absolutely phenomenal, read it in 24 hours and it was beautiful. i ended up sobbing twice and will be getting a physical copy of this book when it releases and have already recommended it to 2 people

This book was so phenomenal I was actually speechless when I finished. This retelling of the Medusa story did justice to the original myth, while also incorporating more modern themes and messages that fit perfectly within the story. Telling the story as Medusa being a black girl and her hair being such an important part of her identity was such a unique and poignant way of having her eventual punishment be changing her hair to snakes. Also having her be seen as "foreign" when she goes to Athens to study in the temple created this very interesting dichotomy as she learned about mortals and that world she had never been a part of. Additionally, the way Gray portrayed both consensual and non-consensual sex throughout the story was so well-done and incorporated important themes of consent and power dynamics.

Overall, I could not recommend this novel more for both mythology lovers and newbies to the genre. Having background knowledge of the myth enabled me to know where the story was going, but you can also go into the story totally blind and still understand and appreciate everything. This book was a beautiful blend of familial and romantic love, power, purpose, and strength.

ARC from NetGalley
Thank you to the author and publisher.
Publish Date: Nov 18, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Thoughts: I was pleasantly surprised with this novel. As I followed the character, I shared in the ups and downs of her circumstances. I felt joy, sorrow, desire, repulsion and more.

Plot:
Meddy is a mortal daughter of two gods who live on a remote island. She is eager for adventure and desires to leave the island. Due to an incident, she finds herself in front of Athena. She is invited to be a priestess in Athens and begins her journey to become one.

During her time there she is noticed by Poseidon, who pursues her eagerly. She doesn't know yet that this has changed the trajectory of her life. Due to this meeting, she will eventually be punished for a perceived crime by having her hair changed to snakes and is given the ability to turn people into stone. We see Meddy adjust to her circumstances. We follow her through her struggles as she comes to grips with her new ability and the outcomes of her deeds.

Praise:
- Plot, great re-imagining of a classic
- Excellent world building
- Easily able to connect with the MC and other secondary characters
- Able to feel strong emotions towards disliked characters
- Writing style
- Immersive
- Tasteful when necessary
- Difficult subjects where discussed without effecting writing style

Critiques:
- Nothing worth noting

Fav Quote:
“That's the curious thing about monsters,” she whispers. “The worst ones don't bother hiding in the dark.”

Would I recommend it to a friend?
Absolutely

“I will never be powerless again.”

For my lovers of all things Greek mythology, and misunderstood characters… this one is for YOU!

This book was such a welcome re-telling of the story of Medusa. The story does such excellent work in framing the story in how people see Medusa (maiden, mistress, monster, legend). Ayana Gray crafted such a lovely story to restore Medusa’s voice in an exhilarating and haunting way.

Though the book has themes related around abuse, sexual misconduct, and an abuse of power… it’s crafted in a way that contributes to the story and nothing more. Nothing felt as if it was “too much” in the way it was written and described. This book also has a large theme of feminism throughout the book that show how important it is in any society.

This book made me feel a full spectrum of emotions, all while completely shattering me in the end. Ayana, you crafted such a beautiful world, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.


Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Ayana for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I, Medusa is a breathtaking retelling that gives voice and power back to one of the most misunderstood figures in Greek mythology. Told from Medusa’s point of view, Ayana Gray delivers a story that is both haunting and empowering one that completely transformed how I see Medusa.

From the very first page, I was pulled into Medusa’s world. The pacing was perfect, and the storytelling was so vivid that every detail helped paint a fuller, more human version of her story. This book reminded me that monsters aren’t born they’re created. After reading it, I could no longer see Medusa as the villain history has painted her to be. She was everything we didn’t know she was and she absolutely did not deserve her fate.

The themes of feminism and the abuse of power by those in high places were woven seamlessly throughout the narrative. Gray’s writing was elegant yet easy to follow, making the story flow naturally while delivering emotional punches that lingered long after I finished reading. I experienced a full spectrum of emotions from sorrow and anger to moments of joy and empowerment. One quote that really stayed with me was: “I would never be hopeless again, I will never be powerless again.” That line sums up Medusa’s transformation and resilience so powerfully.

