Speaking of writing, I was incredibly impressed with North’s craftsmanship. These are stories that I know well, but North’s writing and characterizations brought them to life in new ways. I was also fascinated by Hera’s love for Clytemnestra, Penelope’s cousin and queen of Mycenae and murderer of her own husband, King Agamemnon. She has become so much more sympathetic and interesting to me through these works, and I absolutely adored her in Ithaca. I’ve always disliked Hera, but in the past year or so I’ve read multiple books that showcased facets of her I had never considered. While I loved Penelope, Hera was definitely the stand-out character here. I loved the mirroring of Penelope’s story with the little we learn of Hera throughout the novel. She is also a character in her own right, seeking to aid Penelope’s cause as subtly as possible, without drawing the attention of any of the other gods. Our tale is told in a nearly omniscient, mostly third-person narration through the eyes of Hera, queen of the gods and patron on the Greek queens. But as she decides, who will defend Ithaca? As pirates begin periodically raiding this land of women and boys, Penelope is faced with an impossible decision. But nothing lasts forever, and the suitors are beginning to get restless. Thankfully, Penelope is incredibly clever, and she maintains this balance deftly and with astounding subtlety. Penelope balances on a razor’s edge, trying to keep the suitors fed and content as she constantly claims to be on the cusp of a decision, knowing full well that she can never choose because all of the spurned suitors will surely declare war on Ithaca. Of course, they actually care nothing about Penelope they all just want to claim her kingdom for their own. She’s been inundated with suitors, seeking her hand in marriage because, in their minds, she’s quite obviously a widow. Ithaca is the story of, well, Ithaca, as Odysseus has been gone for 17 years and his queen, Penelope, strives to hold the kingdom together.

But when I find a book that not only retells one of these timeless stories, it breathes new life into it, it becomes an instant favorite. On the other, I tend to judge these a bit harshly because of my love for the source material. On the one hand, I love any chance to revisit these stories I love, especially if told in a way that gives me a new perspective. Because of this love, I often find myself divided on retellings. Mythology of any kind fascinates me, but I’ve been obsessed with Greek mythology almost since I learned to read. I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher, Redhook via Orbit Books, in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine webb ithaca