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Lord of Tides
The war is over. Troy has fallen. And Odysseus, king of Ithaca and architect of the war's brutal victory, turns his fleet toward home, not knowing the harrowing journey that lies ahead.
When he earns the wrath of Poseidon, storms scatter his ships. Monsters rise from the deep and men vanish beneath waves. With every trial, the cost of survival grows steeper, and honor erodes as Odysseus comes to understand the man who reaches Ithaca may not be the one who left its shores.
In Ithaca, Penelope fights a different kind of war. With Odysseus gone, wolves have come to the kingdom to claim its throne and queen. Led by ruthless Antinous, they camp on Ithaca’s shores and abuse its wealth and people while Penelope works tirelessly to preserve peace and raise their son, Telemachus.
When Odysseus at last sets foot on Ithaca, he arrives not as a king but as a grief-worn outcast. His men, gone. His palace, overrun. His wife and son, besieged by strange men. But for every ruin, there is a reckoning...
Lord of Tides is a retelling of Homer’s Odyssey as a dark, character-driven epic in which the journey home proves to be the most brutal trial of all, and the greatest threat Odysseus faces is the man he must become along the way.
When he earns the wrath of Poseidon, storms scatter his ships. Monsters rise from the deep and men vanish beneath waves. With every trial, the cost of survival grows steeper, and honor erodes as Odysseus comes to understand the man who reaches Ithaca may not be the one who left its shores.
In Ithaca, Penelope fights a different kind of war. With Odysseus gone, wolves have come to the kingdom to claim its throne and queen. Led by ruthless Antinous, they camp on Ithaca’s shores and abuse its wealth and people while Penelope works tirelessly to preserve peace and raise their son, Telemachus.
When Odysseus at last sets foot on Ithaca, he arrives not as a king but as a grief-worn outcast. His men, gone. His palace, overrun. His wife and son, besieged by strange men. But for every ruin, there is a reckoning...
Lord of Tides is a retelling of Homer’s Odyssey as a dark, character-driven epic in which the journey home proves to be the most brutal trial of all, and the greatest threat Odysseus faces is the man he must become along the way.
466 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2026
About the author
K.D. Stark
2 books82 followersK. D. Stark is an author based in the southern United States where she lives with her husband, three little boys, and too many chickens. After spending years in a career that didn’t quite fit, she turned to writing—a lifelong love. In writing, she discovered a passion for storytelling and crafting new worlds and vibrant characters, as well as an outlet for her lifelong obsession with Greek mythology.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
October 7, 2026
If you take every thread of ancient myth we remember of The Odyssey, but turn it with reverence and a brilliant eye for deepening and dissecting the story - you get LORD OF TIDES.
It takes the foundation of The Odyssey and transforms it into the version you’ve actually been aching to read - a brilliantly unique and strikingly original adaptation that refuses to be bound by classical expectations.
KD Stark breathes breathtaking new life into these iconic figures. Penelope is rebuilt here with new bones and an immovable strength, carrying a fierce, modern resonance while still honoring the quiet resilience and devotion of her Homeric origin. Around her, every character we encounter remains deeply tethered to their original mythic roots, yet they are transformed into richer, darker versions of themselves with far more facets to uncover.
Much like Where Darkness Bloomed, this isn't just a story you read; it’s one that ensnares you. It’s built to be felt, devoured, and broken down to its sheer line by line beauty. For any reader who loves to pull out their tabs and highlighters to capture monumental prose and unearth every layer of hidden beauty, this is the mythology retelling you're looking to devour next!
It takes the foundation of The Odyssey and transforms it into the version you’ve actually been aching to read - a brilliantly unique and strikingly original adaptation that refuses to be bound by classical expectations.
KD Stark breathes breathtaking new life into these iconic figures. Penelope is rebuilt here with new bones and an immovable strength, carrying a fierce, modern resonance while still honoring the quiet resilience and devotion of her Homeric origin. Around her, every character we encounter remains deeply tethered to their original mythic roots, yet they are transformed into richer, darker versions of themselves with far more facets to uncover.
Much like Where Darkness Bloomed, this isn't just a story you read; it’s one that ensnares you. It’s built to be felt, devoured, and broken down to its sheer line by line beauty. For any reader who loves to pull out their tabs and highlighters to capture monumental prose and unearth every layer of hidden beauty, this is the mythology retelling you're looking to devour next!
October 6, 2026
Thank you so much again to K.D. Stark to read Lord of Tides early! She has such beautiful writing that really transcends you to a different time and setting in your brain that leaves you wanting more!
I’ve been loving all the Odysseus retellings I’ve been seeing, and I knew I had to jump on this one that was just as good!
Miss Stark brings us a different perspective to Odysseus journey back to Ithaca and the after fall of Troy. This was deeply character-driven that opens up your eyes and brain, really appreciating the story and what these characters have gone through.
Truly beautiful and can’t wait to read more from this author!
I’ve been loving all the Odysseus retellings I’ve been seeing, and I knew I had to jump on this one that was just as good!
Miss Stark brings us a different perspective to Odysseus journey back to Ithaca and the after fall of Troy. This was deeply character-driven that opens up your eyes and brain, really appreciating the story and what these characters have gone through.
Truly beautiful and can’t wait to read more from this author!
Review of advance copy received from Author
*Review Of Advanced Copy Received From Author*
The minute I finished K.D. Stark's first Greek novel, Where Darkness Bloomed, I was counting down for this re-telling of Odysseus, and let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint one bit! The timing of the ARC couldn't have been better as I had just watched Odysseus in theaters, so it was fantastic getting to keep it alive in my mind (especially because I was having withdrawals from the Christopher Nolan film).
All the reasons why I love her writing style were fulfilled as she is simply a word wizard. And those words capture and hold emotions-like fireflies caught in a bottle, dancing on a summer night-such are the emotions she evokes.
What I loved-
-Multiple perspectives, including Telemachus', Penelope's, and the gods.
-Intricate details.
-How Odysseus and Penelope met
-Odysseus and Penelope's love story (and oh the yearning).
-Telemachus' and Hylla's back story.
-The descriptions: both brutal and beautiful.
Do yourself a big favor and read both of her Greek mythology novels! You will be blown away!
The minute I finished K.D. Stark's first Greek novel, Where Darkness Bloomed, I was counting down for this re-telling of Odysseus, and let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint one bit! The timing of the ARC couldn't have been better as I had just watched Odysseus in theaters, so it was fantastic getting to keep it alive in my mind (especially because I was having withdrawals from the Christopher Nolan film).
All the reasons why I love her writing style were fulfilled as she is simply a word wizard. And those words capture and hold emotions-like fireflies caught in a bottle, dancing on a summer night-such are the emotions she evokes.
What I loved-
-Multiple perspectives, including Telemachus', Penelope's, and the gods.
-Intricate details.
-How Odysseus and Penelope met
-Odysseus and Penelope's love story (and oh the yearning).
-Telemachus' and Hylla's back story.
-The descriptions: both brutal and beautiful.
Do yourself a big favor and read both of her Greek mythology novels! You will be blown away!
September 5, 2026
I received this ARC of Lord of Tides from the author.
Let me just start by saying, I could read a retelling of the Odyssey over again. I saw the ARC application for this book shortly after I saw Christopher Nolan’s film The Odyssey and I thought “Woo hoo, here we go again!”
This book was a 5 star read for me. The author did a great job of bringing a new perspective to the trials and tribulations of Odysseus as he makes his way back to Ithaca. I loved the poetic prose the author uses and there were some passages that had me tearing up.
This book does an amazing job of giving the reader a chance to know Telemachus and get inside his head a bit. He has a monumental task of protecting his father’s throne and his mother, Penelope. It was sad to know how fast he had to grow up in order to defend Ithaca from the men seeking Penelope’s hand. I loved the character Hylla, Penelope’s ward and Telemachus’s childhood friend. I loved how we could see the evolution of their relationship from playmates to growing up and developing deeper feelings for each other. It gave Telemachus character more depth.
Penelope’s challenge of resisting the men who came to Ithaca seeking her hand was described so well and really let the reader feel the pressure and panic that she felt as the men stayed longer and longer and became more and more zealous in their pursuit.
I really felt the tension mounting when we read how difficult it was for Odysseus to find his way back to Ithaca but met with so many obstacles and curses of the gods. Meanwhile Penelope is fighting for her life and for Ithaca.
The ending was just how the reader would imagine it with Odysseus returning to Ithaca and clearing his hall of these lecherous men. Odysseus is a brutal and ruthless character but I loved the duality of him perpetrating violence but then being so tender and loving with Penelope as well as his pride in Telemachus.
As Odysseus said to Penelope, “I would sooner be known to you than remembered by all the world.”
October 1, 2026
I will forever be here for a Greek mythology retelling, and I especially love when an author can take a story I already know so well and make it feel fresh again. Every retelling of these myths manages to find something different to focus on, and Lord of Tides definitely has its own take on the story of Odysseus.
First of all: MORE 👏🏻PENELOPE 👏🏻IN 👏🏻EVERYTHING👏🏻 PLEASE 👏🏻 I loved the time we got to spend with her and seeing the sheer pressure she was under in Ithaca. Those chapters had me feeling genuinely ANXIOUS at times - watching the suitors become more and more emboldened and seeing the slimy evil of some of them at the front of the pack, while the rest just seemed to blindly follow along like sheep, was so frustrating!!
I also really loved the psychological unravelling of Odysseus. I feel like that side of him can sometimes get lost in the sheer scale of The Odyssey, so getting to see more of the man behind the legend was fascinating. There’s something about a K.D. Stark story that can feel huge and epic while still being so intimate and personal 😍
And then there were the ship/crew chapters… I was FUMING. 😂 So much desperation, difficult choices, greed and consequences, and I was constantly internally screaming at these men 🙄
I loved how much space there was for the gods and the different perspectives too, lots of adaptations have focused on realism and taken the gods away BUT THEY’RE SOME OF MY FAVOURITE BITS and the way all of these familiar characters felt slightly different from the versions I’ve encountered before. That’s probably my favourite thing about Greek mythology retellings, you can read the same story ten times and still find something completely new in it ✨
The writing also has a really atmospheric quality that made Ithaca and Odysseus’ journey feel vivid, and despite knowing roughly where the story was heading, I still found myself completely invested in getting there (second guessing if I was even sure I knew who’d make it to the last pages!!)
I’d dub this a huge, sweeping story that somehow still felt deeply personal, with plenty of Penelope, a fascinating look at Odysseus and just enough rage-inducing suitor behaviour to keep me invested 😂🌊
First of all: MORE 👏🏻PENELOPE 👏🏻IN 👏🏻EVERYTHING👏🏻 PLEASE 👏🏻 I loved the time we got to spend with her and seeing the sheer pressure she was under in Ithaca. Those chapters had me feeling genuinely ANXIOUS at times - watching the suitors become more and more emboldened and seeing the slimy evil of some of them at the front of the pack, while the rest just seemed to blindly follow along like sheep, was so frustrating!!
I also really loved the psychological unravelling of Odysseus. I feel like that side of him can sometimes get lost in the sheer scale of The Odyssey, so getting to see more of the man behind the legend was fascinating. There’s something about a K.D. Stark story that can feel huge and epic while still being so intimate and personal 😍
And then there were the ship/crew chapters… I was FUMING. 😂 So much desperation, difficult choices, greed and consequences, and I was constantly internally screaming at these men 🙄
I loved how much space there was for the gods and the different perspectives too, lots of adaptations have focused on realism and taken the gods away BUT THEY’RE SOME OF MY FAVOURITE BITS and the way all of these familiar characters felt slightly different from the versions I’ve encountered before. That’s probably my favourite thing about Greek mythology retellings, you can read the same story ten times and still find something completely new in it ✨
The writing also has a really atmospheric quality that made Ithaca and Odysseus’ journey feel vivid, and despite knowing roughly where the story was heading, I still found myself completely invested in getting there (second guessing if I was even sure I knew who’d make it to the last pages!!)
I’d dub this a huge, sweeping story that somehow still felt deeply personal, with plenty of Penelope, a fascinating look at Odysseus and just enough rage-inducing suitor behaviour to keep me invested 😂🌊
Review of advance copy received from Author
K.D. Stark is quickly becoming my favorite author especially when I am looking for a beautiful love story and getting my Greek mythology fix. I just finished this and yes!
This was written so beautifully. The love and sheer tenacity between the FMC and MMC is awe inspiring . You can feel how deeply they loved each other and how strong they both were.
I have never actually read the original Odyssey, so I can’t tell you how this compares. But honestly, I’m not sure there is a way to top this.
She has a way of taking these ancient sometimes over told stories and making them feel relatable and fresh. Like these aren’t just old myths we’ve heard a million times before , but real people we can relate to and feel their heartbreak, love, anger and their consequences.
