My one main complaint about this book was that the narration by Hera was sometimes very annoying and the writing bothered me at times. However, there was a lot of more modern language thrown in and, while this generally added a humorous tone to an otherwise dark and depressing tale, it did throw me the first few times. It is the story of Penelope carefully balancing the expected role of queen against her own survival as suitors crowd the home hoping for her hand (and her husband’s throne), protecting her son, and the kingdom as pirates rate. Back home in Ithaca, Penelope is juggling the following problems: a husband who has been gone so long he is presumed dead; a hall full of suitors who are eating and drinking their way through Ithaca's wealth; a son who wants to be a man without having any experience of what that involves; an island nation at the mercy of other Greek city-states; and several interfering goddesses who are each pulling invisible threads of fate. And hearing from Hera how much of herself she saw in these queens, how she had experienced the same, really drove home the fact that height of station did nothing to spare these women.

I loved how the narrative was so feminist with some strong female characters at the centre of the narrative. But, this very style of POV has the disadvantage that for its very nature keeps you at arm's length and detached from the characters. And Hera who rallies other goddesses to stand by Penelope when Ithaca is dangerously close to being overrun by pirates. It might not resonate with all readers, but I found Hera’s voice perfect for telling this story about the ways women can be strong, about how they can struggle with the balance of power, of motherhood and personal freedom.Pour ceux qui suivent mes reviews vous vous êtes sans doute rendu compte que j’adore la guerre de Troie même si je suis à jamais du côté des Troyens. Now, she has begun a new series entitled The Songs of Penelope, beginning with Ithacawhich was released earlier this year.

This would be a great read for anyone who loves mythology and wants to delve deeper into the world of The Odyssey.These characters aren’t meant to be clean cut, good or bad, instead it’s meant to show the hypocrisy of, not just ancient Greece, but humanity in general, how the God’s that were and are still reviled aren’t that different from us mere humans, and this is something North does incredibly well. These characters are given depth; they are entertainingly and deeply flawed, ultimately grappling with their own place in a patriarchal society . But actually, very little time is spend on Penelope who waited for decades while her husband was off being a hero. No one wants a Queen running a country, no one believes she truly can, and now they believe Odysseus to be dead, suitors have come in droves to try and gain Penelope’s hand and, through it, the rule of Ithaca.

Thus unfolds a story of women and the roles they play (willing or not) that are not recorded by the poets. These new books show that these women were often just as important – if not moreso – in creating the legendary stories as we know them today. That being said, North’s prose and the fluidity of her storytelling made the story, which dealt with some truly heavy topics, flow with an ease that had me reading huge chunks in one go, never quite willing, or ready, to put it down. However, it also means that we never get truly close to Penelope's inner thoughts and feelings, making it harder for readers to connect with her. There were some very emotional moments when really hard topics were conveyed beautifully, but there were also moments that made me laugh out loud.This feminist retelling of this story is told from the perspective of Hera, showcases the talents, flaws, and vibrant personalities of the women in Ithaca. Aged sixteen, Telemachus finds himself abandoned, his father’s house overrun with men pursuing his beautiful mother, Penelope, and devouring the family’s wealth.