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rcoates's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
mallorypen's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
The most heartbreaking thing about the story of Medusa is that she is always, always positioned as a villain, as a monster. In this tiny book she is an innocent, and her trust in the world around her betrays her three times over: first with Poseidon, then with Athena, and then with Perseus.
Poseidon takes her naïveté - that the gods aren’t selfish, and that they exist beyond what she was taught by her mother. Her longing for the sea and her sense of being remade by visiting it is sweetness that is instantly turned against her when Poseidon decided to rape her.
Athena’s betrayal is the worst of the three, in my mind. Her selfishness is unforgivable in that she allowed it to happen to one of her acolytes, who forsake a potentially good man and a safe life to dedicate herself to Athena. Her coldness towards a human girl speaks more to the ruthlessness of the gods, and I find it interesting that Medusa won’t say Poseidon’s name, but she will say Athena’s name.
And fuck boy Perseus. Who’s own mother suffered the whims of gods and men. Who should have been sympathetic - who was able to pretend sympathy long enough to fool Medusa into trusting him - and his betrayal is crushing in a different way.
Overall, I love the feminist retelling of Medusa, and love that this little book packs a huge emotional punch about the agency and treatment of women in mythology and folklore - which has direct links to the ongoing treatment of women in society.
Poseidon takes her naïveté - that the gods aren’t selfish, and that they exist beyond what she was taught by her mother. Her longing for the sea and her sense of being remade by visiting it is sweetness that is instantly turned against her when Poseidon decided to rape her.
Athena’s betrayal is the worst of the three, in my mind. Her selfishness is unforgivable in that she allowed it to happen to one of her acolytes, who forsake a potentially good man and a safe life to dedicate herself to Athena. Her coldness towards a human girl speaks more to the ruthlessness of the gods, and I find it interesting that Medusa won’t say Poseidon’s name, but she will say Athena’s name.
And fuck boy Perseus. Who’s own mother suffered the whims of gods and men. Who should have been sympathetic - who was able to pretend sympathy long enough to fool Medusa into trusting him - and his betrayal is crushing in a different way.
Overall, I love the feminist retelling of Medusa, and love that this little book packs a huge emotional punch about the agency and treatment of women in mythology and folklore - which has direct links to the ongoing treatment of women in society.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Sexual violence, Rape, and Violence
opheliafrey's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
louise_o's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.25
Oh, Medusa.
“There's enough blood on these hands already, I think. Blood turned from red to grey, hardened and lingering in veins long since rendered as stone. I wonder if those statues still have hearts. I think about lungs and arteries wrought in rock, pulsating dully like magma.”
“I have no votive. I have no offering. I am burning myself up at this altar. I am my own sacrifice.”
“There's enough blood on these hands already, I think. Blood turned from red to grey, hardened and lingering in veins long since rendered as stone. I wonder if those statues still have hearts. I think about lungs and arteries wrought in rock, pulsating dully like magma.”
“I have no votive. I have no offering. I am burning myself up at this altar. I am my own sacrifice.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
sandy1995's review
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
aandromeda's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
kpignuolo's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Death, and Child death
bliphany's review
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
5.0
expectation: N/A
enjoyment / engagement: 5
impact / think about it often: 5
willingness to re-read: 5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Misogyny
joh's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i really loved the idea of greek mythology as a child and thought of athena as some sort of role model, but i think some part of growing up is accepting that these myths i held in high esteem as a child are more explanatory stories than comforting tales. this novella takes a well known myth and gives humanity to the assumed monster, a woman punished for a heinous crime committed against her by a man. beautiful writing that makes you immediately feel for medusa and hope that this retelling gives her a second chance in the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Child death
lily_west's review
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this novella. It’s an elaborate retelling of Medusa’s point of view, and it dives deep into her psyche. The storytelling is emotional and well-done, and the descriptions are beautiful. I didn’t want it to end.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
The book briefly addresses the origin of Medusa, where she was cursed with her Gorgon appearance after being assaulted by Poseidon.