I want to start by saying that I love The Odyssey and Greek myth retellings. So, when I saw this book I got so excited.
Ithaca is Penelope's side of the story during the Odyssey. The story remains very authentic to the source text and is character driven, rather than plot driven. For that reason, it is a bit slow moving. If you know The Odyssey well, there is not a whole lot that will surprise you. In fact, it is very reminiscent of The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood.

What is an exciting choice in this story is having Helen be the narrator.

Overall, I quite enjoyed this read and recommend it to fans of myth retellings.

A very moving feminist retelling of The Odessey, but through the eyes of the women left behind in Ithaca.

The narrator, Hera, provides a unique birds eye view of the story as it unfolds. Penelope’s story is told beautifully and I love how she’s presented.

This has strong female characters, immersive story telling, and wit. However, the most challenging part of the story to engage in was the constant shifting in point of view. So constant was the shifting that it would change mid paragraph. It was, at times, distracting and difficult to follow the story.

Overall, it was still very enjoyable and I continue to love the retelling of Greek mythology, highlighting the strength of the women the poets often left behind.

Greek mythology and retellings are my bread and butter. So when I got my hands on an arc of Ithaca by Claire North, I was over the moon. Unfortunately, and despite a strong start, I couldn’t get into this story.

It started out in the vein of Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad, but didn’t quite meet my expectations. I love reading mythological retellings because they often bring characters to life and make them feel fresh again. But with this one, they all felt pretty one dimensional.

I’ve tried reading this author in the past, but I think her writing just doesn’t work for me.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy to review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This wasn't what I expected going in to it but I still really enjoyed it! Hera is the narrator (one of the unexpected things) and damn can she be brutal but I was totally here for it! I had totally forgotten that this was the first in a series so as I got to halfway through I was wondering how so much was going to get wrapped up by the end and then 3 pages from the end I remembered it was a series *face palm*. I blame the start of the school year distracting me.

I listened to Elektra by Jennifer Saint earlier in the year so it was an interesting tie in/perspective/take on things from this other angle since Elektra and Clytemnestra also appear in this. I would be interested to hear the audio version of this since I think the right voice actor could add a lot of depth to Hera's brutal remarks.

It was my first time reading this type of genre and Ithaca did not let me down! The characters were interesting, I loved the intricacies of the plot and how they weaved together, and the drama and action that occurred in Ithaca. The fact that the gods of Greece were in the mortal world and was shown made reading the book even more enjoyable. I really liked how the perspective came from an outsider’s in a sense, someone who was merely watching the going ons but couldn’t meddle fiercely in it. The heartbreak (along with a range of many other emotions) that I felt for Queen Penelope and the insights that this novel gave (I loved when the goddess Athena would converse or send a message) was perfection!

I highly recommend reading this, especially if you’re a fan of Greek mythology and books like Circe!

“These are the men of note. We regard them as one might regard a rash- hopeful that it does not spread further- and then move on.”

This one quote perfectly sums up this book. This book is finally about the women behind the Ancient Greek men that we are always reading about. Penelope is the wife of Ulysses, who has been gone for years off fighting in the war in Troy. While all the men are gone, Ithaca is left to be run by women, specifically Penelope, who has to fight off the dozens of suitors who come calling when they assume Ulysses is dead.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It is narrated by Hera and she is quite funny which helps the book feel like it’s not too heavy. The ending did seem a bit abrupt and rushed, but otherwise, I enjoyed this perspective and reading more of Penelope’s story. Thankfully it is book 1 of a series, so we will get more soon!

When I first requested this, I had hoped that it would actually cover more of Penelope’s story between Odysseus’s departure and his return. So, my overall disappointment was probably influenced by that. Your mileage may vary, and all that.

To be perfectly frank, I think this story suffers from having Hera narrate. There are some distinct benefits to a goddess narrate, the omniscient knowledge being the main one. But tonally, Hera feels off. There are vast descriptive passages with an almost lyrical quality to them. Lovely and mythical. And then Hera has an aside like “Hey, prince, get a load of this!” The shift is jarring and pulled me out of the story every time it happened. In addition, Hera’s powerful presence almost makes it feel like Hera is the main character of the story, not Penelope, and that’s not what I expected from this or what I wanted.

The inclusion of multiple goddesses and their manipulations on the story also weren’t what I wanted out of this story. I wanted more of Penelope’s cleverness, more of the subversion of the expectations of women. Obviously a story a story using any form of Greek mythology must make use of the gods of Olympus, but there was too much of them for me. North did do an excellent job of portraying the differentness of the gods. The gods are not like mortals, and so they have different thought processes, motivations, desires, and goals. And Hera, Athena, and Artemis are all unique in their portrayals.

The story shines best in the scenes where we have Penelope and her attendants working together, planning and preparing. Seeing Penelope, Queen of Ithaca, work within the bounds of society to protect her people and her kingdom was wonderful. The surrounding characters are also all so interesting. Penelope’s attendants are all unique people, each performing different roles for the palace.

And I disliked the abrupt nature of the ending. Everything mostly gets resolved, but them we get such an obvious sequel bait hook that it left a bad taste in my mouth. I would definitely be interested in seeking out different things by this author, but I don’t think I’d pick up another Greek retelling by her.

Thank you to Redhook Books and NetGalley for this advance reader’s copy.

Ithaca covers what is happening in Odysseus' place and kingdom during the Odyssey. Hera is the narrator of the story. It was an interesting choice but I enjoyed it.

I found it interesting that  had the events of the play Agamemnon take place 7 years after the Trojan War ended. I had always assumed that it was closer to when Agamemnon returned home.

I did enjoy that Penelope interacted with Elektra and Clytemnestra. They are related but are never shown as having interactions in mythology.

I was not a fan of Telemachus. He seemed so whiny and childish. I had keep having to remember that he was about 18/19. He just feels so immature. He read to me as closer to 13/14 in age.

I have seem people complain that Ithaca focus on the politics and not Penelope's relationship with Odysseus. I actually enjoyed that aspect of the story. I liked getting to see Penelope keeping Ithaca together and functioning. Penelope could not out right rule like her cousin Clytemnestra. She had to be cunning in how she preserved Ithaca. It shows how little the men thought of her and also what a good match for Odysseus she was.

Gosh, I just love Greek mythology so much. North has some great prose and absolutely zingers throughout this one. You get some gems like “Athena hasn’t mentioned the maternal cannibalism even once.” The women, obviously, have a more favorable take in this reimagining than in others, mainly Elektra & Hera (aka “I’m going to punish all the women my husband/brother, Zeus, rapes instead of blaming him.”) I’ll be interested to see the next novel as this is billed as a trilogy!

(4/5) I will start this review by saying that I am a SUCKER for mythology retellings, especially ones that center women in their retellings. When I saw this book on NetGalley with its gorgeous cover, I knew I had to request it. I haven't read a Penelope retelling yet, and I did enjoy this one. I have mixed feelings about Hera being the all-knowing narrator. On the one hand, we do get a much broader picture of the events of the book beyond what a single narrator like Penelope would be able to give us and I did enjoy getting a peek into Hera's perspective. On the other hand, I feel like having an omniscient narrator at some level prevented me from knowing the minds of the individual characters of focus, and because of that, the book felt more plot driven than character driven. I also did not realize that this is a series and not a standalone book, so I kept waiting for the pace of the story to pick up. Overall, I thought the themes of this book were well presented, and I look forward to reading the next books in the trilogy!

If anyone knows me, they will know my huge love for Greek myth retellings. This one did not disappoint! It was my first time reading a book by Claire North so I was super excited to receive an early copy. In Ithaca, we learn of Penelope’s story through the eyes of Hera. We get many different snippets and perspectives to help paint a beautifully vivid picture of Ithaca, her struggles, and her people. We see Telemachus as he grows into adulthood and becomes his own person. We see Elektra and Orestes as they search for their mother, Clytemnestra, who has just murdered their father, and ultimately, we see Penelope maintain her footing as the head of Ithaca while balancing all of the above on her shoulders.

I had a great time with this one. If you enjoyed the prose from Circe or Ariadne I think this one will be right up your street!

Overall (TLDR)
I really enjoyed it and hope to read more from North in the future.
I’d highly recommend it if:
-You enjoyed Circe or Ariadne
-You love Greek myth retellings from the woman’s POV
-You enjoy lyrically beautiful writing
-You’ve always been curious about the goings on of Penelope while Odysseus is away

Thank you as always to Orbit/Redhook for the review copy! I am so grateful to have the privilege of reading books early to give my opinions on them.

My favorite Greek myth retelling!

What don’t I love about this book! I’m not as familiar with greek myth as I could wish. I’ve really only become more familiar with them through reading other recent books like Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood, or Circe by Madeleine Miller. Both of which were very good books, but I didn’t really connect with them as completely as I did with this novel.

It is the story of Penelope as told by the Goddess Hera and let me tell you her voice is utterly wonderful. Sardonic, witty and full of mockery for the men in the world who are working so hard to wield power primarily by subjugating these women (as usual right?). Reminds me of The Joke by Brandi Carlile

“You get discouraged, don’t you, girl?
It’s your brother’s world for a while longer
We gotta dance with the devil on a river
To beat the stream”

It’s been a man’s world since time immemorial and Penelope is walking a tightrope. She does it with skill and grace and the help of her handmaidens and I LOVE all of them. Hera’s insights and comments are maddening and hilarious and I LOVE her. I can’t wait to read the next book. I’m a little fuzzy on the details of how this all works out for Penelope. I am not optimistic since I know how things end up for most women in greek myth, but I really, really harbor hope for her. Did I say I can’t wait for the next book? I really can’t.

