Original re-telling of the story of a Greek mythological character, fascinating.

This reworking of the myth of Medusa, the Gorgon, puts a very different slant to her story and centres around the arrival of Perseus on the island where she lives in self-imposed exile. Having been abused by Poseidon and Athena, she discovers another side to her life as she embraces possible romance. It’s a short novel, written in literary style, effective and original. It’s enjoyable and beautifully illustrated with painted colourful pages. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review

Medusa combines both the visual and the written forms in a way that is so entrancing. You are unable to look away from the person who has classically been avoided and shunned, therefore Burton essentially allows Medusa control over her own narrative at long last.

The pairing of Burton’s beautiful writing and Olivia Lomenech Gill’s gorgeous illustrations made for a match made in heaven, really helping to pull me into this story. This truly is a work of art. The illustrations are just something else. Gill’s art style perfectly captures Medusa’s psyche and her entrapment in a narrative that seems inevitable. Every page felt like uncovering a new treasure. There’s just something to be said for being able to appreciate truly stunning artwork and the way it is woven into the story feels refreshing and makes the reading experience that much more immersive. You’re still given room to fill in your own visual spectacles in your imagination, but the illustrations definitely help pull you into the story that much more.

Right from the opening pages, I was utterly hooked and entranced by Burton’s charismatic style, though it definitely also has an edge to it. You instantly know that this is not quite the story you’ve always been told. I love the feminist angle Burton has adopted here, which leads to some unexpected places. There’s a brilliant discussion of female solidarity, rape culture and toxic masculinity interwoven into this classical tale. All at once, it feels pertinent and current in a way that will capture the minds of its audience. It helps that Burton has an incredibly evocative and gorgeous style of writing, making you savour every glorious page.

Medusa is the type of book that would melt even the stoniest heart, with plenty of cutting social commentary and thought-provoking topics woven into a heartfelt and evocative story.

I am so completely in awe of this book and will spend the next month pining after a physical copy!

Jessie Burton has shone a light on Medusa’s story like never before. At last, we hear how cruel the Gods have treated Medusa in her own words. Your heart breaks as Medusa grieves for her younger self and grows as she realises she is more than those who have wronged her. This book is full of memorable quotes and moving paragraphs that I’m buzzing to annotate and feel all over again. It’s a story that resonates with so many. And while it is harrowing, it is also glittered with hope and empowerment. Though I haven’t read any of the author’s previous work, this has surely inspired me to do so!

Olivia Lomenech Gill’s paintings brought Medusa to life and complimented the writing wonderfully. It’s only natural to pore over them and their distinctive style. You’ll no doubt find me placing this book in the hands of anyone who will listen.

Thank you to both Bloomsbury and NetGalley for one of the most memorable books of the year.

I have seen the hype about this book in Social Media for a while now, and knowing the critical acclaim author Jessie Burton has already amassed with her previous books such as The Miniaturist, I was extremely excited to read Medusa.
I've always had a thing about Medusa. I'll let you in on a secret - at college, due to my long curly locks, there was a lad who used to call me Medusa the Seducer! (I am not, in any way, shape or form, a seducer, but still... it was his thing!)
So, to find this book, written from the perspective of this character who has been much maligned within Greek mythology, was absolutely fantastic.
We are put in the shoes of Medusa, a young woman who has been transformed into this creature, feared by many, but how, and why was she made to look this way?
I finished this book with a newfound sympathy for her.
And the illustrations were just the icing on the cake, for me. I think I will need a physical copy of this one!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

She was a woman who’d done nothing wrong except exist.

A dazzling, feminist retelling of Greek myth that focuses on the story of Medusa meeting Perseus on the island she has exiled herself to. Believing she may have finally found someone to love she gradually tells Perseus her story and her tells her his in return. From there unfolds a tale of love, betrayal and destiny.

Everything about this book is incredibly beautiful - the story, the illustrations, the focus on a woman owning her truth. It is such a powerful, empowering and relevant tale that everyone needs to read.

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Bloomsbury Publishing for gifting me this ARC.

Oh how I loved this book. I'm a huge fan of greek mythology and Medusa has always been one of my favourites but this beautiful retelling is unlike nothing I have read of her before. The feminist spin on the myth is absolutely incredible, with every possible problematic thought being challenged directly. I cannot wait to own a physical copy of this book so that I can annotate and highlight all of the beautiful and empowering quotes.

Not only is the writing so wonderfully feminist, it is also beautiful. Jessie Burton writes Medusa in such a heartbreaking and (finally) humanising way so that I wanted to weep for this young girl of 18 who had only ever been treated horrendously and subject to misogynistic thinking. I loved Medusa more than I have loved any character in a book for a long time, I am still in awe of how Burton brought her to life so well and made my heart break for her.

Finally, how could I not mention the absolutely stunning artwork throughout this book? Where Burton brings life to the characters with her words, Olivia Lomenech Gill's brushstrokes do just as perfect a job. I had to pause multiple times just to admire those beautiful illustrations.

Basically, I adored this book and it is 100% a new favourite.

This is such a stunning book in both words and pictures. The writing by Jessie Burton is poetic and the illustrations by Olivia Lomenech Gill both compliment the writing and have a true beauty of their own. The story is well known the world over, but this reimagining of the myth from a feminist perspective gives it new life and makes for a thought provoking read. If that all sounds a bit too much like hard work, just read it to revel in the real beauty of the writing and the illustrations. I’ll be buying a stack of these to give as Christmas gifts this year!

Medusa is one of my favourite mythological creatures and so far the retellings have made her passive and ‘good’, which isn’t empowering.

Jessie Burton allows us to see the Medusa behind the myth. She is still misunderstood - a girl who was wronged by the Gods, but in this she retains a personality. In this retelling she’s feisty and confused, unsure of her power and of her affect on men. She doesn’t know what she can do, is scared of her snakes and content to stay on an island with her sisters.

The story is good, but Medusa still feels a bit of a feeble character. It’s great to hear her version of the story but I want more. I appreciate that she’s a young girl with a troubled past but she could have had a little more spark and not been quite so pathetic.

By the end of the story she has redeemed herself and you see a girl who is in control of her own destiny. It’s not a happy ending, but it’s her ending, on her terms. A message perhaps that life isn’t perfect and we can’t always have a happy ending; however, it is possible to find contentment.

What makes this story worth five stars are the illustrations by Olivia Lomenech Gill. They are stunning and really bring the story alive. Without the visuals it’s a nice story but with them it’s a beautiful piece of work that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

I swear Jessie Burton's writing gets better with every book.

Medusa is a reimagining of the famous Greek myth told from Medusa's perspective, giving a voice to the girl behind "the monster". Medusa is one of my favourite Greek myth because it's the "victim blaming" origin story and Jessie Burton doesn't shy away from that subject.

Medusa is evocative, heartbreaking and inspiring.

A very short read with a different ending to the traditional myth. It was only after finishing that I noticed this seemed to be aimed at YA readers. Maybe it shouldn't matter but it did explain the feel of the book. Beautiful illustrations included. Recently, I have read a lot of these myth origin stories and those that give a different spin of those age old classics. For me, this did not quite hit the spot. Thanks to Netgalley.

I love the story of Medusa and this book did not disappoint. With it's beautiful writing and illustrations this is a book I know I will purchase when it comes out!

Everyone who loves Greek Mythology needs to read this retelling!

This is perfect for mythology and retelling lovers. Burton's writing is gripping, a great spin to the story. Loved it. Highly recommended.

What a work of art this book is - a retelling of the myth, packed with emotion as Medusa encounters Perseus.

Jessie Burton's words are short and clear, yet full of feeling, laying bare the story and characters; Olivia Lomenech Gill's illustrations tell the story themselves - exquisite textural paintings that lift themselves off the page. I love that you can see the brush strokes and feel the paint going on to the page.

This is a beautiful retelling of the Greek myth, with the added bonus of some exceptional artwork.

I loved this, it turned the mythology of Medusa on its head, and spun it around. If you want to read a good book, with history and mythology and plenty of drama, then this is for you.

With Jessie Burton's lyrical words and gorgeous artwork by Olivia Lomenech Gill, this reimagining of the Medusa myth is a wonderful read. Rather than Medusa be the merciless villain, Burton has done a great job humanising her and bringing a much needed fresh perspective on Medusa's origin story. In particular, the portrayal of Poseidon as predatory, compounded by Gill's terrifying looming imagery which accompanies these passages, makes the readers heart ache for Medusa. Alongside this, the Perseus story is at the centre of the narrative with some familiar plot points and some welcome twists to the tale.

All in all, this would be a valuable addition to any school library. It acts as a fitting reminder of the need to reframe Greek myths for the younger generation in order to allow them to access these thrilling stories without reinforcing the sexist actions and stereotypes which underpin many of the narrative arcs. Burton and Gill have done a fabulous job here - it would be great to see them collaborate again in future. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As an adolescent girl about 50 years ago I devoured Greek and Roman mythology. How wonderful it would have been then to have had such a powerful feminist telling of Medusa. This is a magnificent book on so many levels - Jessie Burton's story telling (as with her novels) is lyrical and beautiful; the character of Medusa is brought to life as an 18 year old girl exiled on a remote island; Olivia Lomenech Gill's colourful illustrations perfectly match the tale, characters and setting and could stand alone in an exhibition. This is quite a short book but one worthy of many re-readings. The tale is told from Medusa's perspective and clearly establishes male domination over women as being at the root of what happened not only to Medusa but to other women in the mythologies. This is brought across in Medusa's gradual realisation of how she has been treated as not being her fault. Jessie Burton captures the 18 year old's voice magnificently as she communicates with herself, her dog, her snakes (and yes, they all have names), her sisters and Perseus. I would love to see more retellings from this very talented pairing of Burton and Lomenech Gill. I really look forward to the publication of this book so I can buy physical copies for myself and as gifts for many women I know. Thank you to the publisher via Net Galley for a complimentary ARC of this title in return for an honest review.

This is such a beautiful book and engaged me immediately. The beautifully drawn illustrations really brought the story to life and will appeal to readers of all ages.
A retelling of a Greek myth isn’t a book I would usually chose to read but I have read other books by Jessie Burton and thoroughly enjoyed them. Although this is a book for younger readers, I enjoyed reading a version of the well known myth of Medusa, from her point of view.
A book I will definitely buy for my own children once they are older. This would make a beautiful text to add to anyone’s collection.

This is a work that should be reviewed in its whole as a book, rather than a story. The story is known, familiar, and though there might be some variations in its telling, its overall arc is tragic and compelling. Jesse Burton in her latest work collaborates with illustrator Olivia Gill to produce a beautiful piece of art that weaves words with pictures to produce a true feast for the reader’s consumption. The art is as powerful as the words, rendering the story of Medusa and Perseus poignant and compelling.

Medusa is a young mortal eighteen year old, stranded on an island with her immortal sisters who fly away each day to hunt for food. This has been her life for the last four years, since Athena cursed her with a head full of snakes for hair for what Athena perceived was Medusa’s transgression. It’s during the day, when she’s alone in her cave that Perseus lands his boat and Medusa’s life changes. What seems to be a tragic love story eventually transforms into a story that shows a young Medusa, though heartbroken, takes back her power, when all her life it had seemed she had none. This is not a book to compare with other literary novels, except that it is to be savoured, considered and reflected upon. It’s a feminist tale but it’s also more. It’s a work of art in more ways than one to be put on the shelf.

I am a huge fan of Jessie Burton’s writing and I’m so pleased that she decided to tackle the story of Medusa.
This book, told from Medusa’s perspective, reclaims the story of Medusa. It shifts the narrative from one of a ‘monster’, to one of a young woman taking charge of her destiny when all the world (and definitely the gods) are against her.
Olivia Lomenech Gill’s accompanying illustrations are exquisite and make a perfect addition to the story. It would be great to be able to buy prints of the illustrations in their own right as they are a work of pure art!

Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.

<i>"So often [Medusa’s] robbed of agency, turned into a monster, and used as a stepping stone for heroes. The myth of Medusa is a tale of objectification and toxic masculinity, and the meaning of consent. Given the continuing revelations about men like Weinstein and (US president Donald) Trump, and others we have each encountered on our way through life, Medusa's myth is ripe for the retelling."</i>

Medusa's story is one that has long captivated me and I implicitly trusted Jessie Burton to deliver her story with the sensitivity and depth of emotion her character deserved, and with an empowering spin and full female autonomy that all women deserve. This is exactly what occurred.

The entire story was just so tragically beautiful. Medusa was painted as the victim in her own story and not the vengeful killer or the objective to be slain, that she has often been made out to be. She was, instead, viewed here an ordinary girl wishing to live a quiet and solitary existence and with no desires for the power from or notice of the gods.

Olivia Lomenech Gill's artwork was the perfect match for the subtleness of emotion exhibited throughout the tale and also the melancholy that exuded from it at the end. A muted colour palette consisting of mostly earthy tones was used for each of the gorgeous images and I would happily display every single one of them on my walls. They were harrowing yet alluring, exactly like the story surrounding them.

In the synopsis it is stated that Burton's aim with was to <i>"reclaim Medusa's story"</i> and that is exactly what she did! None who read this can relate to owning sentient hair but many can relate to being punished by society, paying for the mistakes of powerful others, being subjected to the whims of those in authority, and being viewed as one of few accepted binaries. Burton allows us to see and to believe that we contain multitudes, and that we can be the hero of our own story.