A ruthless war. A treacherous journey at sea. Cunning encounters with the immortal. Homer’s epic poem about King Odysseus’s homecoming has made waves across the globe, courtesy of Christopher Nolan’s newly unveiled adaptation of The Odyssey. Breaking box office records, the ancient Greek tale has reached new heights in the pop culture zeitgeist. A flurry of discourse and conversations online surround the original texts, and with it a resurgence for Greek mythology at large.
In the literary space, mythology has long been an evergreen inspiration to draw from. Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles is certainly one for the books, her heart-wrenching take on the Greek god Achilles captivating readers worldwide. British author Stephen Fry is lauded for his retellings of famous Greek legends, from the rise of Zeus to siege of the Trojan War.
On this side of the world, age-old folklore is deeply woven into Asian cultures across the continent. In the East, otherworldly realms co-exist with life on earth, where only the chosen and called can enter. Sue Lynn Tan’s Immortal is set in Tianxia, a heavenly kingdom that preserves cosmological harmony. Meanwhile, stories authored by Vaishnavi Patel are rooted in Hindu mythos. Her novel Goddess Of The River is based on Mahabharata, an ancient Indian Sanskrit epic.
Talk about being in a Percy Jackson era all over again. For a deep dive into the vast fabric of fables from all corners of the world, look to Vogue Singapore’s curation of mythological reads that will truly take you on a journey.
1 / 9
Mestra by Madeline Miller
Known for her acclaimed bestsellers Song of Achilles and Circe, Madeline Miller’s upcoming book is also part of the mythical Greek world. Mestra has been granted a powerful ability by Poseidon: metamorphosis. Her father, the King of Thessaly on the other hand? Cursed with an eternal insatiable hunger as punishment for disrespecting Demeter. The filial daughter wields everything in her transfigurational power to save the king, but the hunger incessantly takes from her. How much of herself will she give, or does she walk away?
2 / 9
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
Inspired by the fable of the Four Beauties of Ancient China, Xishi has looks that could kill, literally. Set in the ancient Yue village, her blessed beauty soon catches the attention of Fanli, a famous military advisor with an unexpected battle strategy: weaponising Xishi’s allure. The game plan? Infiltrating the rival Wu kingdom as a spy, seduce their corrupt king and topple them from within. A perilous mission ensues, where one wrong move could bring both kingdoms down.
3 / 9
The Immortal Heart by Jennifer Saint
Opposites attract, they say. When the devastatingly beautiful Goddess of Love Aphrodite meets the fiery God of War Ares, an unexpected irresistible attraction draws them close. But even the actions of Greek gods have consequences, and the pair run into divine chaos and conflict as their devotion is tested. Is all truly fair in love and war?
4 / 9
The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim
Now exiled to the human world, the devilish trickster god Seokga the Fallen now spends his days at a humble coffee shop, constantly pestered by his charming co-worker Hani. When a threat to destroy humanity arises, the emperor strikes a bargain with Seokga: he’ll go back to the heavenly realm if he saves the world and kills the legendary Scarlet Fox. Little does he know that very fox is Hani. She cunningly teams up with Seokga, secretly sabotaging his kill mission without revealing her true identity. Romantic feelings rise, but their secrets may just tear them, and the world, apart.
5 / 9
Odyssey by Stephen Fry
Fry turns the famed tale that follows Odysseus and his decade-long journey back to Ithaca from a faraway legend into a human experience. Epic battles and trials from the gods become a relatable, humorous account on one man’s devoted journey back home to his family.
6 / 9
Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan
The kingdom of Tianxia has an eternal duty of protecting the immortals. When its heir Liyen gets poisoned, her grandfather steals an enchanted lotus to save her, enraging the immortal queen. She unleashes the God of War against Tianxia, and Liyen is forced to ascend the throne and safeguard her people. As dark forces and mysterious perils close in, an alliance must be made with the war god himself, but not before a treacherous attraction ignites between them.
7 / 9
Sweetbitter Song by Rosie Hewlett
There’s another side to The Odyssey. A fateful encounter brings Melantho, a slave girl, and Penelope together before a disaster tears them apart. When she’s sent to serve Penelope and her new husband Prince Odysseus, she’s determined to keep her distance. But war breaks out and Odysseus has to go, leaving room for a forbidden love to burst forth and bubble over.
8 / 9
Goddess Of The River by Vaishnavi Patel
A curse and an oath swept up in a river that can’t change its course. The Hindu epic Mahabharata is seen through the perspective of Ganga. Once a joyful river goddess, she is cursed to become mortal when a series of events go sideways. Determined to be set free no matter the cost, she is forced to drown her first seven sons. Her eighth and youngest walks free, and grows up to be Prince Devavrata who unknowingly carries the legacy of his mother’s curse. Told through a dual narrative, the plot thickens as their fates intertwine against the backdrop of the war that consumes their family.
9 / 9
No Friend To This House by Natalie Haynes
The ancient tale of Jason and the Argonauts is told through the eyes of Medea—priestess, witch and daughter of a ruthless king. Him and his crew face grave danger in search of the Golden Fleece, and Medea is the only one who can save him. She risks it all to do so and their lives soon intertwine into one. But as fate would have it, their destructive love was doomed from the very start, eventually meeting a tragic end.
