I’ve read a lot of Greek mythology retellings… House of Odysseus and its prequel Ithaca, are without a doubt, the absolute best!

House of Odysseus
By Claire North

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Imagine my surprise in finding out Ithaca was not a standalone novel, and the second book was available to read? My heart soared I was so excited and with good reason. This was a fantastic book, some of the best writing I’ve ever been privileged enough to read in regards to Greek myth retellings.

House of Odysseus by Claire North is an extraordinary and enthralling journey that intertwines the timeless tale of The Odyssey with a modern, feminist, twist. This book is the second of the series focusing on Odysseus’ wife, Penelope. This story breathes to life an ancient myth and gives a proper voice to the women who stand defiant in a world ruled by cruel, ruthless men.

On the isle of Ithaca, Penelope reigns as queen and maintains a “delicate” balance of power. Years ago, her husband sailed for Troy and never returned. Using her cunning and intelligence, Penelope manages to keep the peace on the island… until it is shattered by the return of King Orestes of Mycenae, and his sister, Elektra. Not long ago, Orestes murdered his mother Clytemnestra on Ithaca’s sands. Now, filled with guilt and torment, he is slowly becoming more unhinged and violent… but a king cannot be seen as weak, so his sister has brought him to Ithaca to hide him and keep him safe from the ambitions of Mycenaean men.

Penelope knows this will lead to nothing but trouble, since destruction follows Orestes wherever he may go. His uncle, Menelaus, King of Sparta, hungers for his chance of seizing the throne. Penelope must find a way to survive and keep her home safe from these two mad kings and this battle stretching from Mycenae… to Sparta… to mount Olympus itself. Her only allies are Elektra, desperate to protect her brother and keep him safe, and Helen of Troy, Menelaus’ wife. And watching over them, the goddess Aphrodite, who has her own agenda and secrets of her own.

North's masterful storytelling and impeccable attention to detail create a rich and immersive reading experience that transports readers into a world where mythology and contemporary life seamlessly blend. From the very first page, I was captivated by North's elegant prose and her ability to breathe new life into the ancient myth. The depth of her research is evident as she expertly weaves together historical details, captivating characters, and breathtaking settings, transporting readers on a journey through time and myth. This is a story of the Odyssey and Odysseus’ wife Penelope, but also of the cursed house of Atreus, and how destructive this bloodline truly is; the author illustrates how deep the consequences of miasma truly are, spanning generations of individuals in this family.

The protagonist of the story is a compelling and complex character, offering a fresh perspective on the well-known figure of Penelope. Her personal journey is filled with obstacles, self-discovery, and moments of profound introspection, allowing readers to connect with her on a deep emotional level. The supporting cast is equally well-crafted, each adding their own layers of depth and intrigue to the narrative. Elektra and Helen of Troy are given voices in this narrative as well; they are not just seen as vapid, beautiful (but tragic) figures in the story. They plot. They aid. They use their wits to ensure Penelope is helped to preserve the peace on the island. I appreciate that this retelling focused on the women and their alliance and how they helped one another and showed strength, not in the physical sense, but the emotional. They were so intelligent and ruthless, it was refreshing to read about.

What sets House of Odysseus apart is North's skillful blending of the ancient and the contemporary. She effortlessly juxtaposes the mythical elements of the story with the realities of modern life, creating a thought-provoking exploration of themes such as feminism, identity, power, family ties, and the enduring power of myth. The seamless integration of these elements is a testament to North's storytelling prowess.

The world-building in House of Odysseus is nothing short of remarkable. The attention to detail and the intricate web of mythology she incorporates make the story feel authentic and immersive, leaving readers yearning for more. I adored how in this second book, the narrator has switched, it is not Hera as it is in the first book, rather Aphrodite is our narrator guiding us through this tale. North's narrative pacing is impeccable. The story unfolds at a captivating tempo, with moments of tension and excitement expertly balanced with introspective and emotionally resonant scenes. The seamless transitions keep readers engaged and eager to uncover the next twist and turn in the narrative.

In conclusion, House of Odysseus is a brilliant book, and Claire North's exquisite storytelling, well-rounded characters, and immersive world-building make this book an absolute must-read for fans of mythology, adventure, and thought-provoking literature. Prepare to embark on a remarkable odyssey that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

Thank you NetGalley and Redhook Books for providing me with an advanced reader copy of the book for an honest review!

