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Penelope's Daughter
The award-winning author of The Four Seasons retells The Odyssey from the point of view of Odysseus and Penelope's daughter.
With her father Odysseus gone for twenty years, Xanthe barricades herself in her royal chambers to escape the rapacious suitors who would abduct her to gain the throne. Xanthe turns to her loom to weave the adventures of her life, from her upbringing among servants and slaves, to the years spent in hiding with her mother's cousin, Helen of Troy, to the passion of her sexual awakening in the arms of the man she loves.
And when a stranger dressed as a beggar appears at the palace, Xanthe wonders who will be the one to decide her future-a suitor she loathes, a brother she cannot respect, or a father who doesn't know she exists...
With her father Odysseus gone for twenty years, Xanthe barricades herself in her royal chambers to escape the rapacious suitors who would abduct her to gain the throne. Xanthe turns to her loom to weave the adventures of her life, from her upbringing among servants and slaves, to the years spent in hiding with her mother's cousin, Helen of Troy, to the passion of her sexual awakening in the arms of the man she loves.
And when a stranger dressed as a beggar appears at the palace, Xanthe wonders who will be the one to decide her future-a suitor she loathes, a brother she cannot respect, or a father who doesn't know she exists...
358 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2010
19 people are currently reading
2231 people want to read
About the author
Laurel Corona
32 books136 followersI have loved reading and writing ever since my older sister came home from first grade to teach me what she had learned that day. My first publications were in the Oakland Tribune in a weekly section for children called "Aunt Elsie's Page," and a newspaper I put out for my family which featured reviews of what I was reading and news about what was happening in the lives of my dolls.
I was lucky enough to have parents who encouraged me from the beginning, and who showed their support by giving up much of what they must have wanted for themselves so my sister and I could get the best possible education. As a result, by the time I graduated from The Bishop's School in 1967 and enrolled as an English major at the University of California at Davis, I had come to appreciate that good writing is extraordinarily difficult but well worth the effort. I couldn't believe I could get a degree by devouring novels and poetry in bed in my pajamas, and writing papers on ideas that burned in me as I read, but it turned out to be largely true. Graduate school at the University of Chicago (MA 1972) and again at Davis (Ph.D, 1982) followed.
Professionally, early in my career I was both an instructor and an administrator of academic support programs at San Diego State University and the University of California at San Diego. I came to San Diego City College in 1990, first as a dean and then as a full-time professor of English and Humanities. I also freelanced in the 1990s, writing approximately 20 Young Adult titles for Lucent Books.
Lately, i have been enjoying the opportunity to serve as an enrichment lecturer on Silversea Cruises, and in my spare time, I am an avid tennis player, novice golfer, voracious reader, and a pretty good chef.
I was lucky enough to have parents who encouraged me from the beginning, and who showed their support by giving up much of what they must have wanted for themselves so my sister and I could get the best possible education. As a result, by the time I graduated from The Bishop's School in 1967 and enrolled as an English major at the University of California at Davis, I had come to appreciate that good writing is extraordinarily difficult but well worth the effort. I couldn't believe I could get a degree by devouring novels and poetry in bed in my pajamas, and writing papers on ideas that burned in me as I read, but it turned out to be largely true. Graduate school at the University of Chicago (MA 1972) and again at Davis (Ph.D, 1982) followed.
Professionally, early in my career I was both an instructor and an administrator of academic support programs at San Diego State University and the University of California at San Diego. I came to San Diego City College in 1990, first as a dean and then as a full-time professor of English and Humanities. I also freelanced in the 1990s, writing approximately 20 Young Adult titles for Lucent Books.
Lately, i have been enjoying the opportunity to serve as an enrichment lecturer on Silversea Cruises, and in my spare time, I am an avid tennis player, novice golfer, voracious reader, and a pretty good chef.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
October 7, 2010
Penelope’s Daughter , written by Laurel Corona, takes Homer’s The Odyssey and flips it on its head…focusing instead on what happened to his wife Penelope, daughter Xanthe and son Telemachus during his absence, as narrated to the readers by Xanthe while she weaves the story of her life on her loom.
Most of us know of Homer’s The Odyssey from required reading in school, but I have to admit that I don’t remember very much of the experience. I can say now that if it was as entertaining as Penelope’s Daughter I might have paid a lot more attention! It just took a few pages and I was caught up in Xanthe’s world with Corona’s entrancing style of writing and exquisite descriptions.
My most favorite part was how the author began each chapter with Xanthe at the loom describing the colors she would use to represent a person, event or place that had meaning to her.
On her brother, Telemachus: “He is woven in green, with little tufted knots of white, like the olive in bloom where we used to play when I was six and he was eight years old.”
On her life in Sparta: “I took a charred ember from the fire and, going to the hidden side of my weaving I darkened what I had woven about Sparta until it was caked in black. Sometimes from the front of the loom I stare where I know the black is hiding, imagining little holes burning through the cloth. We think we can control the story we present to the world, but the truth always lies in the background, awaiting its chance to illuminate and scar.”
This was my first read by Laurel Corona, but you can be bet I will be back for more! Penelope’s Daughter was one phenomenal book and I highly recommend it!
Most of us know of Homer’s The Odyssey from required reading in school, but I have to admit that I don’t remember very much of the experience. I can say now that if it was as entertaining as Penelope’s Daughter I might have paid a lot more attention! It just took a few pages and I was caught up in Xanthe’s world with Corona’s entrancing style of writing and exquisite descriptions.
My most favorite part was how the author began each chapter with Xanthe at the loom describing the colors she would use to represent a person, event or place that had meaning to her.
On her brother, Telemachus: “He is woven in green, with little tufted knots of white, like the olive in bloom where we used to play when I was six and he was eight years old.”
On her life in Sparta: “I took a charred ember from the fire and, going to the hidden side of my weaving I darkened what I had woven about Sparta until it was caked in black. Sometimes from the front of the loom I stare where I know the black is hiding, imagining little holes burning through the cloth. We think we can control the story we present to the world, but the truth always lies in the background, awaiting its chance to illuminate and scar.”
This was my first read by Laurel Corona, but you can be bet I will be back for more! Penelope’s Daughter was one phenomenal book and I highly recommend it!
July 7, 2019
If you are a fan of The Odyssey or a fan of Greek mythology, this is a book that should certainly not be missed. You will not be disappointed by the tale that unfolds and will be completely sucked into the story.
April 30, 2015
Meh, I yield. It's not a terrible book -- but I don't care about the characters, the narrator's voice is bland, & the style is too episodic for my taste. The writing is pretty smooth (too smooth, perhaps?) & grammatically it's okay, so there's that much. Some of the descriptions are nice & there are a few pretty turns of phrase. But overall, nope. I'm not connecting with it.
Since I'm not very familiar with The Odyssey, I can't comment on how well it ties to the original epic. But this much I'm sure of: Penelope sparked my interest more than her fictional daughter. We see nothing of Penelope other than what Xanthe mentions in her narration, but she has a more dramatic personality & her situation is more intriguing (IMO). I'd rather the author had focused on her instead.
Since I'm not very familiar with The Odyssey, I can't comment on how well it ties to the original epic. But this much I'm sure of: Penelope sparked my interest more than her fictional daughter. We see nothing of Penelope other than what Xanthe mentions in her narration, but she has a more dramatic personality & her situation is more intriguing (IMO). I'd rather the author had focused on her instead.
November 17, 2016
Penelope's Daughter by Laurel Corona tells the story of Xanthe, the ostensible daughter of Penelope and Odysseus, conceived before Odysseus left for Troy. Xanthe grows up in Ithaca until her mother decides to scuttle her off to Sparta for her own protection. Penelope orchestrates Xanthe’s supposed death and burial. Disguised as a young boy, Xanthe travels to Sparta under the care of Mentor. Once there, she comes under the tutelage of Helen of Troy who embraces her as a companion and daughter. Xanthe spends several years with Helen until Telemachus is sent to escort her back to Ithaca where she witnesses the return of Odysseus and his revenge against the suitors and the women servants who betrayed him. The novel ends with Xanthe’s betrothal to the love of her life, Peisistratus, the youngest son of Nestor.
Since I love reading and writing about myths and the re-tellings of myths, I was looking forward to reading Penelope's Daughter. I wasn’t disappointed. It was an engaging novel with some interesting elements.
Each chapter begins with Xanthe’s description of the fabric she weaves, explaining how each thread, pattern, and colors represent specific events, people, and phases of her life. Since weaving was the pre-eminent occupation for women at that time, the continuous references to weaving were interesting and convincing for the time period.
Another strength of the novel was its focus on women: their daily lives, their friendships, their rituals, their activities, and their support of each other. It was refreshing to hear women’s voices and to see the world through their eyes as they carved a niche for themselves within the confines of a male dominated society.
Reference to events and characters from Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey were skillfully woven throughout the narrative. These popped up at unexpected places, with the men behaving in ways true to their characterization in the original epic poems. But for the most part, men and their activities were treated as nuisances and interruptions from the all important focus of women and their activities.
The only issue I have with the novel is with the characterization of Xanthe. She came across as insipid and dull, an uninteresting character more acted upon than acting. Granted, she lives in a heavily patriarchal society with little space to maneuver. However, both Penelope and Helen live in the same society and yet they are far more interesting and emerge as active, vibrant agents with no shortage of cunning up their sleeves. Penelope dupes the suitors by scuttling her daughter out of Ithaca right under their noses. And Helen has her own bag of tricks to navigate the events to her desired outcome. Even Hermione, the daughter of Helen and Menelaus, actively tries to change or forestall events, regardless of how misguided her actions or motives are. But Xanthe is a wallflower relying heavily on others to navigate the situation for her.
Other than the shortcomings of Xanthe’s characterization, Penelope's Daughter is a well-researched and engaging read. With its description of rituals, the intricacies of weaving, the intermittent appearances of characters familiar to readers of the Odyssey, and its unflinching focus on the lives and activities of women, it will appeal to readers interested in breathing life into mythology, especially since it gives voice to those denied it in the original myths.
Recommended, especially for readers who love mythology and enjoy the re-tellings of ancient stories.
Since I love reading and writing about myths and the re-tellings of myths, I was looking forward to reading Penelope's Daughter. I wasn’t disappointed. It was an engaging novel with some interesting elements.
Each chapter begins with Xanthe’s description of the fabric she weaves, explaining how each thread, pattern, and colors represent specific events, people, and phases of her life. Since weaving was the pre-eminent occupation for women at that time, the continuous references to weaving were interesting and convincing for the time period.
Another strength of the novel was its focus on women: their daily lives, their friendships, their rituals, their activities, and their support of each other. It was refreshing to hear women’s voices and to see the world through their eyes as they carved a niche for themselves within the confines of a male dominated society.
Reference to events and characters from Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey were skillfully woven throughout the narrative. These popped up at unexpected places, with the men behaving in ways true to their characterization in the original epic poems. But for the most part, men and their activities were treated as nuisances and interruptions from the all important focus of women and their activities.
The only issue I have with the novel is with the characterization of Xanthe. She came across as insipid and dull, an uninteresting character more acted upon than acting. Granted, she lives in a heavily patriarchal society with little space to maneuver. However, both Penelope and Helen live in the same society and yet they are far more interesting and emerge as active, vibrant agents with no shortage of cunning up their sleeves. Penelope dupes the suitors by scuttling her daughter out of Ithaca right under their noses. And Helen has her own bag of tricks to navigate the events to her desired outcome. Even Hermione, the daughter of Helen and Menelaus, actively tries to change or forestall events, regardless of how misguided her actions or motives are. But Xanthe is a wallflower relying heavily on others to navigate the situation for her.
Other than the shortcomings of Xanthe’s characterization, Penelope's Daughter is a well-researched and engaging read. With its description of rituals, the intricacies of weaving, the intermittent appearances of characters familiar to readers of the Odyssey, and its unflinching focus on the lives and activities of women, it will appeal to readers interested in breathing life into mythology, especially since it gives voice to those denied it in the original myths.
Recommended, especially for readers who love mythology and enjoy the re-tellings of ancient stories.
June 23, 2011
Another entry into the genre of stories from the point of view of 'forgotten women.'
This novel proposes that when Odysseus left Ithaca, his wife Penelope was pregnant with a daughter never mentioned by Homer. Corona shines a light on what life may have been like for Xanthe, growing up in a difficult situation, never knowing her legendary father.
Occasionally, I found details to be unconvincing for the time period, but overall this was an absorbing book, which brings to life the secret lives of ancient Greek women. Xanthe's story is more interesting and entertaining than many books of this type that I've read. A pitfall in writing this sort of thing is that oftentimes there's a reason that history didn't record the deeds of obscure people: they weren't that exciting. But this tale has plenty of adventure and tension.
This novel proposes that when Odysseus left Ithaca, his wife Penelope was pregnant with a daughter never mentioned by Homer. Corona shines a light on what life may have been like for Xanthe, growing up in a difficult situation, never knowing her legendary father.
Occasionally, I found details to be unconvincing for the time period, but overall this was an absorbing book, which brings to life the secret lives of ancient Greek women. Xanthe's story is more interesting and entertaining than many books of this type that I've read. A pitfall in writing this sort of thing is that oftentimes there's a reason that history didn't record the deeds of obscure people: they weren't that exciting. But this tale has plenty of adventure and tension.
June 6, 2016
I admit I was the tiniest bit expecting that this book would be awful, because how dare someone add such a blatant sub-plot to such an amazingly epic story.
Penelope's Daughter is an excellent book turns out. Xanthe, the heroine, is so integrated to the main storyline of Odyssey, that by the end I was wondering why could Homer have missed adding such a plotline.
Besides the obvious, Penelope's Daughter explores the way women lived and even delves further to their everyday activities and faith. I'm not an archaiologist so I am not sure over the overall accuracy of descriptions of that being honest to the time period, but it made a fascinating and truthfull reading, as in, "I don't believe this can be fictional".
I enjoyed it thoroughtly.
Penelope's Daughter is an excellent book turns out. Xanthe, the heroine, is so integrated to the main storyline of Odyssey, that by the end I was wondering why could Homer have missed adding such a plotline.
Besides the obvious, Penelope's Daughter explores the way women lived and even delves further to their everyday activities and faith. I'm not an archaiologist so I am not sure over the overall accuracy of descriptions of that being honest to the time period, but it made a fascinating and truthfull reading, as in, "I don't believe this can be fictional".
I enjoyed it thoroughtly.
February 8, 2023
Maybe retelling the life story of a fictional character would be more interesting if the character already existed.
I had this on my to read shelf on here since it was published but at some point had deleted it (I’ll go through it every so often to remove the ones I’m no longer interested in) it turns out apparently before then I had requested it from the library and had forgotten that I was no longer interested when it finally came in last month.
I had this on my to read shelf on here since it was published but at some point had deleted it (I’ll go through it every so often to remove the ones I’m no longer interested in) it turns out apparently before then I had requested it from the library and had forgotten that I was no longer interested when it finally came in last month.
April 26, 2018
I loved the mythology behind this story and bringing the characters from Greek History to life with them.
February 11, 2011
Liking it quite a bit. She has modernized Mary Renault's writing style. Though it's not as sumptious as Jacqueling Carey's prose. But really nice imagery. Written so that it's appropriate for teen readers, though. Just needs a little bit of something more for some oomph. But I like the unexpected turn the story has taken. Let's see how it ends.
Update: The ending was a bit anticlimactic as epilogues always are. However, since a primary point was that women do not make things happen, but rather are acted upon, it makes sense that the ending should have this feeling. It echoes that point. After all, her story would only end when some male did something, and so it did. But I was disappointed in him;for all his vaunted cleverness, he had no idea what an extraordinary person he had fathered. But he was a cypher to his daughter, just as she was a cypher to him. But that was the way of things in Ancient Greece. Ditto the way the "trairous whores" were dealt with. Xanthe seemed to think they deserved it. However, those "suitors" would have raped them all long before if the serving girls weren't taking the edge of the men's lust. But again, that is Ancient Greece for you.
Very lyrical writing; Corona resisted the urge to sensationalize- I was sure there would be girl-on-girl sensuality, but nope. Anyone who believes women can't be friends, only competitors, should read this book to experience the flavors of true friendship and love among women. I found this story captivating and had to really discipline myself not to read it all in two fell swoops. I was able to savor it and fully appreciate all its many flavors.
Update: The ending was a bit anticlimactic as epilogues always are. However, since a primary point was that women do not make things happen, but rather are acted upon, it makes sense that the ending should have this feeling. It echoes that point. After all, her story would only end when some male did something, and so it did. But I was disappointed in him;for all his vaunted cleverness, he had no idea what an extraordinary person he had fathered. But he was a cypher to his daughter, just as she was a cypher to him. But that was the way of things in Ancient Greece. Ditto the way the "trairous whores" were dealt with. Xanthe seemed to think they deserved it. However, those "suitors" would have raped them all long before if the serving girls weren't taking the edge of the men's lust. But again, that is Ancient Greece for you.
Very lyrical writing; Corona resisted the urge to sensationalize- I was sure there would be girl-on-girl sensuality, but nope. Anyone who believes women can't be friends, only competitors, should read this book to experience the flavors of true friendship and love among women. I found this story captivating and had to really discipline myself not to read it all in two fell swoops. I was able to savor it and fully appreciate all its many flavors.
