Hot Greek Summer Reads

With Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey hitting theaters soon (have you seen that stacked cast?), we’re ready for an epic summer of Greek retellings.

Check out these unforgettable reads that breathe new life into ancient myths.

Read or Re-read the Classic That Started It All

The Odyssey

Homer, Translated by Robert Fagles

Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course, once he had plundered the hallowed heights of Troy.

Robert Fagles’s translation of The Odyssey, enhanced with maps, genealogy tables, and pronunciation guides, has been the touchstone translation of Homer’s epic for millions of readers. With an introduction and textual commentary by renowned classicist Bernard Knox, the Fagles translation of The Odyssey will continue to captivate the general reader and scholar alike.

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Immerse Yourself in an Illustrated Edition

Homer’s Odyssey

Barry B. Powell

A lush, illustrated prose edition of Homer’s Odyssey, written by American classical scholar Barry Powell and featuring beautiful, woodcut-style artwork.

Embark on a timeless journey with Homer’s Odyssey, one of the most epic and enduring works of Western literature. Illustrated by dramatic, colorful artwork, Barry Powell’s retelling of the 24 chapters captures the grandeur and lyrical feel of the original appealing to both fans of the story and those reading Odyssey for the very first time.

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Greek Mythology, Reimagined:

I, Medusa

Ayana Gray

A “captivating villain origin story” (People Book of the Week) reimagining one of the most iconic monsters in Greek mythology as a provocative and powerful young heroine.

“Ayana Gray brings her fresh, dynamic storytelling to one of the most monstered, maligned, and misunderstood women of Greek myth, imagining all the girls that Medusa was and could have been.”—Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne

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Ungodly Rich

Katharine McGee

Old gods, new rules. New York Times bestselling author Katharine McGee puts a modern-day twist on ancient mythology in this bold reimagining of the Greek gods as a family of billionaires—with all the messy drama that entails.

“McGee has reimagined the Greek pantheon for the modern age in a way that’s fresh, glamorous, and—dare I say—divine. This book is an odyssey you’ll be dying to go on, with hints of Crazy Rich Asians and The White Lotus, and I found myself rooting for all the gods and their mortal trappings—even the villains.”—Sara Shepard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars series

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The Wandering Queen

Claire Heywood

An epic and fiercely imaginative retelling of the story of queen Dido, the legendary founder of Carthage, from the author of the national bestseller Daughters of Sparta.

“The Wandering Queen brilliantly flips the traditional story arc; in this novel, the legend becomes a human. With exquisite, expert prose, Claire Heywood deconstructs the notoriety of Dido, revealing the complicated, vulnerable, and resilient woman at her core. This is what retellings are all about!”—Lauren J.A. Bear, author of The Mother of Rome

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This Immortal Heart

Jennifer Saint

The epic, captivating tale of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who must reconcile her mind and heart when she is drawn against all odds to Ares, the god of war, from the internationally bestselling author of Ariadne and Hera.

“Mythological reimagining at its finest . . . I loved Aphrodite’s passionate romance with Ares and the vivid depiction of the gods.”—Sue Lynn Tan, New York Times bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess

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The Silence of the Girls

Pat Barker

From the Booker Prize-winning author of the Regeneration trilogy comes a brave and masterful retelling of The Iliad, as experienced by the captured women living in the Greek camp in the final weeks of the Trojan War.

“The Silence of the Girls is brilliant—fascinating, riveting and blood chilling in its matter-of-fact attitude toward war and those who are its spoils . . . Wonderful.”—Diana Gabaldon

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Check Out More Books in The Women of Troy Series

Ecstasy

Ivy Pochoda

A deliciously dark horror reimagining of a Greek tragedy, by Ivy Pochoda, winner of the LA Times Book Prize.

“Quick, bloody fun . . . [If] you can’t make it to Mykonos or Corfu for parties this summer, this book may be the next best thing”—The Wall Street Journal

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Lore Olympus: Volume One

Rachel Smythe

Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love—witness what the gods do after dark in this stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of the best-known stories in Greek mythology, featuring a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel Smythe.

“If eyes could eat, [Lore Olympus] would be a feast. Smythe’s artistic style features bright washes of color and bold, suggestive lines . . . It’s paced as a soap opera, all drawn-out tensions and long-simmering secrets, and I, for one, am thrilled to be along for the ride.”—New York Times Book Review

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Aphrodite in Pieces

Lauren J. A. Bear

Experience the myth and magic of antiquity’s most alluring—and provocative—goddess as never witnessed before, in this gorgeously rendered, unflinching, and deeply vulnerable retelling from the author of Mother of Rome and Medusa’s Sisters.

“Aphrodite in Pieces had me hooked from page one. Bear’s voice is heartbreaking in its lyricism, painting a picture of the goddess of love that feels both painfully human and impossibly divine. An utter triumph, a masterpiece!”—Emily Rath, New York Times bestselling author of North is the Night

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