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literaryscouser's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Really great retelling, good pace and interesting changing of narrator. The twisting stories are well told and come together nicely.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Rape, Violence, and Sexual harassment
kirstym25's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder
Moderate: Violence and War
abbyarm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
Minor: Incest, Infidelity, Grief, and Pregnancy
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i wish this focused more on medusa's story. i feel like the whole thing was about perseus :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
lalalauren20's review against another edition
dark
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I thought this was a solid book. I will say I only know of Medusa and her stories from her portrayal in movies and media so I never had the opportunity to understand her as a person instead of how she is always portrayed as a monster villain. I think that the multiple perspectives gave me a whirl because in the beginning i kept having to flip back to the beginning page to understand who was talking. I enjoy Greek mythology so this was a fun story that I had been waiting to read for a while.
At the end, in the chapter where Athena and Medusa’s decapitated head are having a discussion; it felt so unnatural. Given the fact that Athena was the one who cursed Medusa and then was chatting it up with her on the beach and Medusa was the one who got the final glance at her, i suppose it was mildly bittersweet. HOWEVER, I feel like this scene was completely out of context and would have made more sense had it been Perseus. But, I must say that I wish there was a picture of this famous statue that was included so as someone who does not keep up with the great Greek disputes of scholars would be included in what was being visualized.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Violence
bandysbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Medusa? Feminist retelling? By a well-established author of Greek mythology retellings? Yes, please! Sign me up! When I saw this listed under available audiobooks, I immediately sent in a request.
I delved into this story with enthusiasm and was mostly satisfied with what was delivered. This is a multi-POV story that gives us chapters from the Gorgon sisters, Athene, and Perseus in addition to Medusa. All of the chapters collectively bring us the story of Medusa's life and the events outside of her control that cause her eventual fate.
I thought the characterization of the various gods and demi-gods was very well done. I appreciate that they aren't glorified or made to seem benevolent. Haynes really leans into their awful behaviors toward mortals and it honestly makes a lot more sense.
I also loved how she chose to characterize the Gorgons. They may appear monstrous, but even monsters love their family. She really did a good job of humanizing them and making us care about their plight. It made the emotional response to Medusa's story that much stronger.
My only real qualm with this story is that I expected it to be more about Medusa in her own words since this was marketed as a feminist retelling.. Instead, we have more chapters of other people talking than we do of her talking. It sort of allows her voice to be a bit squashed by everyone else. Perhaps that is an intentional choice that mirrors exactly what is happening to Medusa within the story, but I do wish I'd heard a bit more from her.
As for the audiobook, I believe Haynes narrates this herself. I thought the narration was smooth and easy to follow. She voices each character well and with the right emotions in the right places. I have no real critique to offer in terms of the narration.
All in all, whether you listen to this or read it, if you enjoy Greek mythology retellings, I think you'll likely enjoy this one. Medusa is a compelling character, made more so by Haynes' treatment of her.
I delved into this story with enthusiasm and was mostly satisfied with what was delivered. This is a multi-POV story that gives us chapters from the Gorgon sisters, Athene, and Perseus in addition to Medusa. All of the chapters collectively bring us the story of Medusa's life and the events outside of her control that cause her eventual fate.
I thought the characterization of the various gods and demi-gods was very well done. I appreciate that they aren't glorified or made to seem benevolent. Haynes really leans into their awful behaviors toward mortals and it honestly makes a lot more sense.
I also loved how she chose to characterize the Gorgons. They may appear monstrous, but even monsters love their family. She really did a good job of humanizing them and making us care about their plight. It made the emotional response to Medusa's story that much stronger.
My only real qualm with this story is that I expected it to be more about Medusa in her own words since this was marketed as a feminist retelling.. Instead, we have more chapters of other people talking than we do of her talking. It sort of allows her voice to be a bit squashed by everyone else. Perhaps that is an intentional choice that mirrors exactly what is happening to Medusa within the story, but I do wish I'd heard a bit more from her.