November 3, 2014
I really wanted to like 'Penelope's Daughter by Laurel Corona. I am a passionate reader of historical fiction. But the book fell flat for me. I love Homer's Odyssey. I read it in World Literature in college. I love the rich poetic images so much and also the vision of Penelope's devotion.
The author did a tremendous amount of research as evidenced by the afterword and bibliography. I did enjoy reading about the important festivals in Greece such as the grape festival but I was so stuck on Homer's portrayal of Penelope that I did not feel comfortable about the different direction that the author took Penelope’s story.
I liked that there was an excellent glossary in the back of the book to explain the Greek words and this book was easy to read. I did enjoy the references to weaving. I have never woven anything much I do have experience in putting designs in the knitted things which I think are related.
What I didn’t like is that I didn’t feel very engaged in the book. I didn’t feel the fire and passion of the characters or the events. I feel sorry that I gave it only two stars, I rarely do. But what made the decision for me was asking myself whether or not I would recommend it to my friends. I would prefer that they read the original Odyssey instead. There seemed to be a lack of depth in the writing.
Some people have given this book very high ratings, this is just my own personal reaction.
The author did a tremendous amount of research as evidenced by the afterword and bibliography. I did enjoy reading about the important festivals in Greece such as the grape festival but I was so stuck on Homer's portrayal of Penelope that I did not feel comfortable about the different direction that the author took Penelope’s story.
I liked that there was an excellent glossary in the back of the book to explain the Greek words and this book was easy to read. I did enjoy the references to weaving. I have never woven anything much I do have experience in putting designs in the knitted things which I think are related.
What I didn’t like is that I didn’t feel very engaged in the book. I didn’t feel the fire and passion of the characters or the events. I feel sorry that I gave it only two stars, I rarely do. But what made the decision for me was asking myself whether or not I would recommend it to my friends. I would prefer that they read the original Odyssey instead. There seemed to be a lack of depth in the writing.
Some people have given this book very high ratings, this is just my own personal reaction.
August 27, 2019
This book feels like coming home.
November 5, 2024
Currently, I’m into all things ‘Greek Mythology’. My TBR is loaded with alternative (read: Female) POV on the women from the Greek myths. I’m loving every minute of how empowered female authors are rewriting these iconic stories. The author of this book is Laurel Corona. She is a professor of humanities and has written non fiction as well as fiction. I have not read any of her other books, only this one. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Told from the pov of Xanthe, the daughter of Penelope and Odysseus. Xanthe is weaving her ‘story’, each chapter is titled by a colour which is relevant to the time she is speaking about. Ms. Cronoa’s knowledge of weaving is detailed, she must have taken it up herself or did hella research. The female characters, even the secondary ones, are richly drawn and have their own voices. I now think of Helen of Sparta (formerly Troy) in a different way than I did before reading this. I enjoy reading an author who challenges the way we look at events, places and people. There is a generation of female writers re writing the Greek Myths. I plan on reading and enjoying as much of these books as I can. They won’t all be a great read, but I bet a lot of them will.
July 9, 2019
When you read an epic poem, we read of various figures who are deemed heroic to challenge against tyranny or corruption. But, as the daughter of Odysseus, princess Xanthe survived in a world where men make the rules; growing up during the Trojan War, queen Penelope did everything she could to keep Ithaca in order. Raising two children in a harsh kingdom, prince Telemachus is not ready to gain power; Xanthe's courage to overcome outshines her brother. As the suitor's arrive to claim her husband's kingdom, daughter takes the role as servant to the Spartan queen Helen; weaving out her tale in a tapestry she finds: hope, love, and the divine power of the gods within the loom. Five years later, Xanthe's return marks the foreshadowing of the forgotten king's return.....
September 2, 2017
sometimes i feel like i could wipe my ass with a piece of paper and get that published in the new york times as a best seller .
laurel, what on earth were u thinking.
u really created a female character and make her entire life revolve around men trying to rape her. srsly u created a brand new character and u could have gone anywhere with her story. yet u made her hide inside a castle, forever weaving, because nasty old men want to rape her in order to take over the throne. u could have went ANYWHERE and u went here.
laurel, what on earth were u thinking.
u really created a female character and make her entire life revolve around men trying to rape her. srsly u created a brand new character and u could have gone anywhere with her story. yet u made her hide inside a castle, forever weaving, because nasty old men want to rape her in order to take over the throne. u could have went ANYWHERE and u went here.
December 7, 2021
i don't know what I feel about this book yet but damn. it's like a Sofia Coppola film but in book format and in ancient Greece. it's intoxicatingly feminine and so uncomfortably beautiful. i adored the female relationships and interactions, they were so complex and maddening. i loved xanthe's honest voice. and for a change in Greek mythology, i liked reading a happy ending (?). be warned that this is a slow book –hence the Coppola's reference– but if you're up for something slow, pretty and dainty, this is it.
September 6, 2017
This is my book club pick. I loved the feminist perspective. I had no trouble reading this in a month's time...I usually get bored or too busy to finish books. I did not get bored! It's a bit explicit for my book club. I don't know how on Earth this would be classified as a teen read. I don't want my daughter to read it until she is forty! I read the Odyssey in high school and did not enjoy it. I am glad this author had the guts to redo a Homer classic.
December 1, 2020
About 2.5 stars. This is a typical "meet the ancients" novel. As such, it is a good introduction to some customs and practices of people, let's say Greeks, in the era of the Odyssey, that may entice the reader to explore more. As a novel, our heroine gets caught up in the usual troubles of young people in novels--trusting too much, trusting too little, bending the rules, getting caught. The background motif, as you might expect, is weaving.
July 18, 2021
I loved this book. The language is fine, the characters come to life, the story interesting every step of the way. My only niggles, and they are small, are with the swift prologue and less swift epilogue. The prologue left me wondering how well the author could write, and the epilogue went too quickly through a couple of scenes I wanted to see played out. Still, it was a wonderful book and I am grateful to the friend who recommended it.
December 4, 2021
Supposes that Penelope had a daughter by Odysseus born after he left for the Trojan War. Very interesting with a good mix of “real” characters from The Odyssey and fictional adds like The daughter Xanthe who we get to see grow up. Nice description of dress, goddess worship, housekeeping etc, if largely from an upper class pov. Odysseus himself, even after his return, remains largely in the background and is depicted as less than heroic. Liked it! (3.5*)
November 17, 2016
Light but enjoyable "what if" story taking place during the time period of the Odyssey and Aeschylus' "Electra." Though the heroine is the fictional daughter of Penelope and Odysseus, most of the story transpires in the post-Trojan War court of Menelaus and Helen. I particularly enjoyed Corona's depiction of Helen as seen through the eyes of heroine Xanthe.
January 29, 2024
Pretty good. I love books about the Trojan War and Odyssey that make it entirely ambiguous if the gods are real or not. Xanthe was interesting. Thought it dragged a bit during the Sparta portion, but overall Ms. Corona did a great job making Penelope into an actual person even though she wasn't even the main character.
July 28, 2025
The writing style is easy to read despite the lack of plot and boring protagonist. What was not boring was totally disgusting. Underage sexual situations (sex and being jerked off) disgusted me and I am surprised people aren’t calling it out how weird it is? Like the way the aunt applies the oil… ugh.
January 5, 2018
The book started out pretty slow and took me a bit to fully get into it. However it picked up toward the middle and was an overall interesting and fun re-imagination of one of my favorites, The Odyssey. I loved that it was from the perspective of a relatable woman.
September 21, 2021
While the timeline may have been a little messy, I absolutely adored everything about this book. It's worth it just to read the afterward/author's note. Wonderful read and extremely clever story idea; bravo to the author!
July 30, 2018
I loved it until the end, i found the happy ending to be cliche.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2018
I love Laurel Corona's books. It is obvious that she spends countless hours researching history for her books. The characters are well developed and the stories are engaging.
December 26, 2023
3.5ish? Interesting worldbuilding, though I don’t know how accurate it is or isn’t. The conceit of weaving as a framing device is a little strained.
September 6, 2025
This book was quite good and I liked the female voice
September 29, 2010
Years ago in high school I was forced to read the Iliad and/or the Odyssey .. I retained nothing from the story though. Luckily for Homer, here comes Laurel Corona breathing new life into the age old tale, with her story of Penelope's Daughter. Xanthe is the daughter of Odysseus and Penelope, and with wonderful magnetism I was drawn to this tale of a young woman struggling to achieve her mother's affection. Once that occurred, she was forced to leave Ithaca in secrecy as protection against the men who were eager to take Odysseus' wife or daughter and kingdom for their own.
