I devoured this book—a stunning retelling of the story of Medusa. Ayana Gray perfectly encapsulates the qualities of the mythological character that has enraptured so many. I enjoyed this read so much that I can't wait to get a physical copy to add to my bookshelf.

A full review will be published closer to the release on Muses of Media (musesofmedia.ca)

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

“All men are stupid and cruel.” “Some are just better at hiding it.” This book was an amazing read! I love Medusa and her story. I can relate to it and the way this version was written, I found myself feeling all of the emotions. The rage with her, the way she felt being dismissed and then cursed. I fell in love with her character in this book. Gray did a wonderful job with that. She also didn’t hold back on the viciousness of the Gods and Goddesses. I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and the author for the eARC.

This was good! I absolutely love Greek mythology and books based on it, so I've read some really GOOD retellings but also some really BAD ones. This one didn't disappoint. Rather than the standard story of how Medusa was slayed by the hero Perseus, 99% of this book is a reimagining of her childhood, through the events leading up to her becoming a gorgon, to after she was cursed.

A fast read, the story really drew me in with beautiful writing and an array of well-fleshed-out characters who ranged from loveable to despicable (we all know the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology were vicious, after all).

With a strong female lead in Medusa, the story also portrays various heavy themes that are important though at the same time did not completely take over the story. Gray imbues them perfectly without making the story feel as if she's trying to totally "push an agenda", which I appreciated.
That said, I think some trigger warnings have to be noted for readers (see further below).

Overall beautiful, tragic, hopeful, and emotional. A good read for anyone wanting a fresh reimagining of one of Greek Mythology's biggest would-be villains!

Trigger warnings: sexual assault, rape

This book was everything I wanted and more. I was sucked in from the very first chapter. I loved Ayana's writing style and I thought the retelling was unique in so many ways. I loved Medusa's character and her relationship with her sisters and the feminine rage embedded into every facet of Medusa's being made this book impossible to put down.

This was such a beautiful version of Medusa with poetic prose and vivid imagery. I could feel the love and pain embedded in Medusa, and it makes for a very human retelling of such a fantastical myth.

I really enjoyed how well rounded Medusa’s character was. She had depth and desires that drove the story in a very smooth and natural way. Giving her roots made for that extra emotional punch and really made me feel for her.

I was a bit surprised to see how quickly the story wrapped up once Medusa was transformed, I was expecting a bit more balance between the two phases of her life and without it I felt a little was missing. It’s a minimal complaint considering how much I enjoyed the rest, but it did affect my enjoyment of the story as a whole.

This retelling of the story of Medusa from Greek mythology is a poignant tale of both the power and powerlessness of women throughout history.

Ceto and Phorcys, goddess and god of the sea, have three daughters later called the Gorgons: Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa. All three Gorgons were said to have had serpentine hair and the power to turn a person into stone with their lethal gaze.

The book begins with a chapter called “After” which describes an event that happens at the end of the story’s timeline, when Medusa, about to be sexually victimized, turns a priest into stone. The author then takes us back to “Before” when Medusa was just a 17-year-old mortal girl with lovely, normal hair, called Meddy by those who loved her.

Although Medusa was mortal, her sisters were immortal; yet the three were bound together by love for each other and a shared fear of their parents. Ceto and Phorcys used to be much more powerful, before the Olympians conquered the old gods. Now they were confined to their island, along with their daughters. Phorcys was prone to violence, and Ceto drank too much.

When the girls became marriageable age, suitors began arriving on the island. The first was Prince Maheer, the mortal son of the god Ares, son of the god-king Zeus. He chose Euryale, and Phorcys was delighted, not for Euryale but for the prestige it would bring to *him*. Stheno could see Maheer was abusive to both his slaves and to women, and was lying to them about his character and intentions. When she provided evidence of it to Meddy, Meddy was horrified that she believed Maheer.

“‘Of course you did’ Stheno says. She doesn’t sound surprised. ‘Prince Maheer is a man with power, and men with power are always the first to be believed.’”

And as the author points out in her Afternote, not only are men with power believed, but they are able to impose their will on those with less power.

Meddy was determined to stop Maheer from marrying her sister; when she thought about abuse (the girls often witnessed their father’s brutality toward their mother), she was filled with a sense of impotent rage. Acting upon that rage toward Prince Maheer led to a change in fate for her as well as her family.

From here, the phenomenon of rape culture dominates the story. Rape culture is one in which sexual violence and abuse is normalized, played down, excused, doubted, and/or accepted as just “how men are.” Rape culture means the victim is blamed even when there is a power differential, a size differential, even when a woman is too intimidated to say no, or has been rendered less capable by alcohol, for example. Rape culture is one in which the fact that a “Revered Founding Father” like Thomas Jefferson, who began a sexual relationship with his slave when he was in his 40s and she was 14 and could have been whipped or sold if she resisted, is generally omitted in consideration of his “greatness.”

Men in general but the gods in particular had all the advantages over young women when it came to rape. Medusa was not immune to it.

But first, she was selected by Athena herself to come to her temple at the Acropolis in Athens and undergo the tests to serve as her priestess, a great honor. However, one of the qualifications was to remain chaste. So far Meddy had managed to do that. But although she tried, she could not bring herself to say no to Poseidon, one of the most powerful gods in both person and position (and who could have killed her instantly). Their liaison revealed, Meddy was thought not to have *really* “resisted” - Poseidon himself claimed to all that she “begged” for him. This made her not only unworthy of serving at the Acropolis, but deserving [sic] of a severe punishment.

Her sisters believed her story: Poseidon groomed her, told her lies, made her believe he had never met anyone like her over thousands of years…
She tried to assert to him that she had promised Athena to be chaste, but he stopped listening to her. Later, Stheno said to Meddy:

“I’m afraid the truth doesn’t matter, Meddy, says Stheno. I warned you that men with power are always the first to be believed. You should have listened. In these situations, it isn’t the truth that holds weight. What matters is power and those who wield it, because they’re the ones who get to decide whaat’s true and what’s a lie.”

And in the end, it is Medusa who is turned into a horrible monster for her “crime,” as well as her sisters for defending her, and Poseidon who remained unpunished. Thus it was ever so.

Discussion: Like the fairytale “Beauty and the Beast” sometimes a story comes down to figuring out who the real monster is behind all the labels. And of those who become monsters, sometimes, as Meddy says to a lion on their island, “You are only what they made you.”

Evaluation: This is everything one could want from a retelling. Although the author directs us to a different perspective from the traditional male point of view, her story is full of nuance. Meddy is no angel, but nor is she the monster tradition makes her out to be. She was a girl who was abused, and paid the price in spite of being a victim. Her hurt and rage has lasted centuries, and the author makes it all easier to understand.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the eArc!!

I loved getting to dive into Medusa’s story. I was instantly captivated! Getting to see and know Medusa before she IS Medusa brought so much understanding.

I did feel like the pacing in the final section was a bit off. After so much build up, I wish we got to see more of her life as Medusa the “monster” — it seemed rushed to me and I would have loved to spend more time diving into that nuance.

Overall though, I greatly enjoyed this book! The writing style is lovely and effective.

This is a story not only to be read, but to be talked about! I loved Gray's exploration of who Medusa was as person, the thoughtful way she filled out her life—her wants, her worries; her mortality, her thoughts about power—all leading up to the end we often know best of her mythology. My emotions went through the wringer. There some very difficult moments in this story as well, and they were handled with such care.

I love retellings, especially of the Greek variety. The author managed to bring Medusa to life and make you feel empathetic towards her and what happens to her.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this advance reader copy, in exchange for an honest review. I, Medusa is a retelling of the story of Medusa, the famed Greek mythological figure who had snakes for hair and could turn people into stone. Even though this story, or at least the figure of Medusa, is relatively well known, this story still felt fresh.

In the author’s note, she describes how she was trying to create, in essence, a more diverse cast of characters that was more reflective of the real array of people found in Ancient Greek and thus, crafting a telling that more people could see themselves reflected in. I think she absolutely succeeded in that effort and there was a palpable strength in these characters that felt very real. The story came alive off the pages and was well told. I do think the middle of the story fell a bit flat for me and I quickly read ahead, eager to get to more of the fast paced action. I think this may have just been my own issue though and know that this book will definitely find its readership when published.

I’d recommend this book to fans of mythological retellings, especially those with strong female main characters!

“I will never be helpless again. I will never be powerless again.”

Ah I love a good retelling!

There’s honestly not much more to say. This was a quick, simple story, yet still so emotional and tragic. It hurt! The abuse of power in this goes so hard. Gray didn’t hold back on the viciousness that we know of the gods and goddesses, and ugh, I was appalled so many times. I wanted to strangle most of them. Still, I appreciated that we still got the good kind of love, in all its forms, between some of the characters.

I’ve read enough versions of Medusa’s story to have some idea of what to expect, but this still felt like an entirely new and beautiful experience. I loved Gray’s take on Medusa’s tragedy. I’ve always found her intriguing, but now, this version? Medusa absolutely has a place in my heart.

The biggest thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The romantic and mythological elements are woven in so seamlessly, and I couldn’t help but root for Meddy as she struggles against the gods who have so callously shaped her life. It’s a story of loss, betrayal, and self-discovery, wrapped in a world of gods, magic, and untold consequences. This book was unputdownable, and it’s impossible to forget the way it leaves you thinking about the complexity of myths, power, and the choices we make.

TW: Rape, misogyny, racism

Admittedly, my understanding of Medusa’s myth was limited and I perceived her as almost entirely a villain. Through conversation with friends while watching the Percy Jackson HBO show, I learned that she was taken advantage of and assaulted by Poseidon, but that was the first time I’d heard anything nuanced about Medusa’s story. This novel reframed everything for me.

The adage “history is written by the victors” rang in my head throughout the entire read. Medusa’s story is not at all one of villainous intent - it is a story of triumph and love and bravery and rightful vengeance in the incessant face of systems that were constructed to keep her down: Misogyny, racism, grooming, rape, betrayal, injustice.

The characterization of Medusa as “Meddy” insists that the reader see her as human, and it made all of the injustice waged against her hurt even more. It’s ironic and angering to have Meddy be called the monster when all of the men (and sometimes women, in the case of her mother and Athena and some of the other acolytes) are the real monsters in the story.

Meddy’s sister, Stheno, notes this:

“””
“Remember, all men are cruel, Meddy.” Stheno cups my face in hers. “Some are just better at hiding it.”
“””

And earlier in the novel, Meddy’s mother shares a similar sentiment:

“””
“That’s the curious thing about monsters,” she whispers. “The worst ones don’t bother hiding in the dark.”
“””

Meddy’s description of Poseidon’s grooming is harrowing and emphasizes how her agency was stolen from her:

“””
He methodically earned my trust, made me feel as though I was truly special to him. He lured me farther and farther away from the shore and into his depths until my toes couldn’t touch the bottom. And then he let me drown
…
In these situations, it isn’t the truth that holds weight. What matters is power and those who wield it, because they’re the ones who get to decide what’s true and what’s a lie.”
“””

In the author’s note, Ayana Gray had me in chills when describing her powerful choice not to name Medusa’s killer.

“””
In every version of Medusa’s myth, she is mortal, and in every version she is murdered by a famous Greek hero through decapitation. That Greek hero’s name has been excluded from the pages of this book, just as Medusa’s agency was excluded from classical accounts of her story.
…
When we present incomplete portrayals of antiquity, we risk erasing the legacy of those who lived in, contributed to, and shaped it. We deny some readers the opportunity to find themselves in our collective past. My aim in writing this novel was to help new communities find personal connections with Medusa, and with her story. I believe in doing so, her myth lives on, and she remains immortal.
“””

I am thankful for how the novel helped me see Medusa for who she truly was in her myth. It gave me a lot more empathy. Story is powerful and the way we tell stories matters so much to the people who are in them and to the people who hear them.

Thank you to Ayana Gray, Random House, and NetGalley for the ARC!

I am in tears, but in the best way. I, Medusa is one of my favorite reads of 2025. As a lover of Greek Mythology, specifically Medusa’s story, I was hooked and obsessed with Ayana Gray’s retelling immediately.

Ayana highlights aspects of Medusa’s story that is highly relevant and thought-provoking in today’s time — especially biases and social constructs surrounding race and SA (check trigger warnings).

OUT NOVEMBER 17TH & is a must read!!


*SLIGHT SPOILER BELOW PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK*

I loved the, unfortunately brief, relationship between Apollonia and Medusa. It was beautiful and I felt that even thought Meddy needed to leave to protect her, she got such a brief moment of absolute happiness.

The sisterly love throughout was the much needed warm breeze with all the cold, calculated, and cruel Greeks. I wasn’t familiar with Medusa’s story and it was the origin story I didn’t know I needed. 🐍

Overall, this was such an emotional roller coaster. I loved the reoccurring themes like the lion and balancing the scales of vengeance/mercy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the chance to read and review this.

Check out this review on Fable
https://fable.co/review/59446778-215a-4922-8a8e-23375c367528/share

Medusa, I see you!

Let me start off by saying that I am a little sister, auntie, daughter and friend - that viciously protects her loved ones. I am also the auntie that will let you sleep in and bring you breakfast in bed, but it's a special kind of love for your sisters.

With that being said, I love Medusa. Ayana Gray allows us to meet Medusa as innocent as she is - into scrolls, finding trinkets washed ashore and overall a kind and good person. What many Black girls learn that once we hit puberty, we quickly are looked upon as "grown". Which also means that in many instances we are held to a higher standard than our peers. Often there is a certain amount of helplessness and vulnerability that hits us unexpectedly, when we transition from child to woman. Meddy embodies so many different moments of the Black girl to woman experience - so much so, that I am cheering for her - even..if not especially when vengeful.

Ayana Gray managed to make me cry, laugh and soothe an ache that many of us Black girls carry. I see you, "Medusa"! The plot, the prose, the detailed descriptions of the deities and their complexities, this is a true masterpiece! Giving voice to a woman, I believed misunderstood and abused, but now but into her rightful place.

"well behaved women seldom make history"

Thank you to Ayana Gray, Random House and Netgalley for this piece of literary brilliance !

oh my god.

this has to be the greatest retelling of medusas story i have ever read in my entire life

medusa is so human, so vulnerable, so full of raw rage and emotion. i fell in love with her the moment her thoughts first appeared in this novel. she’s so lovable and entrancing, i couldn’t get enough. this book draws you in, keeps you hanging on for more of her story, growing your sympathy for this young girl who just craves more, craves to be equal to her immortal parents and sisters.

the way her relationship with poseidon played out was perfection. the stupid bastard. so many writers have written that she perused him as equally as he did her, but this manipulation was so cunning and clever it almost wasn’t obvious and i adored it. it was phenomenal.

and her relationship with apollonia?? BEAUTIFUL. i sobbed when she had to leave her.

i genuinely could not ask for more from a medusa retelling. i think this is going to be the next big thing in the mythology world. read it ASAP. PLEASE.

I love a good origin story and I, Medusa is no exception. When I think of what I knew of Medusa before reading this book.. suffered a tragedy, turned men to stone, snake hair, basically the cliff notes. I admit she’s not a character I ever followed closely. However I, Medusa gave me a greater appreciation of her and solidified me as a fan.

I enjoyed the world building, the background the author created, and the adventurousness of it all. While I could guess what was coming based on Medusa myths, I still rooted for Meddy throughout the book. The author did not try to change fate, but she gave Medusa a wonderful story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC!

Releasing on November 18th, 2025, I, Medusa is Ayana Gray’s adult novel debut 🖤 My love for mythology started with Percy Jackson (as I’m sure it did for many of us). I try to pick up almost any mythology retelling I see because even though the premise of the stories are the same, the interpretations & modernizations are endless. This story is heavily researched & written in beautiful, yet heart-wrenching prose. The feminine rage balanced with the calling to help others is masterful. I absolutely devoured this book in one day & could not put it down. #netgalley #randomhouse #IMedusa

Thank you to Random House Publish for a copy of this arc! All opinions are my own!

I went into this one semi-blind. I’d read the synopsis ages ago before receiving the ARC, and I’m not deeply familiar with the myths and lore surrounding Medusa. Instead of refreshing my memory, I decided to just dive in and I’m glad I did.

I never quite knew where this book was going, and it kept me on my toes the whole way through. As with many villain origin stories, it was a heartbreaking journey. Despite coming from a somewhat privileged background, Medusa faces immense hardship. The story weaves in themes of modern-day racism and class in a way that felt powerful and relevant—being bullied for her darker skin, for being from a different island, even for people trying to touch her hair without consent.

Another theme that struck me as well was how it tackled the deeply rooted sexism that still echoes through our world today. Medusa’s story has always been tied to the idea of being punished simply for being a woman—whether for her beauty, her autonomy, or just existing outside the expectations of others. This book leaned into that, showing how women are so often vilified, silenced, or reshaped by the narratives of others. It made the retelling feel not only timely, but necessary

I’ll admit, it wasn’t exactly my favorite that Medusa was portrayed so young. YA isn’t usually on my radar, and I tend to lean toward stories with older characters or adult themes. That said, the writing was strong enough to hold my attention, and I still found myself deeply invested in her story.

This was a compelling read, and I honestly wish there had been more—more details, more insight, more answers. I was left with lingering questions: What happened next? Where did they all end up? I’m not sure if the author intends to continue the story, but I’d be absolutely thrilled to return to this world, even through the lens of a side character.