A Greek retelling is always my fav genre to read for retellings! This book had such a great start, I’m also a massive fan of Circe so it was so good seeing her role in this. Bearing in mind this is a villain origin story and knowing the general story of medea set this up for so much fun!
The beginning of this book up until she meets Jason was so captivating! I wanted to read more and more, she wanted revenge and I was here for it.
However the book started to loose me when Medea met Jason, she became too blinded, turning this villain into just a heartbroken scorned woman. Though tbh that’s the most dangerous woman ! But I feel like she could have been written better, she was too whiny and blind to anything negative about Jason, her aunty that loved her so much, she literally abandons just because Jason says she’ll be his queen! And her friend too that spent much more time with Jason than her warns her and she attacks her rather than see the truth. That part was annoying to read, I hate seeing piny women in literature, especially when they’re pining after a man ugh that’s stuff for the 1950s. Just make her mean, she went through so much during her childhood.
The only redemption for her character was when she actually stood up for herself and used her power. Overall it was a fun read but I wish villian women stop being portrayed as bad just because a man didn’t want her anymore! Women can just “choose” to be bad too and can do without a man being the centre of attention. And part of the original folk was she was manipulated by Athena and Hera which explains how she acted towards Jason but in this book? That’s completely gone, she’s just dumb.
I’ll still recommend the book as it’s a good story.

I'm a big reader of the modern retelling of ancient Greek myths, so was very excited to receive this ARC copy.
Medea, the witch princess of Colchis, is well known for her role in Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece and the subsequent tragedy when the hero takes her back to his kingdom.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first part of the novel in which we see Medea as a victim of an abusive father and brother, who is trapped in her small Colchis world and desperate for escape. The scenes where she worked with her aunt, Circe, were particularly good.
Jason turning up changed the pace. I found it hard to be convinced that she would fall for someone so obviously using her. So that didn't sit well, nor did the dialogue between them, which relied heavily on jarringly modern phrases like 'OK' and a reference to toxic dependency in the narrative.
But the author clearly knows her ancient history and retold the story as faithfully as possible. I think I would like to have had an imagined account of the ten years in which she spent with Jason before turning 'bad' rather than just skipping to 'Ten Years Later'.
The writing flowed, it was an easy read and major themes of power and abuse of power were woven throughout the narrative.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this book.

As soon as I found out about this book I knew I had to read it. And I am so grateful I got the chance to read it before release.

I was first introduced to Medea through Euripedes' play Medea. From the first reading I loved her character. It was fascinating to try and understand such a complex character; especially in contrast to such an awful but depthless character such as Jason.

This book is the presentation of Medea I have been waiting for. She's such a powerful character who I cannot help but sympathise with her. Hewlett really explores her entire character from her childhood to the end of her story. I also loved how Medea was able to interact with other powerful women such as Circe and Atalanta as it allowed for a less patriarchal viewpoint.

The details surrounding all of Medea's magic was so amazing and has made me really want to delve deeper into ancient witchcraft.

This book is a brilliant work of fiction combining mythology with feminism, questions surrounding morality, childhood trauma and an exploration of human emotions.

Honestly I think everyone should read this and Euripedes would be proud.

Medea by Rosie Hewlett comes out 21st March 2024

There has been such a huge trend in recent years of publishing retellings of Greek myths. This has been one of my absolute favourite trends, and I have read some of my absolute favourite books because of it. So you can imagine the excitement I felt when I was approved to read an ARC for Medea in exchange for an honest review.
The first third of the book or so, I found really engaging, really exciting and interesting, and I loved the way that Medea was portrayed and her relationship to Circe was examined.
And then Jason showed up. Without drifting too far into the realms of spoilers, I just did not like him. And that feels like one of the major failings of this as a book. Jason never feels likeable. Medea falls instantly and intensely in love with a man who never comes across as anything more than slimy and unpleasant. The chemistry falls flat and it meant that a large part of the plot falls flat from there on out.
The plot largely slumps during the middle third, and because of the lack of chemistry, there wasn't much to keep me interested, and it then left the ending feeling inorganic and contrived.
I feel like I am being really harsh, but I did find it readable and easy to dip in and out of. It didn't hook me in the way that some books do, but that's not always a bad thing.

Medea by Rosie Hewlett is an exceptionally written, heartbreaking retelling of the story of Medea of Colchis.

