Best Books Like Circe (2026): Myth Retellings Compared

A reader who loved Circe and wants the best books like Circe will find plenty of myth retellings here. We compared the picks on fit, contents, value, and the listed reading age.

ShelfAnswers earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Ariadne by Saint	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Elektra by Saint	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Galatea by Miller	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Athena's Child by Lynn	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	The Penelopiad by Atwood	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Ariadne by Saint

Jennifer Saint·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits a reader who loved Circe and wants another Greek myth told by a woman; not for a nonfiction reader.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Marketed for fans of Madeline Miller's Circe
• Puts Ariadne and Phaedra at the heart of the story
• Published May 4, 2021 by Flatiron

Cons

• The description mentions blood sacrifice and killing, so check the themes before buying
• No print page count is stated
• No reading age is stated

2

Elektra by Saint

Jennifer Saint·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Fits a reader who wants three women tangled in an ancient curse; not for someone avoiding dark family sagas.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• From Jennifer Saint, the author of Ariadne
• Follows Elektra, Clytemnestra and Cassandra
• States 320 pages in the 2023 reprint edition

Cons

• The description mentions violence and tragedy, so check the themes before buying
• Two picks here share this author
• No reading age is stated

3

Galatea by Miller

Madeline Miller·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits a reader who wants Circe's own author in one sitting; not for someone who wants a full novel.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Written by Madeline Miller herself
• Reimagines the myth of Galatea and Pygmalion
• States 64 pages in hardcover with a new afterword

Cons

• The description mentions an obsessive husband locking Galatea away, so check the themes before buying
• A short story, so a novel reader should skip it
• No reading age is stated

4

Athena's Child by Lynn

Hannah Lynn·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Fits a reader who wants Medusa's side of the story; not for a reader who dislikes dark retellings.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• A fast-paced reimagining of Medusa
• Draws on Greek myths and later Roman retellings
• Published August 30, 2020

Cons

• The description mentions abuse, so check the themes before buying
• No print page count is stated
• No reading age is stated

5

The Penelopiad by Atwood

Margaret Atwood·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits a reader who wants Penelope's own side of the myth.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Penelope tells her own side of the story
• From Margaret Atwood
• Part of the Canongate Myths series

Cons

• The description mentions lust, greed and murder, so check the themes before buying
• The November 20, 2008 edition is the oldest here
• No reading age is stated

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

More picks to compare

• Medusa by BurtonFor a reader who wants a 208-page Medusa retelling.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 23 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. None of the picks here lists a reading age. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best books like circe

Start with the closest match

Ariadne is marketed for fans of Madeline Miller’s Circe, and Galatea is written by Miller herself, so both sit closest to the keyword. Elektra comes from the same author as Ariadne, a natural next read. For more mythic choices, see best books like Discovery of Witches.

Match the length to the reader

Galatea states 64 pages, so it suits a reader who wants one sitting. Elektra states 320 pages for a longer commitment. When the listing gives no page count, check the format before buying.

Check the themes

Several of these retellings mention violence, abuse or murder, so read the description before handing one to a younger reader.

Before you buy

• Check the format: the Galatea listing is the small hardcover edition with a new afterword.
• Elektra is the 2023 reprint edition, so confirm the edition on the listing.
• The Penelopiad is the oldest edition here, so confirm it is the version you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Galatea by the same author as Circe?

Yes. The listing names Madeline Miller as the author of this short story reimagining the myth of Galatea and Pygmalion.

Which of these books is the shortest?

Galatea. The listing states 64 pages, so it reads in one sitting.

Are these books good for a book club?

Several picks follow multiple viewpoints, which gives a group plenty to discuss. Check the themes in the description before choosing one.

Still deciding? Our top pickAriadne by Saint

Check price on Amazon

Related lists

See every book club list and all fiction lists.

More lists: book club books, best books like Cirque du Freak, best books like Discovery of Witches and fantasy books.