A visually rich and narratively bold exploration of sacred feminine power, retold through the journey of a curious modern-day seeker.
From the series that brought A Graphic History and A Graphic History, comes A Graphic History. This latest volume reclaims goddess traditions from around the world, blending mythology, ritual, and feminist history.
With a foreword by poet and author Nikita Gill – who also makes a guest appearance in illustrated form as one of the novel’s characters – this graphic history guides readers on a transformative journey led by the mysterious figure of Lilith. Travelling across time and place, readers encounter powerful deities and rediscover long-lost rituals and symbols – from Celtic England to ancient Egypt and beyond – revealing how goddess figures continue to shape our understanding of power and identity.
Across its chapters, readers will
Sacred stories timeless myths reinterpreted through a modern feminist lens. A global journey: deities, rituals, and symbols from cultures across the world. Seasonal each leg of Lilith’s journey tied to a season, representing growth, change, and transformation. Empowering of matriarchy, self-love, and female friendship. Visual striking artwork and lyrical narration that bring myth and meaning to life, from the same artist behind A Graphic History. As with the previous books in the series, Goddesses: A Graphic History combines meticulous research with artistic flair, offering readers a fresh and inclusive way to engage with ancient traditions.
This is a book to inspire curiosity, reflection and reverence for the sacred feminine – perfect for display on any altar, coffee table, or collector’s shelf.
Thank you to Edelweiss for giving me access to an ARC of this book for review. Opinions are my own.
Goddesses: A Graphic History is a stunning and emotionally charged exploration of the divine feminine through history. It does a great job of blending mythology, history, spirituality and feminist reflection. The pastel toned illustrations give the book a gentle and dreamlike feel and the writing is powerful and quotable.
There's a beautiful foreword by writer and poet Nikita Gill which perfectly sets the tone. The story strikes a good balance of being both informative/didactic and narrative - something that often is hard to find in graphic novels.
A few themes stand out throughout this journey: the cyclical nature of life, the different (triadic) facets of women and the goddess (maiden, mother, crone) and the symbolism of animals associated with feminine divinity (particularly snakes and cats).
At times, I felt like the historical/mythological exposition felt a little disconnected from the narration/plot. I often feel this way with graphic novels so perhaps this is simply a feature of the genre (one which is a little outside of my comfort zone). Still, this occasionally interrupted the flow for me and took me out of the story.
Overall, a beautiful piece of feminist writing that genuinely moved me - it is both a lament and a reclamation... A reminder of how patriarchal structures have silenced us through history and attempted to strip away the divinity from womanhood.
A quick trigger note for readers: The book includes references to abandonment, sexual assault and rape. While these moments are dealt with sensitivity, please check any trigger warnings before reading.
A book that explains the female deities found in Europe, with a very attentive look at myths and archetypes. As a graphic novel, it’s truly enjoyable, and the illustrations are awesome!