I love Greek mythology retellings, so I was especially excited for an origin story from Medusa's perspective. While the premise is interesting and starts strong, it ultimately didn't deliver in my opinion.
The book starts off with Medusa's beginnings and does a decent job of giving her the humanity that has been written out over time. Just as you begin to root for her and become invested in the injustice done to her, the book switches to Perseus's POV and story. By the time they collide at the end of the book, the story feels disjointed. The female centric lens that was attempted wasn't executed strongly and the ending felt very rushed.
I am of the opinion that retellings should really illuminate something different about the story we think we know. While Athena's Child strives for this, it ultimately doesn't meet it's mark.

This book is not what I expected at all. Many Greek retellings today focus on telling the "unheard" side of history, whether that's just the female perspective of tragic events or a reimagining of classic stories with a twist that will make you consider how things might have been or have been told if things were a little different, I was expecting something along those lines for Athena's Child. I was expecting the male characters and the patriarchal society to be horrible, and it was. However, I was not expecting the gods and goddesses to be fickle and cruel (as they are in the Illiad and Odyssey, for example). Athena, despite her name appearing in the title of this book, is not a favorable character, and is actually the villain, which felt surprising, and at odds with the feminist undertones that it appeared the author was purposefully weaving in.

The author successfully sways readers to sympathize with Medusa's plight. However, I found it very difficult to like any other female character in this book (with the exception of Danaë, for obvious reasons). Instead of making Medusa's sisters or Athena potential feminist allies in this patriarchal society (that was unfair to them as well), Medusa stood alone as the single character willing to question her fate.

I would say that as a rule, Perseus is one of the most likable heroes: he is humble, he embarks on a quest to save his mother from an unwanted marriage, and he doesn't leave any romantic dalliances in the lurch. I was not surprised that he was presented favorably in this adaptation as well. However, it felt boring that he was the only other "good" character in this story.

Since the market is so heavily saturated with them, I expect a lot from mythology retellings. Because the plot is already established. I expect there to be something added to make it worth the retelling. While there was nothing necessarily bad about this one, I wasn't excited by it either.

This was an interesting retelling of the myth of Medusa that I read in one evening without putting it down. I love Greek mythology, and while this wasn't my favorite retelling, I did enjoy it. I will say that it left me wanting more.

This was a really good book, I was completely hooked from the first page and stayed up way to maye reading because I couldn't put it down definitely recommend

DNF at 33%

I tried several times to get into this one, including checking out the audio from my local library for the final attempt.

The writing is objectively not bad. The author has good prose and voicing.

But I just didn't like Medusa's story here. I think it was just too different from the original myth for me to get into it. In the original myth, Medusa (and her sisters Stheno and Euryale) are the daughters of a sea god and goddess. Here, she's the daughter of a mortal couple. Her sisters are still her sisters, though here they're also mortals and not the traditional immortal Gorgons.

So, not for me, but could be a good and quick read for people who don't care too much about the original myth of Medusa. I liked Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes a lot better in that regard.

The heartbreaking story of Medusa. Medusa was a lovely child, and she grew into a beautiful young woman. To save herself from lecherous suitors, she was sent to serve as a priestess of Athena. But even this wasn't enough protection. She soon caught the eye of a god, and gods tend to take what they want. As a punishment for her defilement, she is cursed with a head of snakes and the power to turn men to stone. She races away, trying to protect the world from herself, but the world won't leave her alone. Perseus, demigod, son of Zeus, is finally sent to kill her. How will this story end? Unfortunately, more death is the likely answer.

This is a quick and well written retelling of the myth of Medusa. Her story is one of the saddest, and one that has stuck with me most since my school days. Women often have so little power, even sometimes now, so it's a bit painful to read. What chance did she have against a god? I remembered less about Perseus' story, so I enjoyed that the second half of the book provided his point of view. Worth the read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5-3.75 stars

“When faced with a monster, who ever looked to see beyond the teeth and talons?” (approximately 32% in)

I really liked the first half/two-thirds of this book. The last chunk was okay, but I didn’t enjoy it quite as much. It was a concise, straightforward retelling of the myth, and the writing as well as the storytelling were both largely compelling to me. I didn’t love it as much as some other big books in this genre, but it was still a good one, and I’m potentially going to look at the rest of the trilogy at some point in the future.

Athena’s Child is a retelling of the Greek myth of Medusa.

When Medusa was a child of 13 her father took her to Athena’s temple rather than marrying her off. She enjoyed being a priestess of Athena and gave many people advice. Medusa gets tricked by Poseidon and it leads to her getting cursed by Athena. From there, she learns the depths of her curse and goes to live on an island. Over the years many heroes try to slay her only to be turned to stone.

Medusa’s story isn’t one that I was very familiar with before reading this book. I enjoyed this retelling. It is very easy to read and rather short. And I always enjoy retellings that have a feminist twist or are told from the perspective of women.

I did get confused a bit around the middle of the book because it felt like Medusa’s story ended and all of a sudden we were talking about Eurydice. But the stories do converge, it was just a little confusing until they do.

Overall, definitely recommend if your like Greek mythology or Madeline Miller!

This a wonderful retelling of Medusa's story. We usually see Medusa only as the Gorgon, the monster she has become, and the heroes she turns to stone. Lynn shows us her life before the curse. You feel that Medusa's actions are justified. You can feel the wrath towards the gods and honestly side with Medusa. I think Lynn gave Medusa a wonderful story. It was very fast-paced and the writing made it seem faster. I think Lynn wrote Medusa's emotions so well that even I felt rage towards all the other characters.

I couldn't get into this at all. It felt like the second book in a series, it just picked up from what felt like nowhere so i felt lost.

Thank you netgalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review.

I have always been fascinated with Greek mythology, and I’m a sucker for a strong FMC. I struggle with Madeline Miller books something but wanted to give this new author a shot! This was good, it was quick, and a great start to a trilogy!

Content warning: r*pe.

I've let this story sit for nearly six months now and I'm still not sure what my opinion on it is.

On the one hand, it was quick to read (given the themes I wouldn't say easy) and it had an interesting take on Medusa's myth. On the other, I'm not quite sure how much I like the feminist part of it. <spoiler>Technically, the conclusion is "we can't do anything about sexism, so we just roll with it"? And the assisted su*cide</spoiler> Very confused, but I'd recommend it to people I trust so we could discuss it. Definitely a book that made me think about things.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

This was a pretty straightforward retelling of Medusa's myth. It was pretty faithful to the original myth while also bringing some feminist themes.


Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

Athena’s Child by Hannah Lynn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow, I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this book. This book opened up perspectives that I’ve never been exposed to be before about Medusa. This story helped shine a light on the injustice that was Medusa’s life. It is sad to see the betrayal she endured for really no reason at all. Lynn’s writing also provided me to learn more about Medusa’s sisters and Perseus, all who I knew little about. Reading this makes me not only excited to read more of Hannah Lynn’s stories, but to dive deeper into learning about Medusa, her sisters, and Perseus.

If you’re a fan of Greek Mythology retellings like I am, this is one to add to your list! If you’ve only heard of Medusa being a monster, read this to see what led to her fate. This book is available now and is ready for you to add to your tbr! I already grabbed my physical copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Once a priestess of Athena, Medusa is cursed into her monstrous form after being defiled in the temple by Poseidon. She runs home to find shelter only to unknowingly curse her own family. After her two sisters are also transformed, they seek isolation on a deserted island. Meanwhile, Perseus wants to keep his mother from marrying a lecherous king and is backed into a near-impossible quest: delivering the head of Medusa as a wedding gift.

For myself, as someone who’s jumped on the recent feminist-retellings-of-Greek-tales train, I can’t say that this book offers new insights that I haven’t already read. It handles the tragedy of Medusa’s tale with sensitivity. The time and places are well researched. The second half revolves more around Perseus and his challenge. The amount of time with Perseus does take a bit away from Medusa’s tale. Besides the gods, no character is particularly unlikeable, and they all have choices to make which will define their future. Some are blessed by gods while others are cursed; some characters change drastically while others try to hold on to their humanity as long as possible. Athena’s Child is a quick read that explores the concepts of monsters born and made. There are some light feminist vibes and a message about the stories we tell.

Recommended as a light read for those unfamiliar with or who may have forgotten Greek myths. Review originally published via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/athenas-child/

This is a Medusa origin story told from a very different perspective. It provides a background on how Medusa was wronged and vilified for something that was done to her against her will. It also interestingly frames Perseus' killing of Medusa as a mercy and a sort of freedom. It's a unique and different perspective.

Lynn brings the tragic story of Medusa to life, told from her perspective. Not solely focusing on the stories of Poseidon or Perseus, Lynn brings Medusa’s relationships with her parents, Athena, and her sisters to life as central to the overall story and the critical elements of the myth of the Gorgons. Lynn, through the few moments told by Perseus, son of Zeus, even allows the “hero” of the myth to question the story he was told as he set out on the quest. Lynn’s Medusa acts her age, lives her life the only way she knows how, and, through all of this, keeps her love for her sisters as her motivation. This Medusa is not the ones present in other stories, sharing traits with the other Medusas from other retellings of the myth of the Gorgons. Lynn’s characters are the heart of the story, and she successfully brings the many familiar names and figures to life, capturing the changes in characterization and dynamics between mortals, gods, demigods, and monsters amongst the pages. Lynn’s retelling of the myth of Medusa gives her her agency back, allowing her to tell her story and her fall from divine favor on her own terms and emphasizing what really matters -- intention, truth, and family.

"Medusa grew from monsters, but she was not born of them."

Athena's Child is a mythology retelling of the story of Medusa told from the perspectives of Medusa, Danae, and Perseus. I have read various retellings of Greek myths, but this is the first novel I have encountered centred on the story of Medusa.

Athena's Child is a quick read that provides audiences with an opportunity to immerse themselves in Medusa's tale. The author's retelling incorporates pieces of the original retellings, but not in entirety. This provides an opportunity to understand Medusa's story and character in a way that goes beyond Medusa the "monster." It allows the reader to connect with the character on a level that feels relatable and more human.

Athena's Child details Medusa's life, the events that are the catalyst for her transformation into a Gorgon, and it describes how her story is interwoven with that of Perseus. It is told in such a way that gives a deeper sense of Medusa's character, providing an opportunity to feel sadness and sympathy for Medusa, for how she was treated, and the events that unfolded in her life.

Athena's Child would be the perfect read for those who enjoy mythology retellings or historical fiction.

Kind thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance reading copy of Athena's Child in exchange for my honest review.

Green mythology is one of my favorite genres to read and this did not disappoint. I loved this one and look forward to more from Hannah.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebook Landmark for an E-Arc of Athena's child. This book is split into three points of view: Medusa, Danae (briefly), and Perseus. When it comes to Medusa her point of view was so well written. Medusa, so young for her age held so much wisdom -- that's what attracted Athena. The flow of her words when it came to her point of view was amazing. A breath of fresh air, giving new depths to this character that has been terribly misunderstood. Perseus was written as a man coming of age. Different than the heroes before him -- he harbored a sense of humility. Although that didn't shine through towards the end somewhat. I've never really heard about Medusa having sisters, so this story introduced me to them. They play little roles in the story, but they still hold significance. They embraced their curse -- although not for the right reasons. I have always felt Medusa's story was unfair. This story doesn't justify Athena's actions, rather -- they're questioned. Which I love, it emphasizes just how mortal lives mean to the gods. How their slight admiration or favoritism can change in a blink of an eye. If you're an emotional reader like me, you can feel the emotions Medusa goes through. With the betrayal, the grief, the loneliness, and the realization, Lynn did an excellent job with this story. I look forward to reading her future works.