Book Details
The Voyage Home
Pat Barker has crafted the latest in a brilliant reimagining of Greek mythology, and The Voyage Home is the work of a writer at the height of her powers. In this third outing, she follows the young Ritsa and the unpredictable Cassandra on their perilous return journey to Mycenae.
Cassandra has acquired the powers of prophecy from the kiss of Apollo, but the very same god has taken away the people’s belief in her abilities. Though she warns of the carnage that awaits the Greek warrior king Agamemnon—who numbs himself with alcohol on the storm-plagued trip home—her shipmates disregard her.
While Cassandra’s prophecies fall on deaf ears, Ritsa instead remains focused on surviving once they make land. When a mysterious young girl begins to shadow them, and Agamemnon’s cruelty takes a new turn, Ritsa must find a safe place for Cassandra, whose mood alternates between cruelty and frenzy. But it’s the ongoing ire between Queen Clytemnestra and Agamemnon that could prove fatal for everyone.
Hello Book friends!
Today I’m reviewing The Voyage Home by Pat Barker. It is the epic conclusion to the story of Troy and the women who must endure after its fall. The focus of this story being on the princess of Troy, Casandra and her voyage back to Mycenae with Agamemnon as his concubine and the queen of Mycenae, Clytemnestra, who waits for her moment of revenge.
Review of The Voyage Home
We all have a general idea of the story of Troy and the men who conquered it. The tale of Greek hero’s and kings, returning back to their homes and eventually their demise. To me, I often gravitate towards the reimagining of these stories where the women are the focal point. Who are no longer overlooked. Who, in their own right, serve as a voice and champion for those voices who were silenced and given no hope of ever being heard.
Now that the war is over, at long last, finally going home, Agamemnon must face his inner demons, and at the forefront of his mind, as he nears the shores of his home, his formidable wife. What is most intriguing about this retelling is how Barker captures the state of Agamemnon’s mind. How he is haunted by his daughter’s ghost. At one point during their voyage, he thinks Cassandra wears the face of his daughter, and he wants nothing to do with her. The voyage itself felt like a premonition of what’s to come. A reckoning, for a father who murdered his eldest daughter, and a mother who would not let that death go unpunished.
If you enjoy Greek Mythology retellings and have read the other two books in Barker’s series, definitely add this one to your TBR.
Happy Reading ~ Cece
RATING: 
– Satisfyingly Inked
About the Author
Pat Barker is the author of Union Street, Blow Your House Down, Liza’s England, The Man Who Wasn’t There, the Regeneration trilogy (Regeneration, The Eye in the Door, and The Ghost Road, which won the Booker Prize), Another World, Border Crossing, Double Vision, and the Life Class trilogy (Life Class, Toby’s Room, and Noonday). She lives in Durham, England.
publication details
| Pub Date | ISBN | Page Count | Publisher | Age Group | Source & Format | Review Posted Online |
| 3-Dec-24 | 978-0385549110 | 288 | Doubleday | Adult | NetGalley, Digital ARC | July 25, 2024 |
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Welcome Reader!
I’m Cecelia and I’m so glad you’re here! You’ll find honest reviews, book recommendations, along with other bookish essentials. So happy you stopped by!
– C
ABOUT THE CREATOR
CECE BECKMAN
Cece holds a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from California State University, Long Beach. She lives in California with her husband and children. When she’s not reading or writing reviews she can be found wandering book aisles at local bookshops, drinking iced cold lattes with cold cream foam, or passing the time with her cats.
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