Cover Story: Folklore and mythology

Here are our librarians' picks of the best teen reads in the folklore and mythology genre.

Sleep Like Death

Kalynn Bayron

Eve’s whole life has been devoted to one thing, learning the skills she needs to defeat the evil sorcerer who transformed one of her mothers into a songbird. With her ability to conjure weapons from lightning, communicate with wild animals, and her deadliness with both knife and bow, she should be ready. But are her skills enough? And why is her other mother suddenly acting so strangely?  A dark and atmospheric re-imagining of the story of Snow White.

9781526641090 Bloomsbury: 2024

On Silver Tides

Sylvia Bishop

The silvermen are a secret community who can breathe underwater, living on the waterways of Britain. By always following the rules of their ancient traditions they have managed to stay hidden until Isla, Kelda’s little sister, is born different. According to silverman Lore she should be sacrificed to preserve the health of the rivers, so Kelda’s family are forced to flee north to save Isla’s life. Their journey up to the wilds of Scotland comes with startling revelations about the true history of their people, the unearthing of old family secrets, and the discovery of an ancient magic that binds the rivers to the sea.

9781839133589 Anderson Press: 2024

The Night Hunt

Alexandra Christo

The Gods have already killed Atia’s parents, and now they are coming for her. As the last of the Nefas, monsters who feed on fear, her only chance of surviving is to fight back; by killing a banshee, a vampire, and one of the gods who hunts her. Joining her on this near-impossible task is an unlikely ally; a Herald, whose job it is to ferry the dead to the Underworld. Infused with Greek myth, this is a richly detailed fantasy with lashings of romance and gore.

9781471413995 Hot Key Books: 2023

This Tale Is Forbidden

Polly Crosby

When Nesta’s grandmother goes missing, she must leave their isolated cottage and travel to the city in hope of finding her. She soon discovers that all the warnings were true; in the city women are forced to follow strict rules and are punished if they rebel, thanks to a history re-written to portray famous fairy tale characters as weak and utterly reliant on men. Nesta must form new alliances to find her grandmother, reveal the true stories, and find her own happy ending.

9780702325601 Scholastic: 2024

Girl Goddess Queen

Bea Fitzgerald

Rather than be married off to her mother’s choice of arrogant and overbearing suitor, this re-imagining of the Greek myth sees Persephone travelling to the Underworld to enlist Hades in her plot to overthrow the gods. This fantasy has humour, a slow-burn romance, and a solid grounding in Greek mythology accompanied by some beautiful and atmospheric illustrations. Think you know the legend of Persephone? Well, think again!

9780241624289 Penguin Books: 2023

Island of Whispers

Frances Hardinge

The mist makes the dead linger on the island of Merlank, and ghosts can kill. Milo’s father is the Ferryman; tasked to take the dead safely on their way, travelling by sea to free their spirits. When he’s left with no choice, Milo must take over the role and journey through the seas alone, pursued by two magicians and a lord set on revenge.  A beautifully illustrated life-affirming tale about loss that combines elements of fairy tales, fantasy, and ghost stories.

9781529088083 Two Hoots: 2024

Goddess Crown

Shade Lapite

Men have always held the power in the kingdom of Galla, but with the King and his male heirs all dead the last woman standing is Kalothia. Having grown-up in a forest, hidden for her own safety, she has much to learn about the vicious world of courtly mind games and political intrigue. Luckily, Kalothia’s unusual upbringing has given her some unique skills that hopefully will help in her attempts to prove herself a worthy ruler. An exciting fantasy with a twisting plot.

9781529503715 Walker Books: 2024

Sister Spirit

Efua Traore

Tara is convinced that tracking down her birth parents will stop her disturbing dreams, so after finding clues in an old diary, she travels to Olumo Rock in Nigeria to seek answers and enrols in the boarding school nearby.  The area turns out to be full of magic and history, but Tara’s visions are only getting worse. Can Tara solve the mystery surrounding her birth parents before the dreams consume her?  Inspired by Yoruba mythology, this unique and intriguing mystery lingers long after the final pages.

9781035907571 Zephyr: 2024

All That It Ever Meant

Blessing Musariri

Mati’s Father is attempting to reconnect with his children after a tragic loss by taking them on a family road-trip across Zimbabwe. With her siblings barely talking to each other, Mati begins to confide in Meticais; a charismatic, beautifully dressed, gender-neutral entity who is invisible to everyone else. As she ruminates on her losses, while witnessing the beauty of Zimbabwe, Mati begins to reveal the true story of what happened to her family. Mysterious and meditative, this lyrical novel is a beautiful examination of grief, family, and reconciliation.

9781035902477 Zephyr: 2023