First published 2017
Young Odysseus navigates the world of ancient Greece, surrounded by gods, heroes, and the brewing tensions that will ignite the Trojan War. Baldwin places the future wanderer at the center of familiar myths, showing how the boy who will one day outwit the Cyclops and resist the Sirens first learns cunning and courage. The various legends that lead to Troy's destruction weave together around Odysseus, from his early adventures to his growing reputation for cleverness. Greek gods meddle in mortal affairs while heroes forge the alliances and rivalries that will define a generation. As political machinations and divine interventions build toward inevitable conflict, Odysseus transforms from curious youth to the complex figure Homer would later immortalize. The story concludes precisely where the Iliad begins, with ships sailing toward Troy and a young man ready to claim his place in legend.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy, ancient
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Greece, Troy
Period: Ancient
276 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform