The Last Song of Penelope

3.85, rounded up. It's the end of the story and it packs some punches. The writing has slightly improved from book to book, though you will still find paragraphs that sh** on men in wording better suited to nonfiction rather than speculative fiction. That kind of seemingly-writing-in-the-wrong-genre style is the reason why, for me, this trilogy could've never reached anything above 4 stars. But back to the good. Part 3 is narrated by Athena, warring with her own two identities, like Odysseus, warring with himself, trying to find the stranger who was once husband and king beneath the traumatized old warrior who returned. Penelope, still as wonderful as ever, is finding out her icy heart can melt still. She has to reconcile the stranger her son has become with the baby she held; to reconcile letting go of a love that could've been, but shouldn't have; to reconcile regret and grief for one of her (my) most beloved and finding it within herself to forgive (redeem) the murderer one day. I miss the characters lost, but I'm glad they were there. I cried for one - no spoilers. The end could've been less rushed though, seemed a bit too short, too abrupt. Only one fish joke, I think. How sad.