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vero236's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence
nclausel25's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Rape, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Confinement and Grief
maddiereadswords's review
1.5
Honestly, if this book weren't so short I probably would have DNFed it. The writing was just absolutely not working for me. There were so many random time skips, and POV switches that it was sometimes difficult to tell when and where I was in the story, and the narration was so far removed from the characters that they all ended up feeling really flat. My biggest problem with it, though, is the ending. It was so abrupt and there's sort of a summary of what happens after, but I wish there was more exploration of the aftermath of Perseus's choice. The epilogue sets up such an interesting conversation about toxic masculinity and the role it plays in myth-making, but this book is totally uninterested in having it, so it all just ends up feeling pointlessly brutal and even more tragic than the source material. Don't get me wrong, I am all for a feminist reframing of the Medusa story, but this was just so not it for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Misogyny, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Rape, and Death
luna_is_superior's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-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
5.0
This medusa retelling has my heart, the injustice the fear the mercy. Definitely a must read!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, War, Alcohol, Infidelity, Death, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Physical abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
tashasbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
Athena's Child is a feminist retelling from Medusa and Perseus' perspectives of his adventures and the gorgon villain. It is being traditionally republished after initially being self-published!
We follow Medusa from the beginning of her life, and how she became a priestess at the Temple of Athena. After she was preyed on by another god, she is cursed by Athena to life a life as a monster. Perseus is born to his mother Danae and Zeus. In order to save his mother from a horrible marriage to a ruthless king, he is tasked with bringing back Medusa's head. This story jumps from each POV.
I already was familiar with this Greek myth and have read many books similar. Greek mythology traditionally treats women as part of the men's story, and this book illustrates it well. There is an inherint patriarchal society where women must protect themselves from men's intentions and if they are assaulted, it becomes their fault. Even the gods perpetrate this, as we read in the book. I found it interesting how the author also showed how the women were entrenched in this type of society and reinforce it. After hearing Medusa's story, her own mother blames her.
I just had a huge pit in my stomach after finishing this book. Medusa is easily emphasized with in this retelling. She is forced to bear the brunt of the pain of other actions. Another part that I found unique and interesting was the relationship with her sisters/the other gorgons.
I really loved this retelling, it was very emotional and heartbreaking. This is a very quick read, less than 200 pages so I picked it up and read through it in a day. It is a short book with lots of time jumps, and I do feel it would have benefitted from being longer. In the middle of the book, I wish the characters and certain plots were more fleshed out.
The ending was so indicative of how stories and myths have treated Medusa and other women. Don't expect a happy ending (as is typical with greek myths for women). But overall, it really touched me and I very much recommend this book.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGally for proving me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
We follow Medusa from the beginning of her life, and how she became a priestess at the Temple of Athena. After she was preyed on by another god, she is cursed by Athena to life a life as a monster. Perseus is born to his mother Danae and Zeus. In order to save his mother from a horrible marriage to a ruthless king, he is tasked with bringing back Medusa's head. This story jumps from each POV.
I already was familiar with this Greek myth and have read many books similar. Greek mythology traditionally treats women as part of the men's story, and this book illustrates it well. There is an inherint patriarchal society where women must protect themselves from men's intentions and if they are assaulted, it becomes their fault. Even the gods perpetrate this, as we read in the book. I found it interesting how the author also showed how the women were entrenched in this type of society and reinforce it. After hearing Medusa's story, her own mother blames her.
I just had a huge pit in my stomach after finishing this book. Medusa is easily emphasized with in this retelling. She is forced to bear the brunt of the pain of other actions. Another part that I found unique and interesting was the relationship with her sisters/the other gorgons.
I really loved this retelling, it was very emotional and heartbreaking. This is a very quick read, less than 200 pages so I picked it up and read through it in a day. It is a short book with lots of time jumps, and I do feel it would have benefitted from being longer. In the middle of the book, I wish the characters and certain plots were more fleshed out.
The ending was so indicative of how stories and myths have treated Medusa and other women. Don't expect a happy ending (as is typical with greek myths for women). But overall, it really touched me and I very much recommend this book.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGally for proving me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, and Sexual violence
lilbookishdragon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual assault
anticapitalist_2000's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
bookhoe1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, and Rape
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Pregnancy
rd77's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
A sad story that brings a new perspective to the story of Medusa. I think I would have liked it more if the book was longer. It felt very short, so there was little room to develop characters and settings, to the point that one feels unattached to most characters besides Medusa and Perseus.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Death, Murder, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence
hopelesswonderer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence
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