The Death and Life of Iphigenia (Songs and Lies) by J. Susanne Wilson

Shortlisted for the 2024 Novel London Literary Prize Finalist, 2025 Chanticleer International Book Awards (Chaucer Division) A powerful retelling of Greek myth set in Bronze Age Greece, The Death and Life of Iphigenia reclaims the story of a woman history tried to silence. As Greek warriors gather for the Trojan War, Mycenaean princess Iphigenia becomes a bargaining chip in a conflict driven by ambition, fear, and the demands of the gods. Torn from her mother and sister and exiled to a distant land, she is forced into sacred rituals that stain her hands and haunt her nights. Fourteen years later, an unexpected chance at freedom forces Iphigenia to confront what has been taken from her—and what she may no longer want back. Home, identity, and loyalty blur as she reckons with the cost of survival in a world ruled by men and myth. Blending historical fiction with mythological retelling, this novel explores agency, belonging, and the quiet endurance of women whose stories were never meant to be told. Perfect for readers of Madeline Miller, Natalie Haynes, and Jennifer Saint. Read more