This book was a truly beautiful piece of work to read. It was so well crafted and so well thought out on the author's part. The way Burton takes her time in creating this story makes the reader fall more and more in love with Medusa and her heartbreakingly beautiful story.

Medusa solidified my love for this myth and story, this was a fantastic was to showcase Medusa in a new light, and I am wholeheartedly obsessed with this book.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book, I was so excited when I was approved, but honestly I was just expecting a bit more from it. It was still a good read, I just wanted that something extra.

Retelling of Greek myths are obnoxiously trendy currently, but often I am left feeling that no one can do it as well as Madeline Miller. I eagerly requested this because I do think there is room to expand on the myth of Medusa in the modern age of feminism. This book ain’t it though.

Admittedly I only read 40% of it before deciding I couldn’t finish it, but there’s no depth and there’s nothing new. They simply talk back and forth about their lives while Medusa hides in a cave. It’s boring and simple and the modern language used was jarring.

Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the electronic readers copy for review.

Great! Love Jessie Burton. Not super crazy about mythological retellings, but this was wonderfully done.

This is a retelling of the Greek mythology story of Medusa with a twist. It focuses more on the strength of Medusa and her sisters, and how they made it through the things that happened to them. There are some parallels that can be drawn to things men of power do to women today. Feminism is highlighted in this story. It tells you to be yourself and not conform to society’s standards.
This book is well worth a read.

This was a gorgeous feminist re-telling of the story of the "monster" of Greek Mythology: Medusa. It was a fast and quick read. Very empowering and emotional. I loved what it said about the inner self versus the outer self and really coming to love ourselves for who we really are.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. The novel will be available December 5, 2023.

As long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by Greek Mythology. In college, I learned a lot about the Greek and Roman Gods and their intriguing stories. I’ve noticed lately that this genre of retellings has grown more popular. Or maybe it always has been and I’ve only just recently jumped into the genre. Books like Circe, The Song of Achilles, Ariadne and more are cropping up and have a dedicated following. And that’s why I decided to pick up Medusa by Jessie Burton because I am one of those that are part of the dedicated following.

Medusa, tells the story of the young gorgon with snakes for hair after she has been transformed by Athena and exiled to a far-off island. Having only her immortal sisters and dog by her side, Medusa feels isolated and lonely, yearning to be normal again. When a young man named Perseus drifts onto her island everything changes. Medusa is instantly charmed by his gentle nature, but cautious as she remembers Athena’s warning “Woe betide any man fool enough to look upon you.”

“I know a lot about beauty. Too much, in fact. But I’d never seen anything like him.”

Therein lies the overarching conflict in Medusa. Perseus is funny and kind, but Medusa does not want to risk putting him in danger so she keeps her distance, while slowly growing to truly care for him. It makes for a suspenseful story the entire way through as Medusa keeps this boy a secret from her sisters as well. Unfortunately, she has no idea what would happen if Persues gazes upon her and therefore keeps her real identity and “deformity” from him as well.

Oftentimes when learning about Greek Mythology, the Greek Gods are put on a high pedestal, praised and worshiped. Medusa gives a different, refreshing look on the gods, making it clear to the reader that they are far from perfect. That they can be cruel and uncaring. Sometimes, they can be downright assholes.

“Please, I urged the gods - and one goddess in particular. You’ve done so much to punish me. Athena, please let me have this sliver of moon.”

Medusa is a lovely retelling of this young woman’s story with a satisfying, feminist twist and characters that you’ll fall in love with instantly. It’s a very quick read because you won’t want to put it down. You’re sure to be fascinated from the more you read and wonder just how different this story will be from the one you learned about in school. I highly recommend picking it up if you’re a lover of Greek Mythology or even if you just love a great story about powerful women.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for the opportunity to see an ARC of Medusa by Jessie Burton, scheduled for publication on December 5, 2023.
As children we are often told doctored stories of the Greek legends and we rarely if ever question the information we are given. In fact, we are more often that not told stories wherein heroes teach us morals and we think ourselves better for having learned how to do things "the right way."
As adults, if we choose, we have a chance to revisit Greek legends and understand why they're also called myths. The full story of Medusa is a great example of why legend should not be confused with myth, and why retellings deserve their place in culture.
Burton has woven a short but fascinating story in which the tale of Medusa and Perseus takes a decidedly different arch, and in so doing the fates of many other legendary myths may be forever altered.
Unfurling by way of the two characters happening to meet (without one seeing the other), what happens next will certainly entertain and engage readers and enlighten many to what really happened when Medusa and her sisters fell under Athena's curse.
I loved Burton's turns of phrases and her take on the Medusa narrative. I am not a Greek scholar. I knew a little about Medusa's storyline going into this book but I felt for she and her family even more by the end. There was a solidarity with her sisters I wasn't expecting. I looked at Medusa as a survivor before, and Burton painted her not as a warrior but as a human first, and gave her a tenderness that reminded me she was not just a symbol.

Not my favorite sadly and I was really looking forward to this. Maybe because there was hardly any depth to it and length

If I purchase a copy of this book for my library, it will be because the author's other works and name recognition. I didn't find this book very interesting after having read Stone Blind & The Shadow of Perseus in the last year. While the author changed the ending of the story, I didn't find anything really new or captivating in this version of the story.

"A myth finds a way to remember itself. It makes a new shape, rising out of a shallow grave in glory."

Thank you NetGalley for granting me access to a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Especially because this is the story Medusa has always deserved. I was enchanted and enthralled the entire time. I don't think there was a single second of this book I didn't want to devour. I can't wait to buy myself a physical copy during the holiday season.

We all know the story of Medusa, but what makes this retelling so good is the way it was written. The perspective it was written from. The life this story was given. It wasn't the side of the monster we've always heard, but instead that of the victim. The voice of the story that should have always existed.

The only reason Medusa has been classified a monster for as long as she has is because of the complete misunderstanding an un-reliable narrator has driven into humanity for centuries. A myth she may be, but that doesn't mean her story hasn't been told a thousand different ways and misunderstood in a thousand more. Think of how little cadence a woman's story has always held in the media.

This story is no less. This story has always deserved so much more.

I hope you'll pick this up to find the voice Medusa has always deserved. For that alone this will be one of my favorite books of the year. In her own words she gets to be so much more than a cautionary tale told to children. To those who "need" punishing. We get to see all the injustice she received, understand it, and endure it beside her rather than watch her go through it alone.

She never deserved to be alone. I love that because she never deserved that, her snakes received personalities. It gave so much more to this long told story that I really expected. The shock and excitement of it made this experience so entirely new and exciting.

For those who never heard her voice in the way you believe she deserved, know that this is worth the time you'll spend in a sad story. In a heartbreaking, unending, constant story told among the world and never loud enough to be heard. This could be the start of finally being heard.

Jessie Burton has made her name with wildly popular Miniaturist. I’ve only watched the cinematic adaptation of that, but I did read and absolutely love her other novel, Muse. So I figured I’d check out this book when it showed up on Netgalley, because hey, I love classic mythology.
Since the publishing market is all about trends, this is actually a trend. These retellings of ancient myths using modern mores. Conceptually, I don’t love it. I think things should be read within their context not preimagined and prechewed for the latest generation’s ever more delicate sensibilities. And let’s face it, the ancient world was brutal to women, in real life and in mythology. The Greek deities were abusive, rape-y, and all kinds of mercurial with their affections.
One of those women, sideswept and ruined by the desires of the immortals is Medusa. This is her story as told by Burton, author who seemingly utilized her background in YA fiction to tell a story appropriate for most ages. It isn’t YA per se, it isn’t not YA. The main protagonist is a teenager and so it her love interest, Perseus. They spend most of the novel talking without seeing each other. Because we all know how well it turns out once they do meet eye to eye. Or if you don’t know, you will after reading this story.
Burton is an undeniably talented writer, her language sings. But beyond that, the story comes across as thin AND unnecessary. With heavy-handed moralism to boot.
It’s a small book and a quick read, but I don’t know if I’d recommend it.
If you’re thinking of requesting a Netgalley ARC, beware—the publisher has gone out of the way to make it uncomfortable to read, providing a terribly spaced-out copy.
Unless you’re really into feminist retellings of Greek myths, or doomed teenage romances, I don’t know what you’d want with this book. Thanks Netgalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for this opportunity to read rate and review this arc which will be available December 5,2023!

This is a feminist retelling of the myth we all know and it was dangerously poignant, heartbreakingly beautiful and utterly devasting to read. It humanized what many view as a monster. Medusa was a victim of the gods and Perseus. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Short and succinct, this tale of Medusa rewrites her tragic story through the lens of power, turning Medusa from a victim to a survivor who takes control of her destiny.

Written mostly as a conversation between Medusa and Perseus, the author takes care to share the history of Medusa and Perseus.

If you’re a fan of Circe or A Thousand Ships, you’ll enjoy this one too!

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story gets 5 stars because that ending WOW! The strength of Medusa is to be admired! Her story has always fascinated me. This retelling gave me so much insight into Medusas plight and the courage and growth she showed by the end has me in awe of her and her sisters.

Hearing the story of Medusa was tough. Oh goodness the gods were so evil and their stories are so tough to hear but this story is one that hit me in the heart and seeing in the end take her life back has me cheering for this beautiful “monster”

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super quick read, but I really enjoyed it and read it in one sitting! If you like mythology retellings, I'd definitely recommend it. It is easy to read but also I liked the writing a lot.

Because it's only about 200 pages, there isn't room for a ton of plot to happen, but it's a quick retelling of Medusa that tells another side, which was cool!

This was a great version of her story, I recently read the shadow of Perseus and she was written as a good woman and I found it so interesting so I jumped to request this one. Overall I was pleased

I am a big fan of Jessie Burton (I loved The Minaturist) and I love Greek mythology. Circe is possibly one of my favorite books ever- the classic “other side of the story.” Everyone has head of Medusa, but it’s always in a negative context - her as the villain. I personally think it’s fascinating to explore the other side - why did they get the way they did? Why did they change? Are they truly bad?

For all of these reasons, I very much enjoyed this book. My only negative feedback is that I think it could’ve been a little longer and more in depth. It feels like there is more to tell.

This is Medusa like you’ve never seen her before! Jessie Burton’s masterful retelling of the snake-headed Gorgon deftly reveals the woman behind the monster.

After being mistreated by Poseidon and cursed by Athena, Medusa has been living in isolation on an island with her two sisters. Until the day Perseus lands his boat at her shores, sparking an attraction she never thought she’d feel. As the two sit on either side of a stone arch, their stories are revealed, and the Medusa myth you thought you knew turns out to be just the tip of the iceberg.

Medusa as a fully-realized character is sympathetic and nuanced, a young woman mostly at peace with her fate but dazzled by the possibility of romantic love. Burton’s prose is lush and vivid, and I adored her imagining of Medusa’s snakes as colorful characters with their own names and personalities. And that ending – wow!! No spoilers here, but it was total perfection!

If you loved Medusa’s portrayal in Claire Heywood’s “The Shadow of Perseus” (as I did), you will love her even more here! Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for providing me an advance copy of this book.

The version of Medusa’s story she deserves!

A quick retelling, wish the NetGalley version included the illustrations because I feel like it would have added another gorgeous layer to this, but enjoyed it all the same!