Book Club Notes: Orphia and Eurydicius by Elyse John

Book Club Notes: Orphia and Eurydicius by Elyse John

Book Club Questions

1. In Orphia and Eurydicius, Orphia finds her creative voice and works at becoming a better storyteller. Her poetry creates magic, drawing nature to her. Have any stories been magical in your life? And what do you think is the power of stories?

2. Throughout the story we get snippets of Orphia’s poetry. Which poems made an impression on you, and why?

3. Eurydicius is a shield-maker in the novel. What does this symbolise, with regards to his personality and how he fits (or doesn’t fit) with the expectations and norms for men?

4. Orphia leads the way in her romance with Eurydicius. Did you find this interesting? Could you relate to it or connect with it?

Download the book club notes here…

Buy a copy of Orphia and Eurydicius here.

Publisher details

Orphia and Eurydicius
Author
Elyse John
Publisher
HarperCollins
Genre
Fiction
Released
03 May, 2023
ISBN
9781460763032

Synopsis

Their love transcends every boundary. Can it cheat death?

Orphia dreams of something more than the warrior crafts she's been forced to learn. Hidden away on a far-flung island, her blood sings with poetry and her words can move flowers to bloom and forests to grow... but her father, the sun god Apollo, has forbidden her this art.

A chance meeting with a young shield-maker, Eurydicius, gives her the courage to use her voice. After wielding all her gifts to defeat one final champion, Orphia draws the scrutiny of the gods. Performing her poetry, she wins the protection of the goddesses of the arts: the powerful Muses, who welcome her to their sanctuary on Mount Parnassus. Orphia learns to hone her talents, crafting words of magic infused with history, love and tragedy.

When Eurydicius joins her, Orphia struggles with her desire for fame and her budding love. As her bond with the gentle shield-maker grows, she joins the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece. Facing dragons, sirens and ruthless warriors on the voyage, Orphia earns unparalleled fame, but she longs to return to Eurydicius.

Yet she has a darker journey to make – one which will see her fight for her love with all the power of her poetry.

Elyse John
About the author

Elyse John

Elyse John is a writer and a poet. She studied literature, writing and French at university, completing a PhD. Her poetry nominations include the Pushcart Prize and several major Australian prizes. She has published a collection of poetry and her poems feature in journals in Australia, Europe, and Japan. Inspired by her late brother, she creates work in his memory. She lives in Melbourne, Australia.

Books by Elyse John

COMMENTS

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *