Greek mythology is having a moment. Certainly, it’s been popular for a long time, but with the rise of dark academia as an aesthetic and interest among teens especially, Greek mythology falls in line with the ideas of private schools, classic stories, and slightly foreboding possibilities.
It’s also true that the youngest readers who grew up on Rick Riordan and his mythology are seeking out YA titles as they enter their late teens and early adulthood. That Riordan has his own imprint now, too, has only increased interest in these titles.
YA retellings have used Greek myths for decades, but inspired by the increased desire for these stories, let’s look at both some new books, as well as some from the back list.
For readers who haven’t had interest in Greek mythology, these titles can be a great introduction. And in YA, we’re lucky — more and more of these retellings are being done by authors of color, adding something entirely new, fresh, and far more inclusive to mythology (which, of course, is what makes mythology exciting).
This is fresh, clever take on Athena and Hermes’s story.
But the world threatens to keep them apart.
This is a Latinx take on Orpheus and Eurydice, and if this one really works for you as a reader, another clever take on this myth is All Our Pretty Songs by Sarah McCarry.
Kahlen was rescued from the Ocean, but now she has to serve the sentence as a Siren — a single word from her lips could kill. She’s resigned to stay alone, despite how much she wants to spend time around other people, laughing, having fun, and living like the humans around her. But then she meets Akinli and starts to fall. Their connection is undeniable, but because falling in love with a human goes against the rules of the Ocean, things will not be easy.
This is a funny, clever take on mermaids, and it plays with the Poseidon myth.
Greek myths are part of the story both in obvious ways — this is a twist on the Cassandra myth — but also in the ways Beck and Vivian bring attention to Cassie’s story via murals around town.
