YA Greek Mythology

August 14, 2026 Katelyn Burklow 0 Comments

Greek mythology refers to stories, myths, and legends created by the ancient Greeks about their collection of gods and heroes. These stories also acted as the ancient Greeks’ way of explaining the origins of the world. There are many easily recognizable Greek mythology names such as Zeus (king of the gods and god of the sky), Hades (god of the dead), and Athena (goddess of wisdom). With the recent release of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, inspired by Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, I think it’s safe to say that Greek mythology is a major aspect of social media and pop culture currently. My social media pages are filled to the brim with people talking about the film, and some even discussing other sources of literature and film to further explore Greek mythology as interest arises. The Odyssey and The Iliad by Homer remain the most famous Greek mythology texts, acting as a great foundational work for those interested in getting a foothold in this area of literature and storytelling. Click here for more information on The Odyssey.

However, Greek mythology is not reserved entirely to ancient stories and beliefs. There are now many modern-day Greek mythology retellings and adaptations that can arouse interest in the subject matter and expose people to different views and characters in Greek mythology. Some of my personal favorites are stories that explore the female experience in ancient Greece through figures like Helen of Troy, Clytemnestra, and Ariadne. Authors now take liberties to conduct re-imaginings of famous Greek mythology stories, introducing new perspectives and placing the events in a more modern and recognizable setting.

Here are some of my personal favorite young adult (YA) Greek mythology books!

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

One of the most popular YA Greek mythology series is Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, originally published in 2005. This series contains altogether five books, alongside two film adaptations from the 2010s, and a television show on Disney+. The show, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, announced that season three will be released November 20, 2026. The first book follows demigod Percy Jackson as he learns he is the son of Poseidon and is sent to Camp Half-Blood to train alongside other demigod children. However, Zeus believes that either Poseidon or Percy stole his lightning bolt, forcing Percy to journey with his friends to find the lightning bolt in order to prove their innocence.

As a kid, it was this series that originally introduced me to Greek mythology and bloomed my fascination with these stories and legends. I have seen many of the kids I work with also reading this book series, indicating to me this series’ ability to resonate with multiple generations and introduce more children to Greek mythology. Rick Riordan also has some other books relating to Greek mythology such as The Heroes of Olympus series, The Trials of Apollo series, and The Nico di Angelo Adventures series.

Lore by Alexandra Bracken

This book is about Greek gods that are punished every seven years for a rebellion by being forced to walk on the Earth as mortals for seven days. The gods are then hunted by mortal descendants of ancient bloodlines, seeking revenge. Any mortal who kills a god will receive their immortality and powers for themselves.

I enjoyed this book because it features one of my personal favorite Greek gods: Athena. I also think the premise is very unique and interesting—we get to see the consequences and danger the gods face when put in this position. Similar to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, this book has a more modern setting which I think can make Greek mythology more accessible to young adults and people just getting started.

Here are some YA Greek mythology books that I have put on my to-be-read (TBR) list:

Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood

This book, inspired by The Odyssey, is about a girl named Leto who is one of twelve maidens to be sacrificed to Poseidon in order to keep his wrath towards Ithaca at bay. After she is killed, she wakes up on an island and meets an immortal creature of the sea named Melantho. They team up to try and kill Prince Mathias of Ithaca in order to break the curse Poseidon put on Ithaca.

After watching Nolan’s film The Odyssey I am desperate to return to Ithaca. The premise of this book also really interests me, especially with the main character being a girl who is used as a sacrifice. I can only imagine the kind of emotional turmoil that gives Leto an opportunity to end the need for a sacrifice altogether.

Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews

This book follows a teenage girl named Daphne who had trained her whole life to be a warrior in hopes of being accepted by Sparta. But then Daphne meets the goddess Artemis who controls her brother’s fate. She is then tasked with finding nine items that have been stolen from Mount Olympus, setting her off on a dangerous and vital journey.

I love Greek mythology books set in Sparta, the home of iconic characters like Helen and Clytemnestra. This book also features the god Apollo and goddess Artemis who are amongst some of my favorites. This book also reminds me of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, but featuring a girl who seems very independent and strong.

If you have not yet done some research on Greek mythology or read any of the amazing YA Greek mythology books I listed above, I think now is the perfect time to jump in!

Katelyn Burklow, Pine Reads Review Writer