An Unexpected Ally is a gripping novella that retells the myth of Circe, Skylla, and Glaucus with an emphasis on female agency and self-empowerment. The first book in a series of stand-alone retellings of Greek myths (the second, Circle of Peace: A Greek Tale of Perse’s Great Hall, released in March 2025), An Unexpected Ally combines elements of Homeric and Ovidian source materials in an accessible, easy-to-read tale suitable for students in year 7 and beyond. The writing, while a little clunky and simplistic in places, makes An Unexpected Ally an easy read for younger students dipping their toes into Greek mythological retellings and a quick read for teens and adults. There is some reference to sexual behaviour, nudity, and violence, but these are not explicit nor gratuitous in nature.

Kouidou-Giles introduces Circe as an immortal woman who, while satisfied with the numerous heroic lovers she has had over the years – including her current partner, Odysseus – would prefer a companion who understands what it is to be immortal and powerful in a mortal-dominated world. After receiving a dream courtesy of Apollo, Circe travels to Delos to seek out the amphibious Glaucus. Her quest is squandered by Glaucus’s admiration of Skylla, the young mortal woman who swims on his beach each morning. The 2 women, despite common convention pitting them as rivals, develop a mutual respect for one another, and Circe abandons her quest. Skylla, however, cannot escape the rather one-sided attraction of Glaucus, and he, spurned by her rejection, curses her to become the terrifying monster of Homeric fame. As in many retellings, Kouidou-Giles does as all women who have ever heard the story of Skylla have wished to do and has Circe, Skylla’s unexpected ally, return her to her rightful form and home, while Glaucus suffers at the hands of the Furies.

An Unexpected Ally does not stray far from the familiar narratives of Greek mythology, and anyone with basic knowledge of the Odyssey or the Metamorphoses will have no trouble following along. The innovation herein is the voice Kouidou-Giles provides Circe as a goddess who has earned her powers through hard work and education, which has made the Olympians rightfully wary of her. She is a brilliant sorceress and herbalist who uses her powers to help her companions and allies…and occasionally turn men to pigs. Circe’s motives and relationships take centre stage in this retelling, providing much-needed context and humanity to the one-dimensional character of Homeric fame. Likewise, Skylla gains agency in her own life and even has long-term educational goals(!).

The narrative, while character-driven and somewhat familiar, was complemented by the small details Kouidou-Giles integrates into her world-building. Upon arriving in a new place, Circe first visits the Propylaeon to purchase sacrificial animals and thanks the gods, in their local temples, for her safe travels. She and Skylla don various himations throughout the novella, of different thicknesses, designs, and embellishments depending on their needs. Circe spends most of her days weaving in her sitting room while servants and slaves manage the household, and her dinner parties resemble symposiums with reclined couches and aulos players. The effortless blend of mythological and historical realities brings ancient Greece to life in a way I have not seen before.