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juan_adhd_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
At the time I rated it 4 stars, but the more I thought about it, I decided to lower my rating. The reason I gave it 4 stars in the first place is because I thought the last third of the book was great, specifically after Medusa's death/beheading. Ironically, dead Medusa seems to have more personality and character development than live Medusa. To me, it seems that the author only had enough of a story to write a novella, which I personally think would've worked a lot better, but decided to add more content to make it a full novel. But this additional content doesn't really add a lot to the story of Medusa, and I would argue that it actually takes attention away from her. As others have pointed out, a vast amount of the book focuses on Athena and Perseus, and a bit on Andromeda too, to the point in which they seem to be bigger characters than Medusa.
One thing that really bothered me, is that a very large plot point of the book doesn't get resolved. Throughout the book, we are shown several times how other gods have disrespected Athena, most prominently Poseidon (by raping Medusa in Athena's temple) and Hephaestus (by being tricked by Poseidon to ask Athena in marriage, and later sexually assaulting her by ejaculating on her). After both of this offenses she vows to take revenge, and we read an entire chapter of her pondering how she'll do it, but I guess she just forgot all about that? Because Hephaustus is not mentioned again in the third act, nor any of the other Olympians who voted against her in deciding who gets the land of Athens. Poseidon loses a bit of the sea, not by the hands of Athena, but by the the other two Gorgons, and in the end he gets it back anyway. So what was the point in wasting so much time figuring out Athena's great plan to get back at the other gods, if by the end she just gets turned into a statue without doing anything about it?
Anyway, I think this book would've worked a lot better if we just kept the chapters focusing on Medusa and her sisters. Because these parts were really beautiful, showing how much love she had for her sisters, and how her sisters loved her so much back, enough to being actually able to change, when their nature is to be unchanging and unmovable. I really wanted to know their grief and emotions after Medusa is killed, but instead, we just get it passively and briefly through other narrators. So, because of this, I decided to lower my original rating, but I'm still hopeful to read other works by this author.
One thing that really bothered me, is that a very large plot point of the book doesn't get resolved.
Anyway, I think this book would've worked a lot better if we just kept the chapters focusing on Medusa and her sisters. Because these parts were really beautiful, showing how much love she had for her sisters, and how her sisters loved her so much back, enough to being actually able to change, when their nature is to be unchanging and unmovable. I really wanted to know their grief and emotions after Medusa is killed, but instead, we just get it passively and briefly through other narrators. So, because of this, I decided to lower my original rating, but I'm still hopeful to read other works by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Violence, and Grief
ashdawn's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity
taylor_perry's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Sexual harassment
icedlemonade's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcohol
ktmac0821's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
It was a bit slow moving for most of the book, but does pick up towards the end. It’s definitely an interesting take on the Perseus myth, speaking as someone who has not read the original but knows the story beats. I enjoyed it overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent
royalrainboww's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Ableism
kathinotkaaati's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Genocide, Violence, and Abandonment
mxpringle's review
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Before reading this I was already familiar with the story of Medusa, so I expected to find it just okay, but this book was incredible. Something about the writing was just enrapturing and it is the first book in what feels like forever that I simply wanted to never stop reading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexual harassment
goblinbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I want to preface this by saying that I am a major Medusa fan (if you can say that), but I truly really loved this book.
The switching between many perspectives(including her snakes and also some olive trees) , made this ancient story still feel very fresh and interesting.
The author also took a holistic approach and investigated all the surrounding myths that all contributed to Medusa and Perceus. Haynes obviously deeply cares about the content of her stories and I can't wait to read more.
The switching between many perspectives
The author also took a holistic approach and investigated all the surrounding myths that all contributed to Medusa and Perceus. Haynes obviously deeply cares about the content of her stories and I can't wait to read more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Grief, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
caitlinjohnson's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Natalie Haynes always finds a way to bring a new level of life and humanity to figures and characters that have been otherwise widely ignored or demonised. My favourite aspect of Stone Blind was that no female character was straight out demonised/evil but rather their complexities were explored with a nuance that was incredible to read.
Imo there should have been a bit more focus on Medusa herself because it felt more an ensemble rather than a deep dive into Medusa's character which would've been more intriguing. Still, the other characters that we got to meet and understand were great to read, especially because they seemed to be on opposite sides at times so it was certainly interesting to read.
Imo there should have been a bit more focus on Medusa herself because it felt more an ensemble rather than a deep dive into Medusa's character which would've been more intriguing. Still, the other characters that we got to meet and understand were great to read, especially because they seemed to be on opposite sides at times so it was certainly interesting to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment