An Unexpected Ally
Novella by Sophia Kouidou-Giles
"Another dimension of Circe, Homer’s enchantress that briefly lived in his Iliad, a heart-pounding tale that grinds out a new myth of love, hate, revenge, and restoration. Since the Iliad, Circe has captivated readers as thoroughly as she did Odysseus and his men. Now in An Unexpected Ally, Circe illuminates a new, energetic tale restoring faith in the intuitive, and banishing the myth of an evil enchantress in her new entanglements with Glaucus and Skylla. Rivals turn into allies and Circe asserts her female powers in a male-dominated world of heroes, demigods, and meddling Olympians."
An Unexpected Ally in the News
American Writing Awards 2023 Names An Unexpected Ally As A Silver Finalist in the Fiction Fantasy Category
Readers' Favorite 5-star rating for An Unexpected Ally
Bronze Award - Readers' Favorite for General Fiction
Meet Circe!
In this retelling of ancient Greek myth, Circe seeks a new lover, amphibian Glaucus, after Odysseus’s departure from the island of Aeaea; but in a twist of fortune, mortal Skylla complicates her plans.
Click here to meet Circe, Glaucus and Skylla and prepare for an epic adventure in the Mediterranean Sea.
Navigating the Myths of An Unexpected Ally
Exploring the treasure trove of ancient myths offered me a vast spectrum of narratives tailored to different eras, motivation and moral guidance. Like many other authors today, I want to make old stories fresh and relatable to modern readers.
Latest Book Highlights Sorceress Circe
Greek mythology has been a fountain of inspiration for artists and authors for centuries. An Unexpected Ally: A Greek Tale of Love, Revenge, and Redemption by Sophia Kouidou-Giles recounts the adventures of Circe, best known as the sorceress in Homer’s Odyssey.
Click here to read the article.
Navigating the Myths of An Unexpected Ally
In a tangle of love, hate, vengeance, and the final righting of wrongs, a cast of irresistible characters weaves an adventure laced with beauty and terror in An Unexpected Ally —a newly woven set of tales that brings to life ancient Greek myths and revives issues familiar to contemporary readers.
Authors On Air
LAUNCH PAD
Featuring Sophia Kouidou-Giles
Set sail, fall in love, travel through time, flee for your life, discover feminism - then and now, and connect with sorceresses and Greek gods all in this episode of LAUNCH PAD. Discover a new-to-you author and find your next best read.
Video Timestamp Highlights:
Why Circe? (13:35 - 15:01)
Inheriting Stories (23:00 - 24:33)
Why She Rights Press? (27:56 - 29:14)
Liv Albert Podcast:
Giving Circe the Agency She Deserves, w/ Sophia Kouidou-Giles
Greek-American author Sophia Kouidou-Giles joins Liv to talk Circe, Skylla, Greece, and her new novel An Unexpected Ally.
CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.
Featured in Storywits
Digital Literary Magazine 6th Special Edition 2023
ISSN: 2495-1043
Special Edition / September 2023
An interview with Sophia Kouidou-Giles, An Unexpected Ally - A Greek Tale of Love, Revenge and Redemption.
Source: https://storywits.com/issues/
Praise for An Unexpected Ally
Kouidou-Giles creates an unexpectedly vivid, moving story of clashes between titans and the disparate forces around them. This lends a flavor of epic fantasy adventure to the read that will draw audiences from mythology, fantasy, and Fiction genres alike. Libraries and readers seeking evocative, compelling stories about new alliances and power plays will find An Unexpected Ally builds on Greek myth and psychological insights to create a story that is thought-provoking and thoroughly engrossing on many different levels.
Midwest Book Review
“Sophia Kouidou-Giles’ novella deftly eschews such bland storytelling, providing us instead with characters who, despite their superhuman powers, are nonetheless flawed, which adds extra spice to the narrative mix. Furthermore, we also have the opportunity to explore the experiences of women endowed with power, ingenuity and, importantly, a convincing voice.”
Clare Morris
Poetess and Editor of
The Blue Nib
Kouidou-Giles’ book captivates the reader from the first paragraph. The story traveled me to vibrant worlds with rich descriptions of an ancient, mythical world. Through the fascinating adventures of Circe, the author extols the talents, emotions and skills of the feminine nature, revealing the primary virtues of female solidarity. A page turner!
Nora Kazazi, Author of Colours of My Soul / Στα Χρώματα της Ψυχής Μου
Sophia Kouidou-Giles είναι τόσο λυρική όσο και ελκυστική, με δυνατές σκηνές και τα μυθολογικά στοιχεία να είναι σε τέλεια αναλογία.
Sophia Kouidou-Giles is both lyrical and engaging, with powerful scenes and mythological elements in perfect proportion
Greek Language
Lovers of Greek myths and myth retellings should not miss this soaring tale. With An Unexpected Ally, Sophia Kouidou-Giles takes the oft-maligned Goddess of sorcery to new heights and dimensions. In this fresh take, love, hate, and jealousy are channeled into a compelling story of sisterhood.
Maria A. Karamitsos
Journalist & Author
Author Sophia Kouidou-Giles has crafted a work that masterfully intertwines ancient Greek mythology with timeless themes of humanity, offering readers a captivating narrative filled with beauty and
intrigue from start to finish...An Unexpected Ally is a must-read for fans of Greek history, mythology, and interpersonal drama."
Readers' Favorite, 5-star review