LGBTQ+ Mythological Retellings to Love After ‘The Song of Achilles’
If you loved ‘The Song of Achilles’ for its heartfelt queer romance and vivid mythic setting, you’re going to adore these similar books. I cherished Miller’s novel because it made an ancient love story feel fresh and deeply personal.
I’ll guide you through other retellings that weave LGBTQ+ themes into mythology, from Greek epics to other cultural legends. My top suggestions to explore first include:
- “The Dark Wife” by Sarah Diemer, a lesbian reimagining of Hades and Persephone
- “The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea” by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, a pirate adventure with a tender queer relationship
- “When the Moon Was Ours” by Anna-Marie McLemore, a magical story inspired by myth with a transgender protagonist
Understanding the magic of ‘The Song of Achilles’
Madeline Miller’s novel tells the story of the Trojan War through the eyes of Patroclus. We see his exile, his meeting with the dazzling Achilles, and the deep, quiet love that grows between them. The book is not about battles and glory. It is about the quiet moments, the shared glances, and the private world two people build against the tide of fate.
This mix is why it sticks with you. It takes ancient, epic mythology and fills it with a very human, tender heart. The prose feels lyrical and careful, like every sentence is chosen to ache. If you’re searching for books like ‘The Song of Achilles’ gay romance is often the central thread you’re hoping to find again, paired with that same beautiful sense of tragedy. That pull also helps shape the best historical fiction romance recommendations and sweeping sagas of forbidden love. Fans explore these threads to discover even richer, character-driven epics. It shares a DNA with Miller’s other work, which is why many readers look for books like ‘Circe’ and ‘The Song of Achilles’ together, seeking that immersive, character-driven mythic experience.
Your roadmap to finding the perfect read-alike
When you finish a book that good, the hunt begins. But what part are you really craving? Let’s break it down. You might be looking for one or more of these elements (similar books to the ones recommended by Tom):
- A mythological or ancient historical setting.
- A central, defining LGBTQ+ romance or relationship.
- Lyrical, beautiful prose that makes you slow down.
- That heavy, beautiful sense of tragic fate.
Ask yourself this quick question: Are you here for the heartbreak, the mythology, or the love story? Your answer is your best compass.
Top recommendations at a glance
| Book Title & Author | Core Myth/Inspiration | Why You Might Like It |
|---|---|---|
| ‘The Witch’s Heart’ by Genevieve Gornichec | Norse mythology (Angrboda & Loki) | A resilient, epic love story at the end of the world. |
| ‘This Is How You Lose the Time War’ by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone | Sci-fi / Epic Time War | For the poetic, destined romance and lush prose. |
| ‘A Thousand Ships’ by Natalie Haynes | Trojan War (Women’s Perspectives) | The mythological depth & tragic scope, from new angles. |
| ‘The Dark Wife’ by Sarah Diemer | Greek myth (Hades & Persephone) | A gentle, lesbian retelling with a focus on love. |
| ‘The Persian Boy’ by Mary Renault | Historical (Alexander the Great) | Lyrical historical fiction with a central gay romance. |
| ‘The Silence of the Girls’ by Pat Barker | Trojan War (Briseis’s Perspective) | The direct companion in tone and setting, focusing on voice. |
If you loved the epic love story and lyrical prose…
This is for readers who close the book and still feel the echo of the relationship. You want that same pull in your chest, that same attention to language. The mythology is a beautiful bonus, but the heart is the connection. Many readers seek books that deliver emotionally resonant fiction with strong thematic depth. Those are the stories that linger.
‘This Is How You Lose the Time War’ by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Let’s get this out of the way: this is not a mythology book. It’s a science fiction epistolary romance between two rival agents, Red and Blue, fighting across tangled timelines. Yet, it captures the same core feeling of a poetic, fated, and world-altering love that defines Achilles and Patroclus. Their relationship grows through letters left in bizarre places, each note more intimate and dangerous than the last.
Media Pairing: Read this with the ambient album “Tezeta” by Mulatu Astatke in the background. Its moody, timeless jazz melodies perfectly match the book’s wandering, yearning vibe.
The Vibe Check: The prose is incredibly dense and lush, like a rich dessert. You savor every sentence. If you prefer fast-paced plots, this might feel slow. But if you read for breathtaking language and a love story that feels both impossible and inevitable, you will adore it. Readers who enjoy multiple genres and value character-driven narratives tend to prefer the best book recommendations that emphasize depth over pace. They often dislike slow pacing unless it serves the story and the characters.
‘The Witch’s Heart’ by Genevieve Gornichec
This book takes you to the heart of Norse mythology. It’s the story of the giantess Angrboda, who heals from a great betrayal and builds a life in a remote forest. There, she is found by Loki. Their relationship is complex, playful, deeply affectionate, and resilient. Like ‘The Song of Achilles’, it focuses on a love that exists in the shadow of prophesied doom, finding its strength in quiet domestic moments against a backdrop of epic fate. If you’re looking for books like Percy Jackson—mythic gods, modern settings, and brisk adventures—this will feel familiar. It sits nicely among other fantasy novels that blend myth and contemporary life.
Time Investment Verdict: The first few chapters have a slower, recovery-focused pace as Angrboda heals and settles into her new life. Stick with it. Once Loki arrives and their family begins to grow, the story gains powerful momentum toward its heartbreaking and beautiful end.
Please note this book contains scenes of violence and significant themes of loss and grief, central to the Norse mythological canon, similar to many mythological and fantasy fiction stories.
If you loved the mythological deep-dive and fresh perspective…
The magic of ‘The Song of Achilles’ often lies in its focus on a voice we rarely heard in the original epics. If you’re chasing that same feeling, look for stories that pull other marginalized or forgotten characters from ancient tales into the spotlight. The exciting part is that authors are exploring myths from all over the world, offering new textures and settings beyond the familiar Greek shores.
‘Stone Blind’ by Natalie Haynes
If Madeline Miller’s style feels like a warm, heartbreaking embrace, Natalie Haynes’s approach is a sharp, witty, and deeply angry conversation. ‘Stone Blind’ gives Medusa her story, reframing her not as a monster but as a victim of divine cruelty. While it doesn’t center on a romantic relationship like Achilles and Patroclus, its heart beats with the same themes of agency, victimhood, and reclaiming a narrative.
Haynes writes with a modern, almost sarcastic tone that cuts through the epic grandeur to show the absurdity and injustice of the gods. Her style is more directly and humorously feminist compared to the immersive, lyrical prose of Miller or the more solemn, tragic tone of an author like Jennifer Saint. It’s a different path to the same powerful destination.
‘The Mere Wife’ by Maria Dahvana Headley
Imagine the epic of Beowulf, but set in a modern American suburb. Now, imagine that story told primarily from the perspectives of two mothers, with a profound, simmering queer subtext woven throughout. That’s ‘The Mere Wife’. This book shares Miller’s talent for humanizing mythic figures (here, Grendel’s mother is a veteran named Dana), but it trades ancient battlefields for cul-de-sacs and country clubs.
The vibe here is intensely literary and contemporary, more like a piercing social novel than a historical fantasy. You won’t find chariots or lyres. Instead, you’ll find a raw exploration of motherhood, isolation, and otherness that uses the old poem as a startlingly relevant blueprint.
‘The Daughters of Izdihar’ by Hadeer Elsbai
Ready to step completely away from Greco-Roman myths? This Egyptian-inspired fantasy offers a rich, desert-swept world of elemental magic and political rebellion. At its core is a slow-burn sapphic relationship between two women on opposite sides of a social revolution. It captures that feeling of a deep, character-driven bond set against a backdrop of immense stakes, much like ‘The Song of Achilles’.
The book pulls from the aesthetics and feel of Egyptian history and mythology, giving you a completely different sensory palette of sun-baked stone, river magic, and intricate societal conflict. It proves the emotional core you loved can thrive in any ancient soil.
Building your perfect reading experience
Finding the right book is one thing. Creating the perfect space to fall into it is another. Here’s some reader-first advice for enjoying this niche to its fullest.
Book club discussion starters
These questions work beautifully for ‘The Song of Achilles’ and any of the books above, sparking great conversation.
- How does the author’s choice of narrator or perspective change the meaning of the original myth?
- Which character did you sympathize with most, and did that change from how you felt about them in the traditional story?
- What modern themes or issues did you see reflected in this ancient tale?
Curating your reading environment
These books often create a powerful, immersive feeling. You can nurture that atmosphere with a few simple things and try finding similar books with a matching vibe.
- A really good reading lamp: One with warm, adjustable light saves your eyes during late-night reading marathons.
- A soft blanket: For curling up as the fictional world gets intense.
- A small notebook: Jot down a beautiful line or a thought about the characters. It helps the story stay with you.
These simple items aren’t about stuff; they’re about giving yourself permission to sink fully into the experience.
A gentle note on content and expectations
Mythological stories often grapple with heavy themes from their source material. Many, like ‘The Song of Achilles’, involve war, violence, and trauma. I find it helpful to quickly look up content warnings for a book if I need to, so I can prepare my heart for the journey. These conversations about the role of trauma, healing, and representation in storytelling feel like a natural extension of myth. They remind me how stories can hold space for survivors and diverse voices.
Remember this, though. Not all LGBTQ+ mythological stories end in tragedy. While some sit with the grief of their original tales, others imagine paths of defiance, survival, and joy. You can find a whole spectrum of emotional journeys waiting for you.
Next Reads for Mythological Retelling Fans
These stories prove that myth has always held space for queer hearts, retelling ancient tales with fresh, resonant voices. Each book I’ve mentioned honors that tradition while crafting something entirely new for you to treasure. I hope this list gives you a wonderful new story to connect with.
Written by Chrestos Plácida. Chrestos is an avid book reader and enthusiast. He reads and reviews countless books every year and has started multiple book clubs around his community where he helps the readers decide on which book to read next based on his personal reading experience. He also has a degree in literature and an interest in the classics and history and has written many books reviews for online blogs and review sites.