Alcestis of Thessaly

Great Women of Greek Mythology #7

by Mike French, Vittorio Mattioli, Little Miss Grumpy (Cover)

Alcestis is it to die. She will pay the ultimate price. Her husband Admetus was to be killed for slighting the goddess Artemis, but Alcestis will give her life instead. So the matter should rest – but the unexpected appearance of the hero Heracles complicates things. Alcestis finds herself defying her natural order of Hades, returned to life but unable to speak and unrecognised by her household. Can she break free or is she doomed to exist only as a shade?

GREAT WOMEN OF GREEK MYTHOLOGY is a series of short books for young and old introducing readers to ancient world through its heroines. These books aim to bring readers on a journey filled with excitement, drama, death and love, all while focussing on the women that have played such an important role in our history yet are still remembered aw mere bystanders.

While each book can be read separately, and in any order, there is an underlying thread that ultimately connects all these characters and provides a wider view of what it was to be a woman in the ancient Greek world.

144 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2025

About the author

Mike’s debut novel, The Ascent of Isaac Steward came out in 2011 with Cauliay Publishing and was nominated for The Galaxy National Book Awards which due to an unfortunate clerical error was awarded to Dawn French.

Mike's second novel a dsytopian sci-fi called Blue Friday was released in 2012 by Elsewhen Press and was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke award 2013. Convergence, his third book, was released in October 2013 from Elsewhen Press and was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke award 2014.

In Nov 2015 Elsewhen Press published Mike's hybrid novel & graphic novel called An Android Awakes with artist Karl Brown.

The sequel Fictional Alignment was published in paperback April 2018.

Mike was also the senior editor and owner of The View From Here literary magazine which closed in Nov 2014.

Reviews

[Roula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ο μύθος της Άλκηστης ,μιας γενναιας γυναίκας που δέχτηκε να πάρει τη θέση στην βαριά μοίρα του άνδρα της και να πεθάνει εκείνη ,αντί γι'αυτόν. Μέσα από διάφορα ηθικά διλήμματα ,κώδικες αξιών και την ανάμειξη του μεγάλου Ηρακλή ,τελικά θα πάρει αυτό που της αξίζει και το πολυπόθητο και σπάνιο για τους μύθους των αρχαίων προγόνων μας ,happy ending..
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 αστέρια

[Ainoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A happy ending in Greek mythology??? AND a massive middle finger to toxic masculinity and patriarchal gender norms??? Euripides ate with this one.

4,5/5

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Det var en litt plagsom bok, helt til jeg fant ut at den er basert på en satire

[Ria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alcestis is a truly magnificent story and has earned its place as one of my absolute favorites in this collection. Unlike many other mythological retellings, this is a beautiful love story that offers a rare and deeply satisfying happy ending. The narrative is profoundly moving, taking the reader through a whirlwind of intense emotions, from profound sorrow to immense joy and relief. It is a stunning portrayal of sacrifice and devotion that resonates long after the final page, providing a heart filling experience.

[Alicia Corriveau · Rating 4 out of 5]

j’ai adoré le côté romancé et point de vue féminin! ça rend la mythologie grecque plus accessible, je recommande!