Claire North
House of Odysseus by Claire North picks up where Ithaca, the first book in the series, left off.
The opening scenes of the novel plunge Penelope into a maelstrom. She continues to struggle with the suitors. Meanwhile, Telemachus has abandoned her to look for his father. To add to her complications, Elektra arrives in Ithaca with her brother, Orestes, seeking refuge. Plagued by the Furies who hover over him and chomp at the bit to avenge the murder of his mother, Orestes is a babbling mess. He has apparently descended into guilt-ridden madness for the matricide. Close on their heels is their uncle, King Menelaus. His ostensible aim is to help his nephew. But his real aim is to seize the throne of Mycenae from Orestes by declaring him mad. What follows is a thrilling, exciting, fast-paced novel saturated with palace intrigue and populated with unforgettable, well-developed characters.
The novel unfolds in the first-person narrative voice of Aphrodite. She watches the events unfold and comments on the proceedings and the characters in her inimitable manner. She is sensuous, bawdy, scandalous, irreverent, and funny—everything one imagines a goddess of love to be. Her interactions with Athene and Artemis show her skill in communication. She carefully measures when to speak, when to touch, and when to back off so as not to risk offending her fellow immortals.
The novel’s characters are authentic, well-crafted, and convincing. Menelaus is cruel, vindictive, malicious, and power-hungry. A shrewd Laertes provides comic relief in his banters with Menelaus. But it is Penelope who emerges as the star player. She is intelligent, shrewd, and a brilliant strategist. It is fascinating to watch her and Menelaus as they try to out maneuver each other in a deadly game, articulating pleasantries that neither one means, and exhibiting behaviors riddled with deceit.
In true feminist fashion, the novel celebrates woman power. Penelope’s entourage of women are fiercely loyal to her. They protect, support, and obey her while maintaining a façade of frivolous, helpless women in order to fool Menelaus and his motley crew of Spartans. Priene, her fearless warrior, exudes strength and power. Helen fools everyone with her drunken, mindless babble. And Elektra matures from a selfish, arrogant girl to a woman who understands her place and who recognizes her reliance on the intelligence and political savvy of Penelope. And ever present in the background is the cacking laughter of the Furies.
Claire North fleshes out the story of Ithaca during Odysseus’ long absence. By retelling the story to include Menelaus’ scheme to usurp his nephew’s throne, she adds a new level of intrigue, suspicion, and suspense to an Ithaca already beset with problems. Her retelling is engaging, rich in historical detail, and an absolute delight to read.