10 Fantasy Books Inspired By Greek Mythology
Greek mythology has enchanted storytellers for centuries with its epic heroes, vengeful gods, and tragic fates. From the underworld’s shadowed depths to Mount Olympus’ celestial heights, these tales pulse with power, love, and betrayal—timeless themes that continue to inspire some of the most breathtaking fantasy novels today.
If you’re drawn to stories that reimagine the legends of ancient Greece, here are 10 spellbinding fantasy books that breathe new life into the myths of old.
1. Circe by Madeline Miller
🌿 A Witch, a Goddess, and a Woman Who Refuses to Be Forgotten
Circe, the daughter of the sun god Helios, has always been an outsider. But when she discovers her power—witchcraft that defies the gods—she is banished to a deserted island. Yet exile is only the beginning of her journey. Through love, heartbreak, and encounters with legendary figures like Odysseus, Circe slowly carves out her own destiny, proving that even the most overlooked figures in mythology have stories worth telling.
2. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
💔 A Heartbreaking Retelling of the Iliad
Achilles, the golden warrior of legend, and Patroclus, the outcast prince, form a bond that defies both fate and the will of the gods. But when war calls them to Troy, their love is tested against prophecy, pride, and the inescapable hands of destiny. Miller’s poetic, evocative storytelling transforms this myth into an intimate, deeply moving tale of love and sacrifice.
3. A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
⚔️ The Women of Troy Speak at Last
While most tales of the Trojan War center on warriors and kings, A Thousand Ships tells the story through the eyes of the women—those who watched their homes burn, lost their loved ones, and had to forge new paths in the war’s aftermath. From the grieving Andromache to the defiant Penelope, these voices reshape the familiar myths into something raw, tragic, and deeply human.
4. Lore by Alexandra Bracken
🩸 Greek Myth Meets The Hunger Games
Every seven years, the Agon begins—a brutal competition where the gods are cast down to Earth as mortals, hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines. Kill a god, take their power. Lore Perseous thought she left that world behind, but when Athena seeks her help, she is drawn back into a deadly game where survival means rewriting fate itself.
5. Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
🧵 The Woman Who Defied the Gods for Love
Ariadne is known in legend as the princess who helped Theseus defeat the Minotaur. But this retelling gives her story the depth it deserves. Betrayed and abandoned, she must find her own path, separate from the men who shaped her fate. Saint’s lush prose reclaims Ariadne’s narrative, making her more than just a footnote in someone else’s legend.
6. The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood
⚡ A Different Perspective on the Hero of Myth
We all know Perseus as the hero who slew Medusa. But what if history got it wrong? This novel tells the tale from the viewpoints of three women—Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda—who suffer at the hands of the so-called hero. A powerful, thought-provoking reimagining of one of Greek mythology’s most famous figures.
7. Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews
🏹 A Fierce Heroine Rewriting an Ancient Legend
In a world where gods meddle and mortals struggle to survive, seventeen-year-old Daphne wants more than an ordinary life. But when Artemis tasks her with recovering nine stolen items before Olympus falls into chaos, she is thrust into a perilous adventure across ancient Greece—one that will force her to challenge everything she thought she knew about gods, heroes, and destiny.
8. Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
🐍 Medusa, the Monster Who Never Asked to Be One
Medusa’s name is synonymous with horror—a woman with snakes for hair, cursed to turn men to stone. But Haynes peels back the legend to reveal the girl behind the myth: a victim, a survivor, and a woman whose story has been twisted by history. This is Medusa as you’ve never seen her before—powerful, tragic, and unforgettable.
9. Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
💀 Mayan Myth Meets Greek Tragedy
While rooted in Mayan mythology, this novel echoes the classic themes of Greek myth—mortals caught in the web of fate, a perilous journey through an underworld, and love that defies the gods. Casiopea Tun, a young woman trapped in an oppressive life, accidentally frees the god of death and embarks on an odyssey that could change the fate of the divine.
10. The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
🔥 The Trojan War Through the Eyes of the Women Left Behind
Briseis is often a forgotten figure in the Iliad—a mere prize of war, taken from one man to another. But in this stunning retelling, Barker gives her a voice, revealing the silent suffering of the women behind the great battles and legendary warriors. Haunting, visceral, and utterly gripping, this book reminds us that myths are often told by the victors—but there’s always another side to the story.
Myths Reborn, Stories Retold
Greek mythology is a tapestry woven with gods, monsters, and mortals, and these books breathe new life into those ancient threads. Whether reimagining heroines long overshadowed or reshaping classic myths into thrilling new fantasies, these stories prove that the legends of old are far from finished.
Which of these books calls to you the most? Or do you have a favorite mythology-inspired novel that deserves a place on this list? Let me know! 📖✨
