I just reviewed Athena's Child by Hannah Lynn. #NetGalley

any Medusa retelling that is set to show the strength of a woman maligned by the patricarchy is golden in my opinion. And this one doesn't disappoint

Thank you to Hannah Lynn and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

"Athena's Child" by Hannah Lynn is an electrifying twist on the Medusa myth that'll leave you spellbound. Lynn's storytelling crackles with raw emotion and paints a vivid picture of a woman caught in a web of betrayal and injustice. With a cast of flawed gods and mortals, the narrative unfolds in a way that's both captivating and thought-provoking. "Athena's Child" is a bold, unforgettable tale that'll keep you turning pages long into the night. I highly recommend picking this up if you are looking for a quick interesting read.

3.5 stars rounded up!

Everyone knows Medusa, but I guess I didn't really know her story! This was a short retelling that was much more emotional and darker than I expected, and also incredibly unfair. It's a great quick Greek mythology read for anyone who loves the genre, and had a strong plot arc and good character development for being as short as it was.

Didn't particularly love or hate it, was just ok!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a DRC in exchange for my honest review.

Medusa's origin story. I've always loved mythology and the reading about the Roman/Greek gods so I was so happy to get a copy of this one! I honestly had no clue of Medusa only that she was "bad", had snakes on her head, and could turn men to statues if they looked at her. This book helped me to see her as a poor unfortunate soul. Her father takes her to Athena's palace to be one of her maiden and things go from bad to worse for her there. She is raped by Posiedon but instead of pity she is punished by Athena for having sex in the temple! Her punishment, of course, is the snakes. Traveling back home is no help and her sisters are turned to gourgans for daring to curse Athena. Many years later Persus comes to kill her and end her suffering, for which Medusa is grateful. Thank you to Netgalley for this book to read and review.

This was a super fast read, a little too fast for me. With a retelling, I was expecting more backstory for Medusa. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Large chunks of time were skipped between chapters which was confusing, I think having "X years later" would've been helpful.

I might try to continue the series in case this was a one off and the others are written differently and have more detail.

I loved this feminist retelling of Medusa, changing the perspective from monstrous gorgon to the woman wronged by the Gods and Goddesses.

As short as this story is, coming in just under 200 pages, it packs a lot of emotional punch. My idea of Medusa comes mostly from the OG books and movies, it wasn’t until later when different writers and a fresh perspective had me seeing her in a different light. Casting her in what I think of as a woman of perilous times, faced with innumerable risks – mostly associated with the men of that time. Those that tried to protect, those that took advantage and those that would lead her astray because of her trust in them.

I can’t help but think of the movies I saw as a kid, painting the man as the hero against the evil woman who bewitched the men with her beauty and turned them into stone with her gaze. It brings home a lot of misogynistic undertones that we’re handfed as kids. Glad to see the tides turning!

Heartwrenching, hopeful, and unforgettable.

I’ll be reading the rest of Hannah Lynn’s The Grecian Women series.

My apologies for this late review, I'm not sure how I missed it.

This is a book that sat on my shelf for far too long before I picked it up. It’s quite a short read and I found that I finished it in 2 sittings. It’s fast paced and action packed, but Lynn also demonstrates a remarkable way with words and in this short tale we get brief glimpses into some beautiful introspection and insight. The reason I haven’t rated this more highly is because I grew so frustrated at the potential that this book had to go more in-depth with the character studies. I really wanted to read more. I didn’t want to linger on an event so briefly but to explore it more fully.
Overall, though, I would definitely recommend and look forward to reading more from this author!

Athena's Child by Hannah Lynn gives a different perspective on the Greek myth involving Medusa and Perseus. The story begins with Medusa as a child and how she begins to serve in Athena's temple. At first she is Athena's golden child and respected by many. However when one the God Poseidon takes interest in Medusa, Athena's opinion is changed.

This is what leaves Medusa to become the monster that we have learned of from Greek mythology. No matter how many times Medusa attempts to redeem herself and prove herself true and good, Athena is unwilling to forgive or realize the mistake that has been made.

The story then shifts to tell of how Perseus comes to be and eventually ends with the fated meeting between Perseus and Medusa.

Lynn takes the Greek myth and changes it to make the cocky hero become a kind and understanding man who comes to understand that Medusa truly is not a monster. The actions leading up to his claiming of her head seem to be more of respect and understanding for Medusa then a hero's whim to prove his place.

With reading Athena's Child at first I struggled with enjoying the book but I appreciate her take and vision of the Greek myth involving Perseus and Medusa. I am interested to see where this series may take Lynn next. Until next time, happy reading!

I forgot to share my review of this one. I really enjoyed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this succinctly narrated story, and its relevance persists for today's audience. It delves into themes of making snap judgments, unquestioningly trusting authority figures, and the influence of patriarchal norms. The narrative suggests, 'Women deploy words and reason where men resort to fists and force. So why are we consistently relegated to second place?' Hannah Lynn's direct storytelling style makes the plot accessible, yet it leaves you with reflective thoughts. I believe individuals interested in exploring Greek Mythology would find this a captivating introduction.

‘The gods are the ones that cause this, their power, their strength. Their stubborn anger and terror. They show man everything they cannot have control over and, as such, force men to claim dominion over the one thing that they can.’

‘Gods do not pay the price for their wrongdoings, Perseus. Mortals do. The gods, like the rich of the world, push their agendas onto those whose voices are not loud enough to speak for themselves. The women. The weak. The unwanted. And no one shouts for those who need it the most. Why would they? To shout for another is to risk losing something yourself. And man cannot see beyond the depth of his own reflection.’

Daughter. Sister. Priestess. Protector. Son. Brother. Demi-God. Hero. Monsters. Gifted and burdened with beauty far beyond that of mere mortals, Medusa seeks sanctuary with the Goddess Athena. But when the lustful gaze of mighty Poseidon falls upon her, even the Temple of Athena cannot protect her. Young Perseus embarks on a seemingly impossible quest. Equipped with only bravado and determination, his only chance of success lays in the hands of his immortal siblings. Medusa and Perseus soon become pawns of spiteful and selfish gods. Faced with the repercussions of Athena's wrath Medusa has no choice but to flee and hide. But can she do so without becoming the monster they say she is. History tells of conquering heroes. Tales distorted by time. Medusa’s truth has long been lost. Until now. Now it is time to hear her truth. Revel in this powerful retelling of one of mythologies greatest tales today.

My thoughts: This book has been sitting in my Kindle Library for years! And it took the author releasing it and @bookmarked to send me a copy before I finally read it! I'm extremely disappointed I didn't read this sooner as I really enjoyed it! I'm very familiar with Medusa's Story as this is my 4th retelling of hers I've read but this retelling was one of the best! The writing style is so smooth and easy to follow and I felt like I was there with her living her story. This is such a good one! And I can't freaking wait to continue reading this authors other works!! If you guys like Greek mythology please give this one a read!

Athena's Child was a very quick and simple read! It wasn't my favorite Greek mythology retelling but I did enjoy it! Overall, the story line is simple and easy to follow, which makes for a fair read but nothing that stands out like others that I've read (like SONG OF ACHILLES my all time favorite!). It's a short read that's definitely easy to get through. I liked that it centered around Medusa who is a character I'm super fascinated by but then was a bit disappointed that not enough time was spent on her I felt like...Overall, a fair read!

“Athena’s Child” by Hannah Lynn is book 1 in a new trilogy on Grecian women.

For any fans of Greek mythology, novice or expert, this retelling of Medusa will be easy to follow. It’s a quick read that many could probably finish in a day or two as well.

Thank you NetGalley, Hannah Lynn, and Sourcebooks for selecting me for this ARC. I will keep my eyes out for the rest of the trilogy.

I really enjoyed this retelling of Medusa and Perseus. I’ve always appreciated the dual POV in a story and it definitely added an extra bit of depth to the tale.

I love greek retellings, and am always excited to see when new ones are coming out. I love seeing different takes on beloved myths.

This one felt pretty much just like the same story. I felt like it was a decent read, but it didn't really stand out to me, and I adore the Medusa myth so very much.

I would've liked... more?

This was fantastic! I'm in my Percy Jackson era, so reading anything about Greek Gods is a major win in my eyes. I would have loved to get more of Medusa in this. However, what we did get was perfection. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for more from Hannah Lynn

👋 Hey, Hey, Hey - Mini Reviews 👋

Hey! Zoe and I are still here, but it’s taking longer than anticipated for me to get back to regular posting. 😜 Having kids out of school makes unpacking harder and I knew we had a ton of stuff, but phew! 🫣 It’s ridiculous even with the excessive purging. 📦📦📦

Here are the books I’ve read since I’ve been absent/moving…I’m still reading! OK, so audiobooks mostly, but I’m getting them checked off! ✅✅✅

Athena’s Child - I need more Greek mythology retellings like this one. Excellent. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read and review this book!!

From the synopsis: "Gifted and burdened with stunning beauty, young Medusa seeks sanctuary with the Goddess Athena. But when she catches the eye of the lecherous but mighty Poseidon, she is beyond protection. Powerful men rarely answer for their actions, after all. Meanwhile, Perseus embarks on a seemingly impossible quest, equipped with only bravado and determination...Medusa and Perseus soon become pawns of spiteful and selfish gods."

Review: I love the story of Medusa and all the different retellings thereof I've read recently. This one is no exception. Many are familiar with her story; a beautiful woman cursed to live her life as a terrible beast for a crime that was not her fault. Medusa's story is emotional, devastating, aggravating... and Lynn does an impeccable job of capturing the sadness, injustice, and anger that is central to this story. I like this book's focus on Medusa's sisters, who end up as collateral damage of Medusa's curse. They add another dimension to the story that I've not seen in other retellings. Great for mythology fans... I'll be revisiting the rest of the Grecian Women trilogy!!

I love Greek mythology retellings, so I was especially excited for an origin story from Medusa's perspective. While the premise is interesting and starts strong, it ultimately didn't deliver in my opinion.
The book starts off with Medusa's beginnings and does a decent job of giving her the humanity that has been written out over time. Just as you begin to root for her and become invested in the injustice done to her, the book switches to Perseus's POV and story. By the time they collide at the end of the book, the story feels disjointed. The female centric lens that was attempted wasn't executed strongly and the ending felt very rushed.
I am of the opinion that retellings should really illuminate something different about the story we think we know. While Athena's Child strives for this, it ultimately doesn't meet it's mark.

This book is not what I expected at all. Many Greek retellings today focus on telling the "unheard" side of history, whether that's just the female perspective of tragic events or a reimagining of classic stories with a twist that will make you consider how things might have been or have been told if things were a little different, I was expecting something along those lines for Athena's Child. I was expecting the male characters and the patriarchal society to be horrible, and it was. However, I was not expecting the gods and goddesses to be fickle and cruel (as they are in the Illiad and Odyssey, for example). Athena, despite her name appearing in the title of this book, is not a favorable character, and is actually the villain, which felt surprising, and at odds with the feminist undertones that it appeared the author was purposefully weaving in.

The author successfully sways readers to sympathize with Medusa's plight. However, I found it very difficult to like any other female character in this book (with the exception of Danaë, for obvious reasons). Instead of making Medusa's sisters or Athena potential feminist allies in this patriarchal society (that was unfair to them as well), Medusa stood alone as the single character willing to question her fate.

I would say that as a rule, Perseus is one of the most likable heroes: he is humble, he embarks on a quest to save his mother from an unwanted marriage, and he doesn't leave any romantic dalliances in the lurch. I was not surprised that he was presented favorably in this adaptation as well. However, it felt boring that he was the only other "good" character in this story.

Since the market is so heavily saturated with them, I expect a lot from mythology retellings. Because the plot is already established. I expect there to be something added to make it worth the retelling. While there was nothing necessarily bad about this one, I wasn't excited by it either.

This was an interesting retelling of the myth of Medusa that I read in one evening without putting it down. I love Greek mythology, and while this wasn't my favorite retelling, I did enjoy it. I will say that it left me wanting more.