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Odysseus
Everyone knows Odysseus’s journey.
No one knows what followed him home.
This is not just a retelling of the Odyssey.
It is a literary thriller where Greek mythology becomes a psychological and historical mystery.
From the moment Troy falls, Odysseus is not alone.
At every stage of his voyage, impossible signs three bronze circles carved into stone. Shadows that vanish when confronted. Footprints that end in mid-air. Someone—or something—has been guiding him, deflecting arrows, bending fate itself. The Keeper. A presence older than the Trojan War, watching from just beyond sight.
Sirens, witches, storms, and gods test his body—but the true trial is quieter and far more dangerous. Every choice brings him closer to Ithaca, to Penelope, to the son he left behind. And further from the man he once was.
When Odysseus finally returns, disguised as a beggar, he discovers the real battle is not for his throne. It is for his soul.
As suitors plot his son’s death and lay siege to his wife, the question becomes
Is the Keeper protecting him—or controlling him?
The most dangerous voyage was never through monsters.
It was deciding who he would become to survive.
A literary thriller for readers of Madeline Miller and for anyone drawn to stories where myth, identity, and suspense collide.
No one knows what followed him home.
This is not just a retelling of the Odyssey.
It is a literary thriller where Greek mythology becomes a psychological and historical mystery.
From the moment Troy falls, Odysseus is not alone.
At every stage of his voyage, impossible signs three bronze circles carved into stone. Shadows that vanish when confronted. Footprints that end in mid-air. Someone—or something—has been guiding him, deflecting arrows, bending fate itself. The Keeper. A presence older than the Trojan War, watching from just beyond sight.
Sirens, witches, storms, and gods test his body—but the true trial is quieter and far more dangerous. Every choice brings him closer to Ithaca, to Penelope, to the son he left behind. And further from the man he once was.
When Odysseus finally returns, disguised as a beggar, he discovers the real battle is not for his throne. It is for his soul.
As suitors plot his son’s death and lay siege to his wife, the question becomes
Is the Keeper protecting him—or controlling him?
The most dangerous voyage was never through monsters.
It was deciding who he would become to survive.
A literary thriller for readers of Madeline Miller and for anyone drawn to stories where myth, identity, and suspense collide.
380 pages, Paperback
Published January 16, 2026
6 people are currently reading
1108 people want to read
About the author
Leon G. Collin
2 books13 followersLeon G. Collin writes literary thrillers that reimagine classical mythology for modern readers.
His debut novel ODYSSEUS transforms Homer's epic into a psychological thriller about two war veterans—Odysseus and Penelope—learning to recognize each other after twenty years of battles fought on opposite fronts.
Published by The Quiet Orchard, his work blends the narrative drive of Dan Brown with the psychological depth of Ken Follett, while honoring the timeless power of ancient myth.
www.thequietorchard.com
His debut novel ODYSSEUS transforms Homer's epic into a psychological thriller about two war veterans—Odysseus and Penelope—learning to recognize each other after twenty years of battles fought on opposite fronts.
Published by The Quiet Orchard, his work blends the narrative drive of Dan Brown with the psychological depth of Ken Follett, while honoring the timeless power of ancient myth.
www.thequietorchard.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 22, 2026
With Odysseus, the author Leon G. Collin shows us how a mythical retelling can become a deep experience, one that will stay with you long after you’ve finished this book!
Especially Penelope stands out in this story, where she is fierce, strong and relentless.
This book is written by the heart! I’ll be looking out for more books from Leon G. Collin!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Especially Penelope stands out in this story, where she is fierce, strong and relentless.
This book is written by the heart! I’ll be looking out for more books from Leon G. Collin!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 17, 2026
Provided by Leon G. Collin as an advance reading copy in electronic format
Odysseus is an adroitly rendered reinterpretation of a classical myth, styled in such a way as to mimic aspects of a modern psychological thriller. The story is related in bite-sized vignettes, at times, prefaced by direct quotations from Homer’s Odyssey (translated by Alexander Pope). Its fast pace is dictated by a mixture of dialogue interspersed with frequent short, snappy sentences working together to develop the plot and generate intrigue.
In the first instance the reader encounters King Odysseus’s court in Ithaca, which in his 20 years absence, has been overtaken by a throng of ambitious men jostling for position as suitors of Queen Penelope. With a blatant disregard for royal protocols, they adopt an indolent lifestyle, indulging in an abundance of alcohol fuelled sumptuous feasts and confiscating valuable treasures. The whereabouts of Trojan warrior, Odysseus, is unknown leaving Penelope and her son, Telemachus, emotionally bereft and physically vulnerable. Youthful and inexperienced Telemachus, at constant risk of ambush, embarks on a seaward journey to learn more about the fate of his father.
Meanwhile, the court of King Alcinous and the Phaeacians is where the reader is enlightened as to the travails of strategic Odysseus during and after the Trojan war. Notably challenged at sea by the monstrous Scylla and deadly whirlpool Charybdis and on land by the one-eyed giant Cyclops, Polyphemus, and the enchantress Circe amongst others, Odysseus’s exploits are richly described. Held hostage on the nymph Calypso’s island with a tempting enticement of the gift of immortality, Odysseus’s essential humanity and judgment are tested and his yearning for home emphasised.
One of the many things that makes this book so special is Collin’s imaginative additions to the original Homeric narrative. The hooded, shadowy figure of the mysterious Custodian, who he names Orthos, the bronze wheel and the magically appearing three intersecting rings feature throughout. Is the lurking presence of the Custodian auspicious or disastrous for Odysseus? What does this symbolism ultimately represent? Collin keeps the reader guessing.
There are one or two inconsistencies in the spelling of lesser characters Eurylochus and Eurycleia and I’m unclear whether these are intentional, poetic licence or merely typographical errors. Perhaps a switch between Greek and Latin equivalents? Also, Perimede is depicted as one of Odysseus’s faithful sailors. I wonder if this should instead be the masculine form Perimedes with Perimede being the daughter of Aeolus? Laertes, Odysseus’s father, at one stage speaks Italian “Andiamo a casa, figlio mio” as part of the narrative and it is not immediately apparent why by a Greek. None of this, however, detracts from a well written, gripping piece of literature.
Will Odysseus be reunited with his beloved and steadfast Penelope? Will the callow Telemachus mature and survive against the odds? What role does the goddess Athena contribute to Odysseus's journey and his outcome? What is more important: power, glory and revenge or one’s homeland, the olive branch of peace, family ties and justice? Visit this novel and all will be revealed. You won’t regret it! I can’t wait to read more by this emerging author.
Odysseus is an adroitly rendered reinterpretation of a classical myth, styled in such a way as to mimic aspects of a modern psychological thriller. The story is related in bite-sized vignettes, at times, prefaced by direct quotations from Homer’s Odyssey (translated by Alexander Pope). Its fast pace is dictated by a mixture of dialogue interspersed with frequent short, snappy sentences working together to develop the plot and generate intrigue.
In the first instance the reader encounters King Odysseus’s court in Ithaca, which in his 20 years absence, has been overtaken by a throng of ambitious men jostling for position as suitors of Queen Penelope. With a blatant disregard for royal protocols, they adopt an indolent lifestyle, indulging in an abundance of alcohol fuelled sumptuous feasts and confiscating valuable treasures. The whereabouts of Trojan warrior, Odysseus, is unknown leaving Penelope and her son, Telemachus, emotionally bereft and physically vulnerable. Youthful and inexperienced Telemachus, at constant risk of ambush, embarks on a seaward journey to learn more about the fate of his father.
Meanwhile, the court of King Alcinous and the Phaeacians is where the reader is enlightened as to the travails of strategic Odysseus during and after the Trojan war. Notably challenged at sea by the monstrous Scylla and deadly whirlpool Charybdis and on land by the one-eyed giant Cyclops, Polyphemus, and the enchantress Circe amongst others, Odysseus’s exploits are richly described. Held hostage on the nymph Calypso’s island with a tempting enticement of the gift of immortality, Odysseus’s essential humanity and judgment are tested and his yearning for home emphasised.
One of the many things that makes this book so special is Collin’s imaginative additions to the original Homeric narrative. The hooded, shadowy figure of the mysterious Custodian, who he names Orthos, the bronze wheel and the magically appearing three intersecting rings feature throughout. Is the lurking presence of the Custodian auspicious or disastrous for Odysseus? What does this symbolism ultimately represent? Collin keeps the reader guessing.
