3 Greek Mythology Novels Worth Your Time
gods, wars & flying balls... for the textbook h8rs
If, like me, you were intrigued by Disney’s Hercules and the Percy Jackson series as a child, or even more recent, abstract films like Robert Eggers’s The Lighthouse, you might’ve looked up Greek mythology at some point, looked at the length of the Wikipedia article, and went “Nope”.
I don’t blame you. Greek mythology is vast and would take years to study properly. I only truly fell down the rabbit hole when I decided to read up on the origin of Draco Malfoy’s name (of course, everything leads back to Harry Potter with me, lol). He was named after the constellation Draco — one of the 88 known constellations — which, in turn, derived its name from several dragons in Greek mythology. But I digress.
My biggest takeaway from deep-diving into Harry Potter character name origins is that learning about Greek mythology is not as daunting as I thought!
Think of it as a blockbuster movie. There is the main cast and a bunch of side characters. The stars (e.g. Zeus and the other Olympian gods) make frequent appearances and are often the trigger points that set events in motion, while the side characters can range from important (e.g. heroes like Hercules; creatures like Medusa) to insignificant (e.g. Meliae, the ash tree nymphs).
Reading fictional retellings of them helped me familiarise myself with the long and complex story webs. After all, what better way to sucker me into a complicated subject matter than to dress it up in pretty covers and romanticise all the characters? 😏
So, if you want to get better acquainted with the famous (and extremely unhinged) origins of your fave gods and monsters, here are three fictional novels based on Greek myths that are not only fun and easy to read, but also relatively faithful to their source material!
THE SONG OF ACHILLES by Madeline Miller
I KNOW THIS WAS MADE POPULAR ON TIKTOK, BUT HEAR ME OUT. It is actually a fantastic novel.
The Song of Achilles (TSOA) is based on Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad, which details the tragic story of the war hero and demi-god Achilles before and during the Trojan War.
Contrary to its title, TSOA doesn’t really follow Achilles, but his closest companion, Patroclus. To be more concise, it is the story of two innocent young boys and their journey into manhood, catalysed by a decade-long (and very unnecessary but pivotal) war.
The nature of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, as written in the Iliad, has been a subject of contention amongst scholars. Some say they were simply companions; others insist they were gay lovers. But honestly, WHO CARES??
The Song of Achilles is gorgeously written, well-paced, and incredibly moving. It covers a broad range of themes, including war, love, friendship, and adventure, and evoked in me extreme joy and immense heartbreak — plus every emotion in between.
If you don’t know how the tale goes, I recommend going in blind. Trust me, you don’t want to be spoiled.
This has since become my #1 favourite book of all time, and you know I do not say that lightly!! Also, I would like to add that the few people who have taken up my recommendation loved it (though it may also be because I won’t shut up about it).
To sweeten the deal, it’s probably the closest fictionalisation of the Achilles x Patroclus story on the market right now, thanks to Miller’s academic background in Classics and proficiency in Latin and Greek.
In her Q&A, Miller says:
It was very important to me to stay faithful to the events of Homer’s narrative. Although Homer tells us what his characters do, he doesn’t tell us much of why they do it. Who was Achilles? And why did he love Patroclus so much? Writing the novel was my way of answering that question.
This is your sign to get your copy now. If you don’t like the plot or the writing, the beautiful descriptions of Ancient Greece and its rolling landscapes are worth it, at least.
I plan to do a full review of this book soon, so subscribe to get notified! :D
THE SILENCE OF THE GIRLS by Pat Barker
If you want to learn more about the brutalities against women in that period, this is for you. The Silence of the Girls is also about Achilles and the Trojan War, except we now witness the events through the eyes of another important but often-forgotten character: Briseis.
Briseis was a woman from the city of Troy, which was attacked and captured by the Greeks during the war. Being a woman then, your city falling to the enemy meant you would most definitely be raped, killed, or taken as a sex slave for those crusty, musty soldiers.
After her family is murdered, Briseis is caught and made to be Achilles’ sex slave. However, she soon finds herself caught in a power struggle between Achilles and the brutish Greek king Agamemnon, who leads the Greek army. This incites a major internal conflict within the Greek camp, causing all sorts of disasters to follow.
Everything is made worse when you find out what exactly caused the Trojan War.
No need to Google, I’ll tell you: it was men. Specifically, a bunch of petty men with bruised egos squabbling over a woman, at the expense of thousands of lives.
Figures.
