I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Thank you to Nataly Gruender (author), Helen Laser (narrator), Hachette Audio, Grand Central Publishing, and Netgalley for this free advanced listener copy of "Medusa" for an honest review. As we continue to wade into the world of rewritten Greek and Roman myth, especially saving & repositioning the female characters of yore, I was quite pleased to finally see Medusa get her due. While this won't fit well into my current curriculum, I'm definitely keeping a place for it in mind for the day when I'm teaching Mythology or World Literature again.

dnf @ 17%

Please... why can't people come up with a worldbuilding of their own instead of assigning made-up concepts to other people's culture so as to make it more edgy and book-adaptable? Not even going to try to get over the whole priesthood thing, because the author obviously didn't try very hard either.

"Medusa" by Nataly Gruender, and read by Helen Laser, is the tragedy of Medusa with a not-so-traditional happy ending. First, I will start by saying that Helen Laser is an excellent narrator and I will absolutely listen to books narrated by her in the future.

Medusa's story, per Gruender, is beautifully told from her youngest memories with her parents and sisters, to her death and beyond. Medusa was never a monster, rather used and abused by the gods in their greed and desires. Throughout Medusa's story she finds purpose and self-love, and makes friends with what would have at one point seemed the unlikeliest of friends. I particularly loved the relationship Medusa developed with her snakes, as they were both separate and an intimate part of her. The end chapter with Medusa facing Athena again was perfect, and allowed for growth and forgiveness for both Medusa and Athena.

I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys Greek myth retellings, as well as any readers who enjoy stories of monsters/villain origin stories, and those interested in feminist retellings.

Nataly Gruender spins an incredible story about Medusa as a young girl living on a secluded island with her sisters. Medusa was the only mortal child born to her immortal parents. Medusa is also a triplet that has gorgeous blonde curly hair while her sisters have dark hair. At her older sister’ wedding her other sisters known as The Grey’s sees Medusa as not a beautiful woman but rather a monster that others will fear her. When the triplets turn 18 they leave their secluded island and head to the mainland of Greece. The triplets are separated when Medusa joins Athena as one of her priestess. Medusa live with the other priestess until one fateful night that Athena punishes Medusa by making her immortal with the power to turn anyone into stone just by her looking at them in the eyes. Medusa’ beautiful curly hair are turned into serpents. This retelling gives the reader to really know what Medusa was before she was turned into an immortal monster and after. She had a big heart that didn’t change her when she was cursed. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Grand Central Publishers for letting me have an advanced copy of this audio book.

I could NOT put this book down. What a wonderful twist on a story that's been told as a cautionary tale. I enjoyed the development of the story and particularly the conclusion!

This book was utterly amazing it was devastating beautiful hopeful and tense it had action it had family dynamics it also had found family I loved this take on Medusa's story .. I will admit it is the first time I have read a book about her but I am somewhat familiar with her story

This book left my jaw on the floor from its brilliance. It is everything and so much more than I expected. As a pagan, I have always known there was so much more to the story of Medusa, but this writing was brilliant in its depiction of her. I understand her so much better now, she was an absolutely beautiful woman and monster, and it's okay to be both. This author gets props for bringing tears to my eyes so many times. Five stars is not enough. I will be looking for other writings by this author.

In 2018 I read Madeline Miller's Circe and fell in love not just with retellings but with the idea of exploring the POV of a woman known to history as a villain. Nataly Gruender perfectly fleshes out Medusa, a character you probably already had an idea of in your head without ever learning much about her. Enthralling, Medusa is the story of a woman running from fate.

The narration in the audio version was top notch and I would definitely recommend listening to this one. It made the story come alive.

Everyone knows the stories of Medusa turning men to stone with just a flick of her eyes, but how many of you actually know the story behind her making?

I started this book with a decent understanding of Medusa and her history but walked away with so much more.
Medusa has always been portrayed as a monster, but that isn't really the whole story. She was born the only mortal child of two sea God's and experienced loneliness and neglect due to her mortal status. She became a priestess of Athena and sought to do good. In a turn of events that were out of her hands, she was cursed and thrown out of the temple that was her home. With a head full of snakes and the inability to look at any living creature without turning them to stone, she sets out to find safety for herself and others. Along the way, she experiences some cognitive dissonance as she works through her anger and adapts to her new life. It's so easy to let fear and anger consume you and seek revenge when you have been wronged, but it's even harder to let go of your morals when you are a good person.

What an insightful and fascinating retelling of such a well-known greek "villain". This story absolutely filled me with rage for Medusa and for women in general. Yet the lessons we learn from Medusa definitely make this a must-read.
Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Audio, for an advanced copy of Medusa by Nataly Gruender in exchange for an honest review. It was an exceptional read! The story is amazing and I loved the audiobook because Helen Laser is a phenomenal narrator.

OMG, you guys! I just finished this book and I am, like, totally blown away! 🌟 It's an absolute gem! 💫 I mean, we’ve all heard the Medusa story, but this version is like, a whole new level of amazing. The author gives Medusa such a personal and feminist twist, and it’s so refreshing! 😍 I loved how it delved into Medusa’s background. It was, like, totally bittersweet and my heart was, like, so full of feels! 💔✨

And the audiobook? OMG, it was like, totally awesome! Helen Laser was the perfect narrator and made the story come alive in such a fab way! 🎧📚

Thank you so much, NetGalley, for the audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is a must-read for sure! 💖

4.5 Stars rounded up!

I thought I "knew" Medusa's story, but it was always as a side character, or from someone else's perspective. Medusa by Nataly Gruender gives us a first hand account of Medusa's life and I absolutely loved it. I, like many other reviewers, am shocked this is Nataly's debut novel and I definitely can't wait to see what she comes out with next! It would be cool if she did more greek mythology novels as this is one of the best I've read.

A really unique perspective was the sweet relationship Medusa had with her snakes. They made me smile so many times and I loved how Medusa and her sisters' relationships progressed throughout the book.

I will be (not so) patiently awaiting Nataly's future work. This was amazing, thank you for the opportunity to listen to this! I also really enjoyed the narrator.

Really enjoyed this retelling of the story of Medusa. I don’t read a lot of this genre, Greek mythology historical fiction, but whenever I do I really like them!
I didn’t know the story of Medusa other than-snakes for hair and turns anyone who looks in her eyes to stone. But as with many villainous monsters’ origin stories, there is a lot more to it. Medusa was a girl who was mistreated and cursed. She was fated to become the monster we’ve all heard of but she goes on a journey. She finds friends and reconnects with family and in the end it is up to her if she becomes the monster the world knows her as.
Great debut! Loved the audiobook. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

GUH!! This book had me feeling all the feels!!

Medusa's storyis a famous one but the truth of her is far more heartbreaking than people really know. This book was amazing! I loved the relationship between Medusa and her snakes, it was a really amazing part of the story. It really humanises Medusa in a truly beautiful way.

I did think the pace was a bit slow but the narrator did a wonderful job of keeping the story engaging and I enjoyed the heck out of it.

4 stars

Medusa is legend for being this horrible beast that turns living things into stone. The sad story behind how Medusa really is and how she came to become what she is famous for. I enjoyed listening to Medusas journey on finding how who she is after an unfair curse was put on her. She never was scorn enough to go after things. She just wanted to be happy and to be loved. She found another that was cursed like her and she learned from him that you have to make peace with the curse and learn embrace it. Even though it was a very tragic thing that lead to it. To never let it break you down but to make you stronger. And her sisters realizing that they do love her and needed her in her life.

Medusa is a debut novel by Nataly Gruender that offers an intimate exploration of one of mythology’s most infamous figures. The story follows Medusa, the only mortal daughter of two sea gods and a priestess of Athena, as she navigates a world devoid of compassion for her plight. After enduring a grievous violation by Poseidon, Medusa is punished, not for the crime against her, but for the desecration of Athena’s temple. Transformed into the feared monster of legend, Medusa's gaze now turns any who meet it to stone.

I've been fascinated by Medusa's story since I was young, drawn to her complex and tragic tale. Over the years, I've encountered many versions of her story, but what sets this story of Medusa apart is the way she portrays the inner turmoil of a woman cursed with a power that isolates her from the world. The novel delves deeply into Medusa's humanity and struggles—qualities often stripped away in traditional myths. Nataly masterfully captures Medusa’s conflict between embracing the monstrous identity forced upon her and holding on to the remnants of her humanity. There were moments when I was near tears, thinking about how difficult it must have been for her, how drastically her world changed, and how that world treated her in return. I often reflect on how Medusa’s story mirrors the complexities of womanhood, and how beautifully Nataly captures that complexity.

The audiobook, narrated by the talented Helen Laser, brought this story to life with remarkable skill. Helen's narration gave each character a distinct voice and personality, making the experience even more captivating. The flow of the novel was perfectly balanced and engaging without the occasional stumbles that retellings can have.

I want to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a free Audio ARC of Medusa by Nataly Gruender.

I was a bit hesitant to begin this book, as most people are aware of the details of Medusa's story. In the beginning I felt a sense of dread as we began approaching Medusa's transformation. However, the author and narrator handled every aspect of Medusa's character with love and respect. This story is not just about the base myth of Medusa, it's about sisterhood and self acceptance. Each sister is given a unique voice and personality as well as the other minor characters in the story, They come alive and change Medusa in small and large ways that lead her to accept her prophesied destiny.

Such a well known story could be boring, but the author and narrator were able to breath live into the well known details. The pacing of the story and the inflection of the narrator made this an enjoyable and surprising read.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC (in audiobook format).

Nataly Gruender’s Medusa offers a fresh and intimate retelling of the mythological figure who has long been misunderstood and vilified. This audiobook, brought to life by the evocative narration of Helen Laser, provides a compelling and humanizing perspective on Medusa’s story.

The narrative follows Medusa, the only mortal daughter of two sea gods, who begins her journey as a priestess of Athena. Her life takes a tragic turn when she is violated by Poseidon, leading to Athena’s wrathful transformation of Medusa into the snake-haired monster of legend. As Medusa grapples with her new identity and the curse that turns anyone who meets her gaze to stone, she embarks on a journey across ancient Greece. 

Gruender’s portrayal of Medusa is both nuanced and empathetic. Medusa is depicted not just as a monster, but as a woman struggling with the trauma of her past and the burden of her curse. Her interactions with other characters, including a debaucherous wine god and an alluring nymph, reveal her vulnerability and strength.

Helen Laser’s narration is a standout feature of this audiobook. Her voice captures the emotional depth and complexity of Medusa’s character, bringing a sense of intimacy and immediacy to the story. 

Gruender’s writing is lyrical and evocative, blending elements of myth and reality to create a rich and immersive narrative. The themes of trauma, transformation, and empowerment are explored with sensitivity and depth. 

Medusa is a powerful and thought-provoking audiobook that reimagines a well-known myth with empathy and insight. Gruender’s storytelling, combined with Laser’s compelling narration, makes this a must-listen for fans of mythological retellings and those interested in stories of female empowerment. This audiobook not only entertains but also invites listeners to reconsider the narratives we accept and the voices we choose to amplify.

I was provided and Audio ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

The narrator did a great job keeping the pace of the book moving as sometimes Greek retellings can get a little slow at times. I thought she did a wonderful job with Medusa's story.

Medusa's story is one that I've heard several times before, but it usually is told from Perseus' point of view. The tales almost always include some sort of punishment for Medusa's transgression with Poseidon or her having always been a monster. Check out trigger warnings if you aren't aware of the full extent of why Athena cursed Medusa. This takes us back to before the snake headed gorgon we all know as Medusa, when she was human and takes us through her lifetime when she meets her end at the hands of Perseus. I enjoyed getting to know her as a human and as a "monster" and on the many places she visits and those she interacts with.

This was a wonderful version of Medusa's story. I've read several different versions, but as I mentioned they are typically told from Perseus' point of view with Medusa always being the villain. There is so much more to her story than turning people to stone. This is a much more intimate look into Medusa's life and those who had influence in her life both before and after her curse. We get to see her humanity and emotions as she struggles with trauma, grief, betrayal, rage, and many other emotions. Medusa was doomed from the start, but in this version we learn that she was so much more than the myth and the monster everyone thought she was. I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it if you have enjoyed the other feminist retellings that are out there.

A very emotional and intimate Greek mythology retelling. I truly loved this book. Medusa has always been interesting to me and so to get a whole book about her made me so excited.