Through an interesting turn of fate, I received this book at the same time I was given access to Stone Blind. Knowing I had wanted to read Stone Blind for a while, I was super curious to do a comparison of them and how these two retellings would tackle the same subject. I was a bit nervous that it would be repetitive but it was very clear early on these are two very different stories.

Nataly Gruender’s Medusa is an intimate portrayal of a woman whose life is fated away from what she desired. With the majority of the narrative being in Medusa’s voice herself, Gruender did a fantastic job taking us through Medusa’s conflicting emotions as a pawn of the gods. Her connections on her journey were touching and at the end of the story I really loved the narrative with her sisters.

I truly enjoyed this story. Even if you have read Stone Blind, I think this retelling has a different, more intimate, view that makes it totally worth while

Thank you NetGalley and Hatchett Audio for the ARC of Medusa.

I went into this book not knowing Medusa's backstory. I really enjoyed this retelling and getting to know her as a person and not as a monster. I love Greek mythology and this book filled that love. I love the relationship she has with her snakes (snakes creep me out!). She wasn't who I thought she was and after reading this story, I could look up to her. The narrirator's voice I felt was perfect for Medusa.

Thank you Hachette Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

If you liked Circe or The Song of Achilles then this book is for you. I am really loving all of the Greek retellings coming out and this book is no exception. It's a viewpoint that was always there but never placed as the main point. The sale and the pace really pulls you into this book and makes you feel rage on behalf of Medusa. The thought and intention behind telling the story without being callous was a relief and well done.

I loved this book! The writing was beautiful and the characters were so well-developed. It offered a fresh and modern take on Medusa's origin story while staying true to the original myths. The pacing was perfect and I enjoyed the romance, friendships, and ending. I definitely recommend it to fans of Greek mythology retellings. The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job, adding to the overall experience. Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC copy!

Medusa

As a lover of Greek mythology I’m always excited to try out a new author and Nataly Gruender knock her debut novel out of the park! She is also very thoughtful and discusses a particular trigger warning scene before the book begins to make sure her readers are comfortable. Respect!

I’ve read at least four retellings of Medusa and this was by far the most enjoyable. I loved that it wasn’t as harsh as so many I’ve read before. There was a level of understanding and kindness to almost all of the characters, even the gods that are involved, that allowed me to feel much more connected. I particularly loved this portrayal of Medusa and the relationships she cultivated after being turned into a “monster”.

A fantastic audio experience and a book I highly recommend for all my fellow mythology lovers!

Thank you Hachette Audio for the alc via Netgalley!

An intimate and emotional Greek mythology retelling of Medusa’s story from the point of view of Medusa herself. Much like Madeline Miller’s Circe, we get to see a misunderstood and villainized character tell their side of the story. We follow Medusa as she departs from her parents and sister Gorgons to study at the temple of Athena as a priestess. The events following this (no spoilers if you are unfamiliar with Medusa’s mythology) are difficult to read, but told with care and intention.

What I loved most about this was how we got to see Medusa’s humanity and her longing to heal and find community even after her curse. Her bond with her sisters was lovely to see and experience as a reader. Much like my experience reading Circe, I found myself emotional and rooting for our main character, wanting the best for her despite knowing the how the story will end. This was simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming and honestly up there with my favorite Greek mythology retellings that I’ve read.

4.25-4.5

I also listened to the audiobook and recommend it.

I was not really familiar with the story of Medusa, but I've seen the growing number of Medusa tattoos. After learning what they represent, I was really anxious to read more about her. I thought this was well written and it kept me interested throughout.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Grand Central Publishing books for this advanced audiobook. I was a little familiar with the backstory of Medusa, but this audiobook REALLY brought the story of Medusa to life. I loved this story and how she started as a very beautiful, but mortal woman and through no fault of her own was cursed by Athena and became Medusa. I now understand why women get tattoos of Medusa as a symbol of regaining your power and womanhood.

Medusa by Nataly Greunder was an absolute blast—a super fun and delightful take on the Medusa myth. I loved diving into the different histories of the Gods and seeing everything from Medusa’s perspective. And let’s be honest, Dionysus was a total sweetie; he can basically do no wrong in my book. There’s something so satisfying about a good revenge story led by a wronged woman, and Medusa delivers that perfectly. I got the chance to listen to the fantastic ARC, thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who loves Greek mythology and a fresh retelling.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audio ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley & Goodreads.

I love a good mythological retelling and this one is so beautifully done. Love that the author explored Medusa's childhood. The book follows her life journey of growing from a young ignored child to the goddess of Monsters.

here are are my few fav dialogues :

“A monstrous woman is not a terrible thing to be.”

"they are getting worse
demi god?
men "

"be scared of women.
be scared of women who give power to their emotions
they can tear the world down with their bare hands"

this was an absolutely delightful listen ....The audiobook narration was great

I love folklore/mythology retellings and I've been hoping for a great retelling of Medusa's story so I was pumped about this book. I was hoping for a feminist novel that gave Medusa some justice for her unfair treatment. Unfortunately, this story didn't quite live up to what I hoped it would be.

The story felt disjointed and it was hard to connect with the characters. I appreciate that Gruender tried to give us some insights into why the gods behaved the way they did (for ex. Athena's perspective on why she chose to curse Medusa), but the explanations were too superficial to be impactful. I also thought that the descriptions of Medusa trying to use her beauty to charm people jsut before she's assaulted by Poseidon felt victim-blamey and unnecessary. Maybe Gruender was aiming for nuance, but it gave me the ick.

Overall, a valiant effort but not the home run I'd hoped for. That being said, if you enjoy mythology retellings, you will likely find this one enjoyable.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I've read a lot of Medusa stories over the years, and what I love about them is each takes a unique take on the myth or focuses on a different part. In Gruender's, there is more focus on her early life and the aftermath of her curse than Perseus and her which I enjoyed. Of course that is still an integral part but it's really only a small part of the novel. I loved seeing Medusa's relationships after she was cursed and her journey to accepting what happened and embracing it. It was a really feminist, moving adaptation of the myth that felt very faithful to what might have been.

4.5/5

Medusa's story will always be heartbreaking, but I loved seeing her point of view in this retelling. I have read many Greek retellings, and this is my favorite of Medusa. She was such a well-developed and well-rounded character.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Medusa's story was always one that intrigued me ; so, it came as no surprise that I loved this.

I adore greek mythology and this book did not disappoint, it depicted Medusa beautifully. It portrayed her in a very realistic way, so much so that your heart breaks when hers does. She went through so much, and it was not fair.

Aside from following the main story, and the main plot, it also warms your heart with some very wholesome moments with other characters. Mainly in the friendship she found with Dionysus, the love she found in Nayda, and the bond developed later on with her sisters.

It is beautifully written, and even more beautifully narrated. The audiobook was so GOOD. Helen Laser's voice was perfect for this book, especially when it came to very emotional scenes; you can feel all the emotions on the narrator's voice. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for the chance of experiencing this amazing book.

This review is specifically for the audiobook version. For the review of the written work itself, see the ebook ARC page. The narration overall matched the righteously angry tone of the narrative. All the sister and monstrous companions of Medusa had very clear personalities that really shine through and the narrator really elevated a story that on paper didn't seem that polished or particularly creative.

This was the story of Medusa told from her point of view. I’ve been loving Greek mythology retellings lately (Song of Achilles, Circe, among others), and this stood up to these greats.

While I was familiar with Medusa’s story, I didn’t know all the intricacies of her relationships with Poseidon (sad and has a TW, albeit in this case part of her mythology) and Athena (what a betrayal), her sisters (loved the full circle), and other gods. I loved hearing about her life, and especially loved her bond with her snakes. It was refreshing to see the mortal side to the monster Medusa.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: 8/13/24

I received an ALC, and I loved listening to this story. The narrator did a wonderful job, and I found I kept looking for times that I could listen to this book!

Thank you Hachette Audio, Grand Central Pub, and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

“A monsterous woman is not a terrible thing to be.”

What a great retelling of Medusa! This gives the reader an opportunity to see the full picture of who Medusa was when typically she’s seen only as a viscous monster. The storytelling and conversation were more modern than typical mythology stories that have an ancient feel. It made it easier for me to connect.

I’m a fan of narrator Helen Laser and she didn’t a great job, as usual.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audio ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon.

Pub Date Aug 13 2024

I have always been fascinated with Greek mythology and this book did not disappoint. It was very well written and I loved it! I need Nataly to write more books! It was amazing! Thanks NetGallery!

Medusa was such an amazing book, I dont know if my review will make it justice. With a boom on retellings, especially with Greek mythology, this retelling was such a breath of fresh air. I fell in love immediately with the writing and with the different characters. It should be noted that this is a character driven book and one has to be cautious of ensuring they are okay to follow.

One of my favorite elements of this narrative was Medusa’s love for her snakes and how she learns to have them become her.

The change in multiple POVs was also beautifully done, and I was able to fully follow through.

I will be screaming at everyone to get this book. It has become one of my favorite reads of the year. No notes.

My one issue with this book was the pace. Sometimes it was very slow to the point of me losing interest. But the narrator did a great job as I really enjoyed listening to her.