Mortal, Maiden, Mistress, Monster

I, Medusa by Ayana Gray is a breathtaking retelling of Medusa’s story—one that I could almost call one of the great tragedies.

This novel follows Medusa, daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, sister of Euryale and Stheno, devotee of Athena, and eventual victim of Poseidon. Born mortal in a family of immortals, Medusa has always been fiercely protected by her sisters. But when a fateful accident places her before Athena’s judgment, the goddess takes a particular interest in Medusa’s righteous heart and fiery spirit.

The story explores Medusa’s journey as she steps into the world on her own, earning her priestesshood through grueling trials, forging both friendships and rivalries, and finding a place within Athena’s temple. But with beauty as captivating as hers, she also catches the attention of Poseidon—a moment that changes everything.

Medusa’s story is one that many women can relate to—the intoxicating feeling of being chosen for the first time and the impossible choice between fleeting admiration and a lifelong purpose. Even knowing how her story ends, I was captivated by the journey Ayana Gray crafted. Her interpretation of Medusa’s myth felt both fresh and inevitable, with brilliant foreshadowing and symbolic touches woven throughout.

The imagery of snakes was particularly striking. Long associated with transformation, they serve as a powerful representation of Medusa’s evolution—from a gentle maiden to a scorned woman to the monster history remembers her as.

I also deeply appreciated the significance of Medusa being a woman of color. The care and reverence she has for her locs, and the devastating loss of them during her transformation,added an extra layer of meaning that made her story even more heartbreaking.

I, Medusa is a stunning, thought-provoking retelling that breathes new life into one of mythology’s most misunderstood figures.

🐍 I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 🖤

5/5

For the first time in a while after reading a book, I felt such a whirlwind of emotions—sorrow, regret, grief, and yet, love intertwined with it all.

Perhaps the saddest thing that can happen is a broken hope.

During my time in university, we took a mythology course, and I knew exactly what this story would be about. So when I saw the book, I thought I’d be looking at a retelling, as is the trend nowadays, but instead, it was the author’s own interpretation of Medusa’s story, drawn from various sources. I really loved the author’s approach—the book naturally raised issues that still haunt us to this day.

Those we most want to trust betray us at the first opportunity. Those who vow to protect us may turn out to be the ones who harm us. And the kindness you show others won’t necessarily be returned. Perhaps life will remain unfair until the very end. But even so, we can still find new hope day after day, no matter how hard it gets. We can find a new purpose, even peace.

I loved Medusa and her sisters throughout the entire book. But the more I loved Medusa, the more horror enveloped me.

After finishing the book, I feel grief. Grief for all that could have gone differently, for all who might have lived different lives. But in the end, the story is what it is. I hope everyone who resonates with this story will cherish it as much as I do.

* Copy provided by Random House via NetGalley & 100% voluntary review.

I love a good Greek myth retelling and I, Medusa scratches that itch so well! Medusa is often shown as the villain so it’s nice to see a different perspective. Ayana Grey also puts a unique spin on how the gods and are portrayed, I love how she incorporates so much culture but also keeps the storyline true to the Greek telling.

Ayana Grey’s Medusa is heartbreaking, tragic, and really touches on the struggle of women in a man’s world. Meddy has never left her parent’s island so know very little of the outside world, leaving her naive and vulnerable to the manipulation of others. Being young also makes her a target of men who know they are more powerful than she, both socially and physically. She experiences the injustices of the outside world for the first time and struggles to cope with it, leaving her with immense rage. She tends to act rashly and serve her version of justice on her own terms, often leading her to more trouble. Slowly, she learns what it means to be a woman and how to empower herself, finding her own purpose and strength.

I really loved this retelling/origin story! The writing was beautiful and immersive, and seeing Medusa become what she is known for made me sad and angry but it was very empowering seeing Meddy being able to stand up for herself. She makes a LOT of mistakes in this story, often implicating and hurting others with her actions. It was frustrating seeing her continue to make bad decisions despite her acknowledging that her actions have caused pain and suffering for others. I wish I had been able to see more accountability and self-reflection, especially for Apollonia, but then maybe she wouldn’t truly be Medusa.

Like any Greek story, the ending is sort of ambiguous on in if it’s a good or bad resolution. Did Medusa truly find happiness? Was she the heroine or was she someone that just continued to be the product of her circumstances? Did she learn from her past mistakes or did she just run away from her problems? I have to commend the author for making me ponder over these questions and really have me think about Medusa in this way. I definitely recommend checking this one out if you enjoy Greek mythology and anti-heroes! It was a very enjoyable read!

From the dedication to the very last page I resonated with this book and I’ll carry it with me for a long time. Quite literally, can’t wait to have a physical copy.

What drew this book to me originally was that it isn’t just a retelling, it’s an origin story. I loved reading this background even though it was not easy to read it, it’s important we hear about the stories that are not easy.

It gave me much needed insight into Medusa’s journey, from being overlooked and weak to discovering her own strength and just when it seemed like she was finally stepping into herself, fate or ‘the gods’ I should say, take a cruel turn leading her to become the legendary gorgon we know.

It was heartbreaking, mesmerizing and again, unforgettable. Easily a 5 star read. Thank you to Ayana Gray and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book early.

Greek Mythology has always had a place in my heart. I’ve read so many retelling of famous stories, that finding ones that exceed expectations has become a challenge.

I, Medusa, from page one, was absolutely captivating.

Every moment of weakness and questioning, is counterbalanced with times of strength and courage. This story truly gives life to all that she was and could have been.

There were moments throughout when I couldn’t help but feel the desperation of Medusa to truly find acceptance and love, and I felt myself seeing so many similarities between myself and her.

This was truly a phenomenal read. Expertly written with a beautiful narrative, but also deeply morose.

This is a perfect retelling.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read this beautiful story!

“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.”

I’ve been fascinated by Medusa’s story for a long time so I was immediately interested when I heard about this book. Its opening scene grabs your attention and sets the tone for how this story will go. We get to see the world through Meddy’s eyes and experience the events that led to her becoming the legend that is Medusa. This is the story of a young naive girl who gets caught up in a game she doesn’t realize is being played until it’s too late.

This was such a powerful story. It touches on several important topics like female rage, victim blaming, and morality. Every single one of these characters are flawed in some way. There were a lot of uncomfortable moments that you just had to sit with, so be mindful of triggers.

In the end I feel like I, Medusa strikes a perfect balance between the many different versions of the myth. This is an origin story done right.