10 Books To Read After Watching The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is enjoying a stellar theatrical run and, in the process, is igniting a pop culture passion for Ancient Greek myths and legends. Not only does this mean that older movies like 300, Troy, and even 1963's Jason and the Argonauts are enjoying renewed interest, books centered around Ancient Greece are too. It’s not only nonfiction dives into the swords-and-sandals world of Odysseus that are being sought out, either.

When it comes to fiction books to read after The Odyssey, the immediate and obvious next step for readers who want to carry the excitement of watching Nolan's movie from the screen to the page is Homer's Odyssey itself, but the 3,000-year-old text is also a product of its time. Fortunately, there are plenty of modern books that adapt or are inspired by Ancient Greek myths and legends that are also perfect for scratching the same itch that The Odyssey did in theaters.

The Penelopiad By Margaret Atwood (2005)

The Handmaid’s Tale author Margaret Atwood's 2005 novel The Penelopiad is one of the most compelling ways to revisit the world of The Odyssey from a perspective that Homer's original epic largely overlooks (a problem Christopher Nolan also took steps to fix). Rather than following Odysseus on his long journey home, The Penelopiad focuses on Penelope, his wife, who remains in Ithaca while surrounded by increasingly troublesome suitors.

The Penelopiad is witty, sharp, and often deliberately uncomfortable, questioning the heroic reputation of figures like Odysseus himself. For readers who enjoyed The Odyssey but want to explore what its story looks like from a different angle, The Penelopiad offers a fascinating companion piece to the movie. Like many modern literary returns to the wolrd of Odysseus, it is less interested in recreating the adventure of Homer's Odyssey, and instead examines the darker implications of the original epic.

Ithaca By Claire North (2022)

First published in 2022, Claire North's Ithaca is the first notvel in The Songs of Penelope trilogy, which takes the events surrounding Homer's Odyssey and places women at the center of the story. Similarly to The Penelopiad, North’s novel follows Penelope and the women of Ithaca as they contend with the political and personal consequences of Odysseus's prolonged absence.

With the kingdom destabilized and suitors circling, Ithaca explores the world that exists behind Homer’s famous quest. North's approach is expansive and attentive to the social structures of Ancient Greece, which themselves drive most of the tension. The gods also play an important role, adding a nice dash of mythic scale to a story grounded in human struggles over loyalty and survival. For anyone drawn to Penelope's story in The Odyssey, Claire North's trilogy offers a rich new perspective on a familiar legend.

Lavinia By Ursula K. Le Guin (2008)

Lavinia was the last novel written by legendary Earthsea author Ursula K. Le Guin, and is inspired by Virgil's Aeneid, the Ancient Greek epic poem from which Elliot Page’s The Odyssey character, Sinon, was taken. Lavinia’s titular protagonist is the daughter of King Latinus and is destined to marry Aeneas, the Trojan hero whose journey ultimately leads toward the founding myths of Rome. While a largely silent figure in Aenied, Le Guin gives Lavinia a powerful voice.

Lavinia’s greatest strength is its intimate approach to epic mythology. Rather than focusing on grand battles and divine spectacle alone, Ursula K. Le Guin examines what it means to live inside a story whose ending has already been foretold. Lavinia's awareness of her own fate gives the novel an unusual melancholy, while Le Guin's elegant prose makes the ancient world feel tangible. Readers who appreciated the themes of destiny and the consequences of war in The Odyssey will find plenty to enjoy here.

Stone Blind By Natalie Haynes (2022)

Natalie Haynes' Stone Blind takes one of Greek mythology's most famous monsters and turns her into the center of a deeply human tragedy. The 2022 novel tells the story of Medusa, whose transformation into a Gorgon has traditionally been treated as a monstrous footnote to the heroic exploits of Perseus. Haynes instead explores Medusa's life before and after her transformation, creating a tragic origin story for one of Ancient Greek mythology's most recognizable figures.

From that premise, Stone Blind evolves into a character-focused retelling that examines the way myths are shaped by those who survive to tell them. Stone Blind is not the only book set in Ancient Greece by Haynes, either. Her acclaimed A Thousand Ships is also well worth a read, particularly for readers interested in the women affected by the Trojan War. Together, Haynes' novels demonstrate how much more there is to Ancient Greek mythology than its most celebrated heroes.

Helen Of Troy By Margaret George (2006)

Another novel that gives a much-needed voice to an essential female figure is Margaret George's Helen of Troy, which brings one of Greek mythology's most famous women to the forefront of her own story. Helen has often been reduced to the beautiful figure whose abduction or departure helped trigger the Trojan War, but George's 2006 novel gives her a much fuller life, exploring her relationships, ambitions, and experiences as the conflict between Greece and Troy unfolds around her.

Helen of Troy is a particularly excellent follow-up read after watching The Odyssey since the Trojan War forms the crucial backstory to Odysseus's journey. However, Margaret George deftly balances the grandeur expected from the epic conflict with a more personal examination of Helen. For readers coming away from The Odyssey fascinated by the characters and conflicts surrounding Troy as much as the conflict itself, George’s Helen of Troy is near-unrivaled.

The Silence Of The Girls By Pat Barker (2018)

First published in 2018, The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker shifts the focus of the Trojan War away from its celebrated male heroes and toward the women whose lives are destroyed by the conflict. The novel primarily follows Briseis, the woman taken as a war prize by Achilles, and gives her a story of her own that breaks away from classic depictions of her as little more than an object to be fought over.

The Silence of the Girls is considerably darker than many modern mythological retellings, refusing to romanticize the violence and brutality of ancient warfare. Like Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Barker's novel explores the consequences of war and the complicated morality of its central hero. It’s a grounded, often harrowing counterpoint to the grandeur of Greek legend, demonstrating how the stories of legendary warriors look from the perspective of those forced to endure their actions.

Daughters Of Sparta By Claire Heywood (2021)

Claire Heywood's Daughters of Sparta explores the Trojan War through the perspectives of two of its most famous women: Helen and Klytemnestra. Rather than treating Helen solely as the legendary beauty whose actions helped launch a war, Daughters of Sparta examines her relationship with her sister and the radically different paths their lives take. Their stories unfold against a backdrop of political ambition and the expectations imposed upon women in the ancient world (and the violent consequences of failing to meet them).

Like many modern novels that reexamine Homer's Odyssey, Daughters of Sparta brilliantly humanizes characters who often feel like they’re plot devices rather than people. Helen appears in Daughters of Sparta as a woman whose past is inseparable from the war that sent Odysseus on his journey, while Klytemnestra's story connects directly to the grim aftermath awaiting some of the Greek heroes when they finally return home.

Ariadne By Jennifer Saint (2021)

Jennifer Saint's Ariadne is an ideal book for readers who want to remain immersed in the world of Greek mythology but also want to explore different corners of it outside the story told in The Odyssey. The 2021 novel follows Ariadne, the titular princess of Crete whose most famous role is helping Theseus navigate the Labyrinth and defeat the Minotaur. Saint expands that brief mythological episode into a sweeping story with deeply relatable themes.

Saint explores Ancient Greek mythology with an accessible modern sensibility, while still preserving the sense of tragedy and inevitability that makes these stories endure. It is also far from Saint's only novel set in Ancient Greece, either. Elektra is another excellent read, expanding the story of the House of Atreus and offering another perspective on the myths surrounding the Trojan War. For readers who want to keep exploring the world of Nolan’s The Odyssey, Jennifer Saint's books are a natural next step.

Troy: Lord Of The Silver Bow By David Gemmell (2005)

2005’s Troy: Lord Of The Silver Bow takes the legends surrounding the Trojan War and reshapes them into a sweeping historical fantasy epic. The novel is the first in a trilogy by author David Gemmell, who builds a substantial vision of the ancient world across multiple books rather than compressing its many conflicts into a single narrative. It follows figures including Aeneas, Andromache, and Helikaon while presenting Troy as a complex society on the brink of catastrophe.

David Gemmell's approach will be especially appealing to readers who enjoyed the action and scale of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey but want something with meatier worldbuilding. The supernatural elements are handled by Gemmell with a measured touch, creating a setting that feels grounded while still retaining the atmosphere of myth. The trilogy also provides a broader look at the Trojan War, making it an excellent choice for anyone who wants to explore the events that shaped Odysseus's legendary journey.

The Song Of Achilles By Madeline Miller (2011)

When it comes to modern novels set in Ancient Greece, few authors are as at home as Madeline Miller, who first read The Iliad at 5 years old and has had an academic fascination with the setting ever since. Her 2011 novel The Song of Achilles is a celebrated retelling of the Trojan War told through the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus.

By placing their bond at the heart of the story, Miller transforms a familiar heroic legend into an emotionally intimate examination of love, fate, and how the devastating consequences of war can shape or destroy both. It gives readers a unique perspective on the Trojan War, with Miller bringing considerable emotional depth to characters who have often been reduced to archetypes. This isn't the only book set in Ancient Greece by Miller, either. Circe and Galatea are also well worth a read, offering equally distinctive approaches to the myths that inspired them.