As for the audiobook, I believe Haynes narrates this herself. I thought the narration was smooth and easy to follow. She voices each character well and with the right emotions in the right places. I have no real critique to offer in terms of the narration.
All in all, whether you listen to this or read it, if you enjoy Greek mythology retellings, I think you'll likely enjoy this one. Medusa is a compelling character, made more so by Haynes' treatment of her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Abandonment
moonytoast's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.25
Natalie Haynes is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors and I'm glad to say I enjoyed Stone Blind as much, perhaps more, than I expected given my experience with her other works regarding Greek myths. She has a particular style that I really love where certain perspectives within the narrative will seem to engage in conversation with the reader of the story, both here and in A Thousand Ships.
As someone whose first encounter with much of Greek myths was in Percy Jackson & the Olympians, I think the way that Haynes conveys these stories is quite engaging and serves to reframe the narrative around Medusa and the Gorgons as supposed monsters as well as the standard perception of Perseus' quest to retrieve the head of one of the Gorgons. Here, Medusa is a living, breathing character whose immortal Gorgon sisters are also made human through their fears and anxieties about protecting Medusa from harm... and the raw devastation in their failure to do so. In a twist of our common understanding of the Greek myth, Haynes paints Perseus as a coward whose accompliments are solely due to excessive aid from multiple gods on behalf of Zeus. Here, he is a coward that uses the Gorgoneion at the mere inkling of conflict or obstacle to his goals and unabashedly revels in the mass death it causes, regardless of whether the victims are guilty or innocent of some slight against him. It is a far cry from the story told in Percy Jackson, but I think that it holds much more truth about the way men acquire and wield power.
Once again, Haynes manages to weave together a beautiful tapestry of myth and breathes new life into this story of a woman repeatedly violated by the whims of the gods. (Also: Haynes is an excellent narrator and I definitely recommend listening to the audiobooks of her work if you're an audiobook reader and love Greek myth retellings!)
My current ranking of Hayne's work that I've read:
1. A Thousand Ships
2. Stone Blind
3. Pandora's Jar
As someone whose first encounter with much of Greek myths was in Percy Jackson & the Olympians, I think the way that Haynes conveys these stories is quite engaging and serves to reframe the narrative around Medusa and the Gorgons as supposed monsters as well as the standard perception of Perseus' quest to retrieve the head of one of the Gorgons. Here, Medusa is a living, breathing character whose immortal Gorgon sisters are also made human through their fears and anxieties about protecting Medusa from harm... and the raw devastation in their failure to do so. In a twist of our common understanding of the Greek myth, Haynes paints Perseus as a coward whose accompliments are solely due to excessive aid from multiple gods on behalf of Zeus. Here, he is a coward that uses the Gorgoneion at the mere inkling of conflict or obstacle to his goals and unabashedly revels in the mass death it causes, regardless of whether the victims are guilty or innocent of some slight against him. It is a far cry from the story told in Percy Jackson, but I think that it holds much more truth about the way men acquire and wield power.
Once again, Haynes manages to weave together a beautiful tapestry of myth and breathes new life into this story of a woman repeatedly violated by the whims of the gods. (Also: Haynes is an excellent narrator and I definitely recommend listening to the audiobooks of her work if you're an audiobook reader and love Greek myth retellings!)
My current ranking of Hayne's work that I've read:
1. A Thousand Ships
2. Stone Blind
3. Pandora's Jar
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Murder and War
Minor: Blood and Grief
kers_tin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and War
andreasfavouritethings's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Violence
kaczorlantz's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand I liked the focus on Medusa’s story; on the other hand there were so many characters that it hardly felt like a retelling of Medusa’s story. If anything, this was more a story about Athene. Nearly all the characters felt very one-note - all the men are more or less gross and thoughtless, and Medusa herself is very sweet and innocent the entire time. I can appreciate the author’s decision to portray the Greek gods as self-absorbed and selfish, but I would have liked more nuance. It’s not a bad book, but if you’re reaching for it because you think it will be like Circe, it’ll fall flat.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Violence