Which that is probably what I love most about her writing. That and that I have to use a dictionary for some of her words to paint the picture she is trying to paint. (Basically not the same words you see over and over to explain and action)
Her first book, Where Darkness Bloomed, has become my favorite Hades and Persephone retelling ever. This series picks up from that and brings characters from it and tells something unrelated.
There is something timeless about the way she writes these stories. Like these are the kinds of books that I could see people still talking about years from now.
Basically! The writing is beautiful, the love is inspiring, the characters…unforgettable. The mythology is rich without feeling like a history lesson. Even get the take from the bad guys and understand why they’re mad. Side note… screw his second in command, like without him…. I digress lol
I think K.D. Stark has created something special with this series, and I will be reading whatever she is reading next. However, now I’m just sitting here wondering how I’m supposed to move on from these characters.
Spicelevel: 🫑
Tropes:
Greek mythology
Arranged/political marriage
War & its aftermath
Gods
Strong FMC
Devotion & loyalty
Retelling with a fresh interpretation of the original myth
This was written so beautifully. The love and sheer tenacity between the FMC and MMC is awe inspiring . You can feel how deeply they loved each other and how strong they both were.
I have never actually read the original Odyssey, so I can’t tell you how this compares. But honestly, I’m not sure there is a way to top this.
She has a way of taking these ancient sometimes over told stories and making them feel relatable and fresh. Like these aren’t just old myths we’ve heard a million times before , but real people we can relate to and feel their heartbreak, love, anger and their consequences.
Which that is probably what I love most about her writing. That and that I have to use a dictionary for some of her words to paint the picture she is trying to paint. (Basically not the same words you see over and over to explain and action)
Her first book, Where Darkness Bloomed, has become my favorite Hades and Persephone retelling ever. This series picks up from that and brings characters from it and tells something unrelated.
There is something timeless about the way she writes these stories. Like these are the kinds of books that I could see people still talking about years from now.
Basically! The writing is beautiful, the love is inspiring, the characters…unforgettable. The mythology is rich without feeling like a history lesson. Even get the take from the bad guys and understand why they’re mad. Side note… screw his second in command, like without him…. I digress lol
I think K.D. Stark has created something special with this series, and I will be reading whatever she is reading next. However, now I’m just sitting here wondering how I’m supposed to move on from these characters.
Spicelevel: 🫑
Tropes:
Greek mythology
Arranged/political marriage
War & its aftermath
Gods
Strong FMC
Devotion & loyalty
Retelling with a fresh interpretation of the original myth
October 6, 2026
Where Darkness Bloomed was my favorite book of 2025, so Lord of Tides was my most anticipated release of 2026.
K.D. Stark did NOT let me down. 🙌
I’ve never watched or read any version of Odysseus’s story. I’ve read enough Greek mythology to know pieces of it, specifically what he endured from the time he left Troy until he finally arrived in Ithaca. What I knew almost nothing about was his wife and son, other than that they existed.
This retelling weaves together multiple perspectives, giving us a fuller picture of what is happening with Odysseus as he tries to make his way home, as well as what is unfolding back in Ithaca with Penelope and Telemachus.
What I felt most deeply was the depth of this beautiful, enduring love. A love that barely had time to develop, yet endures through extreme strain. A love that impresses even Eros.
Penelope does not know if Odysseus lives, but she also has no confirmation that he is dead.
Odysseus only wants to get home to his wife. To his son. He will do anything. Endure anything. His character is incredibly interesting in the contrast between his tenderness for Penelope and the cunning and brutality he is capable of.
There is also a second love story that warmed my heart. I will always love .
K.D. Stark made these characters feel real.
I felt the weight Telemachus carried on his shoulders at such a young age, trying to protect his mother and his father’s throne.
I felt the pain Odysseus experiences in Ogygia.
I felt the strength of Penelope as she resists the horde of men vying for the throne while also trying to keep the peace, wait, and hold onto hope.
This book was incredible. I highly recommend it.
K.D. Stark did NOT let me down. 🙌
I’ve never watched or read any version of Odysseus’s story. I’ve read enough Greek mythology to know pieces of it, specifically what he endured from the time he left Troy until he finally arrived in Ithaca. What I knew almost nothing about was his wife and son, other than that they existed.
This retelling weaves together multiple perspectives, giving us a fuller picture of what is happening with Odysseus as he tries to make his way home, as well as what is unfolding back in Ithaca with Penelope and Telemachus.
What I felt most deeply was the depth of this beautiful, enduring love. A love that barely had time to develop, yet endures through extreme strain. A love that impresses even Eros.
Penelope does not know if Odysseus lives, but she also has no confirmation that he is dead.
Odysseus only wants to get home to his wife. To his son. He will do anything. Endure anything. His character is incredibly interesting in the contrast between his tenderness for Penelope and the cunning and brutality he is capable of.
There is also a second love story that warmed my heart. I will always love .
K.D. Stark made these characters feel real.
I felt the weight Telemachus carried on his shoulders at such a young age, trying to protect his mother and his father’s throne.
I felt the pain Odysseus experiences in Ogygia.
I felt the strength of Penelope as she resists the horde of men vying for the throne while also trying to keep the peace, wait, and hold onto hope.
This book was incredible. I highly recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Okay… Lord of Tides was NOT the Odyssey retelling I expected, and I mean that in the best way.
This book completely pulled me into Odysseus’s journey. I loved how dark and gritty the story felt, especially watching him slowly become changed by everything he’s forced to endure. His journey home isn’t just about surviving monsters, storms, and the wrath of Poseidon—it’s about what all of that survival costs him as a person.
And Penelope?! I absolutely loved getting her side of the story. While Odysseus is fighting to make it home, Penelope is fighting her own battle in Ithaca, trying to protect her kingdom, her son Telemachus, and everything she has left. Her strength really stood out to me.
The characters felt so much more human than the larger-than-life legends you usually associate with these stories. There’s grief, survival, loyalty, power, betrayal, and so much tension woven throughout. I also really loved the darker take on the mythology it gave the story a completely different atmosphere.
And the writing? SO immersive. I could practically feel the stormy seas and the weight of everything these characters were going through.
If you love mythology retellings that take familiar stories and make them darker, more emotional, and character-driven, definitely put this one on your list
I finished this feeling like I had just survived the journey right alongside them—and honestly, I need a minute.
