No one man is strong enough to claim Odysseus' empty throne-not yet. But now, years on, speculation is mounting that her husband is dead, and suitors are beginning to knock at her door. Penelope was barely into womanhood when she wed Odysseus. None of them has returned, and the women of Ithaca have been left behind to run the kingdom. Seventeen years ago, King Odysseus sailed to war with Troy, taking with him every man of fighting age from the island of Ithaca.

It’s time for the women of Ithaca to tell their tale. A.From the multi-award-winning author Claire North comes a daring reimagining that breathes life into ancient myth and gives voice to the women who stand defiant in a world ruled by ruthless men. ' A thought-provoking, nuanced new look at one of humanity's most foundational stories' S. 'Compulsively readable and infinitely compassionate' Roshani Chokshi, author of The Gilded Wolves 'A lyrical and evocative retelling, full of power and grace' Ava Reid, author of The Wolf and the Woodsman 'Brave, compassionate and powerful' Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne 'Utterly captivating from start to finish' Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak - and what legacy she intends to leave behind.Ī must for readers of historical and mythological retellings such as Madeline Miller's Circe and Jennifer Saint's Ariadne, this powerful debut weaves a tale of an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come.

But when evils from her childhood stories threaten her world, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. With this power, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat and favoured queen, determined to carve a better world for herself and the women around her. She turns to her mother's library and discovers a magic that is hers alone. Although she was raised on stories of the might and benevolence of the gods, her prayers for help go unanswered. The only daughter of a king, Kaikeyi watches as her mother is banished and her own worth is reduced to what marriage alliance she can secure. An instant New York Times bestseller and Tiktok sensation, Vaishnavi Patel's stunning debut Kaikeyi reimagines the life of the infamous queen from Indian epic the Ramayana.

Kaikeyi book review