I love the trend of re-imagining Greek myths from the perspective of women, and so couldn't wait to delve into Stone Blind which tells the story of Medusa, from her own viewpoint.

The story is told through many different perspectives, with short chapters from different characters POV. This was slightly confusing at first, but I soon got used to it and enjoyed the breadth of perspectives that came from this. The story was sympathetic towards Medusa, giving me a whole new view on her story, and making me question - who is really the monster and who is the hero within these old stories? The new viewpoint of Perseus was both funny and disturbing- I'm reading the Greek myths stories with my 9 year old son currently and it was a really good exercise to ask him these questions and ponder the answers together.

Although the story is primarily around Medusa, it raises awareness of other characters within the myths, giving me a new understanding of, and sympathy towards, Athene and Gaia. I would definitely be interested in reading more from their POV by the same author.

On the whole this is an easy, interesting read which made me think and raises questions around topics of toxic masculinity and consent, with many of the hero's being nothing more than arrogant rapists but being idolised as Gods. In the Greek myths, many of the goddesses are as strong as the gods, and yet the behaviour of the gods is allowed to go unchecked, with the innocent women they rape becoming the victims of the goddess's scorn, so being punished twice but committing no crime. I've also been a big fan of the Greek myths, but this has made me rethink many of my favourite stories and want to read myths from other cultures to see if this is the same throughout.

This is a retelling of the intertwined stories of Medusa, Perseus, Athene and Andromeda – not just Medusa, as the title may have you believe. I love an Ancient Greek myth, and Haynes does a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life and making their stories feel modern and relevant.

There is so much vivid detail in this book, and every character is perfectly drawn… the fickle gods, the foolish boy who would be remembered as a hero, and the innocent girl who would be remembered as a monster. There is a real emotional depth to this book, but the points aren’t laboured so it doesn’t feel in any way preachy. The narrative changes between different characters, which kept my interest and allowed for a fuller story than I was expecting. While I see other readers wanted more focus on Medusa, I enjoyed learning more about the wider context of her story, which I believe allowed the true injustice of her fate to show even more keenly.

The writing was great, and I would absolutely read more by this author. This is perfect for any fans of a mythological retelling.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

I absolutely adore this author, I literally think Haynes could write anything and I would be keen to read. As soon as this was announced, I was desperate to know Medusa’s story.

Haynes has a very strong female tone throughout this one. We delve into the story of Medusa and so much more with this book. I have been completely enthralled and fascinated by what has been happening in the pages.

We explore so much with this book, Medusa, the snake hair, the curse… it’s a truly fascinating book to read. Haynes writes in a way that just flows and you really find that you race through this.

This is a book that really allows us an insight into Medusa. We are told this myth in a modern way and from a strong female author.

I have been completely addicted to this one. Haynes is an author who never disappoints. This is a book that needs to be a bestseller. This is an absolute masterpiece by a truly wonderful author.

I’m a huge fan of Natalie Haynes & myth retellings, especially female centric retellings. I was so xcited to review Stone Blind & I was not disappointed! Haynes’s writing is as exquisite as ever & I loved the characterisation of Medusa, so often vilified with no understanding of how she came to be. Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #StoneBlind #NatalieHaynes

I have been looking forward to this so much, I love the current focus on looking at Greek myths through a feminist eye and representing the women in a more realistic and nonjudgmental way, Medusa is one of my favourites she’s so hard done by, punished for something not her fault, then killed by another man and used as a weapon, I’d have loved a bit more focus on her, but that’s just me being obsessed with her story, I loved the fact it covers the whole story, her sistersAnd I adored the multiple POV which was done so well, if you are hesitant at all to buy or borrow this from your library, don’t hesitate at all, it’ll be one of your favourite books this year , because it’s one of mine

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

When someone says Medusa i think of the Roman version in which a beautiful human girl runs to the temple for protection only to be defiled by another God. the God whose temple she ran to for help curses her into the monster we all know with snakes for hair. Therefore i was confused when i started reading this book as i wasn't aware of the greek version!

Though i was expecting a different version i still enjoyed this version. I felt for Medusa and her sisters especially when their haven was shattered. However, i think this book is about a vast range of Greek Gods and figures and singling out Medusa was a bit misleading.

If you are interested in Greek mythology you should give this book a try as you do get a range of stories, unfortunately, it wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest view. All opinions are my own.

There's a reason why Greek myths retellings are trending at the moment, and Nathalie Haynes is one of the masters of the game. In Stone Blind, she gives the backstory of a unfairly treated villain, and absolves all the women in the process.

Natalie Haynes retells the story of Medusa and all I can say is 5 stars; a gripping and eye opening perspective on the Medusa mythology.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

My thanks to NetGalley and Mantle publishing for the opportunity to review this book.
Engaging and emersive from page one.
Love Natalie Haynes writing style and the wit that flows on each page.
A triumph.

I'll start by saying, I'm not terribly familiar with Greek mythology beyond Disney's Hercules so in general I found the cast of names and their relationships a little difficult to follow, but nothing a quick Google didn't sort and it didn't hinder my enjoyment of this book.

I did know Medusa's story and as always it broke my heart but this time in new ways! Natalie's writing of Medusa and her sisters showed such a beautiful familial love, they embraced her strange differences (which were just her being mortal and not having snake hair and tusks really), they protected her fiercely and moved the freaking sea to keep her away from Poseidon.

I also loved how she framed Poseidon as a very spoiled child of a god. Particularly "It had left him feeling angry and empty. Why did no one care about his feelings? He regretted the whole encounter now. The girl had disappeared from his view once he'd raped her.' You can't read that and not think what the actual f-ing heckie is wrong with you?! Do you really expect ANYONE to feel bad for you? And of course that's what you should be thinking because your sympathies are with Medusa throughout the story.

I'm going to through in another poignant quote that I think also really highlights the love I felt between Medusa, her sisters and their relationship with the outside world. "'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." It continues from there, in a scene I found myself adoring but I'll stop the quote for a moment. We know, and see, Perseus change from his quest, which is literally set up for him to kill a being Athene described as 'dangerous' - which he took to equate to 'monstrous'. Keeping in mind the change in Perseus' behaviour to just freely petrifying people and the final conversation between Athene and the Gorgoneion, it really sums up the entire feeling of the book: The gods, who destroy, killed Gaia's children, assault mortals, curse victims and the humans blindly following quests demanding murder are less monstrous than a mortal beloved by her dangerous sisters?

Following the tragic death of Medusa, we get the story from the Gorgoneion's view and for just a head, this is the sassiest and most fun character of the book in my opinion. "What I would like to say to him is that if it is so inconvenient carrying someone's head around in a bag, perhaps you should think about that before you decapitate them." How can you beat a sentence like that?

I've already recommended this book to quite a few people, saying it's a retelling of Medusa's story that will break your heart for her whether you know nothing or everything about her tale. And despite Disney's best efforts, the gods of Mount Olympus were not a fun bunch you'd want to know. Sorry to the ancient temple builders but it's true.

I have always been in love with Greek and Roman legends. I was always fascinated by Medusa ever since Raymond Harryhausen and his legendary films like Clash of the Titans. Many reviewers have said that this book disappoints as it does not just focus on Medusa (in fact Medusa makes up a very small parts of the book) but this is a great book and I highly recommend it if you enjoy stories of Greek Gods and Titans

Stone Blind is another wonderful retelling of Greek myth from the female perspective by Natalie Haynes. Engaging, witty and informative it reexamines the hero/villain dichotomy, and unveils the real monsters.

We know the mythological stories about Perseus and Medusa but the story behind is not well know and there's more than one version.
Medusa is someone who's turned into a Gorgon but she remains a human being with emotions and a lot of loneliness.
I loved this new version and loved how Medusa was portrayed.
An excellent and riveting novel, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A stunning and forgiving portrayal of a character who’s long been vilified.

I first encountered Medusa when I was 10 in a school play. She was portrayed then as the monster we despised and Perseus as our heroic slayer. However in Hayne’s Medusa, I emphathised deeply with her and thoroughly devoured this retelling.

Medusa is depicted with complexity and depth in a way I’d never experienced before. The book is also full of a myriad of background characters who are written with Haynes’ classic wit and excellence.

Another addition to the welcome wave of literature that reimagines myths and legends from Ancient Greece, the brilliant Natalie Haynes’ newest is the heart-breaking tale of Medusa, one of three ‘monstrous Gorgons’ – winged
human females with snakes for hair. Medusa is best-known for two reasons: she had the power to turn people to stone, and was subsequently beheaded by Perseus, who then used her disembodied head as a weapon on his own conquests. Facts like this make you realise just how reductive Greek legend always was towards women – but how exciting the gaps must be to imaginative authors retelling these ancient tales from new perspectives. Such simple questions can explode entire universes: what was the relationship like between Medusa and her sisters, the other Gorgons, safely isolated from the world before Perseus came calling? What would it have felt like to have writhing, sentient snakes for hair? Just how much of a hero was Perseus, anyway? Assaulted, abused and vilified: should Medusa really be remembered as a monster – or does Perseus better deserve that epithet?
Haynes’ prose flows like silk, evocative and sonorous, and feels appropriate for the scale of the stories she seeks to retell. Her ancient gods and humans speak with modern tongues: they exchange side glances when unimpressed; they get embarrassed by their shortcomings and angry when humiliated. The sections featuring Medusa and her two sisters, Euryale and Stheno, are agonisingly emotional: the gentle care these ‘monsters’ take with each other and the young baby abandoned on their shores is deeply affecting, especially the two elder Gorgons’ stumbling attempts to learn to look after a very breakable mortal child. The growing Medusa’s awkward questions about her true origins are hugely relatable for anyone who’s been left in charge of an infant.
Haynes’ Medusa is reshaped by the author’s words: given life, interests and recognisable, relatable connections with those few precious figures in her life – but what happens when a good person becomes a monster? She also re-weaves Perseus as a coward, a man who “always takes short-cuts and gives up when they aren’t available”. Her gods are as flawed as humans: simple, lust-ruled and power-dazzled, who interfere with humans with
erraticism. Haynes’ new interpretation will leave you reeling and wondering why you never questioned this narrative before now.

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for this eARC of Stone Blind.

I was so looking forward to this Medusa retelling, as I love the Greek mythology that seems to be abundantly being retold these days. I felt like we don't get any from Medusa - hence my eagerness to read this.
Unfortunately this novel isn't exactly a retelling for her as such - I'm not sure why it's pegged as it is.
The story is told by multiple characters from in a POV style, which I absolutely enjoy, it gives more insight into the characters.
Medusa however felt like a side character.
The story itself was enjoyable and the pacing was excellently executed. The other characters show cased themselves well. Over all this was an enjoyable read.

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes is a retelling of the myth of Medusa and Perseus as he seeks to take the head of the Gorgon. Despite this being a retelling, it felt completely fresh and being told from a new perspective makes the reader think twice about how heroic and brave Perseus truly is. This book challenges us to think about what truly makes a monster (or a hero) and how quick we are to judge based on very little fact. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish, despite finding it incredibly sad and difficult to read in places due to the treatment of Medusa. I loved the Gorgon sisters and could really feel the love they shared with each other; I was heartbroken for them all when Athene took her revenge on Medusa.

This is an incredibly well written book, with several strands of the story from different chapters weaving together to tell the overall story. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction and mythology. Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a digital copy for review.

Fantastic book. Would've liked to have seen more of Medusa, though. She felt like a side character at times. Still highly recommended.

Medusa is the only mortal in a family of gods. Growing up with her sisters, she quickly realizes that she is the only one who gets older, experiences change, feels weakness. Her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know.

When the sea god, Poseidon, commits an unforgivable act in her sacred temple the goddess, Athene, takes her revenge on an innocent - and Medusa’s life is changed forever. Appalled by her own reflection: snakes have replaced her hair and she realises that her gaze can now turn any living creature to stone. Medusa can no longer look upon anyone she loves without destroying them, and so condemns herself to a life lived in shadow and solitude to limit her murderous rage.

The title state's that this is 'Medusa's story' and this precisely why I can only afford this a four instead of a full five-star rating.

I want to state that I did adore my time within this book. Medusa's story was one I knew before beginning this. However, this, I believe, faithful mythological retelling exposed many facts that were previously unknown to me. I also found that the characters felt real, the myriad of gods were easy to differentiate, the repeated traumas intimately felt, the horrors sympathetically handled, and the storyline exciting, varied, tense, and well-plotted.

The error for me lies only in Medusa being so infrequently featured throughout this. The entire story, even when not focusing directly on her, was her own, and so this tale was narrated by her character. However, the exposure to her person was far briefer than anticipated and instead remained on the many others who featured in her downfall. I did not imagine this would be so and anticipated this to be Medusa's story, told by her, about her, and for her. It was a brilliant retelling but with a focus similar to so many other retellings, as well as the original, where Medusa feels like a side-character in her own story.