This book completely pulled me into Odysseus’s journey. I loved how dark and gritty the story felt, especially watching him slowly become changed by everything he’s forced to endure. His journey home isn’t just about surviving monsters, storms, and the wrath of Poseidon—it’s about what all of that survival costs him as a person.
And Penelope?! I absolutely loved getting her side of the story. While Odysseus is fighting to make it home, Penelope is fighting her own battle in Ithaca, trying to protect her kingdom, her son Telemachus, and everything she has left. Her strength really stood out to me.
The characters felt so much more human than the larger-than-life legends you usually associate with these stories. There’s grief, survival, loyalty, power, betrayal, and so much tension woven throughout. I also really loved the darker take on the mythology it gave the story a completely different atmosphere.
And the writing? SO immersive. I could practically feel the stormy seas and the weight of everything these characters were going through.
If you love mythology retellings that take familiar stories and make them darker, more emotional, and character-driven, definitely put this one on your list
I finished this feeling like I had just survived the journey right alongside them—and honestly, I need a minute.
October 9, 2026
Gripping.
Starks writing is truly GRIPPING. Yes, we’ve heard the story of Odysseus. Maybe read the different translations, other re-tellings, or watched the latest movie. The story isn’t a new one, but under Starks voice it feels as if the tragedy hits you like it’s the first time. Her version feels way more digestible, more engaging, and so much more emotional. I’ll never get over him trying to get home to Ithaca. The realization of what he’s done, and the suffering he goes through because of it.
Penelope holding his seat. Calanthe, and all the things she’s seen and done. Telemachus trying to fill the shoes of a king. Athena, trying to help Odysseus get home. All of it. Perfection.
And with that,
“Let them say only this, that Odysseus, son of Laertes, looked upon the rise and ruin of kingdoms. That he wandered far and suffered greatly. And that, to the end of his allotted days, he was faithful to his house.”
Thank you SO much K.D for your beautiful story, for the absolutely stunning box you have gifted me, and for a story that lives with me still.
Starks writing is truly GRIPPING. Yes, we’ve heard the story of Odysseus. Maybe read the different translations, other re-tellings, or watched the latest movie. The story isn’t a new one, but under Starks voice it feels as if the tragedy hits you like it’s the first time. Her version feels way more digestible, more engaging, and so much more emotional. I’ll never get over him trying to get home to Ithaca. The realization of what he’s done, and the suffering he goes through because of it.
Penelope holding his seat. Calanthe, and all the things she’s seen and done. Telemachus trying to fill the shoes of a king. Athena, trying to help Odysseus get home. All of it. Perfection.
And with that,
“Let them say only this, that Odysseus, son of Laertes, looked upon the rise and ruin of kingdoms. That he wandered far and suffered greatly. And that, to the end of his allotted days, he was faithful to his house.”
Thank you SO much K.D for your beautiful story, for the absolutely stunning box you have gifted me, and for a story that lives with me still.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author and The Nerd Fam for the gifted book!
K.D. Stark takes the familiar story of The Odyssey and turns it into something completely its own.
I loved the way the story balanced Odysseus’s journey with what was happening back in Ithaca without him. Seeing the consequences of his absence unfold while he is fighting his own battles made the story feel much bigger than a simple retelling. There’s a constant sense of tension building beneath everything, and I wasn’t quite sure where the story was going to take me next.
Odysseus is such an interesting character to follow because this isn't just a story about a man trying to make his way home. It’s about what happens to someone when survival comes at quite an expensive cost. His journey is brutal, and you can feel the weight of everything he experiences changing him along the way.
As for Penelope, I absolutely loved getting more of her perspective. She isn’t just sitting around waiting for her husband to return, she is dealing with her own dangerous circumstances and fighting to protect what is hers. Her strength, intelligence, and determination made her one of my favorite parts of the story.
The writing was so a huge favorite, because it is so unbelievably beautiful. That doesn’t change even with the darker aspects of the story. Absolutely loved this one. Five stars, and I will be thinking about this one for a while!
K.D. Stark takes the familiar story of The Odyssey and turns it into something completely its own.
I loved the way the story balanced Odysseus’s journey with what was happening back in Ithaca without him. Seeing the consequences of his absence unfold while he is fighting his own battles made the story feel much bigger than a simple retelling. There’s a constant sense of tension building beneath everything, and I wasn’t quite sure where the story was going to take me next.
Odysseus is such an interesting character to follow because this isn't just a story about a man trying to make his way home. It’s about what happens to someone when survival comes at quite an expensive cost. His journey is brutal, and you can feel the weight of everything he experiences changing him along the way.
As for Penelope, I absolutely loved getting more of her perspective. She isn’t just sitting around waiting for her husband to return, she is dealing with her own dangerous circumstances and fighting to protect what is hers. Her strength, intelligence, and determination made her one of my favorite parts of the story.
The writing was so a huge favorite, because it is so unbelievably beautiful. That doesn’t change even with the darker aspects of the story. Absolutely loved this one. Five stars, and I will be thinking about this one for a while!
October 3, 2026
“𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙.”
“𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢.”
I absolutely loved this book so much.
I went into this kinda blind, whilst i knew the basics of the story of odysseus and penelope, it’s one of the myths I know the least about and now i’m obsessed - I was literally looking it the myth whilst reading because I was so invested.
Lords of tides is a dark, character driven retelling of the odyssey, from the start I was locked in.
The writing was amazing, so beautiful, atmospheric and poetic. The way K.D Stark weaved the story and the world together was perfect, the multiple pov’s added so much to the story.
Whilst I did enjoy odysseus’ pov of his journey back to his kingdom whilst overcoming all the obstacles to get there, it was penelope’s story that I loved the most. Her strength and resilience to endure the many men seeking her hand, men who turned more violent the longer they stayed, you could feel the pressure she was under and her emotion through the page. I also loved their son’s pov - telemachus. His journey having to go from boy to man in order to defend his fathers throne and protect his mothers aswell as his own connection with Hylla.
This is my first book by K.D Stark, but it won’t be my last, the fact that Where Darkness Bloomed has been on my bookshelf waiting to be read is a crime - it’s now been bumped up my tbr!
If you enjoy Greek Mythology Retelling’s, Homer’s Odyssey then I wholeheartedly recommend you read this.
Thank you so much to the author for the e-arc 🤎
“𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢.”
I absolutely loved this book so much.
I went into this kinda blind, whilst i knew the basics of the story of odysseus and penelope, it’s one of the myths I know the least about and now i’m obsessed - I was literally looking it the myth whilst reading because I was so invested.
Lords of tides is a dark, character driven retelling of the odyssey, from the start I was locked in.
The writing was amazing, so beautiful, atmospheric and poetic. The way K.D Stark weaved the story and the world together was perfect, the multiple pov’s added so much to the story.
Whilst I did enjoy odysseus’ pov of his journey back to his kingdom whilst overcoming all the obstacles to get there, it was penelope’s story that I loved the most. Her strength and resilience to endure the many men seeking her hand, men who turned more violent the longer they stayed, you could feel the pressure she was under and her emotion through the page. I also loved their son’s pov - telemachus. His journey having to go from boy to man in order to defend his fathers throne and protect his mothers aswell as his own connection with Hylla.
This is my first book by K.D Stark, but it won’t be my last, the fact that Where Darkness Bloomed has been on my bookshelf waiting to be read is a crime - it’s now been bumped up my tbr!
If you enjoy Greek Mythology Retelling’s, Homer’s Odyssey then I wholeheartedly recommend you read this.
Thank you so much to the author for the e-arc 🤎
Review of advance copy received from Author
Odysseus is travelling home after the ending of the long drawn out Trojan War. He and his men are weary and desperate to return to the homes they left behind. They encounter a cyclops that they barely escape from, but still lose companions to. Their escape led to the cyclops being blinded and he begged his father, Poseidon to punish them. Poseiden is already greatly displeased with Odysseus from using one of his symbols to trick the Trojans, so when his son is hurt at Odysseus hands, Poseidon is ready to punish Odysseus and his crew.
Trying to outrun Poseidon's rage, Odysseus encounters the floating island of the wind god, Aeolus. He asks Aeolus for aid in their journey home and he receives it. He is given a container of wind and as long as it remains closed, their ships will have winds to sail home with. Odysseus's men begin grumbling that treasure is being hid from them, and the grumbling are fed by Odysseus's second-in-commang, Eurylochus. The tensions between Odysseus and crew climb higher and higher as his motives are questioned more and more.
This book was so beautiful and raw. I was so excited for a retelling of the Odyssey from this author after reading Where Darkness Bloomed. It absolutely did not disappoint, she did this story justice. This book is an epic in its own right. It was a harrowing journey, as one would expect, full of very raw emotions. I absolutely loved this retelling. I am going to have to sit with this one for a while to fully process the emotions it invoked in me.
Thank you to author K.D. Stark for the gifted eARC.
Trying to outrun Poseidon's rage, Odysseus encounters the floating island of the wind god, Aeolus. He asks Aeolus for aid in their journey home and he receives it. He is given a container of wind and as long as it remains closed, their ships will have winds to sail home with. Odysseus's men begin grumbling that treasure is being hid from them, and the grumbling are fed by Odysseus's second-in-commang, Eurylochus. The tensions between Odysseus and crew climb higher and higher as his motives are questioned more and more.
This book was so beautiful and raw. I was so excited for a retelling of the Odyssey from this author after reading Where Darkness Bloomed. It absolutely did not disappoint, she did this story justice. This book is an epic in its own right. It was a harrowing journey, as one would expect, full of very raw emotions. I absolutely loved this retelling. I am going to have to sit with this one for a while to fully process the emotions it invoked in me.
Thank you to author K.D. Stark for the gifted eARC.
Review of advance copy
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and K.D. Stark for this gifted book.
As a huge Greek mythology fan, I was so excited to receive this ARC. The Odyssey is one of those classics I’ve always been a bit too intimidated to tackle, but I know the story through other retellings, most recently with Circe, so I was really looking forward to seeing what this book would do with it. And this absolutely did the story justice.
What I loved most was how much of the book centred on Penelope and the women left behind in Ithaca. Their suffering can so easily become secondary to the battles, monsters and adventures of Odysseus and the other men, but Penelope was left waiting for twenty years while trying to protect her home and her husband’s throne. For years, more than one hundred men refused to take no for an answer, remaining in Ithaca while consuming its food and wine and abusing its women. Eventually, they decided that Penelope must be forced to choose a new husband because they could not accept a woman ruling, even though she had been doing exactly that for twenty years.
I also loved seeing Odysseus’ journey from a different perspective, particularly through the glimpses we get of Athena and the other gods. Even though I know the story, I still felt the tension at every turn. I especially appreciated that the author took their time with Odysseus’ eventual return to Ithaca and its aftermath rather than rushing towards the ending.
Such a beautifully written and heartfelt take on a greek mythological classic.
As a huge Greek mythology fan, I was so excited to receive this ARC. The Odyssey is one of those classics I’ve always been a bit too intimidated to tackle, but I know the story through other retellings, most recently with Circe, so I was really looking forward to seeing what this book would do with it. And this absolutely did the story justice.
What I loved most was how much of the book centred on Penelope and the women left behind in Ithaca. Their suffering can so easily become secondary to the battles, monsters and adventures of Odysseus and the other men, but Penelope was left waiting for twenty years while trying to protect her home and her husband’s throne. For years, more than one hundred men refused to take no for an answer, remaining in Ithaca while consuming its food and wine and abusing its women. Eventually, they decided that Penelope must be forced to choose a new husband because they could not accept a woman ruling, even though she had been doing exactly that for twenty years.
I also loved seeing Odysseus’ journey from a different perspective, particularly through the glimpses we get of Athena and the other gods. Even though I know the story, I still felt the tension at every turn. I especially appreciated that the author took their time with Odysseus’ eventual return to Ithaca and its aftermath rather than rushing towards the ending.
Such a beautifully written and heartfelt take on a greek mythological classic.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🌊THANK YOU FOR THE ARC READ K.D. STARK!!! 🌊The author has done it again. I was drawn into this story like I was with Where Darkness Bloomed like a moth to a flame. It swept me up in the story of Odysseus and his journey back home to his Penelope, but added the rich descriptive story of what went on with each characters journey in the years leading up to his arrival.
We know the story of Odysseus so well but we don’t know what he felt, what he succumbed to and that we may have never made it if not for this desire for home. His son, wife and his house suffered just as he did but just differently when the rats came sniffing for a throne they had no right to.
I loved the story telling of the brutality of what happened not just to the men but the women too. How much they had to go through even the ones that chose a side that might leave them dead in the end.
The way K.D. Stark writes her characters is so enticing and moving and so raw that I was on the edge of my seat waiting for some other shoe to drop that would turn this story in its head.
The villains of this story were the ugly sides of men and even the Gods grew tired of them, ready to strike. The Gods involvement in this journey was also a fresh take for they feel more human as they grieve what happened to Troy and what decisions they can make that won’t bring another kingdom into ash.
I can’t wait for book three!!
We know the story of Odysseus so well but we don’t know what he felt, what he succumbed to and that we may have never made it if not for this desire for home. His son, wife and his house suffered just as he did but just differently when the rats came sniffing for a throne they had no right to.
I loved the story telling of the brutality of what happened not just to the men but the women too. How much they had to go through even the ones that chose a side that might leave them dead in the end.
The way K.D. Stark writes her characters is so enticing and moving and so raw that I was on the edge of my seat waiting for some other shoe to drop that would turn this story in its head.
The villains of this story were the ugly sides of men and even the Gods grew tired of them, ready to strike. The Gods involvement in this journey was also a fresh take for they feel more human as they grieve what happened to Troy and what decisions they can make that won’t bring another kingdom into ash.
I can’t wait for book three!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This retelling took a story I enjoy but could never get through reading, and kept me engrossed the entire time. Even though I knew what was coming, I wanted to keep reading. I really appreciate how much detail the author put into the characters and their surroundings. When I read, I picture everything happening in my head, and this was one of those books where I could basically watch the entire story play out as I was reading it. I felt like I was back in Ancient Greece.
I loved how you could actually feel what the characters were going through. Penelope and Hylla’s stories really showed the difference between what women had to deal with compared to the freedoms men had at the time. One of my absolute favorite parts was getting chapters from the POV of the gods and goddesses too, rather than only following the humans. I loved seeing their relationships, arguments, and involvement in everything happening below them.
Overall, this was exactly the kind of Greek mythology retelling I’ve been wanting to read. It gave me a story I already loved while making it feel like I was actually experiencing it for the first time.
I loved how you could actually feel what the characters were going through. Penelope and Hylla’s stories really showed the difference between what women had to deal with compared to the freedoms men had at the time. One of my absolute favorite parts was getting chapters from the POV of the gods and goddesses too, rather than only following the humans. I loved seeing their relationships, arguments, and involvement in everything happening below them.
Overall, this was exactly the kind of Greek mythology retelling I’ve been wanting to read. It gave me a story I already loved while making it feel like I was actually experiencing it for the first time.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⚓️ ARC REVIEW 🌊
I really liked this book and enjoyed K. D.’s writing style! It was a lot of fun. If you enjoyed watching “The Odyssey” you will enjoy this! I really liked what she did with this epic story. 🫶🏼
A few of my favorite quotes…
✨ “We gods are ancient by your measure, yet still I marvel at your ignorance. So little time granted to you, yet you pour it out for things that vanish like smoke.” “But Troy’s fall revealed what even wisdom could not foresee—The savagery of men.” “You are not the first to command my silence, nor will you be the last. But truth bends to neither king nor god.”
🔥 “Innocent? There is no man alive who wears that title.” “Circe’s fury had created a beast, but not all monsters wore scales and gnashed teeth. Some were shaped as men willing to abandon honor in favor of necessity, committing terrible deeds in its name.” “To wolves, and to the women who skin them.” “King though you may be, she is the cliff that held against the sea.”
🩵 “Caution is not a weakness. It takes strength to bear insult and not rush to meet it. To swallow your wrath and wait.” “I was lost. From the gods and the stars. From my men and even myself. But never from you” “No matter what was taken or given…Even if the sea claimed your name…I would know you still.”
I really liked this book and enjoyed K. D.’s writing style! It was a lot of fun. If you enjoyed watching “The Odyssey” you will enjoy this! I really liked what she did with this epic story. 🫶🏼
A few of my favorite quotes…
✨ “We gods are ancient by your measure, yet still I marvel at your ignorance. So little time granted to you, yet you pour it out for things that vanish like smoke.” “But Troy’s fall revealed what even wisdom could not foresee—The savagery of men.” “You are not the first to command my silence, nor will you be the last. But truth bends to neither king nor god.”
🔥 “Innocent? There is no man alive who wears that title.” “Circe’s fury had created a beast, but not all monsters wore scales and gnashed teeth. Some were shaped as men willing to abandon honor in favor of necessity, committing terrible deeds in its name.” “To wolves, and to the women who skin them.” “King though you may be, she is the cliff that held against the sea.”
🩵 “Caution is not a weakness. It takes strength to bear insult and not rush to meet it. To swallow your wrath and wait.” “I was lost. From the gods and the stars. From my men and even myself. But never from you” “No matter what was taken or given…Even if the sea claimed your name…I would know you still.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
I dont know much about mythology, but ai do know rhis was an incredible retelling. It was written so beautifully. The characters were complex but that just added to the story. And this book had so much dept and layered to it. I really wnjpyed thos, so thank you so much for letting me and review it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
And with that, K.D. Stark just cemented herself in the halls of my autobuy authors HOLY WOW. Stark writes dread, yearning, and flawed characters with absolute mastery. This was actually my first experience with the Odyssey in any format and I LOVED it.
Each pov was engaging, the characters all dynamic, and Stark’s prose had me swept up from page one.
Absolutely recommend and can’t wait to read more from her!
Each pov was engaging, the characters all dynamic, and Stark’s prose had me swept up from page one.
Absolutely recommend and can’t wait to read more from her!
October 10, 2026
I absolutely adored this book! I went looking for it after coming across the author on Instagram and I am so glad I did! It is beautifully written and I ended up awake past midnight finishing it without even realising it. I would fully recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Greek myths, the Odyssey or just a really good book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beautiful. Lyrical. Truly a masterpiece.
From my love of Where Darkness Bloomed, I know going into Lord of Tides, I would love it.
The story of the Odyssey is a tale as old as time but the new life that KD Stark breathed into it was unreal.
She has mastered the art of multi POV and given us glimpses into so many characters in the story.
Odysseus and his journey was set from page one where you were thrown into action and it never stopped.
Reading along with Penelope was heartbreaking and terrifying. Even knowing how this story ends, my heart was racing and breaking for her.
Their love story is the one to sought after. One that never dies. Never forgets. And always finds its way home.
Thank you for this beautiful retelling and I cannot wait for what’s next.
From my love of Where Darkness Bloomed, I know going into Lord of Tides, I would love it.
The story of the Odyssey is a tale as old as time but the new life that KD Stark breathed into it was unreal.
She has mastered the art of multi POV and given us glimpses into so many characters in the story.
Odysseus and his journey was set from page one where you were thrown into action and it never stopped.
Reading along with Penelope was heartbreaking and terrifying. Even knowing how this story ends, my heart was racing and breaking for her.
Their love story is the one to sought after. One that never dies. Never forgets. And always finds its way home.
Thank you for this beautiful retelling and I cannot wait for what’s next.
October 6, 2026
An exquisitely written retelling of The Odyssey! What an incredible job by K.D. Stark to really do this iconic story justice. The prose feels both classically lyrical but updated to feel like a modern fantasy epic, I loved it!
I’m someone who has not (that I can remember) read any of the different translations that are out and people like to debate which is the best and most accurate. The most recent exposure to the story being the Christopher Nolan film. If you are interested in the story of Odysseus or Greek mythology at all, then I implore you to read this book! It is such a great book and I highly recommend!
I’m someone who has not (that I can remember) read any of the different translations that are out and people like to debate which is the best and most accurate. The most recent exposure to the story being the Christopher Nolan film. If you are interested in the story of Odysseus or Greek mythology at all, then I implore you to read this book! It is such a great book and I highly recommend!
October 6, 2026
If I hadn’t know that The Odyssey was already a book and that this was a retelling…I would have sworn this was an original story.
From the moment I opened this e-ARC, to the final page, I was absolutely gripped by the story. I felt like I was being tossed by the sea right alongside Odysseus. Feeling the absolute loss and hopelessness.
This book was absolute perfection and I have no notes. If you love Greek mythology- this is a MUST read.
Favorite Quotes:
“To the Wolves, and to the women who skin them.”
“I was lost. From the gods and the stars. From my men and even myself. But never from you.”
From the moment I opened this e-ARC, to the final page, I was absolutely gripped by the story. I felt like I was being tossed by the sea right alongside Odysseus. Feeling the absolute loss and hopelessness.
This book was absolute perfection and I have no notes. If you love Greek mythology- this is a MUST read.
Favorite Quotes:
“To the Wolves, and to the women who skin them.”
“I was lost. From the gods and the stars. From my men and even myself. But never from you.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely LOVED this book so much. Earlier this year I read Where Darkness Bloomed by K.D. Stark, book one in this series about the Iliad and Hades and Persephone. When I learned that the story of The Odyssey was coming next, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.
K.D. Stark’s got phenomenal lyrical prose that I eat right up, but she also tells a seriously good story. I am a huge fan of Greek mythology and retellings and this was just incredible. I love the attention to detail, but I also love that she has given voices to characters that are sometimes secondary to Odysseus’ story. This book felt like an ode to Penelope- her story is just as important as Odysseus’s and I loved seeing her perspective. I loved how the bond between them was written as well.
Telemachus was another aspect of this book that I really loved getting to see in this way. I was moved and even shed tears. I already know this is a book I will read again. I took longer than I needed to finish the book because I just didn’t want it to end. I cannot recommend this enough, especially if you love The Odyssey, but even if you know nothing about it, the writing is so good that you will not regret reading this. I was so privileged to receive an ARC, but this review would be exactly the same if I had read it after publication. Absolutely no notes from me.
P.S. I literally squealed at the epilogue- you will find me anxiously awaiting the next book to come as well!
K.D. Stark’s got phenomenal lyrical prose that I eat right up, but she also tells a seriously good story. I am a huge fan of Greek mythology and retellings and this was just incredible. I love the attention to detail, but I also love that she has given voices to characters that are sometimes secondary to Odysseus’ story. This book felt like an ode to Penelope- her story is just as important as Odysseus’s and I loved seeing her perspective. I loved how the bond between them was written as well.
Telemachus was another aspect of this book that I really loved getting to see in this way. I was moved and even shed tears. I already know this is a book I will read again. I took longer than I needed to finish the book because I just didn’t want it to end. I cannot recommend this enough, especially if you love The Odyssey, but even if you know nothing about it, the writing is so good that you will not regret reading this. I was so privileged to receive an ARC, but this review would be exactly the same if I had read it after publication. Absolutely no notes from me.
P.S. I literally squealed at the epilogue- you will find me anxiously awaiting the next book to come as well!
September 21, 2026
thank you so much to k.d. stark for providing this ARC!
this was absolutely wonderful. i am just in awe of the way k.d stark writes. such beautifully immersive and captivating prose, i really felt like i was there with these characters and experiencing all their emotions. her way with words is just truly unmatched.
i absolutely adored this author’s previous book, so going into this one i had a pretty good feeling i was going to love it—and love it i did!!
this was gorgeous from start to finish. so intricate and well thought out. just like with where darkness bloomed, everything about this felt intentional. every word, chapter, pov—everything was there for a reason. the author did an incredible job of making you feel immersed in the story all throughout the book. the storytelling was absolutely magical.
i also love the different pov’s we get throughout the story—this mixed with the shorter chapters made the reading experience interesting and captivating the whole way through.
this definitely confirmed k.d stark as an auto-buy author for me, and i cannot wait to see what she writes next!
highly highly recommend this (and k.d stark in general) if you like a greek mythology inspired book!
this was absolutely wonderful. i am just in awe of the way k.d stark writes. such beautifully immersive and captivating prose, i really felt like i was there with these characters and experiencing all their emotions. her way with words is just truly unmatched.
i absolutely adored this author’s previous book, so going into this one i had a pretty good feeling i was going to love it—and love it i did!!
this was gorgeous from start to finish. so intricate and well thought out. just like with where darkness bloomed, everything about this felt intentional. every word, chapter, pov—everything was there for a reason. the author did an incredible job of making you feel immersed in the story all throughout the book. the storytelling was absolutely magical.
i also love the different pov’s we get throughout the story—this mixed with the shorter chapters made the reading experience interesting and captivating the whole way through.
this definitely confirmed k.d stark as an auto-buy author for me, and i cannot wait to see what she writes next!
highly highly recommend this (and k.d stark in general) if you like a greek mythology inspired book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Six. Stars. No hesitation.
Tackling a literary behemoth such as The Odyssey is hard. Giving it a new narrative voice and providing it more depth, emotion, and nuance than ever before sounds almost impossible. Almost. Stark has done the impossible and made one of my favorite stories, our oldest surviving story, even better. As someone who studied ancient literature, this is THE RETELLING we’ve been looking for.
