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Bad Girls of Ancient Greece
THE guide to the baddies that started it all…Bad Girls of Ancient Greece contains profiles of wayward wives, mad mothers, scandalous sisters and damsels, that quite frankly, caused others A LOT of stress in the ancient world.
With the ever-growing popularity of mythological retellings, Lizzy Tiffin has written THE guide to all of the baddies of ancient Greece. This book stands as a reminder that us women really have been badasses since the start.
Written with humour and sass, Lizzy profiles the women in Greek myth and legend mortals, goddesses, titans, nymphs (you name it, she’s done it). Here you’ll find the weird and wonderful escapades of the women we’re often lead to believe were minor characters.
Bad Girls of Ancient Greece is an accessible, intelligent, hilarious (sometimes spicy) guide to the women we love and know – Athena, Medusa, Aphrodite – and also those we may not, like Polyphonte, who was cursed with burning hot lust for a wild bear… imagine!
So dive into the stories you thought you knew with Bad Girls of Ancient Greece as your illuminating guide…
With the ever-growing popularity of mythological retellings, Lizzy Tiffin has written THE guide to all of the baddies of ancient Greece. This book stands as a reminder that us women really have been badasses since the start.
Written with humour and sass, Lizzy profiles the women in Greek myth and legend mortals, goddesses, titans, nymphs (you name it, she’s done it). Here you’ll find the weird and wonderful escapades of the women we’re often lead to believe were minor characters.
Bad Girls of Ancient Greece is an accessible, intelligent, hilarious (sometimes spicy) guide to the women we love and know – Athena, Medusa, Aphrodite – and also those we may not, like Polyphonte, who was cursed with burning hot lust for a wild bear… imagine!
So dive into the stories you thought you knew with Bad Girls of Ancient Greece as your illuminating guide…
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2024
107 people are currently reading
1166 people want to read
About the author
Lizzy Tiffin
3 books9 followersLizzy Tiffin is a journalism graduate from the North East of England. She has always been passionate about mythology, but the closest she got to Ancient Greece was an 18-30s holiday in Zante.
With the recent rise of mythological retellings, Lizzy has created a guide on the female characters, rooted in humour and accessibility.
With the recent rise of mythological retellings, Lizzy has created a guide on the female characters, rooted in humour and accessibility.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
June 17, 2024
A highlight of this text is the introduction by Lizzy Tiffin as she puts forward the statement that classical history shouldn’t feel like a closed club, but something accessible to all. Tiffin highlights how by making these stories more accessible and seeing them through a modern lens, it will help understand the origins.
Tiffin gives a brief run down of the very expansive historical context to these myths, stating that for multiple icons various different accounts can exist, often contradicting each other. That’s not even to mention all the different translations over the years, and how this has often changed the meaning — or opinions of certain characters — of texts! With all this briefly explained, Tiffin explains to her readers how her collection uses and falls within the canon — ‘this book tries to follow the narratives that best complement the stories beside one another. Or, honestly, whichever story is most interesting’.
I would like to applaud Tiffin on successfully completing her goal of making these stories accessible. Tiffin was able to sum up these very large tales within short tidbits, that were easy and interesting to read. The basic rundown on who these people were was consistently present, as well as Tiffin often suggesting the alternate tales that exist.
Another strength of Tiffin’s writing is that she did a great job at demonstrating how to critically read and analyse texts. She would present the information and then offer an alternative reading or “poke holes” in to the story, reading it for, for example, misogynistic trope it was. Tiffin also continuously pointed out the repeated tropes and how this played in to the poor depiction of women and offered an alternate reading to these women characters I.e., is she a monster or a victim? Are her monstrous acts really so monstrous in face of the treatment she received?
However, despite all these positives I did sometimes find this lacking. Often the stories could feel confusing, and I feel as if a lot of the clarity to the tales was lost by Tiffin trying to keep it short, or by saying “you’ll hear more about this later”.
This book also tried to be witty and humours and while this was fine the first few times, if albeit a little cringeworthy, as the book went on this became tiresome and full blown cringeworthy and I did not enjoy it and it did take away from the quality of the storytelling. Maybe it would appeal to younger readers to lighten the mood, I’m not sure, however I do know that I did not enjoy it.
I also appreciated the pronunciations of the title characters given at the start of each chapter, and I liked how this was exclusive to women. However a lot of the “side character” women didn’t have their names pronounced (sometimes either later on) and I felt that was a shame. The pronunciations of their names could’ve easily been in a smaller font, however to me that sort of defeats the purpose of this book?
This is definitely a book that has to be enjoyed in small doses. Trying to read all of it in a sitting is like one of the 12 labours itself. The who’s who and the who’s that all start to blend together and the book gets a little boring. Despite these being tales that have entertained for many, many years Tiffin can only rely on them to entertain for a short while — her writing is not captivating enough to keep full attention for long periods of time.
I do think this was mostly well written and fairly successful in what it set out to do, but on the whole, for me personally, this was just okay. I’d recommend it but it would not be my go to. I think this would be excellent for younger readers (although, if you know anything about mythology, you can imagine the extensive list of content warnings) and for anyone who is looking to get a brief — but somewhat analytical/critical — overview of these women in Greek Mythology.
Thank you to HarperNorth for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review
Tiffin gives a brief run down of the very expansive historical context to these myths, stating that for multiple icons various different accounts can exist, often contradicting each other. That’s not even to mention all the different translations over the years, and how this has often changed the meaning — or opinions of certain characters — of texts! With all this briefly explained, Tiffin explains to her readers how her collection uses and falls within the canon — ‘this book tries to follow the narratives that best complement the stories beside one another. Or, honestly, whichever story is most interesting’.
I would like to applaud Tiffin on successfully completing her goal of making these stories accessible. Tiffin was able to sum up these very large tales within short tidbits, that were easy and interesting to read. The basic rundown on who these people were was consistently present, as well as Tiffin often suggesting the alternate tales that exist.
Another strength of Tiffin’s writing is that she did a great job at demonstrating how to critically read and analyse texts. She would present the information and then offer an alternative reading or “poke holes” in to the story, reading it for, for example, misogynistic trope it was. Tiffin also continuously pointed out the repeated tropes and how this played in to the poor depiction of women and offered an alternate reading to these women characters I.e., is she a monster or a victim? Are her monstrous acts really so monstrous in face of the treatment she received?
However, despite all these positives I did sometimes find this lacking. Often the stories could feel confusing, and I feel as if a lot of the clarity to the tales was lost by Tiffin trying to keep it short, or by saying “you’ll hear more about this later”.
This book also tried to be witty and humours and while this was fine the first few times, if albeit a little cringeworthy, as the book went on this became tiresome and full blown cringeworthy and I did not enjoy it and it did take away from the quality of the storytelling. Maybe it would appeal to younger readers to lighten the mood, I’m not sure, however I do know that I did not enjoy it.
I also appreciated the pronunciations of the title characters given at the start of each chapter, and I liked how this was exclusive to women. However a lot of the “side character” women didn’t have their names pronounced (sometimes either later on) and I felt that was a shame. The pronunciations of their names could’ve easily been in a smaller font, however to me that sort of defeats the purpose of this book?
This is definitely a book that has to be enjoyed in small doses. Trying to read all of it in a sitting is like one of the 12 labours itself. The who’s who and the who’s that all start to blend together and the book gets a little boring. Despite these being tales that have entertained for many, many years Tiffin can only rely on them to entertain for a short while — her writing is not captivating enough to keep full attention for long periods of time.
I do think this was mostly well written and fairly successful in what it set out to do, but on the whole, for me personally, this was just okay. I’d recommend it but it would not be my go to. I think this would be excellent for younger readers (although, if you know anything about mythology, you can imagine the extensive list of content warnings) and for anyone who is looking to get a brief — but somewhat analytical/critical — overview of these women in Greek Mythology.
Thank you to HarperNorth for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review
June 5, 2024
How well do you know the women of Ancient Greece? Could you tell me about Calypso and Pythia? Lamia and The Graces? The likelihood is that, for the last fifteen years, retellings have been incredibly popular and you’ve picked up Song of Achilles and The Silence of the Girls. You know some of the stories incredibly well, but a few of the insatiable women, who made mythology what it is, have remained unknown. That’s why you need to read Lizzy Tiffin.
Not all in one go though. I found that each of the stories (around one to three pages) left me the second I turned the page. I couldn’t read it like I could read a Natalie Haynes or a Margaret Atwood. It’s more like a reference book, but with none of the fodder and all of the wit. Highly recommend for both those who have a long term love of Ancient Greece, and those who are new to this world.
Thank you very much to #netgalley and @harpernorthuk for this ARC and to @tiffinlizzy for taking the time to create such a stunning compendium!
Not all in one go though. I found that each of the stories (around one to three pages) left me the second I turned the page. I couldn’t read it like I could read a Natalie Haynes or a Margaret Atwood. It’s more like a reference book, but with none of the fodder and all of the wit. Highly recommend for both those who have a long term love of Ancient Greece, and those who are new to this world.
Thank you very much to #netgalley and @harpernorthuk for this ARC and to @tiffinlizzy for taking the time to create such a stunning compendium!
January 20, 2025
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
A really accessible account of a huge chunk of the women who inhabit the Greek myths. As someone who's read a lot of these stories over a number of years, even I found a few new characters to enjoy. I will say it's a little bit chaotic in structure. The author goes from talking about women in the Trojan war, back to Zeus's wedding, back to Rhea and Cronus etc. I think this would have worked better in a more 'chronological' format especially as she hints at future characters stories and then by the time we get to them I've forgotten what previous stories they appeared in. I also wasn't that fond of the modern day terminology occasionally slipped in by the author. It just didn't feel right, tonally, to go from describing some really awful things the Gods did to then making jokes in the next paragraph.
However I do think this is a nice introduction to the Greek myths from a distinctly female perspective. Don't get me wrong, the guys are still very present in this (you can't really go thr Greek myths without them) but we get a bit more of the women's backstories as a priority, and I appreciated that.
A really accessible account of a huge chunk of the women who inhabit the Greek myths. As someone who's read a lot of these stories over a number of years, even I found a few new characters to enjoy. I will say it's a little bit chaotic in structure. The author goes from talking about women in the Trojan war, back to Zeus's wedding, back to Rhea and Cronus etc. I think this would have worked better in a more 'chronological' format especially as she hints at future characters stories and then by the time we get to them I've forgotten what previous stories they appeared in. I also wasn't that fond of the modern day terminology occasionally slipped in by the author. It just didn't feel right, tonally, to go from describing some really awful things the Gods did to then making jokes in the next paragraph.
However I do think this is a nice introduction to the Greek myths from a distinctly female perspective. Don't get me wrong, the guys are still very present in this (you can't really go thr Greek myths without them) but we get a bit more of the women's backstories as a priority, and I appreciated that.
July 17, 2024
It was an interesting and informative book, but I found the organisation of the stories a bit chaotic.
Sometimes the myths also seemed to me to be very male-centred, and the women were more the mothers of heroes than the protagonists. I understand that it is a matter of the sources of information and that many times women have gone down in history exclusively for being the wife of such and such a hero or the mother of such and such a demi-god, but there are times when I have lacked more myths, or stories. And sometimes I have had too many women, because in the end they remain just that, mentions in which they end up being the mother of one or the wife/lover of another, and are used as an excuse to tell myths starring men, instead of a story where they are the protagonists.
Sometimes the myths also seemed to me to be very male-centred, and the women were more the mothers of heroes than the protagonists. I understand that it is a matter of the sources of information and that many times women have gone down in history exclusively for being the wife of such and such a hero or the mother of such and such a demi-god, but there are times when I have lacked more myths, or stories. And sometimes I have had too many women, because in the end they remain just that, mentions in which they end up being the mother of one or the wife/lover of another, and are used as an excuse to tell myths starring men, instead of a story where they are the protagonists.
June 8, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyable, hilarious whizz through the incredible women who make up Greek mythology. Easy to dip in and out of, and genuinely laugh out loud writing. Thank you Lizzy Tiffin for introducing me to these women who I now want to know more about. I will eagerly look forward to whatever your next project will be and in the meantime recommend to all! 4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this brilliant book
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this brilliant book
July 21, 2025
I have a friend who writes about Greek myths more sensibly and funnier
November 17, 2024
j'ai adoré j'adore les femmes
j'ai appris tellemeeeeent de choses et de femmes que je ne connaissais pas ????
l'écriture est tellement douce et légère, c'est comme si une copine nous parlait
et le livre est BEAU
merci paupau & lucie <333
j'ai appris tellemeeeeent de choses et de femmes que je ne connaissais pas ????
l'écriture est tellement douce et légère, c'est comme si une copine nous parlait
et le livre est BEAU
merci paupau & lucie <333
May 20, 2025
"Bad Girls of Ancient Greece" – a wild ride through mythology’s fiercest women. Hera, Aphrodite, Artemis—total badasses. Zeus raped Hera before their 3,000-year wedding, and she kept "resetting" her virginity in a magic spring.
There is a million of fun and even shocking facts—but they don’t stick. Great for trivia, not deep analysis. Entertaining, but forgettable.
There is a million of fun and even shocking facts—but they don’t stick. Great for trivia, not deep analysis. Entertaining, but forgettable.
June 6, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! Bad Girls Of Ancient Greece gives the reader lots of short stories about the women in Greek Mythology - the strong, the confused and the misunderstood are all there. Written in a easy to read style, perfect to read in bulk or to dip in and out of. I liked that I knew the stories from the Greek God/male point of view, and this book now tells us all about the women. Not all are well behaved and something to aspire to, but all of the stories are entertaining!
August 25, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
If you are a complete noob when it comes to all things Ancient Greece like me, you need this book! Bad girls of Ancient Greece acts as a guidebook for all the main lasses in Greek mythology. If you want to know everyone’s stories in a short succinct way that will make you laugh out loud, this is your book.
It’s almost like a translated textbook in the sense of this is a book you can pick up and look up a character you want to find out more about. But the best bit is it’s written in an entertaining, modern way that takes all the BS off the table.
This isn’t a book you can really read front to back which is something I’m not used to, but is a reference book that is SO helpful for me when reading any Greek retellings when I don’t know who the hell anyone is or their backstory. Thank you Lizzie for interpreting the gals in the simplest way possible for classics newbies like me! 🥰
If you are a complete noob when it comes to all things Ancient Greece like me, you need this book! Bad girls of Ancient Greece acts as a guidebook for all the main lasses in Greek mythology. If you want to know everyone’s stories in a short succinct way that will make you laugh out loud, this is your book.
It’s almost like a translated textbook in the sense of this is a book you can pick up and look up a character you want to find out more about. But the best bit is it’s written in an entertaining, modern way that takes all the BS off the table.
This isn’t a book you can really read front to back which is something I’m not used to, but is a reference book that is SO helpful for me when reading any Greek retellings when I don’t know who the hell anyone is or their backstory. Thank you Lizzie for interpreting the gals in the simplest way possible for classics newbies like me! 🥰
February 22, 2025
A reference book that compiles all the greek (myth) women giving each of them a couple of pages worth of context. What's not to love!
January 1, 2025
Love the idea, but the way it's written is kind of cringe. The author tried to use a 'cool' and 'modern' language but tried too hard, and now it sounds forced. A no from me, but not horrible either.
August 28, 2024
The Bad Girls of Ancient Greece by Lizzy Tiffin offers a collection of short stories centred around the infamous women of ancient Greek history – the wayward wives, mad mothers, scandalous sisters, and bold damsels who left their mark on the ancient world. Tiffin delves into the myths and legends of these women, making ancient history accessible and engaging for modern readers.
Writing Style:
One of the standout aspects of Tiffin’s work is her ability to bring the expansive and often complicated world of ancient history to life in a way that doesn’t feel intimidating. Historical works can sometimes feel exclusive, but Tiffin breaks down these barriers as she delves into the myths and legends of these women, making ancient history accessible with her clear, critical analysis of ancient texts. She provides pronunciation guides at the start of each story, making it easier for readers to engage with the characters. However, a glossary for the lesser-known figures would have been helpful, as the multitude of uncommon names can be overwhelming.
Structure:
Tiffin does an excellent job of providing the historical context behind the myths, explaining how different accounts and translations over time have shaped and changed these stories. Her approach of selecting narratives that best complement each other, or simply the juiciest versions, works well and I also like the inclusion of alternate happenings in some of the stories. However, the brevity of the stories sometimes results in a loss of detail, making certain narratives feel a bit confusing, especially when characters reappear in later stories.
Humour and Tone:
Sadly the humour written into the narrations of the stories wasn’t for me! It often felt a little forced, and somewhat cringey in parts. I appreciate it was likely there to lighten the mood of some of these frankly shocking stories, so may land better with a slightly younger reader looking for a lighter approach to these stories.
Overall:
The Bad Girls of Ancient Greece is a great pick for readers looking to dip in and out of a book with short, engaging stories. While it may not be a book to read in one go, it’s perfect for those moments when you have just 5-10 minutes to spare. Despite some of the stories feeling a bit rushed and the humour not always hitting the mark, Lizzy Tiffin succeeds in making ancient Greek history accessible and entertaining for a modern audience. This collection is an intriguing introduction to the often-overlooked women of ancient Greece, offering a fresh perspective on their legendary tales.
Writing Style:
One of the standout aspects of Tiffin’s work is her ability to bring the expansive and often complicated world of ancient history to life in a way that doesn’t feel intimidating. Historical works can sometimes feel exclusive, but Tiffin breaks down these barriers as she delves into the myths and legends of these women, making ancient history accessible with her clear, critical analysis of ancient texts. She provides pronunciation guides at the start of each story, making it easier for readers to engage with the characters. However, a glossary for the lesser-known figures would have been helpful, as the multitude of uncommon names can be overwhelming.
Structure:
Tiffin does an excellent job of providing the historical context behind the myths, explaining how different accounts and translations over time have shaped and changed these stories. Her approach of selecting narratives that best complement each other, or simply the juiciest versions, works well and I also like the inclusion of alternate happenings in some of the stories. However, the brevity of the stories sometimes results in a loss of detail, making certain narratives feel a bit confusing, especially when characters reappear in later stories.
Humour and Tone:
Sadly the humour written into the narrations of the stories wasn’t for me! It often felt a little forced, and somewhat cringey in parts. I appreciate it was likely there to lighten the mood of some of these frankly shocking stories, so may land better with a slightly younger reader looking for a lighter approach to these stories.
Overall:
The Bad Girls of Ancient Greece is a great pick for readers looking to dip in and out of a book with short, engaging stories. While it may not be a book to read in one go, it’s perfect for those moments when you have just 5-10 minutes to spare. Despite some of the stories feeling a bit rushed and the humour not always hitting the mark, Lizzy Tiffin succeeds in making ancient Greek history accessible and entertaining for a modern audience. This collection is an intriguing introduction to the often-overlooked women of ancient Greece, offering a fresh perspective on their legendary tales.
August 19, 2024
2.5, some positives: i like the approach of ‘everybody can love myths’ and then, the tone was fun (Tiffin is clearly a talented and passionate story teller since lots of stories were told in an engaging manner but i had a few qualms: firstly, the structure was so chaotic it was hard to keep track
then, I felt like it was very much geared towards beginners (which i’m not but i knew that going into this) but then i felt like if you were an absolute starter you would be so lost bc the stories are so short and there are so many, while for ‘more advanced mythology fans’ there wasn’t anything beyond scratching the surface?
I did encounter some women and stories I wasn’t super familiar yet though so that was fun! and i also think Tiffin did a great job at trying to tackle more daunting plays like the oresteia though
but the narration style in combination with the choice of stories was the final nail for me: we got a warning in the beginning saying ‘the most popular versions OR the most fun versions would be told’ which is already a but ? if your main audience is supposed to be new to the material i feel it’s more appropriate to at least mention other versions especially for myths where there are A LOT like the events leading up to the Trojan war
but then i felt like sometimes the author told … neither? e.g. i felt very uncomfortable with the version of Iphigenia that was selected: you almost never hear this version and if the author thinks a version in which a literal child enjoys being sacrificed bc of her ‘religious devotion to the greek cause’ is the most fun one i am very concerned
which makes the forced ‘millennial feminist girl boss tone’ in other stories extra jarring for me
not my cup of tea, i’ll keep getting my mythology books from nathalie haynes
then, I felt like it was very much geared towards beginners (which i’m not but i knew that going into this) but then i felt like if you were an absolute starter you would be so lost bc the stories are so short and there are so many, while for ‘more advanced mythology fans’ there wasn’t anything beyond scratching the surface?
I did encounter some women and stories I wasn’t super familiar yet though so that was fun! and i also think Tiffin did a great job at trying to tackle more daunting plays like the oresteia though
but the narration style in combination with the choice of stories was the final nail for me: we got a warning in the beginning saying ‘the most popular versions OR the most fun versions would be told’ which is already a but ? if your main audience is supposed to be new to the material i feel it’s more appropriate to at least mention other versions especially for myths where there are A LOT like the events leading up to the Trojan war
but then i felt like sometimes the author told … neither? e.g. i felt very uncomfortable with the version of Iphigenia that was selected: you almost never hear this version and if the author thinks a version in which a literal child enjoys being sacrificed bc of her ‘religious devotion to the greek cause’ is the most fun one i am very concerned
which makes the forced ‘millennial feminist girl boss tone’ in other stories extra jarring for me
not my cup of tea, i’ll keep getting my mythology books from nathalie haynes
September 4, 2024
A great introduction to the women of Greek mythology - the well-known and the obscure.
Tiffin gives a brief description of some of the major (or in some cases, only) myths associated with the women of ancient Greece. She covers everyone from the notorious goddesses, Hera, Athena, Artemis and Aphrodite, to people I hadn't even heard of like Flora, Amaryllis and Doris.
This is a great book to read if you are wanting to learn the basics of Greek mythology in a way that highlights the figures often overlooked in favour of Achilles, Heracles, Zeus, Apollo, Paris and more. If you want something more in-depth, this book does offer a list of recommendations at the back of the book. Podcasts, non-fiction books, fictional retellings and the classics are recommended.
My only real negative criticism (aside from being a bit too knowledgeable about Greek mythology to appreciate this book fully) is some of the descriptions use slang to likely make the myths more relatable to those unfamiliar with the world of Greek mythology. I did find this a bit off-putting but I can see certain people seeing this as appealing.
Overall, I did really enjoy reading all these women get equal attention. And Tiffin does a wonderful job highlighting the drama and pettiness of the Greek gods. Even with little summaries, Tiffin was able to convey the spirit of these myths and the characters within them.
Tiffin gives a brief description of some of the major (or in some cases, only) myths associated with the women of ancient Greece. She covers everyone from the notorious goddesses, Hera, Athena, Artemis and Aphrodite, to people I hadn't even heard of like Flora, Amaryllis and Doris.
This is a great book to read if you are wanting to learn the basics of Greek mythology in a way that highlights the figures often overlooked in favour of Achilles, Heracles, Zeus, Apollo, Paris and more. If you want something more in-depth, this book does offer a list of recommendations at the back of the book. Podcasts, non-fiction books, fictional retellings and the classics are recommended.
My only real negative criticism (aside from being a bit too knowledgeable about Greek mythology to appreciate this book fully) is some of the descriptions use slang to likely make the myths more relatable to those unfamiliar with the world of Greek mythology. I did find this a bit off-putting but I can see certain people seeing this as appealing.
Overall, I did really enjoy reading all these women get equal attention. And Tiffin does a wonderful job highlighting the drama and pettiness of the Greek gods. Even with little summaries, Tiffin was able to convey the spirit of these myths and the characters within them.
June 5, 2024
I am a lover all myths and legends from around the world - even got a degree that included them! So I know the basis of the stories well, however the author has taken all these characters and tales we think we know so well and tipped them on their head.
Here the women from myth and pre-history get a fair shake of the stick. Grouped together in convenient groups like twisted sisters and Mad Mothers - we get a new view on Andromache, Hera, Aphrodite, Hestia et al. We see that even those portrayed as pious and dutiful could be sneaky, wily and downright nasty when they needed too. And those bad girls of history like Helen - always seen as the instigators of evils and flighty, dim-witted females at best - well they get to show another side of them.
History (and Myths) were written by the victors and men so we know we've had to take all the legends with a stiff pinch of salt (down with the Patriarchy and Misogyny!) but here we also get to take a pop at ourselves, to show that we understand that being a crap human is not determined by race, sex or religion - a$$holery is universal!
This would be a great introduction to myths for teenaged kids, learning about the different pantheons of gods and ages of Heroes (let's face it Heroines!). Snarkily funny and regularly breaks the "fourth wall".
Here the women from myth and pre-history get a fair shake of the stick. Grouped together in convenient groups like twisted sisters and Mad Mothers - we get a new view on Andromache, Hera, Aphrodite, Hestia et al. We see that even those portrayed as pious and dutiful could be sneaky, wily and downright nasty when they needed too. And those bad girls of history like Helen - always seen as the instigators of evils and flighty, dim-witted females at best - well they get to show another side of them.
History (and Myths) were written by the victors and men so we know we've had to take all the legends with a stiff pinch of salt (down with the Patriarchy and Misogyny!) but here we also get to take a pop at ourselves, to show that we understand that being a crap human is not determined by race, sex or religion - a$$holery is universal!
This would be a great introduction to myths for teenaged kids, learning about the different pantheons of gods and ages of Heroes (let's face it Heroines!). Snarkily funny and regularly breaks the "fourth wall".
August 25, 2024
A witty snapshot of the women of Ancient Greece which was informative if not also a little messy.
For me the stand out part of this book was simply the information it provided. As someone who is pretty familiar with the myth and legends of Ancient Greece (thank you university and Percy Jackson) even I was learning about new women from this influential era. Though the information we are given isn't in depth. I would have loved a more extensive look into some of these women as I found that even the most well known figures were kind of brushed over and it made me wonder what else was being missed about some of these women who often appear as footnotes to the male figures in their own story.
The overall organisation wasn't the most cohesive and I found that the overarching subheadings didn't really match some of the women. For example, a few women from the Damsel chapter didn't fit in my opinion. Also, as with some Greek Myths, there is a lot of overlap with these stories and I feel like it would have made more sense to group these women in a different way as throughout I felt like a warrior on great mission myself flip flopping between different Greek Island.
If you are a fan of Greek myth I would suggest this as a nice slow read where you keep coming back to for a few chapters at a time rather than a massive binge read.
For me the stand out part of this book was simply the information it provided. As someone who is pretty familiar with the myth and legends of Ancient Greece (thank you university and Percy Jackson) even I was learning about new women from this influential era. Though the information we are given isn't in depth. I would have loved a more extensive look into some of these women as I found that even the most well known figures were kind of brushed over and it made me wonder what else was being missed about some of these women who often appear as footnotes to the male figures in their own story.
The overall organisation wasn't the most cohesive and I found that the overarching subheadings didn't really match some of the women. For example, a few women from the Damsel chapter didn't fit in my opinion. Also, as with some Greek Myths, there is a lot of overlap with these stories and I feel like it would have made more sense to group these women in a different way as throughout I felt like a warrior on great mission myself flip flopping between different Greek Island.
If you are a fan of Greek myth I would suggest this as a nice slow read where you keep coming back to for a few chapters at a time rather than a massive binge read.
August 9, 2024
Start a book with a quote from Sappho and include pearlas like “After she put a stop to her brother-husband swallowing their children…” and I’m likely going to be hooked.
Bad Girls of Ancient Greece by Lizzy Tiffin focuses on the “scheming and scandalous” women who are often left in the shadows of their male counterparts in the myths and legends we all know. Read about the women you know like Hera, Aphrodite and Artemis and learn about lesser known women like Dryope, Lamia and Tyro. Lizzy brings these amazing, strong and badass women to life in the sassiest way possible.
This is a great read with windows looking into the women from myth and legend which will leave you wanting so much more. Each story is around 2-4 pages in length. It is a great reference if you are wanting to get into myths and legends of Ancient Greece from a different angle. The stories can be used as stepping stones into your own research. I am really looking forward to seeing what Lizzy puts out in the future!
Bad Girls of Ancient Greece by Lizzy Tiffin focuses on the “scheming and scandalous” women who are often left in the shadows of their male counterparts in the myths and legends we all know. Read about the women you know like Hera, Aphrodite and Artemis and learn about lesser known women like Dryope, Lamia and Tyro. Lizzy brings these amazing, strong and badass women to life in the sassiest way possible.
This is a great read with windows looking into the women from myth and legend which will leave you wanting so much more. Each story is around 2-4 pages in length. It is a great reference if you are wanting to get into myths and legends of Ancient Greece from a different angle. The stories can be used as stepping stones into your own research. I am really looking forward to seeing what Lizzy puts out in the future!
March 27, 2025
Just finished Bad Girls of Ancient Greece by Lizzie Tiffin, and WOW—these myths are unhinged. We always hear about the “great men” of Greek mythology, but this book flips the script, focusing on the scandalous, rebellious, and downright terrifying women who shook up the ancient world.
Short, sharp, and packed with wit, this book is perfect for busy weeks when you want something you can pick up and put down. But fair warning—some of these stories are seriously dark. The gods? Absolute menaces. No accountability, no remorse, just doing whatever they want, whenever they want. Honestly, reading this, I couldn’t help but compare them to modern-day celebrities—untouchable, entitled, and rarely held responsible for their actions. Some of the themes in these myths still hit hard today (looking at you, Roe v. Wade parallels).
But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are some fascinating, even wholesome moments (Flora and the rose, I see you). And Tiffin’s writing? Sharp, funny, and unfiltered—exactly how mythology should be told.
Full review on Blogger, let’s connect! Join me for a year of adventures immersing myself in many worlds as we read through 2025.
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Short, sharp, and packed with wit, this book is perfect for busy weeks when you want something you can pick up and put down. But fair warning—some of these stories are seriously dark. The gods? Absolute menaces. No accountability, no remorse, just doing whatever they want, whenever they want. Honestly, reading this, I couldn’t help but compare them to modern-day celebrities—untouchable, entitled, and rarely held responsible for their actions. Some of the themes in these myths still hit hard today (looking at you, Roe v. Wade parallels).
But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are some fascinating, even wholesome moments (Flora and the rose, I see you). And Tiffin’s writing? Sharp, funny, and unfiltered—exactly how mythology should be told.
Full review on Blogger, let’s connect! Join me for a year of adventures immersing myself in many worlds as we read through 2025.
IG mundanechapters
Blogger mundanechapters
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November 2, 2025*DNF*
guys i have tried for a whole month to love this book but i just can’t.
i’ve read a few greek mythology books in my time and unfortunately the structure of this one did itself no favours. i understand breaking everything up into ‘collections’ but if im being honest it just made things very confusing to follow along.
also i’m so sorry but i just can’t get over the weird gen z language that has been inserted into these stories… i am a firm believer in making mythology more accessible to younger generations but hearing the word ‘slay’ and the phrase ‘kill the patriarchy’ in the middle of a greek myth just seems really strange ?
i’m not a huge hater - i do feel like i learnt about some lesser known female characters and i am grateful to have read their stories but unfortunately im done :(
guys i have tried for a whole month to love this book but i just can’t.
i’ve read a few greek mythology books in my time and unfortunately the structure of this one did itself no favours. i understand breaking everything up into ‘collections’ but if im being honest it just made things very confusing to follow along.
also i’m so sorry but i just can’t get over the weird gen z language that has been inserted into these stories… i am a firm believer in making mythology more accessible to younger generations but hearing the word ‘slay’ and the phrase ‘kill the patriarchy’ in the middle of a greek myth just seems really strange ?
i’m not a huge hater - i do feel like i learnt about some lesser known female characters and i am grateful to have read their stories but unfortunately im done :(
June 10, 2024
Bad Girls of Ancient Greece is a witty, funny, and thoughtful guide on the women who make Greek Mythology - well, great!
I absolutely loved the vibes of this book. It’s completely accessible, so if you want to learn about some of the stories featuring women in Greek Mythology, this is a great place to start.
It’s self-aware, brilliant, well-written, and filled with comedy. Lizzy Tiffin has done a great job of telling each story in a way that doesn’t drag, or leave you feeling tired. Instead, she makes it easy to fly through each story and absorb them with ease.
Thank you Harper North, for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel
I absolutely loved the vibes of this book. It’s completely accessible, so if you want to learn about some of the stories featuring women in Greek Mythology, this is a great place to start.
It’s self-aware, brilliant, well-written, and filled with comedy. Lizzy Tiffin has done a great job of telling each story in a way that doesn’t drag, or leave you feeling tired. Instead, she makes it easy to fly through each story and absorb them with ease.
Thank you Harper North, for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel
May 17, 2024
Bad Girls of Ancient Greece by Lizzy Tiffin
Rating: 3/5
Release Date: 6 June 2024
"Bad Girls of Ancient Greece" is Lizzy Tiffin's exploration of the notorious women from Greek myths and legends, including Athena, Medusa, and Aphrodite.
The book is exceptionally well-written, offering fresh perspectives and insights into these characters. Even as someone not usually drawn to Greek mythology, I found it both entertaining and enlightening.
If you're seeking a unique take on Greek mythology, I highly recommend this book.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, HarperNorth, and the author, Lizzy Tiffin, for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.
Rating: 3/5
Release Date: 6 June 2024
"Bad Girls of Ancient Greece" is Lizzy Tiffin's exploration of the notorious women from Greek myths and legends, including Athena, Medusa, and Aphrodite.
The book is exceptionally well-written, offering fresh perspectives and insights into these characters. Even as someone not usually drawn to Greek mythology, I found it both entertaining and enlightening.
If you're seeking a unique take on Greek mythology, I highly recommend this book.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, HarperNorth, and the author, Lizzy Tiffin, for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.
July 4, 2024
What a treat this was! I thought I knew a fair bit about Greek mythology tbh but turns out I've barely scratched the surface.
This is a delightful and detailed collection of several bad ass babes and their stories. Some we know well and adore, such as Athena, Circe, Medea or Aphrodite. Then we have some that are very underrated and overlooked throughout the myths and legend of Greece such as Oenone, Doris, Atë and Limos.
Whether you're an avid mythology lover or maybe just curious about certain characters, this book will keep you occupied for hours!
I was very excited to read this and I'm very grateful to the author for sending me a copy. I will cherish this forever 💕
This is a delightful and detailed collection of several bad ass babes and their stories. Some we know well and adore, such as Athena, Circe, Medea or Aphrodite. Then we have some that are very underrated and overlooked throughout the myths and legend of Greece such as Oenone, Doris, Atë and Limos.
Whether you're an avid mythology lover or maybe just curious about certain characters, this book will keep you occupied for hours!
I was very excited to read this and I'm very grateful to the author for sending me a copy. I will cherish this forever 💕
October 5, 2024
3.5 rounded up to 4 Stars.
This is a fun read which provides a whistle-stop tour of the women of Greek mythology and I mean whistle-stop there are only a couple of pages devoted to each. It was good fun to pick up and put down whenever I had a few spare minutes and it’s written very accessibly. I will say the organisation was a little bit confusing as some women could have fit into any one of the categories and the one they were in felt a little arbitrary.
Great for someone who is just looking for an easy introduction to female characters from the myths and it does look brilliant on the shelf as it’s cover design is really fun.
This is a fun read which provides a whistle-stop tour of the women of Greek mythology and I mean whistle-stop there are only a couple of pages devoted to each. It was good fun to pick up and put down whenever I had a few spare minutes and it’s written very accessibly. I will say the organisation was a little bit confusing as some women could have fit into any one of the categories and the one they were in felt a little arbitrary.
Great for someone who is just looking for an easy introduction to female characters from the myths and it does look brilliant on the shelf as it’s cover design is really fun.
February 2, 2026
This was an engaging and informative book looking at women from Greek mythology. I liked her writing style as it’s easy to understand and has some humour. It had a good introduction that clearly explains the author’s goal to make Classics more accessible and how she looks at different versions of a myth to give a more detailed story. I liked at the end she recommends some mythical retellings if you want to read more. I think this is a good introduction to Greek mythology but you should check for trigger warnings first.
December 6, 2024
Who was your favorite character (and why)? Athena because she is the protector of Greek.
What surprised you? The wife wondered where her husband went and he went hunting with wolveand they smelled her and they could not resist and they aet hear when the husband found it out he was .devested and sad so they threw her in a fire and with the wolves
Would you change the ending? Why/why not? No, because this is history in the book if I would change it the world would change.
Note the name and author of the book you read, and post a screenshot of the review.
Lizzy Tiffin.
What surprised you? The wife wondered where her husband went and he went hunting with wolveand they smelled her and they could not resist and they aet hear when the husband found it out he was .devested and sad so they threw her in a fire and with the wolves
Would you change the ending? Why/why not? No, because this is history in the book if I would change it the world would change.
Note the name and author of the book you read, and post a screenshot of the review.
Lizzy Tiffin.
October 6, 2024
A deliciously tart index of all the femmes who make Greek Mythology so fascinating. Not so much a feminist slant - the author sarcastically references much of the sexual violence and misogyny that plagued women - but more a perspective of how essential they are to the classic literature that frames Greek mythology.
June 1, 2025
Ach it had some good stories but felt like a list (so maybe better to flick through, rather than listen to) that was written in a forced "down with the kids" way... I'm not the target audience because I think the target audience is 12 year olds?? Unsure. I'd recommend A Thousand Ships or Mythos/Heroes/Troy instead tbh.
October 1, 2025
Ancient languages is not my strong point so there were a number of times where I found myself struggling a little, trying to wrap my dyslexic head around the words.
Although, this shows that women have always tried to break conformity and trying to keep our heads. Despite the mad men who are running our lives or the world.
Although, this shows that women have always tried to break conformity and trying to keep our heads. Despite the mad men who are running our lives or the world.
July 3, 2024
What a great book to learn about the ladies of Greek mythology. Would be a great book for people wanting to get into Greek mythology but are intimidated. The writing style made for such an easy read I would honestly recommend this book to anyone.
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