The Last Song of Penelope

The Songs of Penelope, Book 3

By: Claire North

Narrated by: Catrin Walker-Booth

The third book in award-winning author Claire North's Songs of Penelope Trilogy, a "powerful, fresh, and unflinching" (Jennifer Saint) reimagining that breathes life into ancient myth and gives voice to the women who stand defiant in a world ruled by ruthless men.

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....

©2024 Claire North (P)2024 Redhook

Why so underrated?

I can count on half the fingers on one hand the number of trilogies that become better after each successive. And only on one finger a literary body of work that aspires to the conventions of that genre.

North gives no quarter in cross-examining the ancient themes of honor and glory and power. They are shrewdly and passionately countered her ideas of womanhood and narrative. All this, all the while having a superbly paced plot, thrilling from beginning to end (no hoax on this point, I promise!)

One of the best books I’ve read in the past five years. Listen immediately.

Fantastic!

Everything thing I could wish for! Thank you Claire North! The story, narration and overall series experience were so incredible!!!

wonderful

Great presentation of the story of Penelope. one could wish this author does all the major myths, maybe even some of the quasi historical legends

Truer Story of Classic

I love the nuance and the inclusion of the Noble, women of Ithaca and the exploration of the complexity of Greek mythology

Beautifully Told

Such an incredible ending to the story of Penelope and Odysseus. Told from Athena’s eyes - she brings such valor and honor to this tale.

Having just lost my daughter, This series was a great comfort

The brilliance and compassion of Penelope transformed Odesseus. Laertes was vividly drawn. The concepts of honor, forgiveness, courage were explored with graceful expression. I miss Ithaca already!

Excellent book and series conclusion

This is a beautifully written story. The narrator is excellent and perfectly suited to the book’s narrative voice.

If you like Circe, you will like this tale

A retelling of the Odyssey tale, In the final book of Claire North's trilogy which give Penelope POV and a few of the Greek goddesses to reimagine Penelope life on Ithaca as she delays the suitors and keep the kingdom running smoothly.

Excellent close to this worthwhile trilogy

I really enjoyed this trio of novels. It is perhaps the most thorough and effective feminist retelling of Greek myth, in my opinion. I appreciated the different goddesses intertwined with each book too. Very well done. Now one of my favorites.

Penelope Found

This final installment of Queen Penelope's story brought joy, sorrow, and exaltation as Claire North gave voice to the narrative of the footnote character in Odysseus' epic. The entire trilogy is rich with the tale of women at the edge of history.