Lies We Sing to the Sea

This was a surprising find for me. I’m not generally a YA reader, and I’d argue this isn’t exactly a YA book. It’s a new take on part of Odysseus lore, told by one of the twelve maidens sacrificed to the sea.

It’s beautifully queer, with the main character interested in both the prince and another former sacrifice. It has gods, curses, political intrigue, and blends Greek lore with modern speech patterns (I’m guessing this is why it’s in YA). It’s strangely accessible and imminently enjoyable.

I love a good ‘let’s find hidden stuff in a castle’ adventure, and this… show more.

This retelling of a little-known area of Greek mythology captured my interest from the beginning, and although the ending wasn't what I expected, I think that's why I enjoyed it so much.

As Underwood's debut, she did a great job making me, as the reader, care about each of the main characters' story arch. She took the deaths of Penelope's twelve maids and created a compelling story out of their tragedy.