For as long as humans have been able to tell stories, cultures across the globe have been telling stories about life's biggest mysteries. Passed down over generations, these essential myths are woven into the very fabric of one's cultural identity. And their reach extends beyond their origins: Mythology and folklore provide rich backdrops for contemporary fantasy authors to tell new stories that shed light on human nature.
This rich sampling of fantasy listens inspired by global mythology includes retellings of stories from around the world, each tapping into unique cultural perspectives, weaving myths and folklore into exciting tales. Whether you're looking for an epic about the gods, a coming-of-age story full of ghosts, or a contemporary urban fantasy brimming with Indigenous tricksters, there's something on this list for everyone.
With a slew of character voices, narrator Yetta Gottesman gives a standout performance of this lush 1920s fantasy set in Mexico. Silvia Moreno-Garcia draws on Mexican and Mayan folklore and mythology to tell a beguiling story about power, ghosts, and the cost of following your dreams. Casiopea lives a sheltered life taking care of her rich grandfather's house, but she dreams of escaping. When she accidentally frees the Mayan god of death from a wooden box, he coaxes her on a journey across Mexico that will change her life forever.
This beautiful, romantic debut fantasy novel is inspired by the legend of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess. Sue Lynn Tan's dazzling reimagining of this ancient mythology is full of mystery and adventure. Xingyin grows up on the moon, unaware that her mother is hiding her from the wrath of the Celestial Emperor. When her magic is discovered, Xingyin is forced to leave home and travel to the dangerous but alluring Celestial Kingdom, where she'll have to go up against the Emperor himself in order to save her mother. Acclaimed narrator Natalie Naudus gives an immersive performance that will leave listeners ready to hear the rest of the series.
Listening to Métis actor and narrator Tanis Parenteau perform this high-stakes, action-packed YA novel is a pure treat. She nails every voice, bringing the vivid and sometimes terrifying near-future world of Rebecca Roanhorse's imagination to life. Set on a former Navajo reservation remade in the wake of climate destruction, the story draws on Navajo legends of gods and monsters. Maggie is a Dinétah monster hunter who agrees to help the people of a small town look for a missing girl, and finds that the monster haunting the town is more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.
Ancient Norse mythology is remade and retold from new perspectives in this sparkling, heartwrenching debut. Familiar Norse gods, including the all-powerful Odin and the trickster Loki, come to life alongside Genevieve Gornichec's unforgettable protagonist, a witch named Angrboda. When she refuses to give Odin the foreknowledge he wants, she is punished by burning, and flees, powerless, deep into the woods. In the woods, she begins to remake her life—she falls in love and has children—but soon her past comes back to haunt her and her family. Jayne Entwistle's measured narration perfectly captures both the melancholy and ferocity of this retelling.
Narrator Katia Kapustin gives a wonderful, lively performance of Olesya Salnikova Gilmore’s retelling of the Baba Yaga story, which blends magic and Russian history into an epic story about a woman fighting to save the country she loves from the forces of oppression. Yaga has always kept to herself, only using her magic to help those who seek her out at her remote cottage in the woods. But when an old friend and the wife of the current tsar begs Yaga for urgent protection, she realizes that Russia—and everyone she loves—is in danger of being destroyed by the tsar's greed.
In this feminist retelling of the Ramayana, one of India's most famous epics, the sometimes-misunderstood and often-maligned Queen Kaikeyi gets to tell her own story. Vaishnavi Patel's lyrical fantasy about a woman determined to live life on her own terms—no matter the cost—is rich with emotional complexity. Kaikeyi is the only daughter of the Kekaya, but her father, the rest of the kingdom, and even the gods treat her like she doesn't matter. Refusing to settle for an unwanted marriage, she uses her unique magic to remake herself into a powerful queen. The prolific and talented Soneela Nankani breathes life into every moment of this epic adventure.
Robin Miles has proved again and again that there's no story she can't improve with her exquisite range of accents and impeccable sense of timing. Her narration of this enchanting story inspired by West African folklore is yet another home run. Paama is a talented cook who's tired of the unsatisfying life she lives with her unsatisfying husband. Deciding to leave him is easy, but on her journey back to her family, she meets one of the Undying Ones, immortal spirits who enjoy stirring up trouble among humans. Soon, Paama gets caught up in an old rivalry among the spirits. This is a creative fantasy full of captivating characters, human and nonhuman alike.
This contemporary fantasy, a blend of family drama and magical adventure, draws on Malaysian ghost lore and mythology. When Jessamyn Teoh returns to Malaysia, a country she left when she was a young child, she's not doing so well—she's broke and not out to her family. So she figures hearing voices is just part of the stress. There's just one problem: The voice she's hearing is the ghost of her dead grandmother, who is determined to get revenge on a gang boss who crossed the wrong god. And this ghost has decided that Jess is going to help her—whether she likes it or not. Catherine Ho captures both the humor and heart of this identity-exploring quest.
This contemporary coming-of-age novel is set in Kitimat, British Colombia, the home of author Eden Robinson, a member of the Haisla and Heiltsuk nations. The story follows Jared, a Native teen who's trying to stay afloat while taking care of just about everyone around him, from his parents to his neighbors. Robinson sprinkles bits of magic and Indigenous folklore throughout the book, and while these elements seem small at first, it soon becomes clear just how central the trickster mythology is to Jared's life. This is a unique and moving story that blurs the line between what is real and what isn't. Narrator Jason Ryll does a fantastic job embodying all of Jared's messy emotions in this audiobook.
In this remarkable debut, Ayanna Lloyd Banwo weaves Trinidadian folktales and legends into a beautiful love story about what gets passed down through generations—and what gets lost to time. Yejide comes from a line of women with a special gift: One in each generation is born with the power to bring souls into the afterlife. Her dying mother possesses this gift, and Yejide is weary of taking on her legacy. It's not until she meets Darwin—a man who works as a grave digger out of necessity—that she begins to see that maybe there's a way to honor her past and fight for the future she wants. Narrators Sydney Darius and Wendell Manwarren expertly narrate this dual-perspective novel.
Madeline Miller’s emotionally rich retelling of Homeric epic The Iliad—as told from Patroclus’s point of view—is positively gripping. The familiar story of the Greeks at Troy is fleshed out in refreshing detail, characterizing the boyishly headstrong Achilles, the dangerous and vain Agamemnon, and the downright overbearing goddess Thetis with fully fledged personalities and mannerisms. What’s more, narrator Frazer Douglas doesn’t hold back in unleashing his acting chops for the entire cast of incredibly varied characters, expertly transforming his narration into a one-man show that makes this feel more like a performance by a full cast. Lush and nuanced, this gem transforms a familiar myth into an unforgettable tragic love story.
