A clever, sympathetic, feminist retelling of Medusa's story, from rejection through cruelty, sexual violence and hideous physical transformation to a true transformation where she finds self-acceptance and peace.

Medusa is shown as an all-too-human woman rather than the evil monster of myth, fighting against the prejudice of the gods, her sisters (who also become Gorgons) and ever-present misogyny.

This intriguing book turns the myth on its (snaky) head and is a welcome addition to recent retellings of the Greek myths and legends.

This book is so amazing, I'm mad I waited so long to read it!

This book is beautifully written. The writing is lyrical. I often feel books are too long but this book was perfectly paced and a short read.

I love the different side we see to Medusa and her life. Her story is really heart breaking.

I enjoyed learning about the other gods throughout this book and how they played a part in Medusa's life.

If this is on your TBR, read it next. If it's not on your TBR, still read it next!

This is definitely a book I'll be adding to my physical shelves.

I gave it 5 stars⭐

Thank to NetGalley & Rosie Hewlett for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

*TW for rape*

Medusa is the latest in a surge of retellings of Greek mythology. This YA novel tells the story of Medusa before she came to be the monster we know from the stories. This is a concise novel told using simple language and makes the story vey accessible. There is no need for much background as Medusa is known for little, but it touches upon her relationship with her sisters and brief encounters from her mother, as well her her apparent friendship with Perseus. The narrative told from the afterlife is unusual. This is a quick and easy teen read and would be a great gateway to the bestselling heavyweights of the genre. Recommended for 14+

I absolutely LOVED this dark, twisted villain story! This was the perfect kind of book for me. Everything from the plot, characters, and writing style are gripping to the max! I read this, cover to cover, in only one sitting! Highly recommend for lovers of villains, dark pasts, and twisted minds.

But be warned, there are triggers for sexual assault, violence, and mental health.

I am drawn to anything myth related, and Medusa is one mythic figure who definitely deserves a closer look. Getting the point of view from the girl-turned-monster was both torturous because of her helplessness and reason for being turned into a gorgon, but also incredibly well done because the horrible acts she committed in mythic lore, namely turning men to stone, I was somehow all right with after empathizing with her curse. Medusa is a novel seen through the eyes (insert pun here) of Medusa. She discusses her birth to death, the gods' influence on her life, and the hero who took her own. Greek gods are fickle and I really liked the interpretation/reality of them being so self centered and horribly themselves without a care for mortals and ideas of right and wrong. Perseus was a surprising addition to the story, not of him existing within Medusa’s story, but his relationship with her before he chopped off her head. It was unique and a part that Medusa claims was hidden from the history book.

While I enjoyed reading this tale, I wanted more from it. I wanted more details, imagery, and a longer, more drawn-out tale. It felt more like a short snippet than a novel I could really be drawn into. Retellings and villain point of views can be tricky and unoriginal, but I found that this version brought something new to the origin that is the monster, Medusa.

🐍 “I was beautiful once. I would not recommend it.” 🐍

‘Medusa’ by @medusa.book was such a pleasant surprise of a book! I totally love mythology retellings and I hadn’t heard too much about this one so went in not expecting too much and was absolutely blown away!

The book gives voice to Medusa where she tells HER story from HER point of view and it’s wonderful and heartbreaking! I cried…to be fair I cry at everything😂but your heart honestly breaks for her. The book manages to be modern, but also captures Greek mythology and history so well. I always liked Medusa and her story but after reading this it’s given me a whole brand new perspective and I love her so much more.

Can’t wait to read more by this author as for a debut book this is a good yin’ 😍😍 can’t recommend enough!

Thanks to NetGallery and the author for the copy of the book!

Thank you so much to the writer Rosie Hewlett and to NetGalley for an e-copy of this book. The opinions below are my own.

This is a long-overdue review of a fantastic and unmissable retelling that I read in one sitting.

We all know the Greek myth of the Medusa, but this retelling will walk you through the whole story from a very unique feminist perspective.

From the very beginning, I was trapped into the story thanks to a conversational writing style. It made me feel like Medusa was actually telling me personally her story. A couple of things absolutely stand out in this story. The first thing, this is a debut novel and it is exceptionally well written. The second thing, you can feel the writer poured a massive amount of research and knowledge into this story and the final result was stunning.

The dialogues around gender inequalities, victim-blaming and rape are presented within this ancient myth but could also be applied to our present.

If you love Greek mythology retelling and you are looking for a challenging feminist perspective of Medusa’s story you can’t miss this book. I had only a small issue with certain dialogues, which sounded too modern. It’s an emotional rollercoaster and you will devour this book in one sitting, I promise!

Medusa is one of those mythical creatures that really captivates and intrigues me; so, when I saw this book I had to read it! So glad I did, as it was beautifully written and really did feel like it was really from Medusa herself! The author really captures Medusa in this fantastic retelling, which I think was quite amazing! I’m not the biggest fan of fantasy, mythology, etc. but must say I cannot recommend this one enough, especially if you’re like me and just love Medusa! Amazingly written, capturing everything perfectly! Highly, highly recommend!

"History is written by the winners. Or, more simply, history is written by men."

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
This book is a retelling of Medusa's life from her own point of view. Abandoned by her parents, Medusa is raised as a priestess in Athena's temple. She grows into a beautiful young woman and subsequently draws Poseidon's attention.

I have read a number of Medusa retellings, however, this was my favourite. The first-person narrative made this a really raw and poignant tale, and I felt every emotion right alongside Medusa. The writing was beautiful and overall, it's a very quick read. I loved Medusa's personality. Her kindness and naivety made me want to protect her and I felt helpless knowing how the story would play out. Her sisters were amazing and I loved how fiercely they stood by Medusa after her rape. However, it was Perseus that was the most surprising and I loved the twist in the tale.

Overall, I would recommend this to lovers of Greek Mythology and perhaps to readers who do not know the story of Medusa well. I have to admit that I found some of the language too "modern", however, this does not detract from the beauty of the book and is merely my opinion.

This was an interesting read. I do love retellings of mythology and fables, especially when it gives voice to those who are silent (largely women). I've always wondered about Medusa, and Hewlett certainly brings her story to life. However, I did find Medusa's voice to be jarringly modern. I don't think it needs to mimic Greek or anything like that, but it felt at odds with the excellent narrative!

Medusa is the retelling of the famed gorgon of the same name. And boy oh boy did I love this version!

"I was not the first woman to be blamed for a man's flaws and I certainly will not be the last"

The story was fantastically told from Medusa's perspective and features some really heavy topics such as rape, abuse, and murder. I seem to remember reading a retelling, possibly of another Greek tale that had a similar end to it but that only proved to make me love it more.

You couldn't help but feel for Medusa and all the injustices she endured, her ability to love and forgive despite it all. I especially loved the bond she and her sisters shared and how loyal they ended up being to one another. And despite the task he had to complete and what was at stake the twist Perseus brought us.

Rosie brought a really strong character to the table and gave her a voice that needed to be heard. I felt power in some of the quotes I highlighted throughout.

I did receive my copy as an ARC from @silverwood_books via @netgalley but this book has been available for purchase since April and I fully expect a paper copy will find its way on to my shelves before long. I highly recommend this read for anyone who loves a retelling.

This was an incredibly poignant retelling of Medusa's tale, told from her own perspective. The horrors inflicted upon her were outlined for the reader, as were her anger-fuelled responses. Each were depicted in a raw and honest style, laying Medusa's story bare for the reader's unreserved judgement.

Read if you like: Circe by Madeline Miller, mythology retellings.
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A short book from the perspective of Medusa, who is telling her story. She wants to tell her story from her point of view to show that she was not the monster everyone thinks she is.
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This book shows that women are punished for the actions of men, as well as the role that beauty plays in society for women.
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While I liked that it was so short, I wanted a little more from the story just because I was enjoying it so much!
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CW: sexual harassment and assault, rape, violence, death and murder.

This is my first time reading Greek mythology and from everything I have heard, Medusa is always shown in a negative role and is perceived as a monster. This book however is written from Medusa's perspective which helps everyone understand the truth that nobody wants to listen to and is hidden from everyone.

This story takes us from Medusa's birth till her death and afterwards. Everything from her POV which makes it very pragmatic. The story shows the injustices that happened to her, the reason for her becoming a monster, her sufferings, pain, sacrifices, her relationship with her family, her death and beyond.

The story is narrated beautifully and all the characters were strong and bold. The relationship of Medusa with her sisters and her friendship with Perseus was precious. The story is fast-paced with brilliant characters and an excellent plotline that kept me hooked throughout even though this is my first Greek mythology book.

I loved Medusa's character and her story is heart-wrenching. I felt very angry at Athena and Poseidon for everything they have done to Medusa and I loved how, despite the struggles and injustices, Medusa remained strong and brazen. I'm so glad to have read this book. I can't wait to read more books by the author and also on Greek mythology. I loved this retelling and it's highly recommended for everyone who loves this genre.

I'm a huge fan of Greek mythology and I also have a thing for misunderstood females, so this was right up my alley. As soon as my friend told me about this book, I knew I had to read it. I thought I had no chance of getting approved on Netgalley, but lo and behold, I actually got the ARC. This book is quite short, you can finish it in 2- 3 hours maximum.

I've grown up reading Rick Riordan books and I had some knowledge of Medusa beforehand. But even if you don't know anything, you can still read this one as the author has explained the background very simply. I highlighted so much of the book because I could really resonate with it. Medusa is known to everyone as the monster with snakes that turns everyone to stone with her deadly eyes.

