I Love a retelling, and a “Villian” origin story. Medusa is also the embodiment of feminine rage, so I was very interested in reading this book. I am not usually the audience for a YA fantasy and there an only a few YA stories that I enjoy as an adult. This was definitely one of them. It wasn’t fast paced or action packed, but it was profound.

As a mother, and knowing the tragedies that occur in Medusa’s most popular reiteration, watching her put herself In dangerous situations was nerve racking. It is a really tragic coming of age with an important message for young people. The way the story shows the signs and evolution of predatory grooming could teach young people what to manipulations look out for, and the dangers of older men. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random house for the Advance Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was absolutely wonderful! I have been struggling to find a Greek mythology read to grip me like Circe by Madeline miller. Medusa is such an interesting and fierce character. I am so grateful to have gotten an arc!

Thank you for the chance to read and review this book. Author Ayana Gray transformed Medusa into a fierce black queer woman. I, Medusa, was lyrical and emotional. I have always been fascinated by Greek mythology, so I jumped at the chance to read this version of Medusa's story. Meddy was a loving family girl who was invited to be an acolyte and eventually, after undergoing tests, a Priestess in Athena's temple. At the temple, she made a friend and started seeing and learning new things, things she couldn't witness while living on her island. She was sought out and fooled by Poseidon, defiled, and was punished along with her sisters by the Goddess Athena. Medusa and her sisters went on to kill every man visiting their island until Meddy is reunited with her friend Apollonia, and things start changing for the better for her and her friend. Meddy then learns of a priest defiling women and decides to punish him, and she returns home to her sisters to protect Apollonia. Sadly, she meets her untimely end in her bed on her family's island. I loved being able to read about Medusa's soft side, her loving and loyal side.

It's been a long time since I haven't been able to put a book down, but that happened with I Medusa. It tells the story of Medusa, known as Meddy, at the age of seventeen, the daughter of two minor gods, and the youngest of three girls. She is also the only mortal in the family. The family is isolated on an island and see very few outsiders, but Athena comes to a party and asks Meddy to come to Athens to train as an acolyte in her temple.
Athens is a new life for Meddy and she prospers as the favorite of Athena. She becomes a priestess and is thriving, but unfortunately catches the eye of Poseidon, who seduces her. No longer chaste, she is punished by Athena, who changes her hair, her greatest pride, into snakes.
Beautifully written, you see Medusa as the naive girl who led a sheltered life and was unwittingly tricked by Poseidon.
A heartfelt thanks to NetGally and Random House Publishing for this advanced readers copy.

3.75 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

It has been a long time since I read the story of Medusa, and I only remembered bits and pieces coming into this book. Gray did an incredible job bringing layers and nuance to Medusa's story. I really appreciated the Author's Note at the end describing the different accounts of Medusa in Ancient Greek writing, and how she chose to use those to bring Medusa fully to life as a complete, complex character.

There was a lot of still poignant social commentary in Medusa's story, from her desire and fight for agency to her inevitable casting as a villain. I highlighted several lines about women's roles in society, both by men and by women perpetrating the patriarchy.

Unfortunately, must of the storytelling fell flat for me. There was so much opportunity to bring a sharp fierceness to Medusa, but somehow, it still lacked a bite. There was an evenness to Medusa's tale that I wanted upended. The pacing of the book felt very slow for the first half of the book, but right around 50% things picked up for me. I kept thinking that was when we would see her feminine rage in all its glory. Even when she becomes a "monster," she still feels subdued and smothered.

I didn't grasp the purpose of Medusa's relationship with Apollonia. It felt like a side quest that only resulted in more heartache for Medusa.

Please be conscious of the trigger warnings for this book. Certain elements are integral to Medusa's story, but are extremely dark themes.

I read this book as a fan of mythology. I learned a lot about Medusa and her sisters, as well as the nefarious tricks that the Greek gods play on mortals and each other.

*I was gifted an arc copy of this book*

If you don’t know the story of Medusa I would highly encourage you to read this. This was easy to understand and held a powerful story. It very much gave the vibes of Circe.

This is everything I wanted in a Medusa retelling. It was beautiful. Filled with prose. I loved it so much. Read this book!

I received an ARC copy of this book and couldn’t be happier I did. It was a great story. Retelling of known stories and myths is one of my go-to genres and I have to say that I, Medusa is currently in the top 5 of all time now. You get the story you know of Medusa but so much more. And I enjoyed every bit of it.
After reading this I’m surprised that the idea of younger, pre-cursed Medusa hasn’t already made its way to the general storytelling, in either novels or comics or even CW shows. Seems to be a perfect story and Gray did an amazing job sharing it.

Immaculate. I, Medusa is an immaculate book.

I could honestly stop there. Thats all you need to know.

Gorgeous prose, perfect pacing, amazing character depth, an expertly woven narrative, and poignant symbolism and themes. There is nothing about this book I didn’t love.

Hands down the best Medusa retelling I’ve ever consumed.

GO READ THIS BOOK!

Maiden. Mistress. Monster. Myth.

“Your voice and your truth will never hold weight unless you also learn to hold power.”
“I will never be helpless again. I will never be powerless again.”

I, Medusa is a bold and compelling retelling of one of Greek mythology’s most misunderstood figures. This book was a solid 4.5-star read for me—fast-paced, thought-provoking, and emotionally charged.

