Thank you NetGalley and the author for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What a pleasant ride this one was.

I appreciated the differences between the original myth quite a lot especially the part where medusa doesn't die and you know Perseus actually sounds like a fun person to be around. I really like how we at first all thought (What Perseus thought of her) that Medusa was just a mindless beast, where in reality she's actually a woman, a scorned woman filled with rage, revenge and desire to make her assailant suffer a fate worse than death.

Perseus (or at least this version of him) is one of the funniest men I've read of inside Greek mythology and one of the nicest too! Another great thing was how his relationship with Medusa progressed (plus they're so cute together) and how they slowly learned to trust each other.

And last thing - I need more Andromeda x Kleos. That ending calls for book 2, I need to know what will happen to them now after the whole Perseus x Medusa story has come to an end.

3.8 rounded up to 4⭐️ 1.5🌶️

I really loved the premise of this book but it fell just a little short for me.This is my first greek mythology book and I loved it, it was cool to learn a bit about greek gods/goddesses in a simple and not super complicated way. It was easy to understand and the plot had me intrigued. The only thing I really struggled with was the amount of pov’s. I think we could have done with a pov from just Perseus & Medusa and that would have been perfect for me. I personally didn’t enjoy all of the other pov’s and was left wanting a little more from the story. By the end everything felt a little bit rushed and I feel as though that could have been prevented if we were focused on 1-2 pov’s at a time.

A character we all know about well, Medusa is a big part of this story. She kills a ship full of sailors without a second thought, but what do we really know about her past, and her character? Why is she the way that she is? And who would she team up with in the long run? The answer is inside this book with a beautiful cover. Our other main character, is a young man named Perseus who's never known his father, and has only known working too hard to keep him and his mother afloat.

His life shouldn't be like this, after all he is the true king's grandson, but the current king will stop at nothing to take him out, and make him feel lower than dirt. But Perseus is also the son of a god, and knows what the right thing to do is. After owing money to the king that he can't pay, he's in a really bad situation. Having to choose between letting his mother be a sex slave for the corrupt king, or bring him Medusa's head. A task that is seemingly impossible, he choses the second choice, trying to save his only parent. He forces her into hiding, and he really doesn't expect to make it back.

See Medusa wasn't always a monster. She used to be a mortal priestess, and she can still die as one. As Perseus' journey continues, he meets with Athena, and she tells him that not only the gods as a whole, but also his father have his back. After this she supplies him with all the magical garments and weapons he could wish for to complete his task. It all comes down to skill. But on the other hand, Medusa is being hunted down by a village of people, wounded badly. And when Perseus finds her, he can't bring himself to kill her. So he takes her hostage.

Our last main character is a girl named Andromeda, and she's the only heiress to her family's throne. As a woman, however, her only purpose in life is to give her father a grandson to rule his kingdom. And she's happy to do it. She takes care of the sick in her town in secret, but when people start coming in sicker than usual, she's forced to retreat to her home. And her life takes a sudden turn when her kingdom chooses to sacrifice her to keep them safe as a whole.

Overall I really loved reading this book. Though I'm not usually a fan of greek gods and stories back in the day, I really fell in love with this story and the characters in it. Though you should know that there is a few explicit and violent scenes, there is also an assault that you should be aware of before getting into it. Despite this, I didn't want to put it down once I started, and I absolutely would check out the next book in the series. The action is unforgettable, and I really think that the characters have so much more we can get to from here. Definitely recommend checking it out if you get the chance.

A fiery, fresh take on the Perseus and Medusa myth, Crown of Serpents blends enemies-to-lovers romance, fierce female rage, and high-stakes action. Medusa is a powerful, complex heroine, and Perseus’s internal conflict adds depth to their dynamic. Their chemistry crackles, and the mythological twists are engaging. Some pacing lags, but overall, it’s a gripping start to the Curse of Olympus series. Can't wait for Book 2!

Crown of Serpents is a refreshing take on the Medusa and Perseus story, it really dives into her life, her trauma, and how she finds her voice again after everything she’s been through.

I loved how complex Medusa was in this story. She's not just a monster she’s a survivor. I was definitely rooting for her.

The world-building was great The ancient Greek setting felt rich and detailed, and the storytelling and pacing was perfect. I also really enjoyed the writing style. Great book for a debut and I'll be looking forward to the next book.

𓍢⊹ ࣪ ➸ 3.5 stars

“Your strength, it's the most glorious thing I've ever witnessed. No work of art could ever compare to the sight of you cutting down your enemies with fierce determination burning in your eyes. So, please, don’t ever be ashamed … not even of the wild parts. Especially not the wild parts. I see all of you, and you are beautiful, Medusa.”

🗡️ enemies to reluctant allies to lovers
🗡️ female rage/revenge
🗡️ green mythology meets romantasy
🗡️ reluctant hero
🗡️ yearning but they can’t look at each other…

— thank you to netgalley for the arc!

this was such an amazing book and i definitely enjoyed reading!!! i loved perseus and medusa’s story! the side characters stole the show for me and i am utterly invested in kleos and andromeda!! i NEED more!!!

“I will choose you no matter what you do or where you go. I will follow you to the ends of the world.”
“You would follow me anywhere.”
“I will follow you anywhere.”

I am really interested in Greek Mythology and all the stories of the gods and heroes. Medusa is such a interesting part of that mythology, and to read her story as a romantic tale with her being the love interest was really interesting.

If you're looking for a greek mythology, enemies to lovers, female rage book, this is the one for you! This is such a random thing but the glossary in the front of the book was so helpful and I wish more books did this. This book is a historical FICTION so keep that in mind while reading it. You also can't send the book to your Kindle so be aware of that too!

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank you to Lara Reed and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Enemies to Lovers and Greek mythology? I was excited for this book the moment I picked it up! Add female rage, slow burn, lots of action, a beautiful writing style and an ending that leaves you craving for more and it's now one of my favorite reads in 2025 and a book I'd definitely recommend.

Even the side characters had me giggling and kicking my feet, I'm looking at you Kleos :D

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read plenty of retellings, many of which involve Medusa taking back her power. This one is a little bit different for me.

We all know the story. Medusa is a mortal born to two immortals with two immortal sisters. She is cast out, and seeks out Athena to avoid being forced into marriage and child birth with Poseidon. Poseidon rapes her and Athena “gifts” her with her powers , but the other acolytes cast her out and she becomes known as a monster.

Okay so this all happens in this book, but it’s an interesting take. Medusa does start off a bit feral in this book, but Perseus is more of a man in this book than in traditional Greek retellings.

The plot is fairly true to the myth with some major exceptions. I really appreciate having a man that isn’t total trash in a retelling. I’m all for female rage and power (and there is plenty of that in this book), but it’s also refreshing having a man who isn’t a complete piece of 💩. Perseus actually is a really fun character to follow and always up for a challenge. I also appreciated the side romance of Kleos and Andromeda (although their cliffhanger is going to be one of many banes of my existence). This is a fun journey, with a dash of romance, plenty of violence, and a bit of retribution. This should be a fun series to read with Medusa being such a strong willed woman unafraid to challenge anyone.

Absolute perfection. This book had me in a chokehold from beginning to end. An incredible story with a different perspective on Medusa & Perseus. I loved the complexity of the relationship that slowly forms between the two, but also as individuals. Medusa was just as brutal, ruthless, and powerful as I'd hoped, and Perseus? The man that you are. I also really enjoyed the development happening between Kleos and Andromeda, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with them in the next book. This book is heavy at times, full of action, and there were many moments where I found myself rooting for our main characters and crying for them too. If you love fantasy, romance, and Greek mythology, I'm begging you to read this. Thank you SO much for the ARC, Netgalley!!

The story of this book was good, properly rooted in mythology and such good story-telling. Medusa is definitely portrayed as a strong FMC, with, of course, some weaker moments. However, the book was rife with distracting typos, and I didn't ever truly connect with the love story. Pair that with the fact that Perseus looked Medusa in the eyes multiple times throughout the book without being turned to stone (and without any mention of veils or face coverings), and it became hard to read at some points. Honestly, if the romance was removed, I probably could have overlooked all of that, because the adventure itself was good.

I always love a mythology retelling, and this one was a fun time! I enjoyed the twist on the Medusa and Perseus myth and loved that we got a true enemies to lovers romance between them. I also like the focus on Medusa and seeing her deal with everything that had happened to her. I also loved seeing her as the morally gray character, which is not something we always get to see. As an avid Perseus hater in real life, I enjoyed this take on him as the soft and comforting one.

“Crown of Serpents,” by Lara Reed

Perseus sent to kill Medusa in order to save his mother, but Medusa is not the mindless beast he thought she would be.

Great book for readers who like Greek retelling but more romantic. I would say this book fits more into a romantasy like popular type books like Acotar than The Song of Achilles which is more historically accurate. I liked this type of romance better, so it was great for me. The characters were great, and their romance was solid. 4 out of 5 stars.

-Enemies To Lovers
-Perseus X Medusa

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

I know absolutely nothing about Greek mythology (expect Hercules but does that count?) and I LOVED this. I flew through it. Total slow burn and a TRUE and solid enemies to lovers. I cannot believe this was a debut!

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC copy.
What can I say about this book. I don't think I can give it the justification that it deserves. What an absolute amazing story. I love that Lara has taken a tradition Greek myth and completely turned it in its head. This is the story that Meduesa deserves. Laura has take the story of Meduesa and given it a better storyline without it being over the top you fall in love with the characters and just don't want to put the down. I hope there is going to be a continuation of this book as it was kind of left open to one. I really hope this book does well and is up there as I've if my favourite books of the year....Greek mythology,action, discovering love and heart break this is going to be a smash hit.

I really liked this book! The story was well written and fun to read. I loved the world building and the characters! Would recommend!

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity!
Maybe spoilers!!!

Oh my God! I'm in love with this book. It's truly a book I loved; it deserves 5 stars! The only reason I'd lower it to 4 stars is because I need to know what happens to Kleos. It's not a question, it's a plea. I NEED to know.

It took me a while to read the book, but not because of the book itself, but more for personal reasons, because once I had the time, I finished it in 2 or 3 days.

Meduna's evolution and her relationship with Perseus, how she went from not trusting men to opening up and sharing her reality. It's so beautiful.

Kleos and Andromeda? I need a next book right now.

Waiting (and hoping) for the second book!

I’ve read many a Medusa retelling but this one is unique because you actually get to see an interaction between Perseus and Medusa (and a little romance) I like that this had a spin to it that others have not explored yet which made it standout amongst similar stories. Would recommend

As a huge fan of Greek mythology-infused stories, I was immediately drawn to Crown of Serpents and its fresh take on Medusa and Perseus. The premise had everything—female rage, a high-stakes battle against the gods, and an enemies-to-lovers dynamic that promised plenty of tension! While the novel delivered on some of these aspects brilliantly, there were a few elements that made it a bit of a mixed read for me.

First, let’s talk about Medusa—because she was easily the highlight of the book. Reed does an incredible job of humanizing one of mythology’s most infamous “monsters,” turning her into a fierce, complex character whose rage is not only justified but deeply cathartic to witness. Her anger at the gods feels raw and real, and I loved seeing her reclaim her own narrative.

That said, I struggled to get into the book at first. The multiple POVs in the beginning made it tough to connect with the characters right away. I found myself wanting to spend more time in one perspective before jumping to another, which slowed my immersion in the story. However, once I settled in, the tension between Perseus and Medusa kept me engaged, and their evolving relationship—shifting from sworn enemies to uneasy allies—was compelling. I just wish I could have stayed between only their POV's!

Overall, Crown of Serpents is a bold retelling with a lot to love—particularly its powerful take on Medusa. If you enjoy mythological retellings that blend action, romance, and rebellion, this is worth picking up!