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Quick answer: If you loved The Odyssey, try The Iliad, The Odyssey (translated by Emily Wilson), Circe, The Penelopiad, The Song of Achilles and Ithaca. Each one offers an epic journey, a clever hero, gods and monsters or a long road home.
Homer's epic follows Odysseus, king of Ithaca, on his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. He outwits the Cyclops, resists the Sirens, escapes the witch Circe and the nymph Calypso, and finally returns disguised as a beggar to defeat the suitors courting his faithful wife Penelope. Readers love its adventures, its cunning hero and its themes of loyalty and home. These books share its epic journeys, its myths and its heroes.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Format | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Iliad | Homer | Epic poem | readers who want the war before the journey |
| The Odyssey (translated by Emily Wilson) | Homer | Epic poem | readers who want a fresh translation |
| Circe | Madeline Miller | Novel | readers who want the witch's side |
| The Penelopiad | Margaret Atwood | Novel | readers who want Penelope's view |
| The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller | Novel | readers who like Greek heroes |
| Ithaca | Claire North | Novel | readers who like Penelope as a schemer |
| The Aeneid | Virgil | Epic poem | readers who want Rome's epic |
| Ulysses | James Joyce | Novel | readers who want a modern odyssey |
| Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters | Rick Riordan | Novel | younger readers |
| Mythos | Stephen Fry | Nonfiction | readers who want myths retold |
| Cold Mountain | Charles Frazier | Novel | readers who like long journeys home |
| Black Ships | Jo Graham | Novel | readers who want a Trojan journey |
| Jason and the Golden Fleece | Apollonius of Rhodes | Epic poem | readers who want another voyage |
| The Lost Books of the Odyssey | Zachary Mason | Novel | readers who like alternate versions |
| A Thousand Ships | Natalie Haynes | Novel | readers who want women's voices |
1. The Iliad by Homer
The anger of Achilles shapes the Trojan War.
Best for: readers who want the war before the journey.
2. The Odyssey (translated by Emily Wilson) by Homer
A clear, modern translation of the epic.
Best for: readers who want a fresh translation.
3. Circe by Madeline Miller
Circe tells her own story, including Odysseus's visit.
Best for: readers who want the witch's side.
4. The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Penelope and her maids tell their side.
Best for: readers who want Penelope's view.
5. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Patroclus tells his love for Achilles.
Best for: readers who like Greek heroes.
6. Ithaca by Claire North
Penelope protects Ithaca while Odysseus is away.
Best for: readers who like Penelope as a schemer.
7. The Aeneid by Virgil
A Trojan hero travels to found Rome.
Best for: readers who want Rome's epic.
8. Ulysses by James Joyce
One day in Dublin, mirroring the Odyssey.
Best for: readers who want a modern odyssey.
9. Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Percy faces Odyssey-style monsters.
Best for: younger readers.
10. Mythos by Stephen Fry
Fry retells the Greek myths with humor.
Best for: readers who want myths retold.
11. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
A Confederate deserter walks home to the woman he loves.
Best for: readers who like long journeys home.
12. Black Ships by Jo Graham
A seer travels with Trojan survivors.
Best for: readers who want a Trojan journey.
13. Jason and the Golden Fleece by Apollonius of Rhodes
Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece.
Best for: readers who want another voyage.
14. The Lost Books of the Odyssey by Zachary Mason
Dozens of reimagined Odyssey episodes.
Best for: readers who like alternate versions.
15. A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
Women of the Trojan War tell their stories.
Best for: readers who want women's voices.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with The Odyssey: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to The Odyssey. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
If you want the full story, read The Iliad too, and try Emily Wilson's translation for a fresh voice. For retellings, Circe, The Penelopiad and Ithaca show the women's side. The Song of Achilles is a moving read for the Trojan War's heroes. Younger readers can enjoy Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters, which borrows directly from the Odyssey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Odyssey about?
Odysseus spends ten years trying to return home after the Trojan War, facing monsters and gods.
Who wrote The Odyssey?
It is credited to Homer, a Greek poet who lived around the 8th century BC.
Who is Penelope?
Odysseus's loyal wife, who delays her suitors for years.
Which translation should I read?
Emily Wilson and Robert Fagles are both popular modern choices.
Is The Odyssey hard to read?
Modern translations make it readable and exciting.
What happens with the Cyclops?
Odysseus blinds the Cyclops Polyphemus and escapes by hiding his men under sheep.
How long is Odysseus away from home?
Twenty years: ten at war and ten on the journey.