Medea by JJ Taylor is exactly the mythological retelling adventure I was hoping for right now. If you already love the myths this story is based on be aware that much of it treads familiar ground however this writer has lifted the veil on a a heaping serving a feminine anger and power that was hiding just under the edges of this tale.
This story is perfect for fans of Psyche and Eros or Circe that haven't quite had enough of re visting their favorite myths yet.

"Medea" offers a captivating reimagining of the legendary figure, weaving a tale of power, defiance, and self-discovery against the backdrop of ancient mythology. I like how the author delves into the complexities of Medea's character, portraying her as a woman grappling with her destiny amidst a world fraught with patriarchal oppression and divine interference. As the story unfolds, readers are drawn into a rich tapestry of sacrifice, political intrigue, and supernatural forces, where Medea's journey toward liberation becomes a gripping saga of courage and resilience. With its blend of mythology, magic, and timeless themes, "Medea" is a mesmerizing read that breathes new life into an iconic figure from Greek mythology.

Another enjoyable feminist retelling of a myth. It was nice to see a story of Medea where she was more than a lovestruck girl and then a seemingly heartless killer. I liked all the interactions with various goddesses and that there was some story of Medea’s life after Jason.

This is the year of Medea retellings, and I’m living for it. Sadly though, this book just wasn’t really for me. 😞

This retelling was focused on historical and geographical events that happened leading up to the Trojan War. While I did enjoy the use of historic and major geographic events in this tale, it felt drawn out at times which in turn, made the reading experience feel long. 🗺️

This Medea is one that I expected to find: strong, independent, and ruthless at times with her opinions. I liked the inclusion and role that she had as a priestess of Hecate, but her relationship with this goddess and the others she meets on her journey make her out to be more of a pawn and tool to the gods than a formidable woman in her own right. That, and her gifts of witchcraft were never explicitly covered expect for a very short paragraph describing her youth with Circe which even then, was a short chapter. In general, this was more of a woman blessed by the gods than someone who had magic in their own right. 🔮

I did find the relationship between Medea and Jason in this retelling refreshing as they acknowledge their awkwardness with each other, but came to genuinely care for each other. I do feel like the deterioration of their relationship was too quickly glossed over and I wish we could have seen a deeper look at it in the end. 🐏

Lastly, like I mentioned before, the plot seems to drag at one point and then it suddenly accelerated towards the end. This pacing not only made it rather hard to keep up with the events, but also made the overall reading experience rather choppy. 🙁

In general, I do think this should be given a go because it really was cool seeing an actual historical series of events being used for the plot, but if you’re not into accurate mythology chain of events or references (ie. Paris as the lover of Achilles? Hmmm. . . ), then I would suggest looking elsewhere for a Medea retelling. 🫣

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for accepting my request to read in exchange for an honest review. ❤️

Publication date: February 1 (thought it was the 6th, but oh well)

Overall: 3.5/5 ⭐️

Greek retellings, and especially retellings of Greek figures that have previously been villainized have been really capturing my imagination this year. So this retelling of Medea really caught my attention.

And I wanted to like this one. Medea is such a complicated chararcter, and is probably one of the most well known villains of Greek mythology. And I was excited to see her story recontextualized. But this story seemed mostly torn between Medea has free will and is in control of her actions, even the horrific ones, and then have her be completely at the mercy of the goddesses with several of them actually possessing her and controlling her. Perhaps the weirdest thing to me is that, aside from her actions at the beginning to flee from her father and her actions at the end where she's fleeing from Jason, Medea feels very passive.

I think what most threw me off this book was how sequential it felt. Jason and Medea traveled to this location, Medea impressed a local god, everyone talked a lot, the Argonauts left, rinse and repeat, over and over again. It was all very tell; this happened and then this happened. The pacing felt weird because of that and I lost momentum at the end of every chapter. And then almost at the very end, a time skip of ten years, and telling me everything has changed? I lost interest.

My favorite parts were the latest chapters in the timeline. Where Medea is establishing herself as a powerful ruler, and reaching out to create alliances with the other women left behind to rule as their husbands fought at Troy. I wanted so much more of seeing that Medea.

There were some solid bones here, and I loved seeing the connections Medea made as she traveled between priestesses, queens, commoners, and princesses. But I just wanted more out of this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Books Go Social for this arc.

Where do I start with this one? I have been on a retelling kick in 2024 - Herc, Clytemnestra, Legendborn, and now Medea. Funnily, almost all of their stories somewhat intertwine for very different reasons. Medea snagged me in right from the very beginning with the very open line. "I've paid for my freedom in blood that drowns me in my dreams."

Medea is one of my favorite tales due to her associations with Hecate (one of my favorite goddesses) and her aunt, Circe...plus we love a murderous queen. Overall, this book was well-written, a good length, and I really enjoyed the time-jumps and non-linear story telling. However, the pacing was quite...off to me. The moments that should've been highly impactful came off a bit rough because of it.

Overall, an easy 3.5 stars. I enjoyed it and I'm truly in my ancient retelling era right now.

Shoutout to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I really enjoyed this book. There was so much to unpack emotionally and so much to take to heart. I am always a stan for strong women!

I appreciate the copy of this. I had a very hard time reading this. Details were added that weren’t needed, it felt like the author was trying too hard

I think of the myth of Medea a lot. I even went to the Met to see an opera on it! This version of Medea brings a welcome new angle to the myth.

Medea is usually painted as a villain, a murderer, and a wholly unsympathetic character. Her crimes are depicted as terrible to fathom. In this book, she takes on new life, and the question of whether or not she is in control plays an intriguing part in the narrative. I noticed how the author deftly explored the question of agency in a world ruled by the fickle whims of the gods. I found myself drawing parallels to the modern relationship between mental health and responsibility for one's actions; in this case, Medea's mental state was not fully her own but she had to bear the consequences of public perception of women and of her actions. Her character was well-developed, with a strong voice set against shifting settings.

I really liked how the author took the epic form of chronicling a journey (in the tradition of The Odyssey) and applied it to Medea. Her travels, and the way she changed throughout them, were noteworthy and written in a digestible way.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to access this ARC!

Medea: Priestess, Princess, Witch by JJ Taylor offers a gripping reimagining of the legendary figure from Greek mythology. In this captivating tale, we follow Medea's journey as she navigates a world fraught with danger and oppression. Born with extraordinary powers, Medea struggles against the constraints placed upon her by men and gods alike. But with the arrival of Jason and his Argonauts, she finds herself at a crossroads, torn between love and the pursuit of her own freedom. Filled with intrigue, magic, and the timeless struggle for autonomy, this novel breathes new life into one of mythology's most enigmatic characters.

This book turned out to be quite an enjoyable reworking of the Medea story from Greek mythology. J.J. Taylor, the author, has managed to gather the stories of Medea into a cohesive storyline, with a plot that gives import to her struggle as a woman to be free in a time where females were generally seen as little more than property. There were a few points where I questioned the changes or variations on the myths, particularly towards the end, but overall, the story overcame the episodic nature of the Medea myths and breathed new life into a tragic and at times unsympathetic figure.

I particularly liked how Medea in many points stood in for the common person when she railed against her fate and had to decide how to deal with it - whether to just give up and resign herself to it or to accept and live the life the best she could while knowing she was a vessel for the gods and goddesses of the times. There were a few points where this struggle may have been internalized perhaps a few too many times, along with the reminders to Medea to humble herself, but I was impressed that this reexamination of her turned helped explain why her character committed many of the horrible acts that she did.

Overall, the prose of the book was quite good, with several passages that I found particularly well done. As Medea observes of many people, "There was truth in people's eyes even when there were lies on their lips. If you didn't look them in the eye, you might miss the truth of who they were." Or, when she comes into her power when she notes, "Was this what it was to be a god? To move as I wished, to know no consequence, and have men fear me? I liked it. I liked it very much."

I find it interesting when an author manages to successfully reimagine a piece of mythology, as it often shows how applicable the old myths, whether Greek or others, are to us today. With this tale, even with my few quibbles, Taylor has joined others in bringing new light to the old stories.

Medea by J J Taylor is a Greek mythology retelling set in ancient Greece. The storyline is appealing with a kingdom, mythical creatures and battles. But, as we go further in the story it loses its sheen. While reading it felt like a mere travel story which was a disappointment. Medea's character is nice emerging as a strong woman and who is trying to make her mark in this men's world. Few parts of the story were interesting. My favorite one was when Medea tries to flee from her father and the measures she took were shocking and unbelievable. But, still I wanted more from the plot, especially, a Greek atmosphere was absent. Also, it didn't felt like a retelling also. I would only give 3 stars to the book.

JJ Taylor's "Medea: Priestess, Princess, Witch" offers a refreshing take on the iconic figure from Greek mythology. The story delves into the struggles of Medea as she fights against the oppression of cruel gods and egotistical men in her quest for freedom.

Set against the backdrop of King Aeetes' court on the Black Sea, Taylor paints a vivid picture of a world filled with magic, politics, and divine intervention. As Medea grapples with her own power and destiny, readers are drawn into a captivating narrative filled with sacrifices, deceit, and the ever-present influence of gods.

One of the book's strengths lies in its portrayal of strong female characters, challenging traditional gender roles and showcasing the depth and complexity of women in ancient mythology. Taylor's depiction of Medea as a formidable warrior who refuses to be defined by her emotions adds depth to the character and makes for a compelling read.

As someone not well-versed in Greek mythology, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. Taylor's storytelling prowess kept me engaged from start to finish, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to uncover Medea's fate.

"Medea: Priestess, Princess, Witch" marks an impressive debut for JJ Taylor, and I look forward to reading more from this talented author in the future. If you're a fan of Greek mythology or enjoy stories featuring strong female protagonists, I highly recommend giving this book a read.

Thank you NetGalley and JJ Taylor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have to thank Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange of my honest opinion.

This is the story of a priestess with no choice other than that of doing as the gods want her to do. And all along, since her birth and having been predicted of being the destruction of her brother and family, she only kept seeking freedom, which was never granted her by the gods who kept using her. A priestess and a princess, a mortal girl who doesn’t abide by mortals’ laws, she has to use the gods’ power to survive and oh how that cost her.

This book is so well written and page by page I couldn’t stop reading, the pace is also never slow and going through Medea’s story I kept wanting to know what was next (but we know her story already right? Yes, that doesn’t matter, that’s how good this book was). Also the way Medea’s choices were portrayed, how tied she was to her own will and the goddesses’ was so well told that I was aching with her.

Read this story, and then come and tell me about

Did I like Medea before reading this book, No.

Do I like Medea after reading this book, still no.

Well I knew what I was getting into. starting this book, Medea is and probably never will be my favorite character in the greek myth but I was ready to sort off appreciate or sympathies with her. Well this book did not help with that.
I found that Medea was really playing the look at me how bad I have things. because what all these gods do to me., yet at the same time look at me how special I'm because what the gods make me do.
Will. reading this I felt like the author should have picked a side of which way to go and not. to both.

Then why did I still give this book 3. stars because it's not a bad retelling of the myth of Medea. I even think that it's good start for getting into greek myth retellings. I think I had just a to much off a preconceived notion of Medea and I would have enjoyed it more if she was the Villain.

Thank you to NetGalley, JJ Taylor and BooksGoSocial for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I love Greek mythology and I’m loving how the women are getting their time to shine. If you love retellings from a woman’s point of view give this book a chance. While I was fascinated with Medea, I wasn’t crazy about the writing. At times I wanted it to speed up and other times when the plot got exciting it felt rushed. Again personal preference it’s a book I had to make myself read vs couldn’t put it down. It’s recommended for fans of Circe and I devoured that one. If you read it and love it. Message me or let me know. Happy reading!

DNF at 20%, thank you to Netgalley

Medea, Priestess Princess Witch, follows a long if recent tradition of reframing classical mythology through the lens of feminism. Due to the wide variety of examples in this new genre, some appeal more to different people. I have a large love for mythology and classical literature, including the Iliad and the plays of Euripides, and I was a big fan of Circe by Madeline Miller, so I was super excited when I saw this.

However, I don’t think it was the right pick for me as someone who is already immersed in the world of myth.

Personally, I found this Medea irritating. She acted without clear reason, yet was entirely subservient to “the Goddess” (who I assume was Hekate based on one line, but really with all the goddesses in Greek mythology it would be nice if Taylor were more specific). The foreshadowing of the inevitable murder of Medea’s son was heavy handed, as was the inclusion of her relationship with her handmaid. It was an interesting idea, but the way it was just put in without any additional context of their relationship didn’t sit well with me as a bi woman, but it may have been developed later in the book.

With unlikable characters and some really questionable grammar, I had to put this one down. I think it would be good for people who like the idea of Greek myth but not the full intricacies, relationships and politics that sometimes comes with it. This book reminds me of Lies we Sing to the Sea in that way.

In conclusion, this one wasn’t for me, but I am in the minority. Best of luck to this book on release, I hope it finds its audience. Thank you to Netgalley, who gave me an advance copy

*Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Medea has lived with the harsh words of her father and the violent hands of her brother, she wants more than anything to learn of the reason behind this and to be free of her gilded cage. When strangers arrive on their shores Medea might just get the opportunity of freedom, but what is the cost? The story of Medea and Jason, but maybe not as you are expecting.

I absolutely love that this is a fresh new look on a classic character. We get to dive deeper into who Medea was as a person and the choices she makes. I love Greek mythology, so this retelling was just what I was looking for. I had a bit of an issue with pacing though, some parts felt rather slow, while others moved to fast.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc. I love greek mythology retellings, and I was immediately interested in this book when I saw that it was good for fans of Circe (one of my favorite books). Medea’s story is not one that I was very familiar with, but I have seen her mentioned in other books I’ve read. Medea as a character has a lot of depth, and I loved hearing her story and her thoughts/feelings throughout. I also loved that so many different characters and locations were introduced. I especially loved the friendship between Medea and Kip. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was very fast paced, and once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down!

This book by JJ Taylor has accomplished some of the data involving some of the tribes from the Black Sea to Greece and back with an amazing story. It starts out with an old women who is called Medea, and is also called the Priestess, Princess and Witch although at the time this is told she is a Queen. Alkippe is her maid or equal in her life. She has many meetings with her Goddesses and in each town she travels she meets another Goddess. She was told to give the golden fleece to her first future husband, Jason. This was against her fathers wishes. Taylor describes how they later fair. The struggles that they have and how her children were killed. She had 3 marriages and it was an interesting time when earth quakes were everywhere. It's an interesting story which doesn't really end.