'Ithaca' by Claire North

Thank-you so much to Orbit/Little, Brown for the proof copy. UK Release 8/9/22.

Original Review posted on Goodreads on May 31st.

I'm a sucker for Greek Mythology retellings! Itchaca is the events of the Odyssey from the point of view of Penelope as she waits & hopes that her husband will return home. I LOVED that it's Hera who tells the story her tone of voice is perfect and to have her take on events was brilliant. As much as I loved it being from Hera's POV I did kind of hope that it would switch between her and Penelope. I adored Hera's interactions with her step-daughters so much, really well written and I love that the Goddesses in this story are aloof, harsh and temperamental as they should be. Hera poking fun at some of the "heroes" was brilliant, especially calling Jason a little shit was a highlight, because you know fuck Jason.

Claire North writes emotions so well, there is so much anger, hope & frustration in this book. Penelope is so done with the suitors on her island, fed up with being trapped on what should be here home. Hera is bound to the Queens and Princesses of the story often pushing them forward, giving them support in little subtle ways. I love how much tension the arrival Electra, Orestes and Clytemnestra brings on to Itchaca and how The Curse on the House of Atreus plays into Penelope's story.

One of my only issues is that it's a large cast of characters some characters are introduced but never get their time to shine or brushed over but by the sounds of it this is a series so maybe we will get more in the future.

I'll be interest to see how this compares to Elektra by Jennifer Saint which also deals with Electra & Clytemmnestra's lives.