Honestly, I'm not going to go into the premise here because Medea is pretty well known.

Unfortunately, this one was just way too predictable for me. I normally enjoy the whole "I felt sorry for this character and now I kinda hate her" story progression, but honestly, that's well exactly how I predicted the story would go. I just felt like I've read this story several times with several different mythological women in Medea's place.

I will say that Hewlett's pacing was well done. And her world building is spot on. With a well known myth like this I feel like the world building needs to be balanced to take into consideration the people who know the story and don't need a lot and for the people who do not. I think she struck that balance perfectly.

Overall, I think if you're super into Greek mythology, you'll love this, I'm just not that into it, so it really wasn't my cup of tea to begin. That being said, I did ultimately go with four stars because I did find it to be a really well written villain origins story that would be a great place for people to start that don't know much of Medea's story.


Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the eArc!

I absolutely loved this book. Granted I am a sucker for Greek mythology and Greek tragedies. This was so well written and showed the journey Medea took, not just on the Argo and through life with Jason, but also within herself to come to a place where she can at least be at peace. Beautifully done and respectful of the original myth without letting the women get to easily stomped upon. I cannot wait to buy the physical copy and add it to my collection!

This is a really interesting take on Medea. I think this book is good, but I also have very strong opinions on the characterization of some of the mythological figures. Personally, I don't like making Aeetes a powerless figure, it's his magic that makes him so fearsome as the king of Colchis, and I think Circe could have been utilized in a more effective way. What I do like is seeing how Medea is manipulated by the men around her to do their bidding, without tarnishing their reputations. The relationship between Medea and Atalanta is one that I really like, echoing the relationship that the Colchian princess had with her younger sister. I'm definitely going to recommend this book to others, I just wouldn't rely quite so much on the comparison to Madeline Miller's 'Circe'. I want more stories from the perspective of the women in ancient myths and this is definitely a great addition to that roster. That being said, I did enjoy the ending from her sister's POV. It made the fearsomeness of what Medea became feel more real, as opposed to Medea describing how those around her are reacting. We can see what her sister is thinking when she visits. I can't wait to see if there are going to be any special editions of this book.

The Witch of Colchis is a gorgeous, emotionally charged retelling of the story of Medea and Jason. Rosie Hewlett does an excellent job bringing the characters of the myth to life and creating a tale of love, anger, and magic. Medea was such a complex character - she has such a huge capacity for love and affection, yet she ultimately leans into her darker impulses for the sake of her loved ones. While Medea is not absolved for her choices, readers are able to travel with her from Colchis to Iolcos to Corinth - from childhood to womanhood to motherhood - and sympathize with her as she struggles to remain true to her love for Jason and her family. Each step of the way we are able to see the circumstances that shape our characters and bring them closer to their tragic ends.
The writing in this book was excellent. While certain parts of the writing (specifically the language) were too modern to have a place in ancient Greece, Rosie Hewlett did a beautiful job creating an emotionally charged story about Medea and her struggles as a woman with power in a world where she is supposed to have none. I cannot wait to read more of Rosie Hewlett's work.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the eARC!

The Witch of Colchis is, of course, one of many, many Greek mythology retellings these days, but I devour them every time so who cares.

This book tells the story of Jason (plus Argonauts) from the perspective of Medea, who is really far too young to be painted as the wicked seductress we're familiar with. We're shown her unhappy childhood, which renders her more vulnerable to Jason's manipulation, then taken along as she, tragically, spends years with him thereafter. Hewlett flips the classic story on its head, changing barely anything plot-wise but reminding us of Medea's age (she's literally 18) and showing us how she, along with other women in the story, are wronged again and again. I had a great time reading this, though something that disoriented me and took me out of the story from time to time was the language. At times, the dialogue seemed to have more of an archaic style, trying to take us back into the time period, but sometimes, we'd run into an "OK" or something like that. I know this is nitpicky but it threw me off haha. Regardless, though, I was with Medea the whole way (especially in the kinda-epilogue at the end!), and Hewlett's retelling was sharp. I'm excited to read more from her!

This was just a villain origin story, and I ate it up. I am all about female rage and I feel like Medea needed her story to be told like this for so long now. I have NEVER liked Jason and I'm glad this showcased him in his dickish ways.

The book is focused on the mythological figure of Medea, a woman of extraordinary power who is trapped by the constraints of men. This retelling is the journey of a powerless princess from Colchis who changes her fate to be a powerful witch whose choices shape the world.

Medea, from birth, has a gift of witchcraft, which is manipulated by her father for his grasp of power. This skill alienates her mother and other members of her family. Her father's cruelty and dominance make her live a life of isolation and fear. One day, Jason and his Argonauts show up for the legendary golden fleece, which is said to make the owner invincible in battle. Jason is drawn to Medea and tells her that she is beautiful and that he will rescue her to give her the freedom she desires. Jason's actions are the catalyst that spur all of Medea's future choices and sets off a chain of events that can not be undone.

I loved the book, but it makes you think about how two people can be the undoing of each other and be devastating for everyone around them. This story is a very dark retelling of how Medea is warned over and over again about Jason and his ambitions, yet she continues on this path of destruction. At one point, Circe tells her that she is broken, and instead of reflecting, she reacts by unleashing immense suffering and violence.

This book focuses on transforming one's self-narrative, which is the justification of evil deeds and the cost of ambition. You want to believe that Medea's childhood trauma causes her vulnerabilities to be influenced by the beautiful hero who promises her the world, and that desire humanizes her character. This story exposes the manipulation of a woman and the profound consequences of revenge. I felt devastated after reading this story. It was like the perfect storm and showed how long-term abuse can alter someone's reality. To me it is a call to action for mental health awareness.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! This is gritty and dark in the best way and a surprising breath of fresh air in the retellings space. Women gaining agency in their own stories is the trend, but this book takes it a step further I think. While not a happy story, I still felt something positive when reading about Madea here, because the way she stood up for herself and didn’t hold back is inspiring.

If you came here after reading The Song of Achilles, Circe, or Clytemnestra, you’re in the right place. Medea will always hold a special place in my heart and Rosie Hewlett’s writing brings to life the devastating story of Medea in a raw and visceral way guaranteed to transform the way you view humanity as a whole.

The bewitching and enchanting story of Medea of Colchis, a heroine and villain looking for the freedom to be herself.

If you like your mythology stories dark and twisty, this one is for you.

I didn’t really know anything about Medea going in, so I’m unsure how accurate it is to the original myth, but I was interested in the character development that Medea underwent as the story progressed.

I read this as part of a readathon for the prompt ‘righteous female anger’ and it was certainly that. Unfortunately I would imagine that most women reading this book will be able to empathise with some part of Medea’s struggles and experiences.

It’s certainly not a feel good book, and I’m not sure to say that I enjoyed it would be precisely accurate either, as I didn’t find any of the characters to be particularly likeable, but I was interested and invested in the story.

If you like dark mythology, this is one for you!

I loved this book - and I really don't like Jason.

Rosie's version of Medea was sharp and cutting. While a lot of greek retellings focus on giving women back their voices (or just their agency in their storylines), this retelling stood out to me. Not only is Hewlett's Medea powerful, but she's unapologetic and doesn't shy from the uglier parts of her witchcraft.

4/5

I’m not very big on Greek mythology , I’ve not read a ton of Greek mythology books but I’m someone who will read anything that has the word witch anywhere in the title or summary so this book intrigued me just from the title and that stunning cover. Thankfully I really enjoyed the story within as well!

I love a good Greek myth retelling and this one was definitely up there on the list. I loved starting in Medea's childhood and getting to witness her backstory. If the description of the book alone is not enough to sell readers on this story the dedication certainly will, "For all the women who have ever been called 'too much' or 'not enough'."

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-copy of this book!

I was not looking forward to reading this book. I just finished reading another Greek mythology retelling that I really did not enjoy and this book felt very similar to that one at the start. I was so annoyed and wasn't sure if I would be able to force myself to finish this book. But I pushed through and I'm so glad I did, because I ended up really enjoying this book! Now, I am pretty unfamiliar with Greek mythology, so I got to be shocked by the ending. Well, maybe not "shocked" as there was a lot of pretty heavy handed foreshadowing going on, but I still didn't know exactly what was going to happen. It was really interesting reading a story about a woman willing to do whatever it takes to be accepted and loved. I haven't read many books where the main character has a negative character arc. I'm going to have to seek out more stories with this. I'm happy I received an ARC of this book, otherwise I probably would've quit reading it a couple chapters in. Highly recommend giving this a read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"The Witch of Colchis" by Rosie Hewlett, formerly titled simply "Medea", tells the story of the famed sorceress, Medea, of Greek Mythology. She who betrayed her family to aid Jason and the Argonauts in gaining the Golden Fleece. She who married Jason and gave him two sons in exile. She who was betrayed by Jason and abandoned for him to marry the young and pretty princess of Corinth. She who got her revenge by destroying what Jason loved most, cementing her place in myth as murderess, witch, and one disdained by both gods and men.

I finished this book about two weeks ago, and I just haven't been able to write a review yet because I'm so haunted by the writing of this sad, sad story. For context, I've been a big fan of the mythological character of Medea for a long time - I've directed two plays based on feminist retellings of her story, and I taught Euripides version to my students. As a director, my goal has always been to get the audience to empathize with Medea; I want them to feel her rage and root for her, while simultaneously fearing the end we all know is coming. This book completely succeeds in the goals I've always had for Medea's story.

Hewlett's writing evokes such sadness, bitterness, and those rare fleeting moments of hope that we hang onto. By starting at Medea's childhood, we get to see a rarely explored side of Medea's life - her family, the beginnings of her power, and what would push her to eventually betray them for Jason. There were so many sections where we see that Medea is clinging onto the idea that Jason loves her and her power instead of being disgusted by it - I was sad for her to accept the drippings of love she thought she deserved, and yet, I know that I and many women I know have done and felt that way. The middle section about Jason's family was new to me, and it was horrifying and sad to witness. I felt like this story dealt the best with Medea's children - there was a level of peace there that I haven't felt elsewhere. I think this is due to Hewlett's deft hand with Medea's growth and thought processes.

Overall, if you are a fan of Greek myth retellings, women getting revenge, and tragedies, you'll love this book. I was hooked from the dedication:

"For all the women who have ever been called 'too much' or 'not enough'."

The Witch of Colchis tells the story of Medea from a young girl who seeks to understand her magic to a queen balancing the consequences of her magic. Greek mythology retellings are one of my favorite genres so this was a bit of a miss in my reading. While the story of Medea is undeniably dark in her actions this novel introduces the narrative of trauma and abuse suffered at the hands of her father and brother to her lust for power. It is early on in the story that we see how quickly she takes to Jason, a man she has as he later describes having spoken only five words to before deciding to betray her family and run away with him. The promise of taking her away from her abusive home is what drives her to love him and to begin committing terrible acts at his request. There is a lot of protestation on Medea's part that she is doing this because she loves Jason and he loves her in kind, that she is not just a magical weapon that Jason can add to his life and use. Her ignorance went on for a bit too long that discredited her intelligence.

I did particularly enjoy the author's writing of her relationships with other women though. Circe in her childhood as a loving teacher turned rival sorceress when she begins to deny Jason. Chaliope the younger sister wed to the man Medea hoped would be her escape is the first in a line of those that Medea would do anything to protect. The best of all is Atalanta. the only woman amongst the Argonauts and the only one who very clearly sees what Jason is doing and that Medea is being manipulated.

Another odd nitpicking thing is that there was a lot of modern language and a few anachronisms that would take me out of a scene. While in some cases it was utilized well - the connecting of this ancient story to our modern life - others made the story feel truly out of place.

Greek retellings are my thing. I've loved them almost as much as I've loved reading, so I was super excited to read the Witch of Colchis. Medea has always been one of the most fascinating characters in Greek myth and I was excited to see what Hewlett would do with the character. And what I got was something that was incredibly readable, but nothing so different from the actual myth of Medea. The first half of the book where she meets Jason is the most refreshing since it retells the myth of Jason and the Argonaughts from Medea's perspective, but the second half is just...Medea by Euripides and I didn't think anything from the first half made the second half more impactful then if I had just read the second half as is. That being said, I did enjoy Medea's voice and seeing just how much Jason sucks is really well done.

This book was a great retelling of the Medea myth, it really makes you think of her as a real human being and in a way understand why she did what she did. Great book if you like Greek mythology.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Witch of Colchis in exchange for an honest review.

This is actually my third Medea retelling and I would probably put it at the top. This was the Medea retelling that explored the most elements of her story, like her father and brother's abuse and manipulation, Phrixus's betrayal, Circe, being on the Argo, and life after with Jason. The author absolutely excelled at making me feel for Medea and HATE Jason. I actually had to put the book down and walk away a few times because Jason's gaslighting was absolutely infuriating. After Medea did SO much for him and sacrificed everything, he manipulated and betrayed her countless times. She lived a sheltered life filled with abuse and you really can't blame her for wanting to escape and have a perfect life with a prince. Unfortunately, he was the worst person she could have trusted. This really was a sad tale about how trauma breeds villains. While I'm happy that Medea eventually took over her own narrative, it was such a shame that it came with so much grief and trauma.

I love love loved the Atalanta aspect. I think this was also my favorite portrayal of Atalanta's in a retelling. I liked that she continuously stood up for Medea and Medea learned to stand up for her. It was great that there were several strong women in the story and I liked that the author showed up both the good and bad parts of Atalanta's journey too. While she was portrayed as a strong self assured hunter, she was still repeatedly meant to silence herself and hide her opinions just to earn a spot among the Argonauts as a woman. It goes to show that weak men love to manipulate strong women.

I also liked how the author chose to end the book (although I don't think Phrixus needed to be there) with her father and sister. It really made the story come full circle.

Overall, I gave this book 4 stars. Retellings often struggle with adding the author's voice to an existing story. They can feel very similar to one another. But, I felt like this author actually added something to the story and had really vivid and gorgeous writing. This was my first Rosie Hewlett book and I would love to read more! I think I'm going to try her Medusa book next.