An illustration of an ancient helmet with a book instead of a plume of feathers on an orange background

Books-Based-On-Mythology_Hero-Desktop_Penguin

Reading lists

The best novels based on mythology from around the world

ArticleCard-FantasyReadingList.jpg

The best fantasy book series to escape into new worlds

Small Spaces

The spellbindingly creepy middle-grade debut from the bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale. 
 
 ‘Terrifying and fun.’ – R L Stine, author of Goosebumps 
 After rescuing a book from the river, eleven-year-old Ollie discovers a creepy ghost story about the Smiling Man, a fiendish trickster who can grant any wish – for a price. Luckily, it’s just a story … 
 
 But when Ollie finds the characters’ names carved into gravestones on a school trip to a farm, the story begins to feel terrifyingly real. And then the bus breaks down on the way home, under the watchful eyes of the scarecrows. And darkness starts to fall. ‘Best get moving,’ the bus driver warns the schoolchildren. ‘At nightfall they’ll come for the rest of you.’ 
 
 As Ollie and two new friends work to unravel a hundred-year-old mystery and save their classmates from the Smiling Man, they’ll need quick thinking and even quicker feet if they’re going to survive. 
 
 Full of slow-burning tension, gloriously creepy writing and fantastically realised characters, this is horror at its best: a perfect read for fans of R L Stine, Jennifer Killick and Phil Hickes.

Katherine Arden is the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of the Winternight Trilogy for adults and the Small Spaces Quartet for children. Her latest book for adults, The Warm Hands of Ghosts, is her eighth novel. In addition to writing, she enjoys aimless travel, growing vegetables and running wild through the woods with her dog, Moose. She lives in Vermont, USA.

‘Don't panic. That's the first rule of survival. Never panic.’ 
 
Simple enough – until your school trip turns into a waking nightmare. 
 
After rescuing a book from the river, eleven-year-old Ollie discovers an unsettling ghost story about the sinister Smiling Man, a fiendish trickster who’ll grant any wish – for a price. Creepy, but it’s just a story … 
 
But when Ollie finds graves bearing the characters’ names on a school trip to a farm, that story begins to feel terrifyingly real. And then the bus breaks down on the way home. And darkness starts to fall. And the scarecrows are watching. But it’s the bus driver who sends Ollie and her friends, Coco and Brian, scrambling into the woods: ‘Best get moving,’ he said, ominously. ‘At nightfall they’ll come for the rest of you.’ 
 
As they work to unravel a hundred-year-old mystery and save their classmates from the Smiling Man, they’ll need quick thinking and even quicker feet if they’re going to survive. 
 
Full of slow-burning tension, gorgeously atmospheric writing and fantastically realised characters, this is quality-commercial fiction at its best: brilliant storytelling that feels accessible both in execution and packaging.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts

Discover the Sunday Times bestselling supernatural historical fantasy from the author of The Bear and the Nightingale, a spellbinding, sweeping novel set in the trenches of WW1. 
 
WATERSTONES SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY BOOK OF THE MONTH 
 
‘Darkly beautiful and deeply humane.' Ava Reid, bestselling author of A Study in Drowning 
‘One of the best historical fantasies I've ever read’ Emma Törzs, bestselling author of Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe 
'Wonderful storytelling. Inventive, haunting and deeply moving.' Sarah Winman, bestselling author of Still Life 
 
 
Amid the falling shells of Flanders Field, magic and mystery fills the air… 
 
January 1918: Laura Iven, a Canadian nurse, returns home from the war, only to receive devastating news - her brother Freddie is dead. But something doesn’t quite make sense. 
 
Determined to uncover the truth, Laura heads back to Belgium, volunteering at a private hospital. There, she encounters the eerie whispers of ghosts moving among those still living and a strange inn-keeper whose wine gives soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could this have happened to Freddie - but if so, where is he? 
 
November 1917: Freddie Iven wakes after an explosion to find himself trapped with a wounded German soldier. Against all the odds, they form a bond and claw their way to an escape. 
 
But in the chaos of No Man's Land, neither know where to turn to avoid persecution. Amidst the atrocity, they encounter a fiddler with the power to make their hellscape vanish - but at what price? 
 
With the power to both warm and break your heart, The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a breathtaking and spellbinding tale of love, survival, and the supernatural. 
 
 
Praise for The Warm Hands of Ghosts 
 
'Well-researched and beautifully written, this is a compelling, memorable novel.’ The Guardian 
 
'A spectacular tour de force ... I love this book so much and want everyone to read it!' Naomi Novik, bestselling author of A Deadly Education 
 
'A wonderful clash of fire and ice ... A book you won't want to let go of.' Diana Gabaldon, bestselling author of the Outlander series 
 
'An exquisite, brilliant gem of a story.’ Conn Iggulden, bestselling author of Nero 
 
'Arden is at the very height of her powers with this rich, heart-breaking and life-affirming supernatural journey through the darkest hours of WWI. I've never read anything like it.' Laura Steven, author of Our Infinite Fates 
 
'Visionary, imaginative and brilliantly written.' Anthony Horowitz, bestselling author of The Power of Five 
 
‘Mixing historical fiction with the paranormal, this haunting, atmospheric tale of separated siblings is a real gem of a book.’ Heat Magazine 
 
‘A gripping tale of loss, mystery, ghosts and queer romance.’ BBC Culture Online 
 
 
Sunday Times bestseller, March 2024

Well-researched and beautifully written, this is a compelling, memorable novel.

Mixing historical fiction with the paranormal, this haunting, atmospheric tale of separated siblings is a real gem of a book.

Ava Reid, bestselling author of A Study in Drowning

One of the best historical fantasies I've ever read.

Emma Törzs, bestselling author of Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe

Wonderful storytelling. Inventive, haunting and deeply moving.

Sarah Winman, bestselling author of Still Life

A spectacular tour de force ... I love this book so much and want everyone to read it!

Naomi Novik, bestselling author of A Deadly Education

A wonderful clash of fire and ice ... A book you won't want to let go of.

Diana Gabaldon, bestselling author of the Outlander series

A gripping tale of loss, mystery, ghosts and queer romance.

Born in Austin, Texas, Katherine Arden has always had a taste for wandering. She spent her junior year of high school in Rennes, France. 
 
Following her acceptance to Middlebury College in Vermont, she deferred enrolment for a year in order to live and study in Russia. At Middlebury, she specialized in French and Russian literature, and her studies included sojourns at the Sorbonne in Paris and the Russian State University for the Humanities in Moscow. 
 
After receiving her BA, she moved to Maui, Hawaii and worked every kind of odd job imaginable, from grant writing and guiding horse tours to serving as a personal tour guide. During this time she wrote what became her debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale. After a year on the island, she moved to Briançon, France, and spent nine months teaching. She then returned to Maui, where she began writing The Girl in the Tower, the sequel to her debut, and officially launched her career as an author. Currently she lives in Vermont. 
 
She is the author of the Winternight Trilogy for adults and the Small Spaces Quartet for children. The Warm Hands of Ghosts is her eighth novel.

The Winter of the Witch

Set in Medieval Russia and inspired by fairy stories, the Winternight Series follows the adventures of a young woman who discovers she has magical gifts in a world that has turned its back on the old ways.

A thrilling conclusion to the Winternight Trilogy - a magical series perfect for fans of The Night Circus

Beautifully written, this adventure shimmers and shines with magic of all kinds. Heart-stoppingly good and unmissable

The Winter of the Witch plunges us back to fourteenth-century Moscow, where old gods and new vie for the soul of Russia and fate rests on a witch girl’s slender shoulders. Prepare to have your heart ripped out, loaned back to you full of snow and magic, and ripped out some more...

Haunting and enchanting story, rich in folklore and fantasy that will transport you into the heart of medieval Russia

If you're a lover of fairytales and haven't yet encountered the Winternight trilogy you are in for an absolute treat. It's truly magical

The Winter of the Witch, the third in Katherine Arden's magical Winternight Trilogy, creates a layered world full of Russian myths and legends

A historical fantasy perfect for those who love ancient stories and tradition

A magical and captivating coming of age novel set in medieval Russia - perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. 
 
One girl can make a difference... 
 
Moscow is in flames, leaving its people searching for answers – and someone to blame. Vasilisa, a girl with extraordinary gifts, must flee for her life, pursued by those who blame their misfortune on her magic. 
 
Then a vengeful demon returns, stronger than ever. Determined to engulf the world in chaos, he finds allies among men and spirits. Mankind and magical creatures alike find their fates resting on Vasya's shoulders. 
 
But she may not be able to save them all. 
 
'heart-stoppingly good...beautifully written, this adventure shimmers and shines with magic of all kinds. Unmissable.' Sunday Express 
 
'If you're a lover of fairytales you are in for an absolute treat. It's truly magical' The Pool 
 
'Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy isn’t just good—it’s hug-to-your-chest, straight-to-the-favourites-shelf, reread-immediately good, and each book just gets better. 'Laini Taylor

(Winternight Trilogy)

The Girl in The Tower

A spellbinding fairytale full of magic and wonder, perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials

With its beautiful storytelling and fiercely independent heroine fighting to be in charge of her own story, Katherine Arden's series finally fills a gap long left empty by Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. Full of snowy Russian legends come to life, the lights and political intrigue of medieval Moscow, beautiful princes and monks with swords, Arden's writing is striking in its loveliness and impressive in its storytelling instincts.

A captivating folktale-inspired adventure laden in mystery, magic and myth, it's the story of Vasya, one of the punchiest heroines I've encountered this year

This is a sumptuous and beautiful literary fairytale taking inspiration from Russian myths and fairytales, about a woman challenging expected gender norms in her world.

A stunning sequel to the darkly magical The Bear and the Nightingale. The fierce, free-spirited heroine of this fabulous fable, Vasya, rejects the usual choices of marriage or the convent and, following accusations of witchcraft, flees her small village of Lesnaya Zemlya in northernmost Russia with the intention of seeing the world. Entirely enthralling

An enthralling sequel...this twist on a classic fairytale overflows with rich language. The perfect wintry read. 5 Stars

Katherine Arden's Winternight Trilogy isn't just good - it's hug-to-your-chest, straight-to-the-favourites-shelf, reread-immediately good, and each book just gets better

For a young woman in medieval Russia, the choices are stark: marriage or life in a convent. Vasya will choose a third way: magic. . . 
 
The court of the Grand Prince of Moscow is plagued by power struggles and rumours of unrest. Meanwhile bandits roam the countryside, burning the villages and kidnapping its daughters. Setting out to defeat the raiders, the Prince and his trusted companion come across a young man riding a magnificent horse. 
 
Only Sasha, a priest with a warrior's training, recognises this 'boy' as his younger sister, thought to be dead or a witch by her village. But when Vasya proves herself in battle, riding with remarkable skill and inexplicable power, Sasha realises he must keep her secret as she may be the only way to save the city from threats both human and fantastical. . . 
 
A spellbinding fairytale full of magic and wonder, perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. 
 
*Make sure you've read all the books in the Winternight Trilogy* 
1. The Bear and the Nightingale 
2. The Girl in the Tower 
3. The Winter of the Witch

The Bear and The Nightingale

A beautiful fairytale full of magic for fans of Naomi Novik, Erin Morgenstern and Philip Pullman

beautiful literary fairytale...incredibly lyrical prose...a joy to read. Arden opens her imagination wide and succeeds in transporting the reader to an evocative world...with a heroine it's impossible not to love...

[A]n enchanting wintertime read... fierce and otherworldly[.]

Arden’s debut novel has the cadence of a beautiful fairy tale but is darker and more lyrical. The novel is deceptively simple, but its characters and plot are sophisticated and complex. Arden explores what happens when fear and ignorance whip people into a furore, and how society can be persuaded to act against its own interests so easily. It’s a rather apt tale for our times.

An extraordinary retelling of a very old tale.  A Russian setting adds a unfamiliar spice to the story of a young woman who does not rebel against the limits of her role in her culture so much as transcend them. A wonderfully layered novel of family roles and the harsh wonders of deep winter magic.

A beautiful deep-winter story, full of magic and monsters and the sharp edges of growing up.

Haunting and lyrical, The Bear and the Nightingale tugs at the heart and quickens the pulse. I can’t wait for her next book.

A beautiful snowy Russian fable set at the border between myth and reality; a cast of demons, priests and royalty centre around a girl fighting to find her own path. Magical, thrilling and entrancing.

...so detailed and vivid you can practically feel the chill numbing your fingers. Beautifully written and richly textured, it’s a beguiling read.

Arden’s debut is an earthy, beautifully written love letter to Russian folklore, with an irresistible heroine ... [an] exciting fairy tale that will enchant readers from the first page

Enthralling and enchanting – I literally couldn’t put it down. A wondrous book!

bestselling author of the Song of the Lionness Quartet

The Bear and the Nightingale is a marvelous trip into an ancient Russia where magic is a part of everyday life

beautifully wrought fairytale for adults...

Fairy tale lovers, if you’re going to read one fantasy book this winter, let this be it.... beautiful debut

An enchanting yet haunting Russian fairytale which inspires courage in a time of darkness

Born in Austin, Texas, Katherine Arden has always had a taste for wandering. She spent her junior year of high school in Rennes, France. 
 
Following her acceptance to Middlebury College in Vermont, she deferred enrolment for a year in order to live and study in Russia. At Middlebury, she specialized in French and Russian literature, and her studies included sojourns at the Sorbonne in Paris and the Russian State University for the Humanities in Moscow. 
 
After receiving her BA, she moved to Maui, Hawaii and worked every kind of odd job imaginable, from grant writing and guiding horse tours to serving as a personal tour guide. During this time she wrote what became her debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale. After a year on the island, she moved to Briançon, France, and spent nine months teaching. She then returned to Maui, where she began writing The Girl in the Tower, the sequel to her debut, and officially launched her career as an author. Currently she lives in Vermont. 
 
She is the author of the Winternight Trilogy for adults and the Small Spaces Quartet for children.

_____________________________ 
Beware the evil in the woods... 
 
In a village at the edge of the wilderness of northern Russia, where the winds blow cold and the snow falls many months of the year, an elderly servant tells stories of sorcery, folklore and the Winter King to the children of the family, tales of old magic frowned upon by the church. 
 
But for the young, wild Vasya these are far more than just stories. She alone can see the house spirits that guard her home, and sense the growing forces of dark magic in the woods. . . 
 
Atmospheric and enchanting, with an engrossing adventure at its core, The Bear and the Nightingale is perfect for readers of Naomi Novik's Uprooted, Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus, and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. 
_____________________________ 
Now with over 100 5* reviews, readers are spellbound by this magical story: 
 
'This book stayed with me, I didn't want it to end' 
 
'A beautifully written story' 
 
'An entrancing story, which swept me up from the very first chapter' 
 
'Full of magic' 
_____________________________ 
Make sure you've read all the books in the acclaimed Winternight Trilogy 
 
1. The Bear and the Nightingale 
2. The Girl in the Tower 
3. The Winter of the Witch

Katherine Arden

Anne of Brittany was a child when her land was invaded, her castle besieged, and her royal father driven to his death. 
 
Now Brittany is occupied by her enemies, her treasury empty, and only one thing is lacking to complete her realm’s subjugation: she is required, on pain of the sword, to marry the King of France. 
 
But Anne cannot. She has promised her dead father that Brittany would never be conquered. 
 
Defiantly, she betroths herself in secret to France’s greatest enemy. But in a world where courts may spy on each other by magic, there is only one way to solemnize this illicit union. 
 
Under the guise of a hunting party, Anne takes her court deep into a deep forest, a strange place dogged with rumours of ancient enchantments; a place where diviners cannot see. She tells the French that she had gone there to hunt unicorns. 
 
It’s a ruse, a lie, a feint. 
 
But when, against all expectations, a unicorn does appear and a wounded stranger stumbles from the trees and falls at her feet, Anne is plunged into a world of enchantment where a doomed sovereign might find the power to change the destiny of her nation - or be lost in the mist for ever.

Katherine Arden

Books by Katherine Arden

Series by Katherine Arden

Winternight Trilogy

Articles featuring Katherine Arden

The best novels based on mythology from around the world

The best fantasy book series to escape into new worlds

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter