12 Mythology-Inspired YA Books – WITH GREAT AND MISCHIEVOUS GODS & GODDESSES
The main theme of a mythology book is that it is a story that describes the activities of mythological characters, such as characters from the Bible, Greek or Norse mythology, or others. Unlike folktales or fables, mythology books always have a moral or lesson to be learned from the story, which may serve as a warning or an encouragement.
The hero of a mythology book usually undergoes a journey or quest, often one of self-discovery, to achieve a goal or to obtain some valuable item. A mythology book may also be a retelling of a folktale, but this time, the moral of the story is more explicit.
While many of us have grown up hearing stories of the Greek and Roman gods, there are many civilizations that have their own myths and legends, such as the Japanese and Indian. Of course, there are many best of lists out there but I thought I’d focus in on those books that I found most intriguing, and told an amazing story.
Table Of Contents
- Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
- HEROES: MORTALS AND MONSTERS, QUESTS AND ADVENTURES BY STEPHEN FRY
- The Vampire’s Desire by Martha Woods
- Antigoddess by Kendare Blake
- The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
- Lore by Alexandra Brackenry
- Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar
- Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters by Emily Roberson
- The Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
- The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White
1. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
The Starcrossed series is an intriguing mix of mythology and romance, and the books are written clearly and with depth. While the story is set in the modern day, the characters are facing dilemmas that are reminiscent of the Greek tragedies and Shakespearean-style plots. The first book in the series starts out with Helen Hamilton, a high school senior, trying to cope with the death of her mother and her own perceived shortcomings in comparison to her older sister.
A few centuries after the last Olympian gods have died out, a young girl named Helen runs away from her nymph sanctuary to find her mother, who she believes is still alive. She wakes up on a beach with no idea of where she is, and is rescued by a young man named Lucas, who claims to be her personal servant. Suddenly, Helen is whisked off to a strange land that is nothing like her home, and she is forced to adapt to the strange ways of the time. Soon, she learns that she is a demigod, and that her mother is the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite.
2. HEROES: MORTALS AND MONSTERS, QUESTS AND ADVENTURES BY STEPHEN FRY
In this book Stephen Fry takes us through the Greek and Roman mythology. He starts by telling us about the Greek and Roman gods and details some of the events that took place which they were involved in.
He does this using witty and sometimes sarcastic language. As the book progresses he moves on to the rest of the myths and legends that took place in each of the countries.
This includes the story of Theseus and the Minotaur in Greece, as well as the story of Hercules in Greece. He then moves onto the rest of the myths and legends that took place in each of the countries. This includes the story of Theseus and the Minotaur in Greece, as well as the story of Hercules in Greece.
3. The Vampire’s Desire by Martha Woods
Love is a powerful feeling as well as an important part of life. We often think of it as only between two people, but love can exist in many forms.
In Martha Woods’ book, The Vampire’s Desire, love exists in the most powerful way possible: the love between a vampire and a human.
Vincent has never met a woman like Amy. Not in over 114 years as a vampire has he been so taken. He is a supernatural enforcer. The vampire’s laws are his code.
Behind the murders is an evil shaman. He has a taste of revenge.
Now wait and watch the sparks fly as their two worlds collide.
4. Antigoddess by Kendare Blake
Why is the idea of a female villain so scary? Throughout history, men have played the role of bad guy, from the mythical Icarus to the infamous Grigori Rasputin. But when an evil woman appears in a story, it’s a different story entirely. (Can you imagine anyone writing about a male villainess?)
That’s what Kendare Blake seems to find so fascinating in her latest novel, Antigoddess . The book, which is the first in a series of a planned quartet, follows a girl named Helen Hamilton as she discovers that she is the daughter of a Greek goddess and a satyr, and she must battle the gods to save humanity.
5. The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
“The Never Tilting World” by Rin Chupeco is a grim, dark fantasy that doesn’t shy away from showing the brutality of war. In short, it’s about a female soldier who has been ripped from her home and forced to fight in a war she doesn’t understand, for reasons she doesn’t know, watching her friends die and her enemies commit unspeakable acts with little hesitation.
It’s a story that shows the difficulty of war, and of love. It is a perfect storm of epic proportions. There are so many elements that go into this book, that they blend together to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts. This isn’t just a good book, it’s a perfect book for a lot of people, and definitely worth picking up.
6. Lore by Alexandra Bracken
“Lore” by Alexandra Bracken is a book about a girl named June, who lives in a world where the human race and the fairie world are at war. One day June is kidnapped by the fairie world, and is forced to live with them. June must learn how to live in this new world, and she must choose a side.
This is a great book for any fan of fantasy stories. The book tells about a world that is similar to the one we live in, but is completely different.
The characters are so well written that you feel like you know them personally, which makes it that much more heartbreaking when they are faced with impossible choices.
The plot is fast-paced, and you’ll be wanting to read just one more chapter before you realize you’ve already read the entire book. This is the kind of story that will stay with you long after the last page, so don’t let its short length fool you into thinking it’s an easy read.
7. Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar
Star Daughters is a fun, fast, and romantic read, perfect for any mythology geek looking for a satisfying novel. The book follows the story of the young and arrogant Satya, the daughter of the local Goddess of Death, who is punished for her brash behavior by being forced to become mortal for a hundred years. When she returns to her home planet, she is surprised to find that many things have changed in her absence, and that she has a lot of catching up to do.
Sonakshi has been in line to be queen of her planet since the day she was born. But she never wanted to be queen. She’s the youngest of three children, and her older brother and sister are everything she isn’t: strong, kind, and responsible. So it’s not surprising that when her planet is attacked by a ruthless enemy, Sonakshi runs away, determined to prove that she can make it alone. But when she meets a lonely boy named Ashok, Sonakshi realizes she can’t do it alone. Can she learn to trust someone else and defeat the evil that threatens to destroy her world?
8. Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters by Emily Roberson
A series of interviews with Greek, Roman and Norse gods now available in a single volume, this book offers a rare glimpse into the lives and personalities of the immortal beings who claim to have created the universe.
From Aphrodite’s guilty pleasures to Thor’s surprising penchant for cross-dressing, from Hermes’s impressive vocabulary to Hera’s love for a good joke, Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters offers us a rare opportunity to peer behind the curtains of the gods’ lives and shines a light on the divine beings who have influenced our world and our culture for thousands of years.
9. The Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
The Wicked Saints is Emily A. Duncan’s debut novel. It is the first book in a trilogy about the family of Saints that are based off the Seven Deadly Sins. Wicked Saints is an interesting read to say the least, and one that is unlike anything I have read before. The novel takes place in modern day England, and the main characters are all based off the seven deadly sins. The characters are all written to be relatable and realistic despite the fact that they are based off the seven deadly sins.
10. The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White
Kiersten White, author of the Paranormalcy series, just released a new stand-alone novel, The Chaos of Stars. The Chaos of Stars is a contemporary YA set in the forests of New Hampshire, and tells the story of how the literal star-crossed love between a girl who wants to be a famous ballerina and the son of a movie star, who she meets when she is hired to babysit his younger sister.
As the daughter of Ares and the heir to the throne of the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has the perfect life. Or at least it seems that way on the surface. But when her parents are brutally murdered, Helen and her brother, Lucas, are suddenly cast into a world of chaos. With the assistance of a charming young man, Helen and Lucas embark on a quest to find the murderer. It doesn’t take long for Helen to realize that she is the target, and at the center of a conflict between the descendants of the gods of Olympus and the children of the Titans, who are out to kill her and everyone she loves.
