This is an excellent second addition to what I assume will be a trilogy for the The Songs of Penelope Series
Once again we follow Penelope and those close to her, although this time through Aphrodite's point of view. I liked that we got a different perspective, however I enjoyed Hera's more.
These books are full of political intrigue that will keep you hooked, it's rewarding to see Penelope scheme and stand up for herself.

Really enjoyable, can't wait for the next one!

Thank you NetGalley for this e-arc.

-Summary-
House of Odysseus is the second book in Claire North’s Ithaca-set, Penelope-centric ‘Songs of Penelope’ trilogy. It picks up where we left off at the end of the first book, Ithaca, and deals with the aftermath of Clytemnestra’s death: Orestes is being driven to madness, watched over by the vengeful Furies, and Electra seeks Penelope’s support as Menelaus tries to turn the precarious situation in Argos and the Western Isles to his advantage.

-Mythic Context-
North’s main focus in her ‘Songs of Penelope’ trilogy is to explore what Penelope was doing on Ithaca during her husband Odysseus’s long absence - first, while battling at Troy, and then, while battling to return home to Ithaca.

In Homer’s Odyssey and other ancient texts Penelope is depicted and described as the ‘ideal’ (chaste) wife but we know, realistically, that she must be taking power - albeit differently to how her cousin Clytemnestra took power - and ruling Ithaca in Odysseus’s absence or Ithaca would be in ruin when he finally returned. But what does ‘taking power’, when it isn’t usurping one’s husband and murdering him on his return, look like?

We know, too, from the Odyssey that Penelope used various tricks and wiles to fend off the many suitors who vie to take her husband’s place, but how do these tricks work in practice? And what tricks, beyond the weaving and unweaving of her father-in-law’s funeral shroud, does Penelope employ?

House of Odysseus also engages with Aeschylus’s tragedy Eumenides and how Orestes overcomes the trauma of committing matricide.

-Review-
Ithaca was written from the goddess Hera’s point of view and House of Odysseus is written from Aphrodite’s, which makes me excited and hopeful that the third book of the trilogy will be written from Athena’s! Aphrodite has such a fantastic voice here: she’s funny, she’s witty, she’s sassy, she’s a bit of a pervert (she comments on literally every single fit person and/or exposed bit of flesh that she comes across) but I love how she can’t not see the beauty in everything. I love, too, that her focus isn’t just on sexual or romantic love: she tries to teach her virginal sisters Artemis and Athena how to understand what love can mean to them, too.

Aphrodite describes the Judgement of Paris quite early on in the book. I’m ashamed that I’d never really paid this myth much attention beyond what we’re always told/shown about the three goddesses (Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena) being catty and competitive with one another, each wanted to be declared the most beautiful of them all. But North’s approach is incredibly thoughtful and full of emotion. Hera and Athena are humiliated by the debasement of this contest - initiated by Zeus - and the violation of their bodies, and Aphrodite tries her best to help them through it. Zeus is truly vile here: he takes a sick pleasure in the goddesses’ humiliation.

Penelope receives her Spartan guests towards the beginning of the book. Menelaus is the perfect villain: he’s horrid, he’s despicable, I can imagine him twirling a comedy villain moustache when he speaks, and he is just a delight in how awful he is. I’m always a little bit wary about portrayals of Helen but North’s Helen is just as delightful as her husband but in a completely different way! She’s older, she’s visibly ageing, she’s accompanied by signs of vanity (her extraordinary mirror, her piles of gowns and makeup, the potions and ointments scattered across her dressing table - a delicious hint to the grief-removing potions she gives Telemachus and others in the Odyssey!) and acts silly and simpering, but there are hints of something deeper beneath the surface. There is a lovely moment between Helen and Penelope - who really ought to have recognised such tricks were afoot - when her ‘act’ is revealed.

