This was super helpful. I too, was cursed with the obsession to Percy Jackson (jk I love that series so much) and am trying to get into more mature Greek retelling books. Thanks!
Wow! You're quite the expert 😃 So glad you mentioned Mary Renault - love her books! I'm reading The song of Achilles at the moment, but I'll definitely check out some of the books you mentioned in the near future 👍
Such a great video!!!!! There are lots of great titles. Funny thing is that my Barnes and Nobles has a table dedicated to Greek Myth Retellings and all the books they had you mentioned.
I didn't know that Claire North was coming out with a new book and I love her work so super excited about that! So many books added to my tbr from this!
Such a great guide! I read an ARC of Ithaca and really loved it and also have an ARC of Daughter of Darkness which I’m excited for. I’ve read all the popular authors’ ones but I own a lot of others that I really should prioritise reading!
I do have one recommendation for greek myth retellings. In this case, it is a very particular part of mythology and that is the siren. In Sirens, an anthology edited by Rhonda Parrish, the stories are not ocean stories at the large like I expected, because it tells the stories of the greek siren in particular. There are references to the odyssey, the sirens from the odyssey itself makes an appearance, and there are greek gods that shows up to. Rhonda Parrish anthologies are very well crafted and also typically quite unexpected. That is why I really like her as an editor because she has an eye for great stories that combined will make a fantastic collection. I also see no one talking about her anthologies and I really want to see other people reading them because they are so good.
There's also the poetry of Constantinos Cavafis and Giorgos Seferis, who have often utilised greek myths in their works and are also, well, Greek themselves. I'd say Seferis' "Helen" is one of the most impactful poems in modern greek literature.
Thank you for the recommendation! I came across Seferis when searching for retelling by Greek authors awhile ago but it’s annoyingly difficult to get hold of here - I’ll have to take another look to see if anything has become available yet!
@@AFrolicThroughFiction oh, I hope you find something out! Maybe it's just that greek is my native language, but I do think there's something special about connecting greek mythology with more contemporary events of the country, or even seeing the same story being retold in modern greek. But it is always tricky to find a good translation, especially when it comes to poetry:(
I am currently reading Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert. It's her 3rd book in the Dark Olympus series. It's an Achilles, Patroclus and Helen of Troy retelling. It's good so far. I am only on chapter 4 as if right now.
There's also "Daughters of Sparta" by Claire Heywood, which is told from the perspective of Clytemnestra and Helen, which I find really interesting as both women have been vilified for so long. Also just finished Natalie Haynes' "Pandora's Jar" and it is bloody brilliant; it looks at a collection of Greek women (including Pandora, Medusa, Medea, Clytemnestra, Helen, the Amazons and more) and the complexities of their stories in the original myths, reinterpretations, art and music through time. I loved this book, I thought it was so well done. The audiobook is narrated by Haynes herself and is incredibly well done, she is quite cheeky and incredibly passionate in her narration.
A few others I own (but haven't read yet) include For the Most Beautiful by Emily Hauser, Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews and Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood
Loved this intro to Greek Myth retellings, Ashleigh! I never really know which ones to pick up as there are so many 😅 in fact, Circe and your channel inspired me to pursue Greek Myth retellings in the first place and now I have a decent sized collection! Recently I have loved Jennifer Saint’s books, Mythos and I adore Lore Olympus 💖 Only very recently another Greek Myth retelling has been announced - Lies We Sing to the Sea - which sounds incredible but I think that comes out next year. Very much looking forward to Her Dark Wings as I can’t get enough of Hades and Persephone stories. Or Medusa! A book you may not have read yet is Here, The World Entire - I believe it’s a novella about Medusa and Perseus. I need to get to that one too 😇🏛🏺
Have you read the series The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter??? it's one of my Favorite series the story is about Hades looking for a new (human) wife after Persephone falling in love with another man, she (kate) has to take several tests to become hades's new wife which is fun to read, what also nice is that Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, Ares, Aphrodite, Hermes, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hephaestus en Dionysus also appear in te book, the author has given it a very nice twist!
Hey Ashleigh! Thanks so much for this video! I keep buying Greek myth retelling but no reading them because I wanted to read the original myths before the retellings and didn't know where to start. Would you recommend reading the Stephen Fry before Charlotte Higgins?
This feels like a good place to ask what I'm wondering. I'm currently researching about the Greek Moirai (sisters of fate), and I don't think I can find a fiction book that's been written about them before? Does anyone know? I'd hate to put all of this time and effort into a writing project just to find out it already exists 😂
I absolutely adore Madeline Millers retellings Mythos was a fantastic read but I have yet to read Troy- I'm hoping to get to it soon. Great recommendations Ashleigh. I recently read Galatea and it was a really enjoyable novella.🏛🏺
This was super helpful. I too, was cursed with the obsession to Percy Jackson (jk I love that series so much) and am trying to get into more mature Greek retelling books. Thanks!
Hope you find something you love!
Love the variety of suggestions you have in here! ✨
Enjoyed so many of these. Have Stone Blind preordered.
🏺Excellent video. I particularly liked Circe by Madeline Miller I can't wait to read Ariadne next. 🇬🇷
Leon Garfield, The God beneath the Sea was the one that introduced me to the Greek myths!
I read Her Dark Wings a while back which i thought was a good modern retelling of Persephone with The Furies and hades. I would definitely recommend!
Wow! You're quite the expert 😃 So glad you mentioned Mary Renault - love her books! I'm reading The song of Achilles at the moment, but I'll definitely check out some of the books you mentioned in the near future 👍
🏺 thanks for this Ash! Lots to read! ❤️
i know nothing of greek myths but i have loved the few retellings that i've read so far - Circe, Song of Achilles , and Children of Jocasta
Loved this! Love a good Greek retelling 🏺
Such a great video!!!!! There are lots of great titles. Funny thing is that my Barnes and Nobles has a table dedicated to Greek Myth Retellings and all the books they had you mentioned.
I didn't know that Claire North was coming out with a new book and I love her work so super excited about that! So many books added to my tbr from this!
Such a great guide! I read an ARC of Ithaca and really loved it and also have an ARC of Daughter of Darkness which I’m excited for. I’ve read all the popular authors’ ones but I own a lot of others that I really should prioritise reading!
Oh my gosh thank you so much for this! I love Greek myths and retelling and I’ve been looking for more! Perfect timing! So excited!
I do have one recommendation for greek myth retellings. In this case, it is a very particular part of mythology and that is the siren. In Sirens, an anthology edited by Rhonda Parrish, the stories are not ocean stories at the large like I expected, because it tells the stories of the greek siren in particular. There are references to the odyssey, the sirens from the odyssey itself makes an appearance, and there are greek gods that shows up to. Rhonda Parrish anthologies are very well crafted and also typically quite unexpected. That is why I really like her as an editor because she has an eye for great stories that combined will make a fantastic collection. I also see no one talking about her anthologies and I really want to see other people reading them because they are so good.
Love your videos. Keep going :)
This is so good! I used to love Greek myth retellings and I really need to get back into it.
There's also the poetry of Constantinos Cavafis and Giorgos Seferis, who have often utilised greek myths in their works and are also, well, Greek themselves. I'd say Seferis' "Helen" is one of the most impactful poems in modern greek literature.
Thank you for the recommendation! I came across Seferis when searching for retelling by Greek authors awhile ago but it’s annoyingly difficult to get hold of here - I’ll have to take another look to see if anything has become available yet!
@@AFrolicThroughFiction oh, I hope you find something out! Maybe it's just that greek is my native language, but I do think there's something special about connecting greek mythology with more contemporary events of the country, or even seeing the same story being retold in modern greek. But it is always tricky to find a good translation, especially when it comes to poetry:(
I am currently reading Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert. It's her 3rd book in the Dark Olympus series. It's an Achilles, Patroclus and Helen of Troy retelling. It's good so far. I am only on chapter 4 as if right now.
🏺 have kind of been intimidated by the Greek retellings. I do love CS Lewis so wonder if that might be a good place for me to start 🤔
Ooo love the cover of Elektra!
There's also "Daughters of Sparta" by Claire Heywood, which is told from the perspective of Clytemnestra and Helen, which I find really interesting as both women have been vilified for so long. Also just finished Natalie Haynes' "Pandora's Jar" and it is bloody brilliant; it looks at a collection of Greek women (including Pandora, Medusa, Medea, Clytemnestra, Helen, the Amazons and more) and the complexities of their stories in the original myths, reinterpretations, art and music through time. I loved this book, I thought it was so well done. The audiobook is narrated by Haynes herself and is incredibly well done, she is quite cheeky and incredibly passionate in her narration.
I have both on my shelves!
A few others I own (but haven't read yet) include For the Most Beautiful by Emily Hauser, Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews and Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood
This was interesting and helpful! 🥰
I've never heard of Christa Wolf, but now I definitely want to read her books in German!
Really enjoyed this video, love a Greek mythology retelling! Thanks for the recs
Loved this intro to Greek Myth retellings, Ashleigh! I never really know which ones to pick up as there are so many 😅 in fact, Circe and your channel inspired me to pursue Greek Myth retellings in the first place and now I have a decent sized collection! Recently I have loved Jennifer Saint’s books, Mythos and I adore Lore Olympus 💖 Only very recently another Greek Myth retelling has been announced - Lies We Sing to the Sea - which sounds incredible but I think that comes out next year. Very much looking forward to Her Dark Wings as I can’t get enough of Hades and Persephone stories. Or Medusa! A book you may not have read yet is Here, The World Entire - I believe it’s a novella about Medusa and Perseus. I need to get to that one too 😇🏛🏺
Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood
Have you read the series The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter???
it's one of my Favorite series
the story is about Hades looking for a new (human) wife after Persephone falling in love with another man, she (kate) has to take several tests to become hades's new wife which is fun to read, what also nice is that Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, Ares, Aphrodite, Hermes, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hephaestus en Dionysus also appear in te book, the author has given it a very nice twist!
I haven’t but I’ve heard good things about the series!
Loved this video🏺
Hey Ashleigh! Thanks so much for this video! I keep buying Greek myth retelling but no reading them because I wanted to read the original myths before the retellings and didn't know where to start. Would you recommend reading the Stephen Fry before Charlotte Higgins?
This feels like a good place to ask what I'm wondering. I'm currently researching about the Greek Moirai (sisters of fate), and I don't think I can find a fiction book that's been written about them before? Does anyone know? I'd hate to put all of this time and effort into a writing project just to find out it already exists 😂
Such a great video
I’m glad you liked it 🥰
Loved this - and there were indeed a few that I hadn’t come across!
I really enjoyed House of Names by Colm Tobin too 😊
I absolutely adore Madeline Millers retellings Mythos was a fantastic read but I have yet to read Troy- I'm hoping to get to it soon. Great recommendations Ashleigh. I recently read Galatea and it was a really enjoyable novella.🏛🏺
Brilliant video thank you Ashleigh. I now have a load more on my TBR! I would recommend "A Brief Guide to Greek Myths" by Stephen P. Kershaw. 🏛
Love this video 😍 I heard about Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters but haven't read it yet 🏺
This was really good, a couple of new ones that i didnt know about ⚱️🏺
Damn it Ashley I don't have time for all of these... But somehow I must try!!! 🤣🤣🏺