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Reading lists

The best novels based on mythology from around the world

Sweetbitter Song

THE GREATEST LOVE STORY NEVER TOLD.A profoundly moving sapphic tale of love, identity and defiance that retells the love story of Penelope, one of Ancient Greece's most famous heroines. 
 
'This is Rosie Hewlett's masterpiece' JENNIFER SAINT, bestselling author of Hera 
 
'As dazzling as Madeline Miller's reimagining of the Iliad in The Song of Achilles' ELODIE HARPER, bestselling author of The Wolf Den 
 
'The fury, the power, the cadence of this story will stay with me for years to come ... Sappho herself would be proud.' NIKITA GILL, bestselling author of Hetake 
 
 
One fateful night in Sparta, a young slave girl encounters a mysterious, grey-eyed princess. Melantho and Penelope, though from different worlds, are instantly connected. But betrayal soon tears them apart. 
 
Years later, on Ithaca's rocky shores, Melantho is sent to serve Princess Penelope and her new husband, Prince Odysseus. Hardened by slavery, Melantho vows to stay distant from Penelope. Yet, the undeniable pull between them proves stronger than ever. 
 
As war ignites Greece, Odysseus and Ithaca's men are called away and, in their absence, Melantho finds a new world opening up before her – one where women rule, where family can be found, and where love is finally given the space to bloom. 
 
But all wars eventually end and as Troy falls, Penelope and Melantho must face the King’s return and decide how far they will go to protect what matters most to them. 
 
 
'A stunning tale of defiance, integrity and enduring love. Crafted with complexity and woven with reverent yearning' KIKA HATZOPOULOU, bestselling author of Threads That Bind 
 
'What The Song of Achilles did for The Iliad, Sweetbitter Song does for The Odyssey. A masterclass in mythic retelling' KIM CURRAN, author of The Morrigan 
 
'Visceral and haunting ... Outstanding' HAZEL McBRIDE, bestselling author of A Fate Forged in Fire 
 
'Will tear you to pieces and mend you again ... a gorgeous, scintillating re-imagining.' EMILY HAUSER, author of Mythica 
 
Readers love Rosie's writing... 
 
'This book is up there with Song of Achilles as one of my all-time favourite retellings' 
 
'Heart-breaking and beautiful' 
 
'Any readers of mythological retellings struggling to find a rival to Madeline Miller should look no further than Rosie Hewlett' 
 
'Absolutely spellbinding' 
 
'Dark, moody, at times heartbreaking, and utterly phenomenal, this book is an absolute must read for any fans of Circe or Ariadne!'

A fierce and dazzling protagonist rises from the shadows of mythology to command her own story - one that is original and beautifully crafted. This is Rosie Hewlett's masterpiece.

An extraordinary book. I fell completely in love with Melantho and Penelope, whose intelligence, ferocity and humanity shine through all their joys and suffering. This is a truly original take on The Odyssey as dazzling as Madeline Miller's reimagining of the Iliad in Song of Achilles'

A stunning tale of defiance, integrity and enduring love. Crafted with complexity and woven with reverent yearning

Kika Hatzopoulou, Sunday Times bestselling author of Threads That Bind

Utterly heartbreaking and achingly beautiful. What The Song of Achilles did for The Iliad, Sweetbitter Song does for The Odyssey, which is give us a love story that transcends time, myth and place. A masterclass in mythic retelling.

Equal parts visceral and haunting [...] A thrilling, gut-wrenching tale of grief, love, womanhood and bravery. Outstanding.

Hazel McBride, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Fate Forged in Fire

Sweetbitter Song [...] will tear you to pieces and mend you again. Hewlett remakes the Odyssey, re-weaving the threads of the narrative with women you will not forget, in a tale of beauty and brutality. This is a gorgeous, scintillating re-imagining that shimmers.

Emily Hauser, award winning author of Mythica

Having secured a first-class honours degree in Classical Literature and Civilisation at the University of Birmingham, Rosie Hewlett has studied Greek mythology in depth and is passionate about unearthing strong female voices within the classical world. Rosie currently lives in Kent with her husband and is now a full-time author spending her days lost inside her favourite stories from mythology. 
 
Rosie's first traditionally published novel, Medea, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller. Her self-published debut novel, Medusa, won the Rubery Book of the Year award in 2021.

One fateful night in Sparta, a young slave girl encounters a mysterious, grey-eyed princess. Melantho and Penelope, though from different worlds, are instantly connected. But betrayal soon tears them apart. 
 
