"Medusa" by Jessie Burton, falls disappointingly short of expectations. The promise of a compelling tale about the exiled Gorgon, haunted by gods and surrounded by snakes, failed to deliver a satisfying narrative.

Despite the intriguing premise, the execution lacked the depth and engagement found in similar mythological stories. Medusa's character, meant to be a central focus, feels one-dimensional, and her journey lacks the emotional resonance that would make readers empathize with her plight. The memories of her past are inadequately explored, leaving a void in understanding the depth of her struggles.

The introduction of Perseus as a catalyst for change in Medusa's life feels forced, and the ensuing desire, love, and betrayal fail to evoke the intended emotional impact. The narrative fails to capture the essence of the myth or offer a fresh perspective on the character of Medusa.

While marketed as a book for fans of Greek mythology, "Medusa" lacks the depth and substance needed to satisfy readers who enjoyed works like "Circe" and "Ariadne." The execution of the story and character development leaves much to be desired, resulting in a disappointing read for those seeking a captivating mythological tale.

(Actual: 4.25⭐, rounded up) This is the story Medusa deserves and is one I didn't even realize I had been waiting for until I finally dove in! I love how this book isn't just a standard retelling, but rather adds something new, refreshing, and multi-faceted to the table in relation to Medusa's story and role within Greek mythology. This book was simply fascinating, and I think many people would enjoy it whether they're a Greek mythology enthusiast or not!

Thank you NetGalley for “Medusa” by Jessie Burton in exchange for an honest review. I was so excited for this, and I ended up loving it! I have always been very passionate about Medusa, so this gave me evening I was hoping for and more. Great storytelling and beautiful prose. Powerful story, I would recommend.

“…when you’re a girl, people think your beauty is their possession.”

I’m always down for a Medusa retelling and I’m down to see what Jessie Burton is writing so this was always going to be up my alley!

And boy did it deliver!

What you take from this is the sheer unfairness of the story of Medusa. Of how little say she actually has in her own story and how everything turns against her for just existing in her world.

I loved the writing in this and I loved the relationship between Medusa and Perseus and I think you could really feel the turmoil that they each go through as the story progresses.

*4.5 stars

After being exiled to an island far from the rest of the world, Medusa never thought she’d find love. Not that she was looking for it. Abused by a god, cursed by a goddess, Medusa just wanted to live in peace with her sisters and dog. But one day a handsome man rowed up to her shores, making her question everything she thought she wanted.

In this Medusa retelling, Jessie Burton shows us that labels never give us the full story of a person. She uses the story of Medusa to show how often, instead of being seen as victims of abuse, women have been accused of bringing on the abuse instead.

In a short amount of time, we see Medusa change from a naive girl, to a woman who refuses to be blamed for something she didn’t do. She refuses to be ashamed of who she is now, and embraces the scars that have made her who she is today.

This is a moving story. I could feel anger for the injustice Medusa experiences, yet I loved the way this story ended.

If you like Greek mythology and enjoy retellings that focus on sharing the side of the women characters labeled as monsters, I’d recommend picking up Medusa!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

Medusa by Jessie Burton is a retelling of the tale of Medusa from her point of view after she is turned into the Grogon beast by Athena. She is on the island of Sarpedon as she welcomes Perseus. She is just as lost and lonely as he is, and through their secret conversations, they form a friendship and connection unlike they have ever experienced before.

Since this in YA, friendship and love quickly form without much logic or pragmatics, but it was sweet nevertheless. I appreciated seeing Medusa in a different light, a girl born of trauma who is not monstrous as in the original mythologies. I loved the art from Olivia Lomenech Gill in the illustrated version. I recommend it to young readers who are interested in a more nuanced story about Medusa.

Absolutely a story that needs to be read by any lover of Greek mythology. It offers us all the traditional story but in Medusa’s perspective, one that deserves to be heard.

Medusa was such an interesting re-telling that really perfected the idea or image of a woman coming into her strength. I wasn't sure what to expect when starting this as I'd never really read anything about Medusa previously. My familiarity limited itself to movies or other texts that briefly mentioned her and most of them focused on her as an adult. This story focuses on her beginning and her life as a young girl.

The story of Medusa is a sad one that shows the wrath of Gods and their cruelty and vanity. The more re-tellings I put myself through the more often I find myself hating the Gods. The stories told show that they are self-centered, easily angered, and full of jealousy. Medusa herself is punished by a jealous Athena after Zeus rapes her within Athena's temple. Rather than focusing on Zeus's unthinkable act, Athena focuses her rage on the destruction of her temple. In order to get repayment and also claiming to help Medusa, she transforms her and her sisters from beautiful girls to monsters. All of them turning into Gorgons, with her sisters gaining wings, and Medusa gaining a head full of snakes she transforms their lives forever.

While I wanted to enjoy Medusa coming into herself and realizing her power against any man fool enough to look at her, I just felt really sad. Women being taken and having forced violence against them is a tale as old as time and one I'm not interested in. While that piece was frustrating, Burton did a great job with this story and I would recommend anyone who would love to see a back story on Medusa and the Gods.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

“Exiled to a far-flung island by the whims of the gods, Medusa has little company except the snakes that adorn her head instead of hair. But when a charmed, beautiful boy called Perseus arrives on the island, her lonely existence is disrupted with the force of a supernova, unleashing desire, love, betrayal . and destiny itself.”

A feminist Medusa retelling? Sign me up! I am a sucker for Greek and other mythology retellings, and this one did not disappoint. Both beautiful and heart breaking, I devoured this book. My only wish is that it was longer. I needed more Medusa.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Medusa by Jessie Burton was such an enjoyable read. From the very first sentence I could tell that I loved this Medusa’s tone. Medusa is 14 and sexually assaulted by Poseidon in Athena’s temple. Athena turns the girl’s beautiful hair into snakes, and leaves her with a warning for any man that dare to look at her again. Medusa is sent to an island for exile with her sisters and her dog. Perseus shows up and Medusa is intrigued to say the least.
A great retelling and coming of age story of Medusa.

It may have hurt that I read another Medusa story recently Medusa's Sisters.
This one just did not feel very fleshed out. Maybe it was the length, maybe Medusa came across as whiney to me. I am not really sure.
I want a bad ass Medusa! It's okay for her to have some rage! She was cursed for what was done t0 her. Let her have her minute.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

I loved this retelling of Medusa. It expressed the vulnerability of her story, as well as giving her a strength that was empowering to read. My biggest criticism would be that the story felt very rushed and I felt like it ended abruptly.

There is a lot of Medusa in the world of books right now, so I was worried this would just blend in with the rest. This certainly does not. Beautifully written and imaginative.

I was captivated by the feminist retelling of the Greek myth. The story, beautifully illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill, immersed me in Medusa's world – a young woman exiled and disfigured by the gods' cruel whims. When Perseus arrives on her island, their connection brings forth desire, love, and betrayal, challenging traditional narratives. Burton's portrayal of Medusa as a vulnerable yet resilient character deeply resonated with me. The novel delves into themes of abuse, independence, and self-acceptance, offering powerful lessons about confidence and the consequences of overpromising. Through Medusa's journey, I experienced a poignant exploration of strength and femininity, making this retelling a must-read for anyone seeking a fresh perspective on Greek mythology.

Jessie Burton takes the story of Medusa and turns its mythos on its head (at least the ending). Jessie’s writing style is so lovely, and I appreciated the “soft” quality of the storytelling, especially for a story as delicate as Medusa’s. However, I felt that Medusa wasn’t as developed as I would have liked. Medusa was missing a depth of emotion, which makes sense since the story is set 4 years after the big events that lead to her snakes. I still feel it was missing some poignancy, and her growth feels rushed at the end.

With that being said, I still really loved the story! I wish it had been longer, so there could have been more room for “showing” instead of “telling” (the story could have easily been 300 pages long and I would have eaten it up). There were times when I found myself in Medusa, and her interaction with her sister Stheno hit me so hard. I got so teary-eyed reading her say, “But a little girl is somewhere still inside you. I see her. And I know she wants to be seen”. So many of us just want to be seen and that validation goes a long way to heal, which I feel impacted Medusa’s growth.

This was such a good short read, and I highly recommend reading it for your next read!

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. This felt more like a novella than a novel and did not bring much new to the retelling. It hit the same beats of the original myth but does have Medusa accept her power and utilize it. I did like the change to the original in how it all ends but it feels derivative of other Medusa retellings. This may be more related to the timing of this coming and having read several Greek mythology novels in recent months so if you want more Medusa, this could be lovely for you. 3 stars.

What an incredible retelling of Medusa’s story. I felt like this book did a fantastic job at giving a voice to Medusa’s story. It pulled you in and made you feel the pain of Medusa’s story. I was captivated from start to finish. This is a very fast read and I definitely recommend it.

Thank you so much to the publishers for the ARC of Medusa for my honest review!

Beautiful illustrations make this an amazing retelling of the story of Medusa and Perseus, definitely bringing to life Medusa and her destiny. Excellent book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for this ARC.

Author Jessie Burton has a true talent for capturing the inner lives of her characters. In this case, her characters belong to the realm of myth. The story of Medusa, the beautiful innocent punished by vengeful and abusive gods to become a snake-headed gorgon, is one of the most compelling of the Greek myths. Burton retells her story from her own perspective. She also presents a far more nuanced and complex portrait of Perseus, the myth’s other main character. His precipitous landing on the island where Medusa and her winged sisters have fashioned a life in anxious isolation catalyses a poignant relationship. As the two relate their own life stories, hidden from each other by a stone arch, the ancient myth of horrible vengeance becomes a tender love story. Two young people develop a deep attachment within the boundaries imposed by fate and the caprice of the gods.

Beautifully written in Burton’s usual style, this is more than a simple retelling, captivating though that is. it is a lesson, as myths were intended to be, about beauty, love, power, and the expectations that women still contend with and are tormented by.