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atamano's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Confinement, Blood, War, Rape, and Grief
Minor: Animal death
katewhite77's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I Am Glad I Read This
I tend to avoid myth retellings like the plague simply because I don't know the original material all that well over and above what we are all taught in primary school. I just let myself get swept away by the story.
I read this because it was on a prize list last year, and I have always loved Natalie Hains as a comic and have wanted to try one of her books for a while.
Grim, though the tale is, Natalie's humour sings throughout the book, and because of this, I really recommend the audiobook as she performs it herself, which, of course adds another layer to the humour.
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book half as much as I did, and I really want to explore more retellings and source material now. Who knew!
I tend to avoid myth retellings like the plague simply because I don't know the original material all that well over and above what we are all taught in primary school. I just let myself get swept away by the story.
I read this because it was on a prize list last year, and I have always loved Natalie Hains as a comic and have wanted to try one of her books for a while.
Grim, though the tale is, Natalie's humour sings throughout the book, and because of this, I really recommend the audiobook as she performs it herself, which, of course adds another layer to the humour.
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book half as much as I did, and I really want to explore more retellings and source material now. Who knew!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Grief
crodgers90's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Rape
campredwood's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
This book probably deserves higher than I’m giving it- but I glazed over until 3/4ths of the way after all of the trigger warnings I ignored. Obviously we know that foundation of Medusas story but I wasn’t braced enough for it at the time. It cued my Shrodeingers Rapist senses on so much the first half I couldn’t really focus for a lot longer than o proud of.
The rest of my feedback is beating a dead horse with everyone else. It’s a misnomer to consider this work focused on Medusa, but not in a bad way. There is a very wide cast of POV, and the story wanders around a lot of the adjacent lore, and the ruthless way she portrays Perseus and Athene ego wise is super satisfying.
The rest of my feedback is beating a dead horse with everyone else. It’s a misnomer to consider this work focused on Medusa, but not in a bad way. There is a very wide cast of POV, and the story wanders around a lot of the adjacent lore, and the ruthless way she portrays Perseus and Athene ego wise is super satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
amyoates's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Stoneblind is a magnificent retelling of the Medusa myth. Natalie Haynes knows her mythology inside and out and is able to draw parallels between Medusa and Athene’s lives, enriched by the other women on the outskirts of the tale - Danae, Andromedea, and the other gorgons, Sthenno and Euryale.
It’s at the top of my myth retellings list, and I heartily recommend it.
It’s at the top of my myth retellings list, and I heartily recommend it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
[Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for the #gifted copy!]
Out in paperback on February 27!
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
The story of Medusa and an exploration of what it means to be a “monster” to the world.
I absolutely loved STONE BLIND! I’ve always been fascinated by the story of Medusa and was so excited when this one was the February pick for my book club, and even MORE excited when I had the opportunity to join a book tour to celebrate the paperback release.
My favorite thing about this book is the writing, which is unexpectedly hilarious, and made me want to keep reading at all times. The story itself is tragic and heartbreaking, but Haynes tells it in such a captivating way and infuses a layer of hope that transforms the myth into something truly beautiful.
If you enjoy retellings, I cannot possibly recommend this one enough!
CW: Sexual assault; violence; death
Out in paperback on February 27!
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
The story of Medusa and an exploration of what it means to be a “monster” to the world.
I absolutely loved STONE BLIND! I’ve always been fascinated by the story of Medusa and was so excited when this one was the February pick for my book club, and even MORE excited when I had the opportunity to join a book tour to celebrate the paperback release.
My favorite thing about this book is the writing, which is unexpectedly hilarious, and made me want to keep reading at all times. The story itself is tragic and heartbreaking, but Haynes tells it in such a captivating way and infuses a layer of hope that transforms the myth into something truly beautiful.
If you enjoy retellings, I cannot possibly recommend this one enough!
CW: Sexual assault; violence; death
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
stephalogy's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Refreshingly blunt prose, but it detracts from the story tension. Assumes familiarity with the source material. Have Wikipedia open as you read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, Violence, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
magistran's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Rape, Violence, and Death
booksjessreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
2.5
I was somewhat disappointed with this book and I really had higher expectations from this novel. There were things that did work well, but for the most part, I don't think the format worked for what Haynes was trying to achieve.
I will start with what I enjoyed about the book first. The portrayal of Perseus as a self-righteous and stuck-up 16 year old was my favourite thing. I liked how Haynes had depreciated him in the story and really emphasised how much of a coward he was, despite being praised as a hero. However, there were several chapters where Haynes breaks the 'fourth wall' and writes in second person to the reader, instilling her fury in you that Perseus has always been painted in this way. Listening to the audio of this, this was quite jarring, although I appreciated her intentions of the chapters anyway.
When we got a perspective of Medusa, I also appreciated her point of view.I even quite liked the separate perspective of her head after it had been decapitated. However, I really thought that for a book about Medusa, which even on the cover says 'Medusa's story', I didn't really feel like we got much from Medusa herself. We had perspectives from so many Gods, who largely seemed one-dimensional, and it detracted away from the story. Whilst I liked having multiple perspectives to tell the story, there were far too many God's, statues and creatures involved in telling the story. It would have been more effective had there been less. Further to this, there were so many points of view and their background or purpose to the story was never really explored. I appreciate Haynes is a classicist, but she could have been more explicit with her character's purpose and background.
Perhaps this is just me, as I don't read lots of mythology books, but I felt a lot of the conversations in this book were really basic or childish. And it only ever worked well when we got conversation from Perseus, as it helped build Haynes' portrayal of him. One example that really stuck with me wasMedusa's conversation with Poseidon before he rapes her. I know Medusa is 16 as well, but the conversation felt drawn out and unnecessary in parts, especially painting Medusa, who I know was largely sheltered from the world, as completely oblivious and naive. It just didn't work for me.
I can appreciate why people have enjoyed this book, but I just felt as though this book did not deliver to the standards that it was marketed by. I do enjoy Medusa's story generally so I stuck with it, but there was certain elements that just did not work for me.
I will start with what I enjoyed about the book first. The portrayal of Perseus as a self-righteous and stuck-up 16 year old was my favourite thing. I liked how Haynes had depreciated him in the story and really emphasised how much of a coward he was, despite being praised as a hero. However, there were several chapters where Haynes breaks the 'fourth wall' and writes in second person to the reader, instilling her fury in you that Perseus has always been painted in this way. Listening to the audio of this, this was quite jarring, although I appreciated her intentions of the chapters anyway.
When we got a perspective of Medusa, I also appreciated her point of view.
Perhaps this is just me, as I don't read lots of mythology books, but I felt a lot of the conversations in this book were really basic or childish. And it only ever worked well when we got conversation from Perseus, as it helped build Haynes' portrayal of him. One example that really stuck with me was
I can appreciate why people have enjoyed this book, but I just felt as though this book did not deliver to the standards that it was marketed by. I do enjoy Medusa's story generally so I stuck with it, but there was certain elements that just did not work for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Blood, Rape, Vomit, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and War
Minor: Incest
imageryx's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.0
This is mainly a retelling of Perseus's journey, but it does spend time on the origins of the characters. The story is told only through women's perspectives and definitely reframes the story. I love that there are many different kinds of women portrayed in the story. None of them are one dimensional or the same basic character with a different name.
I will say, the middle part of this book was a slog. The author had to set up a lot to really drive the ending home. It picks up again in the last quarter.
I will say, the middle part of this book was a slog. The author had to set up a lot to really drive the ending home. It picks up again in the last quarter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Confinement, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Suicide, Murder, and Rape
Minor: Slavery