The Witch of Colchis is a mythology retelling following the life of Medea. THIS BOOK BLEW ME AWAY! I absolutely loved seeing how Medea became a "villain" and seeing her connections with other characters. This was absolutely outstanding and I cannot recommend it enough if you are a fan of mythology retellings.

Narration performed by Kristin Atherton was incredible.

I received an ARC and ALC from SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark and RBmedia | Recorded Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced listening copy of this book. This is narrated by Kristin Atherton and she does a brilliant job. This is the story of Medea, niece of Circe. She has been punished by her father for turning her brother into a pig. Circe comes to help her harness her magic. Medea finds that she is quite talented. When a man comes bringing the Golden Fleece, she conjures a dragon to keep it safe. Many come to try to pass the trials Medea’s father has set and not one succeeds. Until Jason. He comes with the Argonauts and Medea promises to help him if he takes her with him when he leaves. The following story is of how much a woman will give of herself to a man. The things a man does in return and the consequences anyone can face for giving up who you are. This book would make an excellent Book Club book. The story is fast paced and well thought out. This book should be made into a movie. Get this today and thank me later

I was lucky enough to receive a complimentary review audiobook from the publisher via NetGalley and ask to provide an honest review. Thank you to RBmedia, Rosie Hewlett & NetGalley for giving me access to this audiobook. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

The book is centered around the Witch, Medea. For those that love stories with myths and God’s this is a book you will need to add to your TBR list.

The princess of Colchis, Medea, is considered a disgrace to her family. She finds a sense of belonging when she is around her aunt where she can work on her practice. This is until she leaves unexpectedly. Medea must learn how to survive under her father’s rule. That is until Jason shows up to capture the Golden Fleece and save Medea from her family. The journey after that is a fascinating story of Medea finding herself and learning who to trust.

-The narrator, Kristen Atherton, was the perfect voice for this story.

Really loved the narrator and the perspective the story takes on Medea. A bit slow at points but overall a fantastic rendition of Medea's story, and a perspective that is necessary in the retelling of myth

A Bewitching Retelling

Rosie Hewlett's The Witch of Colchis is a spellbinding retelling that brings fresh life to the myth of Medea, the infamous sorceress of Greek mythology. With a deft hand, Hewlett unravels the complexities of Medea's character, turning her from a mere antagonist into a fully realized woman grappling with love, betrayal, and power.

What I loved most about this novel is Hewlett's ability to balance the fantastical elements of magic with the raw, human emotions that drive the story. The prose is lyrical and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the ancient world while exploring timeless themes of identity, loyalty, and the cost of vengeance.

While the pacing occasionally slows, the rich character development and atmospheric setting more than make up for it. Hewlett's Medea is both relatable and terrifying, a powerful reminder of how myths can reflect the best and worst of human nature.

Overall, The Witch of Colchis is a captivating read for anyone interested in Greek mythology and complex, morally gray characters. It’s a tale that will linger with you long after the last page is turned.

Thank you NetGalley, SourceBooks Landmark, and author Rosie Hewlett for the opportunity to read/listen to an advanced copy!

"Do not confuse your agency with his manipulation."

Rosie Hewlett does a great job at making you sympathize with one of the most villainised women of greek mythology.
I'm not saying Medea was right to do what she did, but I do understand what motivated her. However, non of it really made me feel something (except for exasperation at Jason's entitlement).

I never liked Jason, but this book really cemented him in my mind as the prince of gaslighting.

The side characters were well fleshed out, yet I felt like they really were just there to serve their particular purpise to the MCs. I didn't mind that though.

At times the pacing felt a little off, which made the storyline a little hard to follow.

Overall it was a well written, well researched retelling.
It just kind of fell flat for me.

The book definitely benefitet from the narration by Kristen Atherton.

Thanks to Netgalley and Recorded Books for the audio ARC. This review will be postet on Netgalley, goodreads and storygraph.

“People often do not like what they do not understand,”… “But I do not think you should let other people’s ignorance get in the way of your own potential… do you?”

I did a combo of audio - The Witch of Colchis, and print - Medea. Same book but Medea came out in the UK earlier this year while The Witch of Colchis will publish here in the states on September 10.

This was a much different retelling than the other Medea I read back in April. This was very very dark and felt a little more like what I have come to expect from Greek mythology.

I was particularly pleased with the interactions Medea had with the Argonauts, especially Atalanta. She’s one of my favorite females of the Greek mythology world so any time she’s part of a story I’m very excited.

This was very well written, richly detailed, and the audio was excellent.

Thank you RB Media for the alc via Netgalley.

Absolutely riveting! I probably would have finished this in one day if my AirPods didn't need recharging. The entire story flows perfectly and all the characters are wonderfully thought out.

Kristin Atherton's narration is perfection.

This is Madeline Miller level, if not better. This book was fantastic! Great retelling of Madea's story. Captivating from start to finish. It was both intriguing and devastating to see how Madea's life turned out due to her own choices. I can't believe this book isn't being talked about more. I will definitely read more from Rosie Hewlett!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/202204721-the-witch-of-colchis

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The Witch of Colchis is a powerful, brilliant retelling of the story of Medea that hooked me from the first line.

This one was everything. I loved the gorgeous, beautifully developed writing. The characters were compelling and well-written. The journey of Medea’s story was stunning with its action, character development, and magic. I loved exploring Medea’s tale and seeing other beloved mythological characters. It is a powerful story of feminine rage and witchy magic, with diversity and intimacy woven throughout. I highly recommend this captivating story!

Kristin Atherton narrated Medea’s story beautifully. The richness and power of her voice fit Medea perfectly, and she delivered the story with fitting accents and emotion. I would recommend listening to the audiobook of TWoC!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

✨Audiobook Review✨

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Speed: 1.5x

I knew immediately upon starting this audiobook that it was going to be phenomenal, and it certainly was.

The story is a retelling of the classic Greek myth of the sorceress Medea. As the granddaughter of the god Helios and the niece of the powerful Circe, Medea embraces her powers at a young age, only to be emotionally abused by her father and older brother. Imprisoned in her father’s palace and exploited for her magical abilities to inflate his narcissistic ego, Medea is determined to gain her freedom by any means necessary. Readers are taken on a monumental odyssey where the dynamics of gender roles, the sting of betrayal, the intensity of passionate love, and the drive for vengeance will leave you questioning what you would do to get what you truly want.

Highlights:
⭐️ Writing style & flow. The pace of the book was perfect, with just the right amount of characters and details, without dragging the plot.
⭐️ The plot. Engaging and emotional. There were so many times I was heartbroken for Medea but also wanted to burn everything down with her.
⭐️ Medea’s characterization. All her flaws and strengths.
⭐️ The narration. The narrator, Kristin Atherton, did an indescribable job. While listening, you can easily connect with the emotions of the characters through how she conveys their speech and inflections.
⭐️ The ending. I’m speechless.

Pitfalls:
❌ Absolutely none.

Thank you NetGalley and RBMedia for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

The best retelling book I’ve read to date, and definitely my favourite book of the year so far.

This is the second audiobook I’ve listened to from this narrator and I am now searching for more. She is the perfect narrator - she conveys everything brilliantly.

Spoilers lay ahead. Beware.

I knew little of Medea’s story going in to it. It made me physically cry, grieve and crave more.

Medea’s emotions felt so real from love to bitter betrayal. The slow descent into evil, chaos, despair captured me.

I felt like I was there on the page with the characters. Medea’s heartbreak over the betrayal from Jason had me spiralling too.

I loved it. The addition of the final chapter being from her sisters point of view really brought this story to the perfect end.

Thank you for letting me listen/read this!! I cannot recommend this enough.

I loved this book so much. Medea is one of my favorite yet under appreciated characters in Greek mythology, and I am really vibing with all the love that she has been getting recently. I also really love that this book showed the dark sides of trauma and how if people are always told they are going to be the bad guy, of course they become the bad guy. Hewlett portrayed Medea as a complex character who trusted and loved the wrong people, and that results in her continuously making the wrong decisions. It also shows the evilness that men in power will take in order to gain control, and how they will twist reality to fit their own goals. This portrayal of Medea I also feels does a great job showing how young Medea was during all of this, how she was only a teen when Jason arrived and her life was changed. I did wish there were more interactions between her and her gods, but honestly enough other retellings do that it's fine it was missing from here.



