The Hymn to Dionysus

By: Natasha Pulley

Narrated by: Sid Sagar

Bloomsbury presents The Hymn to Dionysus by Natasha Pulley, read by Sid Sagar

A timely reimagining of the story of Dionysus—Greek god of ecstasy, revelry, and ruin—and a captivating queer love story for readers of The Song of Achilles and Elektra.

Raised in a Greek legion, Phaidros has been taught to follow his commander’s orders at all costs. But when Phaidros rescues a baby from a fire at Thebes’s palace, his commander’s orders cease to make sense: Phaidros is forced to abandon the blue-eyed boy at a temple, and to keep the baby’s existence a total secret.

Years later, struggling with panic attacks and flashbacks, Phaidros is enlisted by the Queen to find her son, Thebes’ young crown prince, who has vanished to escape an arranged marriage. The search leads him to a blue-eyed witch named Dionysus, whose guidance is as wise as the events that surround him are strange. In Dionysus's company, Phaidros witnesses sudden outbursts of riots and unrest, and everywhere Dionysus goes, rumors follow about a new god, one sired by Zeus but lost in a fire.

In The Hymn to Dionysus, bestselling author Natasha Pulley transports us to an ancient empire on the edge of ruin to tell an utterly captivating queer love story about a man needing a god to remind him how to be a human.©2025 Natasha Pulley (P)2025 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

A must for fans of good storytelling!!

Came for the sparagmos stayed for the...unanticipated heartfelt representations of loneliness, guilt, and devotion? The voice of the main character, Phaidros, was really arresting and he was such an interesting, tender, and sometimes frustrating character. His interactions with Dionysus really stole the show. I liked Pulley's imaginative take on ancient Thebes and thought the sometime modern language worked, it reminded me of Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon. I'm really glad I listened to the audiobook, the narrator was very expressive and the mythic elements really lend to hearing the story read aloud. The narrator was so engaging - with the first person POV, I really felt like I was being told a story in a way that enhanced the drama, suspense, and longing.

Delightfully easy, fun, and deep listen!

Every time Ms. Pulley comes out with a new book, it makes it harder to decide which of her books is my favorite. This one was very fun, a little sad, and the emotional depth of the characters always makes me feel like I’ve lost a friend when it’s over. I’m still mad a sequel to Valery K hasn’t been published but this book makes up for that. If you’re on the fence, I think this book is worth the full price and you should definitely give it a try.

A story that feels personal yet something you can learn from

beautiful story written well. The author does a great job shine the struggle of choosing what you know you should do because others tell you to do so versus knowing what you should do for your own happiness. Highlighting the effects that trauma has on the body even if you do not agree that it's trauma.

Magical

I can’t express enough how much I loved this story. I couldn’t help but be reminded several times of Lamb by Christopher Moore. This story similarly brought historical/mythological characters to life by making them anachronistically relatable in funny ways while also painting their time period in vivid detail that felt well researched. It balanced darker topics like depression, PTSD, and grief with humor so that the reader/listener could explore those thoughts and feelings without becoming mired in them.

The narration was likewise well done, and although a handful of common words were mispronounced (and I don’t mean British pronunciations rather than American ones) it was a pleasant voice to listen to.

Excellent

Excellent story of love in ancient Thebes.
Great characters and a lush world to explore with Dionysus!