Mythos

Dying and then living again, the Phoenix is an important symbol of rebirth and renewal that remains popular in cultures around the world .

"Narcissus does not fall in love with his reflection because it is beautiful, but because it is his." ― W. H. Auden

This week we take a look into the shapeshifting women of European mythology with Sharon Blackie's novel, Foxfire, Wolfskin.

Telling the story of three sisters, stolen to fairyland, Black draws on myths of evil fairies and the ways that people protected themselves.

For centuries, tales of the Kraken have been frighten sailors. But where did these myths come from? And is there any truth to the myth?

Mira Grant's 2017 horror novel sees a crew of scientists travelling to the Mariana Trench, where killer mermaids lurk beneath the waves.

Possibly the most famous fantasy author of all time, Tolkien clearly drew inspiration from various legends - significantly, Norse myths.

In his supernatural thriller, ‘The Hollow Tree’, James Bogden pulls inspiration from a supernatural entity: the Psychopomp.

"At once the secret was revealed. "There lay the gentlest and sweetest of all creatures, Cupid himself." – Lucius Apuleius

Corvids, a genus of birds found across the world, play a significant role in mythology - where they are often painted as villainous

Helen Dunmore’s novel, Ingo creates a beautiful and enchanting world that draws on a classic of British folklore - the Mermaid.

One of history’s most iconic mythological creatures is, of course, the dragon. Seen in cultures all around the world.

Sophie Anderson’s The House with Chicken Legs draws inspiration from the folklore of Baba Yaga. A terrifying witch who lives in the woods!

“Yet some men say in many parts of England that King Arthur is not dead" ― Thomas Malory

Rainbows, glitter, wings and magic - all the staples of the modern unicorn. But where did the myth come from? And how has it changed?

“We must not look at goblin men, / We must not buy their fruits.” ― Christina Rossetti