This is a five star read without question. I’d recommend it to lovers of Greek mythology and even those who only know Medusa as a villain with snakes for hair. This book will shift your entire perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First off, thank you to NetGallery as well as Random House Publishing Group for this eARC!

4⭐️s

I’ve never read a Medusa retelling before but I’m now glad I did. I did really enjoy this book and I think it will resonate with many people. It’s also pretty fast paced and an easy read.

My reasoning for 4 stars is that this story was purely telling. Relatively no “show” which was new to me. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, I think it makes for an easy read. But I like a good mix for both showing and telling so for me that did knock it down a bit from a 5 star read.

I liked the setup and premise of the book but ultimately I’m not sure I get super connected to Medusa. I liked her character and I was rooting for her but in the epilogue I wasn’t moved, which for me I am generally a crier over that plot point in books, though this one didn’t hit me the same.

I think if anything this book evoked a newfound rage of culture surrounding sexual assault. The blame being put on women and such as we know is the usual and obviously with those being strong themes of the book, it gives me pain that the depiction is not false. Not to mention pedophilia

Though I kinda wish I had seen more from Medusa in a feminine rage standpoint. She was angry yes, but it just didn’t feel emotionally charged. In part this may have become stilted because of it being a lot of tell instead of show. I do think from that standpoint, lots of “telling” in a book leaves me feeling like I’m missing an emotional connection to the characters.

But with all of that to say, it was a good read. I hope others who pick it up enjoy it as well. While reading, a few songs came to mind that describe this book well. Unironically for me, they are all by Taylor Swift. As follows: Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?, I Did Something Bad, Mad Woman, Fifteen, and Castles Crumbling.

Loved this! Perfect for people who understand that heartbreak and joy can be found in the same place. My full review is on TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjS3Yt9q/

i, medusa was my most anticipated release of 2025 and WOW. every expectation i had was blown far out of the water. this book is INCREDIBLE.

i have been a mythology nerd since i was a little kid. i love learning about the gods/goddesses and their extensive lore. medusa has always been a villain i found very intriguing, as we know her main functionality but very little about HER as an individual. when ayana announced this novel and how it would focus on medusa's backstory (combined with the twist that she was MADE into a "monster" rather than born one), i was immediately filled with excitement.

this story was intensely captivating from page one. for starters, ayana writes with the most stunning language. her books are not only stories, but also a form of linguistic art. every sentence, filled with detail and emotion, drew me deeper and deeper into the story. i loved learning about medusa's life on the island with her sisters and parents. her passion for knowledge and reading and the outdoors was so prevalent and enticing, to the extent that you just want her to have the chance to leave her island and see the world so badly. the historical concept of marriage as a business arrangement really set the foundation for the politicking that this book focuses on, creating a clear image of the environment the gods exist in and the very different expectations of men and women.

i loved medusa's journey in finding herself as she trained to become a priestess. we got to see her cleverness, creativity, and compassion at their best. i didn't even care about if she impressed athena, i just wanted her to be able to be herself and let the most authentic part of her shine. her friendship (...) with apollonia was also a beautiful development and offered insight into who medusa coula have been to people if those in power didn't alter her image.

one of the early turning points in this book involves a conversation surrounding domestic violence and sexual assault, themes that remain at the forefront of the novel for its entirety. i felt that ayana addressed these subjects with care but also a pointed seriousness, getting straight to the point without taking side paths. this violence occurs a number of times between several different sets of characters, and while i don't want to risk any spoilers, the incidences and their aftermath are such important representations of the way women's experiences are minimized at the benefit of men time and time again. women deserve to be heard, acknowledged, and listened to. they sure as hell shouldn't be considered marred or unclean for such experiences, and that point is touched on very well.

at its heart, this book is the story of a woman. medusa in particular, but also the story of so many women. growing up dreaming of the beautiful world we live in and its many opportunities, and coming to learn that is far more rough and difficult to move through this life than we originally believe. these experiences alter us and the people around us, and so much comes down to perspective and interpretation.

to me, even when she became "the monster", medusa was never the villain. she was a girl who had been used by various people in power when it suited them, and then her story was twisted by those same people so that she became seen as the evil one. in reality, she was the brave young woman who desired change in the world and was blinded by her admiration for others and her desire to be loved. medusa and her sisters ended up being the only three people who ever understood the truth because they were the only ones to live the story from every angle. stheno and euryale never left medusa or fell prey to the warped messages of the olympians -- they believed what they knew and trusted in.

this book was incredibly powerful and filled with themes that are very pertinent in today's society. this book was also very fun and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time i was reading. i sat down intending to read just a bit and ended up finishing in four hours, during which i did not move. i cannot wait to scream at the top of my lungs about this book to everyone that will listen.

thank you x1000000000 to random house publishing for the advanced copy!

I really enjoyed this!! I’m not big on Greek mythology and this was my first mythology retelling. This felt YA in the beginning, but the adult themes are clear by the end. My favorite thing? I loved that Medusa and her sisters were Black women with locs! Love how much pride they had in their hair, such a big part of Black culture that the author beautifully added to the story. Medusa was so young with so much to learn. I couldn’t help but think back to my childhood and relate. I was really rooting hard in spite of her circumstances. I definitely recommend this book!
I received an e-ARC copy in exchange for my honest review and I will definitely be buying the special edition when it releases. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing!

A beautiful retelling of Medusa, I was hooked from the first page. A story of sisterhood from beginning to end, I learned something new I had no idea Medusa had sisters I only knew basic information. It was about time Medusa was given her real story and was not just known as an evil villain. Ayana Grey made Greek mythology easy to understand and I appreciated the little cheat sheet in the beginning of the story. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for this advanced copy!

As a child I was obsessed with Greek and Roman mythology and so when a rash of feminist mythology retellings cropped up, I eagerly tried them all. Some were good, others felt like they featured the same woman over and over again, a one-dimensional misandrist who used hypersexuality to rise to power. But I still scoop them all up anyway because I am still kind of a mythology geek. "I, Medusa" did not disappoint and impressed me with its originality.

This book reminded me of what had enthralled me about the myths as a child - the shallow, vengeful gods who use mortals as their playthings and the valiant mortals who stand up to them. This book takes on the origin story of the monster, the villain and the legend, Medusa.

In this retelling, she is just Meddy, a child who loves her two older sisters but chafing under the control imposed by her cold and distant parents, two minor sea gods, on a remote island that she longs to escape. Completely innocent, she's never even been told what sex is. But she has a fierceness and confidence in her. When a suitor comes to her island home to court her sister, she learns he is a cruel, abusive man and she seeks to thwart the match. She accidentally kills him instead.

This sets into motion a series of events that attract both the goddess Athena and the sea god Poseidon, whom Meddy has a schoolgirl crush on. She trains to become an acolyte under Athena's temple and quickly learns the goddess's capriciousness, casting out her friend after she was raped by soldiers and blaming the victim in a clever bit of foreshadowing.

You think it'll be an age gap romance between Medusa and Poseidon, but it turns into something far darker as the sea god exploits their power imbalance. I liked how the author showed him as not just a one-dimensional evil monster, but someone who kept Medusa's hopes up in a seemingly charming act of grooming.

I loved the character of Meddy and thought she was interesting and complicated. Sometimes she could seem childish and brash but that also plays into her villain origin story nicely. I enjoyed how the men in this weren't all evil and Meddy is a courageous girl with a temper seeking righteousness. I also appreciated how this showed female friendships and the loving relationship between Meddy and her sisters. I have found the absence of that in other Greek myth retellings troubling.

I also appreciated how this really explored the diversity of ancient Greece, little touches like Meddy's sisters helping her twist and care for her locs to the discrimination she faced in Athens. But it also showed that racism back then wasn't the same as it is now.

