The Odyssey of Phoebe Quilliam

Phoebe has inherited her love of art and stories from her grandmother, Cass, spending much time with her in the sunny studio where they paint and share Greek myths. But Cass is struggling to remember things and has to go into a home. When Cass’s home is sold, Phoebe pays it one last visit and is swept into a strange adventure. Finding herself on a beach in Greece, she meets Leander, a boy who is on a quest to find out what happened to his father, one of King Odysseus’s shipbuilders, after the Trojan Wars. She also meets Hattie, her grandmother’s childhood friend, who sets Phoebe on a quest of her own- to defeat a monster and find her own way home.

This was a one-sitting read! Engaging from the first page, ‘The Odyssey of Phoebe Quilliam’ combines a thrilling adventure story with the poignant worries of a child coping with dementia in a loved one.

Like many children, Phoebe takes on worries which should not be hers, in this case, believing that she is responsible for her grandmother’s decline, that she should have told her mother that Cass was forgetting things. The close bond she and Cass share is beautifully captured, making both her grandmother’s decline and Phoebe’s feelings of guilt and loss all the more touching. The family are also dealing the the loss of Phoebe’s father who died whilst on a rescue for the RNLI and the fact that Cass has no memory of this, believing her son to still be alive, only adds to the family’s pain. This all makes the story sound very bleak- but it isn’t. Phoebe’s personal circumstances frame her adventure which is full of hope and healing… and action and adventure.

And there is plenty of action and adventure! Against a background of Greek myth, Phoebe and Leander embark on their quests, finding support and comfort in one another as they face dangers and dilemmas, overcoming their own fears and finding their way home once more. There are plenty of monsters, an epic sea voyage, excitement and peril in this imaginative and engrossing book!

The perfect candidate for story time selection, this book would make an excellent class read, engaging children with Greek myths and offering plenty to discuss and enjoy.

The Odyssey of Phoebe Quilliam

Annelise Gray

Zephyr ISBN: 978-1035911011

Published 11th September 2025

You can read my review of ‘Rider of the Storm’ here.

Blog Tour: Rider of the Storm

I have always adored historical fiction. It allows readers to explore the past, sparking interest in different periods, encouraging them to make connections between the past and the present. It opens the reader to reflection and can offer new perspectives. It allows them to ‘be’ there as stories unfold and to witness the action and adventure as the author brings to life the events experienced by everyday people as well as key historical figures. Well written historical fiction should inspire the reader to find out more about the period, igniting their curiosity. And the ‘Circus Maximus’ series does all of the above! Today, I delighted to be taking part in the Blog Tour for ‘Rider of the Storm’, the third book about Dido and her adventures.

‘Rider of the Storm’ continues Dido’s story which started in ‘Race to the Death’ and ‘Rivals on the Track’. About a year has passed since her last adventure and Dido is now back home, training horses with Scorpus and Parmenion. However, word arrives from Rome that her cousin, Abibaal, has left the Blues, the chariot team he was racing with at the Circus Maximus, to race for the Greens- for the Emperor Caligula. In an attempt to save Abibaal, Dido must return to Rome where she finds herself facing old enemies and new challenges in her most dangerous adventure yet.

There is so much to recommend this story. Full of action and excitement, the plot gallops along at a pleasing pace towards a very satisfying conclusion. The racing scenes are completely compelling, combining historical detail with rich descriptions. For example, Caligula’s building of a circus on his mother’s property, described in the story, is based in fact and an author’s note at the end of the book and an annotated diagram of a charioteer and his team at the front support the reader’s understanding.

Characterisation is a huge strength of this series- both human and horses! At the outset, Dido is struggling with her longing to return to the Circus Maximus and her desire to race and her fear of being discovered and endangering those she loves. She is loyal and kind, fiercely courageous and determined to do what she thinks is the right thing, no matter what the cost. Her devotion to, and understanding of, the horses, is superbly handled. Caligula is also well developed- his cruelty and capricious nature are well documented; however, Annelise Gray offers a nuanced portrayal, hinting at how his upbringing might have had an impact on his behaviour (although not seeking to excuse it). His manipulation of Abibaal plays on that young man’s desire to earn praise from his father by deepening the rift between them. There are many characters worthy of comment- but the best thing is for everyone to read the story and ‘meet’ each one for themselves!

Although this is a series - and each book is worth reading- it would be possible to read this without having read the two previous stories as the writing skilfully builds the picture of past events, filling in necessary details where appropriate. This really is historical fiction at its best- superb for a class reader to bring to life a topic on the Romans, excellent for a guided reading text to help develop understanding and make connections or as an exciting independent read!

Circus Maximus: Rider of the Storm Annelise Gray

Zephyr ISBN: 978-1803281063

Make sure you follow on the rest of the Blog Tour to find out more about this wonderful series! Many thanks to Annelise and the team at Zephyr for asking me to take part.