Customer Reviews

King of Ithaka

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Tracy Barrett's KING OF ITHAKA rules! (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) KING is a smart, funny, thought-provoking retelling of the famous tales from Homer, but from Odysseus's son's point-of-view. Sixteen-year-old Telemachos must find his sea-faring, war-mongering father before the kingdom of Ithaka collapses and his mother remarries. Telemachos is a character that teens today will easily relate to, and readers need not be familiar with the classics to understand this tale, though I imagine many a teacher pairing this with the Iliad and Odyssey. Storytelling at its best.

Just finished King of Ithaka, and couldn't put it down. The characters are well-developed; I found myself getting nervous when they neared each adventure, relieved when things worked out well, and satisfied with the end. I am relieved to find a book that both boys and girls will enjoy. It's hard finding books for boys written recently, especially historical fiction, and this is a great resource for any parent whose sons are having a hard time finding reading material. As a woman reader, though, I also was completely intrigued by the drama, the page-turning encounters with enormous mythical creatures and challenges of epic proportions (couldn't help myself). There are also more modern, realistic plot-twists, like teenage crushes, struggles to understand older generations, and what it means to be a good person when surrounded by conflicting ideas of valor and honor.

Complete with mystery and mythical creatures, KING OF ITHAKA tells the story of Telemachos and his adventurous search for his father (the missing king, Odysseus). Braving fears, danger, and temptations, Telemachos travels with his centaur friend, Brax, and a stowaway passenger, Polydora, who may become a romantic interest (you have to read it to find out).

Barrett has crafted a compelling and unique retelling from Greek mythology. Newcomers to the story of Telemachos will delight in his escapades as well as Barrett's rich descriptions of ancient life.

Okay. I need to start by saying that I'm a complete and total classics nerd. I have a degree in classical studies, I've read countless papers on classical mythology, and written several myself. So when it comes to rewriting something like THE ODYSSEY, well, you'd better do it well if you want to impress me, because my eye is beyond critical.

So when I first heard about KING OF ITHAKA by Tracy Barrett I was scared. I was scared that I would hate it even though it looked so good. A reimagining of Telemakos' part of THE ODYSSEY? Telemakos is my favorite character. I have a freaking cat named Telemachus. I knew I had to read it, but I also knew that if it wasn't everything I wanted it to be, I would be sorely disappointed.

That said, I read every page of KING OF ITHAKA, my critical eyes wide open, turning pages as quickly as I could. It's a fast-paced adventure story that doesn't dumb down a single thing for its younger audience -- a mistake I've seen in many mythology-based books. The characters are sympathetic and believable while being true to their classical originals. And the twist ending is to die for.

If you don't know much about THE ODYSSEY, well, you should! Still, I think you'll enjoy this wonderful, honest adventure novel as a historical fantasy. And if you're a total ODYSSEY nerd like me, you should definitely check it out.

A wonderful book! No really! If you have or haven't read the Odyssey you will find this to be a fantastic and worthwhile read. And, if you're like me, add it to one of your favorite books. Being a 14 year old boy myself, there are moments in the novel where Barrett hits teenage emotions that I can totally relate to right on. If you're looking for an adventurous, mind teasing, edge-of-your-seat page turner, well, here you go. But really, buy it. Its pretty awesome.

ing of Ithaka was a little slow to start off, but the more I read the more I got into Telemachos's story. Odysseus's adventures are ones I've heard and read about many times so it was interesting to see things from the perspective of his son. King of Ithaka was narrated by Telemachos, years after his father had first left. Life was good in Ithaka for Telemachos and his family and friends until his neighbors decide Odysseus is not coming back and it's time for Telemachos's mother to remarry and for Ithaka to have a true ruler. From there things really start to get interesting for Telemachos and the reader.

Young Telemachos sets off on a journey to find his father with his good friend Brax and a stowaway, Poly. The three face a lot of dangers and challenges and meet a lot of unique, and at times dangerous, creatures.

There were quite a few unique characters in this novel. Telemachos was especially intriguing to read about and I liked watching him grow and mature over the course of the story and to know what it truly meant to be a King. Brax was a centaur and a very brave character. Away from Ithaka he faced a lot of prejudices against his species. There were a variety of creatures introduced in King of Ithaka, many of which I had never heard of before. Poly, the other member of Telemachos's expedition, was a fiery and spirited girl and I enjoyed watching her relationship with Telemachos grow.

King of Ithaka was a well researched and original novel combining mythology, romance, and what it means to be a hero. While a little slow at first, I enjoyed reading about Telemachos and his adventures and seeing the "great" Odysseus in a new light. I definitely recommend picking this up!

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars