Dark mythological retelling at its best.

The story of a talented young witch, Medea, who is a victim of generational abuse and power struggles. Beaten by her father and essentially abandoned by her mother, she meets the charming Jason and his argonauts and sees a way out and a potential for love that her family has never provided her with. Of course you can see Jason's manipulation and gaslighting a mile off and it's hard to watch Medea make choices you know she will come to regret, but you can also understand why she does. It was a gripping read and despite everything awful that Medea ends up doing, you can't help but still see her as the victim of her circumstances, her power used by others who lurk in the background and are the true villains of the show.

The characters were well developed and the writing evocative. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC!

A dark story of young witch Medea, beaten by her father, the king, loathed by her mother, feared by her siblings. She finally escapes her home land with the help of Jason and the Argonauts, only to follow a path of betrayal, heartbreak and dark magic.
This is ultimately the story of how you can overcome so much hardship and finally find happiness. The storytelling was wonderfully descriptive, surprising and emotional, i thoroughly enjoyed it.

A brilliant Greek mythology retold. Medea is a witch, the granddaughter of Helios and the neice of Circe.

Medea has the gift from Hecate, the goddess from the underworld but will she use her power for good or will the dark underworld use her powers in a darker way?

I feel so conflicted about Medea. It is undoubtedly a fantastic book and a brilliant protagonist but you question her actions and reasonings. I felt myself screaming at her when she makes her choices and I was emotionally bound to her - whether you like her or not, you can't help but be emotionally moved by Medea's struggles, her power and the deep rooted hurt that she suffers.

Rosie Hewlett breathes life into Medea and to Greek mythology.

Greek mythology re-imaginings are a popular genre lately. This one takes the relatively well-known story of Jason, the Argonauts and the Golden Fleece and retells it through the eyes of Medea. Rather than Medea being the driver of her own story though, unfortunately I felt Medea kind of gets a little lost in the story. Ultimately this left me a little disappointed. Special thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for a no obligation advance review copy.

Thank you to @randomhouse and @netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC in return for a fair and honest review 🤍

Medea! Written by @rosiehewlett.author , this book is a mythological retelling of Euripides’ tragedy ‘Medea’. I’ve been slowly doing my Greek mythology grind so when I saw Medea on NetGalley I had to request

‘Medea’ follows the titular character, Medea, who struggles to deal with the abuse of her father, the mockery of her brother and the neglect of her mother all whilst trying to stifle her extraordinary magic. Enter Jason, the dashing hero, and Medea’s key to freedom. Thus begins a journey of power, love, betrayal, desperation and loss.

Wow. This book was amazing. Hewlett’s writing and the turmoil she evokes around Medea was captivating. I enjoyed every second of it. I love the perspective from which she portrayed Medea. I’ve only ever read stories where Medea is seen as the evil villain, the unnatural sorceress. I liked how we got to see why Medea made the choices she did. Her story was sad because she endured a never ending cycle of abuse. I despise Jason and watching his abuse of her was horrible. I enjoyed the argonauts, especially Atalanta, who I thought was amazing.

4.5/5⭐️

Medea will be published in the UK on 21st March 2024.

This was superb.
No other way to describe it.
This and Clytemnestra, best mythology retellings in recent years, hands down.

"Though, if I have learnt one thing in my life, it is that nobody will hand you your happiness. For happiness is not a gift to be given freely but a prize to be claimed."

I did Medea in school in classics, and was familiar with the story and interested to see how Rosie would deal with the more dramatic and heavy moments.
This book was so compellingly un-put-downable, that even knowing the horrors that were to come, I charged head first so recklessly fast towards it...
And Rosie, Bravo. Those final few chapters were...harrowing! Oh such deliciously sweet agonising words...
Actually, all the words in this book were great. Rosie's prose was honestly excellent. The story was conveyed so clearly and emotionally, and we could see so deeply into the characters mindsets and the customs and feel of the time, she had obviously done her homework on this!

The way she handled Medea herself was superb. The build from young girl to the villainness as we know her from legends and Euripides is such a well constructed and organic journey.
“The world tried to make me the victim, so I became its villain.”
Seeing her evolve from a naive and rather foolish girl was so well handled and all the result of one person...Jason.
Oh man will Rosie make you HATE this guy. Seeing him on the page was honestly like nails across a chalkboard by the end! I just wanted to rip out the pages with him and shake sense into Medea (luckily I was reading on a kindle).
“Sometimes, his love fills me so deeply and completely I think I may burst. Far more often, I am left with nothing but a coldness that rattles through me, stealing across the empty plains where his love had grown rich and wild mere days before. There seems to be a skill to this treatment, an art form, like a jailer toying with his prisoner.”

Honestly, cannot fault this book. 5 stars easily and I will be nagging people to preorder it pretty much on repeat until it comes out...

Wow. This retelling was everything I wanted it to be! Medea is one of my favourite Greek tragedies and so I had massively high hopes for this book and my goodness did it deliver.

I love that this stayed truthful to the stories (i particularly loved the nods to the original play such as the Corinthian women) but really delved into the abuse and manipulation that Medea was subjected to by the men in her life. I could not put this down and Rosie Hewlett is definitely going on my auto buy author list 😂

Whether you love Greek myths/tragedies or not this is a beautiful and moving story. This was without a doubt a 5 star read for me ⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

I absolutely loved "Medea" written by Rosie Hewlett. My highlight of giggles from this book was the opening, where the main character, Medea, turned her brother into a pig simply because he behaved like one, lol. Quite soon, I was captivated by how well Medea's story was written. I absolutely loved how the main character was developed; the pages were written almost as diary entries from Medea's perspective, and her personality is truly captivating. She hasn't had a good start in life; in fact, her volatile family with a lack of love is what made her choose certain paths in life. My heart trembled with hope for kindness and love when she encountered some, and I too hoped that it would be genuine and lasting. She made some tough choices, and some might not agree with what she did in order to live and the choices she made for her first children. Yet, I get it. The last chapter, which is a visit from her sister, was the perfect wrap for the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Thank you to Rosie Hewlett and NetGalley for the ebook ARC.

It’s safe to say I’m a Greek mythology nerd, and I’ve read a lot of retellings in recent years and have become picky about what I read.

I was intrigued by Medea because I hadn’t seen her story developed like this before. I’d seen her crop up in feminist retellings of the Theseus and Jason myths before but never as the central character but Rosie Hewlett masterfully handles Medea’s character and her situation. Hewlett’s Medea is not a likeable character but she is very compelling. In a tightly woven and pacy narrative she goes from a headstrong, angry and damaged young woman to the powerful, dangerous woman of legend.
Hewlett carefully and expertly handles the abuse that shapes and forms Medea, from the physical and emotional abuse of her father to the coercive control Jason exerts over her and the long term effects that has on someone who is simply desperate to be loved.

I loved Medea’s relationships with the other women in her life and her determination that she would be different, even as experience screams at her to listen.

This is 100% a retelling any good feminist Greek mythology nerd needs on their shelf

Loved Medusa and I loved this one too !! Rosie Hewlett, for both of her retellings of women in myth, has done a fantastic job of making the reader really care for the character. Can’t wait for more from this author

What a brilliant book! Medea has always been portrayed as an evil witch who killed without remorse, but I loved how RH really delved into the other side of the story, and all the events that lead up to what happened. I love Greek mythology, but I'm finding more and more of the stories increasingly frustrating as they always depict the men as heroes and the women as disposable temptresses to be used and then thrown away. I loved RH's debut, and Medea has more than lived up to my expectations

“I [am] the shadows cast by the sunbeam, dark and twisting”

Medea - Rosie Hewlett (Arc)

⭐️ - 4.75

Euripides’ “Medea” is probably my favourite of the Greek tragedies so Rosie Hewlett had a high bar to meet and definitely succeeded for me. This was a beautiful retelling of Medea’s story.

If you are unfamiliar with the myth, Medea is the witch who helps the hero Jason win the Golden Fleece and goes on to become his wife and then some wild stuff happens from there.

Hewlett really leaned in to the fantasy, magical aspects of Medea’s power which I think really helped the story feel grand in scale and for those of you who like witchy books I think you’ll love this.

I also loved the way that Hewlett used the story to explore different forms of abuse and gaslighting and the way that it affects a person in a really poignant way. I thought it was handled really well and actually made me quite emotional.

For me the story was both helped and hindered by the fact that I knew the mythology so well. The first half felt a tad slow to me but I think that was because I was so looking forward to see what Hewlett did with the ending and it definitely paid off. I also enjoyed the little nods to the source material with things like the “gaggle of women” outside the house, for those who have read the original it was nice to see those links.

My main criticism is that at times I felt that, by trying to create justifications for some of Medea’s more questionable actions early on in the book, it sometimes felt as though some of the character’s agency was taken away. However, I can see where Hewlett was going with it and it did work overall for me.

If you like myth retellings, villain origin stories, or Madeline Miller’s “Circe”, you will love this book. Definitely recommend.