Tackling a literary behemoth such as The Odyssey is hard. Giving it a new narrative voice and providing it more depth, emotion, and nuance than ever before sounds almost impossible. Almost. Stark has done the impossible and made one of my favorite stories, our oldest surviving story, even better. As someone who studied ancient literature, this is THE RETELLING we’ve been looking for.
October 7, 2026
A beautiful, immersive world with characters that felt more human than ever. Usually the characters feel like the gods that they are or end up to be. They feel like the hero’s or villains that they are suppose to portray. This really brought the inner struggle to life.
October 4, 2026
K.D. Stark does it again! With prose rivaling Madeline Miller, she navigates the sweeping epic of The Odyssey adding a level of depth and emotional impact that is unmatched. Not only does this retelling elevate the source material, but in an age of gods and monsters, it highlights humanity’s perseverance, fragility, and beauty in a way only Stark can. Don’t skip out on this one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ahhhhhhhhhh! You just KNOW a book is going to be enjoyed when the very first lines capture you. 😭❤️
I genuinely enjoyed this adventure! I screamed, gasped, held my breath, and was completely caught up in the suspense. The twists, the tension, EVERYTHING was amazing. 👏🤩🙌
I honestly didn’t want it to end. I could have stayed in this story for so much longer! 🥹❤️
I genuinely enjoyed this adventure! I screamed, gasped, held my breath, and was completely caught up in the suspense. The twists, the tension, EVERYTHING was amazing. 👏🤩🙌
I honestly didn’t want it to end. I could have stayed in this story for so much longer! 🥹❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Y’all… K. D. Stark made me fall in love with a story I’ve spent YEARS avoiding. 😭
Can I be honest with you? I have never been a fan of the story of Odysseus. I was introduced to it far too young, and that experience turned me off from it for years. But I promised myself I would go into Lord of Tides with an open mind and a willing spirit.
And my goodness, am I glad I did.
K. D. Stark is a wordsmith. A word wizard. The way this woman strings sentences together is absolutely gorgeous. Her prose is so beautiful and mature, but more than anything, she made a story I had shied away from for years feel fresh, accessible, and so gripping. Something I wasn't entirely convinced was possible for me.
I particularly loved the flashbacks to when Odysseus and Penelope first met. Getting to experience those early moments between them was such a beautiful layer to their story
My first experience with Stark's writing was her debut, Where Darkness Bloomed, a book that has stayed with me for over a year. And now, here she is again, reminding me exactly why I fell in love with her writing in the first place.
What a beautiful, gorgeous way to revisit the story of Odysseus. I went into this book hoping to appreciate a story I'd never connected with, and I came out of it completely captivated.
I already know this one is going to stay with me just like her first book did.
Can I be honest with you? I have never been a fan of the story of Odysseus. I was introduced to it far too young, and that experience turned me off from it for years. But I promised myself I would go into Lord of Tides with an open mind and a willing spirit.
And my goodness, am I glad I did.
K. D. Stark is a wordsmith. A word wizard. The way this woman strings sentences together is absolutely gorgeous. Her prose is so beautiful and mature, but more than anything, she made a story I had shied away from for years feel fresh, accessible, and so gripping. Something I wasn't entirely convinced was possible for me.
I particularly loved the flashbacks to when Odysseus and Penelope first met. Getting to experience those early moments between them was such a beautiful layer to their story
My first experience with Stark's writing was her debut, Where Darkness Bloomed, a book that has stayed with me for over a year. And now, here she is again, reminding me exactly why I fell in love with her writing in the first place.
What a beautiful, gorgeous way to revisit the story of Odysseus. I went into this book hoping to appreciate a story I'd never connected with, and I came out of it completely captivated.
I already know this one is going to stay with me just like her first book did.
September 13, 2026
We’re dropped right into the cave of the Cyclops at the start, and from there, I was completely swept into this retelling of The Odyssey.
I loved experiencing both sides of this world, gods and humans. The gods interfered freely, often treating humans like puppets, only to be surprised by their nature. And for all their power, the gods were just as vain and wrathful.
I loved the courting of Odysseus and Penelope in this retelling. Their quickly growing infatuation and love for one another felt so beautifully sweet and genuine. Odysseus treated Penelope with such respect and adoration, and it made it easy to sympathize and appreciate Penelope’s headstrong determination to keep hope alive that Odysseus would return.
𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅. 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆, 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒍 𝒈𝒐𝒅𝒔. 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒆𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒕. 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒕𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇.
One of my single favorite scenes was Odysseus seeking Achilles in the Underworld. Their conversation felt especially important, and Stark did such a beautiful job conveying the torment Odysseus carries from the deception that helped win the war in Troy, but came at the cost of so much bloodshed. His guilt and inner conflict felt incredibly tangible.
Of course, I loved Stark’s version of Odysseus’ return to Ithaca and the reclaiming of his home. It was wrathful, bloody, and exactly the kind of homecoming I wanted for him.
“𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝑰𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒂.” 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒓𝒐𝒏. “𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒅.”
And the writing. Absolutely beautiful and poetic. I’m genuinely impressed by Stark’s ability to retell such an ancient myth in a style that feels both classic and completely readable. It has the weight and beauty of an old tale without ever feeling inaccessible.
I loved experiencing both sides of this world, gods and humans. The gods interfered freely, often treating humans like puppets, only to be surprised by their nature. And for all their power, the gods were just as vain and wrathful.
I loved the courting of Odysseus and Penelope in this retelling. Their quickly growing infatuation and love for one another felt so beautifully sweet and genuine. Odysseus treated Penelope with such respect and adoration, and it made it easy to sympathize and appreciate Penelope’s headstrong determination to keep hope alive that Odysseus would return.
𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅. 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆, 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒍 𝒈𝒐𝒅𝒔. 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒆𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒕. 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒕𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇.
One of my single favorite scenes was Odysseus seeking Achilles in the Underworld. Their conversation felt especially important, and Stark did such a beautiful job conveying the torment Odysseus carries from the deception that helped win the war in Troy, but came at the cost of so much bloodshed. His guilt and inner conflict felt incredibly tangible.
Of course, I loved Stark’s version of Odysseus’ return to Ithaca and the reclaiming of his home. It was wrathful, bloody, and exactly the kind of homecoming I wanted for him.
“𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝑰𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒂.” 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒓𝒐𝒏. “𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒅.”
And the writing. Absolutely beautiful and poetic. I’m genuinely impressed by Stark’s ability to retell such an ancient myth in a style that feels both classic and completely readable. It has the weight and beauty of an old tale without ever feeling inaccessible.
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