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Slay: Ancient legends of female slayers and the hidden mythology of dragons
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jul 26A groundbreaking and seminal chronicle of the hidden history and mythology of female dragon slayers from ancient world expert and author of Goddess with a Thousand Faces Jasmine Elmer.
The dragon is a monster with a rich history of symbolism in almost every culture. In the stories that have been passed down through time, dragons lurk in the great wild, in dark, unknown and mysterious lands that exist on the periphery of human civilisation. Only the bravest of souls dare venture into the darkness to vanquish the dragon - and so often the tales have only shone light on the men. But what if there is so much more to this narrative?
Jasmine Elmer shifts the spotlight to the daring and victorious female dragon slayers that have been written out of history. Combining historical research with mythological retelling, Slay is a celebration of the dragon - and the woman that conquered the monsters - that has never been done before.
Slay is a distinctive and revelatory historical and mythological exploration of dragons, the stories and cultures around them, and the fierce women who slayed them.
Praise for Goddess with a Thousand Faces
'Fascinating, fun and thoughtful and enlightening' Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne
'A beautiful weave of history, myth and storytelling by one of our most exciting new classicists' Dan Snow, historian and TV presenter
'Gorgeous. Jasmine Elmer has a fierce passion for these women, and this shines through in her writing' Lizzy Tiffin, author of Bad Girls of Ancient Greece
'If you love history and feminist retellings, this is your next must-read' Rachel Blackmore, author of Costanza
'Jasmine Elmer's sparkling debut offers up a refreshing, inclusive and powerfully feminist manifesto for what it means to be a goddess, ancient and modern' Emily Hauser, author of Mythica
The dragon is a monster with a rich history of symbolism in almost every culture. In the stories that have been passed down through time, dragons lurk in the great wild, in dark, unknown and mysterious lands that exist on the periphery of human civilisation. Only the bravest of souls dare venture into the darkness to vanquish the dragon - and so often the tales have only shone light on the men. But what if there is so much more to this narrative?
Jasmine Elmer shifts the spotlight to the daring and victorious female dragon slayers that have been written out of history. Combining historical research with mythological retelling, Slay is a celebration of the dragon - and the woman that conquered the monsters - that has never been done before.
Slay is a distinctive and revelatory historical and mythological exploration of dragons, the stories and cultures around them, and the fierce women who slayed them.
Praise for Goddess with a Thousand Faces
'Fascinating, fun and thoughtful and enlightening' Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne
'A beautiful weave of history, myth and storytelling by one of our most exciting new classicists' Dan Snow, historian and TV presenter
'Gorgeous. Jasmine Elmer has a fierce passion for these women, and this shines through in her writing' Lizzy Tiffin, author of Bad Girls of Ancient Greece
'If you love history and feminist retellings, this is your next must-read' Rachel Blackmore, author of Costanza
'Jasmine Elmer's sparkling debut offers up a refreshing, inclusive and powerfully feminist manifesto for what it means to be a goddess, ancient and modern' Emily Hauser, author of Mythica
Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 2, 2026
About the author
Jasmine Elmer
2 books12 followersJasmine Elmer is a mythologist and storyteller who brings ancient tales to life with a modern, feminist twist. Fascinated by the magical and the mystical, she dives into the worlds of goddesses, witches, slayers and rebels, showing how their stories still shape - and challenge - our own. With a background in ancient myth and history, Jasmine combines research with passion, breathing new life into myth and turning them into living manifestos of women’s power for a modern audience.
Her debut book, Goddess with a Thousand Faces, is a bold and lyrical journey through global goddess traditions, blending storytelling with historical insight to reclaim the sacred feminine. Her second book, Slay: Ancient Legends of Female Slayers and the Hidden Mythology of Dragons, champions forgotten female slayers and establishes them as emblems of strength, resistance, and liberation.
Of Pakistani and white heritage, Jasmine grew up in East London and now lives in Devon with her husband, son and five unapologetically adored cats. A passionate advocate of slow living, she spends her time meditating, enjoying nature and a savouring a sip of coffee. You can find her on Instagram @jas_elmer. Go to www.jasmineelmer.co.uk for more.
Her debut book, Goddess with a Thousand Faces, is a bold and lyrical journey through global goddess traditions, blending storytelling with historical insight to reclaim the sacred feminine. Her second book, Slay: Ancient Legends of Female Slayers and the Hidden Mythology of Dragons, champions forgotten female slayers and establishes them as emblems of strength, resistance, and liberation.
Of Pakistani and white heritage, Jasmine grew up in East London and now lives in Devon with her husband, son and five unapologetically adored cats. A passionate advocate of slow living, she spends her time meditating, enjoying nature and a savouring a sip of coffee. You can find her on Instagram @jas_elmer. Go to www.jasmineelmer.co.uk for more.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Slay by Jasmine Elmer is a must-read for anyone who loves dragons and tales of the underdog because this book blends a candid analysis of dragon mythology and history, with first person POV storytelling from the female dragon slayers themselves (I would read this book for these retellings alone so the fact that there is an epic fudgeton of dragon lore and history included is a real bonus)
We are taken on a journey through different era's and perceptions of what a dragon is, where it came from and why. Many of us have been immersed in the recent upsurge in dragon fiction, but slay gets to the rootsand this would be invaluable to any dragon author out there
This book is so full of fascinating information taht I could not put it down and indeed, it is one to keep and to return to whether for reference or just to brighten your day.
Returning to the dragonslayers, this really was the highlight for me in the choice of four very different heroines. One is famous, and three are sadly not so famous - their stories erased simply because they were female - thankfully, some stories and records remain so we get to enjoy the stories of Medea, Thakane, Margaret and Tokoyo retold in Elmers signature engaging and immersive style
(Note - As yet, I have not read Goddess With a Thousand Faces, but after reading SLay, it is going straight on to my TBR!)
Slay is the perfect read if you love dragons, history, historical boss babes and tales of the underdog overcoming adversity (and you may even gain a different perspective on certain heroes who were less than heroic!)
Thank you to Jas Elmer, and Renegade Books an imprint of John Murray Press/ Dialogue Books - Hatchette UK for this incredible ARC - My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
We are taken on a journey through different era's and perceptions of what a dragon is, where it came from and why. Many of us have been immersed in the recent upsurge in dragon fiction, but slay gets to the rootsand this would be invaluable to any dragon author out there
This book is so full of fascinating information taht I could not put it down and indeed, it is one to keep and to return to whether for reference or just to brighten your day.
Returning to the dragonslayers, this really was the highlight for me in the choice of four very different heroines. One is famous, and three are sadly not so famous - their stories erased simply because they were female - thankfully, some stories and records remain so we get to enjoy the stories of Medea, Thakane, Margaret and Tokoyo retold in Elmers signature engaging and immersive style
(Note - As yet, I have not read Goddess With a Thousand Faces, but after reading SLay, it is going straight on to my TBR!)
Slay is the perfect read if you love dragons, history, historical boss babes and tales of the underdog overcoming adversity (and you may even gain a different perspective on certain heroes who were less than heroic!)
Thank you to Jas Elmer, and Renegade Books an imprint of John Murray Press/ Dialogue Books - Hatchette UK for this incredible ARC - My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
Review of advance copy received from Author
Slay : Ancient Legends of Female Slayers and the Hidden Mythology of Dragons by Jasmine Elmer
Favourite quote "Because history can move your soul if you let it."
We all love dragons, but who do we think of when we think of dragon slayers? Immerse yourself in this book and you will find mystical tales of female slayers...
Slay describes four fearless women/girls who had faced a terrifying foe and had been triumphant. These slayers however, were lost in legend, only Medea survives thanks to her resurgence in some amazing histfic books.
Each slayer has been given the 'fictional freedom' to tell her own story in a wonderful mix of non fiction and retelling. Medea, Thákane, Margaret and Tokoyo tell you their stories in the first person. I loved this and it gave me a real connection to these characters.
I'm so glad Jas had found these slayers and brought them back to life for us, their stories for me are now unforgettable. We read not only Jas's passion for these slayers, but her deep love of dragonlore. The book takes us on the search for dragons through time, cultures and mythology culminating in an encyclopedic collection I will treasure.
It's meticulously researched and beautifully written. It's entertaining, witty and thrilling. I was compelled to dig deeper which is for me where the best of non fiction should take me. I loved how Jas 'talked' to us throughout this book, asking us to make these stories personal, to change perhaps our view of ourselves, I definitely did that. I felt this book was deeply personal to Jas and I appreciated that.
I was born under the dragon star sign so this book spoke to me on so many levels.
Favourite quote "Because history can move your soul if you let it."
We all love dragons, but who do we think of when we think of dragon slayers? Immerse yourself in this book and you will find mystical tales of female slayers...
Slay describes four fearless women/girls who had faced a terrifying foe and had been triumphant. These slayers however, were lost in legend, only Medea survives thanks to her resurgence in some amazing histfic books.
Each slayer has been given the 'fictional freedom' to tell her own story in a wonderful mix of non fiction and retelling. Medea, Thákane, Margaret and Tokoyo tell you their stories in the first person. I loved this and it gave me a real connection to these characters.
I'm so glad Jas had found these slayers and brought them back to life for us, their stories for me are now unforgettable. We read not only Jas's passion for these slayers, but her deep love of dragonlore. The book takes us on the search for dragons through time, cultures and mythology culminating in an encyclopedic collection I will treasure.
It's meticulously researched and beautifully written. It's entertaining, witty and thrilling. I was compelled to dig deeper which is for me where the best of non fiction should take me. I loved how Jas 'talked' to us throughout this book, asking us to make these stories personal, to change perhaps our view of ourselves, I definitely did that. I felt this book was deeply personal to Jas and I appreciated that.
I was born under the dragon star sign so this book spoke to me on so many levels.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews