6 Greek Mythology-Inspired YA Books to Read If You Loved Circe

The Cold Is in Her Bones, by Peternelle van Arsdale
Like Circe, The Cold Is in Her Bones offers a chilling retelling of the backstory of another ostracized woman in Greek mythology: Medusa. Milla has spent her entire life within the confines of her family’s farm, a precaution against the demon that possesses girls in the nearby village. When village girl Iris comes to stay at the neighboring farm, Milla finally has a chance at friendship. But when the demon comes for Iris, Milla is determined to rescue her friend and end the possessions, even if it means learning some terrible truths about her family and the world around her.With a focus on friendship and sisterhood, The Cold Is in Her Bones is the perfect feminist follow-up to Circe.

Bull, by David Elliott
David Elliott’s Bull takes on the story of Theseus and the Minotaur in this darkly funny novel in verse. When King Minos offends Poseidon, the god exacts revenge by orchestrating the birth of Asterion, the half-man, half-bull son of Minos’ wife, Pasiphae. But existence as a living revenge plot is cruel, and Bull alternates among perspectives as Asterion grows up, is imprisoned in Minos’ labyrinth, and eventually faces Theseus. Elliot’s quick, clever lines capture the unfair—and often dirty—nature of Greek mythology.

Lovely War, by Julie Berry
When Hephaestus catches his wife Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, with Ares, the God of War, Aphrodite attempts to explain the the connections among love, war, and art in the mortal world. She illustrates her points with the stories of two WWI-era couples: Hazel and James, a British pianist and the aspiring architect she follows to the front; and Aubrey and Colette, an African-American musician and the grieving Belgian girl he meets in the midst of the war. As the four are brought together by friendship and music, Aphrodite hovers nearby, weighing the couples’ (and her own) hopes for a happy ending against the conflicting interests of death and revenge. Lovely War is a story of love, healing, and meddling gods you won’t want to miss.

The Star-Touched Queen, by Roshani Chokshi
In a story that’s part Hades and Persephone, part Indian mythology, The Star-Touched Queen follows Maya as she goes from outcast princess of a war-torn kingdom to queen of something else entirely. Born under stars of death and destruction, Maya is often blamed for anything that goes wrong at her father’s court—until she’s rescued by Amar, the Raja of Akaran. Both Amar and his kingdom are full of secrets, locked doors, and mysterious glimpses of  hidden worlds, and when Amar offers her a seat ruling by his side, all Maya has to do is be patient. But patience proves difficult to master, and Maya soon finds herself on a quest to save Amar from the trouble she caused. Lush, gorgeous descriptions and enchanting characters make this tale a must-read.

The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller
If you liked Circe, it’s time to go back and read Miller’s first take on Greek mythology, The Song of Achilles. When Patroclus is exiled at ten years old, he is quickly befriended by Achilles; over time, their friendship blossoms into more. As they follow Agamemnon to Troy to recover Helen, their differences in opinion on war and glory lead to conflict and, eventually, tragedy. Told in beautiful prose, Miller’s retelling of The Iliad is full of all the depth and wonderfully constructed characters you loved in Circe.

A Song for Ella Grey, by David Almond
Based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, A Song for Ella Grey follows the story of Claire and her best friend, Ella. When Ella falls in love with wandering musician Orpheus before even meeting him face to face, Claire has her doubts. But Orpheus is just as smitten, and Claire finds herself helping Ella run away with Orpheus, leaving Claire behind. It feels like she’s lost Ella—until she actually loses Ella, and Orpheus is set to go to hell and back (literally) to save her. Written in lyrical prose that’s not quite poetry, A Song for Ella Grey is an epic, modern-day retelling of the original.