Books about mythology often borrow from tales that have been told and written centuries ago. Some authors create their own fictional story while others try to dive into the mythology to get a better understanding and what it means. That made us wonder what are the best mythology books of all time?
There are a couple of different subcategories like nonfiction, fiction, originals, and retellings. I’m sure there are some more that I am missing but you get the point. Many of them are fictional novels that borrow from past mythologies while others are more educational. Either way, they all make for great reads!
The Best Mythology Books of All Time
- Odyssey by Homer
- Iliad by Homer
- Circe by Madeline Miller
- The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
- Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
- The Greek Myths by Robert Graves
- Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
- A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
- Pandora’s Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes
- Lore by Alexandra Bracken
- Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
- The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
- Aeneid by Virgil
- Helen of Troy by Margaret George
- The Greek Plays: Sixteen Plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides
- Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis
- The Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi
- American Gods by Neil Gaiman
- Theogony by Hesiod
- The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore by Michael Foster
Books Worth Discussing
You can’t talk about mythology and not mention Odyssey and Iliad by Homer. They are important works that have been around for a long time. Another important book (or series) is Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. This might be the best-selling mythology books and their popularity almost rivals Harry Potter.
Neil Gaiman makes two appearances on the list with Norse Mythology and American Gods. I have realized over the years that American Gods is not that well liked and while I have my own theories as to why, the novel is unlike anything else out there. It isn’t Gaiman’s best work but the premise is epic and hooks you in.
Another author that makes two appearances on the list is Madeline Miller. Circe and The Song of Achilles are two amazing novels that have made Miller one of the best at retelling mythology stories with her own twist.
Lastly, I want to talk about Lore by Alexandra Bracken and want to recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the Percy Jackson series. It is a fresh take on the mythology genre and has some great writing and has a great spin on it.
Conclusion
There are even more books on the list that need mentioning but unfortunately that isn’t possible. You can use this list to learn more about the books and see if you want to read it if you already haven’t!
That is all for our best mythology books of all time list. What books should have been on the list but weren’t? Let us know in the comments below. Until next time, happy reading!
John James Votan and the men went to Cattreath
Let us not forget Joseph Campbell.