The Power by Naomi Alderman
Trigger Warning: Rape, violence
The Power, written by Naomi Alderman, is a perfect book recommendation for anyone who may be placed in Cabin 1 as the child of Zeus. This novel is heavily inspired by the feminist works of Maragret Atwood and explores rape culture in a thought-provoking way. The novel brings together a diverse cast of characters in a patriarchal world where things are beginning to change, as women gain the power of lightning in their fingertips. Not only does this book explore the powers of electricity, but also power dynamics between men and women. While Zeus may be the god of lightning and the king of Olympus, anyone who knows anything about Greek mythology is aware that Zeus was all for flaunting his power, especially over women. The characters within this novel are teenagers, but it is important to note that some aspects of this novel are a bit strong for a young adult classification. Nonetheless, this is an important read on the power of oppression and prejudice that fits the Cabin 1 criteria perfectly.
Wither by Lauren DeStafano
Lauren DeStefano’s novel Wither examines life in the future where men only live to be twenty-five and women only get to live until twenty. The main character, Rhine, is sold as a bride, and while she originally plans to escape, she quickly becomes enamored with the wealth and illusion of grandeur granted to her through this coupling. As the novel progresses, Rhine comes to learn that all is not as it seems and that she must find a way to leave before her time is up. This novel’s central focus is on the themes of marriage and health, making it a perfect read for Hera’s cabin. While this book leaves you wanting more out of the worldbuilding, the prose within the novel is also beautiful and intricate.
Seafire by Natalie C. Parker
Keeping in line with the theme of the sea and waters, Seafire by Natalie C. Parker is a perfect read for the demigods placed in Cabin 3. This novel follows Caledonia Styx as she commands her all-female pirate crew against the looming threat of the warlord Aric Athair. The novel takes a turn with a growing romance and a male passenger on the girls’ ship. While this man may disrupt the balance the girls have cultivated, he appears to be one of the only ways to defeat Aric. This novel is filled with ships and battles on the sea, making it a perfect novel for fans of pirates and water-centric fantasy worlds.
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
While there are many young adult fantasies with a focus on harvests and seasons, I found Maggie Stiefvater’s novel The Raven Boys to perfectly encapsulate the nature vibes expected from Cabin 4. The novel follows a girl named Blue as she is sucked into the world of the Raven Boys where she meets the privileged student, Gansey. A fun urban fantasy filled with sentient trees and fantastical clairvoyance powers, this novel has a strong focus on mother-daughter relationships, romance, and found families, which are all staples of the myths involving Demeter and her daughter Persephone.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir is an excellent novel for fans of war and battles like the demigods in Cabin 5. This story follows Laia and Elias, who are both slaves in their own way, within a brutal fantasy world inspired by ancient Rome. Laia seeks the help of the soldier Elias after her brother’s arrest, only to learn that their actions against the empire may end the tyranny of their world. This novel is quickly paced with quality writing and an original premise, bound to captivate its readers, especially those interested in the spirit of war.
Lore by Alexandra Bracken
Alexandra Bracken’s Greek mythology inspired novel, Lore, is a great read for those of us still craving Greek mythology books, especially and is an excellent read for those of us in Cabin 6. As punishment for a rebellion on Olympus, every seven years, nine Greek gods are forced to live as humans. Hunted by people who have been wronged and by their descendants, two Greek gods, including Athena herself, must seek help. The main character of this novel, Lore, teams up with a friend she believed to be dead and Athena to fight against a mutual enemy, but binding her fate with Athena’s may come with a cost. Not only is this novel full of battle strategy and war, but this novel features Athena herself. This book is perfect for the sons and daughters of Athena still looking to scratch the mythology-inspired book itch.
The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan
An obvious choice for Apollo’s Cabin 7 is Rick Riordan’s spinoff series The Trials of Apollo. This series follows Apollo after he is cast out of Olympus by Zeus and forced to live as a human. Filled with witty humor and endless adventures, this is quite literally the perfect novel for the Apollo cabin. If you are a fan of the Percy Jackson series and want to revisit Riordan’s comedic mythological retellings, I highly recommend giving this series a read.
Secrets of Artemis by C.K. Brooke
Secrets of Artemis by C.K. Brooke is a mythological retelling told from the perspective of Artemis herself. This novel delves into what we thought we knew about the goddess of the hunt and rewrites the story. With an unexpected romance and an independent female protagonist, this quick read is perfect for members of Cabin 8 looking to expand their mythological knowledge.
Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen
While I recently gushed about Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen in a previous review, I must again recommend it, as it is the perfect read for the engineering minds of Cabin 9. Of Jade and Dragons follows Aihui Ying after her father’s assassination. Ying is a brave protagonist who chooses to join the engineering guild, even though females are not allowed. This novel is full of mechanical creations and finding strength even when you may physically be the weakest in the room. Ying and the world of Of Jade and Dragons captures the essence of Hephaestus and his struggles throughout his own myths, despite the mythology of this novel centering around Chinese culture.
Lovely War by Julie Berry
Julie Berry’s Lovely War is a bit different from the rest of the fantasies recommended in this blog. This multi-layered historical romance is told from the perspective of Aphrodite on trial, along with a few testimonies from the other Greek gods. This novel follows two different and unexpected couples from World War I, while also being a retelling of a classic Aphrodite adultery myth—where her husband, Hephaestus, catches her with the god of war, Ares. This novel braids together themes of war, love, and mythology, much like the film Wonder Woman from 2017. I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially those in Cabin 10, who love a good, complex romance.
A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab
Much like Hermes, Kell, from Schwab’s A Darker Shade of Magic series, has the magical ability to travel between worlds. Kell travels between parallel versions of London as an unofficial smuggler, showing his patrons magical worlds they may never get to see. This dangerous hobby eventually goes awry when a sneaky woman named Delilah Bard steals from him after learning of his powers. Delilah then wishes to travel across the parallel worlds with Kell, much to his dismay. This novel focuses on the power of transportation and has themes of trickery, which aligns with much of what Cabin 11 and Hermes represent.
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Ariadne is a feminist retelling of the myth of Theseus and the minotaur. This novel follows Ariadne through a classic mythology retelling, but also spends half of the novel building a romance between her and the god of wine himself. With themes of breaking from toxic relationships and the control of powerful men, this novel approaches the darker side of the Greek gods and the pleasures they indulge in.
We Shall Be Monsters by Tara Sim
Another recent read for me, We Shall Be Monsters by Tara Sim is a fantasy novel with Hindu culture and mythology sprinkled over a Frankenstein retelling. This dark novel involves raising the dead, demons, and spirits, making it an excellent read for the more gothic and death-obsessed member of Cabin 13. The writing of this story is poetic, but filled with gore and chaos, reflecting the essence of Hades in Greek mythology.
Jenica Delaney, Pine Reads Review Writer