By the time this post is out in the world, I will have seen Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey at least two times. There are a few minor things I might change were it up to me, but overall it blew me away; for a nerd who loves Greek mythology, an epic journey, lots of juicy gods vs. fate vs. personal responsibility discourse, and a score that really slaps, this is cinematic gold. My favorite part of the whole experience, though, has been the interest the film has sparked not only in Homer’s epic poem, but in related literature writ large.
Folks in my feeds have been asking for reading recommendations, and receiving suggestions from passionate book nerds in droves. This is a great thing: people being jazzed about reading and interested in art is a cause for celebration. And while I love a lot of the stories I see recommended—I’m a known evangelist for Circe and The Song of Achilles, especially if you enjoy a recreational cry—I’d like to remind the people of two things: 1) people of color also write mythology and folklore retellings, and 2) the Greeks and Romans aren’t the only ones with rich storytelling traditions about gods and monsters, magic and mischief, or heroes going on journeys and making questionable decisions.
So here’s a handful of Latine reads you might enjoy if you too can’t get enough of The Odyssey, or if you’re a mythology and folklore nerd, or if you geek out on books about the power of storytelling. From a cross-country journey with a god of death to a sapphic reimagining of Psyche and Eros, these stories are either inspired by Latin American culture or written by Latine authors, and in some cases, both.
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
For gods, mythology, and epic journeys
This cross-country adventure through Jazz Age Mexico begins when Casiopea Tun accidentally unleashes the Mayan God of Death, and he asks for her help in reclaiming his throne from his backstabbing brother. I guess sometimes the answer to the question, “What do we say to the god of death?” is, “Cool cool cool, a donde vamos?”
The Sunbearer Trials (The Sunbearer Duology #1) by Aiden Thomas
More mythology, more gods
In a world where the Sun must be replenished once every decade to keep the baddie Obsidian gods away, Demigods compete in a series of high-stakes challenges called the Sunbearer Trials. How high are these stakes, you ask? The winner gets to carry light and life to all the temples, but the loser gets the “honor” of having their body melted down and used as juice to power up the Sun Stones. The vibe of this Mexican-inspired YA fantasy is a sort of queer-normative Hunger Games, but with gods and magic and Mexican folklore. It’s the first in a completed duology, so go forth and devour!
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The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
For meditations on storytelling and oral tradition
Earth just got rocked by a comet, and Petra and her family are among the few hundred people selected to journey to a new planet and carry on the human race. When Petra awakes hundreds of years later, invaders have taken over the ship and purged the memories of everyone on board. Petra has always wanted to be a cuentista, a storyteller, like her abuelita, and now it appears she might be the cuentista, the only person who remembers Earth and can keep its stories alive. I walked away from The Odyssey, and from all the online discourse surrounding it, thinking a lot about oral storytelling traditions. This book will get you thinking about them, too.
Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas #1) by Zoraida Córdova
For magic and a journey to an underworld
When a reluctant bruja casts a spell to rid herself of magic, it backfires spectacularly, leaving her to try and fix the disaster her formidable power has wrought. She goes on a journey of self-discovery to come to terms with that power (she’s in denial about being the most powerful bruja in generations), her queerness, and her place in the world, and also a literal journey to an underworld of sorts to get back all that she’s lost. The coming-of-age tale explores sisterhood, identity, and familial obligation, and it’s the first in a completed witchy trilogy.
The Palace of Eros by Caro De Robertis
For angry gods doing the most, and just love of Greek myth
In this queer take on Greek mythology, a nonbinary Eros whisks the town’s most desired beauty, Psyche, away to a hidden palace to escape the wrath of the gods, including one very pissed-off Aphrodite. Under the dark of night, they fall in love and do what lovers do most passionately. But every morning, Eros always has to fly away before first light. The weight of all this secrecy begins to weigh on Psyche, and she begins to doubt Eros. These doubts lead her to break Eros’ trust and well… it’s Greek myth, so I’m sure it all works out for everyone.
For even more Latine books, check out our Latine Lit archives. For more mythology of all kinds, try these comic book retellings of Greek myths, these feminist mythology retellings, and these magical mythromantasy novels.
And for a full-blown Odyssey nerd fest, check out this bonus episode of Zero to Well-Read where Jeff, Rebecca, and I do a book vs. movie analysis (aka excuse to make noises into a mic about our Hot Greek Summer feelings).
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