Love Greek life? Try Greek mythology

If there is one thing that you should know about me, it’s that I was a Greek mythology addict as a kid and, quite frankly, I still am.

I would spend countless hours watching YouTube videos that ranged from the gods’ family tree to the most niche stories about random demigods and their adventures. However, once that obsession had started, it couldn’t be stopped, and I quickly ran out of things to watch. That was until I heard about the many books that recount new as well as classic myths.

So, I give you some of my favorite books based on Greek mythology.

‘Circe’ – Madeline Miller

This book is such a gem. The story follows Circe, the daughter of the sun god Helios. While Circe cannot control the sun like her father, she can produce spells and other witchcraft that often get her into trouble.

While Circe spends most of her life banished on a remote island, her story intersects with other famous myths like the Minotaur, Medea, Daedalus and his son, Icarus. Each interaction brings friendship, as well as the loss of those friendships that inevitably take a toll on the goddess.

Miller is an expert at exploring human (and non-human) connections. Even while immortal, Circe observes the human experience and understands the importance of mortality as a key part of making life worth living. I could not recommend this book enough.

‘Ariadne’ – Jennifer Saint

“Ariadne” tells the story of a young girl who is often taken advantage of by the men around her. Ariadne is the daughter of King Minos of Crete and Pasiphaë (who, fun fact, is the sister of Circe), but, most importantly, she is the sister of the Minotaur.

Throughout her life, older men used her for their own gain and left her after their plan was finished. She is not the only one to face this — her mother is used as a pawn in the games of the gods living atop Olympus.

Saint shines a spotlight on the women who are so often pushed to the side, and she tells it in such an interesting way.

‘Pandora’s Jar: Women in the Greek Myths’ – Natalie Haynes

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Much like “Circe” and “Ariadne,” Haynes looks at the stories of the women found in popular myths. However, unlike the prior stories, Haynes observes the stories of multiple women and how their perceptions have changed over time.

This book offers a refreshing perspective on the other stories of mythology, delving deeper into the subtext of what these myths were intended to convey about Greek society, as well as how the changes made to the stories reflect the ideals of modern society.

“Aphrodite” – Phoenicia Rogerson

While I haven’t read this book yet, I eagerly await the day I can. “Aphrodite” is set to release on Nov. 25, 2025, and it follows the life of – you guessed it – Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

According to a review by Becca on Goodreads, this retelling is much less dense than some other books of the same genre. As a matter of fact, she goes on to say that it is like the “Real Housewives of Olympus” with all the drama the gods bring to the table.

Stories of Greek mythology intrigue me in ways that hardly any other story can, and that is what makes them so interesting. All of these authors must share the same sentiment, because they have all written other books in this genre. I highly recommend checking them out.

pedenae@miamioh.edu