I love Greek mythology, I love retellings. And I love when authors give voices to the often overlooked women in myths. And Medea was given a powerful voice by Rosie Hewlett.

I only knew Medea as some sort of sidekick to Jason but in this Retelling she is the one who holds the power. Men are afraid of powerful women and women are made to be afraid of their own power. I love how I was feeling with Medea and how I could understand her motivations. She was a victim turned a villain yet I loved her dearly.

I think Kristin Atherton was a great fit for Medea and her voice works well for the character.

In “The Witch of Colchis,” Hewlett weaves a story of womanhood, one that transcends its bounds of mythological retelling to reach the truth of the lives of women. Often made to be victims by men and the world at large, the strength of women has the power to overcome. The infamous sorceress of Greek mythology, Medea, is given a voice in this novel, as readers are brought along on the story of her life.

I would like to thank the publisher for giving me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

I love Greek mythology. I love retellings. But what I've been loving recently is this idea of giving the women of myth a voice, not just a part in someone else's story. And Rosie Hewlett did a fantastic job giving a voice to Medea.

From what I had known about Medea, going into this, was that she was the wife of Jason who helped him get the golden fleece, then she took the lives of her children and became queen of Athens only to lose that as well. Basically, she was a part of the story of Jason and the Argonauts and then after that she became a footnote.

What I loved about the Witch of Colchis is how Medea isn't just given a voice, but also a backstory that we can look at and say wow, that's messed up. Medea does help Jason, and what I love about this book was that not only did we humanize Medea to the point where she isn't just a footnote but a powerful sorceress who lashes out at a world that tried to keep her down, but we also get the real picture of Jason. He's a gaslighting piece of trash and even though I knew how his story would end, I was happy when we got to that part of the myth.

Overall, this was a story about power, about loving yourself including the parts you hate, about embracing who you are, and about magic. I loved this so much.

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

I love this retelling, so raw and powerful and I knew I was going to be hurt, but I still let it pull my little heart out.

For lovers of Greek myth, tragedy, heartache, and feminine rage, Medea has always been a tale I love, and this one shone with it's complexities of love, betrayal and familial bonds. The audiobook narrator was wonderful, highly recommend.

A Greek mythology retelling of the story of Medea. Medea is a magical witch that learned from her aunt, Circe. Her story is one of betrayal, resentment and misunderstanding

Her early display of magical powers makes her hopeful suitor scared of her and her father promises her sister’s hand in marriage to him. It’s not long before Jason comes along to obtain the Golden Fleece. Medea sees this as her opportunity to escape her home.

This book takes you through the many adventures of Medea. Includes other popular characters like Jason, Atalanta, Orpheus, and more. This book deserves to be discussed along with the Jennifer Saint and Madeline Miller classics ! Loved every chapter. Narration was excellent, kept things tense during tense moments, overall just great.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 9/10/24!

Loved the audiobook of this! It was narrated so well and Rosie Hewlett is a fantastic author!!! Female rage and mythology! So perfect!

🧙‍♀️ Rosie Hewlett’s “Medea” or “The Witch of Colchis” offers a captivating and feminist retelling of the classic Greek myth of Medea. This audiobook delves into the complexities of a woman scorned, exploring themes of love, betrayal, and the power of female rage.

Medea’s story is one of a young woman desperate for love and acceptance. Her experiences of being treated poorly by her family and manipulated by Jason will resonate with many listeners, especially those who have endured similar hardships. Hewlett’s portrayal of Medea’s journey is emotionally raw and authentic. Medea’s transformation from a naive young woman to a powerful sorceress is a testament to the strength she finds within herself. Her eventual acts of revenge are a stark reflection of the injustices she has faced. While her actions may be controversial, Hewlett provides a compelling explanation for her motivations.

The Witch of Colchis is a must-listen for fans of Greek mythology and feminist fiction. Hewlett’s writing is both engaging and thought-provoking, and the narrator’s performance brings the story to life. This audiobook is a powerful exploration of female empowerment and the consequences of betrayal.

Special thanks to NetGalley, RBmedia | Recorded Books, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads! #TheWitchofColchis #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning

3.5 rounded up!

The Witch of Colchis (or Medea, to friends across the pond) is a feminist retelling of the story of Medea, truly a woman scorned. Medea is, initially, a young, naive woman who is treated extremely poorly by her parents and craves to be loved. Enter the hero Jason, who comes to her family's island to obtain the powerful golden fleece.

While this book retells a myth of ancient Greece, I found it pretty triggering. Any woman who has been treated poorly by men will see themselves in Medea. In her ease in falling in love with a man for (seemingly) no reason, in her shaping herself to fit his needs, in her unwillingness to listen to the advice of older women telling her she deserves more. I wonder how I would have perceived this book had I read it five or more years ago, when I was mentally in a place much more similar to the beginning version of Medea.

Medea does learn, along the way, of her naiveté, and I hurt deeply for her. The results of her naiveté are much more significant than the average person's and the consequences will follow her the rest of her life. It is an emotional journey to follow. This was extremely well done, and it was very enjoyable. The ending felt a little slow for me, but I would still recommend it.

Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an advance audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Apparently, this year is the year of Greek Mythology retelling books for me. I have read two other Greek Mythology books, and in one of them, Medea was mentioned. I must be honest, I had forgotten about her, but when I started listening to the book, I realized who she was, and I was curious about how her story would unfold.

I felt sorry for her most of the time, but her gradual loss of sanity was not a surprise.
I understand her obsession with love, but I wanted her not to give in so easily.  But knowing her past, it made sense. I hated how easily Medea was manipulated by a man, even when all the women in her life told her it would end badly.

I would have liked for her to get revenge in a different way, not the way she did at the end. But I guess when you lose your mind, you don't realize what you are doing.

I hated Jason. In him, I saw a man I know, and it made me sick to see that even then, they didn't change one bit.

I hope that when someone reads this book and is in an abusive and manipulative relationship, they see the truth and leave.

The writing style was amazing and captivated me from the start. I can't wait to purchase this book and have it on my shelf.

The narrator did a fantastic job. I loved every second of it.

In conclusion, Men ain't sh*t.

A tale woven from the threads of Greek mythology about a princess whose hands have been soaked in blood forever.

Medea always felt like a prisoner in her own land, so when a chance presents for freedom, she takes the leap of faith. Only to jump out of the frying pan & into the fire. The book follows her life & all that she endures in the journey of learning magic, love & survival.

I enjoyed the narration style in the audiobook version & though the story was quite long, it held my attention by presenting challenge after challenge in Medea's path. Her life felt unfulfilled even after attaining all she wanted, thus a majority portion of the book will make you feel sad, but there is some light at the end of the tunnel & that closure made this worth the read.

I write Greek Mythology novels, so I’m particularly picky when it comes to other books in this genre. This is the single best Greek Mythology book I have ever read. The author’s writing style is unparalleled, and her version of Medea’s history is multi-faceted. The narrator only amplified how much I loved this book. There wasn’t a moment of pause in this fast-paced, heavily emotional book.

There were parts where I cried for four daughters who love their father more than themselves, empathized with a broken woman who wants to shed her abusive past, screamed at men who believe they can keep taking from the women around them, and cheered as a selfless huntress jumped off a ship to save a king. The women were true stars, every last one of them, and that includes this amazing author. This may be the first book I read by Rosie Hewlett, but it will definitely won’t be my last.

The first thing I did after reading this book is bought a physical copy of it and Rosie Hewlett's other book, Medusa, because there is no way in hell this is the last book by Hewlett that I'm going to read.

When you're in the Greek mythos space, the people that are typically brought up are reliably Miller and Saint, and if I had it my way, I would replace Saint with Hewlett. What a BOOK, it actually made me feel the same rage for Medea at certain parts, and even though by the end I did not agree with what she was doing fully, Hewlett does such a good job of explaining her rationale in a way that almost makes me understand it and not fight against what she's doing as a caricature of rage.

Not only the titular character, Medea, is wonderfully written, but Hewlett spends some time with Atalanta and Circe, who are both well-written characters and made me excited to re-read Circe this month for my book club. A perfect duo in the Greek myth space.

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

"The Witch of Colchis" by Rose Hewlett is a captivating retelling of Medea's story, blending love, magic, and tragedy with a fresh feminist lens. Medea, often portrayed as a villain in Greek myth, is given depth and nuance here, allowing us to see her as a powerful, complex woman trapped by societal expectations and betrayal. The novel's rich portrayal of Medea as both a fearsome witch and a woman with a vulnerable heart makes her story both compelling and heartbreaking. I, as a fan of mythological retellings, loved this deeply humanized take on a legendary figure.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

The Witch of Colchis (AKA Medea in UK/AUS) is my new favourite in the Greek Mythology retelling sub-genre and that is HIGH PRAISE! This is also my first read by Rosie Hewlett and I can't wait to pick up her retelling of Medusa as well.

Medea is one of the figures in Greek mythology I didn't know the story of well, as I feel she is definitely not discussed or written about as much as others, but even without knowing her story I was filled with absolute dread from page one because this is a tale as old as time; a man destroys a woman and throws her away. This is on the few examples in this fantasy niche that I would recommend even if you do not like Greek Mythology - I think Rosie Hewlett's work stands up on its own legs for readers who aren't familiar with the source material. This is a cautionary tale about how far women can be bent before they break, full of feminine rage goodness.

Medea's father and brother are her first bullies and she will do anything to get away from her family and start her own life. Trained by her aunt Circe, Medea is coming into her role as a witch (or she prefers, sorceress) until her mentor disappears and leaves her isolated with no one to nurture her abilities. When a handsome stranger shows her kindness and promises to take her away and her a queen arrives, Medea will, and does, do anything to cling to him. Thus begins a lifetime of loyalty that runs so deep you couldn't rip Medea from her saviour without his flesh coming off in her hands. Medea is abused, exploited, gaslit (TO THE MAX - I was getting triggered honestly), neglected and hunted, leading to an explosive conclusion that chilled me to my core.

Medea is undoubtedly the star but every character had so much life breathed into them and I walked away somehow loving Atalanta even more? This is a fast-paced, high-action epic and I really just need Rosie Hewlett to write 20 more just like it please.

What would you do for love?

In the vein of Circe and Medusa, we get the tale of Medea from her perspective.

This story has a full range of emotion to it; from love to sadness to curiosity and rage. It really made you dive deep into a story of someone so full of emotion that they could be blinded by the truth because of it.

This story was well done and flowed easily making you want to know what would come next (even if you’re already familiar with the story) from her point of view. It really humanized her and made it more understandable for why she did what she did. Aside from an abrupt time jump, everything was very smooth with transitions between chapters.

What this ultimately makes me want to do is revisit the old tales and see the storylines of those lesser characters or see the other side of what is pushed to the forefront.

Thank you so much to the author, Rosie Hewlett, Recorded Books Media, and NetGalley for the arc audiobook of The Witch of Colchis!

I really enjoy these popular mythology retellings and had never read this author before but this one is a winner! I don’t remember learning about Medea in the past but the story of Jason and his Argonauts is well known. Medea’s perspective on how Jason obtained the Golden Fleece is entertaining and fascinating in this well written novel. I was engaged in the story which was never boring. Medea is such a tragic figure whose powers are exploited by all the men in her life - her father, her horrible brother and then by Jason, her husband. I could feel nothing but anger towards Jason who is portrayed as a liar, a user and the ultimate narcissist in this story. Medea was pretty much abandoned by everyone and blamed for everything but manages to seek and get revenge even by severe and tragic means. This is not a happy story but an entertaining one. I look forward to reading more by this author.
I listened to the audio version of the book and it was very good! The narrator did a great job of excitement in the appropriate scenes and made the book so entertaining.

What happens when a woman who is shown no love, finds it, and then is ultimately betrayed by it?

Medea is a witch who, from a young age, has been ostracized by everyone she knows. When Jason and the Argonauts come to retrieve the Golden Fleece from her father and show her a shred of kindness, she latches onto it and cannot let go, even if she proceeds to bloody her hands for the man she loves. Medea is typically seen as a sort of villainess with the choices she makes, but this novel truly humanizes her in a beautifully tragic way.

Jason is shown in a very different light from many of the interpretations we typically see of his story. Yes, he is still the swaggering and confident "hero" we know from mythology, but there is definitely a more sinister and manipulative side to him we learn about.

This book was incredibly well written and thought out. You can tell when reading it, Rosie Hewlett truly cared about the characters and the story of Medea and Jason. I will say, having known this tragedy before reading the novel, it was still as, if not more, heartbreaking when the end comes. I most definitely got a hit on my own feminine rage as the story went on. I wanted to hit many of the characters whenever they opened their mouths, which to me, is a sign of a well crafted story. I was fully connected to the characters and felt that darkness Medea did as she learns of her situation throughout the story. I could immerse myself into the novel easily and, even though it was a tragedy, I wanted to stay there as long as I could.

As I listened to the audiobook version of this, I can say the narrator did a fantastic job getting the emotions and nuances across to the listener. It is well paced and edited. I couldn't recommend it more.

Overall, I truly adored listening to this story and am excited to see what Rosie Hewlett puts out next. If it is anywhere near the love she put into this story, I am sure it will be a hit.

Audiobook Review: The Witch of Cholchis by Rosie Hewlett

**This review may contain some spoilers, though I tried to remain vague.**

I want to start by thanking NetGalley and RBMedia for providing me with the opportunity to enjoy this story through an Advanced Reader Copy.

Rosie Hewlett’s The Witch of Cholchis is a compelling retelling of the mythological figure Medea, brought to life through an evocative narration that enhances its emotional depth. The audiobook, with its masterful narration, truly captivated me from start to finish.

The narrator’s voice was a standout feature, skillfully distinguishing between male and female characters and embodying the varied personalities with finesse. This vocal versatility added a rich layer to the storytelling, making the complex relationships and emotions in Medea’s tale even more engaging.

As someone unfamiliar with the original Medea myth, I was kept on edge throughout the book. The narrative unfolds Medea's harrowing journey with a balance of suspense and poignancy. While Medea's passivity early in the story might be disheartening, it’s a poignant reflection of her traumatic past—abuse from her family that profoundly affects her behavior and choices.

The latter part of the book is heart-wrenching, particularly from a mother’s perspective. The devastating events involving her children were particularly distressing, and while I understand their role in the story, they were difficult to process. Despite the pain, the ending offers a glimmer of hope as Medea seems to confront her trauma and reclaim her life. This resolution, while bittersweet, suggests significant character growth and resilience.

In terms of the book’s adherence to the original myth, I’m unsure if Hewlett took creative liberties or adhered closely to the traditional story. I am eager to delve deeper into the source material better to understand the balance between historical accuracy and artistic interpretation. If you’re familiar with Medea’s tale, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how true this retelling is to the original narrative.

Overall, The Witch of Cholchis is a well-crafted and deeply moving retelling, beautifully narrated and emotionally charged. I would rate it 4 stars, largely due to my discomfort with the tragic events surrounding Medea's children, though I recognize this is an integral part of her story. I would definitely recommend it to those interested in mythological retellings or influential character studies. I’m also keen to explore more of Rosie Hewlett’s work in the future.

NetGalley and RBMedia provided this Advanced Reader Copy. My opinions are my own.

#TheWitchofCholchis #NetGalley #AudiobookReview #Mythology #Medea #BookRecommendations #HistoricalFiction #MythologicalRetelling

Holy moly this was an excellent audiobook. This is in my top 5 books of the year.

This retelling was masterfully done in a way that kept true to the story but gave Medea so much depth and really fleshed out her motivations. There was an element of Medea being morally grey and I just loved that. She was an incredibly relatable character and you got to see her grow throughout the book. The evolution of her arc unfolded so beautifully.

The audiobook is a really great way to enjoy this story. Kristin Atherton did a wonderful job, her performance was powerful had great range, powerful when it needed to be and vulnerable when the story called for it.

I will be recommending this book to everyone!!

The Witch of Colchis
by Rosie Hewlett
Narrated by Kristin Atherton

I received an ARC of this audiobook.

Trigger warning: This audiobook is full to the brim with triggers of all kinds.

The narrator does a phenomenal job!

I just finished the book so this review will be raw.

I am fascinated and disgusted by just about every character in this book, especially Medea, Glauce, and Jason; but also: Phryxis, Chalciope, Absyrtus, King Creon, Jason, Circe, King Aeetes, and Hecate.

Greek myths that involve magic and the gods and goddesses are tragedies and this book is no different.

Medea is easily painted as a villain and a monster. I agree with both. But, she was also a victim that needed love and affection and was so starved for it that she consistently waged intolerable cruelties and deaths upon the world.

I love stories about magic when good overcomes evil - this is not that story. This is a story where evil overcomes good from the inside out.

There are good characters too - some of the best are also the worst. And then there are some that are just good - mainly the argonauts.

I recommend this audiobook for anyone who ever wonders how a killer can kill, how good can be corrupted, how love can turn to hate.

Just prepare yourself for the audio journey because it is a bumpy ride.

I am glad I listened, but I am emotionally shaken at the same time. The last two times I felt this way was after listening to David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.