Got Greek myth fever?
The new film, THE ODYSSEY, is the topic of much conversation these days. I absolutely love that the movie has prompted people to revisit Homer, which is amazing. Homer is timeless. And like pretty much all film adaptations, the books are better!
Many publications and blogs have posted lists of Greek myth retellings to check out. Lots of social media posts on it, too. CBC, Screen Rant, Book Riot. There are more! Even People, Vogue, and Forbes got in on it! There’s some good stuff there, for sure. But only two included a book written by an author of Greek descent (and it was the same book)!
Myth retellings and re-imagingings are hot, hot, hot
Greek myth re-imaginings and retellings have been popular for several years now. It’s no surprise that the myths continue to inspire. But did you know that many of the published re-imaginings and retellings are written by non-Greek authors?
Before you jump to conclusions, hear me out. I have read and loved many of those stories. But did you know that reading a Greek myth retelling written by an actual Greek is a next-level experience? You may be thinking, if the writing is good, it shouldn’t matter, right? Read on.
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Greek myths are in our blood
You may be thinking, “So then why aren’t there more Greek authors re-imagining and retelling the myths? Well, for many writers of Greek descent, they don’t want to be pigeon-holed or thought to not have original ideas. We Greeks are often told that we lean too much on the glories of the past. So it’s no wonder that writers want to craft something original, and often unrelated.
You should also know that our Greek myths are encoded in our DNA. We feel them, experience them differently. They’re part of our physical and emotional makeup, as well as our cultural one. So when you read a Greek myth retelling or re-imagining written by someone Greek, you’re getting a more nuanced story. One created from the perspective of a person who lives and breathes the rich Greek heritage, culture, and history. In other words, keeping the “Greek” in the Greek myth offers a window into our world. Like an insider’s take.
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Modern Greek authors are underrepresented in literature
Many writers of Greek descent have written original stories inspired by myths, but they don’t fall under the typical reimagining or retelling category. Yet others simply write in different genres. It’s also worth noting that there are few authors of Greek descent that are traditionally published. We’re totally unrepresented. In fact, many authors of Greek descent give up or go the indie or hybrid publishing route, because they either couldn’t break in or simply decided they wanted more control. So those titles may not receive as much exposure as a traditionally published one, or one from a well-established author.
Check my blog regularly, where I champion stories written by authors of Greek descent plus others who write stories set in Greece or about Greece.
Go Greek
So, if you’re feeling some “myth fever”, dive in! Start with the OG – HOMER. You may be saying, “but I read The Iliad and The Odyssey in school”. Yeah, we all did. But it hits differently as an adult.
In fact, this is already happening. According to Printweek.com, sales of The Odyssey books are up 70% from last year.
I’m sure you’ve seen the lists with recommendations (they’re popping up everywhere! I mentioned some of the earlier.) for Greek myth retellings and re-imaginings – but they’re all written by non-Greeks. Read them, too. But today, I give you 7 Greek authors to read as well. Some you’ve likely never heard of, but nonetheless, these gifted authors deserve to be read – and heard. Add them to your list!
7 Greek Authors of Greek Myth Retellings to Check Out
Nikos Kazantzakis
The master. This Cretan author was nominated nine times for a Nobel Prize – but due to political pressure, never won. I’m sure when you hear Kazantzakis, you think of Zorba the Greek. But Kazantzakis’ library is diverse and multi-genre.
Check out his At the Palaces of Knossos (Ohio University Press, 1998), translated by Themi Vasils and Theodora Vasils. It’s Kazantzakis’ version of the Minotaur myth. Incidentally, it’s the first of the great writer’s works I ever read. AND it was translated by two Greek-American women that I had the privilege to know. Oh, and don’t forget The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel (Touchstone, 1985), translated by Kimon Friar (also Greek!).
BONUS TIP: After reading them, do go down the Kazantzakis “rabbit hole”, and read more of his work. You’ll thank me later.
Alexandra Bracken
An American author of Greek and German descent, Alexandra Bracken is a #1 New York Times, USA TODAY, and international bestselling author. Her work has been adapted for feature films and is available across the world in over 20 languages. She writes YA, and her books have been categorized as fantasy, urban fantasy, sci-fi, and dystopian.
Lore (Disney Hyperon, 2023) is a contemporary YA fantasy set in New York City, described as “Greek Mythology meets The Hunger Games” and “A brilliant and breathless twist on classic mythology.”
Kassandra Flamouri
Greek-American author Kassandra Flamouri writes YA books, as well as a fascinating Substack called Partheneia, for “myth retellings and adaptations, novels, and other writing centered on the power of narrative in shaping who we are and what we do. Change the story, change yourself, change the world.” She calls her work “feminist retellings”, and focuses on “writing on power, story & women”.
Her book, The Roots of Our Magic, is a collection of stories inspired by the folklore of Greece. Author Eleni Gage said, “Flamouri’s collection draws on folklore, history, and fantasy, and captivates through her crisp, compelling prose.”
Stamatia Karampini
Stamatia Karampini is a Greek author, actor, and conductor. She grew up in Crete and Thessaly.
Ariadne & Dionysus: A Modern Tale (independently published, 2021), is the story of six-year-old Ariadne from Crete who is frightened when she spots her own name inside a book of mythology. Despite being reassured it is just fiction, during the next 30 years, her life continuously reflects the myth. She becomes a conductor, who embarks on a Ulyssean journey from Crete to Germany, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Russia and the UK, which is marked by an immigrant’s infinite loneliness, the ebb and flow of memory, waves of passion, desire, regret, shame and yearning for an unrealized dream. Until one day in Stockholm, she crosses paths with a familiar soul: a fallen, self-exiled “Olympian god” in need of help.
Sophia Kouidou-Giles
A Greek-American raised in Thessaloniki, Sophia Kouidou-Giles is the author of a memoir and three Greek-myth retellings. An Unexpected Ally: A Greek Tale of Love, Revenge, and Redemption (She Writes Press, 2023) follows Circe, as the dolphins transport her to Delos to help mend her broken heart after Odysseus’ departure. In this fresh take, love, hate, and jealousy are channeled into a compelling story of sisterhood.
Circle of Peace: A Greek Tale of Perse’s Great Hall (She Writes Press, 2025) is the sequel to Ally, but easily a standalone. Readers return to the world of Circe, but this time, we follow her mother Perse on a mission for peace that becomes an epic battle of wills.
Her forthcoming book, Ariadne: A Greek Tale of Labyrinths and Legacies, (She Writes Press) is due in November 2026. In this reimagining of the story of Ariadne, the half-sister of the Minotaur, meet a young woman who dares to act. Who reaches for hope in a world ruled by fear. Through love, loss, and courageous defiance, Ariadne learns to turn the Labyrinth’s twisted path into a way forward. This Greek tale reimagines the power of one voice to challenge a fate written in stone.
Kika Hatzopoulou
Award-winning, Bestselling Autor Kika Hatzopoulou was born in Greece but now calls London home. She’s been writing in English since she was a child and earned her MFA in Writing for Children at the New School in New York City. She writes YA fantasy noir.
In her debut novel, Threads That Bind, (GP Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2024) travel to a world where the children of the gods inherit their powers, where a descendant of the Greek Fates must solve a series of impossible murders to save her sisters, her soulmate, and her city.
Hearts that Cut (Razorbill, 2024), the highly-anticipating sequel, has been referred to as Hatzopoulou’s “second heart-pounding Greek-myth-inspired romantasy”. One reviewer said, it ”combines mystery, fated romance, and modern myth.”
Ioanna Papadopoulou
Greek fantasy and speculative fiction writer Ioanna Papadopoulou is now based in Scotland. In addition to her writing, she is passionate about art history and museology.
Winter Harvest (Ghost Orchid Press, 2023), was inspired by her years of reading ancient Greek mythology retellings and “always feeling that something was missing from them compared to how I experienced them as a young girl…something is out of place.” In this dark reimagining of the tale of Demeter and Persephone, Papadopoulou explores femininity in Greek Mythology and Demeter’s place as a goddess who is “neither good nor bad, but a very flawed creature with immense power and my own ideas of womanhood, motherhood and gender politics”.
Tales that literally put the Greek in Greek myth
Well, there you have it! Seven Greek authors of myth retellings to feed your “Odyssey fever”. Find a few more in this great piece from Linguistic Magazine. The Greek myths continue to inspire and shape our stories, our world. I’m sure that Greek myth retellings and re-imaginings will continue to be popular, whether written by Greek authors of non-Greek. Read them widely. But be sure to leave space for the talented writers who create their stories from their lived experience of the myths, culture, and history of Greece.
Happy Reading!
Read more:
My Greek Books—March 2023 Reads
