In the era of the #MeToo movement, post Roe V. Wade, and in a growing wave of intersectional feminism, authors are prioritizing women-centric stories. But perhaps my favorite trend in recent years is the growing need for authors to give voices to the women of Greek mythology.
We’re no strangers to Greek mythology — we’ve already witnessed the growing popularity of Madeline Miller’s novel The Song of Achilles, and watched Percy Jackson fans dust off their Camp Half Blood t-shirts in preparation for a new TV series. But how much do we really know about the women of Greek mythology?
There are hundreds of women across these myths — from mortals like Helen, Penelope and Briseis to the monstrous Circe and Medusa. So many have been silenced or overshadowed by the powerful men in their stories. But this time, even the monstrous are given a chance to tell their side of the story.
Let this list of 13 novels act as a siren song, luring you into the retold stories of the most captivating women of Greek mythology.
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This article was co-contributed to by Megan Beauregard.
Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
From the bestselling author of Elektra and Ariadne comes another whirlwind retelling of mythic proportions.
Born a girl instead of the boy her kingly father hoped for, Atlanta is left to die in the mountains; but even then, she was a survivor. Raised first by a mother bear then by the forest and river nymphs, Atalanta quickly becomes the fastest and strongest huntress under the guiding hand of the goddess Artemis. But her wild heart yearns for adventure, and so she sets out to join the growing band of heroes known as the Argonauts on a quest to claim the Golden Fleece. Along their harrowing journey, Atalanta finds herself swept away in a passionate affair despite Artemis’s warnings, causing her to question the goddess’s true intentions. In a world where men continually try to contain her, Atalanta must carve out her own place and leave her legendary mark on the world.
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
It only seems appropriate that the author of The Handmaid’s Tale would be able to tackle the story of one of mythology’s most iconic women. She takes Penelope from The Odyssey and turns her into a multi-dimensional character with a life beyond her husband’s journey.
Penelope — known primarily as Odysseus’ faithful wife who weaves until his return — finally takes charge of her own story. This piece of literary fiction explores Penelope’s life before her husband, looking at her family and marriage. Told by Penelope, with a Chorus of maids as her listeners, The Penelopiad dives into the truth behind the twelve maids who were hanged after Odysseus’ return. Both haunting and eerie, Atwood takes on a poetic tone as she brings background characters to the forefront and tackles Penelope’s tale of lust, greed and murder.
Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
In her debut novel, Casati recounts a breathtaking story of love and vengeance through the eyes of ancient Greece’s most notorious heroine.
Raised a princess of Sparta beside her beautiful twin sister, Helen, Clytemnestra grew up brave and strong, loved and respected. She envisioned nothing but a happy future surrounded by those she loved. Until the Atreidi — Menelaus and Agamemnon — arrive, and Clytemnestra’s world starts to crumble. Everything is taken from her by the hands of the cruel Agamemnon, first in a plot to secure her hand in marriage, then again when he must make a sacrifice to sail for Troy. Time and time again, Clytemnestra is the one who pays at the hands of men. But she is not a fragile bird with crushed wings. As the first seeds of hatred take root, Clytemnestra embarks down a path of hate and vengeance. (Read the full BookTrib review here.)
Circe by Madeline Miller
This #1 New York Times Bestseller from the author of The Song of Achilles is an epic yet intimate retelling of one of The Odyssey’s minor goddesses.
Born without the powers of her father, the mighty Titan Helios, or the allure of her nymph mother, Circe remained at the bottom of her household’s hierarchy. Until she discovered she possessed the power of witchcraft, an ability of transformation that frightened the gods themselves. Threatened by her newfound power, Zeus banishes her to a remote island, where Circe grows into her own being — as untamable as the wild beasts. She encounters some of the most famous figures of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus, Madea, and, of course, Odysseus. Among the mortals she experiences passion, love and loss, yet continually stands alone — a dangerous game for a woman. When Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, she must summon all her strength to protect what she loves most, and decide where she truly belongs.
Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth
Roth once again proves herself a masterful storyteller in her gripping novella combining classic myth and dystopian future.
Earth is a wasteland, except for one remaining city, and humanity is on the brink of disappearing. The only thing holding humanity together is the Archive, which stores the genes of the dead — including Antigone’s parents, Oedipus and Jocasta. Normally, passing into the Archive is seen as cause for celebration, but all Antigone feels is rage. With her father’s empty throne falling into the hands of her tyrannical uncle Kreon, Antigone and her siblings are brought into his mansion as guests; but Antigone can see the gilded bars that hold them captive as well. As Roth turns this classic tragedy into a timeless tale of revenge, Antigone will break out of her cage and emerge triumphant.
Phaedra by Laura Shepperson
In a breathtaking story exploring how the truth becomes warped in the hands of men, Shepperson’s debut novel gives voice to one of the most vilified figures of mythology.
Cast aside most of her life, the young and naïve Phaedra has resigned herself to living under the sinister control of her older, power-hungry husband, Theseus, and the unwanted attentions of her stepson, Hippolytus. But when the supposedly pious Hippolytus rapes her, Phaedra’s heart darkens as she refuses to remain silent any longer. Her accusations against Hippolytus spark a public outroar, and as the men of Athens convene in the courts, the women — who have no vote — assemble in the shadows. The women know there are two sides to every story, and theirs has gone unheard — until now. The truth may be hidden under the shadow of the patriarchy, but one woman’s courage can bring it back into the light.
Song of Sacrifice by Janell Rhiannon
The Song of Sacrifice follows Hecuba, Clytemnestra and Leda, among other heroines that played crucial roles in the Trojan War. These women want to be remembered just as much as the men, as their stories are fatefully intertwined.
This epic retelling of Homer’s tale centers on the women — mothers, daughters, prisoners and gods. With cunning, strength and determination, these women are ready to fight for their place in the story. While destruction reigns and war tears everything apart, it is the women who see beyond the glimmer of gold and glory in order to make something for themselves. A story of war becomes a tale of trials, sacrifice and perseverance starring the heroines with an iron heart.
Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood
In her debut YA novel, Underwood draws inspiration from The Odyssey and weaves her own unique tapestry of lies, love and tragedy for the women of Ithaca.
Centuries ago, Queen Penelope’s twelve maids were hanged and cast into the sea. Now, the women of Ithaca cannot escape Poseidon’s wrath as he demands a sacrifice every spring, condemning twelve maidens to the noose. When Leto, daughter of a royal oracle, is sentenced to the same fate, she instead wakes up on a mysterious island. There she meets Melantho, a girl with the power to command the sea, sacrificed like Leto and brought back to life by Poseidon to break the curse set on Ithaca. Melantho says one more death can stop a thousand — the prince of Ithaca, Mathias, must die. In this timeless story of love and death, one question remains: Will his sacrifice be enough?
Wake, Siren: Ovid Resung by Nina MacLaughlin
Ovid’s Metamorphoses stars women of all kinds: nymphs, goddesses, monsters. His collection tells of all kinds of transformations. But Wake, Siren: Ovid Resung transforms these women’s stories into something new, giving voice to each account of love, loss, rape, revenge and change.
What if Medusa wasn’t a monster, but a victim? What if she lived among us, and was a regular woman in the modern world? Wake, Siren is a contemporary take on the women wronged by the most powerful men of mythology. By retelling the stories Ovid wrote, where women are brutalized, minimized and cast aside, MacLaughlin attempts to repair the damage done to women across centuries of storytelling. And maybe most importantly — female rage gets its chance at the forefront of the story.
Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara
McNamara’s debut novel will mesmerize readers with its unique and subversive take on gods, monsters and the human heart.
Psyche, princess of Mycenae, was always a rebellious spirit; prophesized to defeat a monster feared by the gods, she spent her youth mastering blade and blow, rebelling against society’s expectations of her as a woman. But when she angers the goddess of love, Aphrodite sends Eros to deliver a cruel curse. Eros, weary of watching humanity twist his gifts, doesn’t want to get involved in the chaos of the mortal realm — until he accidentally pricks himself with the arrow intended for Psyche. Now, Eros is doomed to yearn for a woman he cannot reach. Together, headstrong Psyche and world-weary Eros face a bombardment of obstacles as war looms ahead and divine powers try to keep them apart. All the while, the two must determine if this love is true — or just a myth.
Queens of Themiscyra by Hannah Lynn
In the latest installment of her Grecian Women series, Lynn captures the bonds of sisterhood between ancient Greece’s most fearsome warriors.
A formidable power lies hidden in the ancient Themiscrya: the Amazons, an elite force of all-female warriors and hunters. Among them, Hippolyte rules as Queen. Though unrivaled on the battlefield, a threat more dangerous than war washes ashore on the deck of an unexpected ship. On board is a future Hippolyte never dreamed up, and she is swept away to the far city of Athens, where she experiences a love that transcends even the bonds of the Amazons. With Hippolyte gone, her sister, Penthesilea, rises to the throne. As Queen, she abandons the compassion and wisdom Hippolyte showed and instead rules with impulsiveness and ferocity, spreading fear throughout the land. But when Hippolyte’s world begins to fall apart, Penthesilea must defend their honor, family and way of life. The question is: how far is she willing to go?
Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin
In Virgil’s classical epic poem, The Aeneid, Lavinia is a hero’s prize that never speaks; now, Le Guin tells her story.
In ancient Rome, Lavinia lives peacefully in her father’s household. She is dutiful — as was expected of women — but independent and strong willed. But things take a turn for the worse when suitors start to arrive, and she faces the pressure of marriage. While her parents try to decide who she will marry, Lavinia hears a prophecy that she must marry a foreigner. She’s fated to be the cause of a bitter war and will lose her husband before too long. So when a fleet of Trojan ships sails by, Lavinia takes her destiny into her own hands. Her story is one of love and war, where destiny seems to be in control. Readers will witness what Vergil left out: Lavinia’s story, her life and her love.
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
Any fan of Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles knows the name Briseis. She was a Trojan queen, captured as a war trophy for Achilles. But the Iliad gets a new spin as the most silenced women find a way to use their voices.
As brave warriors, men and gods are committing bloody and brutal acts in the Trojan War, thousands of women live as prisoners. The concubines, nurses, prostitutes and caretakers for the dead work at the army camp, caught in the middle of the war. Briseis silently forms alliances with the women around her as the war rages on. The Silence of the Girls bears witness to the everyday life of these women caught in the midst of violence.
