Mythical creatures are not my thing. I enjoyed the Percy Jackson series, but in general, fantasy and mythology are not my prefered genres. I wasn’t sure what to pick for this prompt, but then the short-listed nominations for the Carnegie award were announced it featured Medusa by Jessie Burton so that was a decision made.

What it’s about?

Exiled to a far-flung island by the whims of the gods, Medusa has little company except the snakes that adorn her head instead of hair. But when a charmed, beautiful boy called Perseus arrives on the island, her lonely existence is disrupted with the force of a supernova, unleashing desire, love, betrayal and destiny

This astonishing retelling of Greek myth is perfect for readers of Circe and The Silence of the Girls. Illuminating the girl behind the legend, it brings alive Medusa for a new generation.

What I think:

This is short but gloriously sweet.

The writing is beautiful and emotional.

Medusa is not a cold-hearted killer, as I have seen her portrayed in other versions of this story.

She is a young girl: sad and lonely. Her life has been irreversibly changed by jealousy and the whims of the gods. Her snake hair is a burden and something to hide and of which to be ashamed.

She is passionate and thoughtful and living. She is desperate to find someone who lives and accepts her as herself and not for her appearance.

Perseus seems to be that person. He listens to her history and her dreams, and she is just beginning to believe that she can reveal her authentic self when it all comes crashing down.

This retelling makes the reader consider the story from Medusa’s point of view and reminds us how young and innocent she was. How cruel and manipulative the gods can be. This is a young woman coping with catastrophic changes in her life and who is reclaiming her power.

I really enjoyed this, and it does inspire me to read more of the recent Greek retellings that have hit the bestsellers in recent years.