Sweetbitter Song: A Novel

Summary

Upon the shores of Ithaca in the shadows of a legendary war, two women must face their own battle—one of sisterhood, survival, and a forbidden love that could destroy them both.

One summer night within the palace of Sparta, a young slave girl stumbles across a gray-eyed princess. Despite living worlds apart, Melantho and Penelope are instantly drawn to each other, and a powerful friendship blossoms. But the Spartan royals do not approve of this bond, and soon Melantho and Penelope find themselves viciously torn apart, their trust irreparably shattered.

Years later, their paths cross once again upon the rocky shores of Ithaca, where Melantho is sent to serve Princess Penelope and her new husband, Prince Odysseus. Embittered by life as a slave, Melantho is determined to keep her distance. But once again, the two women find themselves drawn to each other, pulled by the echo of their friendship and something far stronger they’re too afraid to name.

When war blazes across Greece, Odysseus and the men of Ithaca are driven to foreign lands. In their absence, Melantho finds a new world opening up before her—one where women rule, family can be found, and forbidden love is finally given the space to bloom.

A profound tale of love, identity, and defiance, Sweetbitter Song tells a story forgotten by history. One of bravery and hope, celebrating two women who fought to protect their love from a world that tried to deny its very existence.

“Sweetbitter Song is an extraordinary book. A truly original take on The Odyssey, comparable to Madeline Miller’s reimagining of The Iliad in The Song of Achilles—never less than brilliant in its inventive, intelligent conversation with the source.”—Elodie Harper, bestselling author of The Wolf Den