Helen is Aphrodite’s particular favourite, but the narrative leaves us wondering whether being a god’s favourite is a blessing or a curse - an interesting thought to be left with as Odysseus is guided home to Ithaca by his patron goddess, Athena.

Penelope has Mycenaean guests, too: Orestes is incapacitated for most of the book and his sister Electra is more vulnerable here than she was in Ithaca. I could really feel how the weight of everything she’s been through and everything she is trying to survive is bearing down on her. This is a lovely, sympathetic portrayal of a very complicated character.

Orestes brings with him the Furies, horrifying malevolent creatures invisible to mortals but, as Aphrodite tells us with a shiver, constantly lurking in the background wherever Orestes is.

I was curious to see how the Furies and Orestes’ purification of the sin of killing his mother would be handled in this book. I’ve always found Aeschylus’s solution somewhat dissatisfying: it’s too neat, too Athenian, too ‘real-life’. North’s solution is very different: Athena is the arbiter of justice here as she is in Aeschylus, but the Athenian law-courts are swapped for a ‘council’ of women in the wilds of Kephalonia. We’re given a very quiet, very intimate, and very powerful scene between Penelope and Orestes where she talks to him about love and forgiveness. I found it incredibly moving, and much preferable to Athena’s misogyny and the sterility of law-courts in Aeschylus - and I think this is a perfect example of how a good myth retelling can (and should) alter and adapt existing mythic traditions. The cycle of alteration and adaptation is what happened to myths in antiquity, and North’s handling of the extant source material proves that there’s still life and emotion and feeling to be lifted from these ancient stories.

Penelope is, of course, still beset by her suitors, and the Egyptian Kenamon continues to be an utter delight. Penelope seems to shed some of her queenly burdens and come to life around him and I swear my heart beats as fast as hers does when they flirt and make eye contact and touch fingertips!! It’s basically heresy to see Penelope/Odysseus as anything but endgame but I honestly think I ship Penelope/Kenamon now and there’s nothing Odysseus can do about it.

House of Odysseus ends with Odysseus waking up on Ithacan shores. This should be a happy moment and we should be left feeling relieved that the king has finally returned, but North deftly reverses these expectations and makes us feel anxious and wary about what will happen and how Penelope - and her maids and the other women of the island - will react.

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 has returned, and the women of Ithaca have been left behind to run the kingdom.

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

I am new to Greek mythology and fantasy books and this is a beautiful book. The cover caught my eye straight away. The language is hard to pick up on at first as well as the amount of characters present. It took me until at least chapter 13 where I recognised and understood the main characters. The writing style in Ithaca is poetic and lyrical, and Claire North's skilful use of language creates a dreamlike atmosphere that enhances the themes. The characters are well-developed, and the author's exploration of their emotions and motivations adds depth to the story.

This is a book that needs to be read more than once. I think you are not able to grasp everything you are reading in your first read, there are so many characters, back stories and so much more going on than what you initially think, that it is very hard to grasp it all.

The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

i adore claire north. she's the only one who's riding the madeline miller train in a way that's stylistically distinct. loved the focus on penelope, elektra and helen, illiadic characters who don't usually get much depth

Thank you Netgalley for gifting me this copy.

I did not read the first book, which I think is why I wasn't interested in it and didn't continue past the first chapter. The writing style is rather special and I don't think it's for me.

The latest in an increasing number of re-tellings of mythology - imagined from the perspective of women, whether Goddesses or mortals - Claire North's House of Odysseus brings quite a lot to the table. Though not the iconic character of the title, Odysseus himself. Not that we miss him!

Instead, we hear of his wife Penelope, and how she runs the Kingdom of Ithaca in his absence. That too,whilst fending off all the suitors who want to get their greedy hands on Odysseus's palace and his power by marrying his far-from-willing wife, who they prefer to think of as his widow.

In an already tense situation, where Penelope's son Telemachus has stolen away from Ithaca without taking his leave of her (with the aim of finding Odysseus or determining his father's passing), she is taken by surprise by the arrival of Orestes, the King of Mycenae, and his sister Electra, who come seeking refuge with Penelope.

The duo, the children of the once-mighty King Agamemnon and his wife Clytemnestra, are in dire straits. After killing his mother Clytemnestra (who had earlier killed their father, Agamemnon), Orestes appears to be descending into madness, and Electra is fearful of what will happen if the power-hungry leaders of other kingdoms discover this weakness of her brother's.

In particular, Electra fears the bloodthirsty King of Sparta, Menelaus, their uncle. He is the brother of Agamemnon and husband of the legendary Helen of Troy.

Penelope, meanwhile, fears what this unanticipated and unwelcome arrival portends for her. Odysseus's long absence has already put her in a very precarious position, and she does not need the enmity of powerful men like Menelaus to make things even worse.

But this story is all about the strength and cleverness of women, and it is told in the voice of Aphrodite, who has her own power and priorities. How Helen, Penelope, Electra and the others handle the complexities of their times alongside the complications created by the men in their lives makes for very interesting reading.

The one thing I did not like was the use of slang by Aphrodite. It seemed oddly jarring to hear contemporary phrases - especially, at times, quite silly comments about the hunkiness of various men - emerging in the voice of a goddess.

But overall, this is an engrossing book that tells a fascinating story. And it does far more justice to Penelope's ingenuity and agency than her traditional portrayal, consisting of the trope of a waiting woman and her wandering man.

A celebration of women!

Truly does justice to the women of Ancient Greece, particularly the Ithacans. Helen was a far more complex character than I imagined she would be.

The plot was 10/10. The choice of narration by Aphrodite is an interesting one but it worked very well and felt very sentimental and emotionally involved.

The gods are shown to be flawed, the women are shown to be stronger than the men, and Odysseus continues to be absent, as he always is.

Thank you to NetGalley for proving me with a digital ARC to review.

I praised Ithaca for it’s unique narration from the outside perspective of Hera watching the story unravel, and House of Odysseus continued this with Aphrodite’s complex insight of love in its many forms.

Claire North continues to impress me with her take on Greek Mythology and the untold tale of Penelope. I have enjoyed reading of her life while her husband was away, giving agency to a woman who has previously been depicted as simply waiting for Odysseus to return and now has her own story.

This book shows the intricate relationships between women, the trust between a queen and her people, and how men underestimate the ubiquitous yet ignored wives, daughters and servants who hold more power than they can imagine.

The last few chapters had me gripped even though I should be asleep, hanging on to the conversations between Helen and Penelope and watching Menelaus realise Troy’s war has long passed, and so has his hold on Greece.

Description:
Penelope's at home with a house full of greedy suitors, waiting for her husband Odysseus to come back from Troy. The (somewhat shaky) king Orestes and his sister Elektra turn up, pursued by a scheming Menelaus. Then someone gets murdered. Penelope tries to keep her allies alive against great odds.

Liked:
It's a well-told and pacey murder mystery and nuanced tale of political intrigue. It's got a lot to say about women, and how they hold on to control even in societies which are set up to wrest it from them. Nicely balances astute observation with engaging plot.

Disliked:
The tone annoyed me so much I nearly DNF'd. Aphrodite is our narrator and framing device, and some of her more 'modern' comments really grate. Very similarly to No Season But The Summer, little asides like "But he's such a dish, isn't he?" and frequent observations on the hunkiness of male characters just set my teeth on edge. It's not clever or funny to use the language of Bridget Jones in this context... it's just dated.

HOWEVER. The book IS making the interesting and quite explicit point that being seen as silly, frivolous or weak is often a cloak women can use to fool others into thinking they're less of a threat than they actually are, and hence be left alone to pursue their own ends. I'd argue that there are much less irritating ways to make this point, but it does serve a purpose, and the rest of the book is so well crafted I'd advise pushing through anyhow.

Would recommend; this book has a surprising amount to say.

This is my first Claire North book and it was enjoyable! I’m not big up with Greek retelling so it did take me awhile to read to absorb the information. It was a great read 👍🏼

Claire North has another smash on her hands. With such lyrical writing, it is hard not to fall in love with this story, even if there are quite a few characters to keep up with

House of Odysseus by Claire North is an exceptional addition to the Songs of Penelope trilogy, surpassing its predecessor Ithaca with its enthralling narrative and vivid portrayal of ancient myth. This masterfully crafted novel delves into the untold story of Penelope of Ithaca, the renowned wife of Odysseus, weaving a tale of power, intrigue, and resilience.

Set on the captivating island of Ithaca, Penelope expertly maintains a delicate balance of power in the absence of her husband, who sailed off to the Trojan War and never returned. With her cunning wit, she ensures peace reigns over her realm. However, this peace is shattered when Orestes, the tormented King of Mycenae and son of Agamemnon, arrives on Ithaca.

Orestes, burdened by guilt from his past actions, spirals further into madness. Aware that a king cannot be perceived as weak, his sister Elektra brings him to Ithaca seeking Penelope's protection. Yet, their sanctuary is short-lived as Menelaus, the blood-soaked King of Sparta and Orestes' uncle, relentlessly pursues him. Menelaus harbors a ruthless hunger for Orestes' throne, and if he succeeds, no one will be safe from his unpredictable and violent whims.

Caught between the clashing forces of Sparta and Mycenae, Penelope finds herself tasked with safeguarding Ithaca from two deranged kings teetering on the brink of war. Her only allies are Elektra, fiercely determined to shield her brother, and Helen of Troy, Menelaus' enigmatic wife. Each woman harbors a secret that holds the power to shape the world they inhabit.

Claire North's storytelling prowess shines in House of Odysseus, as she masterfully brings these iconic characters to life while infusing the narrative with her unique and imaginative twists. The author seamlessly blends elements of ancient mythology with a fresh perspective, creating a tapestry of emotions, intrigue, and high-stakes drama.

What sets this novel apart is North's ability to delve deep into the psyches of her characters, unraveling their complexities and vulnerabilities. Penelope emerges as a formidable and captivating protagonist, showcasing her resilience, intelligence, and unwavering determination in the face of overwhelming challenges. The intricate dynamics between Elektra and Orestes, as well as the enigmatic presence of Helen of Troy, add layers of depth and intrigue to an already gripping tale.

North's descriptive prose transports readers to the ancient world, immersing them in the lush landscapes of Ithaca and the political machinations of power-hungry rulers. The pacing is impeccable, with tension building steadily throughout the narrative, culminating in a breathtaking climax that leaves readers yearning for more.

House of Odysseus is a triumph of storytelling, breathing new life into ancient myth and delivering a thoroughly engrossing reading experience. Claire North's talent for crafting richly layered characters and her ability to seamlessly blend historical elements with her own creative flair make this novel an absolute delight for fans of historical fiction, mythology, and captivating storytelling.

Following the critically acclaimed Ithaca comes House of Odysseus, the second novel in Claire North's Songs of Penelope trilogy - an exquisite, gripping tale that breathes life into ancient myth. This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca, famed wife of Odysseus, as it has never been told before.
On the island of Ithaca, queen Penelope maintains a delicate balance of power. Many years ago, her husband Odysseus sailed to war with Troy and never returned. In his absence, Penelope uses all her cunning to keep the peace - but this is shattered with the arrival of Orestes, King of Mycenae.

I love all these mythology retellings that puts women at the forefront of the story and gives them a voice and this one was no different. I recently read Ithaca which I enjoyed and this book follows on from that. The authors writing is beautiful and descriptive and I can really imagine myself there when reading
The only problem I had was keeping up with all the characters as there is a lot!
This was a beautiful, immersive read and I will definitely be reading the last in the trilogy when it comes out

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC