This has been the year of Greek retellings, starting with Ariadne in April. I was super excited when the author placed Medusa on NetGalley. Thanks to Rosie Hewlett for approving me for an honest review.

Let me tell you, I zipped through the book in the best way. I really appreciated how the book handled first person POV. Frankly, I waffle a lot on that particular device. But it works here. Imagine Xena from her perspective, her looks, at the end of the show reflecting. Same kind of care.

I loved how Medusa's morality and humanity wavered as she struggled to handle what happened. Let's be clear: Poseidon's rape of Medusa is a major point in this book. It's a well developed arc that isn't about edginess. You empathize with her pain at Athena's indifference and anger at something outside of Medusa's control. Nothing of what I'm adding is spoilers as it's clear in Medusa's basic mythology.

The use of gods and heroes really highlights the disparity of gender roles in Ancient Greece. Like Ariadne, Medusa is harmed because of the actions of men. Hewlett takes the time round out the capricious and cruel nature while making sure to not erase the pain Medusa also caused. Cause and effect still has repercussions.

I will say I wish the book had been perhaps 40 pages longer to establish the darker actions of Medusa and her sisters. The trio really made me curious about their interactions in more detail. The Gorgon sisters and the build up made me crave more. And I would have loved more background on her relationship with Theia, the older priestess who raised Medusa. Even naming her. Both saving and condemning her to misery.

I just wanted a bit more of a dive, so when she was facing the anger of the gods, I could really see the reel. That almost knocked it down a half star. I was charmed by the narration, I let it slide. I was just that engaged and invested. Another top read of 2021 for me.

🐍🐍 MEDUSA by Rosie Hewlett 🐍🐍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I would like to thank @gee.booksandlife for bringing this book to my attention and to anyone and everyone who asks for a book recommendation in the next few months apologies the answer will be Medusa regardless of the question!

Within the depths of the Underworld the formidable snake-haired Gorgon has finally had enough. Tired of being eternally and unjustly brandished a villain, Medusa has found the courage to face her tragic past and speak out. Determined to expose the centuries of lies surrounding her name, Medusa gives unparalleled insight into her cursed life, from her earliest memories and abandonment at birth, right through to her tragic and untimely death at the hands of the hero Perseus. Through telling her story, Medusa finally reveals the lost truth behind antiquity's most infamous monster.

The writing in the book is exceptional, you feel as if Medusa really is talking to you from the Underworld. I adored her, she was funny, self-deprecating, honest and feisty.

The scene written between her and Poseidon I thought was sheer brilliance, given it was depicting such a horrific event the way in which Hewlett covered it was astounding. The similes used between the sea and the attack portrayed the power and fear of the characters in an incredibly sensitive way.

Not only does this seek to provide Medusa with a voice and rewrite the history books it also caries strong feminist values, in particular the way in which women are treated in respect to sexual abuse and rape. I loved the way Medusa in reflecting on her story also observed and provided commentary on our current world.

“You cannot look like that and not expect attention. She is asking for it, surely? She must secretly want it, mustn’t she? Because all women do, right? “

“I was not the first woman to be blamed for a man’s flaws and I certainly will not be the last.”

So in conclusion this book gets all the stars I can possibly give out and I implore you to read it!

Thank you @netgalley and @medusa.book for this copy 🐍💜

#medusa #netgalley #netgalleyreview #bookstagram #bookreview #bookblogger #northernbookbloggers #greekmythology

I’ve been seeing a lot about this book, and it immediately became one of the top books on my TBR. The premise of this book is that it is a retelling of the myth of Medusa, bringing a fresh new perspective to the story.

I totally adored Rosie Hewlett’s writing. She writes in the first-person point of view, and I’ll be the first to admit that this type of POV is not my favorite, however, the author managed to turn the character’s voice into such an interesting and compelling experience that I couldn’t put the book down and read it in one sitting. Medusa’s voice is so enthralling and profound, she talks to the readers breaking the fourth wall and addressing us as “you” inviting us closer, so we can feel and experience her journey with her, so we can feel all of her pain and suffering, and all that the world took from her.

I felt unquestionably invested in the narrative, I cared deeply about Medusa as a character, she is vulnerable, real, well constructed. It is so easy to relate to her. I absolutely loved the fact that this retelling told the myth in the perspective that Medusa was abused by Poseidon, following in the steps of a lot of researchers and academics of greek mythology of our recent times. The book does not shy away from inscribing such a dark and dense theme into its pages, and the author works it tremendously, her character is deeply affected by it, and utterly changed afterward. Athena’s character was infuriating to me and what a greatly constructed character, to the point that you shudder in anger to think about them.

I loved seeing what Medusa became. I loved seeing her origin story and the fact that as she narrates for us her tale, she tells the reader she has been wronged many times, including in how her story has been told to the world. Medusa is multifaceted, she is complex, she is a victim, a survivor, and ultimately a protector.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this book and I will definitely be checking out other myth retellings from this author.

I’ve been waiting for a retelling of Medusa and had hoped it would be written soon so I was delighted to see this and secure an ARC for it!

What we have is essentially a feminist retelling and reimagining of Medusa, told from her perspective and almost written in a ‘trail of thought’ journal like manner. We learn about the trauma endured by Medusa and the ways in which she has been wholly misunderstood. This is her opportunity to set the record straight.

What Hewlett has done is admirable, and shows incredible potential for her future career as a writer. There are many perspectives offered, and on occasion, what we hear from Medusa as our narrator can offer insight into our own lives should we be open to it.

The book reads as a ‘conversation’ with the reader, and something felt a little off for me throughout the book. I so wanted to deeply connect with Medusa, but I found it so incredibly hard to do so! It was almost like she didn’t actually want me to understand her deeply, despite saying that was the purpose of telling her story many times. Extremely intimate details were shared - but it felt like there had been no development of the relationship with the reader. I appreciate that Medusa is pissed off about being so misunderstood but it would have been helpful to feel like the character actually wanted me to be there reading her story. The questions she asked, directions she gave and many assumptions she made about me as a reader came off almost like a petulant teenager with an attitude - rather than an empowered woman who is a survivor! This book could have drawn the reader into a powerful and deeply affecting relationship with the reader, and all the content and potential was there to do so, but it just didn’t. For me at least. I think maybe this aspect of the book needed far more development. The content is there for there to have been a sacred connection (especially given this is Greek mythology!), but it wasn’t, for me.

Aside from that, this really is an excellent debut novel and certainly worth the read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this EARC in exchange for an honest review!
I have such a soft spot for Greek Mythology and retellings and I got very excited when I saw Medusa, and I am so happy to say it did not disappoint!
It felt as if I was reading Medusa’s diary and it was heart felt and special to read. It was also super bingeable and easy to read. I read it in one night.
If you are a fan of Greek mythology, and enjoy reading stories about strong females then you will enjoy this book.

A big thanks to NetGalley and the author Rosie Hewlett for providing me a copy of this book! You can find a detailed review on my blog.

When you hear Medusa's name, what first comes to your mind? A seductress? A monster with snakes instead of hair? A Gorgon who turned men into stone statues with her stare?

Do you know how she became a monster?
This is one of the most well-researched books I have read in recent times. In under 200 pages, Rosie Hewlett manages to brilliantly portray Medusa's pain, suffering, anger, and fear.

Raised by a priestess in Athena's temple after her family abandoned her, Medusa has a very innocent and sheltered upbringing. But when she turns 17, she notices men's lustful attention on her and is bewildered. She thinks she is safe being a priestess but she captures the eye of Poseidon who rapes her inside Athena's temple. Athena curses her surprise surprise for getting raped!

Here starts the story of Medusa the monster. I really like the part with Perseus, even though he is the one who finally manages to slay Medusa.

Told entirely from Medusa's perspective, this book is on par with the recent famous Greek Retellings Circe, A Thousand Ships. The only loss was the length of the book. I wanted more!!

A brilliantly feminist retelling, which is a must-read for all Greek Mythology lovers.

4 Stars

When I saw the cover and the blurb, I knew I had to read it. The book is 204 pages long but feels even smaller. I could finish it in 2 hours (though it was divided into two days) and must say I'm impressed by the author's voice.
The story is written in the first-person narrative, with Medusa tells us her version of history. The Stream of Consciousness worked very well as the story progressed. It made the narrator's voice stronger and clear.
We've seen and read different versions about Medusa, and all of them show her as a monster who went on a killing spree. She has been a fascinating part of mythology for centuries.
This book ticked almost all boxes and provided me with an intriguing version of Medusa. Retellings are always tricky. There's a thin line between a hit and a miss. This one is a hit because the narration held my attention from start to finish. I enjoyed the growth in the relationship between Medusa and her sister. The underlying introspective tone was another plus.
Yes, I do wish there was more depth to the details. But guess the author would have had to tinker too much with the original. And research is never easy with topics like this. Also, there's the risk of turning the book into an emotional drama rather than the assertive version of what it is now.
For a debut author, this is an impressive work, and I look forward to reading more from her.
Maybe she could cut down a few adverbs in the next book. I do like the strength of the narrative.
Overall, Medusa has been a lovely retelling, a feminist version with a controlled voice (not something I see in all feminist works).
Thank you, Netgalley and Silver Wood Books, for the ARC.

I have to thank Netgalley, Rosie and the people behind this book for the ARC.

Well, I'll start by saying: I DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO BE SO PERFECT!

I mean, yes, the cover is a beauty, but you don't read a book just for its cover, you read it for its plot,and boy, did Rosie know how to do that.

We all know the story of Medusa, or well, at least we know that the gods cursed her and suddenly her hair sprouted snakes and wow, yes, she was the enemy of Perseus...but...this retelling was full of mysticism and at the same time a raw reality.

We can be in Medusa's shoes and know that she was not a character who broke the rules, but that all actions led her to do so.

I loved the parts where we could read her relationship with the gorgons, I loved the cruelty with which she began to act.

I loved Rosie's writing so much and I'm looking forward to sequels to this book or a series based on Greek gods, it would be phenomenal (oh, please Rosie, you have to do it, only you could write about Persephone, Artemis, Aphrodite and other goddesses) ✨.

Greek Mythology is one of my favourite things and I am absolutely loving the retellings that are being published. Medusa is the perfect subject for a retelling.

It was so refreshing to hear Medusa's story from her point of view. Viewed as a monster by most, here we learn that Medusa was, in fact, a victim. I read this one in one sitting, compelled by the narrative and the easy writing style. I particularly enjoyed that by making Medusa a victim, the author didn't need to make Perseus the bad guy.

A book for all fans of Greek Mythology and anyone who loves stories of strong female characters.

A huge thank you for the chance to read Medusa in exchange for an honest review.

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.

I really appreciated the style used to narrate this story. It was told in Medusa's own voice and she often broke the fourth wall to converse directly to her audience. Aspects of this were written with a haunting and sorrowful beauty and others in an almost colloquial and informal tone. These two styles blended together to seamlessly deliver this timeless story of torment and suffering, betrayal and revenge.

Oh my gosh, this book was incredible! Read it in one sitting. One of the best Greek mythology retellings ever written! It bears resemblance to the Penelopiad, but is ten times better. Full review to come very soon, but I am seriously considering buying a hard copy. Loved it!

Medusa by Rosie Hewlett is mind-blowingly good and will leave a lifelong mark on me. It’s a solid 5/5 as It has not only found its place on my shelves but also in my heart.

This beautifully written story grabbed my attention from the very first sentence and retained it all the way to the knowledgements page. I felt like I was sitting next to Medusa hearing all about her astonishing life.

Every turn of a page was like me asking Medusa to go on talking because I needed to know everything she had to say. I loved learning about how she grew up, her adoration for Athena, her suffering, how she became one of the world’s most famous monsters, and everything that unfurled after, which I will not spoil for you.

Rosie’s word choices and attention to detail are not that of an author writing her debut novel, which is something I am seeing more and more having recently read and loved Ariadne.

I highly recommend this book whether you’re a fan of Greek Mythology or not. I definitely encourage you to read it if you enjoyed The Song of Achilles, Circe, Lore, The Silence of The Girls, and/or Ariadne.

To the author: thank you for pouring your heart into this book, I felt it, and will carry Medusa’s story always. Looking forward to your next book!

If, like me, you instantly fell in love with Circe and have ever since been in a state of despair wishing for Madeline Miller to next give a voice to Medusa, another villainised and silenced woman, I’m telling you Rosie’s Hewlett’s Medusa is a perfect antidote. I don’t use Miller lightly, I see ‘for fans of...’ constantly thrown about for any Greek mythology piece of work in the last few years but Hewlett deserves it.

I’ll start with my only criticism of this book first - it’s much too short! I devoured this book in one sitting at just over 200 pages but I could have stayed with Medusa for hundreds of pages more! But this is a minor point, this book also isn’t dragged out, gratuitous or self indulgent. Hewlett clearly knows what she’s talking about and various God’s and mythological characters are slipped into this book seamlessly, it’s not thrown at the page to demonstrate the research and it’s also incredibly easy to digest while not feeling like a text book to revise. This is a very Miller quality. Also, as I said above, this book is not gratuitous at all, Medusa’s rape is not devoid of her dignity, you know what happens, you know how it makes her feel and yet it’s both sensitive and respectful. I read a retelling by a male author last year that was entirely the opposite and it felt like a further violation of not just Medusa (fictional or not) but all other survivors. This book is not that.

This is a beautiful feminist book, with some stunning, provocative quotes about rape apologists, the cost of entitlement and ownership that comes with beauty, love, family and healing above all else, healing. But it never feels intense or overwhelming, it just flows, with some even light hearted moments like Medusa referring to Hermes as a prick :D Each character is formed so well, you get Intimidation that comes off Poseidon, the cheekiness that comes off Hermes, the hard shell of Athena, Medusa’s sisters Euyale and Stheno, the fresh take on Perseus and his story as a product of rape. Medusa herself goes on a huge emotional journey in this book, you follow her through fear, disgust, self loathing, anger and vengeance and the end of her story of acceptance and healing.

I never thought a book about the wronged character Medusa could make me smile and feel a sense of hope at the end and yet this book left me with a very wonderful feeling. Thank you NetGalley for the copy to review.

If mythological retelling is your thing, then this book is for you!

I devoured this book in a single sitting because it's both good and short - doesn't happen a lot of times. This also happens to be my first ARC from NetGalley and even though I barely read ARCs, I got obsessed with this book just by looking at that gorgeous cover and reading the blurb and knew that I had to request a copy. So glad I did!

This book is a retelling of, as the name suggests, the monstrous Medusa from her perspective. The story unfolds from the very beginning when a feeble mortal girl is born to the Sea Gods, Phorcys and Ceto, who are instantly disappointed by her mortality and abandon her right away. We then pay witness to the gruelling journey that this poor child takes from her abandonment to her death and the circumstances that made her one of the most feared monsters of the Greeks.

Rosie Hewlett does a fine job of this feminist re-imagining. The Medusa she creates is unconventional, sarcastic (oh yes!) and a survivor who would be loved by all those who give this book a try. The only drawbacks to this book were: (a) its length, I honestly wanted more detail and this only felt like a sneak-peak into Medusa's life, and (b) the uncanny similarity with Circe, probably a little more detail would have brought out a sharper contrast between the two books. Despite these drawbacks, I loved Hewlett's incredible writing and would love to read her future works, especially retellings from a female POV.

Overall, I'll recommend this book to anyone who identifies as a feminist with an interest in Greek Mythology.

4/5🌟.
TW: Sexual Abuse, Death.

3.5 stars

I've been loving this recent trend of writing the Greek myths so everyone can read and understand them. I've read a lot of them in the past year.
This one seems a little bit more fun,despite all the grisly things that happen.
At one point when Medusa and her sisters are cackling over their wicked deeds,it felt like a group of giddy teenage girls gossiping... in a good way.
An enjoyable read that's certainly taught me the back story about a character I knew I name only.

When others say you can devour this book in one sitting, they are not kidding! I read this so quick, i just had to know what happened! Most of that is due to the whimsical writing style.

I loved reading a different POV. Villians really are not born, they are made! I was angry for Medusa..... angry at Poseidon, i mean, isn't he Percy Jackson's DAD???!!!??? and even worse is Athena... i have no words... she is awful.

Loved this, amazing writing, hard hitting story!

Very poetic and a lot of inner monologue. Really gives you an understanding of how she must have felt. Even though this is a retelling. It felt like it could have actually been her story. Great writing.

🐍 Medusa 🐍

You know her name, you know her story. Just not the right one.

This book is a straight up 200/10 for me, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Rosie Hewlett has finally done it, she’s written a story that finally gives Medusa not only the story that she deserves, but justice.

If you’re familiar with Medusa tale then you’ll know she’s always portrayed as a monster who “deserves” to be killed, but what you don’t know is that she was only the product of her misfortune and the cruel fates. Medusa was a beautiful mortal, not a monster. She was a victim of rape, not a monster. She was a victim of women blaming other women instead of men, not a monster.

In this beautifully written novel we get to read Medusa’s events of her life for her point of view, not that of a man. And the most surprising, heart warming part of her story was how she and Perseus became friends before he had to kill her. This was a WONDERFUL take on her myth. I’ve fallen in love with this book and I can’t wait to make everyone I know read it so that people will finally FINALLY be telling a version of her myth that shines the light on the two problems of her story; Poseidon and Athena.

If you haven’t got your copy of this wonderful novel, please go and get one. Run, do not walk. I read this book in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. It captivated me and just wouldn’t let me go until the end. I hope Rosie writes more Greek myth novels because I’m here for it.

Bravo Rosie, bravo.

°•Firstly I'd like to say a massive thank you to Netgalley and Rosie for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review•°
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Honestly, this story was a delight.
I loved this so much that I finished it in a matter of hours!! (Which is a rarity for me)
I love mythology, I always have. I find all the tales and creatures so fascinating & Medusa is no different. Her story is probably one of the most popular Greek myths out there and reading this version was just so powerful & refreshing!

Loved everything about this & I cant wait to read more from Rosie! If you love greek myths then you need to read this!