Styx

The River

Coming Soon

Contributors

By Nikita Gill

Formats and Prices

On Sale
Sep 15, 2026
Page Count
534 pages
ISBN-13
9780316613347

Price

$21.99

Price

$28.99 CAD

The instant #1 New York Times bestselling series!

Perfect for fans of Madeline Miller and Alexandra Bracken, this richly imagined retelling of the Greek myth of Styx, goddess of the underworld river, is an immersive novel-in-verse from world-renowned poet Nikita Gill. 

Beginning a generation before HekateStyx sings the story of the goddess of the underworld river that bears her name.

The firstborn child of Titans, Styx is revered as the first of her kind—until she is eclipsed and forgotten amid her scores of siblings, the Oceanids and the Potamoi.Coming of age in a world simmering with paranoia and unspoken fear of Zeus, Styx learns to conceal the rage ignited by her growing disillusionment with her parents and her vain and unkind siblings. 

Instead, she finds solace and sisterhood in her cousin, Asteria. Together, they train in the arts of creation and magic. And as they seek to learn their divine purpose and their place within the Titanomachy, they discover both the joy sparked by true love and the fierce resilience birthed from motherhood.

In this lyrical and heartrending tale of sisterhood, identity, love, and war, Styx must carve her own path to womanhood—and ultimately, godhood.

Meet all the Goddesses of the Underworld:
Hekate: The Witch
Styx: The River
Nyx: The Night

  • JLG Selection

    Styx is that rare sequel which not only stands as a wonderful book in its own right but also deepens and enriches your experience of the book which went before…The book is in many ways a love story revolving around a female friendship. It absolutely broke my heart. It also contains a devastating warning – if as a woman you serve the Patriarchy, it will devour you... Absolutely cannot wait to see how Nikita concludes her extraordinary trilogy!”
    Elodie Harper, bestselling author of the Wolf Den trilogy
  • "Styx is a rich, gleaming jewel of a novel…Nikita Gill weaves a heartbreakingly beautiful story of feminine rage and strength, illuminating the destructive nature of patriarchy and the resilience and hopefulness of women with her unmatched wisdom, compassion and flawless verse.”
    Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne
  • "Poignant, powerful, and sharply observed."
    Kirkus, starred review
  • "Gill deftly weaves together differing and occasionally contradictory Greek myths. The various aspects, powers, and roles assigned to deities are organically blended, resulting in a surprisingly relatable story set in an underexplored early era in Greek mythology. Strongly recommended for lovers of classical Greek and Roman mythology, particularly feminist retellings such as Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne, Madeline Miller’s Circe, or Gill’s preceding Hekate."
    SLJ
  • Praise for Hekate: The Witch:
    * "Irish Indian poet and author Nikita Gill (The Girl and the Goddess) revives the figure of Hekate in a gripping coming-of-age story told not in epic verse, but in deeply personal poems from the goddess's point of view." ―Shelf Awareness, starred review

    * “A beautiful coming-of-age story about a young woman who pushes boundaries, makes mistakes, and courageously moves forward despite learning increasingly heartbreaking truths about the world around her.... Strongly recommended for fans of Greek and Roman mythology, particularly feminist retellings such as Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne or Madeline Miller’s Circe."―School Library Journal, starred review

    "A magical journey of survival and discovery through the Greek Underworld. Populated with unforgettable gods and titans and narrated in dream-like poetry, Hekate is a unique creation and the most original addition to the retelling genre I have read in a while." – Costanza Casati, bestselling author of Clytemnestra

    "Nikita Gill has a gift for slicing deftly through these complex myths to reveal the glittering, poignant truth at their heart. In Hekate, we are plunged into a vivid and imaginatively wrought divine world that is monstrous, magical and beautiful through the perspective of a bewildered child of war who grows up to understand and embrace her power. It's a timely and achingly resonant reflection on conflict, fear and the unbreakable bonds of family conveyed in exquisite, evocative poetry." – Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne

    “Hekate must be a work of stunning witchcraft, because I was spellbound from its very opening pages. Gill's lyrical prose is pure magic and brings the captivating, enigmatic Hekate to life so beautifully, exploring the life of a goddess fighting to find her place and power in the world.”
    Rosie Hewlett, bestselling author of Medea “The richly imagined setting serves as a vibrant backdrop for Hekate’s journey of self-discovery and actualization as she uncovers dark secrets and meets familiar and novel figures of Greek myth.”―Publishers Weekly “Poet Gill’s recognizable voice anchors this work as much in mythology as in the perils of modern girl- and womanhood; alongside the familiar narrative beats of an adventure story, she explores with care generational trauma, sexual violence, and the cost of war…. Fiercely feminist, this reimagining of a lesser-known goddess crackles with magic.”―Kirkus

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nikita Gill

Nikita Gill is an Irish Indian poet and New York Times bestselling author who has the attention of over 800,000 Instagram followers worldwide for her work. Her work offers a shift of perspective which centers women in both Greek and Hindu myth as well as folklore. Gill has written two verse novels and seven poetry collections, including Fierce Fairytales, Wild Embers, and Where Hope Comes From which she published with Hachette Books.

Author Video

From NOVL Nation

“If you are a lover of Greek mythology retellings, this is a book you will instantly fall in love with.”

–Michelle, @thebookrealmguide

Peek the Audiobook

STYX Book Club Guide

  1. On being called an “Oceanid,” Styx says, “Names can do that. They can become drowning. They can grow around your wrists and shackle you to their meaning” (p.14). How does being called “Oceanid” influence Styx’s identity, power, and sense of freedom?
  2. “Styx pushed and pulled at the rocks until finally my foot was free.” (p. 61). How does Styx saving Asteria shift their relationship, and what does it reveal about the two of them?
  3. “Hated that my father treated me like a possession, an object.” (p.139). How does this experience of being controlled shape Styx’s ideas around love and power?
  4. Asteria reflects that, “For us prophecies were a gift and a curse” (p. 168). In what ways do the prophetic dreams help Styx and Asteria, and in what ways do they cause harm?
  5. Asteria’s father says, “My daughter will spend eternity with a consort of her choice not mine.” (p. 183). Why might Asteria’s father hold a more progressive view than Oceanus, and what does that suggest about freedom and control in their world?
  6. Pallas questions Styx, “I am not your father Styx. I have only ever shown you love and grace. Do you still not trust me?” (p. 244). How does this moment of honesty force Styx to reflect? What convinces her to lower her guard.
  7. “No prophecy or dream could have prepared us for the unfathomable horror of divine war.” (p. 310). What does this line suggest about the limits of prophecies?
  8. “I understood his anger at me. But why at Bia?” (p. 335). Why do you think Pallas did not show up for Bia? What does that say about his character?
  9. “But in ending there is a beginning. And in beginnings there is hope of a new dawn.” (p. 373). What do you think the “new dawn” symbolizes for all moving forward?
  10. How does the alternating POV between Styx and Asteria change the reader’s understanding and interpretation of the novel?
  11. Why do you think this story was told through verse? In what ways did it bring the story to life?
  12. How does sisterhood shape the characters’ choices, conflicts, and growth throughout the story?
  13. How does Styx provide a deeper understanding of its companion novel Hekate?

#HekateBook

Nikita Gill

About the Author

Nikita Gill is an Irish-Indian poet, playwright, illustrator, and author based in the south of England. She has written and curated seven volumes of poetry, including Wild Embers, Fierce Fairytales, Great Goddesses, and These Are the Words. Her novel Hekate: The Witch, the first book in her chthonic gods trilogy, was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Nikita is one of the most followed poets on Instagram and her work is beloved around the world. Nikita invites you to visit her on Instagram @nikita_gill.

Learn more about this author