Elysium

by L.V. Brooks

He crossed an ocean to come home to her.
She spent twenty years learning how to live without him.
The war might be over, but the hardest part is just beginning.
The man who left is not the man who returned, and the woman who waited is not the woman he remembers.
Love might have brought them back to each other, but is love enough to mend what the years have broken?
Enough to protect what they’ve fought so hard for?

Join Odysseus and Penelope in this reunion filled with grief, love, reconnection, and two hearts that are willing to cross any barrier to protect the other.

Genres: Greek Mythology

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2025

Reviews

[Kacey Thiele · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely beautiful book. When I saw L.V. Brooks asking for ARC readers for her Odysseus & Penelope novel, I jumped at the chance to sign up. And I am so glad I did. I’ve been obsessed with Greek mythology lately, and this book gave me exactly the kind of story I’ve been starving to read.

Elysium starts at the end of the Odyssey, in which Odysseus and Penelope reunite after 20 years apart. The story largely centers around them rebuilding their fractured marriage and trying to heal from all they’ve endured. The scenes of them struggling to share their traumas with each other were heartbreaking, and it was so touching to see their devotion to each other.

I was incredibly impressed by how well Brooks wrote the characters. Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus were written exactly how I would imagine them to act and speak. I was pleasantly surprised by the appearance of Helen of Sparta, and even more surprised by how much I enjoyed her character and relationship with Penelope. She’s a complex character, and both sympathetic and not sympathetic in different ways.

The relationships between all the characters were perfectly written. Odysseus and Penelope were not immediately comfortable around each other upon his return; they needed time to find that familiarity again, and to get to know the person their spouse had become after two decades. The progression of their relationship was done so well.

Also, the flashbacks of young Odysseus and Penelope were the CUTEST scenes EVER. Young, roguish, obnoxiously charming Odysseus was so easy to fall in love with. I was grinning so hard along with Penelope during the footrace scene.

(Older-Odysseus was equally swoon-worthy. I would’ve absolutely waited 20 years for that man, holy moly)

Telemachus’s opinion of and relationship with Odysseus was also expertly handled. Having grown up without his father, he and Odysseus are basically strangers to each other. The tension and discomfort between them makes so much sense, and you’re agonizing for them to connect and form a father-son bond with each other.

As for the main conflict and “antagonist” of the story (I hesitate to call him an antagonist. I suppose he is, but he’s also just doing his job as a god): his presence, mannerisms, and cold demeanor were written so well. He truly felt like a god to be reckoned with.

(also, lol, I’m impressed by how many gods Odysseus continues to manage to piss off)

I read this book in one day. Once I started, I could not stop. I haven’t felt that way about a book in a while and it was so nice to experience that again. If you’re looking for a romantic story about two souls healing together, this is your book.

[destiera · Rating 5 out of 5]

“you are fire and steel. you are home. and i am the man that will spend every remaining day of his life proving that i am worthy of you.”

as someone deep in their EPIC: the musical addiction, this fed me in a way i cannot express. the story follows the aftermath of odysseus’s return from the iliad. how penelope and telemachus handled ruling ithica and the people they had to be in his absence. it was raw and heart wrenching yet so soft and gentle. the author did such a beautiful job portraying the hardships the characters had gone through and made you feel like you were in the room with them at times, like you’re telemachus and can’t believe two people hold so much love for each other! i absolutely adored this book and i hope more people give it a chance to appreciate it like i did!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been struggling to put this review into words. This book is beautiful. It is healing. It's two heart finding their way back to each other after years apart. It is an exploration of till death (and beyond) do us part. It is reconciliation and learning honesty and old wounds being knitted back together by the one person who gives life meaning and hope.

Our main characters are feeling the weight of time and their lengthy separation. They had to make choices and endure terrible circumstances, but they made their way back to each other. The father reconciles and builds a relationship with the son, who in turn chooses to give him in turn the uncomfortable honesty of their realities while he was gone to war and to the seas.

If you love Greek mythology, if you always wondered what happened next for Odysseus, if you love Epic the Musical and Percy Jackson, this book is for you. If you love deeply emotional explorations or are seeking a romance with much older protagonists, this is for you. It is beautiful and lovely and everything.

Content: off page past forced infidelity, off page past su*cidal ideations, strong language, mass unaliving, cracked open door intimacy

Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This part continuation of Penelope and Odysseus and has past and present chapters (after when Odysseus returns 20 years later). I think this was a romantic story in which both stayed faithful to each other the entire time. Some of the scenes were very sweet. The relationship of these two only one can hope for something like it in real life. I think there were a few slow points for me but the ending is emotional and bittersweet. L.V. sure puts in depth emotion throughout the pages. I overall enjoyed it.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[BOOK IT BISHES · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Greek mythology! I was happy to read about Odysseus and Penelope's' epic love story.

Penelope is our strong FMC who's not afraid to speak her mind. When she falls in love with a flirty kind king, her heart is put to the ultimate test of hope and devotion when Odysseus is sent to war and is separated from her heart.

Odysseus will do anything to get back to his family after being apart for twenty years. Experiencing war, death, and imprisonment he doesn't let that deter him from getting back to his heart.

I absolutely enjoyed their story, it has love, re-learning to be together again, connecting with his son and getting to live their happily ever after. A story of hope and love like no other.

A wonderful debut by L.V. Brooks who understands the heart of her characters. (Bravo!) It was an absolute privilege to Beta read for this new author as she makes her triumphant debut!

Please read the TW before you dive into the world of Ody and Pen. Happy Reading!

[Becca :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Tell me, stranger, what should I call you? Husband- or phantom?”

I am so in love with this book. Like soooooo beyond in love with this freakin BOOK!!!! Even if I wasn’t obsessed with Greek Mythology I would STILL be so irrevocably and all consumingly in love with this book. However, I am so viscerally consumed with my obsession with Greek mythology so this book spoke to my freakin SOULLLL. Starting right off the bat with the dedication in this one, directed specifically towards those like the author and myself that have found themselves hyper fixating on things that others may not resonate with (LIKE the Iliad and the odyssey). L.V. You may see me but man do I see you RIGHT BACK. true to the authors words this book brought me so much joy, and for that I’m so incredibly happy to share my thoughts about this story in hopes it will resonate with other obsessive book friends that find a piece of themselves in the stories that come from Ancient Greece.

This particular story is a retelling of Odysseus’s homecoming to his wife Penelope. It’s a beautiful and soul crushing story that tells of longing, pain, suffering, and the irrevocable changes that befall a person as they move through a life separated by the ones they love most. For anyone familiar with this particular tale, this retelling is by far one of my favorites. The writing is incredible, the storyline flows so beautifully, and the characters are done just beautiful justice in not only their historic roles, but in the authors version of them. For anyone who is not familiar with this story PLEASE read this one as an intro into the story behind Odysseus and his journey. Knowing his backing and the outcome of his story, in my opinion makes the odyssey that much more meaningful of a story.

L.V. You did incredible. You paid homage to this story in such a beautiful and unique way. I’m in love with your writing and what you gave us here. I cannot say enough good things about this one, and this is truly a read I will think about until the day I die.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

“I am Odysseus because you are Penelope.” Truer words have never been spoken.

I’ve been an Iliad/Odyssey fan for years, and this story presents such an interesting spin on Odysseus’s return. The final adventure of every story is death, whether the author chooses to include it or not, and Brooks does a truly wonderful job at writing Odysseus’s struggle to reconcile a deal with Hades against the love he has for his family, his need for more time (because no matter who it is, everyone always wants more time). The ending was perhaps the best part - lovely storytelling, prose, and the king of Ithaca’s just reward.

