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jules_grable's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a sucker for a retelling, so liking this book was pretty much a given for me. And I did enjoy it overall - any chance to take a look at classic stories from a different perspective is always interesting to me. Athena's Child was a quick and easy read - but it was fairly simple in its story telling and the characters, especially Perseus, were not as in depth as I would have liked. The transition between point of view characters was really abrupt and jarring. I might've preferred to see the two stories of Perseus and Medusa interspersed with each other instead of one then the other. I know the timelines don't match up that way, but I think it might've given us more time to get to know each character more in depth and increase the tension as the two timelines edge closer to each other. My other big complaint was that the title, at least for me, did not reflect the story told. I expected there to be a stronger connection between Athena and either one of our protagonists in order to warrant the title of Athena's Child. But Athena was fairly aloof and vindictive, instead of active in the lives of the main characters - too deus ex machina, not enough actual involvement, if that makes sense.
sophia_mastandrea's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a beautifully tragic way to tell Medusa’s story. It shows the complexity of women and the world they had to navigate and survive both in Ancient Greece and today. We see themes of victim blaming and women feeling like they do not have control over the outcomes of their lives. Perseus in this retelling is also interesting and not at all like the talentless “hero” that he is in traditional myth. However, he was not a hero when it mattered most. Reading this is such good timing cause I just read the Medusa chapter in Natalie Haynes’s book (I think that’s her name) in Pandora’s Jar (also great book that explains many famous women in Greek myth in more depth 11/10 recommend).
jwvandygrad's review against another edition
3.0
"When faced with a monster, who ever looked to see beyond the teeth and talons?"
This retelling of Medusa and Perseus was well written, but it was just too short for me! The story of Medusa is so sad....raped by one god and then punished by Athena for being raped inside Athena's temple. The scenes where Medusa realizes that eye contact will turn her beholders to stone and the encounter with Persues were both well written and heartbreaking.
I would have liked to see more of the interactions between the sisters. If that part of the story was fleshed out more then that would have helped bump this up to 4 stars for me.
This retelling of Medusa and Perseus was well written, but it was just too short for me! The story of Medusa is so sad....raped by one god and then punished by Athena for being raped inside Athena's temple. The scenes where Medusa realizes that eye contact will turn her beholders to stone and the encounter with Persues were both well written and heartbreaking.
I would have liked to see more of the interactions between the sisters. If that part of the story was fleshed out more then that would have helped bump this up to 4 stars for me.
darkstarsbookcavern's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed reading the lead up to the famous events of the myth, it’s something that isn’t usually touched upon – Medusa in the role of a Priestess of Athena and the circumstances which lead to that. That was interesting. Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there. The rape from Poseidon in Athena’s temple is glossed over and it’s not that I want to read an in depth rape scene but this is the gigantic catalyst which causes Medusa to be transformed into the gorgon of the myth. A pivotal moment. As is Athena’s anger at finding out that her temple has been so defiled and thus cursing Medusa. And they were over in a page so quickly that I had to go back to check that it had actually happened. Then there are so many disjointed time jumps and perspectives on people that are never mentioned again and have no bearing on the story at all.
I wasn’t hit by the marketing for this when it first came out so I wasn’t sure whether it was written as Adult or Young Adult. On starting to read it I was leaning more towards YA but on continuing it, it is barely that and reads more as if it is for children. It’s on goodreads as an adult novel and I’m sorry but no, no it’s not.
It’s supposed to be Medusa’s truth but it isn’t that, it’s a snapshot of the original myth with a bit of feminism chucked in for good measure. The characters don’t fit together, and come across as stilted and flat – even the pantheon. You don’t just get Medusa’s POV either, you get Perseus’ which is a lot more interesting and even with his story it’s borderline ok at best, and we don’t even get a conclusion for all that build up! It just stops! It reads as so unfinished and rushed that the reader is left floundering.
Full Video - https://youtu.be/f8LqdHoeDKo
I wasn’t hit by the marketing for this when it first came out so I wasn’t sure whether it was written as Adult or Young Adult. On starting to read it I was leaning more towards YA but on continuing it, it is barely that and reads more as if it is for children. It’s on goodreads as an adult novel and I’m sorry but no, no it’s not.
It’s supposed to be Medusa’s truth but it isn’t that, it’s a snapshot of the original myth with a bit of feminism chucked in for good measure. The characters don’t fit together, and come across as stilted and flat – even the pantheon. You don’t just get Medusa’s POV either, you get Perseus’ which is a lot more interesting and even with his story it’s borderline ok at best, and we don’t even get a conclusion for all that build up! It just stops! It reads as so unfinished and rushed that the reader is left floundering.
Full Video - https://youtu.be/f8LqdHoeDKo
annotatedbibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I have always tried to read any and all mythology and folklore books I can get my hands on. I cannot even attempt to explain to you how bad this out-of-body yearning for the books is. So when I saw this one on NetGalley, I had to read it. Athena’s Child is dual point of view (Medusa’s and Perseus's), you watch how both of them are manipulated, and treated like nothing but puppets by the gods. You watch Medusa try to help and save women from the same positions that she will be in later on. I have always seen Posiden and Perseus as the villains of the myth. Poseidon raped her and defiled her in a temple for women, a place Medusa thought was safe. Perseus sought out her head and slaughtered her. Through every myth and retelling, I have hated him, except this one. I am still not sure how I feel about the sympathy that was invoked. I loved how the gods were made the enemy, how they are not these divine beings to be worshipped and praised, in fact, their wrath and hubris will burn anyone in their path. My only complaint is that I wished we had seen more of Medusa’s earlier life with her sisters, their stories were not elaborated on and fell a little flat. Also, Medusa’s story has always been one of feminine rage to me. Men tried to court her when she was just thirteen, Poseidon raped her, and Athena cursed her. In all the retellings it has been about her anger will the gods. But this one was more about her guilt about the deaths that Athena had caused. Guilt for her family and the boys sent to kill her. I wish the author had written the book with that rage included, I wanted to see it flow off the page and seep into me. The writing was quick and easy to follow, you didn’t get lost in the endless names of Greek heroes and kings. I am looking forward to reading more of this author's books in the future. This book was previously published in 2020 and is part of an ongoing series of Greek women and warriors.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my ARC, I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have always tried to read any and all mythology and folklore books I can get my hands on. I cannot even attempt to explain to you how bad this out-of-body yearning for the books is. So when I saw this one on NetGalley, I had to read it. Athena’s Child is dual point of view (Medusa’s and Perseus's), you watch how both of them are manipulated, and treated like nothing but puppets by the gods. You watch Medusa try to help and save women from the same positions that she will be in later on. I have always seen Posiden and Perseus as the villains of the myth. Poseidon raped her and defiled her in a temple for women, a place Medusa thought was safe. Perseus sought out her head and slaughtered her. Through every myth and retelling, I have hated him, except this one. I am still not sure how I feel about the sympathy that was invoked. I loved how the gods were made the enemy, how they are not these divine beings to be worshipped and praised, in fact, their wrath and hubris will burn anyone in their path. My only complaint is that I wished we had seen more of Medusa’s earlier life with her sisters, their stories were not elaborated on and fell a little flat. Also, Medusa’s story has always been one of feminine rage to me. Men tried to court her when she was just thirteen, Poseidon raped her, and Athena cursed her. In all the retellings it has been about her anger will the gods. But this one was more about her guilt about the deaths that Athena had caused. Guilt for her family and the boys sent to kill her. I wish the author had written the book with that rage included, I wanted to see it flow off the page and seep into me. The writing was quick and easy to follow, you didn’t get lost in the endless names of Greek heroes and kings. I am looking forward to reading more of this author's books in the future. This book was previously published in 2020 and is part of an ongoing series of Greek women and warriors.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my ARC, I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
onemassivereader's review against another edition
4.0
Well told
This is a retelling of Perseus and Medeusa. It's both beautifully done, and absolutely heartbreaking on so many levels. Easy to read, a simple pace, the bones of the myths without becoming bogged down in the entire rambling saga. Nicely done.
This is a retelling of Perseus and Medeusa. It's both beautifully done, and absolutely heartbreaking on so many levels. Easy to read, a simple pace, the bones of the myths without becoming bogged down in the entire rambling saga. Nicely done.
livia07's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
matfromthebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25