Each spring, Ithaca condemns twelve maidens to the noose. This is the price vengeful Poseidon demands for the lives of Queen Penelope’s twelve maids, hanged and cast into the depths centuries ago.

But when that fate comes for Leto, death is not what she thought it would be. Instead, she wakes on a mysterious island and meets a girl with green eyes and the power to command the sea. A girl named Melantho, who says one more death can stop a thousand.

The prince of Ithaca must die—or the tides of fate will drown them all.


lies we sing to the sea is gorgeously written, richly imagined and threaded with intense emotion in its depictions of vengeful gods, angry girls and immense, unyielding sorrow. with utterly compelling characters, irresistible romances and the slow remembrance of a cruel fate lost to time, underwood has woven a tale of love, destiny and, above all, survival. lies we sing to the sea will break your heart even as it heals it.

I love anything inspired by Greek mythology and having previously read Lies We Sing to the Sea, I was looking forward to the audiobook bringing the story to life. Unfortunately, it didn't have the impact I was hoping it would - I liked the multiple narrators for multiple characters, however some of their voices were monotone and almost robotic which honestly made the story slow with no sense of urgency, and just boring.

To add: miscommunication tropes need to be put in the bin.

In the cursed kingdom of Ithaca, each summer brings the hanging of twelve maidens, a gift to the vengeful God of the sea, Poseidon. For seventeen years Leto has escaped the curse's mark. Until now......

A Greek mythology romantic fantasy tragedy which I had the pleasure of listening to on audio. The narrators were wonderful and Sebastian Humphreys portrayal of Prince Mathias was dreamy. Great creation of all the characters, easy to follow and understand.

This book is everything you want from a Greek mythology retelling or alternative interpretation. It has love, friendship, power, revenge and heartbreak. The story was captivating, the prose and language was beautiful throughout. The chapters were short and easy to absorb.

An enchanting listen which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, the author and narrators for this ARC.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio | Electric Monkey for providing access to the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual Rating: 3.25.

This has been a surprisingly long journey, considering the relatively small size of the book.

I want to point out that I really enjoyed the first 20% of it, adoring Leto's rage and frustration. But as the story went on, she lost the spark that made her interesting, forcing me to put her in the same mental boat as Melantho - of characters I couldn't be bothered caring for anymore. So I was left with poor Matthias, who simply deserved better than this.

The story dragged on endlessly, feeding us more and more teenage drama of this messy love triangle that made me feel nothing but frustration. I did not care who would be chosen by Leto - if anything I was hoping that Melantho and Matthias would discard her completely after she kept switching from one to the other, curses and consequences be damned. Or that they'd turn into a polyamorous couple. The ending gave me some comfort but I can't say that I enjoyed anything related to the romantic plotline. Nor did I feel any grief in the end.

That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by the Queen's reveal. Her hatred towards Leto made total sense, and she might be the most tragic character of the story (apart from Leto).

Despite everything I mentioned above, I still found myself giggling and smiling every now and then when bits of dialogue or action provided some proper entertainment. So the book gets some brownie points for that.

Regarding the 'Greek mythology retelling' debates, I'm not that mad by the way the legends have been twisted. The marketing strategy behind the novel must've been changed since its release, as it's currently labeled as 'inspired by Greek mythology', which is accurate. It might've been smarter to attack lesser-loved characters or, even better, create new figures entirely, but oh well.

The narration's been pretty decent as well. I enjoyed the edge in Leto's voice that appeared at the beginning. My main issue would be that Sebastian Humphreys' female voices were not great, so further work in that department might be necessary.

I picked up this book expecting a feminist retelling of a Greek myth or story but it’s not what it is. If I’d read a couple of the reviews I wouldn’t have even picked this up, I see the author admitted to not having read the odyssey before and as a historian it bothers me that you would set a book in a world without doing research. While I understand that authors take inspiration for their stories from many places, and could have been inspired by Percy Jackson or other retellings already in circulation I can’t fathom why you would write a book and market it as a retelling without having read the original. But while this is annoying it’s more poor advertising than anything else because it’s not a retelling.

When reading the likes of Circe, song of Achilles, and Ariadne I enjoyed recognising the story but seeing it from a different viewpoint, and the elements I didn’t recognise I could find with a quick google search. When I was trying to find elements of this story I was coming up empty, yes the 12 hanged maids was in the Odyssey but the rest seems to be an invention by the author. So what I read wasn’t so far a retelling but a fantasy set in Ancient Greece and inspired by a small section of the odyssey. It also doesn’t seem to be feminist, it’s told from the perspective of 2 of the hanged women and we find out that as punishment for killing the 12 maids ithica has to … kill more women? Like what? I don’t know whether the author came up with this herself or maybe she’s just not explained it well enough but it makes no sense to me

The writing was flowery and fitting with the style of book and the narration was great but it wasn’t enough to keep me invested

This didn't really work for me. Simply put, I didn't care. I liked the main character at first but she ended up being pretty two-dimensional and I couldn't find it in me to care about her romances. I couldn't stand the prince and the other one deserved better. The intrigue kind of lost me and I just let myself be carried through it. I kind of wanted it to end? I guess it wasn't terrible but I just didn't feel it. It just didn't work for me...

Oh. I had high hopes for this one. But I just couldn’t get into it.
I didn’t feel much sense of urgency - despite the looming threat of 12 more deaths. What was happening didn’t make me want to pick it back up when I put it down.
The characters were okay, but I don’t think the romance was developed. I also feel like a lot of the conflicts in this could have been prevented with a bit of communication.
It wasn’t a Greek myth retelling, it was a fantasy set in Ancient Greece with mentions of Greek myths to ground the story. Had you given the heroes and gods different names, it could have been set anywhere else.

3.5* rounded up

*** This review contains a few light spoilers ***

I really enjoyed the premise and the first half of this book, pretty much everything up to Leto and Melantho arriving in Ithaca. To me the second half of the book felt overly drawn out and I'm not really sure how I felt about the love triangle, I definitely didn't love it, I think it might have been a stronger story without it or if Leto had seemed genuinely torn between the two.

I also personally really dislike the lack of communication trope, especially in a multiple POV narrative which leads to the reader knowing that if they did just talk everything would be resolved pretty quickly. This added to the second half of the book feeling like it dragged as you knew that once they actually got round to properly talking the issue would be resolved. Likewise their 'research' felt kind of pointless, it was clear that there wasn't anything in the library and then they just went to a couple of potentially interesting locations but didn't do any kind of actual looking around when they got there. Then suddenly deciding to go to the cellars felt like the author not knowing how to get them to a location she wanted them in.

I did enjoy the first half though, I enjoyed the descriptions of Melantho's island and how her relationship with Leto grew and developed. The language used was beautiful throughout the novel and the voices of the three POV characters were strong and independent of one another. I enjoyed the plot and the various aspects of the curse, though at times it's execution was a little clunky. I also enjoyed the fact that we got a bit of insight into Mathias' mother and why she behaved as she did, I would have liked a bit more of that or Leto bringing some of that insight to Mathias before the end of the novel.

I listened to this book on audio and I really enjoyed having three narrators portraying the three POV characters, it made it easy to know who's chapter you were in. I also thought the voice actors were very good at portraying emotion and weren't afraid to slow down or speed up to portray their characters fully. It very much felt like the book was being acted rather than just read, which I think works incredibly well within the oral and stage based Ancient Greek traditions that this novel uses as it's source.

Overall it was a enjoyable read and, though sections were a bit long, I'm glad to have read the whole story.

Thank you to Harper Collins UK Audio and Sarah Underwood for the free audiobook, it was a great audio performance.

This story was simply phenomenal. Rarely do I find myself desperate to get back to the story and excited to pick the book back up. I adored it and cannot recommend enough.

I was kindly sent the audio are to listen to. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator and how well the characters came across. Sadly the story itself was not for me. I really struggle with themes of deception / cheating / lying snd in some books I can let it go as it's written in well. But in this one, I ended up disliking the FMC. Really appreciate the opportunity to listen to this one! Thank you.

There is nothing that screams home as much as stories set in Greece, paying an ode to the myths and gods.

Lies we sing to the sea tells the story of Leto, a young girl sacrificed to the sea along with eleven other maidens as a price Ithaca has to pay to Poseidon. But what marks the end of Leto’s life marks the beginning of this tale. For when Leto is claimed by the sea, she transforms and together with a green-eyed girl she meets, she sets out to free Ithaca of its curse; she sets out to kill the prince.

It is not often when an audiobook feels so… alive. There was an urgency to the voices of the audiobook narrators, a flow which breathes life into Sarah Underwood’s poetic prose.

Sarah Underwood skillfully weaves together a beautiful tale and her writing is lyrical and captivating. Less focused on delivering a complex plot and more focused on creating complex characters, the relationships between the three main characters are the true stars of the show.

It is a tale of fate, of power, of sacrifice, of love.

I did not listen to this story as a retelling of the Odyssey but as its own tale. And, as that, it stands as a beautiful tale indeed.

I know the book has been out for a while, but I only just recently created a NetGalley account myself and when I saw ‘Lies we sing to the sea’ was an available audiobook title to request, I jumped at the opportunity.

I would like to thank Harper Collins Audio UK and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to access this world weaved by Sarah Underwood. #LiesWeSingtotheSea #NetGalley

The first few chapters of Lies We Sing to the Sea had me enthralled. The writing was equal parts sharp and delicate, with beautiful prose and detail woven together to create so much tension. I was hooked.
Equally, the ending was striking. I could not bear to do anything but let the audiobook wash over me as I cried. The emotion overspilling from Underwood’s words was all-consuming and beautiful, and it is a climax I have found myself thinking about a lot since finishing it.
However, the middle was such a let down. It was entirely repetition: reading the same circumstances from three different points of view whilst managing to gain absolutely nothing each time. The plot was moving at such a slow pace it felt painful. This book really would have benefited from being roughly 100 pages shorter, just to keep the plot tight and moving at all times. I really enjoyed the triple point of view narration, but it needs to have each one bring something new to the table when it’s their chapter.

All three narrators did a fantastic job and really brought the story to life.

Overall, I would rate the book 3.75 stars, and would definitely recommend it to others. The writing is fantastic, and the ending was incredibly moving.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK Audio, Electric Monkey, and NetGalley for an Audio ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is my first read from the author's work and I absolutely love this. The author has beautifully penned down the plotline. It's is well and nicely paced as it was such a smooth and easy breezy read.
It has been in my tbr for so long as I only saw good words about this book and I was so excited to see the audiobook ARC so i requested it, I am glad that i was approved. I absolutely loved it. The characters were so amazing and wonderful.

🌊  "Lies We Sing to the Sea" offers a fresh take on Greek mythology, with a focus on the curse that plagues the Kingdom of Ithaca. The story follows Leto, a sacrificial maiden who awakens in a strange place and discovers she must assassinate the prince, Mathias, to end the suffering of the young women in the kingdom.

🎙️ The novel's strengths lie in its atmospheric world-building and the compelling performances of its narrators: Saffron Coomber, Ioanna Kimbook, and Sebastian Humphreys. The audiobook format enhances the emotional impact of the story, allowing listeners to fully immerse themselves in the characters' experiences with every step of the story. Themes such as sacrifice, love, and the power of destiny are all well-executed by the narrators who bring the story to life.

📖 At times, the anticipation to find out what happens next and the pacing of the narrative can be uneven, with some sections feeling drawn-out and repetitive. Story-wise, the character development of some supporting characters can seem to be slightly down-played in order to favour the main characters. Even more, while the central love triangle is intriguing, it can seem to lack the necessary chemistry and depth to truly resonate with love triangles of the genre.

⭐ Despite these shortcomings, "Lies We Sing to the Sea" remains an enjoyable novel for fans of Greek mythology and fantasy. The novel's unique premise and the strong performances of the narrators make it a worthwhile listen.

HarperCollins UK Audio | Electric Monkey, NetGalley, and the editorial team - thanks for giving me the opportunity to review an audiobook ARC of this publication!

For more reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads! #LiesWeSingtotheSea #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning

Absolutely stunning!
A beautiful and, at times, heartbreaking tale based on mythology and the power and cruelty of the Gods.

Thanks to the audio, I could sit back and just fall into this beautifully imagined world. With 3 distinctive narrators for the main characters, we saw the world through their eyes, felt their pain and understood their desires.
Usually you expect there to be a villain but not with Lies We Sing and that’s what makes this such a bittersweet tragedy.

The narrators really encapsulated the characters and the emotions in their voice really makes you feel every emotion.

From chapter 60 my heart truly ached. ♥️💔

If you’re just getting into mythology this would be a perfect book to start. It’s wonderful written and easy to follow.
With other mythological retellings it can be easy to get lost with all the Gods, their relationships, Offspring’s etc but with LESttS it’s centred around 3 main characters with references to the Gods Poseidon & Apollo.

Thank you, Harper Collins UK Audio & Electric Monkey and NetGalley, for the gorgeous audiobook.

This fantasy novel explores the fate of the 12 maids hanged by Odysseus, and the continuing sacrifice ritual of 12 young women in the Kingdom of Ithaca in an attempt to placate the wrath of the God Poseidon, whose grudge against Odysseus led him to curse the kingdom in the first place.

The current prince of Ithaca, Mathias, hates the role he has to play in the ritual, and is still grieving the loss of his sister Selene. He is desperate to end the practice, and is searching for a way to do so.

But Mathias is not aware that when Leto - one of the sacrificial maidens awakens to find herself in a strange place with its guardian, the mysterious Melantho - she discovers she is to be trained to end the suffering of Ithaca's young women. The problem is, this can only be done by assassinating Mathias...

I liked the idea of this book, and the earlier part of it was very interesting indeed. Unfortunately, at a certain point, the story became somewhat long winded and repetitive. Some judicious editing would have made the book more interesting and done the concept greater justice. Nevertheless, it was an interesting story.

I really enjoyed this book. I know that there is a lot of drama around how the book has been marketed and, by the author’s own admission, the source material having not been read in full. However, the book really wasn’t a retelling of The Odyssey - it was the imagined story of one of the hanged maids. Inspired by The Odyssey is probably more accurate. At the end of the day, this is a fictional piece of work for the purposes of entertainment. I was entertained. I enjoyed the three POVs, I believed in Melantho’s rage, Matthias’ heartbreak, and Leto was a messy and flawed character that felt fully fleshed out. The side characters were less believable and often just felt like plot drivers, however, it was still a very enjoyable book and I will absolutely read the author’s other works.

The narration was wonderful. There were peaks and valleys in the dialogue and listening to the audiobook definitely lent to feeling the full spectrum of emotions the MCs were going though.

2.5 stars

I don’t tend to read Greek Myth retellings because I got my fill of those myths during a period of childhood obsession, but I thought I would give this a try. I found it quite a muddled book. It’s an interesting concept and the first chapters had potential but I quickly lost track of the stakes and characters’ goals. By the halfway point I was losing interest. There is a love triangle that lacked much chemistry (and certain romantic decisions didn’t feel like they had the necessary character work to back them up). The prose was really good. The ending well done. I think it could be an engaging read if you turn your brain off to do it.

I received a free copy of the audiobook from NetGalley in return for an honest review. The narrators Saffron Coomber, Ioanna Kimbook and Sebastian Humphreys did a good job.

Yikes! I just read the Imperial College student newspaper interview with Underwood where she happily flouts not having read Homer’s Odyssey [archived here: An Interview with Sarah Underwood - Bioengineering Graduate and Soon-To-Be-Published Author | Books | Felix Online (archive.org)].

I’ll confess that had I known this before requesting the audiobook from HarperCollins UK Audio, I wouldn’t have gone near ‘Lies We Sing to the Sea’, because I’m a Classicist to Ph.D level. Selections of Homer were used as undergraduate teaching as I learned Ancient Greek language; I’ve translated parts of ‘The Odyssey’ from Homer’s original Greek myself; I taught some of Homer's Odyssey to Masters-level postgraduate students and taught the epic in its entirety to school pupils at A-Level standard. So, you could say that I know Homer’s Odyssey a bit like the back of my hand.

Sarah Underwood’s slackness makes sense of a lot of issues I had when listening to the book, though. For instance, I spent the longest time trying to place the names given to Underwood’s characters within Greek mythology. Now it’s clear that she just plucked them out of the air. I also waded through much perplexity over this narrative of sacrifices to Poseidon in remembrance of the twelve hung slaves of the house of Odysseus. Again, she’s fabricated it herself!

So, coloured by the information divulged and the author’s tone in the 2021 interview, I have no qualms enumerating the snags and quandaries I encountered with this debut novel.

‘Lies We Sing to the Sea’ is so slow to get going, and there was much too long a stretch for me during which it failed to grab my attention at the start. Characterisation is woeful; Alexius and Olympia need much work to make them less cartoonish cardboard cut-outs of Amycus and Alecto Carrow.

And the love triangle? Oh wow, is it stagnant! Half-hearted, unconvincing, and heavy-handed. In fact, the character of Matthias is badly drawn overall. On the audiobook, Matthias's narrator is as lacklustre as his character.

Then there's just no defence given for Leto loving Matthias. It's casually tossed in, and we're expected to be invested in it without the author producing necessary motivations. In fact, Leto appears motivated solely by beauty; her nature eventually resolves as a truly despicable type. Yet, I don't think she is meant to be, her characterisation by Underwood is just that bad. The voice narrator for Leto's parts on the audiobook is so overly earnest too; she reads almost every chapter of Leto’s as though it's a battle scene or a final farewell - unbearably angsty (if I were to be brutally honest, I’d confess I just wanted to slap her).

Further still, as far as is told to us, no one in this love triangle is interested in a polyamorous relationship! So, Leto's infidelity - to me - makes a fool of both the other characters. It’s especially damaging to the portrayal of Melantho, given that no justification is given for why she tolerates Leto's cheating with Matthias. Given this, the parting scene is especially vacuous. In fact, it’s downright interminable. Any tension or emotion in the scene on the beach is erased by Underwood's failure to justify Leto and Matthias's involvement.

There are serious plot holes too - like, who is really to blame for the curse: Melantho blames herself entirely; all the blame is put on Matthias; but surely it is Poseidon who decides Ithaca’s fate?

As for the audiobook narration, the voice performers evidently suffer from the same malady as the author. I.e., neglecting to read ‘The Odyssey’! All it would have taken was to lift up a copy of Homer's Odyssey and flick to the back for the phonetic spelling-out of names and words to avoid the infuriating mispronunciations of Ancient Greek. I honestly just straight-up hated the errors in the audiobook, I’ll not mince my words. Both author and vocal talent have come to this endeavour under-resourced and unprepared.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio for the chance to listen to the audiobook through NetGalley.

The narrator of the audiobook was perfect for the story and I enjoyed the experience. I think one of the things that lowered my enjoyment of the story overall was Leto's relationships with both Melantho and the prince. She's fickle.

Overall it was an interesting enough read with a fresh take on mythology but sadly not one of my favourites.