Top 5 Books Inspired by Mythology I Want to Read

This Top 5 series started back in October 2018 and I kind of lost motivation for making it every week. But it’s back! This is a series of books that I want to read that all have a common theme. Previously on the blog I have focused on witches, werewolves, thrillers, faeries, fairy tale re-tellings, high fantasy and many more. I am going to try and bring this series back for every Saturday.

The Upcoming Schedule Is:

2/15/20 — Books about Mermaids

2/22/20 — Books about Spies

2/29/20 — Books inspired by Mythology

3/7/20 — Trilogies

3/14/20 — Books with Beautiful Covers

3/21/20 — Magical Realism

3/28/20 — Murder Mystery

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Rules!

• Share your top 5 books of the current topic– these can be books that you want to read, have read and loved, have read and hated, you can do it any way you want.
• Tag the original post (This one!)
• Tag 5 people

Mythology

I LOVE books based on myths! I have read many books that have been inspired by mythology and honestly can’t get enough of these stories. Recently I have started reading books based on mythology of other cultures, not just Greek mythology. Although Greek Mythology still has a special place in my heart. There are tons of great novels out there based on Persephone with enemies to lovers romances on my TBR that I could probably do a whole post on Persephone re-tellings. I also love that mythology has become popular to read about with the Percy Jackson series and I could probably also fill this post with all the Rick Riordan books that are on my TBR. It’s hard for me to limit myself to five because this is the type of subject that I could probably list 50 books I want to read. But these are the top 5 books based on mythology that I want to read the most!

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Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.

Faced with her brother’s betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family.

She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.

Part Wonder Woman, part Vikings—and all heart.

I love books about Vikings!! I really wish there were more books based off of Norse mythology out there. Sky in the Deep is a standalone by Adrienne Young, but she also wrote a spin-off set in the same world. I read The Girl the Sea Gave Back (the spin-off) recently and LOVED it. (Read my review here.) A lot of people who had read Sky in the Deep first didn’t like The Girl the Sea Gave Back as much, so I can only assume that Sky in the Deep is going to be even better! I got a copy of this book for my birthday, so hopefully I have time to read it soon!

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Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy; a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody’s head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest. But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I’m determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why; especially since I should have been the one who died…

This is the kind of series that I could binge read. The boarding school element is one of my favorites (I’ve even had it as a Top 5 Saturday topic) and it’s also full of Greek Mythology. Honestly I am so glad that I ran across this book when looking for titles for this topic because this is going to be my next go to read when I need something light and fun. I actually have this whole series on my kindle and I completely forgot that I owned it until now!

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Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

This is a book that I’ve wanted to read for SO long now. I remember going to the library and I would always look at this book and Anna Dressed in Blood. While I did wind up reading Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake, I had some mixed feelings. I still REALLY want to read this book though! I just LOVE the cover and I can’t deny my heart something it has wanted for so long.

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American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Days before his release from prison, Shadow’s wife, Laura, dies in a mysterious car crash. Numbly, he makes his way back home. On the plane, he encounters the enigmatic Mr Wednesday, who claims to be a refugee from a distant war, a former god and the king of America.

Together they embark on a profoundly strange journey across the heart of the USA, whilst all around them a storm of preternatural and epic proportions threatens to break.

Scary, gripping and deeply unsettling, American Gods takes a long, hard look into the soul of America. You’ll be surprised by what – and who – it finds there…

This is the author’s preferred text, never before published in the UK, and is about 12,000 words longer than the previous UK edition.

This list would not be complete without American Gods on it! Technically I already read half of this book, but I am totally going to start over. The only reason that I didn’t finish reading this is because I actually lost my copy in the middle of reading. But I recently found it and I am dying to get back into it. I watched some of the show and caught up with where I was in the book and then I stopped watching. American Gods is filled with myths and legends from religions and it’s just fantasy at it’s finest. UGH I need to finish this ASAP! Also, I highly recommend the show– well at least season one, since that’s all I’ve seen– especially if you’re a fan of mythology.

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The Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes

Thrust into leadership upon the death of his emperor father, young Prince Ahkin feels completely unready for his new position. Though his royal blood controls the power of the sun, he’s now responsible for the lives of all the Chicome people. And despite all Ahkin’s efforts, the sun is fading–and the end of the world may be at hand.

For Mayana, the only daughter of the Chicome family whose blood controls the power of water, the old emperor’s death may mean that she is next. Prince Ahkin must be married before he can ascend the throne, and Mayana is one of six noble daughters presented to him as a possible wife. Those who are not chosen will be sacrificed to the gods.

Only one girl can become Ahkin’s bride. Mayana and Ahkin feel an immediate connection, but the gods themselves may be against them. Both recognize that the ancient rites of blood that keep the gods appeased may be harming the Chicome more than they help. As a bloodred comet and the fading sun bring a growing sense of dread, only two young people may hope to change their world.

Rich in imagination and romance, and based on the legends and history of the Aztec and Maya people, The Seventh Sun brings to vivid life a world on the edge of apocalyptic disaster.

I am so excited to read this book and it’s coming up on my TBR pretty soon. The whole reason that I picked up a copy of this book is because it’s inspired by Aztec and Mayan culture and mythology. I don’t really know what to expect, but I am thrilled to see that many of my friends have given this book 4 or 5 stars. I LOVE books like this and have high hopes that it might be as good as The Candle and the Flame, which was also a cultural book with mythology woven into it. (Read my review for The Candle and the Flame here!)

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Tagged

Chaima@ Runaway with Dream Thieves

Marija @ Inside my Library Mind

Jamie @ The Kansan Reader

Louise @ A Little Fool Reads

Anniek @ Anniek’s Library

 

Check out Other Book Blogger’s Top 5!

Jill @ Jill’s Book Blog —Top 5 Saturday — Books Inspired by Mythology

Blair @ Feed the Crime — -|Illustrated Mythological Books… Top 5 Saturday|-

Yolanda @ Past Midnight — Top 5 Saturday | 2/29/20

Dini @ Dinipandareads — Top 5 Saturday: Books Inspired by Mythology

Sara @ My Year of Reading Dangerously — Top 5 Books Inspired by Mythology| Top 5 Saturdays

Becky @ Becky’s Book Blog — Books inspired by Mythology — Top 5 Saturday

Nen & Jen @ Nen & Jen — Top 5 Sat: Books Inspired by Myths

 

Let’s Chat!

Do you love books inspired by mythology? What is your favorite myth? What books inspired by mythology would you recommend? Have you read any of the books I listed above? What did you think? Make sure to comment below so we can chat about books inspired by mythology!