Ayana Gray does a brilliant job reimagining Medusa’s origin story. What stood out most was the critique of power dynamics between the gods, mortals, and immortals. The gods, revered and worshipped, are depicted as petty, cruel, and deeply flawed. They create chaos, exploit those beneath them, and above all, devalue women.

The treatment of women in this book—particularly by the gods is infuriating. They are discarded, violated, and silenced, with no space to exist safely or powerfully. Medusa enters the story as a naive young woman, eager to leave home and forge her own path, only to be betrayed, stripped of her rights, and punished for a crime committed against her.

And yet, through her pain and transformation, there’s a powerful reclamation of identity. Medusa’s journey is one of rage, grief, and ultimately defiance. She becomes something feared not because of her weakness, but because of her power.

I loved how the story emphasized that while gods ruled from on high, it was mortals and lesser beings who paid the price for their whims. And yet in the end, the gods’ relevance fades. Their dominance crumbles and they become obsolete.

From start to finish, this book captivated me. The pacing was perfect and the writing impactful, and I found myself empathizing with the women in this story—rooting for their survival and justice even knowing how mythology traditionally ends.

This was a fierce, feminist reimagining that left a mark. Highly recommended

I could not get into this. I’m not sure why, it didn’t engage me and felt sterile. I didn’t finish. I love Medusa and Greek mythology but couldn’t connect.

This book was such a beautiful retelling of Medusa’s story. I have read many depictions about her but never knew about her servitude to Athena. I loved the way everything was written, you felt like you were a fly on the wall watching everything play out. My only qualm is that it was slow in the beginning and took a minute for me to be engaged.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC

Spice: a little with minimal detail
Language: i can’t remember any
Method of Consumption: Kindle
Published Nov 18 2025

HOLY BEAUTIFUL CRAP, BATMAN! This book was obviously a passion project. The research and respect to its source material is evident on every page. I especially love the agency that was given to Medusa and her sisters. Each character, no matter how difficult their name was/is to pronounce, felt like an actual person, with motivations and dreams. She's finally more than just a monster.

This one? Whew. It’s amazing, it’s feminist, it’s myth turned inside out. Ayana Gray gives Medusa her own voice—finally. We’re not getting the victim or the monster here—we’re getting the woman who remembers everything. There’s rage, yes, but there’s also a reclamation of power in the most poetic way. The story is haunting but beautiful, and it leans into that atmospheric dread I love, especially when the world keeps gaslighting her into silence.

It doesn’t rely on cheap drama. Instead, it builds slowly, like a storm cloud you feel before you see. And the way it dives into how trauma is transformed and retold? Chef’s kiss. Not horror, but there’s a heaviness to it that stays with you—like a curse and a blessing at once.

“I was not born a monster. I became one the moment I stopped being useful.”

4.33 stars

"That's the curious thing about monsters. The worst ones don't bother hiding in the dark."

A huge value of this book is that you can gift it to people who need education on consent and sexual assault without having to tell them these topics are discussed in the book *cough* any non-understanding fathers? *cough*

The book elevated itself to greatness in the third act. The opening scene tied in so well with what we knew would happen to Medusa, yet as the audience you might be begging her to let it go and live without vengeance.

The book was ultimately successful in conveying interesting messages about autonomy, purpose in life, and family. I also greatly appreciated how it added diversity to a Greek myth retellings, the issues of which were very easily translatable to modern times.
I will be recommending this book to anyone who wants to read female rage literature and Greek myth retellings!

Such a beautiful retelling highlighting individualism, feminine rage, and friendship. The highlight of Meddy's hair really stood out compared to other retellings. Adored how Meddy felt unique from other Medusa stories

Immaculate. I, Medusa is an immaculate book.

I could honestly stop there. Thats all you need to know.

Gorgeous prose, perfect pacing, amazing character depth, an expertly woven narrative, and poignant symbolism and themes. There is nothing about this book I didn’t love.

Hands down the best Medusa retelling I’ve ever consumed. One of the best books I've read all year!

GO READ THIS BOOK!

*Hopefully the finished edition will include content warnings, but in the mean time. Please read with care there is are heavy themes within, including on page SA.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

At once a formidable literary retelling and a reflection of modern relevancy- with I, Medusa Ayana Gray joins ranks with Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint.
The story of Medusa is prolific in many of the most famous Greek retellings of recent years, however we have never seen her like this before. With a tenderness that I believe so many of the vilified women of past stories deserve, through I, Medusa we are able to give this famous character a vivid back story in recognizable setting of an ancient Greek landscape.
The setting and story are largely well executed throughout, though pacing suffers a bit in the second act. Where this book really shines is through the characters and their relationships.
While I've seen some describe this as a 'villains origin story', the greatest lesson to be found in Gray's newest book stated plainly "The worst {monsters} don't bother to hiding in the dark". In fact, I find Meddy to be wildly relatable and charming, especially for younger readers.
I will carry I, Medusa with me for quite some time, and am so happy to find more of these retellings giving reverence to the characters of old.

I loved this retelling of the Greek legend of Medusa. Medusa has been portrayed as a monster in most popular versions of the story. Ayana Gray has done a fantastic job of making her human. You can actually relate to her aspirations and dreams and failings as also the tragedy that befalls her. The tone of the novel is a bit YA and at times it felt like reading the Percy Jackson series. However it does deal with mature concepts like equality between the sexes, gender discrimination, racial bias and the exploitation of women. I read the whole story in one sitting and definitely looking for more from this author.

Thanks you Random House for the ARC.