Pat Barker, whose books feature on this list of the best Greek mythology books, once said that history is about then, but myths are about now. If anything proves that statement to be true, it’s the books on this list.
What you’ll find here are two kinds of Greek mythology books: compendiums of Greek myths and legends by some of the most renowned authorities on classics writing today; and the best novels that make up the genre of “Greek myth retellings”
The Best Greek Mythology Books (Retellings & Collections)
Retellings of beloved Greek myths have become very popular amongst writers and readers alike over the past few years, beginning with The Song of Achilles, and for good reason!
Whether you’re looking for the best Greek mythology books that give you an overview of the gods, titans, heroes, and events of Greek mythology, or you’re looking for full novels that take Greek myths and legends, and breathe new life into them, you’ll find them both here!
Greek Myths: A New Retelling by Charlotte Higgins
The stories of Greek mythology — whether they be about gods, heroes, or monsters — have a nasty habit of focussing on the exploits of men.
Almost all the books on this list focus on correcting this. But the only book that is taking on this challenge in the form of a complete compendium, rather than a novelised single story, is Greek Myths by Charlotte Higgins. The gods and heroes of Greek mythology are all here; their stories are all retold beautifully by Higgins.
If you’re looking for the best Greek mythology books that cover everything from the creation myths, the titans, and the gods, all the way to the events of the Trojan War, this is the book you need. Greek Myths puts the women of Greek mythology at the front, using a framing device of tapestry weaving to tell its narratives.
Buy a copy of Greek Myths here!
Clytemnestra by Constanza Casati
Clytemnestra, the debut novel by Costanza Casati, is the new gold standard for Greek mythology retellings, pushing the genre even further forward.
This is a dark, angry, intimate, epic novel that follows the life of the titular Clytemnestra, a Spartan princess who is known for being the wife and murderer of Agamemnon, king of Mycenae.
Clytemnestra begins with our protagonist’s youth, growing up alongside her sister Helen, falling in love with a decent man, and eventually having his son.
But we know that, eventually, she will be married to the bloodthirsty tyrant king Agamemnon; her sister Helen will marry his brother and be stolen to Troy by Paris, thus beginning the Trojan War.
This masterpiece of a Greek retelling covers all of this and more, sparing none of the tragedy that befalls our protagonist. A tense, angry feminist masterpiece of a novel, Clytemnestra is a must-read for all fans of Greek mythology retellings.
Buy a copy of Clytemnestra here!
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Arguably the book that kicked off this entire genre of novels that retell Greek myths and legends, and the reason we’re talking about the best Greek mythology books at all!
The Song of Achilles rewrites the story of ancient Greece’s most treasured hero, reinjecting into it the queerness that academic history has gradually removed. This is the tragic story of Achilles and his lover, friend, and brother-in-arms Patroclus.
In the first half, we are told the story through the eyes of Patroclus. We see his childhood, his banishment, his teen years spent training with — and falling in love with — Achilles.
The second half retells the Trojan War from an intimate perspective, as Patroclus and Achilles speed to Troy, and to the fates we all know are waiting for them both.
This is a story many of us know, but Madeline Miller has made sure to put the romantic and fraternal relationship between Patroclus and Achilles at the forefront. A true modern masterpiece of queer literature and one of the best Greek mythology books out there.
Buy a copy of The Song of Achilles here!
An Arrow’s Flight by Mark Merlis
This award-winning novel masterfully blends the timeless epic of the Trojan War with the vibrant and gritty reality of 1970s gay culture. It tells the story of Pyrrhus, son of the legendary Achilles, who has traded his warrior’s armor for the life of a go-go dancer and hustler in the city.
An Arrow’s Flight is more than just an exciting retelling of a classic tale. It’s a profound exploration of gay identity, the dynamics of power, and the very essence of human liberation. The characters are richly developed, grappling with destiny, sexuality, and legacy in ways that resonate deeply with readers.
Merlis’s masterful interpretations of figures like Skyros, Lemnos, and Troy add depth and complexity to the narrative, while his vibrant portrayal of the 1970s gay scene provides a captivating historical context.
While the story touches upon the AIDS crisis, its impact isn’t solely somber. Instead, it celebrates resilience and the enduring beauty of love. The combination of humor, tragedy, and poignant social commentary makes An Arrow’s Flight an unforgettable reading experience.
It’s a must-read for anyone seeking a captivating and thought-provoking story that seamlessly blends historical fiction, mythology, and contemporary themes.
Buy a copy of An Arrow’s Flight here!
Circe by Madeline Miller
After the success of The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller turned her attention away from heroes and instead to the Greek gods. This is, loosely, the story of The Odyssey with a feminist twist, and we are here for it.
Beginning on Mount Olympus, in the House of Helios the sun god, Circe is born a witch, not a goddess. As a result, she is banished to an island on Earth, alone, but fated to cross paths with recognisable gods and heroes of Greek mythology.
Circe has always been a minor god; a footnote in many stories of Greek myth. Here, Madeline Miller rights this wrong by telling Circe’s story in full, featuring her at the centre and making heroes like Odysseus the footnotes instead.
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
Published around the same time as Madeline Miller’s Circe, Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls takes a similarly feminist, but far more grounded, approach to Greek myths and legends, and the result is one of the best Greek mythology books ever written.
Also like Circe, which was inspired by The Odyssey, this novel focuses on retelling The Iliad from the perspective of ordinary people, not heroes. The Silence of the Girls retells the story of the Trojan War from the perspective of Briseis — queen turned captive turned prize for Achilles as a spoil of war.
Pat Barker has a knack for taking eras and stories that typically focus on the masculine and the heroic, and putting the focus instead on the tragedy of it all.
She did it with Regeneration and World War I, and she’s done it here with The Silence of the Girls. This is one of the most powerful books about Greek mythology you’re ever likely to read; a novel that highlights the darkest, most desperate, most deplorable acts of warfare. A feminist retelling of the highest caliber.
Buy a copy of The Silence of the Girls here!
Till We Have Faces by C.S Lewis
Till We Have Faces is not your typical retelling. It’s a raw and unflinching exploration of the human condition disguised as a retelling of the Eros and Psyche myth. The novel’s focus is Orual, Psyche’s older sister, whose envy, self-deception, and possessive love consume her life.
This book is a masterclass in character writing. Orual is so intricately drawn and full of flaws and contradictions that she becomes a mirror reflecting our hidden complexities. Witnessing her descent into self-pity and delusion is frustrating, yet strangely captivating. Lewis’s skill lies in his ability to capture the insidious nature of these emotions, making them feel painfully real.
As a retelling, Till We Have Faces remains largely faithful to the original myth, but with a crucial twist: the story is told entirely from Orual’s perspective. This shift gives us a unique insight into a character’s motivations often relegated to the shadows. We see her resentment fester, her self-deception deepen, and her capacity for love slowly wither away.
The book’s theological underpinnings are undeniable. Lewis, a devout Christian, uses Orual’s journey as a metaphor for the human struggle towards spiritual enlightenment. Orual’s journey is one of confronting her own darkness and ultimately finding redemption, a story that resonates with readers of all backgrounds.
While Orual may be the heart of the story, the supporting characters are no less compelling. Fox, Psyche, and Ungit each offer their own unique perspectives on love and sacrifice, adding depth and texture to the narrative. Lewis’s portrayal of Aphrodite is fascinating, highlighting the complex and often contradictory nature of love itself.
Till We Have Faces is a Greek mythology book that will stay with you long after you finish the last page, prompting you to question your own assumptions and reflect on the true meaning of love.
Buy a copy of Till We Have Faces Here
The Women of Troy by Pat Barker
Following on from her amazing success with The Silence of the Girls, Pat Barker kept her momentum up with The Women of Troy. The Greeks have won the war and Troy has fallen.
Now we see the aftermath of war from former queen Briseis’ perspective as she forges alliances in a desperate bid to survive a brittle landscape and an era of enraged gods.
Nobody writes war like Pat Barker does. Her depiction of Briseis is amongst the best of any done by authors of Greek myths retold. Pair this with The Silence of the Girls and you have some of the best Greek mythology books ever written.
Buy a copy of The Women of Troy here!
Read More: More books on Greek, Norse, and Japanese mythology
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
Natalie Haynes’ A Thousand Ships brilliantly places itself somewhere between the more fantastical and god-focussed Circe and the more grounded and raw The Silence of the Girls by once again focussing on the Trojan War but featuring the gods of Greek myth as well.
Most of the best Greek mythology books featured here focus on one solo protagonist: Patroclus, Circe, Briseis, etc. A Thousand Ships takes a more ensemble approach by giving space and voice to many different women during the Trojan War.
Like in Barker’s novels, Briseis is mentioned. The goddess Calliope also comes and goes. Then there’s Gaia herself, and the legendary Penelope, who writes letters to her darling Odysseus as he is off doing his exploits.
This is a fractured and broad exploration of the lives and experiences of the women of Greek Mythology. We get many different voices, both god and mortal alike, and A Thousand Ships is all the richer for it.
We wrote a full review of A Thousand Ships for BookBrowse, which you can read here!
Buy a copy of A Thousand Ships here!
Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
Stone Blind shows Natalie Haynes taking control of the narrative around monsters, and showing us how a monster is nothing more than what a man tells us it is.
This is the story of Medusa and her sisters, the gorgons. It is the story of her birth, abandonment, and the care with which her sisters raise her.
It is also the story of Perseus, the hapless and reckless boy who is sent on a quest to kill a gorgon, as well as that of the goddess Athena, who curses Medusa out of spite and jealousy and nothing more.
Stone Blind is an angry book written by someone at her wits end with the patriarchy and the narratives it spins around women and things that are not themselves patriarchal.
Multi-layered, written from various perspectives, and bubbling over with rage, Stone Blind is one of the best Greek Mythology books for fans of great retellings.
Buy a copy of Stone Blind here!
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Of all the best Greek mythology books on this list, Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne is one of the finest. It is another retelling of a specific Greek myth, but this one steers clear of the Trojan War and also manages to feature a nice selection of classic Greek myths in its telling.
Ariadne begins by retelling the origin story of the Minotaur: brother of the titular Ariadne, son of Crete’s king Minos, and locked away at the heart of a labyrinth built but genius inventor Daedalus, father of Icarus.
From here, we are introduced to Theseus, prince of Athens, and so the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur begins. And then it ends, but Ariadne’s story continues, with so much left to tell.
It reframes Theseus as an egomaniac, Minos as deluded and dangerous, and the god Dionysus as layered and broken. Ariadne is a playful, impactful, and beautiful novel that takes another fascinating woman of Greek mythology and puts her in the role of protagonist.
Elektra by Jennifer Saint
Jennifer Saint’s second novel, Elektra, is another sharp and angry feminist retelling of a tale from Greek mythology.
Spanning an entire lifetime, and with a narrative shared by three women, Elektra is a tale of heredity, of curses, and of revenge. The titular Elektra was the daughter of Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, who waged war against Troy in order to return the beautiful Helen to his brother, Menelaus.
But Elektra is only one of our heroes; another is her mother, Clytemnestra, and the third is the cursed Trojan princess Cassandra. The lives of these women, governed by powerful men, are intertwined by blood and curses. We watch them grow, face tragedy, and become embittered while the men wage war against one another.
Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
Jennifer Saint only gets better. Her third novel, another Greek mythology retelling, is a sweeping epic adventure that moves at a breakneck pace, but never sacrifices emotional depth or breadth.
Atalanta tells the story of the titular heroine, abandoned on a hillside by her royal father, nurtured by a bear, and then saved and raised by Artemis herself — goddess of the hunt.
But this is only the beginning of Atalanta’s life. When she reaches adulthood, she is warned never to marry, and is then sent to join Jason and his band of Argonauts on the greatest adventure the ancient Greeks had ever seen.
A legendary runner and archer, Atalanta proves herself an invaluable Argonaut, and along her adventure we come to know and enjoy the company of heroes and icons like Heracles and Orpheus.
Atalanta is a true adventure story. Monsters are hunted, temptations overcome, beasts slain, kings conquered, and eventually the legendary Golden Fleece must be obtained.
This ancient tale, told from the perspective of a naive but admirable outcast — a survivor and a future heroine — is captivating from page one. A fantastical epic and an astonishing work of mythological retelling.
Ithaca by Claire North
Renowned author of science fiction novels Claire North turned her attention to Greek mythology to bring us a feminist retelling with Penelope, wife of Odysseus, at its heart.
Odysseus has been absent for eighteen years. He sailed with an army to fight in the Trojan War, and while other leaders and warriors returned, he never has. And so, the suitors have come knocking. As she sits and weaves a funeral shroud, Penelope is inundated with suitors looking to marry her and take Odysseus’ place on the throne of Ithaca.
Her son, Telemachus — who never knew his father — insists that Odysseus will return, and raiders are threatening the delicate peace of Penelope’s kingdom. The story of Ithaca is told by the goddess Hera, and she provides us with a host of colourful, mostly female, characters, fleshing out the world of Ithaca and the life of Penelope.
Her narrative is snarky, charming, occasionally bloated, but largely entertaining.
Ithaca is an excellent piece of Greek mythology retold with a feminist twist; one of the finest Greek mythology books we have.
Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara
There is a lot of love and romance in Greek mythology books, and a lot of jealousy and betrayal, too. Psyche and Eros stands out, however, by being a love story first and foremost.
This is the story of a god and a human falling in love, against all likelihood. Psyche, princess of Mycenae, trained to fight and hunt by the argonaut Atalanta, is swept up in a romance with the god of love himself, Eros.
The novel’s opening chapters establish who our two protagonists are, and Eros’ chapters in particular paint a picture of how the gods came to be. The story of Gaia, Kronos, Zeus, and all the messiness they wrought.
When Aphrodite, who has forced Eros into her servitude, orders him to curse a beautiful human woman, the god of love makes a careless mistake and curses himself by mistake. That curse causes him to love Psyche.
Not just love her, but to have her wrenched from him if ever she looks at him. Psyche and Eros pits the cursed titular protagonists against an entire world of gods and humans.
Greece and Troy are on the brink of war; the gods are, as usual, committing cruelties our of jealousy and bitterness, and our lovers must wade through all of this while dealing with a curse that will destroy their love forever.
Buy a copy of Psyche and Eros here!
Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood
Helen and Klytemnestra, Agamemnon and Menelaos, Sparta and Troy. Most of us have read about these people and places in other stories but here, in Daughters of Sparta, Claire Heywood breathes new life into their myth.
Much like the other best Greek mythology books here, Daughters of Sparta puts a clean and clear focus on the women of legend, who suffered at the hands of men, women relegated to trophy status, and women known for their beauty.
After being married off to foreign kings, Helen and Klytemnestra are treated with bitterness and cruelty, and that’s when their own stories truly begin.
Buy a copy of Daughters of Sparta here!
Mythos by Stephen Fry
Like Charlotte Higgins’ Greek Myths, Stephen Fry’s Mythos is an excellent compendium of Greek myths, and one of the best Greek mythology books for children, specifically.
While anyone of any age can read Mythos and thoroughly enjoy it, it’s clear from the tone and language that Fry employs in this book of Greek myths that it is intended for younger readers.
There is a playful and sweet tone of voice here, and it encourages a wide-eyed fascination from its younger readers who are eager to become enthralled by the tales of Greek gods and titans.
It’s those gods and titans who take centre stage here. This is truly a book about impossible, magical people, not the heroes and humans of legend. This is about myths, monsters, gods, and their parents.
Heroes by Stephen Fry
Following on from the runaway success of Mythos, which, as mentioned, focussed on the gods and monsters of Greek mythology, Stephen Fry then brought us Heroes. As its name boldly states, this book is about Greek mythology heroes: Herakles, Achilles, Odysseus, Theseus (I could go on).
Much like its predecessor, this is a book geared more towards younger readers but remains educational and entertaining for all. While many of the best Greek mythology books on this list retell the stories of “heroes” from more feminist perspectives, Heroes refocusses us on those core hero tales.
Pandora’s Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes
Natalie Haynes saw huge success with her fractured novel A Thousand Ships, and rightly so. This led to the successful publication of a more traditional compendium style of book: Pandora’s Jar.
Much like Charlotte Higgins’ Greek Myths, Natalie Haynes’ Pandora’s Jar puts the focus on the women of Greek mythology (as its subtitle makes clear). As the tales of heroes got retold again and again, the women were left by the wayside.
This borderline chauvinistic, and sickeningly patriarchal, approach to Greek mythology is historically unfair. And so, Haynes fixes it by reminding us of the great tales of Greek myth that focus on its women, beginning with the titular Pandora.
Buy a copy of Pandora’s Jar here!
The Odyssey by Homer
Translated by Emily Wilson
Many of the best Greek mythology books recommended here are retellings by contemporary authors, and more than a few hone in on The Odyssey and The Iliad. But the originals already exist, and you can read them!
Translator Emily Wilson made a huge splash as the first woman to bring us a fresh translation of Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, and in keeping with the female focus of this list, it’s the version we recommend you read.
Buy a copy of The Odyssey here!
The Greek Myths: Stories of the Greek Gods and Heroes Vividly Retold by Robin Waterfield and Kathryn Waterfield
This was the first book on Greek mythology that I ever read. I remember picking it up at a little independent bookshop in London one day and almost missing my stop on the train after opening it later that afternoon.
This is an enthralling compendium of Greek mythology, from creation myths to the tales of gods, monsters, and heroes. It has everything you’re familiar with and far more besides. An essential read and one of the best Greek mythology books out there.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
If you are, or if you know, a young reader with their eye on Greek mythology, start with Stephen Fry’s Mythos but also point them to the children’s book sensation that is Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series.
This beloved series of books begins with Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and, as a former school teacher, I can attest to its staggering popularity amongst young, voracious readers.
Buy a copy of Percy Jackson here!
The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper
While not set in Greece, but rather Italy, and not about mythology, The Wolf Den is still up the alley of everyone who enjoys retellings of Greek myth and legend.
When we think of Pompeii, most of us think of its destruction by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, but here in The Wolf Den, Elodie Harper presents us with the Pompeii that was.
Harper is also taking the Pat Barker approach to Greek mythology, legend, and history by focussing on the people on the ground, the ordinary and the overlooked.
Specifically, The Wolf Den tells the story of a brothel and a woman named Amara, sold after the death of her beloved father. This is a story of one woman’s survival; Amara uses her own wits, wiles, and strengths to live against the odds.
The Wolf Den is a staggeringly successful piece of historical fiction that explores the unique strengths of a woman, rather than painting her as strong by the archetypal male standards and frameworks.
Buy a copy of The Wolf Den here!
Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman
While this novel is actually a piece of British historical fiction, it is also (as you can tell by the title and cover) inspired by Greek mythology. Any fan of Greek mythology will likely enjoy and respect Pandora.
Set during the Georgian period, Pandora follows a protagonist of the same name. Daughter of two famous antiquarians who died at a dig site in Greece, Dora now lives with her poisonous uncle, who has just come into possession of a mysterious Greek jar (or pithos).
Dora is an aspiring jewellery artist, and she wishes to find inspiration for her jewellery in the world of Greek art. She also wishes to know what this jar is and how her uncle came to own it. To do so, she enlists the help of a young antiquarian named Edward Lawrence.
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