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nostoat's review against another edition
emotional
5.0
I wrote a whole long review and then storygraph glitched and ate it 💀 In short, I love the way the myth is portrayed here, the way Athena is a goddess who simply cannot understand the powerlessness of mortal women, the way her wrath overrides any semblance of care she might have. I love too how Perseus is woven in via his mother's story, starting right with her birth; she is important too, not just Perseus.
In short, this is a feminist retelling, but a refreshing one that feels no need to tell you that repeatedly, and instead centers the women in the narrative without question or signaling.
In short, this is a feminist retelling, but a refreshing one that feels no need to tell you that repeatedly, and instead centers the women in the narrative without question or signaling.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
luna_is_superior's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This medusa retelling has my heart, the injustice the fear the mercy. Definitely a must read!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
momma_needs_to_read's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is a strong story of early feminism. When people think of Medusa, they don’t think of anything other than a snake-haired monster that turns men to stone. This retelling shines a whole new light on her. Most adaptations of the story of Medusa have her as this terrifying, horrible, monster and villain. In this adaptation, it shows up why and how that came to be.
The writing was amazing, all the emotions could be felt through the words and I felt really connected to Medusa.
I enjoyed the point of view of Perseus and, before that, his mother’s too. It added to the story and legend of Medusa and her eventual death.
This book is full of emotions which I didn’t expect. It’s also a great reminder of how, even in ancient mythology, men in great power can ruin a woman’s life and the woman is the only one that suffers.
The writing was amazing, all the emotions could be felt through the words and I felt really connected to Medusa.
I enjoyed the point of view of Perseus and, before that, his mother’s too. It added to the story and legend of Medusa and her eventual death.
This book is full of emotions which I didn’t expect. It’s also a great reminder of how, even in ancient mythology, men in great power can ruin a woman’s life and the woman is the only one that suffers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
wormlibrary's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Really torn about this one.
This is the story of Medusa (and Perseus) and that’s pretty much it. Most of the first part covers her life, almost every chapter a time jump to the next major scene. There’s not a lot of meandering, it’s to the point and the writing style is good, but just when I thought we were getting to the part that’s going to offer a new take, some deeper characterization, we go to Perseus. After time jumping through months, years, decades and ultimately millenia with Medusa, Perseus gets the narrative advantage of having a mortal life span that allows his story to be delivered in a way that doesn’t feel choppy. I actually wouldn’t have minded this, had it not been for his detour, a scene that I couldn’t wait to be done so we can get back to the meat of it.
This was a tragic, heartbreaking telling that really succinctly delivered the Medusa myth, but I’m afraid it didn’t blow me away as someone who’s familiar with this version of it. I can see people liking it a lot more than I did however and I recommend it.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is the story of Medusa (and Perseus) and that’s pretty much it. Most of the first part covers her life, almost every chapter a time jump to the next major scene. There’s not a lot of meandering, it’s to the point and the writing style is good, but just when I thought we were getting to the part that’s going to offer a new take, some deeper characterization, we go to Perseus. After time jumping through months, years, decades and ultimately millenia with Medusa, Perseus gets the narrative advantage of having a mortal life span that allows his story to be delivered in a way that doesn’t feel choppy. I actually wouldn’t have minded this, had it not been for his detour, a scene that I couldn’t wait to be done so we can get back to the meat of it.
This was a tragic, heartbreaking telling that really succinctly delivered the Medusa myth, but I’m afraid it didn’t blow me away as someone who’s familiar with this version of it. I can see people liking it a lot more than I did however and I recommend it.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
misosoupcup's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.0
Never really thought the genre niche of feminist retellings of classic greek mythology would be my thing, but i am warmly baffled by Athena's Child.
Medusa's story is heart wrenching as we watch the god's really put her through the wringer throughout the novel. When they decide to let her pass on in peace of course its with irony as we all know what happens. Of course i was expecting that this book would make me side with its female protagonist but wowie, Medusa really did NAWT FUCKING DESERVE THAT. Really enjoyed this version's take on perseus in which he is basically a naive and chaotic mama's boy.
Ended quite abruptly, and i wish there was more follow through on perseus ending his quest and returning home to save his mother. It moved quite quickly in places i would have loved some more? But also glad this book didn't veer off into places it didn't need to go, overall great read.
Medusa's story is heart wrenching as we watch the god's really put her through the wringer throughout the novel. When they decide to let her pass on in peace of course its with irony as we all know what happens. Of course i was expecting that this book would make me side with its female protagonist but wowie, Medusa really did NAWT FUCKING DESERVE THAT. Really enjoyed this version's take on perseus in which he is basically a naive and chaotic mama's boy.
Ended quite abruptly, and i wish there was more follow through on perseus ending his quest and returning home to save his mother. It moved quite quickly in places i would have loved some more? But also glad this book didn't veer off into places it didn't need to go, overall great read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
glacialis's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual assault
tashasbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Athena's Child is a feminist retelling from Medusa and Perseus' perspectives of his adventures and the gorgon villain. It is being traditionally republished after initially being self-published!
We follow Medusa from the beginning of her life, and how she became a priestess at the Temple of Athena. After she was preyed on by another god, she is cursed by Athena to life a life as a monster. Perseus is born to his mother Danae and Zeus. In order to save his mother from a horrible marriage to a ruthless king, he is tasked with bringing back Medusa's head. This story jumps from each POV.
I already was familiar with this Greek myth and have read many books similar. Greek mythology traditionally treats women as part of the men's story, and this book illustrates it well. There is an inherint patriarchal society where women must protect themselves from men's intentions and if they are assaulted, it becomes their fault. Even the gods perpetrate this, as we read in the book. I found it interesting how the author also showed how the women were entrenched in this type of society and reinforce it. After hearing Medusa's story, her own mother blames her.
I just had a huge pit in my stomach after finishing this book. Medusa is easily emphasized with in this retelling. She is forced to bear the brunt of the pain of other actions. Another part that I found unique and interesting was the relationship with her sisters/the other gorgons.
I really loved this retelling, it was very emotional and heartbreaking. This is a very quick read, less than 200 pages so I picked it up and read through it in a day. It is a short book with lots of time jumps, and I do feel it would have benefitted from being longer. In the middle of the book, I wish the characters and certain plots were more fleshed out.
The ending was so indicative of how stories and myths have treated Medusa and other women. Don't expect a happy ending (as is typical with greek myths for women). But overall, it really touched me and I very much recommend this book.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGally for proving me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
We follow Medusa from the beginning of her life, and how she became a priestess at the Temple of Athena. After she was preyed on by another god, she is cursed by Athena to life a life as a monster. Perseus is born to his mother Danae and Zeus. In order to save his mother from a horrible marriage to a ruthless king, he is tasked with bringing back Medusa's head. This story jumps from each POV.
I already was familiar with this Greek myth and have read many books similar. Greek mythology traditionally treats women as part of the men's story, and this book illustrates it well. There is an inherint patriarchal society where women must protect themselves from men's intentions and if they are assaulted, it becomes their fault. Even the gods perpetrate this, as we read in the book. I found it interesting how the author also showed how the women were entrenched in this type of society and reinforce it. After hearing Medusa's story, her own mother blames her.
I just had a huge pit in my stomach after finishing this book. Medusa is easily emphasized with in this retelling. She is forced to bear the brunt of the pain of other actions. Another part that I found unique and interesting was the relationship with her sisters/the other gorgons.
I really loved this retelling, it was very emotional and heartbreaking. This is a very quick read, less than 200 pages so I picked it up and read through it in a day. It is a short book with lots of time jumps, and I do feel it would have benefitted from being longer. In the middle of the book, I wish the characters and certain plots were more fleshed out.
The ending was so indicative of how stories and myths have treated Medusa and other women. Don't expect a happy ending (as is typical with greek myths for women). But overall, it really touched me and I very much recommend this book.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGally for proving me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
readbyella_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
lilbookishdragon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
escapingreality_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Un retelling della storia di Medusa che non conoscevo e che mi ha colpita molto. La figura di Medusa mi ha sempre affascinata e quando ho visto questo libro in libreria, non ci ho pensato due volte e l’ho comprato.
È una lettura molto semplice e scorrevole, mi aspettavo però un qualcosina di più dalla storia. Avrei preferito fosse un po’ più lunga.
È una lettura molto semplice e scorrevole, mi aspettavo però un qualcosina di più dalla storia. Avrei preferito fosse un po’ più lunga.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault