Thank you Netgalley and Skyhorse publishing for an E-Arc!
This story is for anyone who would like to envision what life was like after the Odyssey. The story follows Telemachus's point of view when he and his father killed the suitors. Odysseus is a closed-off man who still lives his life as a warrior. In order to gain pardon for killing the suitors he ventures away to make sacrifices to Poseidon. Penelope and Odysseus' relationship is a bit strained. he just came home and he leaves again. She and Telemachus aren't afraid to voice their concerns about him. Yet Odysseus doesn't really talk about the 20 years he has been away from them. I really enjoyed reading this book, albeit it had a slow start. I enjoyed reading it from Telemachus's perspective. He has many questions just like we readers. The story has stated my wondering.

(i received this e-arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

wow. 'On Wine-dark Seas' is a lyrical and compelling retelling of The Odyssey. here, Crawford breathes life into the original classic, lending a voice to a character waiting in the wings: Telemachus.

On Wine-Dark Seas is a brilliantly crafted novel of Odysseus for 21st century readers by Tad Crawford. Narrated by his son Telemachus who is calling upon the bard Phemios to sing about his fathers adventures it flows seamlessly, a credit to the author. Odysseus has been gone for 20 long years. He had left behind a young wife Penelope and his baby son Telemachus and returns to Ithaca to an aging Penelope and a grown up son. Crawford’s tale begins here.

He explores the challenges faced by the entire family on Odysseus return after such a long absence. How would Odysseus the warrior known for his cunning, address the obstacles he faces on his return home? What would be his relationship with a son he has never known now an adult and likewise what are Telemachus’ feelings for his father after growing up fatherless. And what about Penelope – how does she feel being reunited to Odysseus after all this time? Was Odysseus faithful to her in all that time? What adjustments will the family have to make as they get to know each other? How has the Trojan war and his voyages affected Odysseus and how could this possibly affect his relationship with his family and community? Crawford explores these questions and more in his book. The result is an evocative and poignant tale.

True he goes back and forth quite a bit while maintaining the cohesiveness of the tale making it a smooth read. If possible one should listen to the tale, hearing all the unfamiliar words to fully appreciate this book. Crawford’s descriptions transported me to ancient foreign lands. I felt the warm Greek sun on my face, saw the blue of the still Aegean Sea, devoid of the faintest breeze to ripple its waters or stir a sail, I smelt the sea air and tasted its saltiness. I could feel the rocks of Ithaca under my feet as I trudged with Penelope and Telemachus up the stony paths. I felt every one of the emotions of the protagonists. My heart went out to the entire family. Crawford’s bravura is captivating.

In a time when social media or even a printing press did not exist, the songs of a bard recounted history for posterity. Thus Telemachus is talking to Phemios the bard that future generations may know the story of Odysseus. And in telling this hero’s story one is also telling the story of Telemachus, Penelope, Laertes and the denizens who surrounded him and how they impacted each other.

Though a poetical imagination of the Trojan Cycle, Crawford is true to the original texts. The book opens directly onto Chapter 1 but there is an extensive Bibliography and maps explaining his sources at the end. While I may have struggled with Homers Iliad, Crawford in bringing to life this timeless classic in the 21st century has made it an accessible read.

Bravo Crawford, on a job well done!

There are few books more deserving of sequels than The Odyssey. When the epic closes--rather suddenly with the intervention of Athena between Odysseus and the vengeful families of the slain suitors--there are still many unresolved questions: will Odysseus fulfill his quest and finally get Poseidon off his back? What will become of Penelope, married to a man with the gods' target still on his back? And, most of all, what will become of Telemachus, the emerging young man and the focus of the first half of the epic?

Tad Crawford tells the tale of his new book, On Wine-Dark Seas, through the eyes of Telemachus, telling his tale to the bard, Phemios, singer of songs at Odysseus's court. The first four chapers retell the events of the Odyssey: Telemachus's long wait with his month, the suitors, his trip to visit Menelaus.

In chapter 5, Odysseus sets out to fulfill his responsibilities to Poseidon, venturing into the mountains to find a people who don't recognize sall or the use of an oar. There Odysseus, Telemachus, and the other members of their party meet Queen Callidice who assists with the sacrifices.

There is much to like about this book, but one of my favorite elements was Crawford's treatment of Penelope. She is feisty, bitter at the idea of Odysseus leaving again, outraged by the excessive piety that frames his later years on Ithaca. Yet at the heart of her characterization, as in the epic, is her deep loyalty. One telling big of dialogue is when she recounts welcoming the beggar to a court still infested with suitors:

"When a beggar in Troy claimed to be Odysseus, Helen recognized him. Do you imagine she could recognie him and I couldn't?"


Beyond the trip to the mountains and one final parlay with the families of the suitors, there is little "adventure" in this account other than the long, slow end of the epic hero. New monsters appear in dreams, but in reality Ithaca comes across as a wonderful place to come home to but a very rocky and poor place to prosper.

The final third of the book, though, was my favorite because Crawford lets the characters weave memories for Telemachus, really getting us into their heads and revisiting favorite scenes from Homer's epics. Penelope lives a life constantly comparing herself with her cousins, Helen and Klytemnestra. Odysseus's final words are an extended lie that tie together the events of the Iliad and the Odyssey in a new light. I really felt that this was the end that the epics deserved.

The book closes with maps, a glossary of names, and an extended essay by Crawford tying his account in with The Telegony, one of the six epics created after Homer to complete the "Trojan Cycle." Little is known about these, other than brief summaries, but by referencing them, Crawford elevates is own work here.

On Wine-Dark Seas is not just a work of fancy; it is based on scholarship with a little inspiration thrown in. Readers who love The Odyssey will enjoy this book not for its action but for its insights.

For fans and students of the Odyssey, this book serves as a 'what if'; sort of an epilogue that attempts to answer what Odysseus does after the events of the Odyssey. It's a fun read, but should only be read after reading the Odyssey as it's directly connect and feels like a sequel rather than a stand alone book. I'm interested to see what Crawford writes in the future.

Interesting but dry. It lacks the magic of and emotion of Circe and other imaginings of this era that have been published in the last twenty years.