We a good story
Quick delivery in the UK

Mythology

Tales' category of mythology contains some of the oldest written texts in history. The mythology books will take you on adventurous journeys through ancient worlds of brave heroes and great gods of the past. Our collection covers myth from all around the world. You can find stories about the Vikings’ Norse gods and sorceresses, but you can also dive into the legendary and heroic tales of Ancient Greece. You can also get wiser on Ancient Egypt and it’s gods and pharaohs. Finally you will find mythology books about Ancient Japan with descriptions of its traditions and customs. Get ready to be inspired by the stories of the past.
Show more
Filter
Filter
Sort bySort Popular
  • by Lian Hearn
    £10.99

    Set fifteen years after the seismic events of Brilliance of the Moon, The Harsh Cry of the Heron is an elegiac and bittersweet successor to the bestselling series by Lian Hearn, Tales of the Otori.Their realm is held in balance by their union . . . Break that union and the Three Countries will fall apart. Otori Takeo and Kaede have ruled the Three Countries peacefully for over sixteen years, following the events laid out in the epic Tales of the Otori. They have three daughters: Shigeko, fifteen years old and heir to the Otori, and Maya and Miki, thirteen-year-old twins who have inherited the supernatural skills of their father. Kaede knows nothing of the prophecy that Takeo will die at the hands of his son and longs to give him a male child. Nor does she know of the boy he fathered sixteen years ago - a boy whose heart is filled with hatred and whose skills as a Ghostmaster give him the power to incite the dead. Takeo is determined that clan conflicts will never again ravage the Three Countries, but warriors are born to fight: the warlord Arai Zenko has deadly ambitions, the Emperor himself has challenged Takeo's rule and, despite a delicate truce between the deadly Tribe and the Otori, revenge still eats at the heart of renegade leader Kikuta Akio . . . Against these gathering threats Takeo draws strength from his love for Kaede, but even this is not beyond the reach of their enemies . . .

  • by Lian Hearn
    £9.49

    'A beautifully realized setting, action and romance played out across a couple of generations, a high-class voyage to the long ago and far away - Lian Hearn has written a saga that will continue to give pleasure to many.' - Ursula K. Le GuinThe Middle Country, home of the Otori clan is ruled by a benign but weak leader while in the East, the warrior-like Tohan are gathering power. On the plain of Yaegahara the clans clash in a bloody battle that leaves Otori Shigeru desperate for vengeance. Meanwhile, in a remote mountain village, a boy is born gifted with the supernatural skills of his father, once the deadliest assassin of the Tribe. Set in the years before the beginning of Across the Nightingale Floor, Heaven's Net is Wide by Lian Hearn is the first and last Tale, which both closes the circle and introduces new readers to the fantastical, beautiful and thrilling world of the Otori. It is an epic story of betrayal, revenge, magic and love.

  • by J. R. R. Tolkien
    £7.99 - 10.99

    Tolkien's acclaimed modern classic 'fairie' tale, read by Derek Jacobi. Farmer Giles of Ham is one of Tolkien's most popular stories, full of wit and humour, set in the days when giants and dragons walked the earth. He did not look like a hero. He was fat and red-bearded and enjoyed a slow, comfortable life. Then one day a rather deaf and short-sighted giant blundered on to his land. More by luck than skill, Farmer Giles managed to scare him away. The people of the village cheered: Farmer Giles was a hero. His reputation spread far and wide across the kingdom. So it was natural that when the dragon Chrysophylax visited the area it was Farmer Giles who was expected to do battle with it! Two further stories in this collections are Smith of Wooton Major which tells of the preparation of the Great Cake to mark the Feast of Good Children, and the strange events which follow, and Leaf by Niggle, which recounts the strange adventures of the painter, Niggle.

  • - The book of Rubezahl
    by James T Carey & Dr James (Texas Tech University) Lee
    £15.99

  • by Ahmed Artan Hanghe
    £16.99

    A pioneering work in the documentation of the Somali treasure of folktales. The title contains a selection of folktales in Somali with translations into English.

  • - The Authorized Edition
    by Tanis Ann Helliwell
    £16.49

    An astonishing true story about one woman''s journey to Ireland where she lived in a cottage with leprechauns. These seldom-seen beings taught her about the evolution of elementals-the race to which leprechauns, faeries, elves, trolls belong. They explained the importance of humans and elementals working together for the betterment of both of their races and the Earth."Tanis Helliwell is a spiritual evocateur and deep seer who opens us up to other voice...other realms..." Jean Houston, author Search for the Beloved"This delightful book is not only great fun to read, but makes most interesting and intelligent suggestions about the reality and work of this particular branch of the nature world. It can help us open our minds to fascinating dimensions that do exist on the planet." Dorothy MacLean, co-founder of Findhorn and author of To Hear the Angels Sing"Opening this book opens a door in the imagination. Whether you take it as fact or fiction, this book carries a message of planetary priorities." Julia Cameron, An Artist''s WayTanis Helliwell, M.Ed., is the founder of The International Institute for Transformation (IIT). She has experienced and later worked with elementals, angels, and master teachers on other planes since childhood. Living on the sea coast north of Vancouver, Canada, she is the author of Pilgrimage with the Leprechauns, Take Your Soul to Work, Embraced by Love, and Decoding Your Destiny: Keys to Humanity''s Spiritual Evolution.

  • by Thomas Malory
    £15.49

    An essential collection of chivalric romance, swordplay, wizardry and brutal feats of courage Malory's 15th century Morte d'Arthur is one of the world's greatest pieces of myth-making. This selected edition features many of Aubrey Beardsley's classic illustrations.

  • - Tales of Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes
    by Philip (Orlando W. Qualley Chair in Classics Freeman
    £17.99

    Most people have heard of the Celts-the elusive, ancient tribal people who resided in present-day England, Ireland, Scotland and France. Paradoxically characterized as both barbaric and innocent, the Celts appeal to the modern world as a symbol of a bygone era, a world destroyed by the ambition of empire and the spread of Christianity throughout Western Europe. Despite the pervasive cultural and literary influence of the Celts, shockingly little is known of their wayof life and beliefs, because very few records of their stories exist. In this book, for the first time, Philip Freeman brings together the best stories of Celtic mythology.Everyone today knows about the gods and heroes of the ancient Greeks, such as Zeus, Hera, and Hercules, but how many people have heard of the Gaulish god Lugus or the magical Welsh queen Rhiannon or the great Irish warrior Cú Chulainn? We still thrill to the story of the Trojan War, but the epic battles of the Irish Táin Bó Cuailgne are known only to a few. And yet those who have read the stories of Celtic myth and legend-among them writers like J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S.Lewis-have been deeply moved and influenced by these amazing tales, for there is nothing in the world quite like them. In these stories a mysterious and invisible realm of gods and spirits exists alongside and sometimes crosses over into our own human world; fierce women warriors battle with kings and heroes, and even therules of time and space can be suspended. Captured in vivid prose these shadowy figures—gods, goddesses, and heroes—come to life for the modern reader.

  • - An Initiatory Journey into the Heart Teachings of the Egyptian Mystery Schools
    by Danielle Rama Hoffman
    £15.99

    A guide to the open-heart wisdom and secret rites of passage of thirteen sacred temples in Egypt.

  • - Magic and Initiatory Practices of Ancient Egypt
    by Normandi Ellis
    £11.49

    An initiatic guide to temple construction on the spiritual and physical planes

  • - Stories of the Greek Gods and Heroes Vividly Retold
    by Robin Waterfield
    £10.99

    The Greek myths contain some of the most thrilling, romantic and unforgettable stories in all human history - and here they are brought to life in a vivid retelling.

  •  
    £6.99

    The Algonquins, Iroquois and The Last of the Mohicans - the tribes of North America and their folk tales are deeply fascinating because they are unique amongst the mythologies of the world. The retold tales collected for this new book celebrate the diverse tribal vision of a rich and powerful tradition that still resonates today.

  • by Ogden Goelet
    £19.99

    For millennia, the culture of the ancient Egyptians has fascinated historians and spiritual seekers. The 20th anniversary edition of this seminal work includes all-new material analysing the progress in modern Egyptology

  • - A Guide to the Ancient Gods and Legends
    by Garry J. Shaw
    £11.99

    A guide to Egyptian mythology that explores how the ancient Nile-dwellers explained the world around them. It delves into the origins of life, the creation and evolution of the world, and the reigns of the gods on earth, before introducing us to the manifestations of Egypts deities in the natural environment.

  • - The Serpent Power of Ancient Egypt
    by Alison Roberts
    £13.99

    Drawing together temple art, myths, rituals and poetry, "Hathor Rising" reveals a rich tradition of feminine divinity. It explores how the sexual polarity of Hathor and the sun god manifests in the Pharaoh''s life'' as well as Hathor''s connection with Isis and the moon cults. The serpent cult was given a new impetus by Hatshepsut, the innovative female Pharaoh whose remarkable reign, early in the 15th century BC, laid the foundations for the cultural splendour of New Kingdom Egypt. Ecstatic, musical, heart-centred -- the serpent tradition was interrupted only by the reign of Akhenaten who suppressed much of the serpent cult in favour of a trinitarian father god.

  • by Chris Smith
    £13.49

    Lavishly illustrated with breathtaking art and imagery from the highly anticipated new movie, the exclusive Visual Companion is the ultimate introduction to every character, creature and location you will encounter in this epic adventure from the official Lord of the Rings saga.

  • by Jenn Lyons
    £16.99

  • by Xanthe Gresham-Knight
    £18.99

    Herba Mythica is a compendium of myths, legends and folk tales celebrating the power of herbs and plants, from a range of different contributors from across the world of storytelling.

  • by Jeneane O'Riley
    £7.99

    Love that won¿t dieVengeance to be wroughtThree families forever changedFinally reunited with her family in the Seelie Realm, Caly struggles to come to terms with all she had to give up to get there. Though she eagerly awaits the ceremony to receive the second half of her heart and become whole, it comes at an unsettling cost: She must marry her longtime friend Prince Aurelius to solidify her place within the Seelie Court.But as the event draws nearer, she¿s haunted by the memory of Malum Mendax, the Unseelie Prince¿the bond they shared in his realm, and the sinful sparks between them. She still feels his eyes on her, finds him in her bed in her dreams¿and soon, she realizes it¿s more than just his memory that haunts her.Mendax survived Caly¿s assassination attempt, and he has returned to punish his pet and the ones that took her from him.With his return, Caly¿s place in Seelie is at risk.Her future plans are at risk.Her very life is at risk.But the way Mendax makes her feel tempts her to forget it all just for the chance to touch him once again.

  • by Elizabeth Helen
    £13.49

  • by Andreas Faye
    £18.99 - 26.99

  • by Scarlett St. Clair
    £8.99

    New from Scarlett St. Clair: a deliciously hot and wicked retelling of classic Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, and Irish fairy tales, first in a series of seven entwined fairy tales.When Gesela unwillingly kills a toad that lives at the bottom of the town well, she is kidnapped by five Elven princes, her punishment: banishment to their brother, The Beast. Gesela expects to be the prisoner of a hideous monster, but the beast turns out to be exquisitely beautiful, and rather than lock her in a cell, he offers Gesela a deal. If she can guess his true name in seven days, she can go free. Gesela agrees, but there is a hidden catch¿she must speak his name with love to free him, as well. Can either of them learn to love in time?

  • by Amy Cesari
    £25.49

    *Black & White Version* Everyone has a little magic in them, and this fully illustrated 2024 planner shows you how to get in touch with your own natural powers and create an extraordinary year.

  • by Moira Fowley
    £8.99

    ONE OF MY FAVOURITE STORYTELLERS. THESE TALES LINGERED, MORPHED, CONSUMED ME'KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVEWhat will the end of the world look like?Will it be an old man slowly turned to gold, flowers raining from the sky, or a hole cut through the wire fencing that keeps the monsters out? Is it someone you love wearing your face, or a good old fashioned inter-dimensional summoning? Does it sound like a howl outside the window, or does it look like coming home? This startling and irresistibly witty collection from the phenomenally talented Moïra Fowley is an exploration of all our darkest impulses and deepest fears.

  • by Ava Reid
    £8.99

  • by Veronica Roth
    £10.99

    From #1 New York Times bestselling, creatures from Slavic folklore stalk Chicago. A story about the families we build and the ones we destroy.

  • by Norman Minnick & Jennifer Lighty
    £14.99 - 20.49

  • by Claire Heywood
    £8.99 - 13.49

  • by Mojito
    £19.99

    "The full-color boys' love comic.manhwa hit unspired by ancient Egyptian mythology! Nine powerful gods of ancient Egypt form the Ennead. When the god of war, Seth, kills his brother Osiris and takes over Egypt, he ushers in an era of chaos and cruelty. Centuries later, a new challenger appears: Horus, the child of Isis. Horus is not yet a full god, but he has the support of other deities to dethrone Seth. The conflict between Seth and Horus that begins as a series of trials warps into a complex web of deceit, obsession...and desire. This hit Boys' Love webtoon is a reimagining of one of the oldest myths in human civilization!"--

  • by Nikki Marmery
    £14.99

Mythology
Mythology is the foundation of many of today's stories, take for example the stories of King Arthur and Merlin, a well-known story that goes back to the celtic mythologies. It has fascinated many writers all around the world and with good reason. Myths take you on fascinating and sometimes even magical journeys and into the ancient worlds of the past. The mythologies build on folklore and you can learn a lot about the ancient lifestyles by reading mythology books. The themes in mythologies are often built around honor and bravery, but the tales also have their own universal moral message. 

Norse mythology books
In the Nordic countries we have a long and proud history of folk tales and some of them can be traced all the way back to the Middle Ages and even before that, to what we describe as the Norse period, where all the Scandinavian countries were connected as one and not divided into nations. The North was instead formed by many smaller societies, who lived comparatively insulated and connected to nature. Such a life could be hard and created fertile soil for folklore and the belief in supernatural creatures, which are found in many folk tales. Most of the tales were part of an oral tradition and were often handed down through many generations. The mythology tales were first written down and converted into mythology books many years after they were told for the first time. 
We cannot mention the Norse period without the Vikings. Vikings are known all over the world for their strength, ships and sometimes brutal conquests, but the Vikings were defined by so much more than that. They had for example a vivid and intriguing tradition for mythology. To the Vikings they were so much more than myths, it was their religion. The Norse religion referred to as Asatru consists of multiple gods, goddresses, brave heroes and volvas, which were strong female sorcerers and fortune tellers. If you want to find your way to get started in Nordic mythology you can find a good description and overview in Penguin Book of Norse myths - Gods of the Vikings

Greek mythology books
Some of the greatest and most famous myths are found in Ancient Greece. You might have heard about the gods Zeus and Prometheus, the goddesses Athena and Aphrodite, and the heroes Hercules and Achilles? They are just a few of the unique figures of Ancient Greek mythology. They are found in some of the greatest classics of world literature; the Iliad and the Odyssey written by Homer. At Tales you can get them as mythology books in their traditional verse form, but we would also recommend you to take a look at Stephen Fry’s interpretations of the classical tales. Fry takes the timeless classics into modern times by rewriting the mythologies in a modern, easy understandable english, but he still keeps the essence of the Ancient mythologies. You can find Stephen Fry’s Heroes and Mythos in our selection of mythological books. 

Egyptian mythology books
Another world of mythologies is found in Ancient Egypt. Here we come across Ancient gods and goddesses with faces formed as animals. One of the central gods in Egyptian mythology is the sun god Ra. Ra was the incarnation of the sun, which was the foundation of life. In Egyptian mythology we also find mummies. Mummies were the deceased faraos, who were embalmed and covered in gaze to restore them for the afterlife. The god Osiris would then help them on their way through the afterlife. The mummies were placed in their own pyramid, who would show the greatness of the faraos for the times to come. The pyramids still stand in Egypt and show the history of the past. Among our egyptian mythology books you find the book Egyptian Mythology, which has collected all the fascinating tales of Ancient Egypt and all its gods, goddesses and legendary creatures. 

Japanese mythology books 
You can also find japanese mythology books in Tales’ selection. The japanese myths are little known to people, but contain many amazing stories. You can for example find the story behind the samurais, an Ancient collection of warriors in the japanese armies. A samurai had to live up to certain virtues in order to keep his status. A samurai should both be loyal and have a high level of endurance, modesty, and honor. You could learn a lot about a country from its mythology, because it is the foundation of the country’s culture, although a lot of changes have found place since then. If you aren’t familiar with japanese mythology, we recommend you to read the Handbook of Japanese Mythology among our collection of japanese mythology books. 

Join thousands of book lovers

Sign up to our newsletter and receive discounts and inspiration for your next reading experience.