It’s been a while since I’ve added a song to a book review but I have the perfect one. It’s a heartbreaker about the Goddess Hera and her beloved daughter Proserpina. For me it dovetails nicely with this book. It is a simple almost lullaby that illustrates the grief and despair that women had to suffer as a result of the abuses of men and male gods. It makes my heart hurt every time I hear it. I’m glad for the recent popularity of these mythical retellings from a female point of view. It’s way past time that we hear from them. We need songs like this and books like Ithaca to remind us that someone pays for the single minded pursuit of male power and ego. Especially these days.

Song for this book: Proserpina by Martha Wainwright

Ithaca
Clair North
Redhook
pub day: 6 Sept. 2022
Historical Fiction

Clair North's foray into retelling of Greek mythology was an interesting take on the Penelopiad story. The story is narrated by the Goddess Hera as she provides insight into the lives of those left behind in Ithaca during the Trojan war. Touching on Penelope, her maids, her son, and a few others, this book does a lot of talking but doesn't really have a followable plot that made it easy to read. There was something about the narration that kept me from caring about the characters being examined. Saying this doesn't mean there are not some qualities a read can enjoy, and particularly if you enjoy Jennifer Saint's Ariadne or Elektra, you will most likely enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars
Ithaca doesn't really break new ground in terms of re-telling's of Greek mythology. However, it is well written and gives the reader more insight into the inner lives of Odysseus's court and the Greek gods.

Ithaca is narrated by Hera and the story begins when Odysseus is "stranded" for seven years on Calypso's island. Penelope is dealing with her terrible suitors, Telemachus' boyhood idiocy and her husband's probable death. Complicating everything is the arrival of her murderous cousin Clytemnestra and Clytemnestra's children Elektra and Orestes. Penelope is a likeable character even when she's making tough decisions and she comes across as human rather than Odysseus's patient and saintly wife. Additionally the other female characters are richly drawn as well. The book ends before Odysseus returns but those familiar with the original story will know the fate that awaits them when he does eventually come back. The gods and goddesses of Greek mythology also have a big role. Athena and Artemis both make appearances but it is Hera who steals the show and her narration and inner monologue really make this book for me. Honestly if North publishes a book just on Hera I would definitely pick up a copy.

Overall this book is enjoyable and the Goddesses being more present does set it apart from other Greek mythology re-tellings but personally does not feel all that new in terms of plot. This is perfect for fans of Pat Barker's the Silence of the Girls or Natalie Haynes's a Thousand Ships. Still I would recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of this book.

As a Greek mythology fan that hates when retellings try to change the essence of a story to 'modernize' it, I was scared to read Ithaca. That being said, this was an amazing new telling about a woman that is not known besides what her husband says of her. Ithaca by Claire North finally lets you see, realistically, women and goddess' places in the male-dominated world of Ancient Greece.

Ithaca follows Penelope's journey 17 years after her husband Odysseus left for Troy-- the war is done, but he is not home and she is left to rule. For all these years, Penelope has had to navigate running Ithaca alone, which involves entertaining her suitors enough, but not too much to cause war; being smart enough to run a kingdom, but not too smart as to hint any of the men into her cunningness. She must deal with all the difficulties that come with ruling, while also keeping true to the customaries of women in that period. Or, at least, making sure no one finds out when she breaks the social rules set for women.

I have read many Greek mythology retellings, and Ithaca was unique to me in a great way. So often with retellings involving women, the women are either unrealistic to the societal standards of that era or they are not fully fleshed out characters. Ithaca was a great balance between realistic societal standards while also keeping in mind that women were their own people with emotions. It may sound simple in concept, but this balance is truly hard to grasp and must be done with care and a great writing style.

Penelope and Hera were amazing main narrators. Penelope was headstrong like her husband Odysseus in her own ways. Seeing Penelope navigate her world as a queen, a woman, and Odysseus' 'pining; wife' was so interesting and well done.

Hera. As. A. Narrator. I am amazed. It was such a unique and wonderful perspective provided in this book and honestly would not have been even close to as good without it. Hera is so often represented only as a wife, mother, and hysteric woman. This book shined light on the women who never got sung about poems, which is why having Hera be so complex made this novel so smart. The epitome of womanhood and wifehood getting to finally share her own story along with queen Penelope, who never gets spoken about if not by her husband.

A great take on Greek mythology retellings that any fans of the genre should-- and in my opinion-- need to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this ARC!

The Trojan War is over, Troy has fallen and the Greeks are slowly making their way home. However, Odysseus has not yet returned home from war. As years pass, questions are raised as to Odyesseus’ whereabouts as he leaves his wife Penelope to rule a land virtually empty of men and yet the men who remain are somehow able to cling to power.

