by M.M. Bird & Nathaniel Hawthorne
First published 2021
Theseus descends into the labyrinth beneath Crete, following a thread that may lead him back to daylight or leave him trapped forever with the minotaur. His story joins more than twenty tales where mortals encounter the divine powers of ancient Greece and Rome. Pandora lifts the lid of a forbidden box while her husband Epimetheus watches helplessly. The witch Circe transforms sailors into swine with her magic. Narcissus stares at his reflection in a pool as Echo calls his name from the forest. These heroes and heroines navigate a world where gods scheme against each other and mortals pay the price. Pygmalion carves a woman from marble and begs Venus to give her life. Cupid shoots his arrows at Psyche, only to fall under love's spell himself. Perseus seeks the Gorgon's head, knowing one glance at Medusa will turn him to stone. Each story reveals how ancient people understood fate, love, and the price of defying divine will.
Genres: mythology, historical-fiction, fantasy, greek-mythology, ancient, classical-studies
Vibes: emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, gods-and-goddesses
Setting: Crete, Greece, Rome
Period: Ancient, Classical
256 pages · Hardcover · Sirius