There are one or two inconsistencies in the spelling of lesser characters Eurylochus and Eurycleia and I’m unclear whether these are intentional, poetic licence or merely typographical errors. Perhaps a switch between Greek and Latin equivalents? Also, Perimede is depicted as one of Odysseus’s faithful sailors. I wonder if this should instead be the masculine form Perimedes with Perimede being the daughter of Aeolus? Laertes, Odysseus’s father, at one stage speaks Italian “Andiamo a casa, figlio mio” as part of the narrative and it is not immediately apparent why by a Greek. None of this, however, detracts from a well written, gripping piece of literature.
Will Odysseus be reunited with his beloved and steadfast Penelope? Will the callow Telemachus mature and survive against the odds? What role does the goddess Athena contribute to Odysseus's journey and his outcome? What is more important: power, glory and revenge or one’s homeland, the olive branch of peace, family ties and justice? Visit this novel and all will be revealed. You won’t regret it! I can’t wait to read more by this emerging author.
February 9, 2026
~ Thank you to the author for providing a free copy of this book ~
If you like the Odyssey or if you want to read the story in a more accessible format, you will love this. This is not an original interpretation or a contemporary retelling of Odysseus’ perilous journey back from the Trojan war. The author takes you back to what you have heard or already know about the story but his love for the epic work of Homer shines through the book, while reminding you of the ideas of the ancient Greek world, the glory, mistakes, regrets and cunning mind of a man who is who he has become and just wants to get back where he belongs, home.
The book has beautiful descriptions that will immerse you into the story and will make you want to turn those pages. And you will feel the suspense, even if you know what comes next. The original is basically a slow-burn thriller after all, and this book mirrors that as well. And if in other versions, you missed the emotional reunion with Telemachus or the strength and intelligence of Penelope that matches that of her husband, the author will remind you of that too. I really enjoyed reading this.
If you like the Odyssey or if you want to read the story in a more accessible format, you will love this. This is not an original interpretation or a contemporary retelling of Odysseus’ perilous journey back from the Trojan war. The author takes you back to what you have heard or already know about the story but his love for the epic work of Homer shines through the book, while reminding you of the ideas of the ancient Greek world, the glory, mistakes, regrets and cunning mind of a man who is who he has become and just wants to get back where he belongs, home.
The book has beautiful descriptions that will immerse you into the story and will make you want to turn those pages. And you will feel the suspense, even if you know what comes next. The original is basically a slow-burn thriller after all, and this book mirrors that as well. And if in other versions, you missed the emotional reunion with Telemachus or the strength and intelligence of Penelope that matches that of her husband, the author will remind you of that too. I really enjoyed reading this.
March 16, 2026
I enjoyed being able to return to the world of The Odyssey through this vivid retelling. Readers who love mythology or classical literature will likely find a lot to appreciate here, especially those who have always been curious about Homer’s epic.
The descriptive writing is very compelling. Ancient Greece feels rich and sensory, and the prose often has a gentle poetic rhythm that reflects the storytelling roots of the myth. The emotional depth given to Odysseus’ return also helps the modern reader conjure than connection to the protagonist and other characters.
This retelling stays very loyal to the spirit of the original story, which shows a clear admiration for Homer’s epic. For readers who enjoy classical myths presented in a more accessible form, this offers an engaging way to revisit a timeless tale.
Overall, this is an atmospheric and thoughtful return to a familiar myth, written with clear appreciation for the source material.
The descriptive writing is very compelling. Ancient Greece feels rich and sensory, and the prose often has a gentle poetic rhythm that reflects the storytelling roots of the myth. The emotional depth given to Odysseus’ return also helps the modern reader conjure than connection to the protagonist and other characters.
This retelling stays very loyal to the spirit of the original story, which shows a clear admiration for Homer’s epic. For readers who enjoy classical myths presented in a more accessible form, this offers an engaging way to revisit a timeless tale.
Overall, this is an atmospheric and thoughtful return to a familiar myth, written with clear appreciation for the source material.
March 30, 2026
this is such an accessible take on the odyssey! truly so fast paced and immersive you won’t be able to put it down (i know this bc i had to actively slow myself down in order to savor it). i thoroughly enjoyed my time and look forward to other works by this author!!
March 13, 2026
Brilliant read!!! reminded me alot of Homer's Odyssey which was and still is a wonderful read! this version is very well written, highly recommend it!!
March 21, 2026
I won this in a giveaway
March 21, 2026
I must say this is a must read!! I was very impressed with the story n characters. It will keep you interested till the end.if you love mythology you will love this!😁
March 24, 2026
I've always enjoyed the story of Odysseus and found this to be a great reimagined telling of the classic version of The Odyssey by Homer.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews