I love me a good feminist retelling of Greek myths - and this one is one of my absolute favorites! I have read and enjoyed Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes and The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood on the subject of Medusa so I was unprepared by how much more I loved this book! While all the Medusa retellings I have read acknowledge the atrocity she suffered and attempt to give her voice and power back - Gruender does it the best. This one goes right up on my best Greek retellings shelf. This Medusa has my whole heart. I hope Greunder writes more (and I hope it is more mythology). 5+ stars!!!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for this advance audiobook for review.

I enjoyed this one so much! I tore right through it. The audiobook narration was great and I was never confused over who was talking even though there were several female characters who could have sounded similar. The pacing was good and it was easy to listen to and focus on.

As for the story itself, I really liked this take on Medusa. She was a girl that was forcibly taken advantage of, but she was also a strong character on her own. I also liked that Athena clearly was flawed in cursing Medusa, but that she directed her to use that power for herself. This story was crafted in a way that made you root for Medusa whenever she decided to lock eyes with someone.

And Dionysus? Charming. I loved how he protected his followers and formed a real friendship with Medusa. I hadn't read a depiction of Dionysus like this one before and I really enjoyed it. I also liked how each god seemed to notice another god's flaws, but couldn't/wouldn't speak on it to avoid retaliation. It made their chaotic coexistence more understandable.

Around the introduction of Perseus, I did start to get a little lost with the introduction of several new names at once so I think that particular part needed a little more fleshing out. It didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the story though and by the end, I was sucked in so the confusion didn't last for the duration of the book.

Overall, solid Medusa tale that I would recommend to anyone.

Always love to read retellings, especially those of mythology and Medusa is no stranger to having various versions of her story told.

This was a retelling with a more empathetic and modern tone to it. It was enjoyable to have the audiobook version of this tale as it gave emotion to the story and a nice flow.

The main ideas showcased seemed to be that of self-acceptance as well as having an open view to love and accept others as they are. There are so many relationships that people can take for granted that we should take time to appreciate more; from family to friends.

This was a lovely story and gave the trigger warnings and which chapter they pertained to before the start of the book (SA). So curious to see what Gruender comes out with next!

Thanks so much to the author, Nataly Gruender, Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the arc audiobook of Medusa!

This story uncovers Medusa’s very beginning from her complicated sisterhood with her immortal sisters, often being teased for her differences from her looks to her skin. And uncovers many untold or misunderstood elements of her life. Early on, she received a prophecy from the Grey that her future will be dark and ugly. She spent her life anxiously waiting for her demise and trying to navigate her curse and life.

This story goes through the stories we know and much more. Medusa’s journey to discover herself, find her place as a mortal, and navigate through troubled relationships with the gods and her family.

It follows her to her time as a priestess with Athena, encounter with Poseidon and transformation to deadly monster.

Women or monster? Medusa can be both. I loved her inspirational talks with Echidna. “Being a monster does not stop you from being a woman. In fact, an essential part of being a woman is finding that part of you that others wound see as monstrous. Finding it and nurturing it so it does not overtake who you are. If you ignore it or try to hide it, that is when other people will turn it against you.”

This was an amazing retelling of a misunderstood monster. I loved the audiobook narration, great pacing and expression that made this such a fun read. I have been reading a lot of Greek fiction lately, and sometimes the stories can get repetitive but this was a fresh take that had me hooked from the beginning. I very much look forward to more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for access to the ARC ! I was so so excited to get this one and it didn’t disappoint. Release date 8/13/24.

This is truly one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. The depiction of what it is to be a woman in the world and the gentleness that it was presented with had me crying with the feelings of being seen and understood and accepted. The truth that you do not have to forgive those who hurt you or give up that anger to find happiness and joy in life. This should be a must read for everybody and I will talk about this book forever. It has changed me. Thank you so much to the author for giving this to the world

"A Mosterous woman is not a terrible thing to be"

"Beware a woman and furthermore Beware a woman who has given power to her emotions, she can tear the world apart with her bare hands"

Wow! I love when a book takes a super well-known character (in this case, villain), and turns your whole perception of them upside down! I grew up with the Percy Jackson series, and who doesn’t love Riordan’s version of Percy, right? After reading Medusa, Percy seems like nothing more than a spoiled rich kid who can get away with whatever for absolutely no reason at all. And our “villain”, Medusa, becomes someone deserving of compassion and understanding. I am unsure whether the author intends to make this into a trilogy/series, but I would absolutely LOVE to see how things work out for Medusa in the long run!

I listened to this on audio, and I found the narrator captivating. I felt that she became Medusa. Almost as if I were listening to Medusa’s inner monologue out loud, which was fantastic! There were no issues with diction, pacing, or relatability

Overall, I would give this book 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because I think this is a book that will stick with me for a long time.

🧚🏻A HUGE thank you goes out to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and author Nataly Gruender for providing me with a free audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for granting me an ARC of this book. I've tried to keep spoilers to a minimum but cannot swear that this review is spoiler free.

Now, onto it...

Here's the deal.

Over the last decade or so, retellings of mythological tales have simply EXPLODED onto the scene. There have always been retellings, of course, but within the last several years, it's like they've increased exponentially.

As someone whose primary fields of study encompass myths, fairy tales, and world religions, I feel almost COMPELLED to read them whenever they crop up.

And unfortunately, that doesn't always turn out well for me.

Because a lot of these retellings are absolutely, without a doubt, horrible. We're talking no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

So imagine my surprise when I've found not one but TWO retellings in the same week that both merited an easy 4 stars! (The other being Jennifer Saint's upcoming "Hera.")

This book by Nataly Gruender (an author of whom I've never heard anything, by the way) was beautifully written.

I've read several retellings of Medusa's story. Some have been terrible. (One I couldn't even bring myself to finish, and I almost NEVER DNF books.) Some have been decent. But none have been truly GOOD.

This one is.

It gives Medusa a strong, feminist voice without changing her basic story. It keeps the general plot points of the myth in place, but it gives the reader an entirely new look into who Medusa was, what drove her, and why she made the choices she made.

It was, quite frankly, beautifully done.

The prose got a bit lengthy in places, and there wasn't, in my opinion, enough attention paid to her conscious use of her powers once she received them. I'm also on the fence about my feelings about the relationship between her and the god Dionysus. I understand the parallels the author was drawing between the two, but I'm not sure it added a lot to the book itself.

Still, even despite those (again, in my opinion) flaws, the book was wonderful. It was engaging and gave an open, honest look at the dynamics between Medusa and her lesser-known sisters.

As for the audio aspects of the book, I have no complaints there, either. I did have to listen to it at 2x speed, but that's not unusual for me. For most people, I'm sure the regular speed would have sufficed. The narration was clear and error-free, and I really enjoyed the narrator's voice and tone.

All in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a good mythology retelling. Or anyone who appreciates classic tales being retold with a woman's voice.

"𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀."

We all know Medusa, the well-known tale of the girl, turned gorgon. While the traditional version focuses on her monstrous appearance and ability to turn people to stone, this novel explores the untold story from her own point of view.

This retelling gives an intimate look into Medusa’s upbringing, familial bonds, and transition into adulthood. Author @natalygruender writes with a modern voice that connects the villain the world portrays while simultaneously revealing the victim that the reader comes to know.

With numerous reimaginings of the Medusa narrative, it can be challenging to know which ones resonate with you. However, this rendition evokes a sense of connection, as if the reader is intricately woven into the very fabric of the story.

Thank you to @hachetteaudio I had the pleasure of receiving an ALC. The audiobook truly brought this story to life, and the narrator's performance was captivating, drawing the listener into the world of the story.

#medusa #retelling #greekmythology #bookrecommendations #bookreview

loved the feminine rage aspect of this story, and seeing a gentle side to Medusa that tends to be swept under a rug. I always felt for medusa... but this story made her feel more human and more tragic

Medusa is a heartbreaking tale that allows room for joy, love and dignity to a doomed figure. (I refuse to believe that's a spoiler at this point). The book is full of quiet moments, which I believe benefits the overall tone but may cause the book to drag for some readers. I absolutely loved the different secondary characters throughout the novel. The portrayal of Athena felt especially unique. The book doesn't forgive her actions (NOR SHOULD IT), but gives a new take on them.

Special kudos to the narrator, Helen Laser, who brought an empathic gravitas that really added to the overall experience.

CW: on-page depiction of rape/sexual assault. I especially appreciated the frank content warning in the beginning with specific information so a reader can avoid it if that's in their best interests.

Thank you to Machete Audio and NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

When I requested this ARC, I didn’t realise it was an audiobook. While that isn’t something I normally enjoy, I’m really glad I gave it a try! Started yesterday morning, finished just now… amazing narration and a gripping book overall.

Medusa's story is anything but cheerful, making her a fascinating choice for a feminist retelling. Usually seen as a tragic figure, giving her a voice transforms her into a symbol of empowerment. Gruender goes beyond the familiar aspects of Medusa's myth, creating a richly detailed world that brings new dimensions to her character. The connection she has with her snakes is a particularly rich detail that I really enjoyed. The reconstruction of the word ‘monster’ sheds a new light on who Medusa is.

A big thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

3/5 ⭐️
As a fan of mythology retellings, I was so happy when I got this ARC & in Audiobook format! The narrator does a very nice job, I enjoyed listening to this book. The way Nataly Gruender portrays Medusa is amazing and heartbreaking at the same time. Medusa never had a chance, being caught on a gods’ war and being a labeled as a monster from the beginning well … she didn’t have it easy. If you love this genre, make sure you grab a copy on August 13, 2024.
Thank you NetGalley for this Audiobook ARC.

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6698969333?book_show_action=false

Medusa has all of the elements I love in a mythology retelling - strong female characters, heartwarming relationships between characters, unique background/twists on well-known mythological characters. I especially love empathizing with a character that is typically portrayed as a villian. The chapters are told through a variety of POVs, with most coming from Medusa's POV, and I actually loved this style of narration and getting to see glimpses into the many characters' thoughts and experiences. Audio performed by Helen Laser was incredible as usual.

I received an ALC from Hachette Audio | Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Loved the audiobook version! The soothing voice of the narrator weaves together a hypnotic retelling of the story of Medusa, as told by Medusa herself. Although anyone familiar with Greek mythology has surely heard of Medusa and her hair of snakes, this novel offers a unique glimpse into her origin story. The author’s writing flows through the course of Medusa’s life in a way that makes you almost forget you’re reading fiction.

*I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

Medusa is a beautiful, vivid retelling of the life of the mythical being Medusa, with intriguing characters and a fresh take.

I really enjoyed this one. It was everything I was hoping for: The writing was beautiful. The characters were splendidly written and developed, making for a very entertaining cast. The author offered wonderful, fresh insights into the life of Medusa while preserving the original myths. The pacing was great, and I adored the sweet romance, friendships, and ending. I highly recommend fans of Greek mythology retellings check this one out!

The audiobook narrator was lovely. They fit Medusa’s character beautifully and presented many amazing voices for the various characters. They added wonderfully to the overall reading and listening experience!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

It was clear early on that this book isn't for me; the writing style is too basic and it just reads like Greek Mythology fan fiction.

4 stars

The phrase that first comes to mind for this one? "Pleasantly surprised!"

As fans of mythological retellings know, there's been a real boom in this arena over the past decade, and even more prominently in the past three or four years. While some of these retellings are absolutely mind blowing and life changing and make me temporarily wish to be immortal just to read even more, others leave readers wanting much, much more. This is one of the good ones.

Medusa's story is grim, to say the least, so this makes her an ideal character to pick up in a feminist retelling. She's disempowered in several obvious ways, so giving her a voice on its own is already one huge step in the correct direction! For folks who are not aware of Medusa's origins, or at least the origins of her snakes and *special* skills, those who have a difficult time with reading about rape or related impacts may want to look elsewhere (including outside of Greek mythology, unfortunately). While many of Medusa's known outcomes stem from this specific event, there's much more to her, and Gruender nicely articulates a more comprehensive world. Highlights include but are not limited to Medusa's relationships with Athena and her snakes (the latter of which is my favorite part of this book).

At times, the narrative can be more succinct. I'm not out here trying to silence Medusa, but I also think the impact could be stronger with some economizing. That noted, this is an intriguing tale and approach, and I will absolutely add it to the list of recommended retellings for my Myth students.

This is a really thorough retelling of Medusa, although it was more YA/NA than I was expecting. Not necessarily a dig, just an observation!

The narration in the audiobook is great - super immersive and engrossing. I probably enjoyed the book more in this form - I could get lost in the storytelling and overlook some of the narrative bits I didn’t enjoy as much.

It will definitely scratch an itch for fans of Greek retellings! And it does a good job of fleshing out Medusa (and the Gorgons) story beyond what we think we know.

3 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.