Ithaca

From the award-winning author Claire North comes a stunning reimagining of ancient myth that finally gives voice to the women left behind.

For seventeen years, the women of Ithaca have been waiting. King Odysseus sailed to Troy with every fighting man from the island, and none have returned. In their absence, Penelope and the women of Ithaca haven’t just survived—they’ve ruled, governed, and held a kingdom together against impossible odds.

But patience has limits. Suitors circle like sharks, each waiting for the moment to claim Odysseus’ throne. Penelope, barely a woman when she wed, now faces an impossible choice: any decision could plunge her island into civil war. This is the story of those seventeen years—the years Homer never told. It’s a tale of resilience, cunning, and the quiet power of women who refuse to be footnotes in someone else’s epic.

Claire North brings her signature brilliance to ancient Greece, crafting a narrative that feels both timeless and urgently contemporary. “North brings a powerful, fresh, and unflinching voice to ancient myth. Breathtaking,” raves Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne.

Perfect for readers who loved Circe and The Song of Achilles, Ithaca reminds us that while gods may dictate the wars of men, it’s the choices of women that truly change the world. This is mythology reimagined—raw, intimate, and utterly unforgettable.

Additional information