A review by fallon128
Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

4.5

The story of Medusa has always been one of my favourites and I think the way the author told her story here is very individual for a Greek Myth with so many retellings. I found hers has stood out. This book is multiple POV and not just the story of Medusa but the story around her becoming the creature we know of a Gorgon with the ability to turn anyone she looks at to stone. We hear Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, Perseus, and Medusa’s side of this story, not to mention our third person of who is telling the story which is a major plot twist that I was NOT expecting. 

   I love how Perseus is painted in this book where most know him as a hero he’s portrayed here as cowardly and while not entirely a villain definitely not in a positive light. I also really enjoyed the underlying theme of “what is a monster anyway” and “who decides what being a monster is”. This underlying theme shows the monster in people and while others may look different that doesn’t mean they’re evil. I also love the storyline of Athena, while overall she is meant to be unlikable (for multiple reasons) I find that her ending is graceful and probably one of my favourite parts of the book. 

    I found this book a little confusing at times, as mentioned before it is multiple POV however some of the characters it is told through aren’t introduced and don’t play a massive role in our story. When the pop up at random points it can definitely make it a little hard to follow at times. Also there is a massive trigger warning here with SA on multiple occasions. Besides this, I really enjoyed this story and I cannot wait to read more by this author!