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worlddominationforcats's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sarinasity's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lauraford9321's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
lizzieormian's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
this book felt like one long taylor swift lyric
vlookup's review against another edition
4.0
"It turned out my one true hope was me."
"A myth finds a way to remember itself."
I enjoyed reading this book and finished it rather quickly since it's short. It's nice but not as good as Madeline Miller's retellings. Still 4/5 stars.
"A myth finds a way to remember itself."
I enjoyed reading this book and finished it rather quickly since it's short. It's nice but not as good as Madeline Miller's retellings. Still 4/5 stars.
gem_mc's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
flamingo_and_owl_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bethommo's review against another edition
2.0
Quick read. Pretty boring… but sweet life lesson of self love.
amorgn1928's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aclopez6's review against another edition
5.0
Burton and Gill reimagined what Medusa and Perseus's story may have been like, and how things could have ended differently for Medusa, through a more feminist lens. In the traditional telling of Medusa, Perseus kills Medusa by looking at her through a mirror and slicing off her head. In this book, Medusa and Perseus fall in love through a series of miscommunications and secrets, and Medusa accidentally kills Perseus by looking at him.
I thought this book was a solid reimagining of Medusa's tale. From the first line the authors seek to draw you into Medusa's story, "If I told you that I'd killed a man with a glance, would you wait to hear the rest? The why, the how, what happened next? Or would you run from me, this mottled mirror, this body of unusual flesh?" (1)
The authors humanize Medusa and make each decision feel honest and vulnerable. Medusa is very likable, but she has been victimized by Athena, sexually assaulted by Poseidon, and treated as a pariah by her community. Her sisters are her advocates and companions, but Medusa's character was isolated for years. On page 32 she thinks, "When was the last time someone had spoken to me like this? Too long, too long. Maybe never".
The author also includes lines that critique the patriarchal nature of society and the blaming of sexual assault victims. For example, on page 89, when Perseus is explaining his mother's predicament of being pursued by Polydectes, he says "Polydectes would never accept her own refusals of herself, but he would when they were told him by a man."
I thought this book was a solid reimagining of Medusa's tale. From the first line the authors seek to draw you into Medusa's story, "If I told you that I'd killed a man with a glance, would you wait to hear the rest? The why, the how, what happened next? Or would you run from me, this mottled mirror, this body of unusual flesh?" (1)
The authors humanize Medusa and make each decision feel honest and vulnerable. Medusa is very likable, but she has been victimized by Athena, sexually assaulted by Poseidon, and treated as a pariah by her community. Her sisters are her advocates and companions, but Medusa's character was isolated for years. On page 32 she thinks, "When was the last time someone had spoken to me like this? Too long, too long. Maybe never".
The author also includes lines that critique the patriarchal nature of society and the blaming of sexual assault victims. For example, on page 89, when Perseus is explaining his mother's predicament of being pursued by Polydectes, he says "Polydectes would never accept her own refusals of herself, but he would when they were told him by a man."