In short this is a new favorite and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this wonderful book that breathes life and complication into the Medusa legend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

First, thank you Random Houst Publishing Group and Ayana Gray for the arc!!

I love Medusa, so I was excited for this version of her story. It was painfully sad, but i love that we got to see Medusa as this young girl just trying to find her purpose in life. This was a retelling from Medusa POV so I felt like we got the chance to feel how she was feeling too.

I really enjoy this book and I think anyone who love Greek mythology retelling will also like this one.

This was a great read but a hard read all in one. The story of Medusa is about a young girl who makes countless mistakes from being so ill informed but it’s a beautiful story that I definitely would encourage others to read.

This was a fantastic take on this tale. While it is based in myth, with the stuff of legend imbued in every aspect of it, it's still so completely human.

I, Medusa- is so beautifully written and handled with care. We all mostly know the story of Medusa but this was such a phenomenal take on her villain origin story.
I didn’t know I could sympathize and humanize my feelings for Medusa. But I did. And I love her and I want to learn more about her.
This book is written so perfectly that you don’t have to be knowledgeable in Greek Mythology to understand and follow the story. Anyone can pick this up and truly immerse themselves into Medusa’s world.
All of the characters had that perfect amount of depth, energy and dialogue that it flowed seamlessly. I could see everywhere Medusa traveled to.
And I think that’s what makes this book extra special. I’m going to think of this book for years to come.

This was such a great take a the Medusa story. The story was immersive and sucked you right in. Loved how we got to grow and change with Medusa as she was growing and changing. You really get to feel all the emotions that Medusa is feeling through all the cycles of her life. Love how the sisterly love was what really stayed strong no matter what.

I, Medusa is the heartbreaking re-telling of Medusa's story surrounding Olympian gods and the cruel games in which they play. Medusa will become your new villain turned into heroine and highlight women's struggles. Simply brilliant!

Wow—what a stunning retelling. I, Medusa is a powerful and lyrical reimagining that breathes new life into one of Greek mythology’s most infamous figures. In recent years, I’ve absolutely been living for all the feminist takes on classic myths, and this one absolutely earns a spot at the top of the list.

We all know Medusa as a monster—one of the most iconic in all of mythology. But, as this book so beautifully explores, monsters aren’t born—they’re created. This is the first time I’ve truly read a full, rich backstory for Medusa. Sure, I knew how she came to be cursed and why her image is tattooed on so many bodies, but I’d never felt her story until now. Ayana Gray gives her depth, heartbreak, strength, and fury—and once you’ve read this, it’s impossible to ever see Medusa as the villain again.

Gray doesn’t hold back when it comes to portraying the gods as they are: cruel, capricious, and disturbingly entertained by the pain of others—mortals and lesser deities alike. It’s a story full of betrayal, power, identity, and ultimately reclaiming your narrative. I was completely swept up in it.

If you’re a fan of mythological retellings that aim to set the record straight, put this one at the top of your list. Medusa has long intrigued me, but now, thanks to Gray, she’s carved out a permanent place in my heart.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my god. This book broke my heart, I loved it. This is one of the best retellings I’ve read and 12/10 the best Medusa retelling. Ayana’s writing is magnificent, I felt immersed in this world she created. Additionally, I felt connected with her characters. Whenever something happened to Medusa it hit me in the feels hard. I don’t want to spoil the story for any future readers but I will recommend reading this book. I, Medusa is a beautiful novel and I’m grateful NetGalley as well as the publisher and Ayana Gray allowed me to read the ARC. Now I am most definitely purchasing the hardcover version when it releases in November 🖤

This book was beautifully written. I love Greek Mythology and really enjoyed seeing an alternate view in this book. Following along Meddy’s journey, you are pulled into her views, emotions, and relationships. So much happens to her in such a short time. There is friendship, love, loss, growing up, and hard life lessons weaved into an intricate story of a mortal born of two sea gods.
And this part of the Author’s Note at the end was the icing on the cake:

“That Greek hero's name has been excluded from the pages of this book..” (read it to reveal the rest of the quote!.)