Myths and Legends
Chosen by Matt, these books retell (or are inspired by) myths, legends, and folklore from all over the world!
Girl, Goddess, Queen : A Hades and Persephone fantasy romance from a growing TikTok superstar
Author: Bea Fitzgerald
Thousands of years ago, the gods told a lie: how Persephone was a pawn in the politics of other gods. How Hades kidnapped Persephone to be his bride. How her mother, Demeter, was so distraught she caused the Earth to start dying. The real story is much more interesting. Persephone wasn't taken to hell: she jumped. There was no way she was going to be married off to some smug god more in love with himself than her. Now all she has to do is convince the Underworld's annoyingly sexy, arrogant and frankly rude ruler, Hades, to fall in line with her plan. A plan that will shake Mount Olympus to its very core. But consequences can be deadly, especially when you're already in hell...
Girl, Goddess, Queen is the slowest slow burn I've ever read, and I loved every single second. It's also the best Hades and Persephone retelling I've read, with a refreshing approach to an ancient story. If you pick this up and enjoy it, make sure to check out the rest of Bea Fitzgerald's Greek mythology retellings because they're all absolutely brilliant!
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Gods of Jade and Shadow
Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Casiopea Tun is too busy scrubbing floors in her wealthy grandfather's house to do anything more than dream of a life far from her dusty, small town in southern Mexico. A life she could call her own. Until one day, when Casiopea opens a curious chest in her grandfather's room and accidentally frees an ancient Mayan god of death. He offers her a deal: if Casiopea helps him recover his throne from his treacherous brother, he will grant her whatever she desires. In the company of the alluring god and armed only with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City and deep into the darkness of Xibalba, the Mayan underworld.
Gods of Jade and Shadow is exactly what it sounds like, by which I mean absolutely excellent. The writing is brilliant, with some really compelling turns of phrase, and really drew me in to the world. I really enjoyed the two protagonists, particularly the way they impact on, and learn from, each other. What really blew me away was the ending, which is truly lovely and just the right amount of bittersweet.
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Stone Blind : longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023
Author: Natalie Haynes
Medusa is the sole mortal in a family of gods. Growing up with her Gorgon sisters, she begins to realize that she is the only one who experiences change, the only one who can be hurt. And her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know. When the sea god Poseidon commits an unforgivable act in the temple of Athene, the goddess takes her revenge where she can - and Medusa is changed forever. Writhing snakes replace her hair, and her gaze now turns any living creature to stone. The power cannot be controlled: Medusa can look at nothing without destroying it. She is condemned to a life of shadows and darkness. Until Perseus embarks upon a quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon...
Stone Blind is an incredibly powerful book. With Haynes’ trademark wit, and some absolutely beautiful writing, Medusa’s story is explored in a new light. Haynes doesn’t hold back at all in Stone Blind, and the brutal honesty with which she handles characters often considered “heroic” (I’m looking at you, Perseus) is brilliant. With a core theme of what it means to be a “monster” and what it means to be “beautiful”, Stone Blind is gripping from beginning to end and might just be Haynes’ best work yet.
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The Last Phi Hunter
Author: Salinee Goldenberg
Times are changing in the Suyoram Kingdom, but Ex, Phi Hunter and lone wolf, is content with killing malignant spirits and keeping his trade alive. To prove his worth to his guild, he is on the hunt for the legendary Shar-Ala, the demon of nightmares and madness who has eluded his masters for decades. On his quest, Ex is saved from a brutal beatdown by the charming and heavily pregnant Arinya, and the two strike a deal. Ex will escort her through the forest, protecting her unborn child from spirits, and she’ll give him a hefty payday. It seems like a simple trade off, but it turns out there’s more than spirits chasing Arinya. With men and monsters on their tail, and secrets that could unravel the whole kingdom, Arinya and Ex must get to the safety of The Capital before it’s too late. But as the two get closer – to their goal and each other – Ex must consider: how far will he go for the call of glory?
The Last Phi Hunter is a really enjoyable fantasy novel, set in a world inspired by Thai folklore and myth. It's not a culture I knew much about before reading this book, so it was really fascinating to learn more as I read. This one is perfect for any fans of Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher books (or the video game adaptations!)
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Thornhedge
Author: T. Kingfisher
There's a princess trapped in a tower. This isn't her story.
Meet Toadling. On the day of her birth, she was stolen from her family by the fairies, but she grew up safe and loved in the warm waters of faerieland. Once an adult though, the fae ask a favour of Toadling: return to the human world and offer a blessing of protection to a newborn child. Simple, right? If only. Centuries later, a knight approaches a towering wall of brambles, where the thorns are as thick as your arm and as sharp as swords. He's heard there's a curse here that needs breaking, but it's a curse Toadling will do anything to uphold...
T. Kingfisher is my go-to for dark fairytale re-imaginings, and Thornhedge does not disappoint. It's a brilliant novella, totally flipping the tale of Sleeping Beauty on its head, and Toadling is such a fantastic character that you can't help but root for her. If you like your folklore a bit on the darker side, but still oozing with charm, this is definitely the book for you!
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Herc
Author: Phoenicia Rogerson
This should be the story of Hercules: his twelve labours, his endless adventures… everyone’s favourite hero, right? Wrong. This is the story of everyone else: Herc’s mother Alcmene (she has knives everywhere); Herc’s first friend Hylas (they were more than friends); Herc’s wife Megara (she’ll tell you about their marriage); Eurystheus, who oversaw Herc’s labours (he never asked for the job). His friends, his enemies, his wives, his children, his lovers, his rivals, his gods, his victims. It’s time to hear their stories.
Hercules (or Heracles, to give him his Greek name) is one of the world's most famous heroes. But Herc tells his story very differently to how we've all seen before (no singing Danny DeVito satyrs here). This is a much less heroic, and much more honest, approach to the story - the damage he causes in the course of his "heroics" is on full display, creating a portrait of a much more tragic figure.
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Once & Future
Authors: A.R. Capetta & Cory McCarthy
I've been chased my whole life. As a fugitive refugee in the territory controlled by the tyrannical Mercer corporation, I've always had to hide who I am. Until I found Excalibur. Now I'm done hiding. My name is Ari Helix. I have a magic sword, a cranky wizard, and a revolution to start.
When Ari crash-lands on Old Earth and pulls a magic sword from its ancient resting place, she is revealed to be the newest reincarnation of King Arthur. Then she meets Merlin, who has aged backward over the centuries into a teenager, and together they must break the curse that keeps Arthur coming back. Their quest? Defeat the cruel, oppressive government and bring peace and equality to all humankind. No pressure.
Once & Future is a queer King Arthur retelling in space, and that was enough to get me interested! It's a book full of heart, and the themes of acceptance and being truly yourself are important ones. I particularly loved that Ari is a refugee, which adds extra layers to the whole "true king of England" thing from Arthurian legend, especially with times being as they are now.
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Ithaca : The exquisite, gripping tale that breathes life into ancient myth
Author: Claire North
Beyond Ithaca's shores, the whims of gods dictate the wars of men. But on the isle, it is the choices of the abandoned women - and their goddesses - that will change the course of the world. Seventeen years ago, King Odysseus sailed to war with Troy, taking with him every man of fighting age from the isle of Ithaca. None of them has returned, and the women of Ithaca have been left behind to run the kingdom. Penelope was barely into womanhood when she wed Odysseus. While he lived, her position was secure. But now, years on, speculation is mounting that her husband is dead, and suitors are beginning to knock at her door. No one man is strong enough to claim Odysseus's empty throne - not yet. But as everyone waits for the balance of power to tip, Penelope knows that any choice she makes could plunge Ithaca into bloody civil war...
Claire North is not the first writer to shift the focus of the Odyssey on to Penelope, but Ithaca is nonetheless a wonderfully unique book. Although the story is technically about Penelope and her people, it is told from the point of view of the goddess Hera, and it is her voice (and her love for the queens of Greece) that makes this book the powerhouse that it is. Hera is a complex figure and North doesn't shy away from that, weaving (if you'll excuse the pun) an incredible narrative from the pain both Hera and Penelope feel. The sequels are equally brilliant, from the points of view of Aphrodite and Athena respectively, so I strongly recommend reading the whole series!
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