I really loved Medusa by the same author, and I was extremely ready to love this one just as much! Unfortunately though, it didn’t hit with quite the same impact.

Medea is not a mythological figure I was overly familiar with, so it was nice to get to know her character and her story. I particularly enjoyed how Hewlett wrote her from a profoundly feminist perspective, examining the darkness and abuse she faces throughout her life. Hewlett doesn’t shy away from the darker side of Medea’s story, and it added an extra layer to her character and to her legend.

The book did start to lose me in the final section. There was a time jump about two-thirds of the way through that felt quite jarring, and it would have been great to see some more of the changes Medea’s character went through in that period. By the end of the book she has committed some truly atrocious acts, and I didn’t feel like I really got to understand her enough in the run-up to them.

In the final chapter we had one of my pet peeves, which is when a new perspective is brought in at the last minute! The whole book had been in first person from Medea’s perspective, and suddenly we were from the perspective of her sister. To change angles so close to the end was again quite jarring, and meant the story lost some of its final impact.

Despite not enjoying this as much as I’d hoped, I do appreciate getting to know Medea’s story a bit better, and I’m looking forward to what the author writes next.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

IF you’re searching for a heart-wrenching villain origin story, Rosie Hewlett’s Medea is the perfect choice. This retelling offers a compelling glimpse into one of Greek mythology’s most infamous women.

Branded dangerous for the magic granted to her by the goddess Hecate, Medea has been shunned by her mother, tormented by her brother, and used and abused by her father. Yet, all she ever wanted was to be truly loved and accepted.

So when a handsome, charismatic hero arrives in her city seeking the famed Golden Fleece - fiercely guarded by her father - Medea strikes a deal for her freedom. But at what cost?

While I wasn’t very familiar with the original myth, I found the story somewhat predictable - though perhaps that’s inevitable given how many Greek myths end in tragedy. As with most retellings, the book is also constrained by its source material, which sometimes limited Medea’s agency despite her immense power.

Nevertheless, this is very much a tale infused with feminist rage (which may not be everyone’s cup of tea). We watch as Medea endures abuse, rejection, manipulation and humiliation at the hands of nearly everyone who was meant to protect her. She only seems to hold value when wielded as a weapon.

Many women will find moments of Medea’s story deeply relatable.

Hewlett, whose writing style is accessible and fluid, doesn’t excuse Medea’s dark deeds. Instead, she poignantly illuminates the raw emotion and humanity of her complex character.

At times, your heart will break for her longing for affection and freedom; at others, you’ll be exasperated by her naive thinking and rash decisions - some bad, some outright horrific.

In the end, you’re left to wonder: was Medea always dangerous, just as her family feared? Or was she made that way by a world that failed her?

An absolutely brilliant, utterly engaging and powerful retelling of Medea's story .. a feminist narrative too: for Medea's magical prowess scares and terrifies Kings and princes.. and the betrayals sound very likely, even today .. wow . .. Really impressed . I also could not put it down!

I’m very hit and miss with mythology books but I did enjoy this. It didn’t feel too dry or informative like some others can.

When I requested this, I was really looking forward to picking it up. My reading vibes have changed though so whilst I will hopefully still pick this up one day, I'm just not sure when.
I have heard amazing things about this book though.

I love feminist retelling of ancient myths and did my whole dissertation on it so I was so ready for this book! Readers don’t need an in depth knowledge of the story of Medea and Jason to enjoy the story. I think the character of Medea is one ripe for new representation and giving life to old characters is wonderful, bringing some of the oldest stories that we have to new readers. Very good writing too and I hope to read more from Hewlett in the future!

I’ve been on a bit of a retelling kick, reading a few in quick succession but I enjoyed Rosie Hewlett’s take on the trend. Medea as a novel is inviting, interesting and appealing. Rosie’s words draw you in and the story envelops around you.

Phenomenal!! I am a MASSIVE fan of greek mythology and was immediately seduced when I saw the cover and read the blurb for this book. The plot was epic as was its execution, I was so invested in the characters (especially as I already was familiar with them from my understanding of greek mythology) and felt they were brought to life on a whole new dimension. The characters have a rich background which is told in a very concise way allowing you to settle in to the story which is divided into 3 parts. However, even though I am already familiar with the greek tales I was still hooked with every twist and turn, the passion, the magic, the awe, the rage, the good and the bad, and I liked that Medea was written with her flaws and all and not put on a pedestal which made her more relatable and likeable, and also written in line with her age (especially her obsession with the male physique haha) which was good (some books can cast teenagers but their character would depict someone A LOT older). I liked the fact that Hewlett took Medea back to when she was younger to explain, in essence, what led to her well known actions (killing her children) which helps the reader to understand her character and background and the trauma she experienced growing up in Colchis, as it't not always as black and white as just seeing the crime for what it is. I felt deeply for her character on so many levels and really felt Hewlett did the story so much justice.

Having read Medusa by Rosie Hewlett, I was really looking forward to her depiction of Medea. Medea is a dark character but how did she get there? What experiences shaped her & is it possible to feel sympathy for this notoriously dangerous woman? Rosie does a good job of showing the darkness within Medea whilst showing how this darkness was fed. A complex character whose nuances are explored by Rosie in a captivating manner

#netgalley #medea

I'm always a fan of female-centered retellings of Greek myths and Medea didn't disappoint. Hewlett writes a nuanced and thoughtful take on Medea's story, giving her agency and perspective where she's often simply vilified. The prose and imagery are beautiful. I occasionally took issue with the tone of the dialogue -- some of the snappier lines of banter are a little too contemporary and took me out of the historical setting, but this is a small gripe. Overall I greatly enjoyed this book!

Unfortunately I'll be putting this down for now, but I did get a copy for Christmas so I'm looking forward to giving it another go in the future!
Thank you for the eARC

‘Death is a terrible burden for anyone to carry,’

I think this book starts strong, Medea isn't weak, isn't sentimental, and she doesn't really care!

‘Why did you do this?’ he asked.
‘Because I can,’ I replied. Apparently, that was the wrong answer.

Although this line didn't stay consistent until the end, and I wasn't completely thrilled about the characters' development but as it was engaging enough, so I thought it deserved four stars.

"I have often wondered if there is a monster inside me, cloaked in the skin of a young, quiet girl. Perhaps everyone can see it pacing restlessly beneath the surface, and that is why they keep their distance."

Do you know what the biggest problem is with the retellings of Medea?

Why do we so desperately want to blame Jason for everything, as if every monstrous act by Medea was done for him?

Why should Medea be portrayed as strong, in love, and only under Jason's command?

Why Medea cant be a crazy, messed up one, a monster, who she can't let them put her aside, or bear the burden of lose?!

Why had we always wanted to pull out a good woman inside her?

Please, let one woman not be a good one, fooled, or deceived by men.

"He must love me. Because if this is not love, then what else is it?"

I personally think a woman could do all the devious and monstrous by herself and even enjoy it without hesitation. Why do we insist that a horrible father or lover is necessary for that?

Thank you Random House UK, Transworld Publishers via NetGalley for DRC. I have given my honest review.

This wouldn't be my usual sort of read but I found it incredibly compelling.
Looking forward to reading more from Rosie Hewlett.
4 stars.

A well-crafted story with plenty to appreciate. The pacing, characters, and plot twists kept me interested throughout. I'm looking forward to seeing how readers respond once it's released!

I was already in love with Rosie's debut Medusa, and have been keeping my eyes peeled for her next masterpiece ever since then. And oh boy Rosie DID NOT disappoint. Medea is one of the most interesting characters and witches in ancient history, often villainized. And I love what Rosie has done with her and her story! No spoilers, just, go READ THIS. It's absolutely worth your time!

Medea is in-depth, imaginative and lively retelling of the story of Medea. The prose is beautiful, rich with detail but easy-to-read at the same time.

I really enjoyed the book, it shed a different light on the story of Medea who is usually portaited as the ultimate villian. The characters were well-developed which I value. When you roughly know the story you should be led by the characters.

So all in all, recommend this title to everyone who enjoys mytology retellings or is interested to get into reading more of them!

Wow! I had no idea about the story of Medea, soreceress and wife of Jason "the Argonaut".

Like so many women in history (or mythology) we only learn of their stories in relation to the men in their lives. Their fathers, brothers, husbands and sons. Medea is no exception but as the book unfolds and we learn about her relationships with her sister, aunt and friend, you fall in love with her in a conflicted way.

Enjoying Medea's story and supporting her is an ethical dilemma throughout. From the abuse, gaslighting and abandonment of the men in her life, to the stubbornness she displays against the women who care about her and her horrific acts against the innocent, Medea is a real rollercoaster.

And I loved it!

Absolutely fantastic.

This so fantastically weaves the story of medea while remaining true to the original tale. Medea is such a fascinating figure and the spotlight on her instead of Jason is frankly unmissable.

It was exactly what I wanted from a Greek myth retelling and flawlessly written. It evokes so much feeling from the reader and honestly, I couldn’t reccomend this enough.

disclaimer: I received this free from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review

content warnings: violence, abuse, gore, child abuse, child death, sexual assault, rape

'They'll either make you his adoring, lovesick damsel or they'll make you the villain. Those are the only roles they feel comfortable with us occupying'.

Medea follows Medea - obviously - throughout her childhood, her marriage to the legendary hero Jason, and then the killing of her own children & we see her slowly spiral and give into her rage, her power, and her darkness & fully embrace it. Medea was a... difficult character for me, & rightly so - she was multifaceted. I felt a lot of things - I hated her naivety, her co-dependance & her anger & her slow descent into the 'villain' but I also hated how she was villainised by everyone around her! You sympathise, you hate, you love, you weep & you seethe in anger alongside her. The complexity to accomplish this!

Honestly, she should have run off with Atalanta & lived happily ever after.

I love Euripedes’ Medea so I was excited to dive into this book. It was great to see Medea’s back story masterfully fleshed out, such a great read.