Medea is a young woman despised by her father and ignored by her mother. After turning her bully of an older brother into a pig, she is tutored by her aunt, the famous Circe, in order to control her magic. But she is abandoned.

This is a love story, but not between the famous couple Medea and Jason. No, this is a story of the profound love that Medea comes to accept and give for her magic. As we travel with Medea, watch her make her mistakes and her successes, we fall deeper and deeper in love with her. At times, our hearts break with hers, and for her.

Well-written, well-paced and well-plotted, there isn't a single thing I can fault about Medea. The emotions of the story became my own, and it was one of the most un-put-down-able books of 2023!

Roșie Hewlett haș taken a stunning story and made it into one that I will be thinking about for a very, very long time. I was hooked until the end, and in a market somewhat oversaturated with mythological retellings, this one is bound to be a standout. Thank you very much for letting me read an early copy of the book!

My students convinced me to create a new Mythology section for them in our Library and I have no doubt that this will be the next story added to its' shelves. Powerful from page 1, this version of Medea's story is divine!

From a young age, Medea’s powers have ostracised her. Even her own family hate her magic and spurn her for it. When the opportunity arises for her to use her powers and finally prove their worth to her father, she takes it. Yet it is still the magic he respects, not her. Cue Jason, the first person to look on her without fear or hatred and the first to offer an escape from the suffocating walls of Colchis palace…

This book hooked me from the very first sentence: “When I was a child, I turned my brother into a pig”. This simple statement opens up so many questions and the answers to these questions create an immediately engaging and sympathetic character. A young girl with power, but no idea how to use it for her own benefit, and surround by those who either hate or fear her. Medea is shown to be both clever and naïve, her sheltered upbringing making it difficult for her to read other people’s intentions with any real clarity. However the most enticing aspect of her character is the way she puts her whole self into everything she does, whether that be love, hate, magic, survival, or revenge.

In order to cram decades of Medea’s life into one book, Rosie Hewlett focusses on her character’s defining moments. A particularly big leap of ten years means that we miss out on witnessing Medea’s growth from a child to an adult, a daughter to a wife, and a girl to a mother. Although these would have been some great moments to read, the sudden jump works to emphasise the extent of the changes in her life. We go from hints about her future straight into seeing the full and lasting impact of her mistakes come to life. The detail and emotion in the second half of this book make it easy for the reader to build their own devastating images to fill the gaps of Medea’s life.

What I like most about this book is the ending. There is no concrete conclusion, either good or bad; just a recognition that life has happened. Medea is presented as a vastly different woman from the girl at the beginning of the book and the reader is able to recognise both her mistakes and the outside influences that led her to them. This left me with mixed feelings and a sense of connection to Medea as though I had shared her trials with her as I read them. Overall the complexity and depth to Medea’s character makes for an absorbing read and an unbeatable feeling of satisfaction.

** spoiler alert ** 3.5 rounded up
I was so hopeful for this as I loved Rosie Hewlett’s version of Medusa. And although this was still a solid retelling and wonderfully written I wish that the book would have actually focused on Medea. It felt like she was a side character being manipulated by Jason at every turn until she breaks, which is usually how it goes so this didn’t bring anything new to the table. Medea is a badass, and by some accounts she didn’t even murder her kids, I wish someone would tell that version.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC of Medea.

The author draws the reader into Medea’s story from her childhood in Colchis, setting the scene for a young girl, seeking the love she hadn’t experienced, to follow a path leading to her being reviled as a witch and a murderer. This early trauma is seen to be a contributory factor to what unfolds and the decisions Medea makes through the course of her life.

Written from Medea’s perspective, this is another in the current trend of reworking Greek mythology to bring the women to life. As it unfolds, we see how her quest to seek love and belonging is stripped from her, as she is blinded to the advice given by women who care for her (and truly love her) to become used by Jason in his quest for greatness. Medea acts from her misplaced love, only to find herself blamed by the very ones she aimed to help, leading her to descend into further acts of violence from her torment.

While I found the book engagingly written, my only criticism was that the last chapter is written in the voice of her sister, Chalciope, a device that jolted me from the previous narrative. Perhaps the author felt that to write this in Medea’s voice may have appeared too sentimental a device? However, it was enough to steal that final star from me.

Medea is the villainess we love to hate, and I was excited to see what Rosie Hewlett would do with her.

This book is fast-paced, a quick read, and definitely engaging. Where Medea starts as the person who's being hurt and manipulated for her powers, she grows into someone who hurts and manipulates other people as well.
I thought this was well done, because as a reader, you start out by empathising for her, which becomes increasingly difficult throughout the book because of her growing monstrosity.

The last chapter is from the perspective of Medea's sister, which was a choice that wasn't really successful in my opinion - either I had wanted to see her perspective earlier in the books, or I wanted to remain within Medea's POV.
But apart from this, a great read!

From the very beginning, Medea is a captivating and compelling novel that follows the protagonist's journey from a confined princess to a formidable sorceress. Many stories featuring Medea focus on her voyage with the Argonauts or her flight from Corinth but Hewlett takes the time to set up her origins in Colchis. With each chapter, the reader watches her transform and grow. Hewlett's Medea is not merely a plot device to tell Jason's story: she is a complex character in her own right, with her own voice, her own desires, and her own mistakes.

While the reader might have some idea of what the future holds for Medea, one of the joys of mythology is that you can never quite be certain which traditions the author will draw from and what additions they will make of their own. As far as I can tell, this origin of the Colchian Dragon is Hewlett's own invention and it blends seamlessly with the narrative and Medea's relationship to Circe. Throughout the book, Medea meets several other well-known characters that are perhaps better known from other myths, such as Atalanta, Orpheus, and Circe.

When magic comes into play, Hewlett strikes an intriguing balance between innate ability, the inherent power in nature, and darker forces from the Underworld. Medea's magic does not feel overused, each demonstration of her growing power an exciting spectacle.

Any readers of mythological retellings struggling to find a rival to Madeline Miller should look no further than Rosie Hewlett.

There's been a lot of retellings of the classic Greek tales recently and this is a great addition to the genre. It doesn't really add a modern agenda to the tale, but rather just recentres the story to Medea's timeline rather than the men.
It was a gripping read and really fleshed out a story that I only new from one of the Ancient Greek plays

Beautiful retelling of Medea’s story. I loved this take on it and found Jason’s downfall refreshing!

I am a big fan of mythology and have read both and good retellings in recent years - this is a very very good retelling.

Medea is the daughter of the King of Colchis. She is mistreated by him and by her brother repeatedly, largely due to her ability to use magic. Taking after her aunt Circe, Medea has the gift for natural magic and has been dabbling with spells all her life. Her aunt turns up one day to help her learn about her powers, but as they are getting close, Circe is banished from Colchis by her brother the King and Medea is abandoned not understanding why Circe has left.

Medea longs to leave Colchis and plans to find her aunt to continue her studies. However, the King has other plans - specially when he comes into possession of the Golden Fleece. Medea sees this as her opportunity to escape Colchis but her father is two steps ahead of her and manages to prevent her escape. It isn't long before Jason and the Argonauts turn up in pursuit of the fleece. Medea is immediately smitten by Jason's beauty and flattery and vows to help him to achieve his greatest wish in exchange for taking her with him when he leaves. However, fate has other plans and Medea is forced into a rash and dramatic act that will shape her future forever.

This is a beautifully told version of the story. We are privy to Medea's inner turmoil and the things that drive her to the decisions that she makes - sometimes for the greater good, sometimes for selfishness. I loved reading this and have learnt so much about Medea and her powers.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Well this one was certainly a ride, and I mean that in the best way possible! Medea has always been one of my all-time favorite mythological figures, so the fact that we're getting not just one but two feminist retellings of her story within a two month period has been constantly putting a smile on my face. I had gotten a chance to read Eilish Quin's immensely enjoyable take on the character shortly before reading this one, so I was admittedly worried about feeling fatigued from reading back-to-back interpretations. Thankfully, I was completely and utterly wrong, because I tore through this book in a matter of days.

Rosie Hewlett's down-to-earth and matter-of-fact style of writing provides a perfect contrast to the mythological and mystical elements that dominate the story, making the narrative feel refreshingly real and honest. Add that to the spectacular character work, particularly for the titular sorceress, and you have an utterly enthralling package! Dark, moody, at times heartbreaking, and utterly phenomenal, this book is an absolute must read for any fans of Circe or Ariadne!

Rosie Hewlett's "Medea" captivated me with its darkly beautiful retelling of a classic Greek myth. Medea's character unfolds through first-person narrative, allowing me to delve deep into the psyche of mythology's most notorious heroine. Hewlett's rendition is haunting, positioning Medea as a product of her circumstances — abused, manipulated, and ultimately, heartbroken.

What struck me most was the modern twist on Medea's motives and actions. While she wields formidable magical powers, her vulnerabilities are laid bare, sometimes overshadowing her strengths, which left me with mixed feelings about her portrayal as both a victim and a figure of immense power.

This novel challenged me, not only to reexamine Medea's story but also the complexities of the characters in it. Hewlett's writing, both lyrical and potent, has rekindled my love for Greek mythology with a contemporary lens. Despite my reservations about some aspects of Medea's characterization, I was thoroughly engrossed in her tragic and emotional journey. This is a story that lingers, a tale of power, betrayal, and the indomitable spirit of a woman caught in the throes of fate.

I loved Medusa so I was quite excited to see a chunkier offering from this author. Medea was one of the Greek stories that i was less aware of, so I really loved getting to read this book. Traumatic and heartbreaking, it is written with such a tender touch. The love story felt like it had a modern edge and was the primary focus of the book. Medea, an ancient, is still relatable to us in how she is manipulated by men. It was quite draining to read but in the best way. Loved this!!

Medea is a princess of Colchis, granddaughter of the sun god Helios, a sorceress and a witch, trained by her aunt Circe to control her gift. She uses this magic to aid Jason in his quest for the Golden Fleece and marries him, after which they settle in Corinth. The marriage ends in tragedy when he abandons her to marry the King’s daughter, Creusa, and Medea and her sons are threatened with banishment. Medea murders Creusa and her own sons, before leaving for Athens where she marries King Aegeus.

I have to admit I’m not especially familiar with Greek mythology so much of the story was new to me and I did enjoy learning more about it. There’s a real trend about now for these kind of stories and I’ve tried before to read some of them but never really become too engaged so it was nice to read one that caught me up. However, I’m not sure how much of that is to do with the original story and how much the retelling.

This version is a more feminist retelling, talking of an abusive father and a distant mother whose neglect push her towards Jason as a means of escape. She seems to be overwhelmingly in love with him which explains why she moves towards the dark magic that Circe has warned her against and which leads her to extremes. Jason is egotistical, ambitious and using her throughout so not worthy of the love she shows him and leaves her heartbroken. While trying to use this to explain her actions, I felt it left her too much of a victim rather than a powerful figure and there were too many times when her actions and choices didn’t really make sense. For someone with such power behind her, an awful lot seemed to be controlled by others and that made her seem a bit weak.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

#Medea #NetGalley

I really like modern versions of ancient stories, and how they are presented to a modern reader. Medea by Rosie Hewlett is a well written version of the ancient Greek tragedy by Euripides.

If you are not familiar with the story, Medea is a princess of the kingdom of Colchis and is a powerful witch, or sorceress. She marries the hero Jason, a marriage which ends in tragedy when he marries a princess of Corinth whilst still married to Medea, and they have her and her children with Jason exiled. As punishment, she kills Jason’s new wife, and then her own children.

What I liked about this version of the story, is that Medea tells this story in the first person, so we get to hear her innermost thoughts, unlike in the Euripides version where the chorus tell us what Euripides wants us to see.

*Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of #Medea.

Book Review
Medea – Written by Rosie Hewlett
“The world tried to make me the victim, so I became its villain.”
I was looking forward to reading Medea a mythological retelling. I’ve been wanting to start my Greek mythology reading journey so when I saw Medea on Netgalley uk I was determined to start there. And I am so very glad I did!
I was unfamiliar with Medea’s story, I didn’t know about her horrific upbringing or how she was used, rejected, and condemned to a life of suffering at the hands of her ghost of a mother, abusive father and brother.
I have never wanted to scream at a character in a book as much as I have with Medea, I went from times loving her to hating her to relating to her all-in-one book.
This book was amazing in the most heartbreaking way. I was captivated every second of it. The writing was beautiful, even with Medea’s story being so dark.
I highly recommend to everyone! This is easily 5 stars for me and I can’t wait to get my own hard copy of this extraordinary story.

Thank you to netgalley uk for giving me to opportunity to read this eARC book.