An imaginative Medusa re-telling with a unique ending.

Before I discuss how beautifully the book is written, the fascinating way Medusa and Perseus grow their relationship or how much I loved the ending (spoiler free) - you must know that you get to meet Medusa's snakes! They have names and personalities. I'd never thought about them before as their own unique, conscious beings, but they absolutely are and Jessie Burton makes creative and impactful use of them.

"Let them spill themselves out to each other, their story older than time itself. Let them reveal themselves until they reveal too much." Page 1, this is how the story starts. With gorgeous prose, Jessie Burton sets up the meeting of Medusa and Perseus. A majority of the book is the two of them, separated by a stone wall, sitting back to back talking to each other. Each meeting they reveal a little more about who they are, and we understand how their past has shaped their present day actions.

If you've read Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes or The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Haywood, you may think you know how this story will end. But you don't here, and that's the best part. With Greek mythology we typically already know how the story will end, it's a 3000+ year old spoiler; however as more authors re-tell and re-claim characters, I am pleasantly surprised with how they make each story uniquely their own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for this advanced reader copy.

This book is best read on a boat in the middle of the sea while your siblings fish. If you see something dark and scary in the water, don't worry, because you are Medusa and you have power.

Another updating of a myth or historical episode, to give it a feminist slant. Originally published as a YA title. Has a kind of superficial quality to it. Poetic at times, but then slangy and modern. The serpents have names. I didn’t care for it.

Jessie Burton did such a great job with their take on the classic myth of Medusa. We usually see her as the evil women who kills men, but she was so much more and I loved this version! Highly recommend!

Actual Rating: 3,5 ⭐️

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book offers a new perspective about Medusa story.

Plot

With the exception of the snakes that adorn her head in place of hair, Medusa is alone on the remote island where she was banished after being mistreated by strong Gods. She is forced to accept her present as Medusa the Monster because she is plagued by memories of a life before everything was taken from her. However, her lonely existence is blasted up when the charming and attractive Perseus arrives on the island, unleashing desire, love, and betrayal.

The plot was good. This was obviously a character driven story. This book centers around Medusa and her feelings as well as her story. The ending is different from the original myth, but I though it was interesting.

Characters

Medusa

I think I have never read a more sympathetic version of Medusa. She is a woman who suffered a terrible consequence for a thing that wasn't even her own fault. She is scared, she is ashamed of herself. She wants to have a normal life, wants love. This book is about her feelings and her fate. By the end, she finally decides to accept herself for who she is.

Perseus

I was expecting Perseus to be arrogant, but he wasn't. He was a young man that only wanted to save her mother. He is scared, he is nervous and he feels lost most of the time.

Writing

The writing was good. I really liked it and there were some parts that reminded me a lot of Madeline Miller.

World-Building

The world-building isn't the main aspect of the book, however the reader learns a little about the gorgons and how the gods can be really bad with the humans.

Final Thoughts

While I liked the book, I really wish the novel could be longer, because I really wanted to know more about Medusa and her past.

Loved this! It's more than a retelling of an old Greek myth. This is Everyman if it was written by a woman and Medusa is Everywoman. She is every single one of us who has ever been the recipient of unwanted sexual advances or attention. This is vindication if you felt that this particular myth made a monster out of the wrong person, as my child self did. Until recently, history & literature has been written by men and they decided who were the heroes but that tide is turning. As Medusa wisely cautions, "You should be careful who tells your story." Words to live by for all women. This is being rereleased with this stunning cover on 12/4/23 and I am buying copies for my daughters & granddaughter!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the digital ARC. All opinions & the review are my own.

"Medusa: The Girl Behind the Myth" by Jessie Burton presents an intriguing reinterpretation of the Medusa legend, yet falls short of its potential. While Burton's attempt to humanize Medusa is commendable, the execution feels disjointed. The narrative alternates between historical conjecture and modern analysis, causing the story to lose its cohesion.

The speculative nature of the historical sections sometimes leads to inconsistencies and stretches of imagination that weaken the overall impact. Additionally, the portrayal of Medusa's character occasionally lacks depth, making it challenging to fully empathize with her journey. While the book sheds light on feminist themes and societal pressures, it fails to provide a seamless blend of the myth's retelling with these modern ideals.

Despite these shortcomings, the book's ambition and willingness to reexamine established narratives are noteworthy. However, for readers seeking a more tightly woven and emotionally resonant exploration of Medusa's story, the book might leave them wanting.

jessie burton's "medusa" is not what i expected. when perseus washes up on the island medusa lives on with her two sisters, she is drawn to him although she cannot look upon him and he cannot look upon her. they engage in conversation, sharing stories about their lives. they end up falling in love with each other.

this is a retelling of the myth with a twist. however, for me, it felt like it was written for a more juvenile, young audience. burton shies away from the darkness of the story. this novel is essentially all dialogue, all a conversation between medusa and perseus. the dialogue grows daunting over time. perseus acts like a spoiled little modern child rather than how he is portrayed in the greek mythos. medusa is endearing, kind, and meek.

overall, i enjoyed this novel and i did enjoy the twist at the end.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Medusa by Jessie Burton is a retelling of Medusa's story, told as a conversation between Medusa and Perseus after he finds himself lost on her island in voluntary exile. In this retelling, Medusa's hair was turned into snakes by Athena after she was assaulted by Poseidon in her temple. After this event, she left to an abandoned island along with her sisters, Euryale and Stheno, who were given wings as punishment for defending Medusa. The book is centered around themes including healing, the expectations imposed on women's physical appearance, and accepting oneself.

I decided to rate this novel a 3 stars because it felt young compared to greek retellings and other novels that I generally read. In addition, there was disjoint between some of the phrases used by the characters and the setting - "cologne" and "fairy tales" were brought up in a novel set in ancient Greece. The decision to have Medusa's story be told as a conversation also made the setting feel stagnate, and the descriptions of different places in the novel were lacking. The way the dialogue was written also felt heavy-handed and themes seemed almost too obvious at times. Overall, I think the novel reads best for the YA demographic, as the story presented seemed straightforward.

Even with these critiques, I still enjoyed this relatively quick read. My favorite part of the retelling was the characterization of the different snakes on Medusa's head and her growth to begin appreciating their personalities. I thought that this was a lovely way to display her journey in healing and acceptance of who she had become. It also brought an unexpected characteristic into the novel, personalizing Medusa's story. I also found Burton's writing to be poetic at times, and Medusa's inner reflections were some of the strong points of the novel.

Overall, while I may not have been the target audience for this novel, I enjoyed Burton's writing and getting a deeper glimpse into Medusa's story. I believe that it makes a great retelling for a YA crowd, and makes for a lovely introduction into feminist Greek retellings. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the opportunity to read this digital advanced reader copy.

This book is stunning, heartbreaking, and the story we needed about Medusa. My only complaint is I wish it had been longer.

This book is heart wrenching. Filled with angst, sorrow and hatred for men. I LOVED IT SO MUCH. Medusa has always been my favorite to read about and her strength is admirable. I know I know I know, she’s a monster- but she’s not. Not really.

Thank you for showing her side.