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sierraashley's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? N/A
5.0
Very well done. Love the satire. I was giggling as I'd read, especially when they were making fun of Perseus. Medusa is one of my favorite characters ever and didn't deserve what happened to her and I'm glad someone finally told her story.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, War, Confinement, Misogyny, Grief, and Death
nak34's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Sexual harassment, Torture, Death, and Sexual assault
Moderate: War, Grief, Sexism, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death
jen0788's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
Another great addition to this genre of reimagined greek mythology- the story of Medusa and Perseus.
A well written and thoughtful story with a strong narrative voice.
A well written and thoughtful story with a strong narrative voice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexism
Moderate: Rape
annick's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. Haynes does a marvellous job narrating her book.
This is beautifully poignant in writing and audio . It makes so much more sense than the tales of Perseus and Medusa and Athene I grew up with.
There are many moments of beautiful writing. Chapter from the snakes’ perspective. The dialogue of assertive Medusa and petulant Poseidon. But especially when it’s 1POV addressed to the reader.
I like the choice for most of the violence and sexual assault to be excluded from the scenes written. Even the narrative on turning people to stone is empathetic to the character’s trauma and the readers.
I can’t find fault with the writing, I want to revisit it, and recommend it to others. So it meets my pesky criteria for five stars.
This is beautifully poignant in writing and audio . It makes so much more sense than the tales of Perseus and Medusa and Athene I grew up with.
There are many moments of beautiful writing. Chapter from the snakes’ perspective. The dialogue of assertive Medusa and petulant Poseidon. But especially when it’s 1POV addressed to the reader.
I like the choice for most of the violence and sexual assault to be excluded from the scenes written. Even the narrative on turning people to stone is empathetic to the character’s trauma and the readers.
I can’t find fault with the writing, I want to revisit it, and recommend it to others. So it meets my pesky criteria for five stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence
atamano's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Confinement, Blood, War, Rape, and Grief
Minor: Animal death
booksjessreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I was somewhat disappointed with this book and I really had higher expectations from this novel. There were things that did work well, but for the most part, I don't think the format worked for what Haynes was trying to achieve.
I will start with what I enjoyed about the book first. The portrayal of Perseus as a self-righteous and stuck-up 16 year old was my favourite thing. I liked how Haynes had depreciated him in the story and really emphasised how much of a coward he was, despite being praised as a hero. However, there were several chapters where Haynes breaks the 'fourth wall' and writes in second person to the reader, instilling her fury in you that Perseus has always been painted in this way. Listening to the audio of this, this was quite jarring, although I appreciated her intentions of the chapters anyway.
When we got a perspective of Medusa, I also appreciated her point of view.I even quite liked the separate perspective of her head after it had been decapitated. However, I really thought that for a book about Medusa, which even on the cover says 'Medusa's story', I didn't really feel like we got much from Medusa herself. We had perspectives from so many Gods, who largely seemed one-dimensional, and it detracted away from the story. Whilst I liked having multiple perspectives to tell the story, there were far too many God's, statues and creatures involved in telling the story. It would have been more effective had there been less. Further to this, there were so many points of view and their background or purpose to the story was never really explored. I appreciate Haynes is a classicist, but she could have been more explicit with her character's purpose and background.
Perhaps this is just me, as I don't read lots of mythology books, but I felt a lot of the conversations in this book were really basic or childish. And it only ever worked well when we got conversation from Perseus, as it helped build Haynes' portrayal of him. One example that really stuck with me wasMedusa's conversation with Poseidon before he rapes her. I know Medusa is 16 as well, but the conversation felt drawn out and unnecessary in parts, especially painting Medusa, who I know was largely sheltered from the world, as completely oblivious and naive. It just didn't work for me.
I can appreciate why people have enjoyed this book, but I just felt as though this book did not deliver to the standards that it was marketed by. I do enjoy Medusa's story generally so I stuck with it, but there was certain elements that just did not work for me.
I will start with what I enjoyed about the book first. The portrayal of Perseus as a self-righteous and stuck-up 16 year old was my favourite thing. I liked how Haynes had depreciated him in the story and really emphasised how much of a coward he was, despite being praised as a hero. However, there were several chapters where Haynes breaks the 'fourth wall' and writes in second person to the reader, instilling her fury in you that Perseus has always been painted in this way. Listening to the audio of this, this was quite jarring, although I appreciated her intentions of the chapters anyway.
When we got a perspective of Medusa, I also appreciated her point of view.
Perhaps this is just me, as I don't read lots of mythology books, but I felt a lot of the conversations in this book were really basic or childish. And it only ever worked well when we got conversation from Perseus, as it helped build Haynes' portrayal of him. One example that really stuck with me was
I can appreciate why people have enjoyed this book, but I just felt as though this book did not deliver to the standards that it was marketed by. I do enjoy Medusa's story generally so I stuck with it, but there was certain elements that just did not work for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Blood, Rape, Vomit, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and War
Minor: Incest
kfrawrylion's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Murder, Rape, Misogyny, and Sexism
cameronaverwhy's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
This book has to be one of the greatest books ever written. Each line was like poetry, with character and plot paced perfectly. I wanted to both savour and inhale each chapter. 5 stars only because I can’t give it more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexism
caelfind's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, Violence, and Sexism
savshanae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.5
I really loved this book! I loved the twist in the stories, and of course I came for Medusa, which did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend this book looking for a quick read about Greek mythology with a feminist twist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Rape, Violence, Bullying, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexism, Confinement, Death, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Slavery