Sweetbitter Song

In **Sweetbitter Song by Kate Forsyth**, a luminous **sapphic retelling** of Greek myth, love and resilience rise from the margins of history. Tender yet steely, it reimagines Penelope’s story through the eyes of Melantho, a slave girl shaped by loss and survival.

After a chance meeting with a grey-eyed Spartan princess sparks an instant bond, betrayal drives Melantho and Penelope apart. Years later, fate knots them together again on Ithaca, where Melantho is sent to serve Penelope and her new husband, Odysseus. With war drawing the island’s men away, an unexpected, women-led world takes shape—one built on allegiance, chosen family, and a love that refuses to stay quiet.

Perfect for readers of **mythology retellings**, **historical fiction**, feminist classics, and queer romance with Greek island atmosphere.

Step onto Ithaca’s shores and see an ancient legend made startlingly intimate.