Triggers: extreme gaslighting, SA, abuse, childhood abuse, gore, death, body mod, murder

This book presents an amazing retelling of the Greek myth of Jason and Medea from her perspective. I loved how three-dimensional Medea is here, how complex her emotions and thinking are. Even though the story is well-know to most people, this book presents a view into the role of a woman in the family, society and the world overall. It tells a story of how power can corrupt a person, but also how it can empower and help. The story if not lighthearted by any means, but if you know the original that’s not to be expected anyway. Jason the gaslighter made me sooo angry the whole book. I loved this retelling, and the audiobook narrator did a great job as well. The writing style is beautiful and captivating, I certainly will pock up something else by Rosie Hewlett some time soon.

A classic and endearing tale about why we must never center men. This is a story that should be read by all young women and girls. I loved the narration. I actually started this and then avoided my family and friends the entire day so I could focus on my audiobook. I was addicted.
This was perfection.
Seriously listen to this. You will not regret it.

Another entry in the reimagining of Greek myth from the POV of the women most maligned. Hewlett focus on Medea. Hewlett doesn’t shy away from the actions attributed to her but while not exactly making her a sympathetic character, she does create a world where her actions make some sense in a world dominated by men who used women to suit their purposes. The myth of Jason makes him the hero yet so much even in typical versions show Medea’s actions allowed him to succeed.

Medea isn’t the villain but she isn’t a hero - as Hewlett portrays her, she is complicated and abused in so many ways, and yet she has power. An interesting take on a woman most often portrayed as a monster.

I just wrapped up listening to the audiobook of The Witch of Colchis and I'm such having an overwhelming response to the book. - I'm sad, angry, despondent, and wanting for more! It's written impeccably well, the narration is absolutely top notch. I was along for the ride, feeling all the emotions along side Medea, experiencing her pains, her triumphs, her joy, her indifference and everything in between! When they described it was of fans of "Circe" and other books alike, they did not miss the mark!
If you're not familiar with Medea's story, please watch out for subtle/indirect triggers for abuse by a parent. It is a sad, tormented story of a powerful woman, who is constantly taken advantage for what she can accomplish for everyone around her. Rosie Hewlett delivers in drafting a tale that is memorable in ways I cannot fully describe. I will shout from the rooftops about how great this book is - an absolutely 5 star for me! If you're looking for a Greek myth, retold with fully fleshed out characters, a storyline that is fast paced, morally and ethically gray people that you cant help but root for - this is it!

"The world tried to make me a victim so I became its villain"
The Witch of Colchis embodies the phrase "I support women's rights, but more importantly I support women's wrongs. Written in beautiful prose Hewlett hooks you in the first few pages. The story of Medea has never been told with such understanding and compassion. Hwelett does an impeccable job of portraying Medea's circumstances, taking on a much-feared character and turning her into a human. As you read, you empathize with Medea, and even when you're screaming for her to make a different choice, you understand why she doesn't. This book covers some heavy topics such as abuse, misogyny, and death, however, these topics are handled gracefully and in a way that is sure to help readers understand the negativity of the situation without spoon-feeding them. If you enjoyed Circe and/or Clytemnstra then this is a story you will certainly enjoy as well.

Good writing style, compelling story. They evoke emotions. An entertaining read of Medea's original story. She feels complex and 3 dimensional. It takes long in the book for her to empower herself. It felt like for most of the book she was simply being bossed by Jason.

This was a beautifully written book that gave voice to one of the most vilified women in Greek Mythology. In her own words, Medea explains the choices that led to her being branded a witch and a murderer, and in doing so, she highlights the gaslighting and misogyny at the core of Greek Mythology. I loved hearing her story, and while hindsight often made me say "No, Medea, don't," Hewlett does such an impeccable job of displaying the absolute helplessness of the cage Medea found herself in. I also loved that the end was told from the perspective of Medea's sister, Chalciope. She has some really stunning insights on the abuse and victimization that Medea had been through. Just a really well done book!