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.
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