Finding Ithaka
An Epic Story Traversing Time (Ionian Trilogy Book 1)
by Anna Harvey
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Pub Date Apr 22 2020 | Archive Date Nov 10 2020
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Description
Home on Ithaka, Odysseus reflects on his life and the choices he has made.
Duty bound to join the Greek expedition to Troy, his brilliant strategy ended the Trojan Wars. But the barbarity of the Greeks and the arrogance of Agamemnon their leader, cannot go unpunished by the gods. On the perilous journey home filled with strange creatures and foreign peoples, Odysseus embarks on a passionate affair with Kirke, a mysterious priestess. Now the appearance of an owl, a portent of death, threatens the palace's peace and harmony. As the kingdom faces a new peril, Odysseus must make one final decision.
Dr Thea Sefton, escaping the breakdown of her marriage, joins an archaeological expedition to the Greek island of Kefalonia. It was here her Greek lover, Dimitri Kampitsis, abandoned her twenty years before. As they search for clues for the lost palace of Odysseus, Thea finds herself strangely drawn to Rob Hughes, a climate scientist.
But her peace is quickly shattered after Thea discovers her former lover Dimitri is not only on the island, but is the powerful sponsor behind the archaeological venture.
Past and present collide in the captivating page-turner based on genuine research. The writer takes the reader on a journey to solve an enduring archaeological mystery and retell a timeless epic classic.
Advance Praise
"A compelling and innovative re-telling of the Odyssey, beautifully intertwined with the contemporary story of Thea, an archaeologist, who is embarked on a personal inner-journey driven by her own ‘demons’. The background is meticulously researched, and the novel is enjoyable to read whilst subtlety raising profound questions, highly relevant in the 21st century, concerning how we might live happier and more meaningful lives.
A brilliant first book for Anna Harvey. Keeps the reader guessing to the end. Great historical research, romance, grit and great pace.
A story of the quest to find the palace of Odysseys, legendary hero of Homer, turns into a modern adventure of archaeology that weaves the past and present on the island of Ithaka.
Its main character, Thea, is realistically portrayed by Harvey in a story that keeps our attention to the end in this unfolding saga. This is a sensitive portrayal of modern Greece with an understanding of Homer's world, and a fun page turner I heartily recommend.
This is a lovely book beautifully blending the ancient and modern stories. The ancient story pulls you in with it's action and the modern story keeps you turning the pages to the end. The atmosphere of the Greek island is perfectly evoked and some of the concerns of our age are considered with the lightest of touches. Well worth a read - even better on a warm sunny island.
Captivating story that holds readers attention from start to finish
Fresh contemporary retelling of the classic Trojan War and Odysseus' extended journey home. Central is Odysseus' affair with Circe. Alongside that is a story of a search for the historical palace based around a genuine archaeological mystery. The relationships that bloom out of this are told with depth and insight bringing an unexpected twist at the end. The writer seems to have really done her homework. A really good book to pack for those holidays in Greece.
Captivating story that holds readers attention from start to finish
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9798636844655 |
| PRICE | $2.99 (USD) |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Sheri O, Reviewer
I love Greek mythology and especially the tales of the Odysseus and his travels. The author introduces us to the duty bound Greek who is tasked with an invasion of Troy, to bring back proud Helen, wife of Menalaus, brother to the Greek king, Agamemnon. Odysseus is a brilliant strategist and through his discipline and command, his actions help end the Trojan Wars. On the dangerous journey home to Ithaka, Odysseus and his loyal Greek warriors find their path filled with unsympathetic foreigners, strange and dangerous creatures and stormy seas. He is drawn to and desires the beautiful, mysterious priestess, Kirke (Circe). Will he ever make it back home to his kingdom, wife and son?
Dr. Thea Sefton, obsessed with all things Odysseus, joins an archaeological expedition to the Greek island of Kefalonia. This island brings back memories of her Greek lover, Dimitri Kampitsis, who she has bought seen in 20 years. As her team and her look for clues and the location of the lost palace of Odysseus, Thea finds herself attracted to Rob Hughes, a climate scientist. This, tied with
discovering that her former lover, Dimitri, is on the island, and is sponsor behind the archaeological dig.
I enjoyed how the author incorporates the collision of past and present events in this well researched book. Ms. Harvey takes the reader on a journey to solve an archaeological mystery and retells the timeless epic classic as seen by the man himself, Odysseus. I cannot wait to read book two in the trilogy.
I would like to thank Anna Harvey, BooksGoSocial and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Roop K, Reviewer
I like to thank Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I like Greek mythology since my college days. I have read a short account of Odysseus and his journey home after the Trojan War.
In this novel "Finding Ithaka" written by Anna Harvey, the author has excellently handled the story of Odysseus and the story of Dr.Thea Sefton into one fantastic page-turner. The characters in the life of Odysseus and Thea have resemblances.
An archaeological expedition team along with Thea comes to a Greek Island Kefalonia which they believe that the lost palace of legendary Odysseus is somewhere on this particular island.
And also Thea is not new to Greece as her lost love Dimitri Kampitsis is the sponsor for the expedition. Why Dimitri left Thea 20 years back and did they find the Odysseus palace forms the rest of the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
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