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katherinereadsthings's review
reflective
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? N/A
5.0
librarygxrl's review
5.0
"I was only there a few short hours. No time at all in the length of my life, but those hours would be drawn out into all the centuries that followed."
This was 83 pages of brilliant tragedy.
This was 83 pages of brilliant tragedy.
ferzemkhan's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
jmarmar's review
emotional
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? No
5.0
sabrinaslivingliterature's review
4.0
Beautiful book and a wonderful story and exploration of Medusa. The story is lovely and wonderfully written but heartbreaking as you know the inevitable ending. At only 83 pages this book is a very quick read but I would definitely recommend it.
verypeculiarpages's review
5.0
My first re-read of this tiny little book and it's as good and heartbreaking as I remember.
I first discovered Anwen on her Tumblr Mythology Mondays, which is one of my favorite things ever, and her storytelling is hilarious and unique. I was super excited when she announced this book and I'm so happy its on my bookshelves. Her writing is really well done and I'm looking forward to reading her other stories that I hear about on her blog!
I was able to analyze everything more closely upon my second read through. The story brings up some interesting points like whether or not Medusa turns people to stone when SHE looks at THEM, or vice versa or both. I think based on small notes in this story that its only the first method, but it's a cool concept to think about.
The story is really beautifully structured. It's super short -like, finish within an hour short- but it's broken into smaller parts that are interspersed with the present day happenings of when Perseus comes to Medusa's cave. Even though it's jumping between different time period and stories it still flows really well.
Ever since I first read this about a year ago, I realize I sympathize with Medusa a lot more than before. I always knew the basics of her myth, but now I really, really like her and I've been looking for more books about her. She really has gotten such a bad rep and is often seen as more of a monster than a victim, which is really unfair.
I can't remember too many Athena myths right now, but from what I do remember and the details I just re-read in this book, I don't really like her. Just this and Arachne are coming to mind, and in both she is a goddess who turns another woman into something monstrous out of jealousy (which I mean, I guess all the gods do that, but ya know. This is the reason that I dislike Hera).
*spoilers!* OK, so the ending didn't hit me as hard as the first read, since I obviously knew before hand, but it still hurt to read. Perseus is an asshole, too. Honestly, how dare he. Such a dick move that it makes me sad. I have a small spot in my heart reserved to hoping that she was able to turn around in time, or maybe he was just polishing his sword or maybe he tripped on his way to her orrrrrr something... no? Really? OK, I'm just gonna cry in the bathroom now, peace out homies!
I first discovered Anwen on her Tumblr Mythology Mondays, which is one of my favorite things ever, and her storytelling is hilarious and unique. I was super excited when she announced this book and I'm so happy its on my bookshelves. Her writing is really well done and I'm looking forward to reading her other stories that I hear about on her blog!
I was able to analyze everything more closely upon my second read through. The story brings up some interesting points like whether or not Medusa turns people to stone when SHE looks at THEM, or vice versa or both. I think based on small notes in this story that its only the first method, but it's a cool concept to think about.
The story is really beautifully structured. It's super short -like, finish within an hour short- but it's broken into smaller parts that are interspersed with the present day happenings of when Perseus comes to Medusa's cave. Even though it's jumping between different time period and stories it still flows really well.
Ever since I first read this about a year ago, I realize I sympathize with Medusa a lot more than before. I always knew the basics of her myth, but now I really, really like her and I've been looking for more books about her. She really has gotten such a bad rep and is often seen as more of a monster than a victim, which is really unfair.
I can't remember too many Athena myths right now, but from what I do remember and the details I just re-read in this book, I don't really like her. Just this and Arachne are coming to mind, and in both she is a goddess who turns another woman into something monstrous out of jealousy (which I mean, I guess all the gods do that, but ya know. This is the reason that I dislike Hera).
*spoilers!* OK, so the ending didn't hit me as hard as the first read, since I obviously knew before hand, but it still hurt to read. Perseus is an asshole, too. Honestly, how dare he. Such a dick move that it makes me sad. I have a small spot in my heart reserved to hoping that she was able to turn around in time, or maybe he was just polishing his sword or maybe he tripped on his way to her orrrrrr something... no? Really? OK, I'm just gonna cry in the bathroom now, peace out homies!
ancunin's review
5.0
This novella blew me away with it's dreamlike, lyrical prose. I always loved greek mythology and I adore retellings that add a feminist and/or queer perspective to the original story. Hayward manages on less than 100 pages to add so much depth to the Medusa character and manages to portray heavy themes in a nuanced and poignant way.
viatrix's review
5.0
i'm reading this every day. i bought it online as an ebook and then bought the printed book also. sometimes books are so impactful that they cannot fit into just one place.