Madeline Miller has a compact bibliography, and none of her published novels currently forms a conventional series.
Her two novels, The Song of Achilles and Circe, both reinterpret Greek myth, but one is not a sequel to the other. They draw from overlapping mythological traditions and characters without requiring readers to treat them as one continuous fictional timeline.
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Her shorter fiction follows the same pattern. Galatea, “Heracles’ Bow,” and the forthcoming Mestra retell different classical stories.
For most readers, publication order is the simplest approach. If one particular myth interests you more, however, there is no continuity reason not to start there.
Quick Answer
Madeline Miller novels in publication order:
- The Song of Achilles (2011)
- Circe (2018)
Short fiction:
- “Heracles’ Bow” (2012)
- Galatea (2013)
- Mestra (September 29, 2026)
Best starting point: The Song of Achilles
Can you read Circe first? Yes.
Are The Song of Achilles and Circe a series? No.
Is Galatea a novel? No. It is a short story that was later issued as a small standalone hardcover.
Next confirmed publication: Mestra, a short story scheduled for September 29, 2026.
Persephone novel status: In development, but no confirmed publication date as of August 9, 2026.
Madeline Miller Novels in Publication Order
Miller’s complete published novel list is currently:
- The Song of Achilles (2011)
- Circe (2018)
That is the entire novel reading order as of August 2026.
There is no Book 3 yet.
The Song of Achilles
Standalone novel
The Song of Achilles was first published in the United Kingdom in 2011 and later in the United States in 2012.
The novel retells the story of Achilles through Patroclus.
It begins well before the Trojan War, following Patroclus’s exile, his meeting with Achilles, their growing relationship, Achilles’s training, and eventually their journey to Troy.
The later sections overlap substantially with events associated with Homer’s Iliad.
No knowledge of Homer is required before reading it.
Is The Song of Achilles Part of a Series?
No.
It tells a complete story.
Miller later wrote Circe, but Circe is not The Song of Achilles Book 2.
Both draw on the larger body of Greek mythology, which naturally means some gods, heroes, and legendary events belong to the same ancient mythological tradition.
That does not establish a numbered Miller series.
Heracles’ Bow
Optional companion short story
“Heracles’ Bow” was published in a special edition of The Song of Achilles.
It focuses on Philoctetes, whose story is connected to the Trojan War.
Because of that connection, this is the one piece of Miller’s shorter fiction that fits naturally beside The Song of Achilles.
A simple order is:
- The Song of Achilles
- “Heracles’ Bow”
The story is optional.
You do not need it to understand the novel’s ending.
Should You Read Heracles’ Bow Before The Song of Achilles?
No.
Even though some of its mythological events can be situated within the wider Trojan War tradition, it works better as companion material after the novel.
The novel provides a much fuller introduction to Miller’s treatment of the Trojan War.
Galatea
Standalone short story
Galatea reimagines the myth generally associated with Pygmalion and the woman brought to life from his sculpture.
Miller shifts attention to Galatea herself and her struggle for autonomy.
The story was originally released digitally in 2013.
It was later issued as a small hardcover edition with an afterword by Miller.
The later hardcover does not make it a new 2022 story or a novel.
Is Galatea Connected to The Song of Achilles?
No reading dependency connects them.
Both come from classical mythology, but they tell different stories.
You can read Galatea before or after either of Miller’s novels.
Is Galatea Connected to Circe?
No required continuity has been established.
The stories share a mythological source tradition rather than one continuing plot.
Treat Galatea as Standalone.
Circe
Standalone novel
Circe was published in 2018.
The novel retells the life of Circe, daughter of the sun god Helios.
Rather than restricting itself to the portion of Circe’s story familiar from the Odyssey, Miller follows her across a much longer span of mythological time.
Her story intersects with gods, Titans, monsters, heroes, and figures associated with several different Greek myths.
Odysseus eventually becomes important, but he is only one part of Circe’s much larger life.
Do You Need The Song of Achilles Before Circe?
No.
Circe provides everything needed to understand its own story.
Reading The Song of Achilles first may make Miller’s approach to classical retelling familiar, but there is no plot handoff between the books.
A reader interested primarily in witchcraft, gods, monsters, and the Odyssey can start with Circe.
Is Circe a Sequel to The Song of Achilles?
No.
This is the most common reading-order mistake in Miller’s bibliography.
The fact that both books draw on the Greek heroic age does not make them consecutive installments.
Use these labels:
- The Song of Achilles, Standalone
- Circe, Standalone
Do The Song of Achilles and Circe Share Characters?
Their mythological source material belongs to an interconnected body of legends, so names, families, gods, and events can overlap indirectly.
That is different from saying the novels form one continuous series.
Miller does not require readers to carry plot information from The Song of Achilles into Circe.
The safer reading-order classification is separate retellings within Greek mythology.
Can Madeline Miller’s Books Be Read in Mythological Chronological Order?
Not usefully.
Greek mythology does not behave like a modern fictional franchise with one universally agreed timeline.
Circe also covers a long life that intersects with different generations of mythological figures, while The Song of Achilles concentrates primarily on Achilles and Patroclus before and during the Trojan War.
Trying to decide that one entire novel occurs before the other oversimplifies both stories.
Publication order remains cleaner:
- The Song of Achilles
- Circe
The Best Madeline Miller Reading Order
For readers planning to read everything substantial:
- The Song of Achilles
- “Heracles’ Bow”
- Galatea
- Circe
- Mestra, when published
This is a recommendation rather than continuity.
The only pairing with a particularly close contextual relationship is The Song of Achilles followed by “Heracles’ Bow.”
Madeline Miller Books and Stories in Publication Order
A fuller publication sequence is:
- The Song of Achilles (2011)
- “Heracles’ Bow” (2012)
- Galatea (2013)
- Circe (2018)
- Mestra (2026)
Mestra is scheduled for September 29, 2026, so it remains forthcoming as of this August update.
Mestra
Forthcoming standalone short story
Mestra is scheduled for publication on September 29, 2026.
It retells the myth of Mestra.
Mestra has the ability to transform herself into different beings, while her father suffers from a divine curse of insatiable hunger.
Miller’s official description centers the conflict on how much Mestra is willing to sacrifice to sustain him and whether she can eventually free herself from his demands.
It is being published as a short story, not as Miller’s third novel.
Is Mestra Connected to Circe?
No sequel relationship has been announced.
Both reinterpret women from Greek mythology, but Mestra has its own protagonist and myth.
Treat it as:
Standalone short fiction
Is Mestra Madeline Miller’s New Book?
Yes, with an important qualification.
As of August 9, 2026, Mestra is her next confirmed book publication.
It is scheduled for September 29, 2026.
It is a short story published in standalone form, not a new full-length novel.
What Is Madeline Miller’s Latest Published Novel?
Circe remains her latest published novel.
It was released in the United States on April 10, 2018.
Later editions of Galatea, new editions of The Song of Achilles, and the forthcoming publication of Mestra should not be mistaken for later novels.
The Song of Achilles Deluxe Edition
Reissue, not a new novel
A deluxe edition of The Song of Achilles has been released with additional presentation and supplementary material.
It is still the original novel.
Do not list it as another installment after Circe.
Readers who already own The Song of Achilles do not need the deluxe edition for story continuity.
Galatea Hardcover Edition
Reissue of earlier short fiction
The hardcover edition of Galatea similarly caused some publication-order confusion.
The story itself dates from 2013.
Its later hardcover publication gave the work a new physical edition and added an afterword.
It did not create a new sequel or a third novel.
What Is Madeline Miller Writing Next?
Miller announced that she was working on a novel centered on Persephone.
Persephone is the daughter of Demeter and becomes queen of the Underworld in Greek mythology.
The project has been discussed publicly as a novel in progress.
However, as of August 9, 2026, no firm publication date has been confirmed.
No reliably confirmed final title beyond its Persephone subject should be treated as publication information.
Is Persephone Madeline Miller’s Next Novel?
It is the novel project she publicly announced, but its release status remains uncertain.
The distinction is important:
Confirmed work in progress: Yes
Confirmed publication date: No
Published: No
Safe to preorder as a dated upcoming novel: Not currently established for this guide
Until a publisher gives the project a firm release date, it should remain outside the numbered published bibliography.
What Happened to Miller’s Tempest Novel?
Before announcing the Persephone project, Miller had discussed working on a novel inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
She later indicated that the project was being set aside while Persephone took her attention.
That does not mean the Tempest project was formally cancelled.
It also does not provide enough information to list it as an upcoming book.
Status: Previously discussed project, no confirmed publication date
Should Persephone Be Book 3 in a Madeline Miller List?
Not yet.
A books-in-order page should distinguish between published novels and works in progress.
The current published novel list ends at:
- The Song of Achilles
- Circe
If the Persephone project is eventually published as Miller’s next novel, it can then be added as her third novel in publication order.
Madeline Miller Essays and Other Writing
Miller has also published essays, reviews, and nonfiction pieces about classical literature, adaptation, mythology, and other subjects.
These include writing about figures such as Penelope, witches in literature, Homer, classical adaptations, and translations of the Odyssey.
They are not part of her fiction reading order.
Status: Optional nonfiction
Does Madeline Miller Have a Book Series?
Not currently.
Her principal fiction consists of independent retellings.
The easiest classification is:
Novels
- The Song of Achilles
- Circe
Short Fiction
- “Heracles’ Bow”
- Galatea
- Mestra
Work in Progress
- Persephone novel, title and publication date not yet confirmed
That structure is more accurate than inventing a Greek Mythology Series numbered from one book to another.
Which Madeline Miller Book Should You Read First?
If You Want the Trojan War
Read The Song of Achilles.
It follows Patroclus and Achilles into the events surrounding the Iliad.
If You Want The Odyssey and Greek Gods
Read Circe.
Circe’s story eventually intersects with Odysseus but extends much further than that encounter.
If You Want Something Short
Read Galatea.
It provides a complete Miller retelling in a much shorter form.
If You Want Her Newest Work
Wait for Mestra, scheduled for September 29, 2026.
Is The Song of Achilles Historically Accurate?
It is a mythological retelling rather than a historical reconstruction.
Miller draws on Homer and other ancient traditions while making narrative choices about Achilles, Patroclus, and their relationship.
For reading order, the important point is that no prior knowledge of The Iliad is required.
Do You Need to Read The Iliad Before The Song of Achilles?
No.
Readers familiar with The Iliad will recognize events, characters, and foreshadowing, but Miller’s novel establishes its own narrative.
Reading Homer afterward is equally reasonable.
Do You Need to Read The Odyssey Before Circe?
No.
Knowing the Odyssey adds context to Circe’s encounter with Odysseus.
Miller’s novel nevertheless gives Circe a life and narrative extending far beyond the part she plays in Homer’s poem.
It works independently.
Should You Read The Song of Achilles Before The Iliad?
There is no required order.
For Miller’s bibliography, The Iliad is source literature rather than Book 0.
The same applies to the Odyssey and Circe.
Do not include Homer inside a numbered Madeline Miller series.
Is Galatea a Retelling?
Yes.
It reworks the Pygmalion tradition from Galatea’s perspective.
The story emphasizes her own desires and her struggle against the man who expects the woman he created to obey him.
Is Mestra a Novel?
No.
It is a short story being released as a standalone publication.
Do not count it as Miller’s third novel.
How Many Madeline Miller Novels Are There?
As of August 9, 2026, there are two published novels:
- The Song of Achilles
- Circe
A Persephone novel is in development but has no confirmed publication date.
How Many Madeline Miller Books Are There?
The answer depends on whether separately published short stories and new editions are counted as books.
For original major fiction, the clearest list is:
- The Song of Achilles
- Galatea
- Circe
- Mestra
“Heracles’ Bow” adds another short work but has primarily appeared as special-edition material.
Because Galatea and Mestra are short stories, counting all four as novels would be incorrect.
What Was Madeline Miller’s First Book?
The Song of Achilles was Miller’s debut novel.
It was first published in 2011.
What Is Madeline Miller’s Latest Book?
As of August 9, 2026, her latest already published original novel remains Circe from 2018.
Her next confirmed standalone publication is Mestra, scheduled for September 29, 2026.
Because that date is still in the future, Mestra should currently be labeled Upcoming rather than Published.
Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I read Madeline Miller’s books?
The simplest order is:
- The Song of Achilles
- Galatea
- Circe
- Mestra, after its September 2026 release
Add “Heracles’ Bow” after The Song of Achilles if you have access to it.
Should I read Circe or The Song of Achilles first?
Either works.
Publication order begins with The Song of Achilles, so that is the default recommendation.
Are Circe and The Song of Achilles connected?
They draw from the interconnected world of Greek mythology but are not a numbered series.
Neither requires the other.
Is Circe Book 2?
No.
It is Miller’s second published novel, but not the second installment of a story begun in The Song of Achilles.
Is Galatea Book 3?
No.
Galatea is a short story.
It was originally published before Circe.
What is Heracles’ Bow?
It is a short story associated with The Song of Achilles and centered on Philoctetes.
It is optional companion material.
Is Mestra Madeline Miller’s third novel?
No.
Mestra is a forthcoming short story.
When does Mestra come out?
It is scheduled for September 29, 2026.
Is the Persephone book coming out in 2026?
No confirmed 2026 publication date has been announced as of August 9, 2026.
Miller has identified Persephone as a novel project, but a reliable release date is not yet available.
Does Madeline Miller have a new novel after Circe?
Not yet in publication.
Circe remains her latest published novel while the Persephone project remains in development.
Conclusion
Madeline Miller’s books do not require a mythological master chronology.
Start with The Song of Achilles if you want to follow publication order. It remains the clearest introduction to her fiction, and “Heracles’ Bow” can be added afterward as optional Trojan War companion material.
Circe is independent. It draws on the same enormous body of Greek mythology but does not function as a sequel. Readers particularly interested in Circe, Odysseus, gods, monsters, and the Odyssey can begin there without losing anything from The Song of Achilles.
Galatea stands separately as a short retelling of the Pygmalion myth.
The next firm addition is Mestra, another standalone short story, scheduled for September 29, 2026.
The Persephone novel should remain outside the published reading order for now. Miller has announced the project, but without a confirmed release date there is no reason to guess where or when it will appear.
For a first read, choose The Song of Achilles. For the current publication sequence, the only fixed rule is to distinguish Miller’s two novels from her separately published short fiction.
Frank is the editor of BookSeries.blog, focusing on publication order, chronological timelines, and spoiler-free reading guides for book series and fictional universes.