Claire North brings a powerful fresh and unflinching voice to ancient myth - darkly
fascinating raw and breathtaking' Jennifer Saint author of Sunday Times bestseller Ariadne
From the multi award-winning Claire North comes a stunningly captivating fiercely feminist
retelling of the classic Greek myth of Penelope. It's time for the woman of Ithaca to tell
their tale. 'The greatest power we woman can own is that we take in secret . . . ' Seventeen
years ago king Odysseus sailed to war with Troy taking with him every man of fighting age
from the island of Ithaca. None of them have returned and the women have been left behind to
run the kingdom. Penelope was barely into womanhood when she wed Odysseus. Whilst he lived her
position was secure. But now years on speculation is mounting that husband is dead and
suitors are starting to knock at her door . . . But no one man is strong enough to claim
Odysseus' empty throne - not yet. Between Penelope's many suitors a cold war of dubious
alliances and hidden knives reigns as everyone waits for the balance of power to tip one way
or another. If Penelope chooses one from amongst them it will plunge Ithaca into bloody civil
war. Only through cunning and her spy network of maids can she maintain the delicate balance of
power needed for the kingdom to survive. On Ithaca everyone watches everyone else and there
is no corner of the palace where intrigue does not reign . . . 'Like Penelope at her loom North
both weaves and unweaves teasing out the threads of Homeric myth to recombine them into
something unique wonderful and urgently contemporary' M. R. Carey author of The Girl With All
the Gifts 'North's talent shines out' Sunday Times 'An original and even dazzling writer'
Kirkus 'North goes from strength to strength' Guardian 'Claire North's writing is terrific
smart and entertaining' Patrick Ness
