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House of Odysseus

The Songs of Penelope, Book 2

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House of Odysseus

By: Claire North
Narrated by: Catrin Walker-Booth
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About this listen

'CLAIRE NORTH BRINGS A POWERFUL, FRESH AND UNFLINCHING VOICE TO ANCIENT MYTH' Jennifer Saint, author of Sunday Times bestseller Ariadne

From the author of the critically acclaimed Ithaca - A Sunday Times Historical Fiction Book of the Year - comes an exquisite and gripping new tale that breathes life into ancient myth. This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca, famed wife of Odysseus, as it has never been told before.

On the isle of Ithaca, Queen Penelope maintains a delicate balance of power. Many years ago, her husband, Odysseus, sailed to war with Troy and never came home. In his absence, Penelope uses all her cunning to keep the peace - but this is shattered by the arrival of Orestes, king of Mycenae, and his sister Elektra.

Orestes's hands are stained with his mother's blood. Not so long ago, the son of Agamemnon took Queen Clytemnestra's life on Ithaca's sands. Now, racked with guilt, he is slowly losing his mind.

Penelope knows destruction will follow in his wake as surely as the Furies circle him. His uncle, Menelaus, the battle-hungry king of Sparta, longs for Orestes's throne - and if he can seize it, no one will be safe from his violent whims.

Trapped between two mad kings, Penelope fights to keep war from Ithaca's shores. Her only allies are Elektra and Helen of Troy, Menelaus's enigmatic wife. And watching over them all is the goddess Aphrodite, who has plans of her own.

Each woman has a secret. And their secrets will shape the world.

The Songs of Penelope series:
Ithaca
House of Odysseus
The Last Song of Penelope

©2023 Claire North (P)2023 Hachette Audio UK
Ancient Fantasy Fiction Historical Fiction Magic Royalty Ancient History Marriage Ancient Greece War

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This was an absolutely fabulous audiobook. Storytelling at its finest. Found it hard to put down. Excellent narration also helped to bring the characters to life. I've listened to a number of these retold Greek myths which also helped to put this tale into context. Great imagination and insight throughout. Can't get enough of these stories.

Outstanding

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With Aphrodite as the narrator, this is an ancient whodunit, a tale of palace intrigue and a moral-immoral-amoral study of gods and humans and use/misuse of power.
Forget the myths you think you know and embrace some new stories.

Engaging and enthralling

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An excellent reader, captured the playful, slightly distanced narration of the goddess as well as the emotions and torment of the human protagonists.

a ripping yarn, well created

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Having read two of the three books in Claire North's series, I continue to be impressed by her extraordinary vision, use of language, and exploration of compelling themes. In 'The House of Odysseus', North's descriptive language is astonishingly vivid, bringing Ithika, its inhabitants, and even the gods to life with remarkable clarity. Her prose is filled with wit, sensuality, and drama, underpinned by astute and intelligent observations about human nature.

The characterisation throughout the novel is exquisite. North's ability to flesh out each character, giving them depth, complexity, and genuine emotional resonance, is particularly impressive. However, for me personally, the denouement and certain plot reveals involving the main protagonist felt somewhat out of step with the rest of the narrative. Penelope momentarily transforming into an ancient Greek version of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple felt slightly incongruous.

Nevertheless, this minor reservation hardly detracts from an otherwise flawless literary achievement. I look forward to getting stuck into the final book in the series and wholeheartedly encourage others to immerse themselves in the captivating world Claire North has so brilliantly crafted.

Last but not least, I must also draw particular attention to the reader in this series. Catrin Walker-Booth's performance is nothing short of pitch-perfect. Superb.

The gods would be proud.

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Enjoyed this even more than the first, and Cafrin's narration, especially her arch portrayal of Aphrodite, is amazing.
Really looking forward to book 3

Excellent sequel

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Really enjoyed the whole concept: ancient myths meet suspenseful crime drama sprinkled with simple truths that are valid throughout history and eternity. Can't wait for the third book.

This will be super successful on screen 💕👍

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Everything was brilliant. The story, the characters, the performance. excellent stuff and I can't wait for the next one in the sequence

A lyrical and creative retelling of the myth

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Another absolute winner. Even better than the fist and I can't wait for the final instalment.

Just great.

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Wow what an amazing read! The embedded strength and acumen of women punctuated throughout this book highlights how women survived by being clever and cunning. The subtle nuances of what it is to be ‘woman’, from our roots in Ancient Greece to today’s times, is deftly woven into the fabric of the prose in a way that would make Athena proud! 😊 the goddess and the woman are one and the same thing. With great narrative by Aphrodite! It felt like she was really present, inside my head. Will reread this over and over. Loved it!

Outstanding storytelling!

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I struggled initially with the story being narrated by Aphrodite rather than Hera and it took a while to get into things. But once in, I was completely hooked.
Loved the story, the narration, the imagination. A very satisfying book. Downloading the final part of the trilogy now, can't wait. Well done, Clare North!

Excellent story

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