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zemightyenby's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, and War
pedanther's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Racism, Suicide, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Abandonment
emmajonesgill's review
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 ⭐
This sequel to Ithaca was a pleasant read, albeit a bit slow and dragged at times.
I enjoyed Aphrodite narrating this tale, and the more proactive women of the island, but even the meagre development of some of the suitors didn't do enough to make me care for them (aside from Kenamon, he's alright).
If anyone has played Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, it was hard to imagine Menelaus as anyone other than the Monger because he was that unlikeable. Helen, I struggled to care about, her character was a bit too ditzy for my liking, even though it was necessary for the story.
I did enjoy my time with this book, and once I got into the groove of each reading sprint read about 30-60 pages at a time (the last two sprints roughly 100 pages). So it was easy to read, just a bit slow. I'll finish out the trilogy because I'm interested to see how they round out the Odyssey given the end of the this book.
Ultimately enjoyable whilst in it, but probably won't think about too much aside from it being the middle part of a trilogy. Still would recommend if you've read Ithaca to just give this one a go.
This sequel to Ithaca was a pleasant read, albeit a bit slow and dragged at times.
I enjoyed Aphrodite narrating this tale, and the more proactive women of the island, but even the meagre development of some of the suitors didn't do enough to make me care for them (aside from Kenamon, he's alright).
If anyone has played Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, it was hard to imagine Menelaus as anyone other than the Monger because he was that unlikeable. Helen, I struggled to care about, her character was a bit too ditzy for my liking, even though it was necessary for the story.
I did enjoy my time with this book, and once I got into the groove of each reading sprint read about 30-60 pages at a time (the last two sprints roughly 100 pages). So it was easy to read, just a bit slow. I'll finish out the trilogy because I'm interested to see how they round out the Odyssey given the end of the this book.
Ultimately enjoyable whilst in it, but probably won't think about too much aside from it being the middle part of a trilogy. Still would recommend if you've read Ithaca to just give this one a go.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
mcshnick's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Murder
explorachel's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A great book for those who love Greek mythology retellings from a feminist perspective. By far the best part of the book is how the author perfectly describes and provides insights into the characters mind and motivations. The asides that build a brutally honest portrait of each character are truly the most fascinating parts of this book, how the author can perfectly lay a soul bare with a cutting sentence. The second best part is the strong current of sisterhood, women supporting other women in any overt or subliminal way possible.
The first half of this book relies on the above two best things about the book to keep readers interested. The second half is when the action actually begins once the reader is most familiar with the characters’ motivations.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment
silvernfire's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Slavery and Death of parent
3arth2kaye's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
ayolikesbooks's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved North's Ithaca, the first novel in this series, but House of Odysseus didn't reach quite the same heights for me. Like it's predecessor, it feels like it takes quite a while for the action to get going, which I found more frustrating the second time around. I think I preferred having Hera, as opposed to Aphrodite, as a narrator and found some of the goddess's beats repetitive towards the end. However, on the whole, North's writing is evocative and builds the world in a way that's deeply absorbing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Violence
libraryofaphrodite's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Narrated by Aphrodite, House of Odysseus follows the story of the women of Greek epic and tragedy.
Penelope is besieged by suitors, her husband Odysseus still some time from returning and her son, Telemachus, searching for news of him.
When Elektra and her brother, Orestes, arrive seeking help with his illness, Penelope and her band of women set about ensuring that Menelaus of Sparta doesn't take Orestes' throne.
This was a wonderfully lyrical reimagining of myth - the prose excellently suited to the original source material. At times there were some more modern turns of phrase and Aphrodite's character makes her domain very clear. There was some lovely vocabulary used throughout, again very fitting for something inspired by epic.
I hadn't read Ithaca before this and could easily dive straight in - the dramatis personae was helpful in filling in a few blanks. I will, however, be adding Ithaca to my TBR so that I can continue the story.
I really appreciated the female focus of the story, as well as the interaction between the mortal and divine. This too, has a female lense.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys myth retellings and wants to hear more from the female characters of the these stories.
Please do check the content warnings.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for the ARC in return for an honest opinion.
Penelope is besieged by suitors, her husband Odysseus still some time from returning and her son, Telemachus, searching for news of him.
When Elektra and her brother, Orestes, arrive seeking help with his illness, Penelope and her band of women set about ensuring that Menelaus of Sparta doesn't take Orestes' throne.
This was a wonderfully lyrical reimagining of myth - the prose excellently suited to the original source material. At times there were some more modern turns of phrase and Aphrodite's character makes her domain very clear. There was some lovely vocabulary used throughout, again very fitting for something inspired by epic.
I hadn't read Ithaca before this and could easily dive straight in - the dramatis personae was helpful in filling in a few blanks. I will, however, be adding Ithaca to my TBR so that I can continue the story.
I really appreciated the female focus of the story, as well as the interaction between the mortal and divine. This too, has a female lense.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys myth retellings and wants to hear more from the female characters of the these stories.
Please do check the content warnings.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for the ARC in return for an honest opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Torture
Minor: War
introvertsbookclub's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
I love the ways that North explores Greek myths. Her choice of Aphrodite for the narrator was surprising in a novel about Penelope on Ithaca but her portrayal of Aphrodite ended up being one of my favourite aspects of the novel. North’s Aphrodite is as tender as she is impassioned, and as driven by love between sisters and friends, as she is by romantic lovers.
North’s Penelope is a continuation of the Penelope she introduces in the first novel in this series. Clever, cunning and crafty, she plays the grieving wife and worried mother in front of her councillors and suitors (all of whom are laughably incompetent), but is ruling from the shadows when they are not looking, having assembled a small army of women to assist her.
The depictions of Helen, Menelaus and Elektra were exciting to read, and the various plot lines interesting to unwind. To take three separate stories – Penelope waiting for Odysseus on Ithaca, Orestes and Elektra recovering from Clytemnestra’s murder, and Menelaus and Helen’s life after Troy – and thread them together created one epic narrative that was so much fun to read. I can’t wait for the next instalment.
North’s Penelope is a continuation of the Penelope she introduces in the first novel in this series. Clever, cunning and crafty, she plays the grieving wife and worried mother in front of her councillors and suitors (all of whom are laughably incompetent), but is ruling from the shadows when they are not looking, having assembled a small army of women to assist her.
The depictions of Helen, Menelaus and Elektra were exciting to read, and the various plot lines interesting to unwind. To take three separate stories – Penelope waiting for Odysseus on Ithaca, Orestes and Elektra recovering from Clytemnestra’s murder, and Menelaus and Helen’s life after Troy – and thread them together created one epic narrative that was so much fun to read. I can’t wait for the next instalment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
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