King

When will the storm pass?

I find myself asking this question often these days. For the past year or so, it feels like every few months are marked by powerful winds, swell after swell of tumultuous tides–all energetic and not literal, of course. Still, it’s astounded me how these periods of change and tension have not only been within my life, but also of those around me, and even on a national level. 

Lately I’ve found myself struggling to read. This past spring, I clawed my way out of a reading slump that lasted about 8 months. And while Taylor Jenkins Reid was indeed the one whose work got me up and running again (thank you, Taylor), it’s mythological stories that have been commanding my attention the most. I usually think of the genre of myth retellings as winter fare–I want to curl up in a blanket with a warm beverage and feel like I’m by the fire, drinking in the story as it falls from a wise village elder (the village of New York City, I guess). And yet, it’s summer and I’ve been all about the myths!

To say nothing of the countless books of this type I’ve indulged in previously, it started this time with Luna McNamara’s Psyche and Eros, and now I’m onto Jennifer Saint’s Elektra. I’ve been reflecting intently on this avenue of story. A majority of these books are written by women, many are about women–although Madeline Miller’s genre-defining A Song of Achilles is a very notable exception. Maybe it’s because women are not remembered as the heroes of these stories, despite being the literal heroines in quite a few tales. Maybe it’s because we in the modern era need to remind ourselves that our paths can take an innumerable amount of shapes, and that they’re all worthy of hero worship, even if they aren’t the clear victor in the end. Maybe we need to remember that destiny does not happen in a vacuum; we play a large, active part in shaping our futures. 

Tales as old as time that we can still learn from today

There is glory in suffering. Or at least that’s what we have been made to believe. But deeper and truer than that, I think the glory actually comes from overcoming–looking back on what has transpired, and choosing to continue on to something better, or even just different. And I think we in the modern age need to mythologize ourselves to a certain degree when we can't seem to find our way out of darkness.

I’ve been feeling an urge in all parts of my life to take charge. For a time, I think I had forgotten my agency. I lamented my circumstances in my head–my career wasn’t this enough and my relationships weren’t that enough and on and on. But then, I remembered: I can change anything. Or I can at least try. Perhaps the cosmic tides of change will keep pushing and pulling, indifferent to our cries of fear and near despair, but we still have power. We may not be gods or kings, but we are people, and ours is a storied magic that has endured for centuries.

So dear reader, if you feel unmoored and tossed by the tempests of life, might I remind you that you have everything you need to live the life you are destined for, the life you desire. It sounds far-fetched, but we have to be a little delulu sometimes, yeah? And as inspiration, I’ll leave below a list of some of my favorite mythology retellings. Some of these authors have more titles that I haven’t gotten to yet, so do a little research if you’re interested. Happy hunting! 

• Elektra by Jennifer Saint – I’m still reading this one, but I’m loving every moment! The choice to follow 3 different characters in 2-3 different times is really exciting, I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds and weaves together! 

  • Ariadne – We often focus on the immortals, but this time we follow a mortal girl’s story, and it makes each moment all the more precious. Perhaps a mirror to our own lives. 

• Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara – Such a unique story in the genre, and a debut to boot! Dual perspective of two lovers who are ripped away from each other and kept apart for much of the book?! I mean, come on. Loved having a heroine who is such a strong, badass fighter, too. 

• The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan – The books that arguably got most of us into mythology in the first place. I reread the original series during the early days of lockdown and they were still so charming and fun and epic. 

  • There are plenty of other books and series by Rick and other authors about Greek mythology, Egyptian, Norse, etc. Give em a go–they might open up a whole new world for you! And share them with the young people in your life; I’m sure they’ll have a blast. 

• Circe by Madeline Miller – I LOVE HER!!! Something I think Miller does incredibly effectively is make you feel the years that Circe lives through on her island more or less alone. So if you feel the plot dragging for you in the middle, ponder that and do your best to keep going. It’ll be worth it. 

  • The Song of Achilles – A contemporary classic. Get into it. 

  • Galatea – Pygmalion short story with flipped perspective. 

• Sistersong by Lucy Holland – Based on a folktale about the founding of Britain, three siblings fight to forge their own paths. Exciting and devastating, populated by magic, love, betrayal, and a reminder that queer people have always been here!

• The Witch’s Heart Genevieve Gornichec – One of my absolute favorites! Norse mythology made new for fans of witchcraft, Loki, and wlw.