Ariadne. By Jennifer Saint
A feminist take on ancient Greek mythology. A story about freedom, struggle and the price that has to be paid for them.
British writer Jennifer Saint reinterprets ancient myths, giving voice to women who have been relegated to the background. They emerge from the shadows of the great heroes and appear as full-fledged figures with their own aspirations, pain and choices. Ariadne is the writer's debut work, which was followed by Electra, Atalanta and Hera.
The plot is familiar to many. Ariadne, a princess of Crete, grows up in a world where men and gods decide everything. Every year, seven boys and seven girls from Athens are sent to the Labyrinth to be sacrificed to her brother, the half-man, half-bull Minotaur. But when Theseus arrives on the island to put an end to this tradition, Ariadne sees a chance for a different future. She faces a difficult choice: family or freedom, love or independence, past or future. In the end, she betrays her family for love, but soon becomes a victim of betrayal herself. The eternally young Dionysus comes to her rescue. Here it is, a happy twist of fate. But how long will this happiness last? Is there a new betrayal waiting for Ariadne? What will happen to her sister Phaedra, whom she left behind in Crete? And will Ariadne find her own truth in a world where women always have to pay a double price?
Marusya. By Vasyl Shklyar
A novel about choices that change fates. About love that breaks out between battles. It is about a youth unfamiliar with fear and about those who were ready to give their lives for freedom.
A young gymnasium student Sasha Sokolovska could have lived an ordinary life, but the death of her brothers and the cruelty of the Bolsheviks forced her to take up arms. At the age of 16, she became an ataman, led a detachment into battle for Ukraine, and went down in history as the legendary Marusya.
Based on archival materials, eyewitness accounts, and testimonies of her family, Shklyar recreated the image of not only a warrior, but also a living person - one who loved, believed, and fought. Ruthless to her enemies and devoted to her comrades, Marusya could have become a symbol of tragedy, but she became a symbol of indomitability.
The Witches of Vardø. By Anya Bergman
Based on real events, a novel about a witch hunt that harmoniously intertwines the threads of ancient magic and Scandinavian fairy tales.
Norway, the middle of the seventeenth century. It is a dark time when women lived under constant threat: the slightest suspicion could lead to accusations of witchcraft. The convicted women are kept on the island of Vardø, a harsh northern land where cold winds break against wild rocks and trees cannot withstand the fierce weather. Another victim of superstition is Sigri, a widow who has fallen in love with a married man. She is accused of having a relationship with the devil and thrown into a fortress to await her inevitable execution. But her daughter, Ingeborg, is not going to stand for injustice. She is willing to risk everything to save her mother, and her ally is Maren, a girl who saw her own mother burned at the stake.
At the same time, another woman, Anna Rodius, is in exile on Vardø. A doctor and former favourite of the King of Denmark, she knew too much and is now looking for a way to freedom. But what will be the price? Will she have the strength to survive in a world full of betrayal and fear?
This book will make you feel the cold of a cramped cell, the pain of betrayal, the horror of loss, and the brutality of torture. And yet, through the pitch blackness of hopelessness, rays of light break through.
The Manipulator. Ivan Franko
Can a man write female texts? Ivan Franko tried to prove that he could. He was one of the first people to support women's emancipation in Ukraine, to promote the development of the women's movement, to help activists and to fight for equal rights. He also mentored women writers and supported their cultural and political initiatives.
Manipulator breaks the stereotypes of Franko as a harsh realist and revolutionary, revealing him as one of the first pro-feminist writers in Ukrainian literature. In the collection, Franko appears as a subtle psychologist and progressive thinker: he touches upon the themes of emancipation, social inequality, and the internal struggle of women. His heroines are not just victims of circumstances, but strong, independent individuals who strive for freedom.
The foreword by literary critic Bohdan Tykholoz will help to better understand the context and significance of this collection for the modern reader.
Carrie Soto Is Back. By Taylor Jenkins Reid
An in-depth look at how society views ambitious women, how the perception of success changes with age, and what winning really means. A new story from the bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and The Six.
Is it possible to reach the top a second time when the world has already written you off? The legendary tennis player Carrie Soto always knew the answer: if you are truly the best, you will prove it again. She once set an absolute record of twenty Grand Slam titles. She was respected, feared and hated for her toughness, uncompromising attitude and unwillingness to accept defeat. She left the sport at the peak of her fame, convinced that her achievements would remain unrivalled.
But six years later, sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, Carrie sees a young star, Nicky Chan, about to break her record. And then she makes a bold decision: at the age of 37, she returns to the court and proves that she can still win. Her body is no longer as strong, the media mocks her ambitions, and the public expects her to fail. But she has those who believe in her. And this time, she is not just playing for records.
Lessons in Chemistry. By Bonnie Garmus
A witty, insightful, and moving novel about a woman who refused to play by the rules and challenged society.
In 1960s America, women in science were the exception rather than the norm. The brilliant chemist Elizabeth Zott had every chance to make a brilliant career, but love for her colleague Calvin Evans, a tragic loss, and the role of a single mother changed her path. Instead of the laboratory, she went to the kitchen. But for her, cooking is not just about mixing ingredients, but an exact science, subject to the laws of chemistry and logic. Elizabeth becomes the host of a cooking show that has become a real sensation. She not only shares recipes, but also helps women realise their own strength, intelligence and right to dream. But the past won't let her go. Her daughter Madeline wants to find out the truth about her father, and the abandoned science is calling Elizabeth again. Will she have the strength to return to her research and uncover the secrets that changed her life?
In 2023, based on the book, Apple TV+ released the series Lessons in Chemistry starring Brie Larson.
She Who Became the Sun. By Shelley Parker-Chan
The first book of The Radiant Emperor duology. A fascinating story about the struggle for a place in the world, unbreakable will and determination. A masterful weaving of history with fantasy motifs.
Year 1345, China. The country has been bled dry by famine and Mongol rule. A seer has predicted the fate of two children: the boy - greatness, the girl - oblivion. But when death claimed her brother, the girl took on his name and prophecy, determined to survive at any cost. This is how Zhu Chongba was born, a novice in a monastery who quickly realised that fate favours only those who forge it themselves. Her ambitions lead her far beyond the quiet life of a monk - into the maelstrom of a war that could change the empire. And to rewrite her fate, Zhu is ready to do anything. Even to destroy the world that has left no place for her.
Incredible: Ode to Joy. By Irene Rozdobudko
The book is about a strong woman who remained true to her convictions.
Olena Teliha - poet, civic activist, and symbol of Ukrainian resistance - could have had a brilliant career in Europe, becoming part of the socialite salons or literary scene. However, she chose a different path - she returned to Ukraine to fight for its culture and identity despite the danger. This choice led her to occupied Kyiv and, according to one version, to Babyn Yar.
Irene Rozdobudko skilfully recreates the atmosphere of the era in the novel, showing not only the circumstances that shaped Teliha, but also the inner essence of this woman who passionately loved life, strived for beauty and freedom. At the same time, the writer avoids the traditional image of a martyr, instead portraying Teliha as a strong, free person who consciously chose her own path.
Unbreakable. A book about the resistance of Ukrainian women in the war against the russian invaders. By Victoria Pokatis
The book is about choice and responsibility, about strength, endurance and dedication. A look at modernity through the eyes of those who create it every day.
They went to the front to defend. They rescued the wounded under fire. They created volunteer headquarters when the world had not yet realised the scale of the tragedy. They fought in the information field when the truth needed a voice. In the current war, Ukrainian women have shown a strength that knows no bounds.
The collection contains 30 stories about soldiers, paramedics, volunteers, founders of foundations and shelters, lawyers and activists. They are different, but they share a common goal: to work for the future of Ukraine.
The Only Woman in the Room. By Marie Benedict
A fictional biography of Hedy Lamarr, an American actress and inventor.
A Hollywood diva with the face of a goddess and the mind of a genius. A woman whose beauty was her salvation and whose invention was a gift to the future. Hedy Lamarr was a star of the big screen, but the world did not know her true story.
Hedy Lamarr was born in Austria to a Jewish banker from Lviv. As the Nazi threat swept across Europe, she found protection in her marriage to a powerful Austrian arms dealer. Random snippets of conversations, secret meetings, preparations for the war - she memorised, analysed, and understood all of it. And when the moment came, she fled, leaving behind everything that threatened her freedom.
America greeted her with spotlights and applause. Her name shone on posters, her beauty was adored by millions. But at night, as Hollywood fell asleep, she worked on an idea that could change the course of history. Her invention - a revolutionary communication technology - was ahead of its time and became the basis for the future Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The Country of the Feminine Gender (collection)
For a long time, women's names were rarely mentioned in history textbooks. Women created, fought, and changed the world around them, but they were ignored. Society assigned them the role of ‘keepers’, even though they were leaders, intellectuals, and the driving force behind change.
This collection gives voice to the outstanding Ukrainian women of the twentieth century. Unique interviews, archival documents, and testimonies reveal the stories of Mariya Hrushevska, Olha Petlyura, Nina Strokata-Karavanska, Olena Teliha, Kvitka Tsisyk, and many others whose contribution to Ukraine's development cannot be overestimated.
The collection, compiled by historian and journalist Vakhtang Kipiani, reminds us that women were not passive observers, but changed culture, science, politics, and society. Their stories are an integral part of our past that deserves attention.