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dahud's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Sexual assault and Murder
animebloodqueen's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death
kyrstin_p1989's review
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
booksareoxygen's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Rape and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
bryonyindecisivereader's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
Minor: Grief and Murder
jamieleepilk's review
- 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
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abandonment
rubybooks's review
- 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
4.0
Medusa is told from her point of view, and covers her entire life from birth to death and beyond. Medusa's narration allows for reflection and introspection, because she is discussing her life from the Underworld. This contrast really allows Medusa's development to shine through, and it highlights all the trauma she suffered. Rosie Hewlett builds the story around a moment of the myth not normally focused on as much. Instead of focusing on Perseus and her quest, she focuses on Medusa and why she was transformed.
I knew the story of how Medusa became a "monster", but I imagine a lot of people don't know the details so I'm glad this book discusses it. Medusa certainly does not have an easy life, and it was definitely difficult to read about all she experienced. The story is incredibly relevant because women are constantly demonised as well as blamed when they are victims of sexual assault. I was so frustrated seeing how she was treated!
I loved Medusa's characterisation. She is both strong and traumatised, and those two things do not contradict one another. I felt so much for her throughout, and I was definitely emotional at the end of the book. I loved the moments with Perseus too and he was always one of my favourite heroes to read about. I also really liked seeing how the gods were portrayed, especially Athena, although I wish we had seen more about her and her motives!
I just wish this book was longer! It was only 200 pages, so I flew through it, but I would have loved to see even more of Medusa's life, and more development in the second half of the book because I was so sucked in to the story. Sometimes I struggle with first person points of view, and occasionally the modern language did bring me out of the story, but overall I really liked the writing style and it fit the story well.
So thank you so much to Rosie for sending me a copy for review! I also study Classics at university so I was really excited. I'd definitely recommend this book, especially if you're interested in mythology retellings and character studies. Be aware of content warnings for discussion of rape, sexual assault, and murder, but nothing is graphic.
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder
rochelle_reads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Heartbreaking. Sorrowful. Powerful.
The story follows Medusa as she retells her life that the Fates had weaved for her, but it’s not the story we’ve all come to know. This is the heartbreaking story of a woman who is abused and abandoned time and time again by the people who should keep her safe and how, despite all that damage, she still learns to love.
The story is told from Medusa’s perspective from the Underworld and the personal narrative reads like a conversation or a diary. The tone is chatty but sophisticated and fluid; it almost reads like poetry in parts, making some attempts to reflect the age and time.
I would very strongly advise people to research the trigger warnings for this story as there are some very traumatic themes and experiences explored in this book that I certainly wasn’t expecting and could be very distressing. There is a strong theme of feminism (which in places could be viewed as an agenda) and rape culture that some might find a little too forward. However, I found it to be powerful and thought-provoking, particularly the strong and accurate representation of mental health (depression, PTSD, emotional abuse, low self-esteem etc) that on some levels resonated with my own experiences.
Overall, this was a heart-wrenching book that made me feel drained and empty by the time I had finished (proceeds to hold out book and suggest you go read it) and is a story that will stay with me for a long time. It was very difficult to read some parts but I think it is a reflection of how hard life can be: some parts are sweet, some parts hard to swallow.
Rating: 🐍🐍🐍🐍
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Rape