3.5

Very skillfully written. Even though it took me a while to really get into the story it was riveting once I got into it. Hera as the narrator of this tale is a brilliant choice. The dry humour was everything.

This was a really entertaining look at the lives of the women left behind on Ithaca while Odysseus went off the fight the Trojan War and get lost on his way home. Told from the perspective of Hera, who had a really sarcastic and sassy tone which I really appreciated, we see the machinations of Penelope as she tries to fend off the various suitors aiming for her hand. I loved the pacing of the book, with the first part focusing on the day to day of the women and then moving into the arrival of Electra as she looks for her mother. The plot was intriguing throughout and the characters were really fascinating. All in all, a very good re-imagining and I will read the next installment with great pleasure.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

claire north is so fascinating, she pivots so decisively and confidently from one speculative subgenre to another and does so with aplomb and confidence. I'm always so genuinely impressed by her

I enjoyed this retelling of Greek myth, one I’ll admit to not knowing much about. Claire’s storytelling along with the chapters told from the perspective of the actual gods made this a unique and enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this read though it was heavier than other Greek mythology fiction I’ve read and harder to get into. I loved hearing from Hera (finally) as most other stories either paint her as a villain (despite Zeus being the worst husband ever) or just completely ignore her. It was nice to see her humanised and actually wanting to help someone. I know it wasn’t the main part of the story but it stuck out for me.
It was accurate, well-written and had depth though it took me forever to read as it didn’t have the pace I was hoping for.

3.5/5
Not my favourite rendition of Greek myth, but a solid one nevertheless. I cannot get enough of Penelope's story, and North truly does her justice. I enjoyed what the story tried to do in new and refreshing ways with this story, but I found the constant mentions of sexual violence to leave a sour taste in my mouth (I understand North was likely trying to show how trivial such a thing was in the society she writes about, and yet I still cannot help but ask myself "is this a necessary thing for modern audiences to be put through when reading feminist approaches to these myths?"; for many, the answer may be yes; for me, I could've done without.
Alas, I still look forward to reading more of North's work because I found this to be a compelling introduction to it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

The market is quite saturated with feminist retellings of Greek mythology at the moment, and I must admit I was doubtful that North could compete with Atwood's The Penelopiad on this particular subject. But she does bring something different to the story of Penelope by setting the entire plot during Odysseus's absence and not trying to tell a 'known' story. The interaction with the female gods was interesting, and I thought the focus on Greece's three 'queens' allowed the original myths to be seen in a different light, as well as the emphasis of the role of Penelope's servants and the other women on the island. I look forward to the further installments of this series.

I love the abundance of mythical retellings currently & Ithaca is no exception. A little slow in places however I really enjoyed the story & found myself frequently laughing at Hera’s commentary.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the preview copy.

Retelling and regrading mythology is fashionable at the moment, and I felt this one came up short. The narrative felt bulky and I wasn't convinced it brought anything new to the genre.

Mythological retelling are popular at the moment and Ive read a few. I was extremely pleased to receive an arc of this (Many thanks, Netgalley!) because I usually enjoy Claire North’s work. However I struggled to connect with the characters or the story this time round.

I really enjoyed seeing this story from a Gods point of view. I enjoyed the humour and the meddling (because we all know God's love to meddle. It was certainly interesting to see the other side of the story and the women's side of things.

Thank you so much for the earc.
I have read quite a few re tellings and I'm used to a mostly character focused narrative . I found interesting the more factual point of view of this narration although it contributed to a slower pace.

I think Penelope being narrated by Hera does not help with the flow of the story as it adds confusion to the reader,paired with the array of side characters that bately contribute to the story.

Odysseus has been absent from Ithaca for 17 years and, presumed dead, suitors have been arriving from near and far to court Penelope and thereby claim the throne. Meanwhile, pirates have been raiding various settlements on the island as it now seems defenceless.

As a woman, Penelope is unable to raise an army or act as regent in place of Odysseus. Her son Telemachus is keen to rule but lacks the authority and experience and she fears for his safety. Behind the scenes, she shows hereself to be a cunning politician and tactician.

Like many recent novels based on the Greek myths, this book focuses on women (Electra and Clytemnestra also feature prominently). Uniquely, the story is told by Hera, whose contemptuous attitude to many of her fellow gods is an amusing diversion from the main narrative.

Strongly plotted and most entertaining.

A lot of the story is narrated by the grumpy Queen Goddess Hera as she and her fellow gods do some meddling in the lives of mankind.
A well written tale and I’m looking forward to book 2 when hopefully Odysseus will finally show up. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Once upon a time, there were three queens in Greece. One was chaste and pure, one a temptress whore, one a murderous hag. That is the how the poets sing it."

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.

This is a 3.5-star book for me do 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.

"I who have nothing to lose that the poets have not already taken from me, only I will tell you the truth. I, who part the veil of time, will tell those stories that only the women tell. So follow me to the western isles, to the halls of Odysseus, and listen.

I was a queen of women once, before my husband bound me with chains and made me a queen of wives."

This is a new Penelope story from Hera's perspective, Mostly Hera! The story starts eighteen years after Odysseus sailed from Ithaca, eight years after Troy fell.

Odysseus, the cleverest man in Greece, how chose his wife? Clever Penelope try to buy some time for his back, but for what? Why does she want Odysseus back, is it because of her love for him or loyalty or maybe only greed to role like men, like Clytemnestra, her cousin? I really did not know, I'm afraid I failed hard to understand Penelope.

I should confess though it is Penelope's retelling, I enjoyed Elektra and Clytemnestra most, Yes we have Agamemnon's wife and daughter here, Athena and Artemis too!
Elektra with his brother Orestes land on Ithaca, tracking their guilty mother and wanting Clytemnestra's death.

"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."

I like to say this was a story of women! Women are bold, stubborn and well may I say, jealous.

"When women fight, no man can be left alive. No man can live to tell what they see. No mercy. No quarter."

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.

Quests
"I know very little about killing, That is the men’s business. But it is the women who come to dress and wail at the corpses when the killing is done, no?"

"If you make enough people believe you are important, one day it may actually be true."

"He was smart, knew how to play it. Not too smart that people think you’re a threat, not too dumb that people don’t know you’re useful."

Eight years after the end of the Trojan War, with Odysseus still not returned home and presumed by many to be dead, Ithaca is overrun with suitors vying for the hand for Queen Penelope, and it is her story we follow here. Through the narration of the goddess Hera, we learn of the schemes of Penelope and her maids to avoid the Queen having to choose a new suitor, keep Prince Telemachus safe, and ensure Ithaca’s survival in the patriarchal society of Ancient Greece.

While I love Greek mythology, and a good retelling of a mythological tale, I didn’t love this one as I expected to. Perhaps because Atwood’s “The Penelopiad” was so good my expectations were too high, but what could have been a tale packed with drama and intrigue felt at times like a rather plodding melodrama. Hera as the narrator also bothered me slightly. I understand that she is meant to be a lofty, temperamental goddess, but I found her bitterness and sarcasm grating. In addition, Telemachus was irritating and Penelope was rather dull. More minor characters, such as Elektra, are more interesting, but we don’t spend a huge amount of time with them, leaving me rather underwhelmed overall. I’m sure there are plenty of readers who would enjoy this tale, but it wasn’t for me, I'm afraid.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

A retelling of Greek mythology that centres female characters’ experience of the Trojan war, in particular what happened to Ithaca while its king, Odysseus, was away fighting. Narration by the goddess Hera, and the points of view of women like Penelope and Clytemnestra give the novel an epic feel and puts a fresh perspective on an old story. A worthwhile, slow burn of a book.

Wonderful read which is the first in a planned trilogy. Claire North is a big favourite, her backlist is an eclectic mix of styles and genres but the gripping storytelling is the common factor and she is always worth reading.
This story follows the Queen of Ithaca, Penelope, who waits for the return of her husband from Troy and is an enthralling run through the political construct of the Greek islands and the various rulers and those who would like to rule.
Claire North produces a narrative driven from the perspective of Hera and the way she interacts with the other Gods, Great pacing and a read that drags you into the morass of relationships and political scheming. Highly recommended and this novel bodes well for the other stories in the series.

A very beautiful, stunning re-imagining of the world of Ithaca. I was completely swept away by it. Claire North's writing is always so imaginative and evocative.

Ithaca is a welcome addition to the Greek mythological retelling genre and North's writing is *chef's kiss* It is narrated by Hera who is watching over Greek Queen Penelope. The characters, especially the women, are written so richly.