Coming straight from TSOA, the stark difference in the portrayal of Achilles and Patroclus may be jolting, but it’s all part of the experience. Pat Barker wrenches those rose-coloured glasses off and forces you to witness the ugly side of the story — the rape, murder, and casual cruelty that takes a backseat in Miller’s zoomed-in iteration.
How do you separate a tiger’s beauty from its ferocity? Or a cheetah’s elegance from the speed of its attack? Achilles was like that — the beauty and terror were two sides of a single coin.
Briseis’s POV is immersive and visceral, almost like looking through the lens of a camera. We accompany her through the dining halls of brawling generals, the inhumane living conditions of the kidnapped women, and the cold, intimate chambers of Achilles — but discreetly, as a fly on the wall. All while she silently judges them, lol.
Like TSOA, you don’t have to be familiar with Homer’s Iliad to appreciate this one. But if you are, it will definitely offer a fresh perspective on one of the world’s most famous literary epics.
Barker’s sober yet captivating narrative is a rallying cry that calls attention to the inhumanity of war, the futility of egotistical men poking spears and tongues at each other, and the quiet bravery of the women who get caught in the crossfire.
MYTHOS by Stephen Fry
Evidently, Greek mythology can be fun, but also gruesome and terrible. To cleanse your palate — or even as a first step into the deranged world of human-raping gods and their half-human-half-animal offspring — I highly recommend giving Mythos a taste.
From the mind of legendary Jack of All Trades Stephen Fry, Mythos is a collection of Greek myths that covers all the major stories you might already be familiar with, and then some.
Fry’s iconic humour and searing British wit make this the most entertaining retelling of the three. He colours in the once-hazy outlines of lofty gods and silent heroes with vibrant and comical personalities, making them seem like real people you might encounter in real life — so much so that it’ll make you want to live in their world and be their friend!
Expect side-splitting scenes of ripped-out balls flying through the air, bickering gods, and petty household drama not much different from your fave comedy TV shows like Modern Family, The Windsors, and Friends.
Here are some funny bits from the first few chapters, to give you an idea of the tongue-in-cheek humour:
Gaia visited her daughter Mnemosyne, who was busy being unpronounceable.
The seeding of Gaia gave us meaning, a germination of thought into shape. Seminal semantic semiology from the semen of the sky.
‘Listen. My son Kronos – is he nearby?’
A resigned groan from her brother.
‘Almost certainly. I wish you’d tell him to leave me alone. He does nothing all day but hang around looking at me with his eyes drooping and his mouth open. I think he’s got some kind of man-crush on me. He copies my hairstyle and leans limply against trees and boulders looking miserable, melancholy and misunderstood. As if he’s waiting for someone to paint him or something. When he’s not gazing at me he’s staring down into that lava vent over there. In fact there he is now, look. Try and talk some sense into him.’
But high entertainment value isn’t its only merit.
Besides top-notch humour, Fry (or at least his editor) demonstrates a competent understanding of the actual myths, and generously places them in chronological order for the benefit of us beginners. This is always appreciated, considering the gargantuan scope of plots and characters. Like, don’t even get me started on Zeus’s family tree………
It is easier to hide a hundred mountains from a jealous wife than one mistress.
Overall, Mythos is a thoroughly enjoyable theme park ride that takes you from the cumulus seats of Mount Olympus to the thick, roiling rivers of the Underworld. It’s the kind of book you’d buy for someone who enjoys light fiction or a bit of history… and then end up keeping it for yourself because it’s simply such a gem! 🤫
Are these three stories THE MOST faithful to the original stories? Not necessarily — but that is the nature of myths! They are sacred stories passed down through generations, and can take on different forms and meanings depending on how each culture interprets them. For instance, Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Zeus, bears the same rank, function, and even the same thunderbolt motif as his Greek counterpart!
At the end of the day, whether you’re a beginner or a fully-fledged mytho fangirl/boy, I’m 99.999% sure at least one of these books will get you hooked onto the rich — albeit blood-spattered — tales from the land of the white-and-blue domed buildings.
See you on the way down the mythology rabbit hole! And if you liked this post, show some love by tapping the ❤️ at the bottom or top of the page.
Read my previous Rant: How to Be a 'Nice Guy' in 3 Easy Steps — THE SORROWS OF YOUNG WERTHER
Or check out previous issues!
Also, just for funsies, you can read the myths behind some of the major constellations, including the Zodiac, Pegasus, and Orion! https://bit.ly/3tYvStk
I love this latest article on the Greek myth novels! I have read 2/3 of the books on this list (and 1 of that was thanks to your recommendation haha) so I am keen to read the last one, Silence of the Girls. Thanks for sharing!