Thank you NetGalley for approving me on this one. An enjoyable read with a plot that was engaging, and held attention

I absolutely loved the themes in this one. In a sea of current Greek mythology retellings, Medusa's Sisters stands out for its centering of women within the story and actually delivery on that promise. The relationship between the three sisters was especially well done, managing to show their deep live for each other as well as the conflicts they have to face. Medusa's story is so heartbreaking, and adding depth to her character by seeing her through the sisters eyes just makes her feel more real, and the Greek myths all the more cruel.

A great retelling. It's a slow read, and takes a while to get going, but when the character development comes to fruition it's well worth the wait.

I really wanted to love this book but unfortunately I decided to DNF at 25%. I have seen so many great reviews so it's clearly a me problem, perhaps it was right book at the wrong time.

A terrific interpretation of the Medusa story.

The viewpoints of Medusa and her two sisters lends a poignant and incredibly touching aspect to what I thought I knew of the snake haired monster.

Highly recommended.

Great book, beautifully written.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

I’m loved this !! Definitely need more stories centering on Stethno and Euryale as I have loved them in so many other retellings. I am glad that this one focused on them at the centre

"Medusa's Sisters" by Lauren J. A. Bear is a captivating and moving debut novel that vividly reimagines the myth of Medusa and her sisters, Stheno and Euryale. From the very beginning, the author beautifully portrays the unique nature of these sisters even before they were transformed into Gorgons. Their curiosity about mortals and their quest for belonging leads them into the dangerous world of the Olympian gods.

One of the strengths of this book is the exploration of sisterhood and individuality, as well as the conflict between myth and truth, vengeance and peace. Bear delves into the complexity of the relationship between the sisters, highlighting their journey from their seaborne origins to the outskirts of the Pantheon. We get to witness how they changed and were changed by each other, which adds depth to their characters.

While the book has lovely and reflective writing moments, the overall writing style may not appeal to everyone. I found it difficult to truly connect with Stheno and Euryale, although I did feel empathy for them, especially Stheno. The story's pacing could also be a bit slow and confusing at times, mainly when Stheno looks back in reflection, and the details become muddled.

Another aspect that garnered mixed reactions from readers, including myself, is the representation of sexuality. The handling of the sapphic relationship in the story felt uncomfortable, and the inclusion of homophobic comments without any characters refuting them felt unnecessary. While some may argue that it was fitting for the time period, it would have been more impactful to see at least one character or moment that challenged those homophobic beliefs.

Overall, "Medusa's Sisters" offers a fresh perspective on the myth and successfully adapts it to create a new side to the story. The exploration of themes and characterisations is decent, but the book needs to be more consistent. While it has its merits, it only partially resonates with me.

What a beautiful retelling about Medusa’s sisters.
I loveeee Greek mythology and it was lovely to read a book not soley about Medusa but her sisters.
I really enjoyed the writing and it flowed amazingly and a steady pace.

*a big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This book was beautiful and heartbreaking all in one and I absolutely adored it. I loved that it focused on Medusa’s relationship with her sisters but also explored who they were by themselves and the lives they were all leading up to the moment Medusa was cursed by Athena to become the gorgon everyone knew her as. The author’s style was so captivating and I just couldn’t put the book down. I recommend this to anyone interested in Greek mythology, particularly in the heartbreaking story of Medusa, and how various figures in her life either helped or betrayed her.

So, everyone knows Medusa right?.. at this very moment there’s a trend going around where people are getting her tattooed on their bodies.. most know her image and her name, but do they know her story? Do they know there wasn’t just her, she has sisters?

This is their story.

First off, the prologue gave me goosebumps and you can tell straight away this book is going to be so cleverly and well written.

This book gave me everything - all the feels.

I have such a soft spot for mythology anyway, now I’m intensely attached to Medusa, Stheno and Euryale.

Did I cry? Unashamedly. You need to read this!

This was an incredible retelling.

Gripping and heartaching in places even though you know how it will end you can't help but wish it would end another way.

It is a beautifully written story that I will be reading over and over again

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Titan Books for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: rape, sexual assault, violence against women, murder, pregnancy

“Medusa’s Sisters” tells the story of two women who have often been forgotten in Greek mythology, Medusa’s elder sisters and fellow Gorgons Stheno and Euryale. It begins with the murder of Medusa at the hands of the hero Perseus then reflects back on pivotal events in Greek mythology, such as the rise of the Titans and the war against the Olympians, their distant relationship with their parents and their many siblings (including a dragon named Lamon, the three grey ladies of fate, Echidna and other famous monsters) and other events that the Gorgons were otherwise not involved in. It takes the three sisters to Thebes, where they meet with Semele, a princess who goes on to be best remembered as the mother of the god Dionysius. Throughout the entire book the importance of sisterhood rings through every paragraph, whether it be the perspective of the calmer Stheno or the ambitious Euryale; Medusa is their youngest sister, their baby and the most prized of them all, which only makes what happens to her all the more devastating when it happens. The book weaves in questions about identity, independence and the freedom of women, especially as the sisters learn to think about what they want for their lives in the future and how they might impact their relationship (Medusa is the only mortal of the three). It follows Euryale and Stheno in the aftermath of Medusa's rape by Poseidon, ruminating on the effect of pregnancy and motherhood on women in the aftermath of assault as well as the importance of autonomy in a world dominated by men, this is bordered by the horrendous curse put onto the three of them by Athena. Although you know from the first page what will happen, I found myself wishing that somehow- this time- things would be different and that Medusa will remain alive, with her sisters. However, the story of Stheno and Euryale doesn't end with their sister's death, it continues on to the birth of Euryale's son Orion, bringing the story to a grand, but heartbreaking, ending.

One aspect I really loved about this book is how the author has twisted the legend, giving motivation to Athena that I'd never considered before and one I can't stop thinking about. It takes everything I love about retellings and creates something original. The reader follows Euryale, Stheno and Medusa from the moment they're born, so there's a real, deep connection as you follow them throughout their lives. Stheno and Euryale are characters that have tragically been unheard of in the story of Medusa and this book aims to change that, reflecting on a relationship between two immortal women and one mortal through the ages. There's a lyrical style to the writing that I found incredibly engrossing and I loved all the references to other Greek stories, especially to women who have been destroyed or hurt because of the gods. I love Greek mythology retellings a lot, and this one has a special place because it gives a voice to the people who loved Medusa most in the world, even if they aren't known.

“But on that day, the one that mattered most, I paused. I could have effortlessly killed Perseus—the ancestor of Heracles—and forever changed the mythical record of our age, but instead I chose my sisters.”

My thanks to Titan Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Medusa’s Sisters’ by Lauren J. A. Bear.

Medusa has been the subject of a few recent retellings of Greek Myths. Bear’s debut novel focuses upon the three sisters: Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa; daughters of the Titans, Phorcys and Ceto. They are initially born in ‘human form’.

In a lighter scene in which Stheno recounts the story of their birth when Ceto, who is the goddess of sea monsters, asks the Graeae, who served as midwives, what the newborn triplets look like she is told ‘ordinary’. She queries hopefully “Fins? Fangs? Talons?” She is told “Not even a sharp nail. Ten fingers, ten toes. Two eyes.” Ceto is clearly disappointed.

Lauren J. A. Bear structures her novel in the form of a Greek tragedy with a Prologue, Thirty-Eight Episodes and a closing Exodos. She opens with a useful cast of characters including gods, monsters, and various humans.

The story is told in retrospect following Medusa’s death with alternating chapters focusing on the perspectives of Stheno and Euryale. Before their transformation the sisters were curious about the lives of mortals and so entered the human world. Unfortunately they find themselves caught in the middle of a dangerous rivalry between the Olympians Athena and Poseidon.

Athena’s treatment of Medusa has never sat well with me and ‘Medusa’s Sisters’ doesn’t attempt to mitigate her cruelty. Considering Medusa’s innocence it makes for a shocking scene. The tenderness between the sisters was poignant, especially after they were forced into exile due to their transformations.

I found this a powerful retelling though it took me a short while to become used to Bear’s writing style. Yet once I did I was captivated. Given the beauty of Bear’s lyrical prose and the Greek tragedy-like format, I would have loved there to have been an audiobook edition available.

Overall, I found ‘Medusa’s Sisters’ an excellent debut, exquisitely written. I was impressed with how Lauren J. A. Bear had expanded on fragments of myth to create such a moving tale of sisterhood that placed the Gorgons in a new light. I certainly will be looking forward to news of her future projects.

Chances are, even if you're not familiar with the myths, you'd have heard of Medusa. The character has become so famous over the generations that she has appeared in multiple retellings, stories that are only tangentially connected to her original myths, and in media that has no connection at all. The woman with snakes for hair that can kill a man just by being looked upon has grown beyond her origins into something that is likely to last forever in some form or another. And whilst that's true for her, her sisters have had a much more difficult journey. Before this book came along, I didn't even know Medusa had sisters.

Medusa's Sisters, as the title would suggest, is less about Medusa herself (though her story is central to the plot of the book), and instead focuses on those figures who are often left out of the stories, the women who have been left by the wayside over the generations since their inception; Stheno and Euryale. For myself, this was the first time I'd heard these names, and before picking up the book I was only passingly aware of the the origin story for the Gorgons. This is perhaps the best point of view to come into this story from. I came at it with no preconceptions, no expectations, ready to be taken on what would feel like a wholly new journey. And Lauren J.A. Bear did not disappoint in that regards.

The story begins with the birth of three sisters, Stheno, the eldest, Euryale, the middle child, and Medusa, the youngest. These triplet sisters are birthed to Ceto, the goddess of sea monsters. Whilst her other children have all been monstrous in some form or another, these three daughters are birthed beautiful, normal. Looking like humans, the three of them have nothing to them that sets them as special amongst their monstrous family. Except Medusa, who, unlike all others in her family, is born mortal. She will have a long, youthful life like the rest of her siblings, but Medusa is able to be killed, prompting her eldest sister Stheno to dote on her and spend her time protecting her mortal life.

As the three sisters grow, they soon begin to become bored with their existence under the sea. Having been exposed briefly to the world outside their home, and the world of the Olympian gods, the three sisters are determined to see more of the world. The three of them head to Thebes, the kingdom of the monster killer Cadmus, where they are welcomed into his palace with open arms, and soon make friends with his most beloved daughter, Semele. Their time in Thebes shows them much of the beauty of the human world, and the sisters begin to discover their own interests and passions. However, it also teaches them the dangers of the Olympians, as they see the tragedy that can befall young women who try to romance the gods.

Soon after leaving Thebes, the sisters travel to Athens, where they grow further apart. Stheno learns music, and discovers a create outlet for herself. Medusa becomes enraptured by the temples, and starts to spend more and more time there. And Euryale discovers a local brothel, and starts to learn about the pleasures of the flesh. All the while, each sister is drawing closer to the tragic event that will leave them cursed, unable to look upon mortal men, and with monstrous features that will lead to them being known as the Gorgons.

The Greek myths have received hundreds, if not thousands, of retellings over the years. Their stories have lasted so long, and influenced so many others, that it feels like there are too many versions of the same characters to keep up with them. One character that often gets painted very differently from her origins is Medusa. Medusa was punished by Athena, transformed into the snake-haired Gorgon that we think of when we hear that name. She is then killed by a travelling hero who needs her powers to transform those who look upon her, taking her head as a gruesome weapon to be wielded. And at this part of the story Medusa is often made into a villain. The most famous version of her, that from Clash of the Titans sees her as a dangerous killer that Perseus is right to kill. This book never once paints Medusa as anything but kind and gentle, and for that it deserves attention.

The characters of Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale are just that, they're characters. They're regular people for the most part. They're looking to find their place in the world, they're relationships evolve and change, they find things that they're passionate about, they're creative. They're people birthed from the goddess of monsters, but that doesn't make them monsters themselves. And this is the main focus of the book, to show the humanity in these characters. The first two thirds of the book is just that, an exploration of their lives before the tragedy that will befall them, and it's something that I wasn't sure that I'd normally enjoy; yet proved to be deeply absorbing.

Bear does a wonderful job at making the three sisters feel like regular people, with evolving and deeply emotional connections that shape their lives. It's interesting to see how they interact with each other, how their relationships change, and to watch them discover the world outside of the one they knew growing up. Them being almost unaware of how the surface world works becomes a great introduction to that world ourselves for the reader. We get to learn along with them, to discover what this time and place was like, and to learn of the dangers of the gods as they do.

The book also does something wonderfully interesting, it makes the curse that befalls the sisters make sense. In the original myth, Medusa had an affair with Poseidon, and when she learned of this Athena became so enraged that she cursed Medusa, transforming her and her sisters into the Gorgons. But why would Athena care this much? She's not Poseidon's wife, so why would yet another example of an Olympian not being able to keep it in his trousers (there were a lot!) enrage her so much? Bear gives us a reason for this, one that's incredibly tragic and heartbreaking, and so far the only one I've seen that makes perfect sense. I'm sure many will call this a 'twist' on the story, but I think of it more as a deepening of the myth, a correction that would make the myth make more sense, and would further the tragedy of Medusa's tale. It's also something that I think those who read the book will long remember, and will use as a reason to encourage others to pick the book up.

As mentioned earlier in the review, the book isn't just about Medusa, however, and it's real focus is on Stheno and Euryale. As such, the story continues on past the point where most people would expect it to end; the murder of Medusa. Bear makes some changes to established myths, alters some origins and plays around with characters in much more obvious ways in this segment of the book, but does so in a way that transforms the narrative into something else that you don't expect, and it almost feels like you're getting to read a whole second story. The ways in which Bear weaves these narratives together, and keeps taking you on these journeys is delightfully done, and makes me instantly willing to read any other mythological retelling that she writes.

Medusa's Sisters is a wonderfully crafted and deeply engaging narrative, one that grabs you early on and doesn't let up. It takes stories that are thousands of years old and does something new and interesting with them, whilst also remaining true and faithful to what they were when they were first created.

Another good retelling of Greek Mythology, this time about Medusa’s sisters. I enjoyed it and would recommend to others

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Oh my goodness, this book was devastating and beautiful. In it, Medusa's two sisters tell the tale of the gorgons from beginning to end. Through their perspective we see each of their strengths, flaws and desires. Each character is given a unique and wonderful personality; Stheno, selfless and maternal, Medusa, sweet and naive, Euryale, bold and fiery. Their sisterly bond is strained and tested through their trials and you can't help but hope they all find their happiness.

Throughout the book, many other mythological characters are also involved, and some other tales explored, all of which tie in with the Gorgon's story.

Bear writes their tale beautifully, immersing you into their mythology. Even though I knew much of the story already, I felt their losses and heartbreak as if they were my own. I just could not stop reading. I think even those with no prior knowledge or interest in Greek mythology couldn't help being drawn into this tale.

This is easily one of my favourite books this year and I will definitely be re-reading it. It's up there, along with Circe and Song of Achilles, as one of my favourite Greek myth retellings.

I had a great time reading Medusa’s Sisters. I love the Medusa with. I’ve read and seen numerous versions of the story and even wrote a long essay on Medusa for the final pieces of writing for my OU degree in 2021. I enjoyed this version a lot. Other versions tend to stick of Medusa and her sister’s as fantastic creatures linked to myth even though Medusa is mortal. Medusa’s Sisters explores the human angle of her story and her sisters, cast aside and forgotten. This is well written and engrossing and every page gripped me.

Medusa’s Sisters was a lyrical and heartbreaking reimagining of the Medusa myth, told from the POV of her sisters, perpetually cast aside and forgotten.

I loved this. It was emotional and poignant. It casts such a human angle on the monster myth and it was absolutely superb in every way.

I fell in love with all three sisters and was heartbroken by the end of their story, but it was also so heartfelt.

This was such a gorgeously done retelling about Medusa and her two sisters. I was completely encapsulated from the beginning - something that is quite hard to come by with Greek mythology books - due to the amazing writing and phenomenal characterisation. The pacing was perfect, as was each character - bared open with their love and their flaws.

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 A beautiful story with some brutal scenes making this an emotional read.
The mythology is presented in a fresh yet accessible way.
I loved the feminism woven throughout this story. Hearing from Medusas sisters points of view and seeing the dynamic between the sisters was amazing to read. The depiction of the sister bond, grief, jealousy and love is just perfect.
The world building is so vivid throughout and transports the reader into this mythological time.
The pacing is quite slow but I didn’t mind this as it suited the story. I enjoyed this book and recommend to anyone remotely interested in retellings.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.