Welcome to a world where the gods play cupid and the fates weave tales of love as old as time itself. If the allure of Mount Olympus, the intrigue of ancient prophecies, and the thrill of forbidden love call to your heart, then you’re about to go on a literary odyssey like no other. Our selection of Greek mythology romance books invites you into realms where immortal passions and mortal desires collide, creating stories of love that defy the ages.
From the sun-drenched shores of the Aegean to the shadowy depths of the Underworld, these tales rekindle the ancient fires of epic romances and bring to life the gods and heroes of old in new and heart-stirring narratives. So, prepare to be swept off your feet by the whirlwind of adventure, passion, and destiny that only Greek mythology can inspire. Let’s dive into the myths that have captured the imaginations of mortals for millennia, exploring truly legendary love stories.
7 Greek Mythology Romance Books
Greek mythology provides a vibrant backdrop for romance novels filled with gods, goddesses, heroes, and mythical creatures. Readers are transported to an ancient world steeped in legend and lore, where anything is possible, and the boundaries between gods and mortals blur.
From the tragic tale of Orpheus and Eurydice to the enduring love between Aphrodite and Adonis, these timeless romances inspire modern retellings and literary reinterpretations. I’ll talk about my favorite 7 Greek mythology romances exploring the idea of star-crossed lovers destined to be together despite their obstacles and challenges. Let’s begin!
| Name | Key Focus | Rating (Goodreads) |
|---|---|---|
| Devil May Care by Amelia Wilde | Pirate Poseidon rescues an heiress and builds a dark relationship with her. | 4.2 |
| Circe by Madeline Miller | Greek goddess and witch Circe discovers many secrets and finds her love on the journey. | 4.2 |
| The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller | Patroclus and demigod Achilles shares their feelings and shows the reality of life. | 4.3 |
| Lore by Alexandra Bracken | A modern retelling story that represents the situation and love life of different gods and goddesses. | 3.8 |
| Ariadne by Jennifer Saint | Ariadne shows her point of view on the Minotaur and Theseus. | 3.8 |
| Medusa by Jessie Burton | Medusa describes her childhood, love, punishment, and all the transformation of her life. | 4.0 |
| Electric Idol by Katee Robert | An unbelievable love story of Eros-Psyche. | 4.0 |
1. Devil May Care (The Devil Trilogy)
Devil May Care is the third book in the trilogy, a Greek mythology romance story retelling. The first one, The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea reminded me of Sea of Ruin in how the hero treated the heroine. But we have Poseidon, who is a modern-day pirate. Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon are three brothers in the world, and they each have their own trilogy. So, if you want to check those out, you can. Those are also retellings.
In this one, Poseidon rescues a girl named Ashley. He discovers that she’s a heiress. Since he’s a pirate, he decides to ransom her to her father. It turns out her father is involved with some slightly nastier things than we suspected. So, it won’t be so easy to ransom this girl and get her off his hands. This involves some dubious consent and non-consensual things with a big age-gap romance. Some violent and sexual assault situations happen here. Check out The Poseidon Trilogy if you’re interested.
Author: Amelia Wilde
Narrator: Heather Firth, Tor Thom
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Tropes: Suspense, Pirates, Anti-hero, Steamy
Number Of Pages: 184
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
2. Circe
Circe is a mythological retelling of a minor Greek goddess and witch, Circe, as she’s exiled to a remote island by the gods for performing some witchcraft when she shouldn’t have been. She’s then visited by heroes, men, and gods on the island, whether she wants them there or not. You might know her from Homer’s Odyssey and her time with Odysseus. But either way, this story is empowering and engaging.
The plot of the book focuses on Circe’s romantic life. I loved the feminist aspect of the story. If you like stories that highlight the impact heroes and gods have on the people around them, this is an excellent book for you.
Author: Madeline Miller
Narrator: Perdita Weeks
Publisher: Audible Studios for Bloomsbury
Tropes: Magic, Feminism, Dystopian
Number Of Pages: 393
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Mass Market Paperback | Audio CD
3. The Song of Achilles
The Song of Achilles is a Greek myth LGBT romance. Author Madeline has a way with words. The way she presents the conflict between gods and men is beautiful. The book retells the story of Patroclus and his encounter and relationship with the well-known hero and demigod Achilles. It is based on Homer’s Iliad, but the difference here is that the perspective is shifted onto Patroclus, which shines a light on the impact of power and glory on relationships.
The story was gripping, refreshing, and heartbreaking. I found the romance between Achilles and Patroclus so emotional and cute. Overall, the book is a lyrical masterpiece representing the love and warrior destined to fulfill a prophecy. If you know the story of Achilles but want a completely different perspective and one that’s a bit more modern, then you have got to read this.
Author: Madeline Miller
Narrator: Frazer Douglas
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Tropes: LGBT, Friends-to-lovers
Number Of Pages: 378
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
4. Lore
Lore is an urban fantasy romance with a Greek mythological aspect that won the Goodreads Choice Award Nominee. If you’re a fan of the Percy Jackson series, then you’ll love it. Like the Percy Jackson series, it is told in the modern day ish. It’s less of a retelling and more of a what are the gods doing now type of thing. Percy Jackson Meets The Hunger Games and tells the story of an orphan living in New York who is avoiding a game called The Aegon. This game sees nine of the Olympian gods turn mortal for seven days as punishment for defying Zeus back in the day.
If someone kills one of those gods within those seven days, they are granted their immortality and their powers, and the God dies. Lore’s family was killed in a previous Aegon. So, she’s trying to do everything she can to avoid participating this year. Athena shows up, wounded on her doorstep. This book is action-packed and fast-paced.
The first chapter and plot were confusing, which is the negative side of this book. But the story and characters were good enough. If you’re looking for something you cannot put down and you’ll read quickly, this is the one for you. It deals with things like feminism, which represents the gods and their flaws well, and I enjoyed the action, mystery, and romance.
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Narrator: Fryda Wolff
Publisher: Quercus Children’s Books
Tropes: Mystery, Angels-demons, Drama
Number Of Pages: 480
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Library Binding | Kindle
5. Ariadne
Ariadne is yet another retelling from the woman’s perspective. If you know the story of the Minotaur, then you may have heard of Ariadne. This book tells her story from her perspective, everything from the birth of the Minotaur to her encounter with Theseus. This one started a little slow for me, but when it picked up, it picked up.
Ariadne’s story is rich, diverse, and tragic, and Jennifer Saint does an excellent job of taking us along for the ride. She showcases one of the things I love the most about Greek mythology romance retellings, and that’s why the story gets cemented in your mind so much better. That’s simply because we see everything happening from this character’s perspective, including their thoughts, feelings, love, and everything. It means that some of these stories are ones you’ll never forget.
Author: Jennifer Saint
Narrator: Kristin Atherton
Publisher: Wildfire
Tropes: Fairytale, Sci-fi, History
Number Of Pages: 320
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
6. Medusa
Medusa tells the story of Medusa in her own words, wanting to take control of her own story. She tells us everything from her childhood to her punishment from the gods and everything that happened afterward with Perseus. This story doesn’t hang around. It draws you in, takes you along for the ride, and spits you out the other side.
Medusa’s story is ultimately tragic, and the author does an excellent job of representing that well, shedding light on it, but ultimately writing an entertaining Greek myth romance novel. It won the International Rubery Book Award for Book of the Year. There’s a reason why this book won an award. It is one of those books that inspires me to write.
Author: Jessie Burton
Narrator: Alisha Bailey
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Tropes: Loners, Outcasts, Folklore, Strong-female-leads
Number Of Pages: 224
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
7. Electric Idol
Electric Idol is book two in the Dark Olympus series. The first book, Neon Gods, follows the story of Persephone and Hades, and this book follows the story of Psyche and Eros. They’re at a party, and Demeter, Psyche’s mom, is trying to marry her off to Zeus since it didn’t work. Demeter is trying to get Psyche to do it. Psyche leaves the room, and she runs into Eros, who has been hurt because he went to kill somebody for his mother.
So Psychic cleans them up, and then a photographer catches them in the hallway. It looks like they’re about to kiss. The photographer takes a picture. Eros meets with Psyche, and he poisons her drink. But she already figures that because she drinks his drink.
Then he decides, the only way to get around this is for you to marry me. They get married. You must retell this spicy Greek mythology romance if you have not read this. The hardcover is not good enough for quality, but the paperback is excellent for font size, color combination, cover, binding, and paper quality.
Author: Katee Robert
Narrator: Alex Moorcock, Zara Hampton-Brown
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Tropes: Arc, Curvy-heroine, Dark, Angst, Fairy-tales
Number Of Pages: 375
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
5 Steamy Greek Mythology Romance Books
- “A Touch of Darkness” by Scarlett St. Clair – Hades & Persephone Series
This modern retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth brings the underworld god and the goddess of spring into the contemporary world. Persephone is a journalism student who meets Hades, the enigmatic god of the dead, and what starts as a game quickly turns into a deep, forbidden love. St. Clair explores power, fate, and autonomy themes, delivering a steamy and compelling narrative that breathes new life into ancient myths.
- “Lore Olympus” by Rachel Smythe
Originally a popular webcomic and now available in book format, “Lore Olympus” is a deeply stylized and modernized retelling of the Hades and Persephone story. Its unique blend of drama, humor, romance, and vivid art style brings the gods and goddesses of Olympus to life in a story that is both ancient and incredibly relevant. The relationship between Hades and Persephone is explored with depth, sensitivity, and steaminess, making it a standout in the genre.
- “The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller
While not a traditional romance novel, “The Song of Achilles” reimagines the story of Achilles and Patroclus, offering a breathtakingly beautiful and steamy take on their relationship. Set against the backdrop of the Trojan War, Miller’s novel is a testament to love’s power to transcend time and tragedy. The book is celebrated for its lyrical prose, emotional depth, and the tender yet passionate connection between its heroes.
- “Radiance” by Grace Draven
Though not strictly based on Greek mythology, “Radiance” is inspired by the themes of arranged marriages between deities and mortals that are prevalent in mythological tales. The story follows Ildiko, a human noblewoman, and Brishen, a Kai prince from a race of night creatures. Their marriage, intended to unite two kingdoms, blossoms into a powerful love story that defies human and divine expectations. Draven’s novel is a testament to the enduring appeal of mythological themes in romance.
- “Dark Olympus” Series by Katee Robert
Starting with “Neon Gods,” this series offers a modern, dark, and steamy twist on Greek mythology, focusing on the complex relationships and power dynamics among the gods of Olympus. The series reimagines classic myths with contemporary themes and sizzling romance, making the ancient gods more accessible and relatable to a modern audience. Robert’s storytelling is known for its bold characters, erotic scenes, and captivating plots.
5 Greek Mythology Romance Books For Young Adults
- “The Star-Touched Queen” by Roshani Chokshi
While not strictly Greek mythology, “The Star-Touched Queen” is a fantasy novel inspired by various mythologies, including Greek, and offers a richly woven tale of fate and destiny. Maya cursed with a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, becomes the queen of Akaran, a kingdom that is not what it seems. There, she meets Amar, the king, who is both a stranger and intimately familiar. Chokshi’s writing is lyrical and lush, with themes and elements reminiscent of Hades and Persephone’s story, making it a captivating read for fans of mythology-infused romance.
- “Lore Olympus: Volume One” by Rachel Smythe
Rachel Smythe’s “Lore Olympus” is a visually stunning and emotionally nuanced webcomic turned graphic novel that retells the myth of Hades and Persephone. Set in a world that blends modern sensibilities with ancient myth, it explores the complexities of their relationship with depth, humor, and sensitivity. Although aimed at a slightly older audience, its approachable style and heartfelt storytelling resonate well with young adults interested in Greek mythology and romance.
- “Percy Jackson & The Olympians” by Rick Riordan
Starting with “The Lightning Thief,” Rick Riordan’s beloved series might be more adventure-focused, but it’s woven through with threads of young romance, particularly in later books. While not a romance series per se, the relationships between characters like Percy and Annabeth are key elements that develop alongside quests and battles against gods and monsters. Riordan’s world is rich in Greek mythological elements, making it a great introduction to the genre for young adults.
- “Antigoddess” by Kendare Blake
The first book in the “Goddess War” series, “Antigoddess,” blends Greek mythology with modern fantasy, featuring gods and goddesses facing their own mortality. Athena and Hermes ally with modern-day heroes in a fight for survival that hints at old romances and rivalries. Blake’s narrative includes elements of romance amid the struggle, offering a darker and more intense look at mythology for young adult readers.
- “Oh. My. Gods.” by Tera Lynn Childs
When Phoebe’s mom marries a man from Greece, Phoebe’s world is turned upside down—especially when she discovers her new home on an island, which is a haven for descendants of Greek gods. As she navigates to her new high school, she finds herself amidst divine classmates and a budding romance with Griffin, a guy who is more than he seems. Childs’ novel is a light-hearted, fun take on Greek mythology with plenty of young romance and humor.
Through the pages of these novels, we’ve walked with gods and goddesses, fought alongside heroes, and loved with a passion that burns as fiercely as Prometheus’s fire. These stories, woven from the threads of myths that have endured through the ages, remind us of the timeless nature of love and the enduring power of storytelling.
Whether you’ve found new favorites among these epic tales or have been inspired to see the legends of old through new eyes, we hope this collection has ignited a flame of curiosity and wonder in your heart. Until we meet again on the shores of another mythic adventure, may the gods of Olympus inspire your days with their wisdom, courage, and undying love. Here’s to finding the magic in the myths and the romance in the relics of the past.
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