The only thing that I didn’t enjoy so much was the prose. It felt clunky in a lot of places, a bit too modern in a few spots - nicknames especially. Hearing more recent phrases or endearments (for instance, when Odysseus calls Penelope “baby”) took me out of the story for a bit. Fortunately, the story takes most of the weight, but things like that can distract me from an otherwise good tale.

Overall, this is an interesting reimagining of Odysseus and Penelope’s life after The Odyssey, and it’s clear how much Brooks cares for the Homeric myths. From the simply beautiful cover to the final sentence, she handles the characters and their origins with love.

[TheLiterary Mug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy up for one of the most unique and interesting stories on the tails of Gods and warriors in a long time! I was happy to read this from the description, once I started it became so much more. So clever and different, their story takes on a life of its own, set 20 yrs into the future. As King Odysseus arrives home to his Queen Penelope (Love of a lifetime) and his son after years at war at the Gods bidding. The characters were raw, amazing and deep with human emotions at its core even with the plot highlighting years apart and the aspects of life lead separately. This story has really amazing depth and loads of layers that keep you hooked all the way through. So intricately written, the story did not let up and it frolicked forward with a pace and passion that made it hard to put down!
Highly recommended!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge epic fan, this was right up my alley. While I read The Odyssey back in school, you definitely don’t need it fresh in your mind to enjoy this book. The author does a great job weaving in the backstory without overwhelming the reader with info dumps.

Young Ody? Absolutely my type—charming, bold, and layered. And Penelope? She’s a force. I honestly aspire to be her level of composed and powerful.

It’s an incredible love story with just the right amount of spice, drama, and emotion. I was hooked. Highly recommend!

[Lenore · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Mythology, or even if you don't: Odysseus and Penelope have a love that anyone would dream about while living a life that feels all too real. A must read sweet romance.
Finally reunited, they have to navigate who they were and who they are and rebuild their places in each other's world. I love the relationship building, communication and flashbacks to how they started. And I'm quite jealous of the love that radiated from them with such ferocious tenacity it captured the God's attention to stir the pot every chance they got.

[Anne Levitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved getting to meet Odysseus and Penelope. This story was so different from others I've read. It had intrigue without being war and action packed. It had a love to yearn for that was all tenderness. When I think Greek mythology I don't normally think of tenderness but the way Odysseus and Penelope care for each other is possibly the sweetest love I've ever read about. And oddly enough the ending was my absolute favorite part as sad as I was for the book to end. This book is a must read especially if you are looking for a cozy, touching read.

[Alex ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you. I am so glad that your passion was reignited by the musical, because so was mine. I needed this book. I was healed and then it ruined me. I have always loved Greek Mythology and my love has been resparked and this was a perfect jump back in.

I had cried 3 times all before chapter 6. And then I just had silent tears streaming down my face the last few chapters.

This book is beautiful and powerful and everything my soul needed. The passion and reverence Odysseus has for Penelope is awe-inspiring. Their love is beautiful and it was captured perfectly in Elysium.

[Zoee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gorgeous retelling of a love story that truly stood the test of time. Some parts were a little slow for myself personally, but everything was written beautifully.
The book was very well researched, and it had the authors personal twist on it too~ I enjoyed my time reading this!

"You once told me, a lifetime ago, that the simplest way to reclaim a place or a feeling was to breathe new life into it” - Odysseus

[Carolyn Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly an amazing love story between Odysseus and Penelope.
It is very well written. I will say it took me a little bit to get into the story, but that is just me. This book literally had me crying by the end of it!
If only we could all find a love as great as they have.
The way the gods tested the true love of these two will have you going through all of the emotions possible.

[Shantille · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review

I really enjoyed this book. As someone who really enjoys Greek mythology, I thought it was an interesting and enjoyable. The chapters are also rather short, which I really liked. Overall, I thought it was rather sweet, and you don't need to know about the Odyssey to read this. I thought that the past chapters were very interesting and added to the story a bit. It also had some funny parts that made me laugh. I loved the ending, it was very sweet, and I thought it was fitting.

[Sabreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having had read Circe by Madeline Miller recently, I went in with high expectations, which is almost unfair, but boy, did L.V. Brooks deliver. It’s almost hard to believe that this is her debut!

She did a wonderful job bringing Odysseus and Penelope to life on the page, portraying their emotional wreckage and slow healing very realistically. Both characters are incredibly strong, going through their own trauma and healing, but I especially fell in love with Penelope. It’s rare to see female leads written with unapologetic strength and she was just amazing.

As if the story and characters itself isn’t enough, the writing is also so good, almost poetic in a way which was such a joy to read. I also loved the flashbacks to their younger selves, it was like breaths of fresh air which helped balance the heaviness in the present. 5 stars.

Thank you for this E-ARC!

[Susan (Purplegalaxyreads94) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t want to give too much spoilers but this story was absolutely everything! Following the story of Penelope and Odysseus, I was sucked in and focused on the amazing love story between the two. After being separated for twenty years, time and war can affect the heart and the mind. But seeing Penelope and Odysseus find each other again and work on getting back to who they once were, it definitely made me love this book. I cannot wait for the physical copy to be released so I can purchase it

[Dorothea Spencer-Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would consider myself a person who is well-versed on the verses of Homer. Some of the verses I can quote as if I was reciting the poem as if I were telling if like the Ancient Greeks did. The beauty of the Odyssey is not on its scale or its divinity, it is in the unanswered questions that it poses.

Elysium is a good answer to the question, what now? He, the fabled Odysseus of Ithaca, has made it home safely (somewhat, at least) and has now been reunited with his wife, the waiting and steadfast and slightly angry Penelope. I believe this book gives us what one could consider a realistic glance of where they have been and what made them who they are now. The king who has for the past 20 years has been fighting monsters and gods and time itself to get to a place he once called home. The queen, who continuously outsmarted the most callous and cruel of men in a no less strong feat, while also wondering what has happened to the home she knows he loved so much.

I want to commend this book for making the characters feel real, for making the love story both idealistic and grounded in the narrative in which the characters actually live in. They went through hell and back over and over and over again, of course they are not fine. But seeing them find each other again and commit to being together again it’s a love story that I think is just as important as interpretations of Odysseus and Penelope going straight back to being in love with nothing ever happened. Personally, I prefer this version because it makes it seem like the 20 years was not for nothing and that neither Odysseus and Penelope stopped living and suffering and yes, waiting in those years.

I do want to point out, because one might consider this a detraction, that I do not mind, but in fact accept, the use of modern language in certain areas of the novel. I think it is genius, because I interpreted it as adding the author’s own voice to the novel. The Homeric question of who wrote this is one that has been posed forever, and it will probably not be answered anytime soon. However, one thing we do know about the Odyssey is that it was a spoken word poem. This means, much like the translations that have come in many languages after, that the myths are up to our interpretation. Using modern language in a modern expansion (I personally only use the term expansion as these events in the book after the event of the Odyssey, or they are during portions of the story that we do not actually get to see in the poem) makes perfect logical sense because these would be the words we would use if we were to speak of this poem today.

I would like to imagine that this is what happens. This has become my interpretation of what happens after. I felt weird finishing it, weird as in, to me, it felt right. Since having received the reader copy, sometimes I reread it, knowing that I cannot read it for the first time again. But, maybe that is the point, that the story that we all know and love is not ours anymore, and for once it is the story of a king and queen who found themselves finally and irrevocably back home.

Thank you to L.V. Brooks for an advance reader copy.

[Lisa Conant · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏹Greek Mythology
🌓Dual Timeline Flashbacks
💪Strong Queen x Returning Warrior King
💗Mature mmc's (39, 46)
❤️‍🔥"He's mine"/"She's mine"
❤️‍🩹Comfort & Healing

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶

Review:
Odysseus and Penelope. A love in this lifetime and the next. Separated for 20 years while he was subject to quests and battling gods and creatures, the brave but worn warrior finally comes home to his Queen and now grown son.

This is truly character driven, with a plot that feels epic at its core, showcasing gamuts of emotions a human can go through. Odysseus has to find himself again amongst a family he's been without for two decades and it's challenging and heartbreaking but also so incredibly raw with truth. This may be set in a time of ancient myth but it's just as relevant in the themes.

Can a man riddled with scars inside and out, find his way back to a semblance of who he was before he left? There are echoes of that man we see, even in the first act as he acclimates back to living a life without daily survival and violence. And slowly more of that boisterous, enigmatic man resurfaces. I must admit I loved his introduction too, solidifying his still very capable skills as a warrior with a bow and blade.

Penelope, his wife, has since been a stalwart queen in his absence and is not without internal scars of her own. They each have to navigate a healing. And flashbacks to their whirlwind love and marriage interspersed between the healing drama of the present, are lovingly effective. It even adds a dose of humor as we see how playful and witty they are together. Odysseus was quite the rogue and charmer!

But I'm so warmed in seeing that his past youthful version is not lost, the mid 40's Odysseus does begin to let more and more of that charmer break through and he's absolutely delightful and s3xy!

We get interactions with other famous characters such as Persephone, Athena, Helen of Troy and even Hades (who's appropriately a villain here trying to claim Odysseus back to the Underworld). He definitely commands a presence!

I absolutely loved this emotionally charged drama full of tr@uma healing, sacrifice, love, second chances, and high stakes with Gods...oh and some sword wielding and swooning love that truly transcends!

[Mimimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thank you to LV Brooks for giving me this ARC in exchange for a honest review and happy release day!

Where to begin? Elysium picks off immediately after the events of the Odyssey with Odysseus returning home to his wife and son, more stranger than man at this point. Both of them are bewildered but do their best to welcome him into their lives, and from there, the story takes off. If you're looking a short and sweet plot interspersed by adorable flashbacks that pry into a married couple's origins, this is the book for you! Overall, I thought it was lovely with some gorgeous prose and repition, such as the "together or not at all" line, and extremely readable as I devoured it in two days despite having final exams at the same time. Some drawbacks are the fact that Telemachus seemed constantly pushed to the side (I understand the book wasn't meant to focus on him but I assumed as their son, he would recieve more time) and the villains' motives were a little hard to discern, especially Persephone. However, I ADORED the twist in the story near its conclusion, as I would've never expected it to end that way when I first picked up the book. What twist am I talking about? You'll just have to see!

Once again, thank you! And as a debut author, I hope LV Brooks goes far!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book is beautifully written and when I finished I just felt better. While it is mythical since it’s Ancient Greece and gods it reads more like historical fiction. It follows Homer’s The Odyssey and Odysseus’ arrival back home from his 20 year journey between the Trojan War and the wrath of angered gods.

How do you navigate and reconnect with a spouse you love and long for after 20 years of no contact? Time and trauma befall our main characters as they try to overcome and heal from the decades apart and the Gods returning their gaze to them.

This book is 5 stars all the way! I loved it and highly recommend it. Subtle spice - things are hinted at and intimate moments are played out tastefully not graphically shoved in your face.

I really enjoyed the flashback scenes and felt like you really got to know all the characters and grew to love them. Penelope and Odysseus are goals and their epic love story had me crying, laughing, and contemplating letting the world burn for a love like that.

This was an ARC review and it’s amazing so read it!

[Patsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did not disappoint me at all. The story of Odysseus and Penelope was everything I needed. This book highlighted the relationship and the love that these two absolutely shared. However there were some moments that really pulled on your heart strings. The fact that it encompassed greek mythology was a bonus for me.

I felt that the author really kept this story true to how life really would be in this situation. We got to see the tension and the fear and vulnerability of these characters. The story was very well written.

I mean can you imagine trying to rebuild a relationship after you've been apart for twenty years? Yet the love between them never died and it was still all consuming although strained by time. I'm used to the epic wars of greek mythology but getting to see the tender side of the characters in this setting was truly amazing.

Those moments of vulnerability between the two of them were some of my favorite parts. If this is the kind of story that this author tells then I definitely want to read more. This is a five out of five star read for me.

[Carrie Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

I loved how fast paced this book was, the chapters were super short and really easy to breeze through. As someone who didn’t read the Iliad or Odyssey in school, this one was pretty cool for me since I had some background knowledge on the story of Odysseus and Penelope but had never fully dove into the original works. That being said, I really enjoyed seeing these characters in a new light and exploring the love story.

I think the only single critique I would have is that it did feel a bit longer than it needed to be, only due to the real meat of the story feeling like it happened 60% ish of the way through to a story. I think this is totally my own thought though because I also did really appreciate how much time was spent on rebuilding trust and exploring trauma between Odysseus and Penelope - it just felt maybe a little longer than needed, albeit a totally necessary part of the book. However - this book was still really sweet and wonderful, and that last chapter actually made my heart so happy.

[Ella Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book and I really enjoyed it! I would recommend it to anyone who loves second chance romance, historical/ mythological fiction and of course slow burn. I mean these two have been waiting for each other for a long time!

The only reason I am not giving it the full 5 stars was that at times the forms of address between the characters were way too modern, such as "baby" "hi" and "mom" when the rest of the prose and book in general are in keeping with the historical setting. These did kind of smack me in the face and pull me out of the story.

Overall a great reimagining of Odysseus and Penelope.

[Roxy Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welp, this book just raised my standards for men once more. 😂😍
Overall, it was an entertaining read. Loved the relationship between Odysseus and Penelope, how they slowly warmed up to each other once again, despite their traumas. Their connection to their son was also very interesting and well-written in my opinion.
It's a pretty good romance book and the ending had me in tears 🥺
Only reason I'm giving this four stars is that the writing style did not quite resonate with me, at certain points it was almost difficult to get into the flow. But I would still recommend it to anyone into romance, Greek mythology or Epic 🤭

[The.Picky.Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rated up

Thank you to the author for the arc!

I really wanted to like this. A Greek retelling with older characters navigating life after two decades of separation.

This one just didn't do it for me. The writing was beautiful; the love story was one of deepest devotion. But it got very repetitive and the story crawled along.

I would still recommend this for anyone who wants a lower stakes, slower paced love story.

[Mina Rottler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elysium is a beautiful love story. This book has Greek mythology, dual timeline flashbacks, and a strong king and queen who would die for each other. He was lost for 20 years and found his way back home. The main characters have to reignite their love and get past their trauma from when they were apart. They truly love each other, and it SHOWS. Absolutely beautiful story and HEARTWRENCHING. Truly enjoyed this book! If you want a story about real love, THIS. IS. IT.

[vi_iv · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this eARC for free in exchange for my honest review.*

I absolutely loved this book!! It was written beautifully and the love between Penelope and Odysseus was so passionate. I'm always a little cautious about reading modern retellings of Greek mythology but this book was different. I look forward to reading more from this author amd hopefully purchasing a physical copy of this book in the future!

[Ellen Scovil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A softer tale of Odysseus and Penelope

I really enjoyed this telling of Odysseus and Penelope. Told after Odysseus comes home after being gone for 20 years. It takes great liberty with the story of Odysseus and Penelope, which is ok. It's a love story. One I think needed to be told.

[Leah Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

War hero comes home after 20 years, his marriage gets a second chance. Can the two fall for each other again, even with vengeful gods pursuing them? This is a very swoony, romance with a ton of beautiful character work!