Member Review
Review by
Ankit S, Reviewer
I believe this is the story of Princess Cyrene who was a fierce huntress and Thessalian princess in Greek mythology - 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ 4.5/5
Song for Medusa by Grace Desmarais is a beautifully crafted and emotionally resonant graphic novel that gives the familiar story of Medusa, a fresh and deeply human perspective. Instead of presenting her merely as the monstrous figure traditionally associated with Greek mythology, the book explores the person behind the myth—her emotions, vulnerabilities, struggles and the experiences that shaped her. This reinterpretation makes Medusa feel considerably more complex and relatable, while also encouraging the reader to reconsider the way her story has traditionally been told.
The artwork is one of the strongest elements of the book. The illustrations create an evocative mythological atmosphere while effectively capturing the quieter emotional moments between the characters. The combination of visuals and narrative makes the story immersive and allows the ancient setting and its characters to come alive in a very accessible way. I particularly enjoyed how the graphic-novel format adds another layer of expression to Medusa's journey, allowing emotions and symbolism to be communicated visually rather than relying entirely on dialogue.
What makes the book stand out is its ability to take a well-known myth and approach it from a more compassionate and character-driven angle. Cyrene and Medusa are both remarkably presented as per book's content. The emotional development feels meaningful, and the story leaves the reader thinking about identity, suffering, power and the consequences of how stories are remembered and retold. There are a few moments where I would have liked certain relationships and emotional developments to be explored even further, but these are relatively minor shortcomings in an otherwise impressive work. Inspired from the work of Sappho, a lady writer from the island of Lesbos, this is presented very finely with the help of graphics. However, I felt that the story ended so abruptly. It could have been extended a bit with more content.
Overall, it is a striking, thoughtful and beautifully illustrated reinterpretation of Medusa that transforms an ancient myth into an intimate story of humanity, identity and resilience. A particularly rewarding read for anyone interested in Greek mythology and graphic storytelling.
Song for Medusa by Grace Desmarais is a beautifully crafted and emotionally resonant graphic novel that gives the familiar story of Medusa, a fresh and deeply human perspective. Instead of presenting her merely as the monstrous figure traditionally associated with Greek mythology, the book explores the person behind the myth—her emotions, vulnerabilities, struggles and the experiences that shaped her. This reinterpretation makes Medusa feel considerably more complex and relatable, while also encouraging the reader to reconsider the way her story has traditionally been told.
The artwork is one of the strongest elements of the book. The illustrations create an evocative mythological atmosphere while effectively capturing the quieter emotional moments between the characters. The combination of visuals and narrative makes the story immersive and allows the ancient setting and its characters to come alive in a very accessible way. I particularly enjoyed how the graphic-novel format adds another layer of expression to Medusa's journey, allowing emotions and symbolism to be communicated visually rather than relying entirely on dialogue.
What makes the book stand out is its ability to take a well-known myth and approach it from a more compassionate and character-driven angle. Cyrene and Medusa are both remarkably presented as per book's content. The emotional development feels meaningful, and the story leaves the reader thinking about identity, suffering, power and the consequences of how stories are remembered and retold. There are a few moments where I would have liked certain relationships and emotional developments to be explored even further, but these are relatively minor shortcomings in an otherwise impressive work. Inspired from the work of Sappho, a lady writer from the island of Lesbos, this is presented very finely with the help of graphics. However, I felt that the story ended so abruptly. It could have been extended a bit with more content.
Overall, it is a striking, thoughtful and beautifully illustrated reinterpretation of Medusa that transforms an ancient myth into an intimate story of humanity, identity and resilience. A particularly rewarding read for anyone interested in Greek mythology and graphic storytelling.
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