Mythology-Inspired Reads for Adults

Retellings, reimagining, or fictionalized stories of mythology and legends from various cultures.

Updated August 18, 2025
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Elektra
Saint, Jennifer
Paper Book
A spellbinding reimagining of the story of Elektra, one of Greek mythology's most infamous heroines, from Jennifer Saint, the author of the beloved international bestseller, Ariadne. Three women, tangled in an ancient curse. When Clytemnestra marries...
Medea a novel
Quin, Eilish
Paper Book
Discover the full story of the sorceress Medea, one of the most reviled and maligned women of Greek antiquity, in this "haunting, deeply moving" (Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author) debut in the tradition of Circe, Elektra, and Stone...
House of Odysseus
North, Claire
Paper Book
This "powerful, fresh, and unflinching" reimagining from the award-winning author of the Penelope trilogy breathes life into ancient myth and gives voice to the women who stand defiant in a world ruled by ruthless men (Jennifer Saint). On the isle of Ithaca, queen Penelope maintains a...
Herc a novel
Rogerson, Phoenicia
Paper Book
A queer revisionist retelling of the story of Hercules, for fans of The Song of Achilles, A Thousand Ships and Ariadne. This should be the story of Hercules: his twelve labours, his endless adventures... everyone's favorite hero, right?
Herc
Rogerson, Phoenicia.
Paper Book
A queer revisionist retelling of the story of Hercules, for fans of The Song of Achilles, A Thousand Ships and Ariadne. This should be the story of Hercules: his twelve labours, his endless adventures... everyone's favorite hero, right?
The women of Troy : a novel
Barker, Pat
Paper Book
A daring and timely feminist retelling of The Iliad from the perspective of the women of Troy who endured it--an extraordinary follow up to The Silence of the Girls from the Booker Prize-winning author of The Regeneration Trilogy and "one of contemporary literature's most thoughtful...
Atalanta
Saint, Jennifer
Paper Book
From the beloved, bestselling author of Elektra and Ariadne, a reimagining of the myth of Atalanta, a fierce huntress raised by bears and the only woman in the world's most famous band of heroes, the Argonauts Princess, Warrior, Lover, Hero ...
Stone blind : a novel
Haynes, Natalie
Paper Book
Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023 "Haynes is master of her trade . . . She succeeds in breathing warm life into some of our oldest stories."--Telegraph (UK) The national bestselling author of A Thousand Ships and Pandora's Jar returns with a fresh and stunningly...
Stone blind : a novel
Haynes, Natalie
Paper Book
Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023 "Haynes is master of her trade . . . She succeeds in breathing warm life into some of our oldest stories."--Telegraph (UK) The national bestselling author of A Thousand Ships and Pandora's Jar returns with a fresh and stunningly...
A thousand ships : a novel
Haynes, Natalie
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER An NPR Best Book of the Year "Gorgeous.... With her trademark passion, wit, and fierce feminism, Natalie Haynes gives much-needed voice to the silenced women of the Trojan War."--Madeline Miller, author of Circe Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for...
Olympus bound
Brodsky, Jordanna Max
Paper Book
To save her father Zeus, king of the Gods, Selene must leave her adopted Manhattan home and travel to Mount Olympus to defeat the cult that seeks to destroy the Greek pantheon in the concluding volume of this modern day "lively re-imaging of classical mythology." (Deborah Harkness)
Clytemnestra : a novel
Casati, Costanza
Paper Book
"Fans of Circe and Elektra should pick up this powerful Greek myth retelling." --Cosmopolitan For fans of Madeline Miller, a stunning debut following Clytemnestra, the most notorious villainess of the ancient world and the events that forged her into the legendary queen. As for...
Daughters of Sparta : a novel
Heywood, Claire
Paper Book
THE NATIONAL BESTSELLER! For millennia, men have told the legend of the woman whose face launched a thousand ships--but now it's time to hear her side of the story. Daughters of Sparta is a tale of secrets, love, and tragedy from the women behind mythology's most devastating...
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
Tan, Sue Lynn
Paper Book
The acclaimed national and international bestseller "Epic, romantic, and enthralling from start to finish."--Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series "An all-consuming work of literary fantasy that is breathtaking both for its beauty and its...
The shadow of Perseus : a novel
Heywood, Claire
Paper Book
Nationally bestselling author of Daughters of Sparta Claire Heywood returns with an imaginative and female-centered reinterpretation of the myth of the great hero Perseus, told through the voices of three women who are sidelined in the traditional version--his mother, Danae; his trophy,...
Psyche and Eros : a novel
McNamara, Luna
Paper Book
 "A pure delight . . . Romantic, poignant, and spellbinding."-- REBECCA ROSS, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divine Rivals "Fiercely feminist and deeply romantic, Psyche and Eros has the allure of an old fable and the epic quality of ancient myth, tinged with a provocative,...
Lore Olympus. Volume one
Smythe, Rachel (Comics artist)
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love--witness what the gods do after dark in this stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of the best-known stories in Greek mythology, featuring a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel...
The song of Achilles
Miller, Madeline.
Paper Book
A New York Times Bestseller "At once a scholar's homage to The Iliad and startlingly original work of art....A book I could not put down." --Ann Patchett, author of The Dutch House A thrilling, profoundly moving, and utterly unique retelling of the...
The song of Achilles
Miller, Madeline
Paper Book
A New York Times Bestseller "At once a scholar's homage to The Iliad and startlingly original work of art....A book I could not put down." --Ann Patchett, author of The Dutch House A thrilling, profoundly moving, and utterly unique retelling of the...
Neon gods
Robert, Katee
Paper Book
He was supposed to be a myth. But from the moment I crossed the River Styx and fell under his dark spell...he was, quite simply, mine. *A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Hades and Persephone that's as sinful as it is sweet.* Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the...
Wrath goddess sing
Deane, Maya
Paper Book
"Deane's tour de force debut ...brings the familiar story to fresh, vivid, and unforgettable new life." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) Drawing on ancient texts and modern archeology to reveal the trans woman's story hidden underneath the well-known myths of The...
A touch of malice
St. Clair, Scarlett
Paper Book
The next installment in the Hades and Persephone story from bestselling author Scarlett St. Clair. Discover the world of New Athens and the Greek gods in a series that readers are calling "hopelessly addictive." "I am not sure who you think I am," she said. "But let me be clear--I am...
Phaedra : a novel
Shepperson, Laura
Paper Book
DEBUT AUTHOR: A "powerful and compulsively readable" feminist retelling of one of the most maligned figures of Greek mythology--perfect for fans of Madeline Miller's Circe (Booklist). Phaedra has been cast to the side all her life: daughter of an adulteress, sister...
Ariadne
Saint, Jennifer
Paper Book
A mesmerizing debut novel for fans of Madeline Miller's Circe. Ariadne, Princess of Crete, grows up greeting the dawn from her beautiful dancing floor and listening to her nursemaid's stories of gods and heroes. But beneath her golden palace echo the ever-present...
Wings once cursed & bound
Drake, Piper J.
Paper Book
For fans of Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City comes a bold and captivating Thai contemporary fantasy by bestselling author Piper J. Drake. My wings unbound, I am the Thai bird princess, the kinnaree, and no matter the cost, I will be free. Peeraphan Rahttana lives her life in Seattle,...
Gods of jade and shadow
Moreno-Garcia, Silvia
Paper Book
The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this dark, one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore. "A spellbinding fairy tale rooted in Mexican mythology . . . Gods of Jade and Shadow is a magical...
Gods of jade and shadow
Moreno-Garcia, Silvia
Paper Book
The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this dark, one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore. "A spellbinding fairy tale rooted in Mexican mythology . . . Gods of Jade and Shadow is a magical...
Galatea : a short story
Miller, Madeline
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER An enchanting short story from Madeline Miller that boldly reimagines the myth of Galatea and Pygmalion, now in hardcover for the first time **A small hardcover edition featuring a new afterword by Madeline Miller** In ancient Greece, a skilled marble...
Galatea
Miller, Madeline
Ebook
In Ancient Greece, a skilled marble sculptor has been blessed by a goddess who has given his masterpiece - the most beautiful woman the town has ever seen - the gift of life. Now his wife, Galatea is expected to be obedience and humility personified, but it is not long before she learns to use...
Persephone: Hades' Torment
Shaw, Allison.
Paper Book
A sexy, full-color graphic novel from the Seven Seas + Hiveworks line-up! According to the ancient legend, the Lord of the Dead kidnapped the innocent daughter of Demeter-or did he? The truth is, Persephone is no damsel in distress, but a spirited young lady with an overbearing...
The witch's heart
Gornichec, Genevieve
Paper Book
Angrboda's story begins where most witch's tales end: with a burning. A punishment from Odin for refusing to give him knowledge of the future, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into a remote forest. There she is found by a man Loki, and her initial distrust grows into a...
Circe : a novel
Miller, Madeline
Paper Book
This #1 New York Times bestseller is a "bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story" that brilliantly reimagines the life of Circe, formidable sorceress of The Odyssey (Alexandra Alter, TheNew York Times). In the house of Helios,...
Circe
Miller, Madeline.
Ebook
This #1 New York Times bestseller is a "bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story" that brilliantly reimagines the life of Circe, formidable sorceress of The Odyssey (Alexandra Alter, TheNew York Times). In the house of Helios, god of the sun...
Circe : a novel
Miller, Madeline
Paper Book
This #1 New York Times bestseller is a "bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story" that brilliantly reimagines the life of Circe, formidable sorceress of The Odyssey (Alexandra Alter, TheNew York Times). In the house of Helios,...
Circe
Miller, Madeline
CD
This #1 New York Times bestseller is a "bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story" that brilliantly reimagines the life of Circe, formidable sorceress of The Odyssey (Alexandra Alter, TheNew York Times). In the house of Helios,...
Oath of fire
Rivera, K Arsenault
Paper Book
This lush and gripping sapphic retelling of the Psyche and Eros legend combines Greek mythology with a fae court feel. All Psyche ever wanted to do was help people, whether it's in her job as a therapist or online as an influencer. So when a mysterious invitation...
The games gods play
Owen, Abigail (Paranormal fiction writer)
Paper Book
THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERHOLT Medallion award winner for Speculative Romance of 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards Romantasy nominee of 2024 "This story is my latest obsession." --USA Today bestselling author, Devney Perry...
The Games Gods Play
Owen, Abigail.
Paper Book
THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERHOLT Medallion award winner for Speculative Romance of 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards Romantasy nominee of 2024 "This story is my latest obsession." --USA Today bestselling author, Devney Perry...
The Games Gods Play
Owen, Abigail.
Paper Book
THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERHOLT Medallion award winner for Speculative Romance of 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards Romantasy nominee of 2024 "This story is my latest obsession." --USA Today bestselling author, Devney Perry...
Black shield maiden
Smith, Willow, 2000- author.
Paper Book
From Willow Smith and Jess Hendel comes a powerful and groundbreaking historical saga about an African warrior in the world of the Vikings. "Intimate, tender, and fiercely epic."--Tomi Adeyemi, author of Children of Blood and Bone Lore, legend, and...
Goddess of the river
Patel, Vaishnavi
Paper Book
A Lilly's Library pick! A powerful reimagining of the story of Ganga, goddess of the river, and her doomed mortal son, from Vaishnavi Patel, author of the instant New York Times bestseller Kaikeyi. A mother and a son. A...
A song to drown rivers
Liang, Ann
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK An October 2024 Indie Next Pick * An October 2024 LibraryReads Pick Order now and receive the stunning DELUXE LIMITED...
A Song to Drown Rivers
Liang, Ann.
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK An October 2024 Indie Next Pick * An October 2024 LibraryReads Pick Order now and receive the stunning DELUXE LIMITED...
The fox wife a novel
Choo, Yangsze
Paper Book
Some people think foxes are similar to ghosts because we go around collecting qi, but nothing could be further than the truth. We are living creatures, just like you, only usually better looking . . . Manchuria, 1908. In the last years of the dying...
The silence of the girls a novel
Barker, Pat, 1943- author.
Paper Book
A Washington Post Notable Book One of the Best Books of the Year: NPR, The Economist, Financial Times   Shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award Finalist for the Women's Prize for Fiction Here is the story of the Iliad as we've never...
The witch and the tsar
Gilmore, Olesya Salnikova
Paper Book
"A delicate weaving of myth and history, The Witch and the Tsar breathes new life into stories you think you know."-Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf   In this stunning debut novel, the maligned and immortal witch of legend...
Helen of Troy
George, Margaret, 1943-
Paper Book
A lush, seductive novel of the legendary beauty whose face “launched a thousand ships” Daughter of a god, wife of a king, prize of antiquity’s bloodiest war, Helen of Troy has inspired artists for millennia. Now Margaret George, the highly acclaimed bestselling historical novelist, has turned her...
A fate inked in blood
Jensen, Danielle L.
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king--while fighting her growing desire for his fiery son--in the first book of a Norse-inspired fantasy romance duology from the author of The Bridge Kingdom series. ...
A Fate Inked in Blood
Jensen, Danielle L.
Ebook
A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king--while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son--in the first book of a Norse-inspired fantasy romance series from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series. Bound in an...
A Fate Inked in Blood
Jensen, Danielle L.
Ebook
A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king--while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son--in the first book of a Norse-inspired fantasy romance series from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series. Bound in an...
Sun of blood and ruin
Lares, Mariely
Paper Book
Rumor has it on the streets of sixteenth-century New Spain, there's a new vigilante in town serving justice. This reimagining of Zorro--featuring a heroic warrior sorceress--weaves Mesoamerican mythology and Mexican history two decades after the Spanish conquest into a swashbuckling, historical...
The immortals
Brodsky, Jordanna Max
Paper Book
In this modern-day "lively re-imagining of classical mythology" (Deborah Harkness), when a string of women are murdered in an ancient pagan ritual, Selene DiSilvia -- known by some as the goddess Artemis -- hears their cries for help and takes up her bow once more. Manhattan has...
Medea
Le Callet, Blandine
Paper Book
Who was Medea, really? Beyond the hearsay, exaggerations, and distortions inflicted by time, this is Medea's story in her own voice, from the luxuriant gardens of her childhood in Colchis to the mysterious island from which she gives her final confession. The legendary sorceress from Greek myth has...
The palace of Eros
De Robertis, Carolina
Paper Book
"It's a literary gift to see gender expansiveness depicted in an ancient myth with such grace and ease." --Electric Literature Fans of Circe and Black Sun, "prepare to be astonished" (R.O. Kwon, author of The Incendiaries) with this bold and...
The witch and the tsar
Gilmore, Olesya Salnikova
Paper Book
"A delicate weaving of myth and history, The Witch and the Tsar breathes new life into stories you think you know."-Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf   In this stunning debut novel, the maligned and immortal witch of legend...
Black sun
Roanhorse, Rebecca
Paper Book
NOMINATED FOR THE 2021 HUGO AWARDS AND THE 2020 NEBULA AWARDS FOR BEST NOVEL From the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Resistance Reborn comes the first book in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy, inspired by the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian...

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