Following the critically acclaimed "Ithaca" and "House of Odysseus" comes the final novel in Claire North's Songs of Penelope trilogy - an exquisite, gripping 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.
Many years ago, Odysseus sailed to war and never returned. For twenty years his wife Penelope and the women of Ithaca have guarded the isle against suitors and rival kings. But peace cannot be kept forever, and the balance of power is about to break . . .
A beggar has arrived at the Palace. Salt-crusted and ocean-battered, he is scorned by the suitors - but Penelope recognises in him something terrible: her husband, Odysseus, returned at last. Yet this Odysseus is no hero. By returning to the island in disguise, he is not merely plotting his revenge against the suitors - vengeance that will spark a civil war - but he's testing the loyalty of his queen. Has she been faithful to him all these years? And how much blood is Odysseus willing to shed to be sure?
"The Song of Penelope" is ending, and the song of Odysseus must ring through Ithaca's halls. But first, Penelope must use all her cunning to win a war for the fate of the island and keep her family alive, whatever the cost . . .
Following the critically acclaimed "Ithaca" and "House of Odysseus" comes the final novel in Claire North's Songs of Penelope trilogy - an exquisite, gripping 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.
Many years ago, Odysseus sailed to war and never returned. For twenty years his wife Penelope and the women of Ithaca have guarded the isle against suitors and rival kings. But peace cannot be kept forever, and the balance of power is about to break . . .
A beggar has arrived at the Palace. Salt-crusted and ocean-battered, he is scorned by the suitors - but Penelope recognises in him something terrible: her husband, Odysseus, returned at last. Yet this Odysseus is no hero. By returning to the island in disguise, he is not merely plotting his revenge against the suitors - vengeance that will spark a civil war - but he's testing the loyalty of his queen. Has she been faithful to him all these years? And how much blood is Odysseus willing to shed to be sure?
"The Song of Penelope" is ending, and the song of Odysseus must ring through Ithaca's halls. But first, Penelope must use all her cunning to win a war for the fate of the island and keep her family alive, whatever the cost . . .
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2 books in catalog
High-concept speculative premises, time loops, and mythic retellings define the work of British author Catherine Webb, writing under the pen name Claire North. Best known for the acclaimed novel The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, North crafts intricate narratives exploring memory, identity, and moral choice across repeating lives and classical history.
Born in 1986, Catherine Webb completed her debut novel Mirror Dreams at age fourteen, which was published in 2002. She wrote seven young adult novels under her birth name, earning Carnegie Medal nominations for Timekeepers and The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle. While studying International History at the London School of Economics, Webb expanded into adult urban fantasy under the pseudonym Kate Griffin. She later earned a graduate diploma in Technical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
To distinguish her high-concept speculative fiction from her earlier YA and urban fantasy work, Webb created the pseudonym Claire North for the 2014 publication of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. The book became a word-of-mouth bestseller and established her reputation in speculative literature. North has since received the World Fantasy Award and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, along with nominations for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the Philip K. Dick Award, and the Sunday Times/PFD Young Writer of the Year Award. She lives in London.
North's fiction is recognized for philosophical depth, complex narrative structure, and fresh perspectives on traditional genres. Her speculative novels frequently examine the burden of extended life, power, and identity through distinct supernatural mechanisms. In her re-examinations of Greek mythology based on the works of Homer, including The Last Song of Penelope, North shifts focus to political intrigue, mortal resilience, and the marginalized perspectives of historical and legendary women.
2 books in catalog
High-concept speculative premises, time loops, and mythic retellings define the work of British author Catherine Webb, writing under the pen name Claire North. Best known for the acclaimed novel The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, North crafts intricate narratives exploring memory, identity, and moral choice across repeating lives and classical history.
Born in 1986, Catherine Webb completed her debut novel Mirror Dreams at age fourteen, which was published in 2002. She wrote seven young adult novels under her birth name, earning Carnegie Medal nominations for Timekeepers and The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle. While studying International History at the London School of Economics, Webb expanded into adult urban fantasy under the pseudonym Kate Griffin. She later earned a graduate diploma in Technical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
To distinguish her high-concept speculative fiction from her earlier YA and urban fantasy work, Webb created the pseudonym Claire North for the 2014 publication of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. The book became a word-of-mouth bestseller and established her reputation in speculative literature. North has since received the World Fantasy Award and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, along with nominations for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the Philip K. Dick Award, and the Sunday Times/PFD Young Writer of the Year Award. She lives in London.
North's fiction is recognized for philosophical depth, complex narrative structure, and fresh perspectives on traditional genres. Her speculative novels frequently examine the burden of extended life, power, and identity through distinct supernatural mechanisms. In her re-examinations of Greek mythology based on the works of Homer, including The Last Song of Penelope, North shifts focus to political intrigue, mortal resilience, and the marginalized perspectives of historical and legendary women.
The Songs of Penelope
The Songs of Penelope
