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The Epic of Glenda Mesh
Christopher Fryer THE EPIC OF GLENDA MESHA modern retelling of “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” written in 2100 BC.
Glenda Mesh is a badass junior in high school who rules the modern-day city of Babylon like a monster because her parents are rich and she doesn’t care about anyone but herself. Who dares to stop her when she’s also the best track and field star in the country? No one, that’s who.
Until one day a red-headed orphan girl named Enkidu comes into town with a sad backstory and a grudge against tyrants like Glenda. When Glenda faces the reality that she’s become the villain in her own story, and sees the horrid legacy she’ll be leaving behind, she strives to change for the better. However, the only person willing to help her might be her new biggest rival.
In what she frames as a “Hero’s Quest,” Glenda will boldly take on the city of Babylon’s most heinous criminal in history. But when you’re chasing down a psychopath that even the cops are avoiding, it might be a sign that she’s getting in over her head. Chances are, it'll only get worse from there.
Being a villain is easy. Being a hero is hard.
How will Glenda overcome a madman, a drug lord, a stalker, and an angry bull, and still expect to see the end of her junior year? Add in the stress of school, awkward family dinners, track meets with her rival, and a growing fear of death… Glenda Mesh will be tested in every way possible. It will be epic, to say the least.
Inspired by “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” written in Ancient Mesopotamia in 2100 BC, this novel puts a twist on that ancient tale by reversing genders, playing with the themes, and modernizing the plot. Though previous knowledge of the source material isn’t necessary, it does add a neat layer to the novel, and it’s recommended to look into after reading.
You’ll enjoy this book if you coming of age stories, gritty narratives, harrowing situations, family struggles, and complicated relationships, with ancient themes of finding purpose, overcoming challenges, handling grief, understanding love, and the want for immortality.
Read THE EPIC OF GLENDA MESH to discover Glenda’s fate. Will her Hero’s Quest end with her achieving a legacy to be proud of, or will her heroic endeavors send her to an early grave?
Glenda Mesh is a badass junior in high school who rules the modern-day city of Babylon like a monster because her parents are rich and she doesn’t care about anyone but herself. Who dares to stop her when she’s also the best track and field star in the country? No one, that’s who.
Until one day a red-headed orphan girl named Enkidu comes into town with a sad backstory and a grudge against tyrants like Glenda. When Glenda faces the reality that she’s become the villain in her own story, and sees the horrid legacy she’ll be leaving behind, she strives to change for the better. However, the only person willing to help her might be her new biggest rival.
In what she frames as a “Hero’s Quest,” Glenda will boldly take on the city of Babylon’s most heinous criminal in history. But when you’re chasing down a psychopath that even the cops are avoiding, it might be a sign that she’s getting in over her head. Chances are, it'll only get worse from there.
Being a villain is easy. Being a hero is hard.
How will Glenda overcome a madman, a drug lord, a stalker, and an angry bull, and still expect to see the end of her junior year? Add in the stress of school, awkward family dinners, track meets with her rival, and a growing fear of death… Glenda Mesh will be tested in every way possible. It will be epic, to say the least.
Inspired by “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” written in Ancient Mesopotamia in 2100 BC, this novel puts a twist on that ancient tale by reversing genders, playing with the themes, and modernizing the plot. Though previous knowledge of the source material isn’t necessary, it does add a neat layer to the novel, and it’s recommended to look into after reading.
You’ll enjoy this book if you coming of age stories, gritty narratives, harrowing situations, family struggles, and complicated relationships, with ancient themes of finding purpose, overcoming challenges, handling grief, understanding love, and the want for immortality.
Read THE EPIC OF GLENDA MESH to discover Glenda’s fate. Will her Hero’s Quest end with her achieving a legacy to be proud of, or will her heroic endeavors send her to an early grave?
507 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 16, 2022
Wow! Even though I’m a grandmother of teenagers, I loved this book. It was captivating. I could not put it down. It brought me back into the world of the enjoyment of reading again I would recommend this book for all ages I especially enjoyed seeing the transformation of the characters.
August 3, 2022
4.75 stars.
I absolutely adored this book. I expected little out of it, to be honest. It was definitely offbeat, and maybe not something I might've picked up if I hadn't read the blurb (I'm not sure what it is about the cover, it's a perfectly fine cover, I just didn't like it personally, but that's a me problem) or had it recommended by the author. I was hooked from page one, and read through the whole thing in a day. It's not my usual fare of epic medieval fantasy either, but I think that's why I was so captivated. Every single one of these characters is extremely well-written, and come across as their own person. Enkidu was probably my favorite, though. The rivalry between two teenagers, the central theme of the book, was definitely inspired. On a minor point, I also really liked the naming of the different settings in the book and relating those to the ancient Mesopotamian names, it was like little treasures I'd find along the way.
I absolutely adored this book. I expected little out of it, to be honest. It was definitely offbeat, and maybe not something I might've picked up if I hadn't read the blurb (I'm not sure what it is about the cover, it's a perfectly fine cover, I just didn't like it personally, but that's a me problem) or had it recommended by the author. I was hooked from page one, and read through the whole thing in a day. It's not my usual fare of epic medieval fantasy either, but I think that's why I was so captivated. Every single one of these characters is extremely well-written, and come across as their own person. Enkidu was probably my favorite, though. The rivalry between two teenagers, the central theme of the book, was definitely inspired. On a minor point, I also really liked the naming of the different settings in the book and relating those to the ancient Mesopotamian names, it was like little treasures I'd find along the way.
July 4, 2022
This book is for real like a teen titan and super girl all mashed into one. It was highly entertaining and surprisingly great. This book will most definitely end up as a movie though with a name change. This is also excellent refacing by the author by putting the young lady as the main character instead of a dude like the original story vision was. I don't do spoilers so you just gotta buy it to know of very satisfying the mental experience is though make sure you get plenty of rest cause the amount of mental capcitators you will have involved in the book will take your mind to explosive highs but drain your body energy. Great job author Christopher Frye. You did the darn thing.
July 18, 2022
Interesting and heart-wrenching
An intriguing tale that makes you really care about the characters. It does a great job incorporating fantastical and mythological parallels and elements into a grounded and solid world. Definitely worth checking out!
An intriguing tale that makes you really care about the characters. It does a great job incorporating fantastical and mythological parallels and elements into a grounded and solid world. Definitely worth checking out!
July 1, 2022
Prior to reading Glenda Mesh I was only marginally aware that there existed an Epic of Gilgamesh... It didn't matter, this story was captivating and imaginative and such a page turner. I hope it finds it's way to someone on Hollywood because it would make a terrific film.
After finishing I looked into the original epic of Gilgamesh and was even more impressed with Fryer's impeccable ability to so closely parallel a story from thousands of years ago in a modern retelling so effectively... Because the source material seems incredibly difficult if not impossible to modernize but he pulled it off. Hoping he takes on Homer next!
After finishing I looked into the original epic of Gilgamesh and was even more impressed with Fryer's impeccable ability to so closely parallel a story from thousands of years ago in a modern retelling so effectively... Because the source material seems incredibly difficult if not impossible to modernize but he pulled it off. Hoping he takes on Homer next!
November 28, 2022
What a rollercoaster! Just when you think you're at the most climactic point in the story, you realize you're still just getting started.
August 19, 2022
Beautiful!
February 17, 2023
The Epic Of Glenda Mesh is a modern day retelling of The Epic Of Gilgamesh. A booked etched on clay tablets dated around 2100 BC, which is said to be the oldest written book found on Earth. Christopher Fryer did an amazing job recreating this historical tale in a world evolving around troubled teenagers, flawed adults and political corruption. LIke the original's 12 tablets, this story is broken into 12 parts of its own. Each section has a different theme going which then merge together into one epic tale.
Fryer gives us two fierce female MCs who are as different as night and day. Enkidu is an orphan who knows too much about survival and not enough about love. After finally landing in a stable home, she will do just about anything to hold onto what she values. Everyone in Babylon knows of Glenda Mesh. She lives in the big mansion on the hill and she's not afraid to take what's hers. So entitled, she isn't afraid to take what isn't hers either. A bit of a bully, she wreaks havoc in school and all about town. Everyone is afraid of Glenda Mesh until the day Enkidu comes to challenge her.
Within this story both Enkidu and Glenda Mesh will face many challenges that will have them questioning the type of women they want to be. A true coming of age as each undergoes a full transformation while they live through many difficult days.
This was a fantastic story that just kept giving and giving. It had some amazing lessons hidden inside. After reading this I did some research into the original story of Gilgamesh and was even more impressed by Christopher Fryer's skills. He did an amazing job hitting on key points of the original while creating a work of art all his own.
Fryer gives us two fierce female MCs who are as different as night and day. Enkidu is an orphan who knows too much about survival and not enough about love. After finally landing in a stable home, she will do just about anything to hold onto what she values. Everyone in Babylon knows of Glenda Mesh. She lives in the big mansion on the hill and she's not afraid to take what's hers. So entitled, she isn't afraid to take what isn't hers either. A bit of a bully, she wreaks havoc in school and all about town. Everyone is afraid of Glenda Mesh until the day Enkidu comes to challenge her.
Within this story both Enkidu and Glenda Mesh will face many challenges that will have them questioning the type of women they want to be. A true coming of age as each undergoes a full transformation while they live through many difficult days.
This was a fantastic story that just kept giving and giving. It had some amazing lessons hidden inside. After reading this I did some research into the original story of Gilgamesh and was even more impressed by Christopher Fryer's skills. He did an amazing job hitting on key points of the original while creating a work of art all his own.
July 1, 2022
Loved this book! I've never read the original but after reading this one, I think I will give that one a try next. Fryer's characters had depth and intrigue and I quickly found myself completely absorbed by the story and couldn't put it down.
July 8, 2026
The Epic of Glenda Mesh is an ambitious, imaginative, and emotionally resonant novel that successfully transforms one of humanity's oldest surviving stories into a fresh, contemporary coming-of-age adventure. Christopher Fryer demonstrates remarkable creativity by reinterpreting The Epic of Gilgamesh through a modern lens while preserving the timeless themes that have captivated readers for thousands of years. The result is a novel that is simultaneously entertaining, thought-provoking, and deeply human.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is Glenda Mesh herself. She begins as a deeply flawed protagonist whose arrogance, privilege, and self-centered worldview make her difficult to admire, yet that very imperfection becomes the foundation of one of the novel's most compelling achievements. Watching Glenda gradually confront her own shortcomings, wrestle with the consequences of her actions, and genuinely strive to become a better person creates an emotionally satisfying character arc that feels authentic and earned. Her transformation from antagonist to aspiring hero is handled with impressive nuance, making readers increasingly invested in both her personal growth and her ultimate fate.
Equally compelling is Enkidu, whose arrival challenges everything Glenda believes about strength, leadership, and purpose. Their evolving relationship becomes the emotional heart of the story, balancing rivalry, respect, and personal growth in ways that mirror the enduring themes of the ancient epic while establishing a powerful identity entirely its own. Their dynamic adds warmth, humor, and emotional complexity that elevate the narrative far beyond a traditional young adult adventure.
The novel also excels in its storytelling ambition. Christopher Fryer skillfully blends action, mystery, coming-of-age drama, family conflict, psychological growth, and philosophical reflection into a narrative that constantly evolves without ever losing focus. The escalating dangers—from violent criminals and personal threats to emotional struggles and questions about mortality—continually raise both the physical and emotional stakes. Every challenge Glenda faces contributes meaningfully to her development, making the story feel cohesive despite its epic scope.
Another standout achievement is the novel's thoughtful exploration of timeless themes. Identity, redemption, friendship, mortality, legacy, courage, love, and the search for purpose are woven naturally throughout the narrative, giving readers meaningful ideas to reflect upon long after finishing the final chapter. Even readers unfamiliar with The Epic of Gilgamesh can fully appreciate the story, while those familiar with the ancient text will enjoy discovering the many clever parallels and creative reinterpretations.
Christopher Fryer's writing is confident, engaging, and emotionally sincere. The pacing balances high-energy action with quieter moments of introspection, allowing both the characters and the themes to develop organically. His ability to modernize an ancient epic while preserving its emotional core is an impressive accomplishment that showcases both literary ambition and accessible storytelling.
The Epic of Glenda Mesh is a powerful and unforgettable novel that successfully combines coming-of-age fiction, adventure, mythology, psychological growth, and emotional storytelling into a truly unique reading experience. Readers who enjoy character-driven journeys, modern mythological retellings, and stories about redemption, courage, and finding one's purpose will find this to be an exceptional novel that deserves a much wider audience.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is Glenda Mesh herself. She begins as a deeply flawed protagonist whose arrogance, privilege, and self-centered worldview make her difficult to admire, yet that very imperfection becomes the foundation of one of the novel's most compelling achievements. Watching Glenda gradually confront her own shortcomings, wrestle with the consequences of her actions, and genuinely strive to become a better person creates an emotionally satisfying character arc that feels authentic and earned. Her transformation from antagonist to aspiring hero is handled with impressive nuance, making readers increasingly invested in both her personal growth and her ultimate fate.
Equally compelling is Enkidu, whose arrival challenges everything Glenda believes about strength, leadership, and purpose. Their evolving relationship becomes the emotional heart of the story, balancing rivalry, respect, and personal growth in ways that mirror the enduring themes of the ancient epic while establishing a powerful identity entirely its own. Their dynamic adds warmth, humor, and emotional complexity that elevate the narrative far beyond a traditional young adult adventure.
The novel also excels in its storytelling ambition. Christopher Fryer skillfully blends action, mystery, coming-of-age drama, family conflict, psychological growth, and philosophical reflection into a narrative that constantly evolves without ever losing focus. The escalating dangers—from violent criminals and personal threats to emotional struggles and questions about mortality—continually raise both the physical and emotional stakes. Every challenge Glenda faces contributes meaningfully to her development, making the story feel cohesive despite its epic scope.
Another standout achievement is the novel's thoughtful exploration of timeless themes. Identity, redemption, friendship, mortality, legacy, courage, love, and the search for purpose are woven naturally throughout the narrative, giving readers meaningful ideas to reflect upon long after finishing the final chapter. Even readers unfamiliar with The Epic of Gilgamesh can fully appreciate the story, while those familiar with the ancient text will enjoy discovering the many clever parallels and creative reinterpretations.
Christopher Fryer's writing is confident, engaging, and emotionally sincere. The pacing balances high-energy action with quieter moments of introspection, allowing both the characters and the themes to develop organically. His ability to modernize an ancient epic while preserving its emotional core is an impressive accomplishment that showcases both literary ambition and accessible storytelling.
The Epic of Glenda Mesh is a powerful and unforgettable novel that successfully combines coming-of-age fiction, adventure, mythology, psychological growth, and emotional storytelling into a truly unique reading experience. Readers who enjoy character-driven journeys, modern mythological retellings, and stories about redemption, courage, and finding one's purpose will find this to be an exceptional novel that deserves a much wider audience.
February 3, 2026
The Epic of Glenda Mesh" is a thrilling, unforgettable ride! Christopher Fryer brilliantly reimagines the ancient tale of Gilgamesh in a modern high school setting, creating a protagonist who is fierce, flawed, and utterly compelling. Glenda’s journey from self-centered powerhouse to someone confronting her own legacy is both exciting and deeply moving. The story balances heart-pounding action, high-stakes drama, and relatable coming-of-age struggles flawlessly. Enkidu’s arrival adds tension and depth, making the character dynamics electric. This book is a perfect mix of adventure, humor, and emotional resonance—I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend for fans of bold, modern epics!
August 6, 2023
With all the high reviews, I must have missed something. This started off strong with intriguing characters but it didn't hold my interest. While I get it's based on Gilgamesh, there were several spots where I wish it would've ended. The protagonist's final motives were angsty and difficult for me to buy into.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews