I have always had a love for Greek and Roman Mythology. I had my first taste of it in my senior year of high school and have loved it since. Now I have not exactly explored all the tales within the mythology realm, focusing on more of Hades and Persephone. Still, I will admit that Rick Riordan's take on the mythological realm reignited that love.

Some believe that monsters are born monsters.

That some creatures arrive on this earth with a darkness so all-consuming in their heart that no mere mortal's love could ever hope to tame it. These souls, they believe, cannot achieve redemption and do not deserve it. They are beasts, intent on causing chaos for all who cross their paths. They are vengeful and hate-filled, deserving of nothing except our contempt.

Medusa was never the monster in the beginning. Instead, she was a beautiful young woman whom her father wished to protect from males that offered her hand. He thought having her become one of the priestesses of Athena would be the best course for her. In the beginning, it probably was. She abhorred the rules Athena had put in place for all her priestesses. She offered blessings and tried on numerous occasions to protect the abused wife that would seek shelter. Unfortunately, this will be one of her biggest downfalls as it would cause Poisedon's attention. Medusa tried to dissuade his attentions but it would be for naught - he would rape her within the temple of Athena. This would cause Athena's wrath to fall upon Medusa and completely change her from the beautiful young woman she had been to the monster in Greek Mythology we would come to know. Even her own sisters, who were angered at Athena, would not escape her wrath. All of them becoming the Gorgons.

In the second act, we meet Perseus. Another Greek hero would come to play within the Gods' hands and change the course of his history. Born out of wedlock to Zeus and a mortal woman, Perseus, and his mother were cast from her homeland by his grandfather, Acrisius, the king. Long ago, Acrisius had been told of a prophecy that scared him and he sought to make sure it never happened, but he underestimated the will of the Gods. Enraged by his daughter's pregnancy, he locked both she and Perseus away in a trunk, throwing them into the sea with hopes that the two would drown. Unfortunately, for Acrisius, they did not drown and were found by Dictys. Perseus would grow up healthy and strong, finding security on Seriphos with his mother and Dictys. One day, Perseus learns that her mother has become the attention of a tyrant king named Polydectes. Polydectes wanted his mother and he knew that Perseus stood in the way and he needed to get rid of him quickly. So, he offered him a quest - bring back the head of Medusa. After all, no one returned from Medusa's island alive.

The lives of Perseus and Medusa become entangled and like most mythology - the hero always wins in the end. Medusa's life is taken and her head is used to save the lovely Princess Andromeda.

This book is the first in a series of The Grecian Women Trilogy. The mythology of Medusa and Perseus has been told. This has been really the first mythology-based book with Medusa being the main character. Oh, Rick Riordan does have her appear in Percy Jackson, but that is pretty much it for her.

I loved that Medusa was front and center. Her character and story pull you in and keep you until the very end of the story. You feel the pain Medusa goes through and you sympathize with her character. The fear, terror, and horror she had gone through from her rape within the temple to the very end of her life. Her sisters, unfortunately, end up sharing the same fate, but not for the reasons set upon Medusa. Their words turn them, sadly.

I don't believe she deserved her fate and I think Athena should have listened to her. It was her temple. I would have thought she was paying close attention and would have set revenge upon Poseidon for harming one of her own. Yet, she sees it as HER fault and turns her into a gorgon. This story makes me believe - in some form - that she cared little for priestesses. They were expendable.

I plan on reading the rest of this trilogy soon. This was a great read and I recommend this especially if you are a huge fan of mythology.

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.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book to read and review. All of these thoughts and comments are my own.

I’m a huge fan of Greek mythology and even a bigger fan of Medusa. I’ve read a bunch of stories about Medusa, making her the monster and then some showing that she truly is a victim of awful people and horrible situations.

I truly love Medusa. I have always said that she wasn’t a monster. And the “monster” people think she is was made not born. I feel so bad for her because she was truly just misunderstood and didn’t deserve the stuff that she was put through.

I also feel bad for Perseus in this story specifically because he didn’t want to have to kill her and Medusa showed pity on him and his situation and gave him an easy way out, ending in her death.

This is a fantastic retelling and I think all Greek mythology fans would enjoy reading this!

4 stars!

I would like to start off this review by taking Anna from sourcebooks for sending me this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Athena's child is the retelling of the story of Medusa. This follows Medusa's story from when she was a child to her demise. I really enjoyed this retelling of Medusa! I did not know the mythology prior to reading this book and I really appreciated the detail in it. I think the story of Perseus was tied into Medusa's story so beautifully. This book was imaginative and fresh.

Medusa has become a symbol in recent years to empower women. Medusa was a misunderstood woman in mythology who was punished by the fault of a man. I loved the feminine voice that Medusa had and I loved her sisters. I loved that her sister's stuck by her side and believed her story when no one else did. But what made this story so great was how Medusa offered herself to save another woman. She offered her head to Perseus in order to save his mother from her suitor. It gave me chills. As much as I wanted Medusa to live, I knew she had to die like all great protagonists. I think this was an empowering story and everyone should read it and learn who Medusa really was.

Thank you again Anna from sourcebooks for this ARC!