But this book talks about different aspects of her personality, her childhood, her faith, her love, her family, her revenge and her death. She was not just a monster, she was a victim, a survivor and ultimately a protector as well. The book was written in first person from Medusa's POV which was really cool. The narration often spoke directly to the reader, breaking the fourth wall. It had strong feminist undertones. It was re-telling that stuck to the original but also strayed far away from it. You need to read the book to understand.

This was written by a debut indie author and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. This is truly a literary masterpiece that needs to be read by everyone. I also felt like Circe and this book had similar vibes. Medusa is must read for everyone who likes strong female leads.

good. for. her.

this book is so whimsically dark and i enjoyed every single page.

medusa is a bildungsroman narrated by medusa as her life progresses and i loved the writing style. medusa’s life is a true tragedy and getting to experience it from the start was so sad but so good.

did i say good for her when she started killing men and turning them into stone? yes. and i’ll do it again.

the gods. ugh, the GODS. so many people forget that the greek gods are immortal beings with mortal vices and shy away from ‘human’ depictions of them in retellings. here, hewlett writes them as savage, playful, vengeful and cunning people with extraordinary means. the savagery of medusa’s SA by poseidon is horrific and the onslaught of cruelty that follows by athena and the people (*cough* men *cough*) is so awful.

also - THE TWIST on medusa and perseus’ story was so good and i didn’t see it coming.

i love medusa. she deserved so much better and i loved this portrayal of her.

i sincerely hope that rosie hewlett will publish more in the future as this was a lovely read and mythological retellings are my life force.

thank you so much netgalley for this e-arc! all opinions are my own.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Medusa was such an easy book to devour. Mostly because I don't think I've ever read a book just about Medusa. The other gods? Yes. So I was really intrigued to see what her story would be like and I honestly didn't expect the emotional roller coaster while reading this.

Medusa was a pretty interesting character. I didn't really see anything that annoyed or frustrated me when it came to her. She was a girl who was abandoned twice by her family. Her own mother was completely horrible and I despised her. Then she ends up losing the only person in her life that she considered family. Throw in a rape and an awful punishment.. and I'm pissed.

After this happened, I wanted to throat punch a certain god for doing the awful deed. Then I wanted to throat punch Athena because she was being completely horrible to Medusa. It didn't even stop after doing what she did either. I just wasn't a fan of her for the entire book. The whole wanting Medusa dead made no sense to me because she did nothing to Athena.

Not a damn thing.

Other than that, it just felt like Medusa was really lonely and I felt bad for her. The ending was definitely bittersweet to me and I might have shed some tears or something. I just wanted her to find happiness and peace.. and I think she has that now.

Definitely an easy book to devour and a retelling to dive into.

I've always loved the ancient Greek myths and I love retellings, so this was one for me! This is the story of Medusa, telling Medusa's point of view. It's a quick read but well written and I really enjoyed it. I would recommend this to readers who also loved Madeline Miller's Circe and Emily Hauser's Golden Apple trilogy.

For me, reading Medusa was a Greek mythology high. There’s a fair bit one covers through art and travel, but reading brings alive a myth, a legend in a totally different way.

Medusa by Rosie Hewlett is the retelling in, interestingly, a first person POV. The formidable, snake haired Gorgon whose stare turned men to stone has had enough. She finally finds the courage to speak out against the injustice meted our to her. Born human, Medusa is abandoned as a child by her mother. She is faulted and punished for being beautiful, for ‘inviting’ trouble! The Goddess Athena, whom Medusa worships, curses her and her form changes into hideous, with snakes in place of hair. Throughout the story, Medusa underlines the fact that ‘monsters are rarely born, they are made’.

‘There was a time when I could not bring myself to speak of my past, could not even think about it. But these days I am tired of running from the pieces of myself I cannot escape.’

A modern dimension can be seen through paralleling ancient trauma with the 2017 #MeToo movement. There is a narrative along feminism. Being beautiful does not come with the tag of ‘owing’ anyone anything. Medusa’s bonds with her sisters and the support she receives to withstand Athena’s behaviour is one of the high points as is her relationship with Perseus (which makes her death at his hands so tragic).

Hewlett writes in a straight forward style and keeps you involved without the mythology getting overwhelming detailed.

Any coin has two sides. This is Medusa’s story.

‘ I have been called many things in my time:
Seductress
Liar
Monster
Killer
Rape victim

People seem to forget the last one. But history is written by the winners. Or, more simply, it is written by men.’

Thank you Rosie Hewlett and Net Galley for making available the digital copy of the book. Opinions expressed are mine.

guys the fact that this book isnt blown up is a disservice to the bookish world.
we all know the famous tale of medusa well strap in because this book is a wild ride that you will start and not put down until you are finished that is how fast it grabs ahold of you! I cant wait to push this book onto every single person i talk to.