This is primarily the story of Penelope of Ithaca told in a way I hadn’t quite heard before. Penelope’s narrative is usually only told in the context of her husband’s adultery or his glory. I’m really into this trend of mythological stories being reframed in a way that really lets the women shine. We get to see the political situation Odysseus left behind and the effects of war on Ithaca.

Yet the story is told from the perspective of Hera, wife of Zeus. It’s an interesting choice. Hera is able to provide additional insight beyond what Penelope experiences and witnesses. However the POV was inconsistent and because of it, it took a while for this story to find its legs. There is no distinction between character experiences or settings and it leads to a lot of confusion.

The prose itself reminds me of the character Penelope herself: quite, unassuming and yet powerful in its own right.

Thank you to RedHook Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Penelope, Queen of Ithaca, awaits the return of her husband from war after nearly two decades. The men of Ithaca line up in Penelope's hall (and eat her food, and enter her home, all that hospitality jazz) as potential suitors, for Odysseus has not returned, is probably dead, and Ithaca needs a king. Penelope and her network of clever and powerful women (I mean meek and humble, all women are meek), all abandoned, left widowed or enslaved by the war, are left behind to run the kingdom of Ithaca, and run it they do. Narrated by Hera, Queen of the Gods, this is the story of Penelope, revealing that "it is the choices of the abandoned women—and their goddesses— that will change the course of the world."

I loved absolutely every moment, every word narrated by Hera, every intricately planned a plotted word and action by Penelope, EVERYTHING. This was a cleverly woven and beautifully written story about the true power of the "meek and mild" woman of ancient Greece. The characters were dynamic, powerful, and beautiful (Priene. Leaneira. Elektra. Hera. Teodora. Autonoe and Eos. Need I go on?). The narration, the writing, the pacing, the omnipotence of our amazing narrator, Hera... all of it was just BREATHTAKING.

A must-read. Simply read it. Read it now.

I was so excited when I found out I got an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Redhook (thank you, thank you, thank you)!

Ithaca is a retelling of Penelope's story that is not able to be seen through the eyes of The Odyssey. This version is told through the narration of the goddess Hera. It sticks quite faithfully to the original myth, resulting in more of a slow-paced character-driven novel. The scope of this story is quite large, using Hera's narration to introduce an immense amount of characters for a short while. While it was difficult to keep up with all of these characters, I found myself enjoying learning more about each person that was introduced. As a fan if Circe, I was extremely excited to get a chance to read another retelling of an ancient Greek woman's story that is typically overshadowed by the men that surround them. It was also interesting to me that both of these stories share Odysseus as sort of the leading man that is usually talked about. This novel brings Penelope to the fore front, and I think it does a nice job of highlighting her story during the years she spent alone in Ithaca. My one real criticism is that I felt some points of the story dragged on a bit longer than they needed to. However, that didn't stop me from having a great time reading this book, and I'm excited to dive into some more of Claire North's work!

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book as Greek mythology retelling are one of my favorite things to read. This retelling of The Odessey from the women’s POV fills in a lot of gaps in the classic story. I liked a lot of things about this book, but there were also a lot of things I disliked as well. It definitely fell short of my expectations so I’m a little disappointed. First, the fact that you see things from the women’s POV not only makes the story stronger, it gives you insight to the things that went on that the originals never cared to mention. Focusing on Penelope, she was a stand-out character for sure, but often overshined the other Ithacans. One of the main problems I had with this book from the start was the tone and view of writing itself. The narration coming from Hera I figured was supposed to help you connect better to that Goddess, but it really only made it more confusing for me. It was hard to get a grasp on which POV you were actually reading because it seems like it switched from first person to third over and over again. It’s quite inconsistent and left me wanting more from North. Overall, this was a solid 3 star read from me. This is the 1st book in a series so maybe the next novel will have a little more insight and possibly be in a more direct POV that doesn’t confuse readers.

Thank you to Redhook books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

'm not going to lie - this one was a struggle to get through.

Something about the voice really threw me off. That, coupled with the fact that it is actually narrated by Hera and not, say, Penelope, also threw me quite for a loop.

I think it took about a good 60% pf the book for me to really get the vibe of this book, but there was still missing. But in terms of story? I thought it was excellent. It pulled together so many aspects of those missing ten years into one tightly crafted tale. Penelope as a figure/character has always been overshadowed by Clytemnestra and Helen and it was truly fascinating to see how they all ended up playing parts in this story.

I don't think I would consider this a new favorite or in the ranking of say, The Song of Achilles, but I would definitely be interested in checking out book two. I think this I would rate a 3.5, rounding up to a 4.

Thank you Orbit and NetGalley for the chance to read in exchange for an honest review.