When I read the first book in the series, it quickly became one of my favourite mythology retellings. Women centered retellings are ones that I naturally am inclined to read because they give voices to those that are usually silenced. The way that Ithaca centered Penelope's story but had a goddess tell the story? It's something that I massively enjoyed. So when I heard there was going to be a sequel with a different narrator, I was excited and a bit anxious. Turns out, I had no reason to be anxious, because I enjoyed the hell out of this. I do have to reread Ithaca, but I think I may have enjoyed this just a bit more than the first! The humour was a signature takeaway of the last book, because you would not expect the narrator to quip in funny little bits here and there, and I was so glad to see it come back in this!
Basically, after everything has "calmed down" from the last book, Elektra and Orestes come back because Orestes is haunted by the furies. Understandable when you murdered your mother after she murdered your father - the height of family drama. Penelope hides them, but then Menelaus turns up with Helen in Ithaca because why not? Super rough recap of the plot before everything else happens, but a bit of context.
Once again, this book has great character relations. The dynamic between Penelope and Menelaus, especially at the end of the book, is one of my favourite dynamics in the book. It's tense, it's witty, and it's got its great moments. Not to mention, the way Claire North has somehow made Menelaus the worst character -- not badly written, but in terms of he is deplorable and awful and just a bottom of the barrel kind of man -- is a bit awe inspiring. I thought the suitors in the first book were the height of unlikeable characters, and I was wrong.
I think the one thing that did throw me off a bit was Helen. I didn't love the way she was acting, she was very bubbly and annoying in my opinion, and usually that would have been grating enough to not like the book as much as I do. However, through the story, we see why she acts that way, and I ended up liking when she was in the scenes!
Something I do like about North's writing in these two books, especially in this one, was the flipping of point of views. It was all technically narrated by Aphrodite, but you would switch from seeing Penelope's POV, then Menelaus, then Laertes, etc etc. I think it was well balanced and getting to see those insights and see what every character was doing, and it was never to the point where it felt unnecessary. Every POV was developing character, developing plot, seeing nice little relationship insights.
Since I've mentioned the narrator a bit, I'm just going to say how much I loved Aphrodite as the narrator. She's funny, she's a bit crass, she's insightful and serious when she needs to be. I thought the "oh he's hot," "she's rugged and beautiful" quips would get a little bit grating, a bit along the lines of how Helen started a little annoying, but it wasn't. It was done in the right time, it can cut tension at the right time, and it helps see how she's a different narrator than Hera was. I did also like the discussions she had about love and different kinds of it throughout the book.
Overall, I adore this and I'm looking very forward to the next book in the series. As the last two have been narrated by different goddesses, I have a gut feeling that it may be Athena who narrates the next one. The three queens of Greece all have a goddess that seems to narrate for them -- Hera for Clytemnestra, Aphrodite for Helen -- so Athena for Penelope makes sense. Regardless, whoever it is, I'm very excited for it! I often handsell Ithaca at work, so being able to read the sequel and love it as much as I do makes me even more excited to sell the sequel alongside it!

I really, really wanted to like this book. There was just something about it that I couldn't get in to. Firstly it took me an aggressively long time to figure out who the narrator was (pro tip: it's Aphrodite). I'm not sure if that's just because I didn't read Claire North's first book? Maybe it's because I'm not familiar enough with the story? Either way it took me forever to get through to 30% and even at that I felt no real urge to finish the book.

I'm definitely not going to rule out this genre. I loved Circe, and am listening to the audiobook for Atalanta so mythology is very much on my radar. This book just fell very short.

Thank you ever so much for the ARC! DNF @ 30%

With the influx of rewrites of Greek mythology, I’m often disappointed by the lack of creativity in the more malleable areas and by too much creativity in the most important parts of the myths, but this hits that sweet spot for me—keeping the most important parts of Penelope’s story the same while telling a story from what little we heard of Penelope in The Odyssey—all wrapped in the perfect bow that is Aphrodite’s narration (as genius and unique a move as the first book’s narrator being Hera)!

Claire North’s Song of Penelope series is a shining beacon that stands heads and shoulders above the crowd of recent Greek mythology retellings. I raved about Ithaca last year, and now we’re being treated to the second book of the planned trilogy, which I didn’t expect to be better but is, luminously, triumphantly, so.

This is a story of Penelope capably tending to the business of governing Ithaca in Odysseus’s absence, but it’s also a story of the House of Atreus and its endless cycles of blood and betrayal. In Ithaca, Penelope found herself embroiled in a political quagmire when her cousin Clytemnestra seeks sanctuary on Ithaca. When House of Odysseus begins, the situation only escalates when Menelaus arrives on Penelope’s shores looking for Orestes.

There are so many things to love about this series. There isn’t a single dull page in the book, and there’s a levity that is absolutely refreshing. Every character stands apart. There are no straw men or stock villains. Menelaus in all his toxic masculinity is a lot of fun, and the curmudgeonly but sharp as a tack Laertes is a delight. But it’s the women that take center stage here, and they have never shined brighter. This is a celebration of many of the women whose names we only hear in passing in Homer’s epics, here brought to vivid life as multilayered and unique characters who will not allow themselves to be made simply victims in someone else’s story.

There’s an elegant architecture to the way these first two books are told. Book one’s narrator is Hera, who gives us a singular line of insight into the complexity of the great and tragic Clytemnestra. Aphrodite narrates this second book and offers us a glimpse at the depths that lie beneath Helen’s seemingly shallow frivolity. Presumably the last book will be Athena focusing on Penelope herself as her less clever husband returns and the last chapter of the story closes. Three goddesses, three queens.

I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book, and I can’t wait for the next book to come out.

Utterly Amazing! The story of Penelope’s quest to keep home and hearth together while her menfolk galavant around the ancient world is better than the men’s story of pride and arrogance.