The Eighth Arrow: Odysseus in the Underworld, A Novel

Odysseus, hero of the Trojan War, is condemned to burn in the 8th circle of Dante's Hell. That is, until he says a prayer to Athena Parthenos, who appears with a task in mind: he and his friend Diomedes must make their way through all 9 circles of Hell, recovering their squandered honor in the process. She gifts Odysseus 7 arrows, charging him to discover the 8th to fulfill his quest. This quest ultimately brings them face to face with Satan himself. A curious mix of Greek mythology and Christian theology, this book was deeply fascinating, beautiful, terrifying and hopeful all at once. I've been discussing Dante's Comedia with my family during this Lenten season, and it made reading this book even more compelling. Fr. Wetta should write more in this same vein. I would read them all.

It’s a used book, very gently used, like new. No marks, no highlights. Very satisfying!

The book is a good read, though I would probably have enjoyed it more had I read The Iliad first. I had read The Odyssey and Dante's Inferno, but there are allusions to The Iliad as well that I likely didn't fully appreciate. The book can be read by someone who has not read the classics, but those who have will appreciate it more.

This was an amazing book. If you enjoy Greek mythology, the ILLiad, the Odyssey, Dante's Inferno, or just a well written, exciting, fun and well researched tale then this is a book you will enjoy reading. It took me almost a year to start reading this book from when I bought it (I buy a lot of Kindle books), but once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I enjoy reading but I don't write reviews, this book was amazing and I truly felt inspired after reading it and had to come and review it, this has become one of my favorite books.

A surprising tale that wanders through Greek mythology and Dante’s Inferno. Highly recommended. Well written with surprising plot twists, loved it.

I read this book approximately two years ago. It is a wonderfully fun book, entertaining and enlightening. Similar to Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle’s Inferno, which featured a science fiction writer journeying through hell. However, Father Wetta’s is the better of the two, in my opinion. I heartily recommend this offering to both young and old, believer and nonbeliever, alike.

Truly great and you just want to keep reading each chapter.The way the story unfolds and starts to weave is excellent, majestic, and awe inspiring. It is exciting and some of the surprises are cliffhangers. The Eight Arrow is enthralling and I would read it again for the pleasure of it.

I say this about very few modern works of literature... this is destined to be a CLASSIC! The author’s genius unfolding of the layers of inferno as experienced by one of the Greeks most notable characters, Odysseus, takes the reader on a journey filled with imagery, illusion, and metaphor. In the darkest of places and situations, the author also sprinkles in humor making it possible to endure the sufferings and pains of hell. Get ready to take a deep look at your own life as you read about the flaws and growth of these endearing characters!

I read this after a mid-life re-read of "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey". And it's a winner. So many ancient world-set novels have been published recently...but I'm not interested in a look at Penelope through the prism of intersectional feminism, lol. "The Eighth Arrow", instead of a lecture, is a proper adventure story. The premise: What if Dante was right about the Circles of Hell...but a very special lady let Odysseus and a comrade (or two) stage a jailbreak? I never keep novels, but I'm saving this one. I only wish Ignatius had published it in hardback. Even the cover art is appealing. Ignatius, please may we have more novels from J. Augustine Wetta? I can't help but feel (God forgive me) that they will reach more people than will self-help books about the Desert Fathers.

Loved the story but Spoilers alert: In Book 1, Chapter 17 Edge of The Abyss, page 127, a certain character called Diomedes ‘son of Telemom’, instead of ‘son of Tydeus’ and non of the other characters objected. Since the story was just talking about Ajax earlier, I highly suspect it was a genuine mistake from the writer’s side? I haven’t finished the whole book yet, so I might be wrong and it could actually have some sort of plot relevance idk.