Chasing Odysseus

Book Title: Chasing Odysseus

Author: S.D. Gentill
Series: The Hero Trilogy #1

Date Started: August 8th 2015

Date Completed: August 9th 2015

Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Historical
Quality Rating: Three Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Three Stars

Final Rating: Three stars

Review:

I can see Chasing Odysseus as being a nice introduction for children to get them interested in classical mythology, but disappointing for anyone who loves the original epic. Though it captures some of the exciting qualities of The Odyssey, I did feel the retelling of the story could have been a lot more creative and unique.

Though the writing was sometimes reminiscent of the original, the prose and imagination just wasn't quite there for me. While there's still perfectly good description and dialogue to interest younger readers, it was just missing the wonder and beauty of classical mythology that would've helped me get along with the book more.

For me, Chasing Odysseus was a bit like watching a sidekick that just follows the protagonist. But a sidekick that doesn't really have a place in the actual story. I personally think that Gentill could've been a lot more creative with how she incorporated these new characters. The thing with classics is you can't really rewrite them, but you can interpret the world and smaller parts of the story: Chasing Odysseus tries so hard to keep close to the original story that it loses so much potential for its own story. I would've loved to see the protagonists get sidetracked while following Odysseus and maybe discover some new lands and gods that help them back on their quest - just something new that could have been accredited to Gentill.

Following on from that, I'm not sure how much you'd understand without reading the original. While there is a bit of explanation for immortals and cultures, there are still quite a few things that I noticed I had to think back to reading The Odyssey to remember. But at the same time, there were so many little inaccuracies to the original that I couldn't stop getting to me. Some alterations are understandable to help the story on or perhaps because it would just be too hard to explain briefly, but some portrayals just infuriated me (Calypso was just downright wrong whatever why you look or reinterpret it).

The ending was also off: where was the climax? The story just ends after the protagonists find the answer they're looking for. Though the basic goal of their quest is achieved, there isn't actually any attempt at a realisation to the wider story. It just made me wonder what was the point of their entire journey if it just ends like that? I don't care if it's a series, it literally feels like the novel was cut in half between chapters, and any book should be able to stand on its own two feet without needing the audience to go and read something else.

I have nothing against adding new characters to a classic story, but you need to try and make them go together. An issue in Chasing Odysseus was the fact the new protagonists spoke in a more modern way compared to everyone else, and when they had conversations with an original character they stuck out as not quite right.

Hero is introduced like she's going to be the main protagonist of the story - she isn't. Throughout the whole book I was hoping she'd grow from the terrified little girl at the start and match her brothers in courage, skill etc. But just giving her a few opportunities to follow them in the nick of time to save their lives wasn't enough for me: she was still always portrayed as terrified and crying while her brothers were tough and brave. It was a negative portrayal of not being physically strong, and even when Hero decides to put her bravery in her praying and quieter acts she's still made to be irritating and her efforts essentially useless. (I had a couple of different issues with how women were portrayed in this book, but Hero was the biggest problem.)

Her brothers themselves also came across as a little two dimensional: while each had their token characteristic (Mac the protective and responsible older brother, Cadmus the reckless and playful middle child, and Lycon the youngest still trying to live up to his siblings) they didn't have much beyond that. The fact that there were three of them also meant that at least one of them was neglected at each island (mostly Lycon to be honest).

This book had a really strong start both with the exposition side and the introduction of the characters themselves, and things go pretty well for a while - but it soon becomes quite repetitive. Admittedly, since I knew where the characters were headed all the time it was quite easy for me to become slightly bored, but even so it did feel like wherever they went the same things happened: they'd follow Odysseus to an island, interfere a little bit and get into trouble, but then make it out alive and follow him off again. I've already talked about how I feel Gentill could've been a little more creative with the adaptation, especially to help the pacing.

Chasing Odysseus is an entertaining story for younger readers interested in greek mythology and the classical world, but it didn't quite work for me and I have a feeling the little inaccuracies would also irritate fans of the original epic.

Image Source - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13546886-chasing-odysseus