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A review by nclcaitlin
Medea by Rosie Hewlett
For fans of Circe, feminist rage, and witchy power!
An author who manages to make you love, sympathise, and root for a character only to do a whole 360 and make you hate their actions and who they have become, yet still feel compassion for them is talented.
Medea: best known for her marriage to legendary hero Jason and then killing her own children.
Here, Hewlett develops Medea, delving into her childhood and history to show how her dark side, her lust for power, and her eventual unfathomable betrayal was nurtured by trauma and the mistreatment and abuse by her father and brother.
Medea is powerful, taught by Circe (name drop!) to wield her magic given by the goddess Hecate. However, Medea is forbidden from using it unless her father wills it. She is his weapon, just like Jason uses her as his own hidden weapon later on.
Love or leverage?
“And I also know how they will tell his story. It is the same for any woman who defies their place in this world. Jason will be the hero, and you? They’ll either make you his adoring, lovesick damsel or they’ll make you the villain. Those are the only roles they feel comfortable with us occupying.”
I also have to shout out Atalanta and the budding friendship there. Atalanta just really wanted the best for Medea but Jason’s involvement just makes Medea push her away. Just like Circe.
Not to mention, the interactions between the Argonauts was just so fun!! I would love to read an Atalanta retelling by Hewitt, especially as it is my favourite Jennifer Saint book!
An author who manages to make you love, sympathise, and root for a character only to do a whole 360 and make you hate their actions and who they have become, yet still feel compassion for them is talented.
Medea: best known for her marriage to legendary hero Jason and then killing her own children.
Here, Hewlett develops Medea, delving into her childhood and history to show how her dark side, her lust for power, and her eventual unfathomable betrayal was nurtured by trauma and the mistreatment and abuse by her father and brother.
Medea is powerful, taught by Circe (name drop!) to wield her magic given by the goddess Hecate. However, Medea is forbidden from using it unless her father wills it. She is his weapon, just like Jason uses her as his own hidden weapon later on.
Love or leverage?
“And I also know how they will tell his story. It is the same for any woman who defies their place in this world. Jason will be the hero, and you? They’ll either make you his adoring, lovesick damsel or they’ll make you the villain. Those are the only roles they feel comfortable with us occupying.”
I also have to shout out Atalanta and the budding friendship there. Atalanta just really wanted the best for Medea but Jason’s involvement just makes Medea push her away. Just like Circe.
Not to mention, the interactions between the Argonauts was just so fun!! I would love to read an Atalanta retelling by Hewitt, especially as it is my favourite Jennifer Saint book!