Summer is peak blockbuster movie season, and several highly anticipated titles have already started hitting theaters for summer 2026, including Minions & Monsters and Toy Story 5. Still, The Odyssey is arguably the most buzz-worthy release of the season, if not the year. With many moviegoers eagerly awaiting the film, Parade enlisted the help of a few librarians to put together a list of 11 epic and captivating books like The Odyssey.
“And that’s what made it so, so great to work on, was—you were working as hard as you ever had, but you realized that every single person around you was, too. And so it was really fun to be a part of that group,” he said.
Related: The 44 Best Greek Mythology Books of All Time, According to Librarians
Alyssa Ebaugh, a children’s services librarian at Worcester Public Library, says the poem follows Odysseus, a warrior in the Trojan War and the King of Ithaca. In the story, he makes his way home after fighting in said war.
Alicia Rogers, a tween services librarian at Worcester Public Library, says The Odyssey "serves as the ultimate example of the hero's journey."
Adam Vorobok, a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library, says Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey is his favorite version.
Ebaugh also appreciates this particular translation and says Daniel Mendelsohn’s translation is great if you're looking for a version that "maintains the musical and metaphorical qualities of the original."
What Should I Read After ‘The Odyssey’?
Once you're done reading The Odyssey, you may feel inclined to dive into some other stories with a similar vibe. The librarians we polled said several other classic titles go hand-in-hand with the iconic title.
"Similar to The Odyssey, this play is shaped by the gods and fate. But there are no monsters to defeat, and there are no physical feats. Instead, there are only the psychological trials of knowledge itself," she says. "Oedipus has spent his entire life trying to outrun a prophecy he cannot escape. And the lesson of who you truly are comes at a devastating cost."
"Though I fully admit James Joyce is not for everyone, Ulysses is a masterwork of modernist literature, built around one endlessly fascinating day in Dublin, with each chapter relating directly to one of Odysseus' travails," he says.
"Virgil’s The Aeneid is another epic that is an interesting read after reading The Iliad and The Odyssey," she says. "Virgil positions himself as Rome’s equivalent to Homer and tells the story of the foundation of Rome beginning with the fall of Troy."
Related: 17 Books Like ‘Harry Potter,’ According to Librarians
The 7 Best Greek Mythology Retellings and Adaptations
1. 'The Penelopiad' by Margaret Atwood
Amazon
Vorobok shares that The Penelopiad is full of "sentences that are so impactful," much like Atwood's other books.
"Giving the 12 hanged maids a voice is chilling, infuriating and yet necessary," he says.
2. 'Wrath Goddess Sing' by Maya Deane
Amazon
In the book, Achilles has left home to live as a woman with the transgender priestesses of Great Mother Aphrodite.
"When Odysseus comes to recruit the 'prince' Achilles for a war against the Hittites, she prepares to die rather than fight as a man. However, her divine mother, Athena, intervenes, transforming her body into the woman’s body she always longed for, and promises her everything: glory, power, fame, victory in war and, most importantly, a child born of her own body," the book description reads.
3. 'A Touch of Darkness' by Scarlett St. Clair
Amazon
"If you are looking for a darker, more mature mythology retelling, then A Touch of Darkness might be for you. Much like The Odyssey, Scarlett St. Clair’s novel explores how love endures. This reimagining of the classic Hades and Persephone myth looks at familiar gods through a contemporary lens," she states.
"Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever. The bet does more than expose Persephone's failure as a goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows—a love that is both captivating and forbidden," the book description reads.
Related: 56 Best Sad Books That Will Definitely Make You Cry, According to Librarians
4. 'Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief' by Rick Riordan
Amazon
"While targeted toward a younger audience, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief captures the sense of adventure, wit and resilience that The Odyssey establishes. Readers will recognize many of the same monsters and gods, but with a modern twist," she shares.
"But to succeed in his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves," the description reads.
5. 'Sweetbitter Song' by Rosie Hewlett
Amazon
"It's told with a modern voice that explores war, survival and forbidden love. It presents a sapphic reinterpretation of the legendary events in The Odyssey," she says.
"Years later, their paths cross once again upon the rocky shores of Ithaca, where Melantho is sent to serve Princess Penelope and her new husband, Prince Odysseus. Embittered by life as a slave, Melantho is determined to keep her distance. But, once again, the two women find themselves drawn to one other, pulled by the echo of their friendship, and something far stronger they are too afraid to name," the description reads.
6. 'Ariadne' by Jennifer Saint
Amazon
In the book, princess Ariadne is the sister of the Minotaur, a monster who craves blood sacrifice. Athens' prince, Theseus, intends to conquer the Minotaur, and Ariadne goes along with the plan.
"Defying the gods, betraying her family and country, and risking everything for love, Ariadne helps Theseus kill the Minotaur. But will Ariadne’s decision ensure her happy ending? And what of Phaedra, the beloved younger sister she leaves behind?" the book description reads.
7. 'Circe' by Madeline Miller
Amazon
In the book, Circe seeks friendship with mortals, then discovers she has the power to "transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves," per the book description.When Zeus banishes Circe to a deserted island, her power grows, and she meets some famous mythological figures, including the Minotaur, Daedalus, Icarus and Odysseus.
Related: 27 Books Like ‘ACOTAR,’ According to Librarians
2 Epic Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books Like ‘The Odyssey’
8. 'A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation' by Pablo Cartaya
Amazon
"Mourning the loss of his father, 13-year-old Gonzalo reluctantly joins his distant grandfather, Alberto—a famous fantasy author—on a 10-day book tour road trip from California to Florida," she explains. "As they visit Alberto’s old friends and uncover stories from his past, Gonzalo gains the courage to face his grief before returning home."
Throughout the book, Gonzalo and Alberto "slay demons, real and imagined; confront old stories to write new ones; and learn what it truly means to show up for your family," the book description reads.
9. 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien
Amazon
"Frodo’s adventure across Middle-earth to Mt. Doom makes Lord of the Rings a contemporary epic," she explains. "What makes Lord of the Rings a contemporary to The Odyssey is that it is not about simply reaching your destination, but what is endured in the journey, and who you are when you finally return home."
Related: Librarians Say These 10 ‘Hidden Gem’ Books Are the Funniest Things You’ll Read All Year
2 Non-Western Epic Masterpieces You Need To Read
10. 'African Trilogy' series by Chinua Achebe
Amazon
"The first book, Things Fall Apart, was an assigned book in one of my high school classes, and when I returned to it a few years ago I was really surprised to discover how much of the story and visuals had stuck with me all that time," she says.
11. 'I Am a Cat' by Natsume Soseki
Amazon
"It comments on everything from marriage, suicide, philosophy, baseball and the influence of Western culture on Japanese society," he shares.
"With acerbic wit and sardonic perspective, it follows the whimsical adventures of a world-weary stray kitten who comments on the follies and foibles of the people around him," it reads.
Related: 11 Books Like 'Little House on the Prairie' for Kids and Adults, According to Librarians
Sources:
Steph Cooper is a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library.Alyssa Ebaugh is a children’s services librarian at Worcester Public Library.Keith Good is a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library.Emily McCarthy is a One City, One Library Branch library assistant at Worcester Public Library.Alicia Rogers is a tween services librarian at Worcester Public Library.Beth Schreiber is an adult services librarian at Worcester Public Library.Victoria Thompson is a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library.Adam Vorobok is a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library.Hence then, the article about 11 epic and captivating books like the odyssey according to librarians was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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