Odysseus Rising

Before he was the legendary King of Ithaca, before he braved the wrath of gods and monsters, Odysseus was just a ten-year-old boy with too much curiosity for his own good.

When Athena, the goddess of wisdom, takes a rare moment of rest and wanders through Ithaca, she expects nothing more than a quiet walk. What she does not expect is a reckless boy falling out of a tree and crashing into her.

Determined to leave the encounter behind, Athena disappears-only to realize she has lost her most treasured possession: a necklace once given to her by her late mother, Metis. And the one holding it? Odysseus.

The boy strikes a deal-he will return it, but only if she agrees to mentor him in the ways of war and strategy. Athena, hoping he will give up quickly, agrees and puts him through merciless training. Yet, as the day stretches on, she finds herself drawn to the boy's sharp wit and unshakable spirit.

Odysseus may be trouble, but he is unlike any mortal she has ever met. And as she learns more about his life, his struggles, and his dreams, Athena starts to wonder: has she finally found someone worth training?