For me, mythology isn’t only about gods fighting each other or controlling a hero’s fate. Mythology is about the essence of being human. Myths tap into something universal — they help us understand how to show up in the world. That’s why we come back to them time and again.
But often, myths bear the style and idiosyncrasies of the particular time and culture in which they were created. That’s where contemporary retellings come in. Young adult mythology reimaginings help readers find new ways to connect with these archetypal stories and their powerful themes.
Here are six Y.A. novels that reimagine Greek mythology to help teens find their place.
Lore, by Alexandra Bracken
“Lore” takes your favorite ancient Greek gods and plops them in the middle of a “Hunger Games”-esque competition. As punishment for a past rebellion, every seven years nine gods must survive on earth as mortals while being hunted by the descendants of ancient heroes in a competition called the Agon. In a past Agon, Lore Perseous lost her family in a brutal slaying. Now, she’s expected to participate in Agons herself, but as the only remaining member of her bloodline, she vowed to leave the heroic life behind and went into hiding. However, she’s forced back into the hunt when her old friend, Castor, and then an injured Athena show up with an offer she can’t refuse. This story captures the rawness and brutality of Greek mythology through a modern lens yet wisely leaves the interpretations of the outcome to the reader.
This novel features two stories woven together so seamlessly you’d think Arachne herself inspired Berry as she wrote. It opens in World War II, and Hephaestus has once again caught Aphrodite and Ares in a tryst. To distract her jealous husband, Aphrodite tells her favorite love story of all time, that of two seemingly star-crossed couples living during World War I. The tale of how they struggle to survive the war and keep faith in romance shows that love can conquer all.
Cole’s novel-in-verse considers Medusa not as a monster but as a victim. The book introduces Alicia Rivers, a teenager who has been sexually assaulted by a teacher at her school. Afraid to speak about what happened, Alicia internalizes the trauma, and the strain turns her into someone no one recognizes, not even herself. Then she starts receiving mysterious notes implying that she may not be the only person to have been assaulted by the teacher. This novel focuses less on re-examining the Medusa myth and more on channeling the archetypal energies of Medusa’s story, exploring how victims are commonly cast out and what it takes for them to reclaim their power. “Dear Medusa” is a heavy read, but a necessary one.
Spin, by Rebecca Caprara
This feminist retelling of Ovid’s Arachne tale is about more than just an epic weaving battle with Athena. Caprara recasts the classical myth, transforming it into a novel-in-verse about an ostracized girl who is finding her voice. The story, told through a fresh, Sapphic lens, follows Arachne as she evolves from a timid girl to a weaver so powerful she ends up challenging Athena. This reimagining takes Arachne’s intensity and desires from her original story and combines them with the contemporary demand to finally notice the women who have been overlooked for so long.
This fantasy is another story about descendants of the gods, and this time the daughters of the Fates take center stage. Each generation, three sisters are born who possess the Fates’ powers. We follow the latest incarnations: The oldest sister, Thais, weaves the threads of life; the middle, Ava, draws them; and the youngest, Io, cuts them. Io uses her skills as a private detective, and during a case, she discovers a murdered woman who doesn’t have a life thread as she should. The mystery draws Io into a larger world of corruption as she struggles with love, family and her own self-worth. If that isn’t enough to entice you, this book also has a unique magic system built around the feminine energies in Greek myth as well as a forbidden love story, making this a novel that will leave every type of fantasy reader greatly entertained.
One of the things I’m loving in modern retellings is the trend of re-exploring classical stories through the eyes of the women who were sidelined in the original tale. “Horses of Fire” does that beautifully, examining the stories of three women deeply affected by the Trojan War: Andromache, Rhea and the infamous Helen. Each woman narrates her own battles and heartbreaks as the war between Troy and Sparta decimates their worlds. In the vein of Madeline Miller and Natalie Haynes, this story breathes new life into a classic by viewing it from a previously neglected perspective.
