micaelacccc's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, and Grief
Minor: Child death
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The premise of a retelling of Medusa’s story from her perspective is one that I can appreciate but the execution of it in this book was hard to get into. The writing style made reading feel like a chore even when the story itself was interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Death, Child death, Confinement, Grief, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence
adaora_ble's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
juliezantopoulos's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"But history is written by the winners. Or, more simply, history is written by men. ... The sad thing is I am not even surprised by these lies. I was not the first woman to be blamed for a man's flaws and I certainly will not be the last. ... I claimed earlier that beauty was my first curse, but perhaps it was actually being born a woman."
This book broke my heart. The cover claims Medusa as Gorgon. Killer. Monster. Victim. Survivor. Protector. Told from the POV of Medusa herself, we see her born to a mother who didn't love her, abandoned at a forgotten temple for Athena and raised by a Priestess in seclusion. Then we follow the harrowing events of her r*pe and subsequent cursing by the very Goddess she swore her life to. It's absolute bullshit.
"And how I wish this vile behavior had died out with our world, but I watch, outraged yet not entirely surprised, as the same tragedy echoes throughout generations, leaving an endless trail of broken victims and unscathed perpetrators."
I was so angry at times and at others bursting with respect for Medusa. Also, the Gods were assholes. There, I said it. I'm sure liberties were taken with the mythology of Medusa, but to be honest, I am not familiar with much of the original material or other retellings. What I do know is that this one resonated with me. It's powerful. It's raw. It reclaims things stolen from women, from victims, and it healed a part of me I didn't know was a bit broken. I highly recommend it for anyone who thinks they can handle the content. It's not an easy read but it's a beautiful one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Child death
jamieleepilk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Minor: Abandonment
bigskynavygirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
You definitely get to see a different perspective in this retelling. Unfortunately the writing style just wasn’t for me but overall the story was great. I loved the different relationships and some of the stuff was definitely hard to read. Good mark of a great writer when they really make you feel the situation the character is in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Abandonment
storieswithbee's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Genre: mythology, feminist, retelling, NA fiction/ fantasy
Age range: 16+
Overall: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Writing and Setting: 5/5
Content warning: *rape, emotional abuse, family manipulation/ gaslighting, victim blaming
The gist of my review:
Although this is a retelling of the classic myth of Medusa, this book highlights very modern issues surrounding the female experience in a male dominated world. It challenges ignorant behaviour and doesn’t allow for rape culture to be swept under the rug.
This book is Medusa’s ‘Me Too’ moment and it highlights that sharing one’s experience about sexual and emotional abuse, rape, victim blaming is never easy, its never pretty, but it’s important for some women in cathartic sense and also so their narrative isn’t lots to the change of story or dulled in any fashion.
I really admire how Rosie Hewlett handled some very delicate and sensitive topics with the utmost respect and passion. This book is a testimony to her feministic strength and should serve as in inspiration to all women.
I cannot recommend this book enough.
Some of my favourite quotes…
“I also often wonder how different my life would have been if I were born a man. Would Athena have protected me then? Would Poseidon have respected me? I claimed earlier that beauty was my first curse, but perhaps it was actually being born a woman.”
“To this day I am still amazed that women all around the world are able to tear themselves apart to form life. And yet men still think that they are the stronger sex… I mean, honestly.”
Characters: 5/5
Medusa is our main character. She is a very relatable, strong willed, yet kind woman, who was relentlessly preyed on by the Gods. Throughout the entire book I felt a profound level of compassion and want for a better life and fate for her.
Throughout myth and history we see Medusa as being a crazed monster, hellbent on ruining the lives of people, but I believe that she strongly lives up to the meaning behind her name, ‘Protector’. The depiction of Medusa is, to this day, used as a way to identity women’s refuge shelters.
Plot: 5/5
The plot closely followed alongside the myth that has been passed down through the generations. Hewett added in her own spin on the narrative itself and this served to keep a storyline in which I already knew the outcome of fresh and exciting.
Writing and Setting: 5/5
The majority of the novel was written in first person through Medusa’s view, however later in the novel there is some third person narration.
The writing used to capture Medusa’s voice was eerily life like in my head. It’s a strange concept but I honestly felt as if I was having unlimited asses to Medusa’s thoughts and perspective.
The settings were spectacular. Hewlett had done well to capture the essence and the factual aspects of Ancient Greece. The settings were not a hugely pronounced part of the book, and that’s because Medusa’s experience was the main focus of the story and simply because the character moves around a fair bit through the course of the novel.
Age range: 16+
Overall: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Writing and Setting: 5/5
Content warning: *rape, emotional abuse, family manipulation/ gaslighting, victim blaming
The gist of my review:
Although this is a retelling of the classic myth of Medusa, this book highlights very modern issues surrounding the female experience in a male dominated world. It challenges ignorant behaviour and doesn’t allow for rape culture to be swept under the rug.
This book is Medusa’s ‘Me Too’ moment and it highlights that sharing one’s experience about sexual and emotional abuse, rape, victim blaming is never easy, its never pretty, but it’s important for some women in cathartic sense and also so their narrative isn’t lots to the change of story or dulled in any fashion.
I really admire how Rosie Hewlett handled some very delicate and sensitive topics with the utmost respect and passion. This book is a testimony to her feministic strength and should serve as in inspiration to all women.
I cannot recommend this book enough.
Some of my favourite quotes…
“I also often wonder how different my life would have been if I were born a man. Would Athena have protected me then? Would Poseidon have respected me? I claimed earlier that beauty was my first curse, but perhaps it was actually being born a woman.”
“To this day I am still amazed that women all around the world are able to tear themselves apart to form life. And yet men still think that they are the stronger sex… I mean, honestly.”
Characters: 5/5
Medusa is our main character. She is a very relatable, strong willed, yet kind woman, who was relentlessly preyed on by the Gods. Throughout the entire book I felt a profound level of compassion and want for a better life and fate for her.
Throughout myth and history we see Medusa as being a crazed monster, hellbent on ruining the lives of people, but I believe that she strongly lives up to the meaning behind her name, ‘Protector’. The depiction of Medusa is, to this day, used as a way to identity women’s refuge shelters.
Plot: 5/5
The plot closely followed alongside the myth that has been passed down through the generations. Hewett added in her own spin on the narrative itself and this served to keep a storyline in which I already knew the outcome of fresh and exciting.
Writing and Setting: 5/5
The majority of the novel was written in first person through Medusa’s view, however later in the novel there is some third person narration.
The writing used to capture Medusa’s voice was eerily life like in my head. It’s a strange concept but I honestly felt as if I was having unlimited asses to Medusa’s thoughts and perspective.
The settings were spectacular. Hewlett had done well to capture the essence and the factual aspects of Ancient Greece. The settings were not a hugely pronounced part of the book, and that’s because Medusa’s experience was the main focus of the story and simply because the character moves around a fair bit through the course of the novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
The trigger warnings are there to protect readers, however this book speaks up against rape, bigotry, sexual assault, the defamation of women, victim blaming and much more.historicrabbithole1's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Really enjoyed this book. Fabulous to give this famous women a voice to tell her own story. Loved how Medusa was not victimised or idealised. She also had her flaws which made her more human and relatable, compared to the monster/victim label she receives. The character of Hermes gives a great comic relief to the story. This would make an amazing movie!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Abandonment, Body shaming, and Bullying
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