Calypso’s Odyssey Review | A YA Retelling That Gives Calypso Her Own Story

“For as long as you’re here, you’re mine.” – Calypso’s Odyssey by Anna Ellison

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With The Odyssey on my summer TBR, I thought Calypso’s Odyssey by Anna Ellison would be a fun complement to it. As someone who can’t resist a retelling (in this case, a mythological retelling) I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this.

I began this story with some doubts but ended up enjoying this story far more than I expected. I needed to reign in my expectations and remind myself this is a YA modern retelling, and from then on I actually found myself far more invested than I expected.

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What is Calypso’s Odyssey All About?

Inspired by the Greek myth of Calypso and Odysseus, Calypso’s Odyssey follows Callie, a teenage girl living on the secluded Catalina Island helping her father manage their hotel. Her world has become defined by her grief and a feeling that she’s stuck in this life and her past mistakes will only continue to haunt her and define her.

When Odie arrives, their lives quickly (like, very very quickly) become intertwined. This is a fun retelling turned YA coming-of-age story about personal healing and growth. And of course, first young love.

Calypso’s Odyssey Review

Callie and I got off to a very rough start. She came across as so immature and whiny which just frustrated me so much in those early chapters.

I had to pull my expectations back down. This is very much a YA novel, not just in its themes but in its writing style. It’s fast-paced and incredibly easy to get through once you don’t have complete disdain for Callie. She really grew on me as the story went on.

Watching her slowly find her confidence and stop allowing her past to define her ended up being one of my favorite parts of the entire story. I thought the romance would be the best part for me, but her personal growth was easily the strongest aspect of the story.

The romance really didn’t work for me. Sure, Callie and Odie were cute together, but their relationship developed so quickly that I never really felt invested in it. One day they meet, and the next day it felt like they were suddenly in love with little to no interaction prior.

Since I tend to only want romances with intense longing and emotional tension, this one felt way too instant. That said, considering it’s written for a YA audience, I can understand why the relationship moved as quickly as it did without much depth.

Retelling Done Well

One detail I really loved and appreciated was the way Anna Ellison wove Greek mythology into this modern day retelling. My favorite example was the subtle nod to Atlas through Callie’s father. Throughout the novel, he’s described as carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and at one point Callie says, “It’s like he’s been holding up the sky lately.”

For readers familiar with the original myth, it’s a subtle yet thoughtful reference that adds to the retelling.

I also loved the way this retelling reframed Calypso’s story. In the original myth, Calypso is often remembered only as the woman Odysseus leaves behind. But with this story, Callie has become the main character of her own story. Rather than existing solely in relation to Odie’s story, she learns to move forward and create a future that’s truly her own.

That felt like the story’s most meaningful change made to the original Greek myth.

Calypso’s Odyssey Audiobook Review

I listened to the audiobook, and I have to give the narrator, Jesse Vilinsky, so much credit for making it an enjoyable experience. Her performance kept the story engaging and easy to listen to.

This really was made to be a fun summer listen and I am glad that I had the opportunity to add it to my summer TBR along with The Odyssey.

Is Calypso’s Odyssey Worth Reading?

Overall, Calypso’s Odyssey was an enjoyable surprise. While the rushed romance kept it from becoming a new favorite of mine, I really appreciated its thoughtful references and the new perspective it brought to Calypso’s story.

Is Calypso’s Odyssey Worth Reading? If you’re looking for a quick YA read inspired by Greek mythology, especially if you’re planning to read The Odyssey, this makes for a fun companion novel!

Just give Callie a little more grace than I did in the beginning…

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the Audiobook ARC!