Not for me. I requested this to read in October, as I always like to stock up on "spooky stories" to get me in the Halloween mood. This wasn't quite what I expected, and not my favorite.

A beautiful story of Medea written by an author who wanted her to have her story told. I would highly recommend! A great story that hasn't had as much attention as other greek myths

Calling all fans of Jennifer Saint, Genevieve Gornichec, and Madeline Miller! “The Witch of Colchis” is also published as “Medea”, and is a retelling of the Greek myth. This retelling does not have a HEA, just as the myth doesn’t.

I listened to the audio (thanks @netgalley) and the narrator was absolutely brilliant! Kristin Atherton was the perfect casting for Medea. I will certainly listen to more narration by her.

The original myth is a tragedy, and this version is no different. This story doesn’t offer Medea as a villain though but rather as the victim of men’s whims and patriarchy, from her grandfather and father, to her own brother and eventual husband, and the demonization of women by society. Medea is influenced and manipulated throughout the entire story, but ultimately she made her own decisions. Medea is the perfect example of a morally grey FMC, as a result of the manipulation and her decisions.

I particularly loved Atalanta in this story and the potential there was for female friendship. Atalanta saw Jason and men for what they were to Medea and tried to help her, but Medea was too far gone by then.

Again, I strongly recommend this for those who love mythos retellings.

TW: Child death.

More Mythology? Why yes. Done as an original story? Yes! Welcome to The Witch if Cochis where we meet Medea. Medea is DONE. I totally wish Taylor Swift songs were playing in the background if this stellar , epic, saga of the Golden Fleece and Jason . Yes Jason is a very old name, weird since we usually think of names like Caesar and Perseus. Be I digress.
From the first breath of the narrator to the end where they thank me for reading, I was blown away. I should have know as I read (not listened) to the amazing novel Circe by this author.

One of the most hated female characters in Greek mythology gets her story told.
I think this has been my favorite retelling of Medea's myths so far.
The narrator really brought the story to life. Her voice was mesmerizing and soothing. Yet full of energy and emotion when called for.
Beautifully written, Hewlett's version really filled out Medea's story and brought the character to life. Making her both more human and relatable while not attempting to paint her as a victimized woman. Although Hewlett's Jason is by no means a sympathetic character. Those who suffered Medea's wrath were also more fleshed out and humanized.
The plot was well developed and thorough. It was a bit of a slower read, but not in such a way that I got bored.
I found this to be a probable retelling from Medea's perspective, with some well-crafted twists. I very much enjoyed this book!
4.75 stars rounded up to 5.
Thank you Netgalley and RBmedia for the ARC!!

Wow, this book was a masterpiece. I really enjoyed the storyline and how the characters came to life off the page.

The writing was so beautiful and the narrator had this haunting quality to it that made the story truly come alive.

4 stars!

It wasn't what I was expecting but it was magical

4.5 ⭐️
Audio: 5/5 | Storyline: 4/5

The Witch of Colchis begins with a young Medea learning the intricacies of witchcraft under the guidance of Circe, a familiar thread for those who enjoyed Madeline Miller’s Circe. The story poignantly bookends Medea's relationships with her immediate family—particularly her sister and father—while the heart of the tale delves into her tumultuous connection with Jason.

Given the recent surge of mythology retellings centered around the Golden Fleece and the Argonauts, some readers might find the middle section somewhat drawn out, especially if they are well-versed in these myths. And I think it’s important to approach this novel without the expectation of adoring Medea; instead, it offers a nuanced exploration of betrayal, murder, and the complexities of her motivations.

Kristin Atherton’s narration is impeccable, making her an ideal choice for the audiobook format. Her performance elevates the storytelling, adding depth to Medea’s character.

Thank you to the NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for the advanced audio copy.

5⭐ without a doubt

I absolutely loved The Witch of Colchis by Rosie Hewlett! The first thing that drew me in was the theme, which reminded me of Circe by Madeline Miller. If you're a fan of Greek mythology, strong female protagonists, and retellings from the perspective of the oft-misunderstood "villains," this book is a must-read.

The audiobook, in particular, is a masterpiece. The narrator’s voice is enchanting—she truly brings Medea to life with a voice that captures her complexity, strength, and vulnerability. Each character felt distinct and alive, making the listening experience fully immersive. Her delivery added an extra layer of depth to the story, making it easy to lose myself in Medea's world.

The story itself is a beautiful, multifaceted portrayal of Medea, often villainized in traditional myths, but given a fresh, empathetic perspective here. Hewlett skillfully delves into Medea’s motivations, emotions, and inner struggles, and by the end, I found myself rooting for her in ways I hadn’t expected.

If you're drawn to Greek mythology or enjoyed Circe, you'll find this book just as captivating. Rosie Hewlett does an excellent job of balancing the familiar with the new, offering both fans of mythology and newcomers a thrilling, emotional, and thought-provoking tale.

Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! This is one of the better books about Madea that I’ve read recently. Rosie Hewlett did a fantastic job writing this story and Kristin Atherton did a great job narrating the audiobook. Once I started this audiobook, I had to finish it!

I definitely recommend The Witch of Colchis for any Greek mythology fans! You definitely don’t have to be familiar with Madea to read this one.

4⭐️.

I went in to this book blind, and I loved it.
This was great re telling of the story of Medea and Jason.
The darkness and pain was pouring from the pages …
Beautiful feminist re telling of this story.
Amazing truly amazing

I absolutely loved this story!
I received an audio ARC of this book under the title ‘The Witch of Colchis’ (it's also titled Medea in Australia) through Netgalley. The voice by Kristin Atherton narration was immaculate. Kristin embodies Medea in a way that brings more to her character and adds to significant language through this portrayal. I also thought her portal of Hecate was something that has stuck with me.
Now, this book is dark and twisted and is ultimately a tragedy. Medea’s story is quite disturbing, but Rosie Hewlett does an incredible job at creating her character into one which, as a reader, you feel for. Rosie skilfully weaves questionable actions and dark thoughts into Medea and unravels her and her relationships in a gradual and heartbreaking way.
I loved the dark way this story is written. Medea’s character is fascinating. Her experiences as a girl and young woman are fascinating in their violent and formative nature. Medea is a character that evolves. As you read more is discovered about her, and the more you can see her suffering and desperation.
One very impactful aspect in this story is the romantic relationship. The themes of manipulation and the language used were extremely powerful and shone a light on the fact that this is a retelling of an ancient myth, but the trauma, humiliation, and mistreatment of women extend beyond time. It is so impactful in the sad reality of it. This heartbreaking language was vocalised by Kristin so well. It made me feel bad for Medea and also made me want to shake and scream at her.
There is a deep feeling of dread or foreboding as the story progresses, the narration builds this along with the progression of the plot and I absolutely felt apprehension at reaching the climax of the story because I knew it would be intense. And it was! I was captivated by the choices made, and the way the story was wrapped up felt shockingly sad in exactly the way it’s meant to be.
I would absolutely recommend this book, but it is definitely dark and covers deeply traumatic events, but if you are comfortable with that, this book is really good.
I would also like to say that the audio adds to this book beautifully, and if you like audio books and have access, it is the way to go!
I will be thinking about this book for a long time, absolutely 5 stars.

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.

Whew! What a roller coaster. I got to what could have been a happy ending so many times only to have it ripped away from me time after time. I love Medea and all her flaws and trauma. This book is great. Sometimes it gets a little slow, but the blending of Greek myth told by a powerful but deeply wounded woman will ALWAYS hit right for me.

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio version of this title in exchange for my review.

I really enjoy Greek and Roman mythology - well, all mythology - and have read several of the more current re-telling's in recent years. And I really, really want to love these books, but sometimes they just don't sit right with me. I'm afraid this is one of those books. I'm not sure if it was difficult to accept the characterization for me, or if it was updated in ways it just didn't work? I"m not sure. This was a new to me author, and I would give her books another try. Not all topics or books work for everyone, and I think that was the case here.

3 stars for " I enjoyed it and maybe it's more me than the book."

I grew up with a fascination for Greek mythology, and as an adult have loved diving in to retellings of popular and lesser known myths.

I knew a bit about Medea and Jason and the Argonauts before diving in to Rosie Hewlett’s story, but the story she wove transported me. Experiencing the story from Medea’s perspective added a whole new layer to her, and I felt it made her a much more sympathetic character than the cold, calculating witch in the original myth.

THANK YOU NETGALLEY!!!
I was lucky enough to get a copy of this audio book from NetGalley. I was so excited as soon as I knew this book was coming out. I love Medea and want ALL the retellings for her. I loved this version. The story is not new, of course, but the narrator did such a fantastic job, I did not care at all. It's read by Kristin Atherton. I felt with this retelling, we got a little more layers and understanding of Medea. I have noticed in most of her stories, they portray her as difficult to like and/or love. I liked that. I screamed at her so much during this book and Jason (insert eye roll here and selected words). We also get a little bit of Circe here, so yay for that! Overall, I think the author did a great job with this retelling.

✨🌙 This is a total must-read, you guys! 🌙✨

Like, wow! This book reimagines Medea in such a fresh way, and I’m living for it! The author totally nails it with her lush prose and emotional depth. 💖 You dive into Medea’s traumatic past, and honestly, my heart was just breaking for her. She’s this fierce princess with wicked skills and the softest heart, but, like, all the men in her life are so not worthy!

The love story with Jason is just ugh, relatable and infuriating! I felt all the feels as I watched her go from hopeful to betrayed. The way Rosie explores the themes of power and manipulation? Pure genius! 💥 And can we talk about the magical moments? Hecate’s blessings and Circe’s influence? Yasss! The blend of witchy vibes and Greek myth is just perfection. Plus, the friendships—Atalanta is such a gem! 💕

I mean, if you’re into empowering tales of fierce women who, like, refuse to be boxed in by society, you need this book in your life! Medea is iconic, and Rosie’s storytelling is a masterpiece. I’m honestly obsessed! You all have to grab this one. It’ll blow your mind! 🎧✨

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I'd like to express my gratitude for having received the audiobook copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion!

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

Medea is one of my favourite Greek myth retellings, alongside Clytemnestra and the Song of Achilles. I've become a bit sceptical when picking up these feminist myth retelling books since there's just so many of them now, but I think I personally connected to the complicated and abusive family dynamics in this book which made it really hit emotionally for me. It also helps that I didn't know too much about Medea other than the fact that she is a witch, she is related to Circe, and that she is considered a villain, which helped keep the book exciting for me. I really enjoyed reading this book and tabbing it as I go. I ended up have themes which I tabbed: love/infatuation/longing, alienation, power/power dynamics, betrayal. revenge and abuse.

"When I was a child, I turned my brother into a pig."

The book starts with when Medea is eight years old, just after she has turned her brother into a pig. We follow Medea's childhood in Colchis where she lives in the palace with her parents, the King and Queen of Colchis, her cruel brother Apsyrtus and her sweet sister Chalciope. After Medea is unable to return her brother to his original form, her aunt Circe is called in to reverse the spell, and Medea starts learning magic under her.

I really appreciated how the book depicted abuse and how abuse can affect someone's psyche and ability to form relationships later on. The abusive family dynamics between Medea and her parents really resonated with me which allowed me to become sympathetic to her. Her father is a tyrant, and at home he is emotionally and physically abusive towards Medea and her mother, who is very passive.

"You'd think our shared suffering would bond us, but it has only ever driven us further apart."

After Medea's magic manifests, she becomes further ostracized and isolated from her parents and her brother. In her kingdom, people are afraid of her magic and of her status as a witch, as whispers begin to follow her and she is othered. She is left to wonder if her magic, an intrinsic part of her, is good or evil, and in turn if she herself is good or evil. She becomes a scapegoat to her family and feels utterly alone, especially as Circe stops visiting with no explanation. Medea idolized and felt loved by Circe, so this only worsens Medea's desire to be loved and gain approval. When the hero Jason and his argonauts arrive on her shores, she feels certain she may have finally have found love, and an escape from Colchis, at last.

<blockquote><i>I want Jason to touch me.
I do not care how. He could strike me like my father, and I would feel nothing but pleasure for his skin against mine. </blockquote></i>

But of course, not all is as it seems, and Medea is willing to overlook red flags in order to try and make her and Jason's love work. The end result of their relationship will be known to some going into this book, as a result of Euripides' play 'Medea' and/or general Greek mythology knowledge. But if you don't know the story of Medea, or were hazy on it like I was, I would recommend going in blind. Just know that it is dark and sad. For those of us who do know, (SPOILER) we know that after Jason and Medea wed, and Jason is willing to abandon her to marry another woman, Medea murders their two sons. It was truly sad to read about how Medea's mind and sanity deteriorated after Jason emotionally neglects her in their marriage even before his betrayal, especially since her other crimes, ones she committed to try and help Jason, made her alienated once again by wider society. But despite how toxic their relationship is, Medea is desperate to make it work. After losing her relationship with her mother, her sister, and her aunt, Medea is desperate for the one person she has to love her, for Jason to prove that she is not a monster, that she can be good and worthy of love. (end spoiler)

Overall, I really enjoyed this retelling of Medea. She is a flawed and complex character, but this retelling was an extremely thoughtful and sympathetic retelling of her tale and a depiction on how someone can become a villain.

Update: Medea will be releasing in the US under the title 'The Witch of Colchis' in September 2024! Thank you for NetGalley for providing me an audiocopy for review, but I've already read and loved Medea. This is my honest review.

If anything these stories teach us is don't rely on men and don't plan your life relying on them, especially if you are a badass woman. But then again the world is constructed around menso whoever you are, how strong you are it doesn't mean anything.

Was this too deep? My apologies. The narattor did a splendid job. I really enjoyed listening to her voice. My only complaint would be that maybe the story could have been shorter but other than that I enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone who likes Greek mythology.

A very standard feministisk Greek mythology retelling. I would recommend this to those who are interested in Medea, as that is whom this is about.

Having very many of these, the ancient voices seen to muddle, the retold voices have become one, and it is that of female rage. It is a shame, as this is not the immediate intention of the movement of retellings.