This week, the Reader’s Advisory Roundtable selected a new
moderator. I’m pleased to announce that Melanie L of the Hoover Library will be
the new RART moderator! Welcome,
Melanie! She will take the helm after
the December meeting.
The next RART meeting will be Wednesday, December 11 at
9:30am at the O’Neal Library and a Zoom option will be available. The topic will be local/Southern authors. In addition, 2025 topics will be discussed.
At this week’s meeting, we discussed mythology
retellings. Let me tell you, it is quite
a list!
10 in attendance:
in person
Holley W, O’Neal
Melanie L, Hoover
Thomas K, O’Neal
Tamara T, Irondale
Lora R, Vestavia
Nia K, Bessemer
on Zoom
Thomasina S, Five Points West
Charlie B, North Avondale
Cara W, Center Point
timilcir
ADULT
Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe (in both adult
& YA collections around the county, generally age 15+)
Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love—witness
what the gods do after dark in this stylish and contemporary reimagining of one
of the best-known stories in Greek mythology.
Medea by Blandine Le Callet
An intoxicating graphic novel reimagining the story of one
of the biggest female figures in ancient Greek mythology, for fans of Lore
Olympus and Circe.
The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson
Since leaving his homeland, the earthbound demigod Demane
has been labeled a sorcerer. With his ancestors' artifacts in hand, the
Sorcerer follows the Captain, a beautiful man with song for a voice and hair
that drinks the sunlight. The two of them are the descendants of the gods who
abandoned the Earth for Heaven, and they will need all the gifts those divine
ancestors left to them to keep their caravan brothers alive.
Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh (sequel is The Drowned Country)
There is a Wild Man who lives in the deep quiet of
Greenhollow, and he listens to the wood. Tobias, tethered to the forest, does
not dwell on his past life, but he lives a perfectly unremarkable existence
with his cottage, his cat, and his dryads. When Greenhollow Hall acquires a
handsome, intensely curious new owner in Henry Silver, everything changes. Old
secrets better left buried are dug up, and Tobias is forced to reckon with his
troubled past―both the green magic of the woods, and the dark things that rest
in its heart.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
An inspired combination of mythology, adventure, and
illusion, American Gods is a dark and kaleidoscopic journey deep into
myth and across an America at once eerily familiar and utterly alien. It is,
quite simply, a contemporary masterpiece.
Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen
The last thing Nick Morrow expected to receive was an
invitation from his father to return home. When he left rural Nebraska behind,
he believed he was leaving everything there, including his abusive father,
Carlyle, and the farm that loomed so large in memory, forever. But neither Nick
nor his brother Joshua, disowned for marrying Emilia, a woman of Asian descent,
can ignore such summons from their father, who hopes for a deathbed
reconciliation. Predictably, Joshua and Carlyle quickly warm to each other while
Nick and Emilia are left to their own devices. Nick puts the time to good use
and his flirtation with Emilia quickly blooms into romance. Though not long
after the affair turns intimate, Nick begins to suspect that Emilia’s interest
in him may have sinister, and possibly even ancient, motivations.
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
During the Great War, a combat nurse searches for her
brother, believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest
otherwise, in this hauntingly beautiful historical novel with a speculative
twist, from the author of The Bear and the Nightingale.
The Fervor by Alma Katsu
The acclaimed author of the celebrated literary horror
novels The Hunger and The Deep turns her psychological and
supernatural eye on the horrors of the Japanese American internment camps in
World War II. Inspired by the Japanese yokai and
the jorogumo spider demon, The Fervor explores the horrors
of the supernatural beyond just the threat of the occult. With a keen and
prescient eye, Katsu crafts a terrifying story about the danger of
demonization, a mysterious contagion, and the search to stop its spread before
it's too late. A sharp account of too-recent history, it's a deep excavation of
how we decide who gets to be human when being human matters most.
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ava Reid
comes a “masterful reimagining” (Publishers Weekly) of Lady Macbeth,
Shakespeare’s most famous villainess, giving her a voice, a past, and a power
that transforms the story men have written for her.
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan Macguire
Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children: No Solicitations,
No Visitors, No Quests
Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through
the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit
holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else. But magical lands
have little need for used-up miracle children. Nancy tumbled once, but now
she's back. The things she's experienced... they change a person. The children
under Miss West's care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a
way back to their own fantasy world.
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
In Marion Zimmer Bradley's masterpiece, we see the tumult
and adventures of Camelot's court through the eyes of the women who bolstered
the king's rise and schemed for his fall. From their childhoods through the
ultimate fulfillment of their destinies, we follow these women and the diverse
cast of characters that surrounds them as the great Arthurian epic unfolds
stunningly before us.
The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne
Everyone knows the story of Rapunzel in her tower, but do
you know the story of the witch who put her there? Mary McMyne's spellbinding
debut, rich with historical detail and forbidden magic, reveals the truth
behind the fairy tales—the truth only a witch could tell.
Grendel by John Gardner
This classic and much lauded retelling
of Beowulf follows the monster Grendel as he learns about humans and
fights the war at the center of the Anglo Saxon classic epic.
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
This lyrical novel reimagines the life of the infamous queen
from the ancient epic the Ramayana, giving voice to an extraordinary
woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the
shape of things to come.
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
Octavia E. Butler meets Marvel’s Black
Panther in The Deep, a story rich with Afrofuturism, folklore, and
the power of memory, inspired by the Hugo Award–nominated song “The Deep” from
Daveed Diggs’s rap group Clipping.
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
You may think you know how the fairy tale goes: a mermaid
comes to shore and weds the prince. But what the fables forget is that mermaids
have teeth. And now, her daughters have devoured the kingdom and burned it to
ashes. On the run, the mermaid is joined by a mysterious plague doctor with a
darkness of their own. Deep in the eerie, snow-crusted forest, the pair stumble
upon a village of ageless children who thirst for blood, and the three “saints”
who control them. The mermaid and her doctor must embrace the cruelest parts of
their true nature if they hope to survive.
Neon Gods by Katee Roberts
He was supposed to be a myth. But from the moment I crossed
the River Styx and fell under his dark spell…he was, quite simply, mine. A
scorchingly hot modern retelling of Hades and Persephone that's as sinful as it
is sweet.
The Once and Future King by T. H. White
The Once and Future King is an Arthurian fantasy novel.
It was first published in 1958, and is mostly a composite of earlier works
written between 1938 and 1941. The central theme is an exploration of human
nature regarding power and justice, as the boy Arthur becomes king and attempts
to quell the prevalent "might makes right" attitude with his idea of
chivalry.
The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the
Magicians trilogy returns with a triumphant reimagining of the King Arthur
legend for the new millennium.
House of Names by Colm Toibin
From the thrilling imagination of bestselling, award-winning
Colm Tóibín comes a retelling of the story of Clytemnestra and her
children—“brilliant…gripping…high drama…made tangible and graphic in Tóibín’s
lush prose” (Booklist, starred review).
Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett
It's a dreamy Midsummer Night in the Kingdom of Lancre, and
music and romance fill the air. But on this night, dreams are especially
powerful — strong enough to pull down the wall between realities. Magic and
mischief are afoot, threatening to spoil the royal wedding of King Verence and
his favorite witch, Magrat Garlick. The witches return home to discover that
elves have invaded Lancre, particularly nasty creatures. Soon it won't be only
champagne that's flowing through the streets . . .
Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis brilliantly reimagines the story of Cupid and
Psyche. Told from the viewpoint of Psyche’s sister, Orual, Till We Have
Faces is a brilliant examination of envy, betrayal, loss, blame, grief,
guilt, and conversion. In this, his final—and most mature and masterful—novel,
Lewis reminds us of our own fallibility and the role of a higher power in our
lives.
Beauty and the Beast by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de
Villeneuve
The original Beauty and the Beast was written
in French in the mid-18th century and translated. Intended for adult readers, the
original fairy tale addresses the issues of the marriage system of the day in
which women had no right to choose their husband or to refuse to marry. There
is also a wealth of rich back story as to how the Prince became cursed and
revelations about Beauty's parentage, which fail to appear in subsequent
versions of the now classic fairy tale.
Fables by Bill Willingham
When a savage creature known only as the Adversary conquered
the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, all of the infamous inhabitants of
folklore were forced into exile. Disguised among the
""mundys,"" their name for normal citizens of modern-day
New York, these magical characters created their own secret society that they
call Fabletown. From their exclusive luxury apartment buildings on Manhattan's
Upper West Side, these creatures of legend must fight for their survival in the
new world.
Thief Liar Lady by D. L. Soria
“Happily Ever After” is a total scam, but at least this time
the princess is the one controlling the grift—until her true love arrives and
threatens to ruin the whole scheme. Intrigue, magic, and wit abound in this
Cinderella fairytale reimagining, perfect for fans of Heather Walter and Naomi Novik.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
A captivating and romantic debut epic fantasy inspired by
the legend of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e, in which a young woman’s quest
to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm.
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing,
life-changing journey in this dark, one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired
by Mexican folklore.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
Winter lasts most of the year at the edge of the Russian
wilderness, and in the long nights, Vasilisa and her siblings love to gather by
the fire to listen to their nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, Vasya loves the
story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon. Wise Russians fear him, for he
claims unwary souls, and they honor the spirits that protect their homes from
evil. Then Vasya’s widowed father brings home a new wife from Moscow. Fiercely
devout, Vasya’s stepmother forbids her family from honoring their household
spirits, but Vasya fears what this may bring. And indeed, misfortune begins to
stalk the village.
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
“One of the year’s strongest fantasy novels” (NPR), an
imaginative retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale from the bestselling
author of Uprooted.
The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
This unforgettable debut— inspired by Hungarian history and
Jewish mythology—follows a young pagan woman with hidden powers and a one-eyed
captain of the Woodsmen as they form an unlikely alliance to thwart a
tyrant.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett
A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far
north in this “incredibly fun journey through fae lands and dark
magic” (NPR), the start of a heartwarming and enchanting new
fantasy series.
What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher
A gripping and atmospheric reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s
“The Fall of the House of Usher” from Hugo, Locus, & Nebula award-winning
author T. Kingfisher
City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty
Step into The City of Brass, the
spellbinding debut from S. A. Chakraborty perfect for fans
of The Golem and the Jinni, The Grace of Kings, and Uprooted, in
which the future of a magical Middle Eastern kingdom rests in the hands of a
clever and defiant young con artist with miraculous healing gifts.
Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant
Hired to film a fake documentary on mermaids, a film crew
sets out for the Mariana Trench with a team of mermaid performers but
unexpectedly comes face to face with the real-life creatures, who happen to be
vicious and deadly.
The Belisarius series by David Drake and Erik Flint (Vol 1: Thunder at Dawn)
The premise of this science fiction (more specifically
alternate history) series is that a war between two competing societies in the
future spills over to 6th century Earth. The New Gods back the Malwa Empire of
India and commence attempts to conquer the world and stamp out meritorious
accomplishment as a means to privilege and instead favor planned eugenics and
hereditary birth (Autocracy) in order to change the future.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Susanna Clarke's brilliant first novel is an utterly compelling epic tale of nineteenth-century England and the two magicians who, first as teacher and pupil and then as rivals, emerge to change its history.
Also: https://www.reddit.com/r/horrorlit/comments/qbsmp2/any_horror_novels_that_explore_native_american/
FILM & TELEVISION
Twilight of the Gods (Netflix)
Zack Snyder unleashes a bold and bloody vision of Norse
mythology in this adult animated series about a warrior with an ax to grind
against the gods. Sigrid, an iron-willed warrior, saves Leif, a mortal king,
who falls in love with her; they both survive Thor's wrath of terror which
embarks them and a crew of crusaders on a merciless mission for vengeance,
against all odds.
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney) is having difficulty
adjusting to his hard-labor sentence in Mississippi. He scams his way off the
chain gang with simple Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) and maladjusted Pete (John
Turturro), then the trio sets out to pursue freedom and the promise of a
fortune in buried treasure. With nothing to lose and still in shackles, their
hasty run takes them on an incredible journey of awesome experiences and
colorful characters.
Black Orpheus
Young lovers Orfeu (Breno Mello) and Eurydice (Marpessa
Dawn) run through the favelas of Rio during Carnaval, on the lam from a hitman
dressed like Death (Ademar Da Silva) and Orfeu's vengeful fiancée Mira (Lourdes
de Oliveira) and passing between moments of fantasy and stark reality. This
impressionistic retelling of the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice introduced bossa nova to the world with its soundtrack by young Brazilian
composers Luiz Bonfá and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
YOUNG ADULT
Nia K shared this great YA reader's advisory handout she has made available for teens at the Bessemer Library! Thanks for sharing it with us, Nia!
Man Made Monsters by Andrea Rogers (Grades 7-12)
Imagine a chilling horror collection that weaves classic
monsters like werewolves and vampires with the true horrors of colonialism,
domestic violence, and displacement. Man Made Monsters, by acclaimed
Cherokee writer Andrea Rogers, delivers.
So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany Morrow (Grades 10-12)
This powerful Little Women remix follows four
young Black sisters coming of age during the American Civil War, reframing a
much-beloved tale outside of its original, exclusively lily-white perspective.
The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh (Grades 7-12)
Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land
ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a
new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a
suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid.
But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the
Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls.
Bull by David Elliott (Grades 9 and up)
Resurrected from the dark depths of the labyrinth, this
fresh, deliciously shocking, and darkly comedic novel-in-verse takes on the
Theseus and Minotaur myth and shines a light on one of history's most infamous
monsters.
Where the Dark Stands Still by A. B. Poranek (Grades 9-12)
A girl with dangerous magic makes a risky bargain with a
demon to be free of her monstrous power in this “dark, devastating, and gothic”
(Kirkus Reviews) young adult fantasy perfect for fans
of An Enchantment of Ravens and House of Salt and Sorrows.
The Wicked + The Divine by Kieron Gillen (Grades 10-12)
Every ninety years, twelve gods incarnate as humans. They
are loved. They are hated. In two years, they are dead. Welcome to The
Wicked + The Divine, where gods are the ultimate pop stars and pop stars are
the ultimate gods. But remember: just because you're immortal, doesn't mean
you're going to live forever.
The Alchemyst by Michael Scott (Grades 7-9)
Nicholas Flamel is the greatest Alchemyst to ever live. The
records show that he died in 1418, but what if he's actually been making the
elixir of life for centuries? The secrets to eternal life are hidden within the
book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that
has ever existed, and in the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. And that's
exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. There is one hope. If
the prophecy is true, Sophie and Josh Newman have the power to save everyone.
Now they just have to learn to use it.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (Grades 9-12)
Filled with mystery and an intriguingly rich magic system,
Tracy Deonn’s YA contemporary fantasy reinvents the King Arthur legend and
“braids together Southern folk traditions and Black Girl Magic into a searing
modern tale of grief, power, and self-discovery” (Dhonielle Clayton, New
York Times bestselling author).
Tristan and Lancelot: A Tale of Two Knights by James
Persichetti (Grades 8-9)
In this queer reimagining of an Arthurian legend, Knights of
the Round Table Lancelot and Tristan set out on a quest to find the missing
magician Merlin but instead discover an unexpected romance.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh (Grades 7-9)
Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Swept
away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts,
Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With
the help of a mysterious young man named Shin―as well as a motley crew of
demons, gods and spirits―Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to
the killer storms once and for all.
Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi (Grades 10-12)
Gauri, the princess of Bharata, has been taken as a prisoner
of war by her kingdom’s enemies. Faced with a future of exile and scorn, Gauri
has nothing left to lose. Hope unexpectedly comes in the form of Vikram, the
cunning prince of a neighboring land and her sworn enemy kingdom. Unsatisfied
with becoming a mere puppet king, Vikram offers Gauri a chance to win back her
kingdom in exchange for her battle prowess. Together, they’ll have to set aside
their differences and team up to win the Tournament of Wishes – a competition
held in a mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor.
Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa (Grades 10-12)
In this first book of her Japanese mythology-inspired Shadow
of the Fox trilogy, bestselling author Julie Kagawa weaves a stunning,
high-stakes tale of alliances and deceptions, characters who aren’t what they
seem, and secrets that could change the fate of the world.
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao (Grades 9-12)
Set in an East Asian-inspired fantasy world filled with both
breathtaking pain and beauty, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns possesses
all the hallmarks of masterful fantasy: dazzling magic, heartbreaking romance,
and a world that hangs in the balance.
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor (Grades 7-9)
Akata Witch weaves together a heart-pounding tale of
magic, mystery, and finding one's place in the world. Perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone!
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim (Grades 7-9)
A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted
cranes, and an unspeakable curse... Drawing from fairy tales and East Asian
folklore, this original fantasy from the author of Spin the Dawn is
perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone.
Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge (Grades 7-12)
From master storyteller Frances Hardinge comes the unnerving
tale of one girl’s struggle to confront her darkest fears in order to triumph
over a world where nothing is as it seems.
CHILDREN
The Magical Adventures of Pretty Pearl by Virginia Hamilton
(Grades 6-9)
One long time ago, Pretty Pearl god child lived high on a
mountaintop in Africa with all other gods. Curious about mankind and itching to
show off her powers, she came down off the mountain with her brother, know-all
best god John de Conquer, and sailed on a slave ship for America. There she saw
the suffering of the black people, and felt their sorrow right behind her eyes
. Pretty Pearl knew now was her time to act.Brother John gave her a
magical necklace, a set of rules to follow, and a warning to be careful.
"Them human bein's be awful tricky," he said."they has most
winnin' ways." Drawing upon her fabulous storehouse of black legend, myth,
and folklore, Virginia Hamilton has ventured into new ways of exploring the
human spirit in this extrodinary fantasy filled with mysteries, beauty, and
hope.
The Black Bull of Norroway by Charlotte Huck (Grades K-5)
Long ago in Norway, three sisters were talking about
marriage. The two eldest wanted titles and money. Peggy Ann, the youngest, only
wanted a kind husband who loved her. "I'd even be content with the Black
Bull of Norroway," she said. And so begins a classic fairy tale of
enchantment, adventure, bravery, loyalty, and love. Charlotte Huck's spunky
heroine and Anita Lobel's lush paintings combine to create an experience to be
savored over many readings.
AUTHORS WHO WRITE PRIMARILY IN RETELLINGS
Item descriptions and any grade level ratings pulled from Amazon. Film and television descriptions pulled from Rotten Tomatoes.