Years later, on Ithaca's rocky shores, Melantho is sent to serve Princess Penelope and her new husband, Prince Odysseus. Hardened by slavery, Melantho vows to stay distant from Penelope. Yet, the undeniable pull between them proves stronger than ever. 
 
As war ignites Greece, Odysseus and Ithaca's men are called away and, in their absence, Melantho finds a new world opening up before her – one where women rule, where family can be found, and where love is finally given the space to bloom. 
 
But all wars eventually end and as Troy falls, Penelope and Melantho must face the King’s return and decide how far they will go to protect what matters most to them.

Medea

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 
 
From an unmissable new voice comes the powerful and epic story of mythology's darkest heroine 
'Delightfully devastating' Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen 
 
'A fiery and dramatic novel, starring one of mythology's most notorious women, this is a fascinating descent into darkness' Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne 
 
'Full of thwarted love and dark magic . . . Vivid and powerful, this is a book with teeth' Luna McNamara, author of Psyche and Eros 
 
_____________________________________ 
 
Shunned. Persecuted. Tormented. 
Medea longs for a different life. Since childhood, she has been separated from her sister, shunned by her mother, and persecuted and tormented by her brother and father. All because of a unique and dangerous talent: witchcraft. 
 
Fierce. Powerful. Sorceress. 
But when a dashing young hero, Jason, arrives to claim the famed Golden Fleece that her father fiercely protects, Medea sees her opportunity for escape. Her offer to help Jason overcome the trials set by her father sets in motion a journey that will test every ounce of her strength, magic and loyalty; a journey that will see her battle monsters, dethrone kings and fall in love. 
 
When faced with the ultimate betrayal, Medea is driven to an act of desperation so brutal it rips apart the lives of everyone involved... 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
Readers have fallen under Medea's spell... 
 
'This book is up there with Song of Achilles as one of my all-time favourite retellings' 
'Heart-breaking and beautiful' 
'Any readers of mythological retellings struggling to find a rival to Madeline Miller should look no further than Rosie Hewlett' 
'Absolutely spellbinding' 
'Dark, moody, at times heartbreaking, and utterly phenomenal, this book is an absolute must read for any fans of Circe or Ariadne!'

A fiery and dramatic novel, starring one of mythology's most notorious women, this is a fascinating descent into darkness

So delightfully devastating! A deeply humanising, visceral portrayal of one of myth’s most controversial figures, Rosie Hewlett's Medea explores the polarising possibilities of humanity, from our capacity for pain and heartbreak to our potential for vengeance and retribution

Bea Fitzgerald. bestselling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen

An incredible tale of love and power as spellbinding and complex as Medea herself

Deliciously dark in its portrayal of obsession, manipulation and the terrible temptations of power, Medea is a compelling read, every bit as enthralling as it's heroine

Dark, visceral, unrelenting, searing – it’s the story of Medea we have been waiting for, and more. The female villain par excellence takes the stage to give her version of events, in a tale that is as gripping as it is powerful and uncompromising

A dark retelling . . . Fans of Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne, Elektra and Atalanta will love Medea

Medea longs for a different life. Since childhood, she has been separated from her sister, shunned by her mother, and persecuted and tormented by her brother and father. All because of a unique and dangerous gift: witchcraft. 
 
But when a dashing young hero, Jason, arrives to claim the famed Golden Fleece that her father protects, Medea sees her opportunity to escape. Her offer to help Jason overcome the trials set by her father sets in motion a journey that will test every ounce of her strength, magic and loyalty; a journey that will see her battle monsters, dethrone kings and fall in love. 
 
But when faced with the ultimate betrayal, Medea is driven to an act of desperation so brutal it rips apart the lives of everyone involved...

Rosie Hewlett

I was so absorbed by the furious, passionate voice of Medusa

Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Hera

Hewlett impressively captures the voice of a woman who has been silenced and shaped by men into something she never wanted to be. Lovers of mythology are sure to be pleased by this deeper look into Medusa’s origin story

Rosie Hewlett

Praise for Medusa

I was so absorbed by the furious, passionate voice of Medusa

Hewlett impressively captures the voice of a woman who has been silenced and shaped by men into something she never wanted to be. Lovers of mythology are sure to be pleased by this deeper look into Medusa’s o ...

Books by Rosie Hewlett

Articles featuring Rosie Hewlett

The best novels based on mythology from around the world

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