Lore Olympus Novels & Stories

I read a lot of Greek mythology retellings and 'Lore Olympus' stands out because it treats the gods like coworkers at a celestial corporate office. Hades is the moody CEO of the Underworld, Zeus is the philandering HR disaster, and Apollo is the terrifying, manipulative intern. It's less about their divine powers and more about their interpersonal messiness—who's dating who, who has family drama, who's in a toxic workplace. The modern setting and character designs strip away the classical marble statue vibe and make them feel like people you might actually know, albeit with superpowers and massive egos.

This approach makes the emotional beats hit harder. Persephone's story isn't just a myth about abduction; it's a young woman navigating trauma, agency, and a creepy entitled suitor, with a supportive but flawed older love interest. The gods' pettiness and insecurities are front and center, which is way more relatable than reading about them smiting mortals in an epic poem.

The structure of 'Lore Olympus' isn't strictly linear, so a standard numerical order works but might miss some of the fun. The main story is told chronologically from chapter 1 onward on the Webtoon app, but Rachel Smythe sometimes releases bonus Fast Pass episodes like 'The Party' or 'A Day in the Life' that are set at specific points in the timeline. They're not essential for the main plot, but they add flavor and character depth. If you're reading for the first time, I'd recommend just following the official numbering on Webtoon; you won't be lost. The app separates the main episodes from the bonuses clearly anyway.

That said, if you're doing a re-read or want to get the absolute most out of the timeline, you could look up fan-made guides that slot in the bonus content. Some events, like Persephone's early phone calls with Hades or certain flashbacks, have a more emotional payoff if you read the bonus scenes in their chronological spot. But honestly, the series is designed to be consumed as it's posted. I tried a meticulously ordered re-read once and it was interesting, but it didn't radically change my understanding. The core emotional beats—the trauma, the romance, the bureaucratic scheming of Olympus—all land perfectly well in the default order. The art and pacing do most of the heavy lifting.

My only real 'order' advice is to maybe save the physical books for a second pass. The print volumes have some exclusive content and gorgeous art, but the weekly cliffhanger experience of the webcomic is its own unique vibe. Starting with the app gives you that community feeling of waiting and theorizing alongside everyone else.

The official 'Lore Olympus' webtoon is available for free on Webtoon's website and their mobile app. New episodes typically release every Sunday, and they stay free to read for a period. If you want to binge-read from the beginning, you'll find most of the backlog is also free, though some of the very earliest episodes might be behind a daily pass system now.

Just a heads-up, the daily pass thing can be annoying if you're trying to read a lot at once—it gives you one pass per day to unlock an older episode. It's Webtoon's way of encouraging people to use their Fast Pass system for immediate access. Still, a huge chunk of the series is totally free if you're patient or start from where the free episodes begin.

I ended up reading it all on my phone during my commute, the vertical scroll format is perfect for that.