4 stars to this beautifully-written retelling of Medusa’s story. For a mythological character that appears in so many stories, I was surprised to realize that I know almost nothing of her background and even less of her progression from human into what the typical epics and retellings describe as a “monster.” While this coming-of-age tale wasn’t always easy to read due to the brutality and violence depicted on-page, all of the events unfold to give depth and understanding to the titular character and most of the conflicts are still relevant in today’s society. My only issue with the book was the pacing, particularly in the first half after such a spectacular prologue.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

First let’s give it up for one of my favorite book covers I have probably ever seen. Then we’ll clap for the legend herself - the mortal, the maiden, the mistress, the monster, Medusa. 👏🏼👏🏼

Rounding this one up to a 4! ⭐️

A beautifully simple yet layered retelling of Medusa that I’m sure many will read and find pieces of themselves and their own experiences intertwined throughout.

I’m a sucker for mythological retellings from the female perspective and this was right up that alley. While I deeply appreciated and loved the agency given to Medusa and the themes touched on throughout her life, the story telling was just okay for me. It was digestible and straightforward but I also think it felt very young and lacked some of the emotional impact it was supposed to have.

⭐️ Characters - I felt Medusa was written really well. Reading from her perspective gave a great point of view. She was relatable and easy to empathize with. I felt character focus was spread evenly throughout the first half of the book but towards the middle-to-end it tapered off and I was left feeling like I didn’t know some of the characters the way I should have.

⭐️ Plot - I really enjoyed the overall plot but had a few issues with how time moved as the story progressed. The beginning of the story was extremely descriptive and immersive with plot events but as the book moved forward the pacing went too quickly and some of the biggest events felt rushed and a bit surface level. The ending in particular left me feeling unsatisfied with how fast and punctuated things were.

⭐️ Writing
- Medusa is a young character in this book spanning from mostly 17 - 18 years old, so while I understand looking through a younger lense, the writing still felt a bit too young for what the story held.
- In terms of writing style, there were times I forgot I was reading about an ancient myth. The writing felt very contemporary, it was well done, but not my taste for reading about Medusa.

💫 Overall I really enjoyed this. It is no easy task to take on a retelling, especially one as big and well known as Medusa. But this gave a new and empowering point of view that humanized “the monster” and I deeply appreciated that. I do just wish it dug a bit deeper and focused a bit more on the “aftermath” of the curse.

I, Medusa by Ayana Gray — A Myth Reclaimed and a Voice Restored

First Impressions
I approached I, Medusa with curiosity rather than expectation. Medusa, the infamous gorgon with snakes for hair, has always fascinated me, but mostly through modern retellings where gods sometimes felt more humanized. I had never truly sat with her original story — until now. What I found shattered me.

From the very first pages, there was a quiet, haunting beauty to how Medusa’s story unfolded. Her world, her voice, her vulnerability — it all felt painfully real. As I read, my sense of injustice grew. How could someone so gentle-hearted be punished so mercilessly? I longed for justice, for vengeance, for balance — but it never came. Instead, I was left with a devastating truth: Medusa was a girl who loved, hoped, trusted — and was broken by a world that didn’t deserve her.

Cover
Before knowing the story, the cover alone enchanted me. It’s a stunning design — regal and tragic — that whispers Medusa’s story in every brushstroke. Bold yet elegant, rich with symbolism, it promises a myth lived anew. This book is not just a read; it’s a work of art, inside and out.

Characters

Medusa
Medusa’s journey is extraordinary. She begins as a soft-hearted, naive girl with dreams and hope, evolving into a fierce, misunderstood figure of power. What touched me most was how human she felt: laughing, loving, fearing, mourning. Her pain was so vivid that I often had to pause and breathe. When she gave up love for solidarity with her sisters, it felt like reclaiming power in a world that sought to break her. Her hatred at the end was justified — I rooted for her fury, even if the story focused more on her compassion than vengeance. Medusa finally has a voice here, and it’s unforgettable.

Her Mother
Though a smaller role, Medusa’s mother left a deep emotional imprint. An ancient, tired soul, she bore grief that felt bone-deep — a creator of children labeled monsters and hunted. Her emotional distance was painful, yet Medusa clung to a quiet longing for her love, echoing real-life complexities of seeking affection from those who struggle to give it.

The Sisters
Their bond added complexity and heartbreak. Their loyalty was fierce, but their characters felt somewhat overshadowed by Medusa’s story — as if their love stemmed more from grief and guilt than shared growth. Still, their pain and devotion were real and haunting, adding to the bittersweet tragedy.

Athena
Athena’s portrayal was complex and unsettling. I expected wisdom and fairness, but found cruelty and selfishness. Her punishment of Medusa after the assault felt like a betrayal deeper than Poseidon’s, highlighting the harsh realities of power and ego cloaked as justice. Athena’s narcissism and demand for respect — while denying Medusa’s pain — was a painful and thought-provoking twist on divine authority.

Poseidon
My prior perception of Poseidon as flawed but redeemable was upended. His assault on Medusa was a gut punch — raw, devastating, and disturbingly familiar. He was careless, treating Medusa as a passing thrill rather than a person. Yet, the brief flicker of protection and tenderness made his betrayal even more wrenching. Poseidon is not just a god here — he’s a mirror reflecting systemic injustices we still face.

Plot: A Slow Burn of Injustice
This is not a tale of swift battles or grand revenge, but a slow, aching unraveling of a girl becoming myth. The emotional weight is heavy and unflinching, focusing on witnessing Medusa’s stolen innocence and denied justice. The quiet moment where Medusa chooses her sisters over love was one of the most powerful. This book breaks you and rebuilds you — and it worked.

World-Building: Ancient and Intimate
Ayana Gray’s world is felt, not just seen. The temples, islands, and gods are vivid yet gently woven through Medusa’s eyes. The emotional landscapes of grief and isolation become tangible places you step into. Despite the cruelty, a quiet beauty threads through the story, making the world part of Medusa’s transformation.

Deep Moments That Stayed With Me
Several scenes shattered me — especially when Athena punishes Medusa instead of protecting her. I had to step away from the book to process that betrayal. Medusa’s choice to sacrifice love for vengeance was oddly empowering, giving space to feel righteous anger without shame. And the ending — so true to the myth, so crushing — cemented Medusa as a symbol of suffering, strength, and a voice denied but never silenced.

Writing Style
Ayana Gray’s prose hooked me immediately. The style is smooth, accessible, and evocative without heavy ancient jargon, making it easy to fully immerse in Medusa’s world and emotions.

Conclusion: A Monster No More
I, Medusa isn’t just a retelling — it’s a reclamation. It gave a voice to a figure long misunderstood and silenced. Medusa is no villain here; she is a girl, sister, victim, and fighter who deserved tenderness but found tragedy. This book is necessary for anyone who loves mythological stories with heart and soul, stories that confront injustice with grace, and heroines who are flawed, fierce, and unforgettable.

I cried. I raged. I was transformed.

Rating: 5 out of 5 — a permanent place on my shelf.

Thank you to Random House for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

If it's mythological retelling, I'm in. If it's specifically Greek mythology, the world stops until I've finished reading. So when I was offered a copy of I, Medusa by Ayana Gray, I could not have been more excited. A searing and poetic reimagining of one of mythology's most maligned figures did not disappoint. The story begins with Medusa as a teenager, still home with her parents and sisters, young, impressionable, and innocent. When a prince visits to court Medusa's elder sister, an accidental death sets the wheels of fate spinning and the Olympian gods upon her. This retelling strips away the monstrous veneer we have been fed throughout the ages and exposes the girl underneath, vulnerable, eager to please and tragically exploited.

Gray doesn't merely retell the myth, she reframes it through the lenses of trauma and imbalance. She highlights the brutal indifferences of Athena, her patron and Poseidon, her King. Themes of female rage, friendship and reclamation burn through the narrative, especially in the tender and painful portrayal of the bond between Medusa and her sisters, or as they are more recognizably titled The Gorgons.

While beautifully written and beautifully paced, this is not an easy read. This is a book unflinching in it's depictions of SA, misogyny, racism and the inherited hate that women endure across time. However, the journey feels completely necessary as Medusa, at last, is given a voice and it echoes with fury, sorry and truth. 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and RandomHouse for the early release read.

There are so many stories about Medusa and her story about killing the men that come before her but, no one really thinks about the history of how that came to be so much. I loved this story and for the first time, I am siding with Medusa because the claims before her just being a monster was no reason not to like her in the beginning. It truly was not her fault why she was like that in the first place. But, as gods and goddesses will be cruel and unwavering, she became the bad guy in all of this and it was Poseidon. I really hated that he showed his true colors and I hated Medusa for being naive but she was so shielded from so many things, she cannot be faulted.

I loved this book and each day, I kept coming back to it. I will be getting this book when it drops just to have it when I want to re-read or have my children read. This is awesome.

Once again, Ayana did the dang thing! I ate this book UP!!! Omg if she ever chose to expand the world from this book, I would be here for it. Her storytelling along with her worldbuilding is something that needs to be taught. (aka me teach me! lol) Meddy only want to be wanted to be free from the island that she was on with her older sisters and her distant parents. I hate that Poseidon did that to her, yet I know Ayana had to tell the story of Medusa. Her comeback was amazing though! Medusa was always my favorite Greek Mythology tell and the way Ayana mixed the original story with her own was dope as hell me. I also love the diverse cast. Bravo Ms. Gray! You did the damn thing!

How do I even begin to give justice to this retelling? I don't think it is possible to sing praise for this book enough. Many women are familiar with the aching tragedy of Medusa, and too many of us can relate to her situation, her loss, her trauma in a way that is close to heart. But here, Gray has created a retelling that is so beautifully written that the tragedy and trauma of Medusa find a balance in love, survival and the story of the overcomer.

" I will never be helpless again. I will never be powerless again."

There is a certain power when a person comes through the fire, rises from the ashes; when they survive the shattering and piece themselves back together again. Gray does not hold back in this retelling. She explores the viciousness of the gods, the abuse and misuse of power and Medusa.

I just don't think any amount of praise can do this retelling justice. I hope that Tik-Tok doesn't let this slip through the cracks and that this author and book gets the praise it deserves.

I love mythology and Gray's story of how Medusa comes to find her purpose in life is so creative. There are many elements that can be seen in what is happening in the world today. I think how she chooses to address non-consensual sex, rape, power and authority is very thoughtful.

What a stellar retelling!! It was so emotional. She is such a good mythology writer! Loves the feminist themes!

Short version: Men.

Longer version: I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Prose was lyrical; it's as if the author wanted to guide me through the story and all I need to do is sit there and enjoy it.

Despite her courage and determination, Medusa was young, naive, lacked common sense and made extremely poor decisions. Due to this, she had fallen victim to the cruelty of the gods. Medusa has always been one of my favorite tragic characters. You can't help but empathize with her and her sisters. The author did a wonderful job retelling the story of Medusa.

Overall, I think this was an enjoyable read. Will be on the lookout for more books by Ayana Gray.

You know when you just know a book is gonna break your heart, but you can’t stop reading it anyway?? I could tear up just writing about this book—I, Medusa is captivating, hauntingly beautiful, and an absolute masterpiece of mythological storytelling.

In this retelling we get to see Medusa as more than just a monster—a human, a sister, a partner, a friend, & most of all a girl just trying her best to make her way through the world. My heart is left shattered, but at the same time fulfilled by this representation of Medusa—a young Black woman who finds power in her curse, and forges her own path. The transformation of powerlessness into power is utterly beautiful. & the redirection from Medusa as a cruel monster into Medusa as a woman with a vengeance!! Chefs kiss!!

And lastly, the relationships in this book are everything to me! I can feel the warmth & connection seep through the pages. This is a book I will absolutely look back to again and again for the unwavering sisterhood & absolute love between characters. I cannot recommend enough!

4.5/5 stars!

Medusa has grown up around gods. As the only mortal daughter of two minor sea gods, Medusa (Meddy) has grown up with her two immortal sisters and parents on an isolated island. Despite her love for her sisters, Medusa dreams of being able to leave the island and use her short mortal life to make her own choices and see all she can see. So when Medusa impresses the goddess Athena and is offered a position to train as a priestess in Athens, Medusa jumps at the chance. Unfortunately for Medusa, Gods like to play games with mortals and Poseidon has noticed her too.

I, Medusa by Ayana Gray is a humanizing look at one of the most famous Greek “monsters.” It’s also an insightful look at power and how those who have it can wield it in the worst ways. We follow Meddy from maiden, to acolyte, to priestess, and then to monster. While this book is being marketed towards adults, the writing style feels YA. However, some of the content is not. Maybe New Adult would be the better category for this, but I wish the writing style was a little more developed as a result. It was easy to read, yes, but too baseline in a lot of ways. I’ve always had a great deal of sympathy for Medusa and her plight, so I’m struggling with the fact that I did not enjoy this more. She has always been a tragic figure for me, so I think I struggled with Gray’s decision to make Medusa as naive and lacking in common sense. Medusa may have grown up on an island, but that island was populated by two older sisters, a multitude of slaves, and two sea gods, who liked to throw parties for their fellow gods known for debauchery and you mean to tell me that Medusa did not have any clue what sex was at the age of 17. Her entire purpose before being discovered by Athena was to be married off. I can suspend my disbelief for a lot, but I really struggled buying Medusa’s level of naïveté. She was also expressly warned not to leave the acropolis by Athena herself and seemed to take the goddess very seriously and then the next chapter, she was sneaking out again. I really struggled in the middle part of the book with her characterization as a result. Her lack of common sense coupled with her naïveté made her difficult to follow for a bit. The middle part of the book also dragged, which may have enhanced this feeling of frustration for me. One thing I did really like about Medusa’s characterization though, was her rage. Gray really wrote that aspect of her character from maiden all the way to monster very well. I could feel Medusa’s anger at the injustice of the world. Anger at being unable to choose her own path, anger at being groomed, anger at being taken advantage of, and anger at always being a pawn in someone else’s game. Gray also used foreshadowing and symbolism expertly. Connecting Medusa’s pride in her beautiful locs and the importance of how she associates her hair with her love for her sisters makes her eventual transformation even more painful and cruel. Another thing that Gray did that I loved was actually utilizing the diversity that would have historically been found in Ancient Greece at the time, adding some strong characters and layers to Medusa’s story. Overall though, I still feel a little disappointed. The final portion of the book was so powerful, but it still felt too surface-level and too brief. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this early! I, Medusa releases in November 2025. 3/5 stars

If you love mythology and the story of Medusa, you will love this book and you're in for an entirely new experience to her tale.

This is a gripping, well-written and imagined story of Medusa, one of the infamous evils in Greek Myth. This story breathes life into Medusa and creates a rich world full of angry gods and vengeful people. Medusa, or Meddy, is innocent to the world before it turns on her and she comes into her power. We root for her even until the end.

The author doesn't shy away from the ruthlessness of the gods, the plight of Medusa at their hands. It's truly like a villain origin story where we remember villains aren't inherently evil, they're turned that way. Medusa is no different.

With sweeping prose, depth of emotion and staggering world building, I, Medusa is a book you must get your hands on during its release. It's amazing.

Thank you so much to Random House and Netgalley for the ARC. This book is it yall!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I'd rate this book a 3.5 star!! Well-written and fun to read, but probably wouldn't re-read.

This was a really fascinating retelling of Medusa's story. I don't know too much about her myth, besides the basics and how she was portrayed in the Percy Jackson movies (lmao). But it was a pretty brutal retelling that gives her a lot more depth and dimension as you learn about the abuse and environment she grew up with.

Even though there obviously is fantastical element to this book, many of the rooted issues/conflicts are REAL and that's what I found fascinating about this book.

The book cover is beautifully designed!
I think we all have read about Medusa the monster that turns men to stone within a blink of an eye.
In this story we get a look into Medusa's family life. We get see the love her sisters have for her, the cruelness of her father and the misguided love from her mother. The story tells the family's history and how they came to be the lesser Gods. Medusa has a fire inside of her to help those who need it and to right injustices. We also get to see how naive she truly is which is so sad because that caused her to make some questionable decisions. Her innocence blinded her to the true nature of Athena and Poseidon. They both used her and tossed her to the side when she no longer served a purpose. In the end Athena wanting to use Medusa again was her downfall. I would recommend reading this book with an open mind do not go into this book wanting the same old Medusa. To me this is softer and equally sad.

A vivid retelling of Medusa's origins that deconstructs the historic ideas of what a woman was meant to be back then. Seeing Medusa come into her own through community, trauma, and self assurance.
A tale that Im sure most women can relate to and find power in.

in a sea of “feminist” retellings that are either regressive or, worst of all, boring, ayana gray brings us an excellent, entertaining tale of medusa that doesn’t woobify or whitewash the gods into something they weren’t. these gods are brutal, cruel, and utterly inhuman — arrogant, cold, hypocritical, yet still with moments of softness and genuineness that makes it difficult to hate them. plus, our protagonist meddy is an absolute delight as she grows and deals with her lack of agency in situation after situation, a reality for so many women even back then.

While this book wasn’t my cup of tea, that was purely based on preference. I think this book will be well loved and well received by lovers of mythology and retellings. There was great character development and a fantastic, memorable twist. I rated this highly despite my preference because I can’t argue with a good story.

Ever since reading Percy Jackson, I grew up loving to read modern retellings of ancient myths, so when I saw this book I knew it was something I wanted to read. I already knew the major plot points of Medusa’s story, so I knew what the end of her story looked like. I wish her ending could’ve have been flipped on its head and she was able to survive physically, but she still lives on through her sisters and as a legend.

This female-rage and empowerment spin on a classic myth was executed pretty well. I liked how the author used historically universal topics such as the rape of women, power and age imbalances in relationships, and the xenophobia of foreigners because it reflects prevalent issues in society we still see today. The authors goal to have modern readers see themselves in Medusa’s story has been done well in this aspect. I, myself felt rage when reading about the injustices Medusa faced at the hands of Athena and Poseidon. Not only doors their cruelty reflect how women, and victims, are blamed for a man’s, but also rapists in general, transgressions. It also reflects how other women and many bystanders perpetuate this cycle by never believing the victim and giving into to the abuser just because they have more power, money, or influence.

I did think Medusa’s naïveté felt inaccurate to what I knew about the myth, but I think that’s exactly the point. She’s supposed to reflect the young naive girl who doesn’t know better, and gets taken advantage of in the reality of the world.

I didn’t really like her propensity for using violence as the only solution. I understand in the time period she’s in it makes sense, and it’s a way for her to reclaim her power. I just don’t think that message of violence as a “do to others, what others do to you” works as a lesson in today’s age. But I do appreciate how this books makes you reevaluate what it means to be a monster. They are sometimes the product of experience and circumstances, and Medusa’s story shows that she can use this misconception of her to regain herself.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I looooved this book! Medusa is such a ubiquitous character in Greek mythology but this story reimagines her life in a way I never would have imagined. Medusa is given a complex story and this book really makes me appreciate that there’s always a different perspective for every tale.