It feels like Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has permeated just about every facet of the current cultural zeitgeist. Whether it's through Bronze Age dressing or an increased appetite for Greek myth-centred films – the King's perilous journey to return home after the Trojan War is all anyone seems to want to talk about (or spend their weekends scoping out where to find a screening in IMAX).

If even your reading list is calling out for a little more mythology because of it, we have you covered. From modern retellings to stories of Norse gods, nouvelle vague fantasies and original Greek myth texts – these are the best mythology books we'd recommend perusing.

1. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

One of the most original fantasy novels I've ever read, Piranesi follows a man living in an endless labyrinthine house filled with statues, flooding tides and unsettling mysteries. Told through beautifully observed journal entries, it's quiet, strange and impossible to predict. It also has one of the most satisfying reveals I've come across.

2. Circe by Madeline Miller

If what you're looking for is Greek mythology that feels completely immersive, Circe is the best place to start. Madeline Miller's lyrical prose was a New York Times best-seller, and transforms Homer's infamous witch into one of mythology's most compelling women. It's both emotionally rich and endlessly compelling.

3. The Iliad by Homer

If the idea of reading Homer feels intimidating, don't let it. There's a reason The Iliad is still considered to be one of the greatest stories ever told. It's a gripping epic about rage, honour, heroism and the devastating cost of war. You can find modern translations in just about any good book store, too.

4. Mythos by Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry somehow manages to make Greek mythology feel like you're hearing the stories from your funniest, smartest friend. Witty, accessible and endlessly entertaining, Mythos (and its subsequent Heroes, Troy and Odyssey) is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to get acquainted with the gods, monsters and heroes of Ancient Greece. You can also find some great audio versions of the books narrated by Fry himself.

5. Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Madeline Miller spent a decade writing The Song of Achilles, and you can feel the care she put into it. By retelling the Trojan War through Patroclus' eyes, she gives Achilles extraordinary emotional depth and delivers a sweeping love story that genuinely lives up to the hype. Fair warning: you might cry.

6. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Perhaps a little bit of an off-kilter recommendation, but American Gods imagines what would happen if the old gods of mythology were forced to survive in modern-day America. It's not a novel for the faint-of-heart, and the resultant story is eerie, ambitious and completely unlike anything else I've read. It's kind of like a sprawling road-trip fantasy (although I'm not sure I'd bother with the TV adaptation).

7. A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

If you love retellings that give voice to silenced characters, and A Thousand Ships does exactly that. By telling the fall of Troy through the perspectives of queens, captives, mothers and goddesses, Natalie Haynes adds incredible depth to a story most of us thought we already knew.

8. Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati

This completely changed the way I saw one of Greek mythology's most misunderstood women. Rather than portraying Clytemnestra as history's villain, Costanza Casati reimagines her as a formidable queen, strategist and survivor in a gripping, beautifully paced novel.

9. The Penguin Book of Classical Myths by Jenny March

If you're looking for one book that covers almost every major Greek myth, this is it. March combines accurate retellings with fascinating historical context, which makes for an incredibly comprehensive yet easy-to-read guide to the gods, heroes, monsters and legends.

10. The Ramayana by R. K. Narayan

R. K. Narayan's retelling makes one of India's greatest epics feel wonderfully approachable without losing its spiritual depth or emotional weight. This version is complete with a helpful glossary and character guide, making it an ideal introduction for first-time readers who want to experience this foundational story.

11. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Why stop at the Greek gods? Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology is the perfect next stop. Told as a series of short stories, it's funny, compulsively readable and full of unforgettable characters – from mischievous Loki to mighty Thor.

12. Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

Saint takes the familiar story of the Labyrinth and tells it through the women who lived in its shadow, creating an immersive, deeply moving novel about sisterhood, resilience and the ways women have so often paid for the actions of men. It's beautiful, heartbreaking and one of my favourite feminist mythology retellings.