I am that person that was never particularly thrilled by myths and legends. They were old-fashioned, nobody could pick a side (Greek vs Roman), unabashedly sexist, and the actions of the gods were absurd. And yet, I’ve now suddenly found myself reading multiple modern takes on ancient myths.

Because I’m not entirely ignorant, I did know about Medusa, her snakes, and her stoney stare, but I knew nothing of the origin and conclusion to her story.

When it comes to GOOD retellings, authors can do them in one of two ways: either change the setting or events, and keep central themes; or keep the setting and events true to the original, but offer a different perspective. Haynes goes for the latter, and it is so effective.

One of my favourite reading experiences, is that feeling of having a perspective broadened, or changed. That is how books open up new worlds: not just by imaginary travel to foreign lands, but very real travels into foreign concepts.

My view on two common complaints:
1. Multiple POV: the narrator, mostly, is omniscient, and describes a character’s experience at that time. I didn’t find it hard at all. A handful of narrators are less removed and more opinionated - at one point AN ACTUAL OLIVE GROVE is a narrator - and it worked well for me. It seemed a little cheeky, and I liked it.
2. Not enough of Medusa: So many readers are annoyed by the fact that not all of the book focuses on her, but rather also on other contemporaneous events. But this is the WHOLE POINT: women who are wronged are rarely wronged in isolation, and rarely by only one final entity. Sexism and violence against women are extensively woven into social fabric, and it is an art to see - and convey - a bird’s eye view of it all.

So yes, clearly I loved it. I also enjoyed the fun that Haynes likes to poke at the gods. She really has a lovely subtle sense of humour that pervades a book that might otherwise have been too overwhelmingly dark.

The trend of Greek mythology retellings in recent years hasn't been so much a wave as a deluge, and one which seems to be never ending. However, Stone Blind truly stands out amongst the crowd.

Whether it's down to Haynes' expertise on the subject as a classist or perhaps just her engaging writing style, but this retelling of Medusa's story is truly unique. Haynes centres Medusa as a person, not a monster. She explores the nuances of her story, her very human relationship with her Gorgon sisters, her suffering at the hands of Poseidon and then Artemis, and despite all of this, her wish not to hurt anyone.

At the same time as redefining Medusa's story, Hayne's also reframes that of Perseus making him out to be arrogant, even pathetic and ineffectual at times. He is far less than heroic, barely managing any part of his quest alone and needing constant help from the gods.

Joining the chorus of perspectives in this story we also see what happens on Olympus. Haynes' gods are hilarious - think Disney's Hercules but for adults. The gods are resoundly mocked for their vanity, self-importance and, in Zeus's case, promiscuity. These moments of humor and lightness balance the novel's gravity.

The layers of different perspectives and voices add dimension to the story, exploring reasons behind the actions of both humans and gods. It would be easy to demonise Athene for Medusa's fate but Haynes layers more complexity into the story than this. The narrative style also echoes the origins of these stories - telling many different, intertwined and interwoven tales.

Stone Blind adds a new layer to the mythology of one of the most famous fictional 'monsters' not only showing us how she wasn't a monster at all, but providing a unique take on the wider context of her story.

Written on Goodreads August 2022

It was an absolute pleasure to be mailed a finished copy of Stone Blind after months of correspondence to Natalie Haynes's publicist. The story of Medusa has long been a favourite of mine, her story is tragic, but time has turned her tragedy into one of feminist power.

The direction that Haynes took to deliver Medusa's story was not what I expected. It covered many points of view from Medusa herself, to Athene and Hera, to Andromeda and the Gorgoneion. It covered themes of what it means to be a monster, innocence, consequence and questions about heroism.

Due to the many points of view, however, it didn't actually feel like Medusa's story. There were too many voices involved which took the reader's gaze away from Medusa. Andromeda, for example, had a completely different story that only entwined with Medusa as the Gorgoneion. Haynes used the women who would be entangled in Medusa's story as the Gorgoneion to create a larger subplot.

Medusa's metamorphosis was handled really well, her devotion to Sthenno, and Euryale and the need to protect mortal girls became the reason Poseidon raped her. There are of course many different avenues that any writer can take to interpret how Medusa was raped by Poseidon, but Haynes stuck true to Athene punishing her. There is always the question of why Athene did this, and Haynes answers it simply as to spite Poseidon.

The language was masterful, the dialogue in particular. Athene is shown to be quick-witted and petulant, Hera is deceitfully skirting indirectly around Zeus's infidelity, while Medusa is a sheltered child with many questions. The idea of having Medusa and the Gorgoneion as two separate points of view works really well; it shows Medusa's further transformation after her head is severed from her body. It is only after this that she is able to realise the true extent of her power and the destruction it causes. Though, at this point, she is so full of malcontent that she does not care about the number of men she is forced to kill at the hands of Perseus. She is intrigued by her power when she sees Atlas, and aggrieved by it when her gaze meets Ceto.

Anyone who loves Greek myth and Medusa will love Stone Blind!

First of all, I would like to say thank you for the review copy, which was provided to me by the publisher. This fact does not in any way affect my personal opinion of this book. This post contains advertising and the rights for the book belong to the publisher.
Of course, is this only my personal opinion of the book and just because I give this rating to the book doesn’t mean, that everyone will have that opinion.

I like Greek Mythology, and I’ve had my fair share of retellings in the last few years. When I heard about a book about Medusa, I was very excited.

I had a bit of a problem going into the storyline. The different characters weren’t a problem, but more with the fact that we got so many different perspectives and writing styles. The glossary did help, but I still couldn’t get a real emotional connection towards any of the characters, so the whole story felt a bit meh sometimes.

But on the other side, I liked it. I liked how the strings all tied together at the end and how each part was different. I think I went into the book with the expectation of a fantasy book and maybe this was not the right idea.

Medusa’s Story is a tragic one and reading about it will make you feel angry. I also liked the author’s different portraits of the gods and goddesses. I will pick up another book from this author!

Please note the following: This book does not have a trigger warning in the book! I think it would be beneficial if one was added because not everyone knows the original story of Medusa.
Please beware of the following triggers: rape, death, sexual assault, violence, infidelity

Conclusion
An interesting perspective on Medusa’s Story!

I give this book 3,5 Stars!

Medusa is one of those stories we all know and love, this retelling was just the one I needed to read. It brings is the gods and goddess i had forgotten about without taking away from the main story.

I good read not as good as a thousand ships but still one I would recommend to everyone

3.75⭐️ // ARC provided by the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

'Why would anyone love a monster?' asked Perseus.
'Who are you to decide who is worthy of love?' said Hermes.
'I mean, I wasn't . . .'
'And who are you to decide who is a monster?' added the messenger god.

Stone Blind is pitched as 'Medusa's Story', and in a sense, it was - Natalie Haynes deftly weaves together the perspectives of mortals, gods, and even the occasional olive grove or talking crow to tell a story of immense breadth, charting all the way from the circumstances surrounding Medusa's birth, to the consequences of her brutal death. The world-building and character work was detailed and believable, and the more modern storytelling style made the tale engaging and easy to read.

However, in covering such breadth, for me the story felt like it had sacrificed some of its depth - and this was noticeable in Medusa herself, as there are very few chapters where we get to hear directly from her. Whilst the multiple POVs are great to provide scope and fullness to the tale, Medusa herself gets rather lost in it for me - which is a shame as she was the character I was looking forward to exploring most, and without spending more time with her, the resultant story felt a little one-dimensional in tone and message, despite the many viewpoints.

This was another fascinating re-imagining of the Perseus and Medusa myth that I really enjoyed. Told in a variety of voices and styles, we see a lot of the interactions between the gods here, which I loved and I thought Natalie Haynes pitched these characters really well. There was definitely a vein of dark humour running through the narrative, which I wasn't expecting but which did provide some much appreciated levity. I thought the relationship between Medusa and her sisters was beautifully captured, but strangely in a book about Medusa, she didn't seem to feature that much in the narrative. Overall, I thought this was a very enjoyable read and another success from the author whose books I will continue to pick up in the future.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I love these retelling of classical stories and Natalie Haynes’ is up there with the very best. It’s a great story, here given a modern twist but with all of the power and importance of the original. Fantastic.

