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Author · American

Jordanna Max Brodsky

Jordanna Max Brodsky is a fantasy author known for mythological urban fantasy blending ancient gods, modern cities, power, and identity.

  • 1 book on Trope Trove

New to Jordanna Max Brodsky? A popular place to start

The Wolf in the Whale

The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky is a mythic fantasy blending Inuit and Norse legend in a brutal tale of identity, gods, and survival.

Picked from Jordanna Max Brodsky’s most widely rated books on Goodreads, starting at the beginning of its series.

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Books by Jordanna Max Brodsky

1 book

Books

Not part of a series listed on Trope Trove

  • The Wolf in the Whale

    Average Goodreads rating4.4

    • Brutality of War
    • Exploration of Identity and Belonging

Jordanna Max Brodsky Tropes

Number of their books tagged with each trope, directly or through the series

Biography

Jordanna Max Brodsky is a fantasy author best known for her mythologically rich urban fantasy novels that fuse ancient legend with contemporary life. Her work explores what happens when gods, myths, and immortal powers collide with modern cities, technology, and human identity - creating stories that feel both epic and immediate.

Brodsky’s writing is defined by its mythological foundations. Drawing heavily from Norse mythology and global mythic traditions, she reimagines gods not as distant figures of legend, but as beings struggling to survive in a world that no longer believes in them. Immortality in her stories is not glamorous; it is exhausting, isolating, and deeply political. Power comes with consequence, and divinity is inseparable from responsibility.

Her most recognised work, The Olympus Bound series, exemplifies this approach. Set primarily in modern New York City, the series blends urban fantasy with epic myth, positioning ancient deities amid skyscrapers, subways, and modern warfare. Mythic conflict unfolds alongside contemporary concerns, allowing Brodsky to explore how belief, relevance, and memory shape power.

A central theme in Brodsky’s work is identity across time. Characters grapple with who they were, who they are, and who they must become to survive a changing world. Immortal beings struggle with fading relevance, while mortal characters confront the terrifying scale of mythic power. This tension creates narratives that are as introspective as they are action-driven.

Power and agency recur throughout her stories. Gods are not omnipotent; they are constrained by belief, politics, and history. Brodsky interrogates the idea that power is fixed, instead presenting it as something that shifts with culture and perception. Authority is fragile, and even divine rule can be overturned.

Her tone balances urgency with introspection. Action scenes are grounded and consequential, while quieter moments focus on memory, loss, and endurance. Brodsky’s prose is sharp and modern, making ancient mythology accessible without stripping it of its weight or complexity.

While romance is present, it never overshadows the larger narrative. Relationships are shaped by imbalance, immortality, and the strain of secrecy, reinforcing themes of love vs duty and emotional distance. Connection becomes both a vulnerability and a source of strength.

Jordanna Max Brodsky’s work is ideal for readers who enjoy Fantasy and Science Fiction-adjacent urban fantasy that reimagines myth through a contemporary lens. Thoughtful, inventive, and thematically rich, her novels ask a compelling question: what happens to gods when the world moves on - and what happens to humanity when they don’t?

About Jordanna Max Brodsky

Where should I start with Jordanna Max Brodsky's books?
A great place to start with Jordanna Max Brodsky is The Wolf in the Whale.
What tropes does Jordanna Max Brodsky write?
Tropes that appear in Jordanna Max Brodsky's books include Brutality of War, Exploration of Identity and Belonging and Love vs Duty.

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