THE AFTERMYTH, by Tracy Wolff, Aladdin, Feb. 3, 2026, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 8-12)
In a world ruled by the tenets of Greek mythology, one girl’s fate is more than it appears in The Aftermyth, by Tracy Wolff.
What’s your myth?
Penelope Weaver has spent her whole life preparing to attend Anaximander’s Academy, where students learn how to bring to life the stories of Greek mythology as well as discover the Greek god whose principles they most embody. Penelope knows she’s an Athena—all smart, practical, and rule-following girls who take part in stories that matter are Athenas.
But when Penelope and her twin brother Paris arrive at Anaximander’s, it appears fate has other plans. Penelope isn’t placed with Athena but with students who are anything but practical and who prefer parties to rules. And that’s just the beginning. She’s given the world’s worst muse, her assigned tasks feel impossible, and the magic of Anaximander’s is overwhelming. Not to mention, there are two very different boys making her new life even more confusing.
But as things go from bad to dangerously worse, one thing becomes clear: in a world where everything is fated to happen a certain way, some stories need to be rewritten. As the world around her shifts and cracks, Penelope is asked to forget everything she thought she knew to help create a better story…even if that changes every plan and breaks every rule. —Synopsis provided by Aladdin
The Aftermyth is the first book in a new dark academia fantasy middle-grade series by Tracy Wolff. Set against the backdrop of Greek mythology, it’s sure to appeal to lots of fans of this genre.
The story centers on Penelope, a girl who’s always known about Anaximander’s Academy where students delve into all things Greek mythology. Penelope fully expects to be an Athena. It’s her destiny.
Except it’s not.
Penelope is more than a little thrown off by her assignment, but no matter how hard she tries to get back to where “she belongs,” where she is keeps raring its head.
Penelope is a determined character who grows a lot throughout the novel. And while her twin doesn’t show that same growth, Penelope’s new friends are well-rounded and flesh out the story well.
The Aftermyth is author Tracy Wolff’s debut middle-grade novel. (She is known for the YA Crave series.) And though this new series is meant for 8- to 12-year-olds, it may be too much (just under 450 pages) for the readers on the younger end. It’s a lot to get into, and though full of adventure, it takes almost 100 pages to get to the actual school.
That said, The Aftermyth will especially appeal to readers who enjoy books that feature academia, magic, mythology and adventure. Wolff’s pacing is strong, and readers will definitely want to know what happens next.
On top of that, Wolff does tackle topics like parental and personal expectations, failure, self-discovery, and the value of true friendship.
I look forward to reading the next installment.
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