The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff

Y’all, as soon as I finished this book, I was all Adam Driver Saying More gif. I’m actually kinda mad that I’m going to have to wait who knows how long before I get to read the next book in this series. Tracy Wolff has written something so fresh from what can often feel like a been there, done that premise. If you love retellings of myths at all, then you HAVE to check out this novel.

The Aftermyth opens with Penelope Weaver and her twin brother Paris being driven by their parents to Anaximander’s Academy, the legendary boarding school where they’ll soon start the rest of their academic lives. Penelope is super excited and super prepared. Everyone in her family went to Athena House, with the goddess of wisdom herself as their patron, so she’s lived her entire life striving to be the perfect Athena Girl.

Things start going wrong almost from the beginning. Crossing the bridge to campus is an unexpected ordeal, and walking into the opening assembly late and bedraggled is hardly the impression Penelope wanted to make. Everything goes completely sideways though when Penelope isn’t assigned to Athena House, with its smart, striving rule-followers. Instead she’s sent to live in the campus’ party house, presided over by another deity, with students who are mostly there for a good time.

Penelope knows that there must be some mistake. Maybe if she works hard enough, she can impress the goddess Athena and be transferred into the house where she really belongs, where Paris already is. But the muse who’s been assigned to her seems to have no idea how to be helpful, and the list of Twelve Labors Penelope is meant to complete over the course of her studies is frustratingly vague. And that’s all before it starts becoming clear that one of the gods might actually have it out for her.

While this action-packed and often hilarious book is allegedly a novel for Middle Grade readers, it’s a surprisingly sophisticated look at the function of mythology and how it shapes societies. The big twist snuck up on me so stealthily that I, an aficionado of Greek myths since I was younger than this book’s target audience, was absolutely gobsmacked by the reveal. I’d had questions earlier on about one fairly large aspect of the school that I eventually assumed was due to scope constraints; I have never in my life been so pleased to be wrong.

The Aftermyth might follow in the hallowed tradition of such blockbusters as the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series — and had early moments where it reminded me somewhat uncomfortably of playtesting my own tabletop roleplaying game Camp Elementa — but it’s so much smarter than either, as it challenges the ideas of fate and destiny and even story. It’s so good, y’all. I adore how it invites readers to either learn the ancient Greek myths if you’re unfamiliar with them, or reexamine and re-engage with them if you are. And unlike many other academia-set books, it sneakily undermines the idea that academic excellence is the primary purpose of school. The older I get, the more I believe that the point of life truly is the loving relationships we make along the way.

On a purely materialistic level tho, I love that I have a copy with snakeskin-sprayed edges. I actually ditched my Kindle to very much enjoy the sensory experience of this first edition instead. I highly recommend this gorgeous hardcover, but honestly think you should read this book no matter what format you can get it in.

The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff will be published tomorrow February 3 2026 by Aladdin and is available from all good booksellers, including