Greek Mythology has always been one of my favourite reads, ever since I trawled the shelves in the local library as a child. Natalie Haynes gave me a much needed Greek Mythology hit when I read A Thousand Ships, and she does it again with Stone Blind.

I loved how the stories of Medusa, her sisters and Perseus were woven together so that we get a rounded view of the story. Medusa’s sisters, the Gorgons Sthenno and Euryale are seen as more than just monsters. They are given personalities and feelings - they care for their little sister Medusa, and nurture her from a baby into a young woman.

But Sthenno and Euryale aren’t there when Medusa is raped by Poseidon. And this is where we’re introduced to Medusa as victim. She’s never normally portrayed as a victim, even when Perseus decapitates her, but Haynes has turned this story on its head. And I’m most definitely here for all that!

To match the new Medusa, we have a new Perseus. He’s an accidental hero. He just wants to save his mother the only way he can - but he needs a lot of godly interventions and help. He’s a bit brainless, if I’m honest!

I’ve always thought that the Gods were petty, and their constant bickering with one another in this book just reinforces this - I really liked how they argued, fought and tried to ge tone up on one another.

And the ending was as emotional as only a sentient, decapitated head could be. Poor Medusa. Still used as a tool for men’s pleasure, displeasure and anger.

I’m eagerly awaiting whatever comes next from Natalie Haynes, because this book was outstanding.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

I've loved Natalie Haynes other Greek retellings, and knew this one would be a winner even before I picked it up. Medusa's story, told from a more modern perspective with lots of God's bickering? Yes please.

Haynes has a way of weaving (see what I did there?) all the idiosyncrasies of the Gods, all their terrible decisions and self absorbed behaviour into a story that is both full of wit, and also terribly sad. Medusa has been demonised throughout history, the monster who dared to defy the Gods, when in reality she was just a girl who caught the eye of a few vengeful deities. The relationship she shares with her sisters in particular is really well done, drawing on the idea that looks can be deceptive and the real monster may actually be that idiotic boy with a sword.

However, for a novel supposedly about Medusa this spends a lot of time telling Athena's story. From her birth and relationship with the other Olympians, she's a complex God who thrives on discourse and worship while continually seeking attention from Zeus. In some ways we can draw a parallel between Medusa and Athena. Both have absent fathers, strive to define themselves as individuals but ultimately Medusa has the love of her sisters to keep her grounded and show compassion. Athens throughout has a callous streak that can be seen in all the Gods. I loved all this backstory - you can't separate Medusa from Athens when telling either of their stories, but felt that a lot more could have been done for Medusa. Again, she feels a little bit like the forgotten character, pushed to the side in favour of a brighter star. I wanted more insight into how she felt alone in that cave, frightened to look upon her sisters.

Overall however, this was another solid read from Natalie Haynes. The writing is engaging and full of thoughtful insights into the Greek myths that will have me returning to all of her novels, and anything she decides to write in the future.

Natalie Haynes once again crafts a witty and sensitive portrayal of iconic women in Greek mythology. I loved how petty all the Gods were, with their squabbles bleeding over for better or mostly worst for those on earth. My favourite part has to be when Zeus forgets about his bastard son and Athena has to remind him to save him from drowning. Another retelling that weaves famous characters together to tell the whole story that is quite frankly a must for any Greek myth lover to read. If you haven't checked out Natalie Haynes by now then I don't know what you're doing. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Natalie Haynes is the queen of historical retelling and this tale of Medusa is no different. Intriguing and entertaining, she gives a voice to a woman previously just seen as a villain

2.5* rounded down. I was quite looking forward to this as Medusa is one of my favourite mythical figures and I've previously enjoyed other retellings of myths, but I found that I was underwhelmed. I don't think the story was as compelling as it could have been, partly because the prose was missing a little extra something, and sometimes I was tempted to skim ahead or not read at all for a few days because I felt bored. I don't think I gained very much from the retelling, personally, although many other female reviewers may disagree.

Wow. I love Haynes’ writing and her passion for mythology. She makes the stories, the myths even more real, and Stone Blind is no exception. I became a fan after reading A Thousand Ships, and this foray into Medusa’s story cements her geniusness.

I love the humanity that Haynes brings to her stories, particularly so as she asks the reader what makes a monster? Is it how they look? How they act? Or the thoughts they think. When you think of Medusa, you think of the hideous monster from 1981’s Clash of the Titian’s with Harry Hamlin as Perseus (or is that just me?). I must admit - I was not sympathetic to her story or how she came to have her curse. Just imagine having the power of turning any living thing to stone simply by looking at it. You can never be free around those who you love - how sad. She actually brought a tear to my eye when her snakes (the Herpeta) tell the reader of the moments leading up to the attack on Medusa. And the story doesn’t end here - we also learn that her severed head has things to tell us.

Thanks to NetGalley, the team at Pan Mamillan and the author for the opportunity to read this review copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy for review.

Natalie Haynes has done it again. A funny, sarcastic, heartbreaking, compassionate retelling of a story I thought I knew since I was a child. I loved Haynes’ dry wit and humour shining through this story.

Five stars, bring on the next one!

If you’ve been following this account for a while it’s no secret that I love a good mythical retelling and as far as I’m concerned Natalie Haynes is one of the best at it.

Stone Blind, which focuses on Medusa, was one of my most anticipated reads of the year - she’s a fascinating character. I was lucky enough to hear Haynes speak in Bath, at one of the best book events I think I’ve been to.

I have to admit, though, that the book itself really let me down. To start, it really does not focus that much on Medusa herself. It was interesting to hear more about the other gods and mortals, and how all these myths are interconnected, but I came to this for Medusa’s story and just didn’t get as much of it as I was expecting.

I also felt throughout like the dialogue was contrived and not the quality I usually expect - the meeting between Poseidon and Medusa was meant to be terrifying, and it just fell flat for me.

There was a lot I loved about this too - the sections that we did get to spend with Medusa were fantastic, and I think she and her Gorgon sisters are some of my favourite characters of 2022. Seeing more of Athene was also fabulous - she’s my favourite goddess and I loved that she was included.

If you like mythical retellings already, I think you’ll enjoy this - if not, I don’t think it’ll convince you to read more.

The more I read of the Greek myths the more I enjoy them and the more I want to read. This is another interesting retelling of the story of Medusa told from several different views points.

I unfortunately didn’t enjoy this as much as I did the previous novel. I found the characters lacked depth and found myself just reading to get through it.

I’m not a huge reader of Greek mythological retelling but I am aware of the general summary of Medusa’s story, so Hayne’s retelling of a figure that is both loved and despised was quite interesting to read. To be honest I thought the character development and presence should have been stronger, but that being said, Haynes is a really promising writer and i’m still keen to read her previous novel, A Thousand Ships.

Natalie Haynes set herself a challenge: how to rehabilitate and reclaim that most deadly of monsters – Medusa. In this feminist-revisionist retelling, she gives the other side of the story. Medusa is a victim and why would we blame the victim?

We also hear her backstory. Her Gorgon sisters are bemused by the human child who apparently washes up on the shore near their cave, but grow to love and care for her: “Did all children collapse with no warning?” (Their puzzled but growing love for Medusa is delightful to observe, by the way).

She also upends the traditional take on the story: we know the gods are spiteful, but here they are also silly. Poseidon is less a hero and more an idiot boy.

There is a cast of thousands, so it is fortunate that a dramatis personae helps us to tell our Danaë from our Dictys.

I enjoyed the novel. It was interesting. It challenged my received thinking; and I met many deities, nymphs and heroes who were new to me. The one thing that was not to my taste was the knowing, arch tone at times, for example Hera’s story as wife to a serial rapist (Zeus). I would have preferred a more straightforward retelling. However, I think I am in a minority here as many reviewers and critics praise Natalie Haynes’ wit and humour.