Xanthe goes to her mother's cousin and childhood friend, Helen of Troy, in Sparta. Here she becomes a young woman under Helen's careful watch, and Xanthe loves her almost immediately. The customs of the times and of Helen's servants are described in detail and I was enthralled with the experiences of Xanthe as the author retells them in first person from Xanthe's sometimes jaded and naive point of view. Laurel Corona illuminates Xanthe's world of Ithaca and Sparta as she exhibits some of the trials of becoming a teenager.
Laurel Corona re-imagines Homer's story and brings the women to the forefront of it, relaying the sexual awakenings of Xanthe and the worshipping of goddesses into a hypnotic story of Xanthe's journey towards her fate. Xanthe was a character that I could be sympathetic to, as she was born to a man that had already left her mother and disappeared for twenty years leaving his family behind in a tumultuous situation. Xanthe's life could never be her own since she was a princess, and for that fact alone she would not be safe until her father would return to reclaim his family.
Building Xanthe's story, Laurel Corona inserts many new theories into the traditional story of the adventurer Odysseus, but I was intrigued most by the female characters that drove Corona's story, such as Penelope and Helen of Troy. The servants who were Xanthe's best friends and protectors were strong characters in the novel, and the disdain for Xanthe's brother Telemachus was a prominent undercurrent of its own. There was a lot of foreshadowing as Xanthe was weaving her story on her loom, which I found added another intriguing layer to the story in itself.
There were not many strong or likable male characters in the novel, although the wishful thinking for Odysseus' return was seen as the one thing that could salvage all of their lives in Ithaca. Xanthe meets a man in Sparta whom she connects to, but her future is held in limbo as Ithaca awaits the return of Odysseus. Would Xanthe get what she wants upon that return? Would her mother, Penelope, be able to reconcile with the man that left her behind and caused such upheaval by his very absence? This well-researched story though is told with an aura of mythical times that blended fluidly with humanity's pain, triumph and upheaval. I found the ending to be a bit less passionate than I had expected, but the entirety of the novel was very well put together and helped bring a better understanding to an epic time period. I hope that the author honors us with more novels like this one, as I truly enjoyed the writing style and the vision of Laurel Corona and will definitely read more stories from her.
Xanthe goes to her mother's cousin and childhood friend, Helen of Troy, in Sparta. Here she becomes a young woman under Helen's careful watch, and Xanthe loves her almost immediately. The customs of the times and of Helen's servants are described in detail and I was enthralled with the experiences of Xanthe as the author retells them in first person from Xanthe's sometimes jaded and naive point of view. Laurel Corona illuminates Xanthe's world of Ithaca and Sparta as she exhibits some of the trials of becoming a teenager.
Laurel Corona re-imagines Homer's story and brings the women to the forefront of it, relaying the sexual awakenings of Xanthe and the worshipping of goddesses into a hypnotic story of Xanthe's journey towards her fate. Xanthe was a character that I could be sympathetic to, as she was born to a man that had already left her mother and disappeared for twenty years leaving his family behind in a tumultuous situation. Xanthe's life could never be her own since she was a princess, and for that fact alone she would not be safe until her father would return to reclaim his family.
Building Xanthe's story, Laurel Corona inserts many new theories into the traditional story of the adventurer Odysseus, but I was intrigued most by the female characters that drove Corona's story, such as Penelope and Helen of Troy. The servants who were Xanthe's best friends and protectors were strong characters in the novel, and the disdain for Xanthe's brother Telemachus was a prominent undercurrent of its own. There was a lot of foreshadowing as Xanthe was weaving her story on her loom, which I found added another intriguing layer to the story in itself.
There were not many strong or likable male characters in the novel, although the wishful thinking for Odysseus' return was seen as the one thing that could salvage all of their lives in Ithaca. Xanthe meets a man in Sparta whom she connects to, but her future is held in limbo as Ithaca awaits the return of Odysseus. Would Xanthe get what she wants upon that return? Would her mother, Penelope, be able to reconcile with the man that left her behind and caused such upheaval by his very absence? This well-researched story though is told with an aura of mythical times that blended fluidly with humanity's pain, triumph and upheaval. I found the ending to be a bit less passionate than I had expected, but the entirety of the novel was very well put together and helped bring a better understanding to an epic time period. I hope that the author honors us with more novels like this one, as I truly enjoyed the writing style and the vision of Laurel Corona and will definitely read more stories from her.
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