Are you looking for more books like Circe & The Song of Achilles?
Madeline Miller’s novels The Song of Achilles and Circe won both critical acclaim and the hearts of readers with the fantastic writing style and in-depth retelling of mythic figures we thought we knew.
While modern literature with a basis in Greek epics is certainly nothing new, both of Miller’s novels (published in 2011 and 2018 respectively) have charmed a new generation of readers and given them a keen interest in the classics.
If you’ve already ploughed your way through these two novels and are looking for more books like Circe and The Song of Achilles, check out these ten ace suggestions which are sure to transport you back to ancient Greece or Rome.
Table of Contents
12 Great Books like Circe and The Song of Achilles
The Penelopiad, by Margaret Atwood
Much in the way that Circe humanises a previously misunderstood character in Homer’s Odyssey, as does Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad. This 2005 novel is told from the perspective of Penelope, Odysseus’ wife on Ithaca.
Where in the Odyssey, all you know of Penelope is her steadfast loyalty to Odysseus while resisting the advances of the suitors, Homer’s epic does little to define her as a character.
If you were intrigued by Penelope’s character in Circe, then you will certainly enjoy reading about the events of the Odyssey from her perspective.
Written in a style similar to that of a Greek tragedy, The Penelopiad gives a voice not only to Penelope, but also to the 12 maids hanged by Telemachus (on Odysseus’ orders). The novel is told in Atwood’s famous feminist voice and is a must-read for those looking for books like Circe.
Lavinia, by Ursula K Le Guin
Much like The Penelopiad, Ursula K Le Guin’s Lavinia gives a voice to a previously voiceless woman — this time taking from Virgil’s Aeneid.
In Virgil’s work on the founding of ancient Rome, Lavinia is a present character who plays a role, however, throughout the entire epic, she never speaks a word.
Le Guin’s 2008 novel is based on the last 6 books of the Aeneid but is told entirely through the perspective of the princess Lavinia. Following her from her birth, childhood, marriage and through the events of the Aeneid, the reader learns about the founding of Rome from a female perspective — something that is nearly unheard of in classic literature.
If you are looking for another female-centred retelling of a famous Greco-Roman myth or are just on the hunt for more books similar to The Song of Achilles or Circe, then Lavinia is a must read.
House of Names, by Colm Toibin
If you are to believe his accounts in The Odyssey, then all women are evil and bound to kill you much like Agamemnon’s wife Clytemnestra. In the sexist nature of the classics, however, you only ever get Agamemnon’s perspective of the events.
This all changes, however, in Colm Toibin’s 2017 novel House of Names which follows the events in the house of Agamemnon after his sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia to the gods prior to leading the troops in the Trojan War.
House of Names follows the dynamics of betrayal and loss of trust within a prominent Greek family and is an excellent modern retelling of a classic story.
Much like in books similar to Circe and The Song of Achilles, Toibin’s novel takes place alongside such stories as The Iliad and The Odyssey and makes an excellent companion if you want to more deeply understand both epics.
The Silence of the Girls, by Pat Barker
A powerful retelling of The Iliad, Pat Barker’s 2018 The Silence of the Girls is an excellent choice if you want to read a similar to The Song of Achilles.
Though the title of this recent novel informs you of the glaring lack of a female voice in Homer’s Iliad, this critically-acclaimed novel is told from the perspective of Briseis.
Though she is a title character in The Illiad, especially as a symbol of the dispute between Achilles and Agamemnon, The Silence of the Girls is told through her perspective after Troy falls to the Greeks and she is given as a human prize to Achilles.
While it is glossed over in The Illiad, Barker’s novel is not shy is outlining the trials and struggles of being a woman in a man’s world, giving voices to the Trojan women that have thus far simply been symbols in literature.
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
If you enjoyed books like The Song of Achilles and Circe for their mythic elements and not so much for their adherence to established storylines, then Neil Gaiman’s American Gods (which was also turned into an Amazon Prime series in 2017) might be a good choice for you.
This 2001 novel follows the protagonist Shadow after he is released from prison and finds that his beloved wife has been killed in an accident just prior to his release. Unsure of his next steps, he ends up in the employment of the mysterious Mr Wednesday.
American Gods skillfully examines what happens to mythological heritage and old beliefs after people immigrate to America.
Combining mythic culture from across the globe and told in Gaiman’s notoriously captivating voice, American Gods is a fantastic choice if you want to be transported to a world where gods live among men and are as flawed and nuanced as their human counterparts.
Already read this book? Check out our list of more books like American Gods!
The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
If you like Circe because of the modern retelling of what literature has traditionally painted as a one-dimensional witch with no defining characteristics, then Marion Zimmer Bradley’s 1983 novel The Mists of Avalon might be a good choice for you as well.
This epic novel is an illustrative retelling of the legend of King Arthur told primarily through the eyes of Morgaine (also called Morgan le Fay in other works of Arthurian literature) as she fights against the influx of Christianity to help to keep the traditional Pagan way of life.
This fantasy epic is an excellent choice because it has a beautiful knack to both enthral readers and to make previously unsympathetic characters multi-dimensional.
Medea, by Euripides
Moving away from modern books like Circe and The Song of Achilles, it’s time to discuss the classics in which many if the characters and dynamics upon which Madeline Miller’s novels are based.
One great book to read is Euripides’ tragedy Medea. While you should know the character of Medea (who is Circe’s niece) from her brief appearance in Circe, this classic play follows the sorceress after the events of her arc in Miller’s novel.
A story of a woman scorned and seeking revenge, Medea is not the most sympathetic character, however, modern productions of this play have attempted to make it feminist in nature.
If you want a more thorough understanding of the basis of the myth that is covered in The Song of Achilles and Circe, then reading Medea is a good choice for you.
Mythology, by Edith Hamilton
Another fantastic read if you want to understand the myths surrounding all of these modern retellings is Edith Hamilton’s Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes.
Originally published in 1942, this book is the essential text used when reading about all of the Greek, Roman, and Norse myths. And, despite its age, it is likely that this was the text you used when covering mythology in school.
This timeless work of all of the most common Greek and Roman myths including the creation story of the origin of the Olympians, the myths of heroes like Heracles and the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece, and the classic stories behind Trojan war heroes like Odysseus, Agamemnon and, of course, Achilles and Patroclus.
Edith Hamilton’s Mythology is an excellent companion to books like The Song of Achilles and Circe as it can show you how Miller has expertly expanded upon established myth and humanised some unsympathetic characters.
The Iliad, by Homer
Of course, no list of books similar to The Song of Achilles would be complete without mentioning its basis, Homer’s Iliad.
As one of the most famous epic poems of all time, The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan war. Covering everything about the ten-year war including the feud between Achilles and Agamemnon, the many battles and heroes, and the rage of Achilles after the death of Patroclus, it is a poem that everyone must read in their lifetime if they are interested in Greek mythology.
The Iliad is also one of the bases for questioning the nature of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, in which The Song of Achilles was able to so beautifully expand upon.
The Odyssey, by Homer
And last but not least, much like the inclusion of The Iliad, no list of books like Circe would be complete without mentioning The Odyssey.
Homer’s other epic is best known for following Odysseus on his ten-year-long journey home to Ithaca from the Trojan War. In this epic, Odysseus battles Scylla and Charybdis, makes it past the Sirens alive, tricks the Cyclops Polyphemus, is held captive for years by the nymph Calypso, and notably spends a year on exiled Circe’s island of Aeaea.
While most people know The Odyssey because of these stories, it actually takes up a surprisingly small amount of the epic. There is also an interesting plot of what is happening on Ithaca, examining the dynamic of Odysseus’ son Telemachus and his wife Penelope and how Odysseus must thwart the suitors.
The most common English-language translation of The Odyssey is by the late classicist Robert Fitzgerald published in 1965, I would recommend reading the 2017 translation by Emily Wilson, who is the first woman to have translated Homer’s epic into English.
Ariadne, by Jennifer Saint
Ariadne makes an appearance in Circe, but there is little written about her beyond a brief passing.
If you’re interested in the mythical princess’ side of the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, then make sure to pick up a copy of Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne.
We all know that Theseus would never have made it past the minotaur had it not been for Ariadne’s help but, like so much of Greek myth, her story is often glossed over in favour of the heroic triumphs of men. This book changes that.
Told from the Princess of Crete’s perspective, this is a beautiful retelling of a tale we all know and love and the perfect addition for fans of Greek mythology and those with a Circe-sized hole in their hearts.
A Thousand Ships, by Natalie Haynes
If you like The Song of Achilles for its beautiful retelling of the events of the Trojan War, then you’re sure to love A Thousand Ships.
Much like The Penelopiad and The Silence of the Girls above, this novel tells the well-known story of the Greek-Trojan conflict from the perspective of the women involved.
Rather than focusing solely on one key player in the Trojan war, this enchanting narrative is told from a diverse array of female perspectives and written in a classic, epic poem style.
So for those who think The Iliad is a little bit too male-centric, make sure to pick up A Thousand Ships.
From ancient classics to modern retellings, there are a number of fantastic books like Circe and The Song of Achilles to add to your reading list.
Are you looking for books similar to The Song of Achilles and Circe? Do you have any more recommendations to add? Let us know in the comments!

Thank you for this great list!
Thank you for this list! It really helped me discover books I wanted to read!
I just finished reading Circe and GOD I needed this list so bad. Thank you!
For anybody that stumbles across this: I read The Penelopiad because of this list. It’s not that it’s bad in any way- it’s just incredibly boring, especially after finishing The Song Of Achilles and Circe. It’s not that long, but honestly, if you value your time, I don’t recommend it. If Madeline Miller manages to bring the past back to life, Atwood somehow buries it deeper.
I’d like to add to this as someone who just finished reading it – The Penelopiad doesn’t add much to Penelope’s story that readers may have been introduced to through Circe.
Despite the similarity with The Song of Achilles, in that the book follows a somewhat minor character during the adventures of the original hero, Penelope isn’t even remotely fleshed out and developed as Patroclus is in TSOA. It’s very much a retelling of Odysseus’ departure and return to Ithaca from Penelope’s perspective, without as much introspection and development as one would expect.
I will say the first half of the book is somewhat enjoyable, but the latter half, and especially the ending, is very disappointing. I was constantly pulled out of the story by the jarring references to modern-day culture and technology, especially with the “video-taped” section.
As Anne mentioned, it’s not that long. It also isn’t a terrible novel, and I found myself well engaged for almost half the book. It makes for a nice light read if you’re craving just a little bit more Penelope after reading Circe, but I wouldn’t expect anything remotely groundbreaking.
Thank you! So glad I found this website. I’ll be using it quite often, I’m sure!
Ariadne
The Trojan Women
A Thousand Ships
Wake, Siren
The Witch’s Heart (Norse myth)
I loved ‘Circe’ and ‘Song of Achilles.’ The first reminded me of one of my favorite books, ‘Till We Have Faces’ by CS Lewis. This is a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche. While Lewis was known for his Christian apologetics and the Christian metaphors abounding in his Chronicles of Narnia, ‘Tell We Have Faces’ is refreshingly clear of any sort of proselytizing. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed ‘Circe.’
‘Song of Achilles’ reminded me quite a bit of books by Mary Renault. My favorite of all her books is ‘The Persian Boy,’ the 2nd of the Alexander trilogy. I’ve also read ‘The Praise Singer’ and ‘The Last of the Wine,’ both of which are excellent. Renault knows how to bring the past to vibrant life.
In another vein, I truly enjoyed ‘Raj’ by Gita Mehta. This book covers about 50 years of history before British colonial rule in India.
Stephen Fry’s Mythos, Heroes and Troy are a brilliant recount of the same stories. Not in novel form, but very gripping all the same.
I’d add Spartacus by Howard Fast to this list, whilst not mythological it is sublimely prosaic and heart wrenchingly beautiful.