Heather’s Bookshelf: Aytolycus the Thief
Author: Michail Sidiropoulos
Released: 03/19/25
Genre: Historical Fiction
“I felt sure that I was not alone in this victory. I behaved more maturely than befitted my age, and my powers exceeded my expectations. I was accompanied by Hermes, the spirit of my grandfather or simply some kind of frenzy.”
“Aytolycus The Thief” follows the life of Aytolycus- the son of Chione and Hermes throughout his life.
When his mother suddenly dies- a consequence of Artemis not accepting her blatant hubris in regards to her own beauty- Aytolycus is left orphaned. Soon, those around him kick him out of his home and then his farm- leaving him with nothing. Growing up on the streets and in the woods, isolated and fighting for survival, he learns to rely on his wits and a thievery to get what he needs.
An unexpected meeting with his father, who just happens to be Hermes, sets him on a little bit of a different path. Just as everything seems to be getting back on track, Hermes asks a favor of his son. The favor leads to unforeseen challenges including tracking down a long-lost family member.
Follow the solitary journey of Autolycus as he searches for what he lost at a very young age—long before he became the grandfather of two of the most cunning heroes, Odysseus and Jason. Raised as an orphan, he has forged his own code of ethics, one rooted in the instinct for survival.
Trigger Warning: violence, murder, death, animal death (in reference to hunting)
Overall, I enjoyed this tale. The story is a translation from Greek, so there’s some sentence structures and verbiage that seem a bit off (likely a consequence of the translation). Told through the POV of Aytolycus, the early chapters are quite heartbreaking. The losses he is faced with are seemingly insurmountable including that of his mother, grandfather, home, farm…even his dogs. He loses all semblance of safety and family. The resolve and determination that he exudes at such a young age is enviable. The author also does a great job in developing the character throughout his trials and tribulations- making him quite jaded at times and eventually transitioning to hopeful and dare-I-say romantic. Hermes is a terrific ancillary character. He has all the troubles of a God- he’s bored, he loses track of time, he needs help pranking his siblings…and he’s completely oblivious to his arrogance. The book felt like a true life-long journey. The ending seemed final and clearly set-up for the adventures of his grandchildren (Odysseus included).
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A historical fiction that follows the life of Aytolycus from childhood to his time as a grandfather to Odysseus. Great main character development and a memorable ancillary character.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Michail Sidiropoulos
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
Find it for purchase here
Interested in submitting your book for review? Visit my review page for guidelines and submission requirements.
