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dahud's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Murder
animebloodqueen's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death
nickdw's review
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Abandonment
micaelacccc's review
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, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death
literate_liz's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
4.5
This book gave Medusa the voice she deserves. I am a lifelong fan of Greek mythology, and Medusa’s story has always been fascinating to me. Heartbreaking and sad, yes, but also fascinating, especially when you hold it up like a mirror to the world we live in today. What makes a monster? What makes a hero? What makes history? Those are all questions I will probably have until the day I die, but I will always enjoy reading about other people’s opinions on them. “Medusa” is one I will definitely revisit again for that reason.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
adaora_ble's review against another edition
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: Bullying, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
booksareoxygen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
aaalison's review
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
(book spoilers ahead) this book was infuriating. it’s acclaimed as a feminist story which gives women the opportunity to be heard, yet it still uplifts an extremely patriarchal narrative. not only is medusa time and time again denounced and manipulated by other women in her life (mother, sisters, the very goddess she serves), but she finds herself both saved and ruined by men of well-meaning and cruel natures respectively. while i obviously do not think that victim blaming is ever acceptable, im extremely disappointed that medusa received the most flack from her very own patron goddess, athena. on the other hand, she found solace in perseus of all people?? the way they painted the one women with potential to be a powerful and guiding hand for medusa to be spiteful and crazy, while the man who killed her was perceived as levelheaded and sympathetic was extremely off-putting. these two relationships were definitely the most frustrating part of the novel, and i ultimately wish they had been different. although she does find support from women later in her story, the generally repetitive roles men and women take in her life draw a black and white world in which men are ultimately in power, and women are either manipulative or manipulated. there was so much potential to this story, (especially when u consider the other popular theory that athena actually blessed medusa by transforming her into a creature no man could ever assault again) and i’m terribly disappointed in this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
chloebethx_'s review
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-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
Honestly this novel deserves so much more attention and praise!! Rosie Hewlett is definitely being added to my favourite authors! I did not know much about this novel before starting it, other than the obvious associations the name ‘Medusa’ has, but it really blew me away with how amazing it is!
Even in such a short novel you really feel like you have seen an entire life unfold, each page seems to just contain a perfect amount of knowledge and each character is so well-developed given the length of the novel!
For those who are already on the mythology retelling bandwagon Medusa is the book for you, but even for anyone who is new to the whole concept the story is so accessible and fun, and each plot so well explained, that anyone and everyone could love this book!
Even in such a short novel you really feel like you have seen an entire life unfold, each page seems to just contain a perfect amount of knowledge and each character is so well-developed given the length of the novel!
For those who are already on the mythology retelling bandwagon Medusa is the book for you, but even for anyone who is new to the whole concept the story is so accessible and fun, and each plot so well explained, that anyone and everyone could love this book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
bryonyindecisivereader's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
“I was beautiful once.
I would not recommend it.
That might come as a surprise to you. A lot of the things I am about to tell you probably will, because there is a lot this world does not know about me. You see, my story has been retold and reimagined so many times over, sometimes even I do not recognise it.”
I was really blown away my Medusa. From the moment I opened the book, I was in love. The writing, the words, the story - all perfect.
Medusa’s story, told as it is here, is really powerful. It’s about a woman who was abused, grieving the life that she’s lost to the one that’s been forced upon her. It’s really interesting to hear the stages of her story, travelling through betrayal to anger to sadness. We also get to see her interact in different ways - as a young girl, as a sister, as a villain, as a mother - rather than just one or a couple that her retellings usually see.
I loved the tone of Medusa’s voice and how she narrates her story. I could have spent hundreds of pages in this story - but somehow, the ones that were included, felt like the perfect number. And honestly? I kind of like that it was shorter because it means I’ll be rereading it again this year without a doubt, and annotating it too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
Minor: Grief and Murder