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deathmetalheron's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Rape, and Stalking
Minor: Sexual assault
hannahbailey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
3.5
<b> TW: r*pe, sexual harassment, (gendered) violence, misogyny, death </b>
3.5
I can't say I remember too much of this now after finishing it a month ago. It was enjoyable and there were some poignant quotes that struck me, which is why it's worth more than 3 stars. The only quote I made note of was: “I’d always known that inside new things grow the seeds of loss” which I found relatable to my current circumstances. As for the others, they're in there, so I might return to it one day.
Overall, not the most memorable retelling as I prefer something a bit longer with a bit more grit. That said, it's a great one for Young Adults and anyone else looking to dip their toe into Greek mythology retellings.
3.5
I can't say I remember too much of this now after finishing it a month ago. It was enjoyable and there were some poignant quotes that struck me, which is why it's worth more than 3 stars. The only quote I made note of was: “I’d always known that inside new things grow the seeds of loss” which I found relatable to my current circumstances. As for the others, they're in there, so I might return to it one day.
Overall, not the most memorable retelling as I prefer something a bit longer with a bit more grit. That said, it's a great one for Young Adults and anyone else looking to dip their toe into Greek mythology retellings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual harassment, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, and Death
frantically's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
Gorgeous, gorgeous writing. I do feel like the message, while beautiful and touching, especially at the end, was very Feminism 101 and also Medusa 101 but that didn't redact from my reading experience too much. What did redact from it was Burton's insistence on using 'mum' instead of 'mother'. Still, this had me absolutely hooked and I devoured it in a day. Will look into the author's other works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Murder, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Bullying and Stalking
Minor: Body shaming, Grief, Confinement, and Blood
danilo_syrtis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Rape, Stalking, and Bullying
Minor: Violence
rachelmcg2004's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Body shaming, Stalking, Violence, Toxic friendship, Death, Body horror, War, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Bullying, and Pedophilia
words_and_dreams's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
First book to make me cry in a while...granted I was hormonal...but still. 😭
Feminist retelling of the Medusa myth. This story is told from Medusa's viewpoint as it should be and we get a very human story. Medusa is abused and 'punished' by the very one who should have protected her. Her and her sisters flee to the island in the midst of the ocean to hide and live in peace and exile until a young man Perseus turns up.
'The changes he and Athena had wrought upon me had left me feeling out of my own control for years, but when Perseus had come for me in that cave with his sword, something had shifred. I was proud of who I was, and I had as much right to be alive as Perseus did. They'd all tested me; they'd all tried to see if I would break. But I was tired of men and gods and goddesses dictating the ebb and flow of my happiness, my state of mind.Id trusted Perseus. I had thought he was my one true hope. But it turned out my one true hope was me.'
Beautifully written, full of heart and emotion and the ending we all deserved
Feminist retelling of the Medusa myth. This story is told from Medusa's viewpoint as it should be and we get a very human story. Medusa is abused and 'punished' by the very one who should have protected her. Her and her sisters flee to the island in the midst of the ocean to hide and live in peace and exile until a young man Perseus turns up.
'The changes he and Athena had wrought upon me had left me feeling out of my own control for years, but when Perseus had come for me in that cave with his sword, something had shifred. I was proud of who I was, and I had as much right to be alive as Perseus did. They'd all tested me; they'd all tried to see if I would break. But I was tired of men and gods and goddesses dictating the ebb and flow of my happiness, my state of mind.Id trusted Perseus. I had thought he was my one true hope. But it turned out my one true hope was me.'
Beautifully written, full of heart and emotion and the ending we all deserved
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and Sexual violence
_p0ssum_'s review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is my second read of this and its still amazing all from the emotion in the writing to the beautifully illustrated pieces inside this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
enchantedelfie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence
lou_mac's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
3.0
I'm a bit stuck on what I think about this - a YA take on the Medusa myth, it's well written and easy to read and is probably a good introduction to Greek myths for those who don't know them well.
I picked this up not realising it was a YA retelling, so it just hit in a few of the wrong places for me and there are elements where I wasn't quite sure what the author was going for with some of their choices. In the classic myths - women are treated awfully, and books like Circe have shown how recentering the protagonist as the women can make for a powerful story. The women are no longer but parts in heroic men's stories. However in the book it all felt a little two dimensional... but again, maybe that's just the audience it is aimed at.
The elements of Medusa not knowing what her "power" is was interesting, and the twists away from the original myth are interesting enough but certainly not my favourite retelling.
I picked this up not realising it was a YA retelling, so it just hit in a few of the wrong places for me and there are elements where I wasn't quite sure what the author was going for with some of their choices. In the classic myths - women are treated awfully, and books like Circe have shown how recentering the protagonist as the women can make for a powerful story. The women are no longer but parts in heroic men's stories. However in the book it all felt a little two dimensional... but again, maybe that's just the audience it is aimed at.
The elements of Medusa not knowing what her "power" is was interesting, and the twists away from the original myth are interesting enough but certainly not my favourite retelling.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
sarahsbooklife's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Really enjoyed this story; imaginative and intriguing. A Greek retelling that doesn't end in complete tragedy for a change! 😅
It was short and easy to breeze through in a few hours. A great bitesize Greek myth with modern twists and insights.
Although I did find that the narrator talked a bit too slow for my liking so I did have to speed it up. But that's just personal preference 🤷♀️
It was short and easy to breeze through in a few hours. A great bitesize Greek myth with modern twists and insights.
Although I did find that the narrator talked a bit too slow for my liking so I did have to speed it up. But that's just personal preference 🤷♀️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Violence