If you liked Hades 2, you should read this (better) book

Greek mythology has been around for thousands of years, and its traditions have inspired artists in nearly every medium. I love that each writer, visual artist, director – or Hades 2's game development team – can explore their unique perspective on the characters and events they choose to highlight. Supergiant Games' sequel to the popular hack-and-slash roguelike Hades explores the world of the Greek gods from the perspective of Melinoe, the princess of the underworld.

As the playable protagonist of Hades 2, Melinoe introduces players to a new side of life in the underworld. Unlike her brother Zagreus, the young witch did not grow up with her family in the main palace. Instead, she lives in a ramshackle camp on the outskirts of Hades' domain. The distance between her and her loved ones is palpable, and her only connection to her family is a painting treasured in Merlino's makeshift room. The game begins with the brooding yet powerful Merlino determined to save her family from the time titan Kronos and finally close the gap that has always separated them.

However, Hades 2 is far from the only modern reinterpretation of women from Greek mythology, and Merlino's plight quickly reminded me of another story about Greek goddesses and witches: Circe by Madeleine Miller. Published in 2018, this retelling tells the story of the witch goddess Circe, who was banished to the island of Ea by Zeus. If you've read The Odyssey, you probably know this character as a treacherous witch who turned Odysseus' men into pigs. Miller's book, however, gives readers the opportunity to imagine the events that took place she side of the story.

If you really enjoyed Hades 2 – and if you're interested in witches in Greek mythology, or in reading more than just a story about violent brothers waging war – then Circe is a must-read. I'm not just saying this because it's easy to read and very entertaining; the book also deepened my appreciation for Hades 2 and Helps me understand that the story being told in the game allows for a deeper exploration of certain themes.

In Circe, witchcraft was seen as a threat to the higher gods. Unlike the Olympian gods who drew their power from blood, sorcery draws its strength from the earth. Any man, god or goddess can harness this power through constant toil and practice. In order to become a powerful witch, Circe continued to hone her elixirs day after day in the kitchen, processing herbs and flowers with a mortar and pestle. What culminates is a very feminine strength—one that grows with the steady housewifely work of maintaining a garden and a pantry.

Similar to Circe in the novel, Merlino must labor repeatedly to collect herbs and flowers to upgrade her powers and camp. I also started to feel like a witch as I honed my powers as a player – learning how to play the game better and slowly gathering the resources needed to upgrade my attacks and stats. Still, Merlino's journey is very different from Circe's. Her main source of power comes from other Olympians, who upgrade her magic through various boons and stat buffs.

Melinoe is also the daughter of Hades. Although her father discourages her pursuits, he still provides her with assistance in the form of character upgrades and resources. Playing Melinoe isn't like navigating the world as an outcast witch. Instead, each Olympian greets her with a smile or some witty quip. The great Zeus – a god known for his sexual violence – greeted her with a smile and lent her his power at a moment's notice. Unlike the goddesses in Circe's world, Melinoe can choose her suitors.

Supergiant Games' interpretation of the story casts a shiny veneer over the world of Greek mythology. This feels strange in some ways because, as other critics have pointed out, the story of the Greeks Myths often depict the cruel nature of the gods. Still, the overall joyful vibe makes sense considering that Hades 2 is more or less a fun dating simulator with engaging hack-and-slash gameplay. But even so, it makes me feel like Supergiant is just copy-pasting its popular formula onto its female protagonist without thinking deeply about how Greek mythology would be different from a female perspective.

In the books, Circe is in every sense a lesser god. She is not classically attractive compared to other goddesses, so she cannot be married (this is how her value is defined in the world of the gods). She was the daughter of a Titan, so she was considered a level below the Olympians on Mount Olympus. She lacks the inherent raw power of her father, Helios, the sun god who often attacks her. Different from Hades 2“Circe” is fundamentally a story of transformation – of a woman finding her own source of power to defy the hierarchy of the gods.

I don’t think every story about a woman needs to be difficult, or traumatic in some way. Pluto 2 feels pretty good, but a bit superficial and fun. I can eat up the gameplay like popcorn and romantic hot characters. It was fun to play and I'm glad we got two stories. But if you want a story that gives a real, often difficult, insight into the lives of Greek witches, then you should definitely read Miller's Circe.