Another strong addition to the recent series of retellings. Claire North is a great writer, and after reading the First 15 Lives of Harry August it's interesting to see how varied her portfolio is becoming. Loves reading more about Penelope and her life as ignored in the traditional stories.

In a highly saturated genre (the Greek mythological retelling), it's really a question of what new perspective or twist a new book brings. I didn't think anything was particularly wrong with it, but it didn't captivate me as I had hoped.

This retelling from the POV of Penelope was so refreshing, rather than the usual focus of Odysseus. It did take me a while to get into the narrative as there are a lot of characters introduced quite early on and it felt slow at times, I've read quite a bit of Greek mythology and I found it tough to keep on top of what was happening. I did enjoy the use of more secondary characters but I don't feel like all of them were necessary/added something to the story but it's a different take on a well known story and a decent read if you like ancient history/Greek mythology but perhaps be wary of needing to remind yourself who people are!

Ithaca is another novel in the current trend of giving a voice to the women of Greek mythology. The story focusses on Ithaca, Odysseus' island kingdom, in the eighth year after the end of the Trojan war. Odysseus hasn't yet returned home, and nobody apart from the gods knows whether he is alive or dead; meanwhile a large number of aspirant suitors to his queen Penelope's hand lounge around his palace, taking full advantage of the unshakeable laws of hospitality to eat, drink and feast every night at Penelope's expense.

You would expect the dominant voice to be that of Penelope, but the story is instead told by none other than Hera, ageing (if such a thing is possible for a goddess) queen of the gods. And what a narrative voices hers is - commenting cryptically on what she observes the mortals doing, shamelessly favouring some over others and women over men, and regaling us with wonderfully acerbic asides about her fellow goddesses Athena and Artemis. Thanks to this the Olympian gods' pettinesses, jealousies and rivalries take as much of a central place in the narrative as do the human affairs which are the main subject.

These affairs centre on the problem of how a community of women, boys and old men can deal with a series of raids ostensibly by Illyrian pirates, who however show little interest in negotiating protection terms and carry weapons which are very definitely Greek. Penelope concentrates on ruling unobtrusively and keeping all her suitors politely at bay, knowing that choosing one amongst them will unleash a bloody territorial war. Things get even more complicated when Agamemnon's children Orestes and Elektra turn up, seeking vengeance on their mother Clytemnestra who has murdered her husband and fled after he caught her in flagrante with her poet lover. And meanwhile Penelope's 16-year-old son Telemachus is keen to prove his manhood by rejecting his mother and fighting the pirates to show he is a worthy son to his hero father.

This is a truly worthy addition to the genre, and the device of having Hera tell the story is innovative and very successful. Through her comments and observations she paints a picture of a world where women, whether mortal or not, must use their wits and cunning in relative silence if they are to manage their affairs and kingdoms successfully. A hugely enjoyable read and highly recommended.

I enjoyed this alternative take on the Odysseus story whereby the male hero takes a backseat and his wife Penelope is foregrounded instead, ably supported by her female associates. I liked how it was narrated by a goddess, Hera, which brought in the mythical dimension to the tale. It’s beautifully written and will satisfy anyone with an interest in Ancient Greek myths and legends.

Odysseus left Ithaca 8 years ago to assist in returning Helen from Troy leaving Penelope to rule and protect Ithaca. This is getting harder as suitors demand she remarry and accept a new king.

Great read for the myths of heroes and gods. Read and enjoy as we follow Penelope and her people.

I love the fact Claire North doesn’t stray far from the version of these myths , more that she just shows us the side of women of Ithaca once the Trojan wars are over and Odysseus is on his voyages ‘home’ It shows how when men are at war, women get left to run everything as usual, but, but highlights the fact they’re left with no money, no men of working age. I love the fact it’s Hera narrating se we get the point of view of the women who are left behind..
Fantastic book

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This was a bit of a slow read for me, but also a really good one...

Ithaca discusses what happens in Odysseus's home just after the Trojan War, as the events of the Odyssey are transpiring. While Athena protects Odysseus and Telemachus, Hera, queen of the gods and wife to Zeus, looks after Penelope as she tries to rule Ithaca, while at the same time managing the political implications of having a territory without a king. Because of the Trojan War, Ithaca was left only with the women, the very young and very old men, which makes it complicated to protect the island.

Ithaca was so good at presenting these women who were left behind in Ithaca during the Trojan War, especially Penelope, who is so often disregarded, but finally gets to be the lead in this story. Hera has a special affection for the Greek queens - Penelope, Helen and, especially, Clytemnestra - and with the goddess at the helm in this book, we get to see more of Ithaca's women.

The narrator for Ithaca's audiobook was excellent and managed to elevate the novel.

4 Stars

Synopsis: Odysseus has not returned home and Penelope must must maintain a fragile balance in his absence. But with suitors vying for the throne, pirates attacking her Kingdom, and threats looming all around her, she must use her wit to keep Ithaca intact.

CW/TW: Sexism/Misogyny/Rape/Death/Murder/Sacrifice/Death of a child/Slavery/others may be present.

Ithaca by Claire North is a beautiful retelling of Odysseus with it’s lens fixed on Penelope. It tells the story of Penelope in Odysseus’ absence and sticks close to Odysseus’ original tale.

Claire North’s prose is gorgeous and lyrical. Despite Penelope being the eponymous character, the book is told from the perspective of the Goddess Hera. This was an interesting choice that lent a blunt and cynical humour to the book, while also not shying away from her own brutal view of some of the men, and the Gods. It was a nice choice that helped maintain some pace in this book – which is otherwise rather slow paced. While I enjoyed Hera’s perspective and narration, at times it felt a little repetitive.

The plot is as expected, Penelope’s experience of Odysseus’ absence. Suitors trying to gain her hand and the throne, her land being pressured to take a new King, and all sorts of trickery and manipulation that accompanies these stories and mythologies. The book was interesting, I enjoyed Hera’s perspective of Penelope and her clever ways. Similarly, I enjoyed the little glimpses we get of other Goddesses or looks into what they are up to. The best part of the story was Penelope’s careful weaving of plots and plans meant to keep Ithaca stable, while maintaining the image of the demure and grieving woman and wife. Overall, the story was enjoyable with hints of humour, wit and sarcasm.

The characters were interesting. Hera was interesting as a Narrator, her role as a Goddess, her view of Women and of mothers was interesting and aligned well with her view of the Gods and Men who think they can take what they want, when they want. I also enjoyed the parts of Artemis and Athena that we got to see – though this was not too much of the book. Finally I liked Penelope’s character and appreciated her mind. However, I did not like Telemachus or most of the suitors who are guests on Ithaca. Moreover, some of the characters felt a little flat to me. But I did enjoy the addition of Penelope’s maids, Clytemnestra, and more – it added more depth to the characters and shone light on the women in the story.

Overall, Ithaca was an enjoyable read with a unique light on Penelope’s story.

*I received an eARC via Netgalley from Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review -Thank you!*

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to resist a feminist retelling - and Ithaca is no exception.

Through the eyes of the Goddess Hera we follow Penelope, Queen of Ithaca as she navigates the years in which her husband Odysseus is away. I loved Hera as a narrator, it was a fresh and engaging way to tell the story and gave the book an extra dose of mythology.

It did however take me until about a third of the way into the book to really get into the plot - we are introduced to far too many characters too early on, some of whom are really not that relevant. This made it difficult to connect with the key players in the early stages of the book. However once the plot progressed I found myself not wanting to put this down, absolutely engrossed in the clever ways Penelope was able to rule (without the men realising).

If you enjoy Greek retellings then this is definitely worth a read (I’m off to go remind myself of some more Greek history!)

Although I like the retelling of Greek mythology I was a little confused by this story. There were attempts to modernise which did not work for me. I was a little confused by the storyteller and found this retelling a little long. Nevertheless, it was interesting.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Claire North/Little, Brown Book Group for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

When Odysseus sailed to Troy, he took with him every man of fighting age from the island of Ithaca. Seventeen years later, none of them have returned and, believing Odysseus to be dead, suitors have been competing to win over his wife, Penelope, in order to become the new king of Ithaca. Penelope has managed to use her cunning to keep them at bay, but the balance of power is on a knife’s edge and the slightest false move could tip the kingdom into disaster.

Ithaca is a retelling of what happened in the kingdom of Ithaca while Odysseus was trapped on Calypso’s island. It doesn’t veer far from the existing stories of Penelope and the suitors, but it does provide a more in-depth look into how she maintained peace on the island, and gives much more significance to the roles of the maids. It sticks to the basic facts of the story and pads it out with detail, politics and personality.

The story is narrated by the goddess Hera whose unique perspective gives the story a more original feel. I really enjoyed Hera’s narrative voice, and appreciated seeing the limited involvement of the goddesses in supporting the women of Ithaca without drawing unwanted attention from the likes of Zeus and Poseidon. It has a very contemporary feel, without modernising the story too far or changing the perceived role of women at that time.

The one negative is that the plot developed quite slowly. I’ve read that this is the first part of what will be a trilogy, and I’m just not sure that the story really needs three whole books to tell it. Especially for anyone already familiar with the Odyssey who is aware of how it ends. I don’t want to get overly attached to characters who are inevitably going to meet a bloody end! I feel that the story could have been compressed slightly, and I can’t even fathom what’s going to happen in the next two books.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy to review of this book. It has such an intriguing prospectus. What was it really like for the women left behind on Ithaca when King Odysseus and the menfolk went to war in Troy? Here we find Penelope, her women associates, the suitors and her sulky son, Telemachus, negotiating a perilous political path in their absence some 17 years later. It’s a great concept, but why is it narrated by Hera? She has no real mythological association with Ithaca. Her sarcastic and sometimes witty disparagement works to a point as does the bravely different view of Penelope as a world wearied queen, more or less indifferent now to the endlessly absent Odysseus and more formed by her kinship with Helen and Clytemnestra - quite a trinity of womenfolk! I am greatly in support of new attempts to tell these ancient stories and for that reason alone would urge people to read this book. I have to say, however, that the writing and pace does not really quite cut it for me and I am having trouble finishing it myself.

Headlines:
Interesting POV and prose
Felt a little long and slow

Ithaca started with an interesting bang and zoning in on normal people but it quickly zoomed out to encompass a huge viewpoint thanks to the narration of Hera. On the one hand, Hera provided a sometimes sarcastic wit and clever take on events. However, it provided an artistic license for anything goes in terms of events that took place and in particular her view of Penelope.

I did find this story to feel long in parts and slow to develop. There were themes you might expect like relationships and pettiness, politics and strategy and of course the influence of the gods. I quite liked the political elements but felt forever frustrated with some of the women in this story. The men...well they are mostly a waste of word space but I guess they have to be there!

I do think that to fully appreciate this tale, you need a previous understanding of the history and events of these myths. Without that, you might be lost as there is minimal guidance for the reader on past events prior to where this tale picks up. Overall, not my favourite retelling and I'm not sure I'll continue.

Wow! What a glorious retelling. In vivid technicolour North brings the story of Penelope and the island of Ithaca to life rich in detail, deep in emotion and raw in honesty about womanhood.

I loved the unromanticised voice of our narrator, Hera standing out in contrast from the original poetic tales. Who could fail to love all of the female protagonists, each uniquely fiercely strong in a world dominated by the power of men.

This book had me on the edge of my seat because of the exciting, compelling plot, the beautiful characterisation and the exquisitely written prose. A fantastic read!

This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

When King Odysseus left Ithaca to join the war with Troy, all men of the fighting age sailed with him. For seventeen years, the men do not return, and the island is run by old men and the queen, who dare not take the rule into her hands. At least not officially. Behind the scenes, Penelope consults with a group of women. When the suitors, ready to replace Odysseus, grow impatient, the raiders appear at Ithaca’s coast, she has to maintain the fragile peace and power balance.

Ithaca is one of the stories that give voice to women from Ancient Greek mythology. This time, we explore Ithaca, where the men are either too young or old but still pretend to rule over women. Claire North writes a daring myth retelling, where the narrative voice is given to Penelope and Hera, the goddess of women, marriage and family, who watch over Ithaca from Olympus. Both women struggle to retain their influence and shards of power in a world ruled by men. I loved how North wrote in Hera’s voice— angry and cynical, but always supporting the women, especially against the injustice of men.

What I am still not sure about is the disenchantment of Penelope’s story. She was often used as an example of a ‘good wife’, faithful and loving. As a young girl, I was fascinated with her story. I never thought of her as weak or subjugated but as someone madly in love. In Ithaca, she is indifferent to her husband and uses his absence to build her independence. This adjustment changes the narrative from a sentimental love story to a piece about female strength and solidarity. I admire Claire North’s brave decision to challenge the way Penelope was perceived throughout the ages. Her attempt to introduce formidable women to a male-dominated Ancient Greece was a fascinating read.

I've loved Claire North previous science-fiction books, and I was a bit worried about her attempt at a new genre: greek mythology retelling. But I didn't need to worry at all, because I loved Ithaca more then I thought I would.
I've found the book to be beautifully written, with her typical elegant prose and the point of view of goddess Hera strong and powerful.
It has a slow pace and a lot of characters, but it sucks you into the story with its intimate and emotional style.
Beautiful!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Take it from a queen – the greatest power we women can own is that we take in secret.”

This is the story of Penelope, wife of Odysseus, and the women of Ithaca who are often forgotten when stories of heroes are told.
This story is narrated by Hera who sees everything happening in Ithaca and so we get a bigger view of what is happening. It was interesting to read the story with Hera as the narrator and her sharing her view on the world and the gods of Olympus. How she is forgotten in favour of the other others and yet she still has power.

This is a theme that runs throughout the story. How Penelope despite being queen has to pretend to be meek and quiet in front of the men who act like they know what they are doing but actually just sit and drink and eat every evening. How the women are actually keeping the place running and yet they are seen as nothing in the eyes of men. The poets do not speak of them as heroes. It was so interesting to see how Penelope keeps everything running on her own for 17 years and yet the poets only sing the praises of Odysseus. She is smart and cunning and wise and knows how to handle these men and their egos.

Though I do wish we had seen a little more of Penelope’s point of view and gotten in her head and what she thought as it made it difficult to really connect with her.
There are also a lot of characters so it did get confusing at times as to who was who but overall I did enjoy seeing so many different women who had their own strengths and weaknesses and worked together to keep their home safe.

If you enjoy greek mythology retellings then you will enjoy this story.

Seventeen years after King Odysseus went off to war with Troy he still has not returned. He left behind his young wife Penelope who now has to protect Ithaca from the growing number of suitors who want to claim Odysseus’ throne.

Many of us will be familiar with the Odyssey and the trials and tribulations of the King of Ithaca, but the story of Penelope, the wife he left behind is rarely spoken of. In this book Claire North gives voice not only to Penelope but the women who surround her.

Hera, Queen of the Gods is our narrator and she looks down upon Ithaca, watching every move the inhabitants make. This Hera is snarky and dripping in disdain for the men attempting to gain the throne. She doesn’t hold back with her opinions and constantly comments upon the poets and bards inability to mention any women in their laments of heroes. I enjoyed her commentary but at times it felt like it was trying too hard to make a point although all her points were in fact, valid. The presence of an omniscient narrator also meant that there was a certain disconnection between the reader and the characters. I felt we never really got to know Penelope as well as we could have, I would have liked to know what was going through her head as she plotted and schemed.

I loved the writing style of North and thought it flowed beautifully. When the narration jumped from person to person I never felt like it was abrupt, it always felt effortless and light. The story itself is told well and I loved the interactions between Hera and the other Goddesses.

This is a well written feminist retelling and while I enjoyed it, it never reached the heights that I hoped it would.

It’s difficult being a woman (or a goddess) in Ancient Greece, because the men (or gods) all have such fragile masculinity and you have to tiptoe around their feelings. If you kill the husband who’s murdered two of your children, then your other two children are morally obliged to kill you.

Anyway, this story is set on the scrubby, poor, goat infested island of Ithaca, where Queen Penelope is waiting for her annoying husband to return from the war which ended years ago and is doing her best to negotiate the politics of a large number of suitors who have turned up wanting to be fed and get her husband’s crown on their head. Her teenage son is being reckless but doesn’t think he needs her any more and her murderous cousin Clytemnestra has chosen Ithaca to be her hideout. Penelope will have to be clever to avoid disaster.

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.