters on an epic-scale quality.

Instantly there was a uniqueness to this tale with the utilisation of the Goddess Hera as the narrator which allowed a sort of all-seeing eye kind of view and highlighted the points of views of various different characters. I also felt that Hera was a strong focal point for primary themes present throughout the novel such as female empowerment.

Unfortunately I did not enjoy this novel as much as I hoped that I would. While it is undeniable that the use of Hera as the narrator was a clever plot device, I did find it incredibly busy at times as so many characters jumped into passages vying for attention and it is up to Hera to decide how long we are shown them.

With Penelope being who the story is about also, I had hoped to gain more of an insight into her character. While Hera is without a doubt depicted wonderfully as the Goddess of fading power, I often felt Penelope was more distant and kept in the dark which led for me to feel as though I was not as deeply connected to her as I should have been.

Despite this, I still found the novel beautifully written and I would recommend it to those who are interested in Greek Mythology.

Thank you to @littlebrownbookgroup_uk @orbitbooks_uk @netgalley for allowing me access to this novel pre-release!

3.5 stars

I was very excited about this book, a retelling of the Odyssey from the perspective of Penelope who gets left behind to manage everything! I'm also a huge fan of Claire North's work and this was something a bit different (although all her books are unique and marvelous in their own way) and I was interested to see how it would turn out. Much was as I expected, sharp edgy writing, astute observations and witty and clever characters but I felt like nothing much really happened and what did happen seemed to take an awfully long time to happen. Perhaps this is the nature of Penelope's story (and the point of the book) that all the action is going on elsewhere whilst us women are left behind to deal with the boring stuff as best we can. Not that this is boring, not at all! I enjoyed reading it immensely but on reflection I find myself struggling to actually put into words what happened across all 400 pages. Is it worth reading? Totally, especially if you are fan of all the myth retelling going on at the moment, and if you are a Claire North fan, though be prepared for something different from her usual fare. Will I pick up further books in the series? Absolutely, I'm very invested in the characters and the unique voices that the author has gifted them with.

Growing up I was obsessed with Greek Mythology. I had books upon books describing it, teaching me all I could find. With Greek retellings surging in popularity recently I couldn't be happier except for the fact that there was barely anything on one of the women I was almost always intrigued by, that is, Penelope. When I came across this book by Claire North I felt like a gift had just been dropped in my lap and boy did the author not disappoint.

This book followed the classic tale of Penelope and the women of Ithaca. The author spins a vibrant tale of the original myth. Immersing you into the story, you almost feel like you're there. She stays true to the classic story and doesn't add much new details but this creates an air of authenticity within the novel. If you've ever encountered the Odyssey, then this books acts as a more detailed version of that from the perspective of a woman often overlooked. It's character driven and though slow at times, if you love Greek mythology it won't bother you.
Wonderfully written and thoroughly enjoyable I fully recommend.

A version of this review will be posted to my bookstagram @krisreadstt at a date roughly two weeks before publication as suggested by the publishing house. I'd also like to post the review to my Goodreads once it's okay. Thank you netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

<blockquote>Kenamon takes his time to consider this. Penelope does not mind. The silence of men is a novel experience, and she is prepared to thoroughly enjoy it.</blockquote>

That‘s the point where I fell in love with this book. I mean how could I not? And it‘s not the only beautiful quote:

<blockquote>Oh most certainly all the councilors of Odysseus are <i>aware</i> of trade, but to speak of it in polite society? Absolutely not! It is something that their trusted slaves must do, or in the very worst case their wives- The great men of Ithaca are far too busy doing more poetry-worthy stuff, such as losing battles or stealing other men‘s mistresses.</blockquote>

Hera is the narrator of the book and it was a bit unusual at first to have a first-person narrator who occasionally interacts with other characters (though really interaction only happens with other Goddesses; when it comes to mortals Hera only occasionally whispers in their ears in the hope that they get ideas), who has strong feelings about what is happening (very strong ones in the case of what is happening to Clytemnestra, a character I admit I hadn‘t cared about much before but very much did in this book just because Hera‘s words were so moving) but who can‘t really intervene because it would lead to even more chaos on Olympus than there already is at any given moment. But she very quickly grew on me. And yes, her snark about poets/warriors/what poets consider noteworthy (and let‘s face it: men in general) helped.

It also meant that we did not learn about all of Penelope‘s feelings because Hera is not a mind-reader. Another thing that felt odd at first, but eventually grew on me. It meant that she appeared more human than the Penelope from the original myth and became a character I really cared about but at the same time not learning everything about her innermost thoughts and feelings meant she kept some of the detachedness I am used to, from (not only Greek) myths and legends and made it feel like a proper retelling of a myth and not some loose interpretation.

I'm a sucker for Greek Mythology retellings! Itchaca is the events of the Odyssey from the point of view of Penelope as she waits & hopes that her husband will return home. I LOVED that it's Hera who tells the story her tone of voice is perfect and to have her take on events was brilliant. As much as I loved it being from Hera's POV I did kind of hope that it would switch between her and Penelope. I adored Hera's interactions with her step-daughters so much, really well written and I love that the Goddesses in this story are aloof, harsh and temperamental as they should be. Hera poking fun at some of the "heroes" was brilliant, especially calling Jason a little shit was a highlight, because you know fuck Jason.

Claire North writes emotions so well, there is so much anger, hope & frustration in this book. Penelope is so done with the suitors on her island, fed up with being trapped on what should be here home. Hera is bound to the Queens and Princesses of the story often pushing them forward, giving them support in little subtle ways. I love how much tension the arrival Electra, Orestes and Clytemnestra brings on to Itchaca and how The Curse on the House of Atreus plays into Penelope's story.

A true feminist delight.
An epic poem that is not an ode to heroes, but to heroines. This is what Ithaca is.

Thank you to Redhook Books and Netgalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

By coincidence I have read a lot of Greek mythology books this year and I was interested to read North's perspective. For the most part this was an okay read but I did find it confusing to know what was going on. The beginning was stronger than the latter half and I did find myself losing interest. This aside, North has captured the atmosphere and characters well.

Recently, I've been loving all these retellings about Greek mythology, so I was very curious to read this one. Alas, it wasn't my cup of tea. My main problem was the writing style and how the author chose to tell the story. Hera was the narrator but it didn't work for me. It was confusing with too many characters to keep up with. I also didn't like the tone of Hera's narration, it was sometimes too modern and out of context. I expected a prose more lyrical. It's a pity because it had the premises to be a good story.

I've read quite a few of these Greek retelling, and yet I never manage to retain the information on the who and the whys.
So I almost came to this new... I really like Claire North's writing, which is what drew me to the book, that and the cover (yes I judge), at a time when I felt I was all greeked out.
It was a good decision.
I found the huge cast of characters hard to keep up with, but that's hardly this authors fault.
Slow at times, but also fairly amusing too, which I hadn't expected.
A solidly good read, which as the first in a trilogy (I believe), just leaves you wanting the next yo come along sooner.

Thank you so much to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for sharing a copy of Ithaca with me.

I grew up completely obsessed with mythology. Greek mythology seems to be the one so deeply ruled by the patriarchy unfortunately, with our women pushed to the sidelines, I've loved the uptake in retellings from the woman's perspective. Circe and Ariadne are two of my favourite books. So when I spotted Ithaca I knew I needed to read it.

I adored that it was narrated from Hera, it gave a much more comprehensive look at the world of Ithaca and Penelope's situation. As incredible as a first person POV would have been, having that ability to see more context made this book much richer. I also loved the characterisation of Hera, a goddess who is often overlooked as being the jilted wife.

Much like Penelope.

I loved the pace of this story, the themes of feminism, misogyny and the in-depth look at motherhood. Despite almost every kingdom in Greece being ruled by a queen during the Trojan war, there is still unhappiness with a matriarchal society.

Penelope, however, is the only person who could possibly sit on that throne.

I just love, love, love this book and I'm even more overjoyed to learn that this is a trilogy. I can't wait to continue this journey!

This was a book of two halves for me, the second half markedly more enjoyable. The story is narrated by Hera, goddess of wives and women advocate of Greek queens. She has a slightly mocking, occasionally scathing tone that I found a little annoying at times. Her narrative style is modern, and occasionally her choice of vocabulary sounded odd, calling the suitors squirts and twerps. After a promising start the first part of the story meandered, maybe trying to cover too much background to the events to come. It took time for the characters to settle and gain form and personality, and for a point to the story to emerge. Penelope particularly seemed to hide behind her maids. The nods to Homer were a little clumsy, repetition of ideas, the poets don’t tell you this (some of it for good reason) and the inevitable rosy-fingered dawn. But once the plotting and scheming began to emerge the relationships between the characters became more solid, the narrative began to flow and the writing became much more assured. The arrival of Orestes and Elektra and the subsequent search for Clytemnestra provided a distraction from the suitors’ presence. I enjoyed the denouement, the coming together of the goddesses and the women of Ithaca but would have liked to have seen the suitors off. Telemachus grew in character as the story developed aided by the calm influence of the Egyptian Kenamon. Having finished I am still not sure what I should be taking from this book, I have read other stories derived from the Homeric poems that had more purpose and overall I was a little disappointed.

I saw someone tweet about this book, and THIS BOOK is the reason I signed up for NetGalley. I cannot thank them or the publishers enough for the ARC.

I love a Greek Myth. I've been obsessed with them from a very early age, and it was definitely my 'area of special interest' as a child. For the most part, I'm really enjoying the zeitgeist moment of myth retellings from different points of view (specifically female and queer) but I am picky about writing style, references to source material and amount of dramatic license.

For me, this book ticks all the boxes. It's told from Hera's perspective as she watches over Penelope, who is waiting for Odysseus' return after the Trojan War has finished. This gives the speaker a little more omniscience so she can comment on Penelope's thoughts and actions, as well as those around her AND pull in the threads about what is going on with Odysseus and some of the other famous faces of Troy. There are also some pretty hilarious and damning asides about the other Olympians.

It covers the political strain of the many suitors and the struggles of a queen in a patriarchal world. The emotional strain of her relationship with her son as he grows up with an idealised view of his father and a desire to be a hero. The mental strain of waiting, not knowing, and trying to forge the best way forward - not just for herself but for Ithaca.

I will be recommending this one left, right and centre and will be buying a hardcopy for my bookshelves as soon as I can and it becomes available!

It's written for adults, but if you have a Yr10/11+ who loves Greek Myths, you could recommend it. There are a few sexual references and some skirmishes, but there is nothing that's so graphic it would prevent a recommendation for a mature reader. It's basically a 15 in movie terms.

3.5 rounded up ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Will post review on goodreads two weeks prior to release as instructed in the e-mail.

Thank you so much to Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

There have been a slew of Greek myth retellings in recent times and I was keen to see if Ithaca brought anything new to the table.

Personally I have what I am calling “Troy Fatigue” as I do believe the myth has been overdone recently and I would like authors and creators to look elsewhere, as Greek myth is a rich and varied field to plough.

Despite this I did enjoy Ithaca. I particularly enjoyed the use of Hera as a kind of narrator, as she is an overlooked and type-cast goddess. I was also pleased that Odysseus did not appear-again due to my Troy Fatigue as well as the fact that for me the more I think about it, the more I actually dislike him (from first reading the Odyssey in high school many years ago and liking him as a Greek hero).

I liked the agency that Penelope was afforded, whilst still being realistic within the parameters of the time period. A firm feminist, I am all for feminist or female-centric retellings, however I also want them to be realistic as I don’t agree with retellings that acts as if women did have all the opportunity and power they could want in these time periods, as they didn’t and it’s important for us to acknowledge this.

The book ended quite abruptly so I hope there is a sequel in the works 🤞🏻

If you like Madeline Miller, Jennifer Saint or Natalie Haynes I would definitely recommend this.

This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca, famed wife of Odysseus, as it has never been told before. Beyond Ithaca's shores, the whims of gods dictate the wars of men. But on the isle, it is the choices of the abandoned women - and their goddesses - that will change the course of the world.

Seventeen years ago, king Odysseus sailed to war with Troy, taking with him every man of fighting age from the island of Ithaca. None of them have returned, and the women have been left behind to run the kingdom.

Penelope was barely into womanhood when she wed Odysseus. Whilst he lived, her position was secure. But now, years on, speculation is mounting that husband is dead, and suitors are starting to knock at her door . . .

But no one man is strong enough to claim Odysseus' empty throne - not yet. Between Penelope's many suitors, a cold war of dubious alliances and hidden knives reigns, as everyone waits for the balance of power to tip one way or another. If Penelope chooses one from amongst them, it will plunge Ithaca into bloody civil war. Only through cunning and her spy network of maids can she maintain the delicate balance of power needed for the kingdom to survive.

On Ithaca, everyone watches everyone else, and there is no corner of the palace where intrigue does not reign . .

“Ithaca” by Claire North is an excellent retelling of the tale of Penelope of Ithaca, wife of the famed hero Odysseus. It is told from the perspective of the women of Ithaca, following on from the death of Odysseus and her struggle to survive. This book is beautifully written and is a wonderfully immersive fictional account of its era. I adore historical fiction but I’ve never ventured as far back in time as Ithaca takes us - I’m so pleased that I was approved for this novel as now my interest is fully piqued. I sincerely hope there will be more to come in this series from this author. I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical fictions, as well as fans of ancient tales retold and indeed, anyone who wants to lose themselves in a well written tale.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

I love retellings especially of Greek Myths so I was so excited to get this. It was more of a slow burner than a pacy read but that was ok. Overall I enjoyed it and it isn't a myth that I knew a great deal about befpre so that was great for me.

Ithaca by Claire North is a fantasy story or Greek mythology retelling based on the wife of Odysseus; Penelope. It has been seventeen years since the Trojan War began and since Odysseus first set sail. Odysseus has not returned to Ithaca even though the Trojan War has been over for eight years. Believing Odysseus to be dead, suitors are lining up for Penelope. But no one is strong enough to become Penelope's suitor and this leads Ithaca into a bloody civil war. This is told in third person but personally I found it hard to figure out whose head I was in. The writing of this was quite slow and I did have to push through. Overall it was more of a 3.5 for me but I am rounding it up to a 4.