First published 2001
Perseus faces the deadly gaze of Medusa, whose look turns mortals to stone. Theseus ventures into the twisting maze beneath Crete to battle the monstrous Minotaur. Heracles undertakes his twelve impossible labors, from slaying the Nemean Lion to capturing Cerberus from the underworld. These ancient tales follow heroes who confront gods, monsters, and their own destinies across the Mediterranean world. Coolidge brings clarity to stories that have captivated audiences for thousands of years. Her retellings preserve the drama and danger of the original myths while making them accessible to modern readers. The collection includes both mortal champions like Theseus and divine figures like the Olympian gods, exploring their conflicts and quests. Each story pulses with the adventure and peril that defined ancient Greek storytelling, from epic journeys across unknown seas to battles against creatures that defy nature itself.
Genres: mythology, adventure, fantasy, ancient
Vibes: lyrical, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: epic-journey, gods-and-monsters, mythical-creatures
Setting: Mediterranean, Crete
Period: ancient
256 pages · Paperback · Clarion Books