Release date: 21 March 2024

❗️Content warnings (SPOILERS): domestic abuse and abusive relationships are a big theme in this, spicey content including some SV, violence, child death

From start to finished I was hooked on this incredible retelling of Medea's story, bringing together both the story everyone knows, with its origins and her role in Jason and the Argonauts. It's rooted in a lot of the stories and myths you know, but gives it a gripping through line and weaved in a way that flows so well. From someone with a degree in Classics as well I would highlight recommend it.

I have sometime struggled with the play Medea's lack of witchiness/magic to the sudden appearance of a dragon, but this ties a lot of these loose ends for me. It brings magic firmly into the story and the careful balances that Medea battles with her use of it. Whilst this is still dark, this isn't simply about good vs evil, but really highlights the nuances in the story and brings every element to life.

As I'm sure many reviewers will say, if you loved Circe, you will adore this book. I read it in Greece as well which of course made it even better.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

I'm a sucker for Greek Mythology and hence I had to request Medea by Rosie Hewlett when I saw it. And I'm glad I was given a review copy.

This is a very well-written book and moves forward quite nicely. It doesn't drag and doesn't bore you. I was so engrossed in Medea's story and how I hate Jason now. I kept asking myself why is she letting Jason lead her on. But I won't divulge much. I will only say that You must read it. If for nothing but to know about one of the most complicated characters in Greek Mythology.

Medea by Rosie Hewlett is the story of the witch Medea and the truth behind her actions in the story we already know, Euripedes' play.
I recently read the play in preparation for my studies and found Medea to be a sympathetic character. I was expecting to find that this retelling gave her a bit more agency in her own story and was surprised by the novel's direction. I really enjoyed how much I despised the character of Jason and at some points Medea herself.
The story was dark and didn't really have a happy ending which I think a lot of Greek mythology retellings try to change about the myths, so it was refreshing to see that whilst the story didn't end where we knew, it was still as unsatisfactory.

I simply cannot get enough of Greek mythology and Medea surpassed my expectations. Medeas story is not one I know, but I absolutely loved the voice Rosie gave to her.
I’m already excited to read Medusa as I loved Rosie’s writing and her portrayal of some of the better known Characters such as Circe and Atalanta.
Medeas tale raises various emotions throughout the book, it provokes pity, sorrow, anger.
Is Medea a victim or a villain? Her actions towards her children are unforgivable.
Her actions fuelled by her betrayal from her husband Jason.
This was a 5 star read for me, I loved this one!

Thanks to the publisher for this arc on Netgalley.

I really enjoyed the book. The start was a bit rough, as it took some time for me to find into the story. Gladly and after a couple of chapters I was unable to put the book down. Its fantastic written and all characters are lovely described. A lot of things are happening and it never got boring.

I give 4/5 stars to Medea and I m hoping there will another book coming out, soon from this author.

Thank you NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this book.

I was NOT expecting to read a book THAT good. It was the first time I was reading about Medea and her story and I loved it. She is such a complex character but I just kept being behind her and hoping she would finally get to be the woman she wants to be: free and loved.

The writing is incredible and even though the book has more than 400 pages, I was always interested. I don’t think there was a single moment when I wanted to put it down and stop reading.

I would 1000% recommend it!!!

5 stars. Every now and then a book comes along and instantly transfixes me and this was one. I LOVE Greek mythology retellings and I love when its from a female main characters point of view. From the very beginning opening line of 'When I was a child I turned my brother into a pig' I could tell Medea was going to be a hard character.

The book is a dizzying mix of magic, brutal battles, murders, love and hate.

A great mixture of tales interwoven, Circe, Jason and the Argonauts, Atalanta all appear.

Jason is a true modern day definition of 'f*ck boy' Narcissist , gaslighting and manipulative, he is the cause of all Medea's problems.

The writing was exceptional and had me engrossed from the start. I will be recommending to others and looking out for more from Rosie

Initially, I came across Medea while I was reading Circe. I was so intrigued by her character that when I saw this book, I just knew I had to read it! I loved this book so much! The writing is so beautiful!

Medea's story is dark in nature. She was abused by her father and later manipulated by Jason. They treated her as a weapon rather than a human being. They suppressed her because they feared her.

I loved how Medea embraced her true self. She understood the power she possessed and became a powerful woman.

There were just two people who wanted the world for Medea: Atalanta and Chalciope. Medea’s friendship with Atalanta was so wholesome! She always looked out for Medea. The last chapter from Chalciope's POV had me tear up. It is the perfect end to her story.