Scan barcode
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-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
3.5
I guess this is already published by the author herself back in 2020 but now it’s being republished by Sourcebooks Landmark; which is how I got an eARC with a publishing date of September 26 🎉
I’m curious what the differences are between the self published and now traditionally published versions especially because the TRAD book is 192 pages while Lynn’s self published work is 252 😳
Anyways, on to my review of Athena’s Child-Immediately pulled in! That prologue, chills 😍 I was so excited to finally read a Medusa retelling and that we are finally getting a story where Medusa is not a monster born but a “monster” who was made, victimized by the actions of others.
We get POVs from Medusa and Perseus. The first half is mainly Medusa, focusing on her early life and how she became a Gorgon. Then in the second half we get Perseus’ back story and his “heroic” journey. I wish we would’ve gotten more from Medusa though, this novel certainly is quick, to the point, and interesting but it doesn’t add anything new to the Medusa story which I found disappointing.
I enjoyed the first half much more than the second half because I didn’t care about Perseus and wanted to get back to Medusa. The writing style is okay, it’s simple and makes for a quick read but does more telling than showing. I do wonder if the novel is better in the self published version as it’s about 50ish pages more than this version.
Some time jumps could be jarring at times with no warning, the book is split into two parts but the time jump occurs 2-3 chapters into part 2. Seemed like it could’ve been organized a bit smoother. I thought this would be 4.5-5 stars easily but towards the end I just got disappointed in how the story ended up.
Overall not a bad read and one I’d still recommend for Greek mythology lovers, for a quick and easy read! I’m interested to check out the other 2 books in Lynn’s series and hope I’ll enjoy them more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Death, Grief, Blood, Miscarriage, Confinement, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
wormlibrary's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Really torn about this one.
This is the story of Medusa (and Perseus) and that’s pretty much it. Most of the first part covers her life, almost every chapter a time jump to the next major scene. There’s not a lot of meandering, it’s to the point and the writing style is good, but just when I thought we were getting to the part that’s going to offer a new take, some deeper characterization, we go to Perseus. After time jumping through months, years, decades and ultimately millenia with Medusa, Perseus gets the narrative advantage of having a mortal life span that allows his story to be delivered in a way that doesn’t feel choppy. I actually wouldn’t have minded this, had it not been for his detour, a scene that I couldn’t wait to be done so we can get back to the meat of it.
This was a tragic, heartbreaking telling that really succinctly delivered the Medusa myth, but I’m afraid it didn’t blow me away as someone who’s familiar with this version of it. I can see people liking it a lot more than I did however and I recommend it.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is the story of Medusa (and Perseus) and that’s pretty much it. Most of the first part covers her life, almost every chapter a time jump to the next major scene. There’s not a lot of meandering, it’s to the point and the writing style is good, but just when I thought we were getting to the part that’s going to offer a new take, some deeper characterization, we go to Perseus. After time jumping through months, years, decades and ultimately millenia with Medusa, Perseus gets the narrative advantage of having a mortal life span that allows his story to be delivered in a way that doesn’t feel choppy. I actually wouldn’t have minded this, had it not been for his detour, a scene that I couldn’t wait to be done so we can get back to the meat of it.
This was a tragic, heartbreaking telling that really succinctly delivered the Medusa myth, but I’m afraid it didn’t blow me away as someone who’s familiar with this version of it. I can see people liking it a lot more than I did however and I recommend it.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
misosoupcup's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.0
Never really thought the genre niche of feminist retellings of classic greek mythology would be my thing, but i am warmly baffled by Athena's Child.
Medusa's story is heart wrenching as we watch the god's really put her through the wringer throughout the novel. When they decide to let her pass on in peace of course its with irony as we all know what happens. Of course i was expecting that this book would make me side with its female protagonist but wowie, Medusa really did NAWT FUCKING DESERVE THAT. Really enjoyed this version's take on perseus in which he is basically a naive and chaotic mama's boy.
Ended quite abruptly, and i wish there was more follow through on perseus ending his quest and returning home to save his mother. It moved quite quickly in places i would have loved some more? But also glad this book didn't veer off into places it didn't need to go, overall great read.
Medusa's story is heart wrenching as we watch the god's really put her through the wringer throughout the novel. When they decide to let her pass on in peace of course its with irony as we all know what happens. Of course i was expecting that this book would make me side with its female protagonist but wowie, Medusa really did NAWT FUCKING DESERVE THAT. Really enjoyed this version's take on perseus in which he is basically a naive and chaotic mama's boy.
Ended quite abruptly, and i wish there was more follow through on perseus ending his quest and returning home to save his mother. It moved quite quickly in places i would have loved some more? But also glad this book didn't veer off into places it didn't need to go, overall great read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
fkshg8465's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
How can something so interesting be so boring? Also, why do we care about a woman’s virginity? Her value really, really, really isn’t influenced or measured by it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
charliesmith1564's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
readbyella_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Suicide attempt
escapingreality_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Un retelling della storia di Medusa che non conoscevo e che mi ha colpita molto. La figura di Medusa mi ha sempre affascinata e quando ho visto questo libro in libreria, non ci ho pensato due volte e l’ho comprato.
È una lettura molto semplice e scorrevole, mi aspettavo però un qualcosina di più dalla storia. Avrei preferito fosse un po’ più lunga.
È una lettura molto semplice e scorrevole, mi aspettavo però un qualcosina di più dalla storia. Avrei preferito fosse un po’ più lunga.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
ellalovestoread11's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
camillarossi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape
ashleynewman's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very quick and easy read which isn’t exactly common among Greek mythology retellings. I’m glad authors like Hannah Lynn are giving new life to these tragic and often forgotten stories, giving women like Medusa the clarity and closure they deserve.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt