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theworldisyourlibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
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
3.0
After my trip to Greece, this was a great book to pick up and continue learning about the Greek myths. I enjoyed this retelling of the story of Medusa and Perseus, it brought a new perspective to Medusa’s story—was she a monster or a victim of the gods?
It was quick read, that makes you reflect. There is always two sides to a story.
"Why is it that women are viewed as unstable? Women hold knives more often in the day than men ever do, yet it is not women who stab their husbands to death when they fear adultery. Women gather in clusters with friendships stronger than steel, yet it is not women who beat their husbands to the ground in gangs when a hint of wrongdoing echoes in the air. It is not women who require lover after lover, then make promises of love that they recant when darker hair and deeper eyes are cast in their direction. Time and time again, we are called out as the emotional ones, the irrational ones. Women don't get drunk like men and hurl insults at strangers or throw rocks in protests. Women use words and reason where men use fists and force. So why are we always second? Why is that, my Goddess? Why are we always second?"
It was quick read, that makes you reflect. There is always two sides to a story.
"Why is it that women are viewed as unstable? Women hold knives more often in the day than men ever do, yet it is not women who stab their husbands to death when they fear adultery. Women gather in clusters with friendships stronger than steel, yet it is not women who beat their husbands to the ground in gangs when a hint of wrongdoing echoes in the air. It is not women who require lover after lover, then make promises of love that they recant when darker hair and deeper eyes are cast in their direction. Time and time again, we are called out as the emotional ones, the irrational ones. Women don't get drunk like men and hurl insults at strangers or throw rocks in protests. Women use words and reason where men use fists and force. So why are we always second? Why is that, my Goddess? Why are we always second?"
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent and Domestic abuse
shay43geek's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Grief, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, and Misogyny
kylosten's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Violence and Misogyny
skylover's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
this book started off slow with part two in particular dragging on at first, especially with an 18-year time jump, but i loved the ending. i'm not familiar with how Medusa's death happened, and this was such a hopeful, peaceful, and kind way to phrase her end compared to other myths. despite what Medusa may have thought about herself, she never lost her humanity, as demonstrated by her pleas for men to turn around so she wouldn't murder them, and even taking care of the process of getting rid of their bodies once they were cast in stone and i found this version of her sisters' fate new to me and therefore a unique twist to what i believed of the story. the author writes Medusa's time as a human and priestess with care and gentle caution so as not to trigger the reader, and I enjoyed her book discussion questions at the end. a quick read and a good one at that, i will be thinking about the ending for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
thelittlebookishnerd's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This was a super fast read, a little too fast for me. With a retelling, I was expecting more backstory for Medusa. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Large chunks of time were skipped between chapters which was confusing, I think having "X years later" would've been helpful.
I might try to continue the series in case this was a one off and the others are written differently and have more detail.
I might try to continue the series in case this was a one off and the others are written differently and have more detail.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship
gnetsrik's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
maddiereadswords's review against another edition
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
chelsealeigh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt, Death, and Sexual assault
kolee_c's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
nostoat's review against another edition
emotional
5.0
I wrote a whole long review and then storygraph glitched and ate it 💀 In short, I love the way the myth is portrayed here, the way Athena is a goddess who simply cannot understand the powerlessness of mortal women, the way her wrath overrides any semblance of care she might have. I love too how Perseus is woven in via his mother's story, starting right with her birth; she is important too, not just Perseus.
In short, this is a feminist retelling, but a refreshing one that feels no need to tell you that repeatedly, and instead centers the women in the narrative without question or signaling.
In short, this is a feminist retelling, but a refreshing one that feels no need to tell you that repeatedly, and instead centers the women in the narrative without question or signaling.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault