Penelope is every bit as smart as wily Odysseus

 

 ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑  Penelope is such a superstar and I am happy to have a trilogy highlighting her cunning as she deftly manoeuvers to avoid the suitors hanging about the palace of Ithaca. Well known that she weaves the death shroud of Laertes by day, unravelling her labours by night, so as to delay the time when she must accept one of the suitors as a replacement for the long gone, assumed dead, Odysseus. But we know little more of her beyond this. Here her tale is told in a refreshing take on Greek myth.

Having recently read a number of novels detailing Agamemnon's return home from the Trojan War, and the chain of events that befall his family in the aftermath, I found this to be the most compelling of them all. True, Ithaca is not about the family of Atreus but they do feature heavily whilst Penelope awaits Odysseus' long overdue arrival home. In Ithaca we have a new appreciation for Penelope as a well rounded, brilliant strategist (not unlike her husband) but also enjoy a sympathetic view of Clytemnestra and Elektra. The best characterisation of them both in this novel. Perhaps due to our narrator's preference for the on-the-run queen? And who should narrate this yarn but Hera, the Queen of Olympus. She is rather indiscreet, sharing liberally her love-hate relationship with a number of Gods and Goddesses. Clytemnestra is clearly Hera's favourite Greek Queen and her devotion softens the Queen and makes her a person worthy of more than a bit of sympathy. Elektra comes off rather hard, but she is an oddity, anyway, but by the end I had warmed to her a great deal. Quite an accomplishment as I have never liked her in any previous books in which she has featured.

Back to Penelope our quiet, thoughtful Queen of Ithaca. Her days are more than weaving as she must keep her gaggle of suitors fed and keep Ithaca running smoothly. Trouble raises its ugly head as pirates add to her list of woes causing friction with Telemachus, her son, who is reaching early adulthood and wants to make his mark. But, our girl is nothing if not capable and watching her and her loyal servants operate is a great lesson in diplomacy.

Ithaca is a terrific start to what promises to be an exceptional series. Penelope is a character worthy of more screen time and I am pleased to say that this book does her justice but is also funny, touching and thought provoking as well.