Greek Mythology Fantasy Recommendations
In the 19th century, Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of the Scarlet Letter, wrote children's versions of the Greek myths, which he intended to "entirely revolutionize the whole system of juvenile literature." His work, along with the works of Charles Kingsley and Thomas Bulfinch have been credited with "recast[ing] Greek mythology into a genteel Victorian subject." His major work A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys was published in 1851 and was widely-acclaimed.
The Age of Fable or Stories of Gods and Heroes was written by Thomas Bulfinch and published in 1855. The work was a highly successful popularization of Greek mythology for English-speaking readers. Bulfinch expressly intended his work for the general reader. In the preface to The Age of Fable he states "Our work is not for the learned, nor for the theologian, nor for the philosopher, but for the reader of English literature, of either sex, who wishes to comprehend the allusions so frequently made by public speakers, lecturers, essayists, and poets, and those which occur in polite conversation.” Carl J. Richard commented that it was "one of the most popular books ever published in the United States and the standard work on classical mythology for nearly a century."
The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, often shortened to Percy Jackson, is a five book series of adventure and mythological fiction books written by American author Rick Riordan. The series has been one of the most popular YA Greek Mythology Fantasy series of the last decade. The books follow the trials and tribulations of teenager Percy Jackson, who finds out that he is the son of the Greek god Poseidon, god of the sea. He is then sent to Camp Half-Blood, a training camp for the children of deities. While undergoing training, Percy learns how to control and harness his abilities and divine powers. He is drawn into a brewing war between his father Poseidon and uncle Zeus. The adventure leads him to the Underworld and where he rescues his mother and barely escapes the clutches of Hades. Throughout the book, he comes into contact with the majority of the Olympians and in the end prevents a devastating war on Earth.
The Penelopiad, or Ballad of the Dead Maids, is a novella by Margaret Atwood that recounts the events of The Odyssey from the point of view of Penelope, wife of Odysseus. It was published in 2005 as part of the first set of books in the Canongate Myth Series where contemporary authors rewrite ancient myths. In The Penelopiad, Penelope reminisces on the events during the Odyssey, including the lives of Hades, Odysseus, Helen, and her relationships with her parents. A chorus of the twelve maids, whom Odysseus believed were disloyal and whom Telemachus hanged, interrupt Penelope's narrative throughout the book to express their view on events.
In Homer’s account in The Odyssey, Penelope—wife of Odysseus and cousin of the beautiful Helen of Troy—is portrayed as the quintessential faithful wife, her story a salutary lesson through the ages. Left alone for twenty years when Odysseus goes off to fight in the Trojan War after the abduction of Helen, Penelope manages, in the face of scandalous rumors, to maintain the kingdom of Ithaca, bring up her wayward son, and keep over a hundred suitors at bay, simultaneously. When Odysseus finally comes home after enduring hardships, overcoming monsters, and sleeping with goddesses, he kills her suitors and—curiously—twelve of her maids.
In a splendid contemporary twist to the ancient story, Margaret Atwood has chosen to give the telling of it to Penelope and to her twelve hanged maids, asking: “What led to the hanging of the maids, and what was Penelope really up to?” In Atwood’s dazzling, playful retelling, the story becomes as wise and compassionate as it is haunting, and as wildly entertaining as it is disturbing. With wit and verve, drawing on the story-telling and poetic talent for which she herself is renowned, she gives Penelope new life and reality—and sets out to provide an answer to an ancient mystery.
--- Goodreads review with score of 3.64