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13 Mythological Retellings for Fresh Takes on Familiar Stories
While some tales are old as time, every so often a writer comes along with a fresh take that can make us see a familiar story in a completely different way. In the last several years, inventive reimaginations of myths and folktales from around the world have ruled the bestseller lists.
Can't get enough of retellings? We've rounded up 13 of the most popular recent releases by looking at titles published in the last three years with at least a 3.5 star rating from Goodreads members.
Don't forget to add any books that catch your eye to your Want to Read shelf, and tell us about your favorite retellings in the comments below!
Here's the list, starting with the most popular by star rating:
Can't get enough of retellings? We've rounded up 13 of the most popular recent releases by looking at titles published in the last three years with at least a 3.5 star rating from Goodreads members.
Don't forget to add any books that catch your eye to your Want to Read shelf, and tell us about your favorite retellings in the comments below!
Here's the list, starting with the most popular by star rating:
What story does it retell? Homer's Odyssey
You should read this book if you like: Sungods behaving badly, seawitches, Greek mythology, complex heroines, monsters, magic, The Song of Achilles, turning terrible men into pigs
You should read this book if you like: Sungods behaving badly, seawitches, Greek mythology, complex heroines, monsters, magic, The Song of Achilles, turning terrible men into pigs
What story does it retell? Rumpelstiltskin
You should read this book if you like: Uprooted, women helping women, interlocking narratives, love stories, impossible tasks, winter wonderlands, confronting antisemitic stereotypes
You should read this book if you like: Uprooted, women helping women, interlocking narratives, love stories, impossible tasks, winter wonderlands, confronting antisemitic stereotypes
What story does it retell? Many versions of the Trojan War
You should read this book if you like: New perspectives on old tales, forgotten women, vignettes, lots of characters, lots of narrators
You should read this book if you like: New perspectives on old tales, forgotten women, vignettes, lots of characters, lots of narrators
What story does it retell? Aladdin
You should read this book if you like: Genderswapped stories, the Ottoman empire, political intrigue, fantastical worlds, djinn, magic carpet rides into whole new worlds
You should read this book if you like: Genderswapped stories, the Ottoman empire, political intrigue, fantastical worlds, djinn, magic carpet rides into whole new worlds
What story does it retell? Vasilisa the Fair
You should read this book if you like: Russian folktales, bleak winters, atmospheric prose, compelling villains, bad priests, trickster demons, the first book in a trilogy
You should read this book if you like: Russian folktales, bleak winters, atmospheric prose, compelling villains, bad priests, trickster demons, the first book in a trilogy
What story does it retell? Norse mythology
You should read this book if you like: Norse mythology, American Gods, Good Omens, pretty much any Neil Gaiman take on pretty much any type of myth
You should read this book if you like: Norse mythology, American Gods, Good Omens, pretty much any Neil Gaiman take on pretty much any type of myth
What story does it retell? Sophocles' Antigone
You should read this book if you like: Booker Prize nominees, Goodreads Choice Award nominees, Muslim representation, modern settings for classic plays, siblings, immigrant stories
You should read this book if you like: Booker Prize nominees, Goodreads Choice Award nominees, Muslim representation, modern settings for classic plays, siblings, immigrant stories
What story does it retell? Homer's Iliad
You should read this book if you like: Books about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, faithful retellings in very different settings, soldiers who just want to stop fighting, James Joyce
You should read this book if you like: Books about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, faithful retellings in very different settings, soldiers who just want to stop fighting, James Joyce
What story does it retell? Beowulf
You should read this book if you like: Stories that examine modern motherhood, female warriors, experimental prose, the epic wrath of suburban women
You should read this book if you like: Stories that examine modern motherhood, female warriors, experimental prose, the epic wrath of suburban women
What story does it retell? Homer's Iliad
You should read this book if you like: Side characters taking center stage, reminders about the brutality of war, heroes who aren't very heroic
You should read this book if you like: Side characters taking center stage, reminders about the brutality of war, heroes who aren't very heroic
What story does it retell? Mexican folklore, with a dash of Cinderella and Hades and Persephone
You should read this book if you like: The Jazz Age, Mexico, roadtrips, gods of death, Mayan mythology, the underworld, slow burn romance
You should read this book if you like: The Jazz Age, Mexico, roadtrips, gods of death, Mayan mythology, the underworld, slow burn romance
What story does it retell? A variety of East and South Asian myths
You should read this book if you like: Anthologies, short stories, authors like Roshani Chokshi, Reneé Ahdieh, Melissa de la Cruz, and more
You should read this book if you like: Anthologies, short stories, authors like Roshani Chokshi, Reneé Ahdieh, Melissa de la Cruz, and more
What story does it retell? Aeschylus' Oresteia
You should read this book if you like: Vengeful wives, family dysfunction, tragic downfalls, The Testament of Mary, stabbing terrible men in baths
You should read this book if you like: Vengeful wives, family dysfunction, tragic downfalls, The Testament of Mary, stabbing terrible men in baths
Which mythological retellings do you love? Let's talk books in the comments!
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Check out more recent articles:
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Comments Showing 51-58 of 58 (58 new)
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Whom the Gods Would Destroy by Richard Powell is a great "non-literary " retelling of the Iliad, mostly from the Trojan POV.
EM Ervin has 3 great books that combine urban myths in modern day story
Esther wrote: "I saw Circe leading the list and I immediately knew I was in for a treat. Now I have 10 pending books."Same here!
I have read only Circe in this list and it's one of my favourites. I think my next pick will be "Gods of Jade and Shadow" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia..
Sara wrote: "This list skews very heavily toward Western mythology and folklore. Of 13 titles, only 3 are based on stories with origins outside of Europe, while a 4th reinterprets a classical Greek play through..."Agreed!
Summer wrote: "Not sure I would characterize The City of Brass as an Aladdin retelling. That is misleading at best and highly reductive of the work at worst. But us Middle Easterners should feel lucky that it’s e..."It's absolute idiocy to list The City of Brass as an Aladdin retelling! As though that's the only Middle Eastern myth! City of Brass is an amazing speculative fiction fantasy novel centered entirely on Middle Eastern culture and folklore in general. Just because it has a djinn and a magic carpet in it does NOT make it Aladdin!
...Aladdin retelling, that's what they got from that??
you have my attention"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Pa...