JJ Taylor's "Medea: Priestess, Princess, Witch" offers a refreshing take on the iconic figure from Greek mythology. The story delves into the struggles of Medea as she fights against the oppression of cruel gods and egotistical men in her quest for freedom.

Set against the backdrop of King Aeetes' court on the Black Sea, Taylor paints a vivid picture of a world filled with magic, politics, and divine intervention. As Medea grapples with her own power and destiny, readers are drawn into a captivating narrative filled with sacrifices, deceit, and the ever-present influence of gods.

One of the book's strengths lies in its portrayal of strong female characters, challenging traditional gender roles and showcasing the depth and complexity of women in ancient mythology. Taylor's depiction of Medea as a formidable warrior who refuses to be defined by her emotions adds depth to the character and makes for a compelling read.

As someone not well-versed in Greek mythology, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. Taylor's storytelling prowess kept me engaged from start to finish, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to uncover Medea's fate.

"Medea: Priestess, Princess, Witch" marks an impressive debut for JJ Taylor, and I look forward to reading more from this talented author in the future. If you're a fan of Greek mythology or enjoy stories featuring strong female protagonists, I highly recommend giving this book a read.

Thank you NetGalley and JJ Taylor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have to thank Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange of my honest opinion.

This is the story of a priestess with no choice other than that of doing as the gods want her to do. And all along, since her birth and having been predicted of being the destruction of her brother and family, she only kept seeking freedom, which was never granted her by the gods who kept using her. A priestess and a princess, a mortal girl who doesn’t abide by mortals’ laws, she has to use the gods’ power to survive and oh how that cost her.

This book is so well written and page by page I couldn’t stop reading, the pace is also never slow and going through Medea’s story I kept wanting to know what was next (but we know her story already right? Yes, that doesn’t matter, that’s how good this book was). Also the way Medea’s choices were portrayed, how tied she was to her own will and the goddesses’ was so well told that I was aching with her.

Read this story, and then come and tell me about

Did I like Medea before reading this book, No.

Do I like Medea after reading this book, still no.

Well I knew what I was getting into. starting this book, Medea is and probably never will be my favorite character in the greek myth but I was ready to sort off appreciate or sympathies with her. Well this book did not help with that.
I found that Medea was really playing the look at me how bad I have things. because what all these gods do to me., yet at the same time look at me how special I'm because what the gods make me do.
Will. reading this I felt like the author should have picked a side of which way to go and not. to both.

Then why did I still give this book 3. stars because it's not a bad retelling of the myth of Medea. I even think that it's good start for getting into greek myth retellings. I think I had just a to much off a preconceived notion of Medea and I would have enjoyed it more if she was the Villain.

Thank you to NetGalley, JJ Taylor and BooksGoSocial for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I love Greek mythology and I’m loving how the women are getting their time to shine. If you love retellings from a woman’s point of view give this book a chance. While I was fascinated with Medea, I wasn’t crazy about the writing. At times I wanted it to speed up and other times when the plot got exciting it felt rushed. Again personal preference it’s a book I had to make myself read vs couldn’t put it down. It’s recommended for fans of Circe and I devoured that one. If you read it and love it. Message me or let me know. Happy reading!

DNF at 20%, thank you to Netgalley

Medea, Priestess Princess Witch, follows a long if recent tradition of reframing classical mythology through the lens of feminism. Due to the wide variety of examples in this new genre, some appeal more to different people. I have a large love for mythology and classical literature, including the Iliad and the plays of Euripides, and I was a big fan of Circe by Madeline Miller, so I was super excited when I saw this.

However, I don’t think it was the right pick for me as someone who is already immersed in the world of myth.

Personally, I found this Medea irritating. She acted without clear reason, yet was entirely subservient to “the Goddess” (who I assume was Hekate based on one line, but really with all the goddesses in Greek mythology it would be nice if Taylor were more specific). The foreshadowing of the inevitable murder of Medea’s son was heavy handed, as was the inclusion of her relationship with her handmaid. It was an interesting idea, but the way it was just put in without any additional context of their relationship didn’t sit well with me as a bi woman, but it may have been developed later in the book.

With unlikable characters and some really questionable grammar, I had to put this one down. I think it would be good for people who like the idea of Greek myth but not the full intricacies, relationships and politics that sometimes comes with it. This book reminds me of Lies we Sing to the Sea in that way.

In conclusion, this one wasn’t for me, but I am in the minority. Best of luck to this book on release, I hope it finds its audience. Thank you to Netgalley, who gave me an advance copy

*Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Medea has lived with the harsh words of her father and the violent hands of her brother, she wants more than anything to learn of the reason behind this and to be free of her gilded cage. When strangers arrive on their shores Medea might just get the opportunity of freedom, but what is the cost? The story of Medea and Jason, but maybe not as you are expecting.

I absolutely love that this is a fresh new look on a classic character. We get to dive deeper into who Medea was as a person and the choices she makes. I love Greek mythology, so this retelling was just what I was looking for. I had a bit of an issue with pacing though, some parts felt rather slow, while others moved to fast.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc. I love greek mythology retellings, and I was immediately interested in this book when I saw that it was good for fans of Circe (one of my favorite books). Medea’s story is not one that I was very familiar with, but I have seen her mentioned in other books I’ve read. Medea as a character has a lot of depth, and I loved hearing her story and her thoughts/feelings throughout. I also loved that so many different characters and locations were introduced. I especially loved the friendship between Medea and Kip. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was very fast paced, and once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down!

This book by JJ Taylor has accomplished some of the data involving some of the tribes from the Black Sea to Greece and back with an amazing story. It starts out with an old women who is called Medea, and is also called the Priestess, Princess and Witch although at the time this is told she is a Queen. Alkippe is her maid or equal in her life. She has many meetings with her Goddesses and in each town she travels she meets another Goddess. She was told to give the golden fleece to her first future husband, Jason. This was against her fathers wishes. Taylor describes how they later fair. The struggles that they have and how her children were killed. She had 3 marriages and it was an interesting time when earth quakes were everywhere. It's an interesting story which doesn't really end.

This book boasts the most captivating first sentence I've ever encountered, it unfortunately falls short in its delivery.

I would like to apologize in advance that this book review turned out to be more of a critique.

"Medea: Priestess, Princess, Witch" by JJ Taylor is a Greek mythology retelling centered on the granddaughter of the sun god Helios, who plays a significant role in the myth of Jason and the Argonauts.

I appreciate the author's choice of exploring a lesser-known woman from Greek mythology and attempting to delve deeper into her narrative. It's refreshing that this particular character doesn't seem to be primarily motivated by romance, in contrast to many other stories. This intrigued me, especially since I had always envisioned Medea as being smitten by Jason in other interpretations.

But the challenge with retellings lies in the readers' expectations. Those familiar with the original story anticipate the author's thorough research on the topic. So if you happen to be familiar with the original narrative, as I am, and notice deviations, you might either commend the author for a skillful revision or find it to be a distracting element.

Having delved into Medea's lineage through readings like Madeline Miller's "Circe," I'm well aware that she is the daughter of Aetes and an ocean nymph. Thus, when the narrative referred to her father as “mortal”, I couldn't help my disappointment, and that discomfort lingered with me like a sore thumb.

I found myself overwhelmed by the overtly direct feminist ideas, particularly in Chapter 2. The abundance of dialogues seemed to forcefully emphasize these ideologies, which, despite aligning with my beliefs, felt overly aggressive and intrusive. Subsequent chapters followed a similar pattern, consistently delivering dialogues essentially proclaiming, "I am a strong woman." Personally, I believe these themes could have been conveyed more subtly, preferring a show-don't-tell approach.

I found myself being consistently informed about the emotions of the characters, almost as if I were expected to simply accept the transitions from anger to tears, for instance. However, these emotions failed to resonate with me; they were merely conveyed through narration without any genuine heartfelt connection.

The initial chapters also struggled with maintaining a consistent narrative tone. The abrupt shifts between a more formal prose and a colloquial language left me feeling disoriented, disrupting my immersion in the story.

The persistent emphasis on the idea that Medea's feelings towards Jason were not genuine but rather dictated by a God made it challenging for me to establish a connection with the characters. There was a noticeable absence of any meaningful build-up. The recurrent backhanded insults that Medea contemplates about Jason only added to my dissatisfaction. After Jason acquired the fleece, my indifference grew, as it became evident that they were destined for an unfavorable outcome.

Medea, in my perception, appeared excessively narcissistic. Her constant self-praise and thoughts of her own power, almost reaching a god-like status, became exasperating. The relentless trash talk about Jason left me with nothing to appreciate about his character either. The lack of any compelling elements to root for left me disengaged from their journey.

And boy did that journey dragged. It dragged on and on as they moved from one town to another, following a repetitive pattern. They would enter a town, meet with a guide, Medea would pray at the temple, and seemingly, by some mystical force, be blessed by whichever god resided there. The reason for her being chosen, not just by one god but by many, remained unclear and unanswered.

The only redeeming aspect for me was how the narrative chose to portray Medea as a loving mother. I've always been horrified by the Greek Mythology version where Medea kills her own children, so I appreciate that this book took a different route in its depiction.

In general, I recognize significant potential in this book, but there were too many minor details that bothered me, and unfortunately, I couldn't shake them off. The ideas are present, but the execution fell short.

Considering this is the author's first book, I am positive that with continued growth in their craft, they will be able to produce more refined and engaging works. But given the nature of my critique, I sincerely hope that the author never stumbles upon this review.

Medea by JJ Taylor is a wonderful read. it is a story from Greek mythology but written for the modern reader. With a cast of strong women, this is a must-read for all women who need inspiration and empowerment to stand in our truth and strength.

The story follows most of the myth but gives Medea a true voice of her life events. The story contains great adventures, love, and life. My favorite parts were her learning new powers with the help of the goddesses such as Hecate and Hera to allow her to be a priestess and witch.

The author weaves in big questions for all of us - how much of our life is by choice and how much is fate or maybe even already decided for us by the universe?

I definitely recommend this book.

#netgalley #medea #jjtaylor

Medea was like a breath of fresh air with a strong heroin that always tried her best in a god-run patriarchal society, searching for freedom her entire life. It was beautifully written and very descriptive, and I actually quite enjoyed the skipping back and forth from young Medea to aged Medea, as if she was telling us, the readers, her story. Yet, the pacing was sometimes an issue, since some stops on their journey were over-descriptive and too long, and it lulled my reading. The balance of action=packed sequences and whatever else was very strong in the beginning, but I got a bit bored later on.

Overall, this was a four star read because I enjoyed how the author, JJ Taylor, portrayed Medea. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book.

Greek mythology was my childhood playground, so retellings of Greek myths are hit or miss for me, and indie books are hit or miss for me as well. However, I thoroughly enjoyed JJ Taylor's "Medea," and I was intrigued from the very first paragraph. The author's background in the classics and creative writing shines through between her treatment of the material and the composition of her prose.

I am also not a purveyor of literary fiction, but this was an enjoyable read. JJ Taylor writes well the push and pull between choice and destiny. I am pleased to have been gifted this ARC via NetGalley!

To take on Euripides’ stunning villain Medea is a real ambitious move and one that JJ Taylor meets eye to eye. This book completely reimagines her, humanises her and repaints her. I enjoyed the portrayal, which painted her as flawed but manipulated.

The writing was overall good. The pace could have been either quicker at the start or slower at the end, it just jarred a little in juxtaposition. But I enjoyed some gorgeous imagery, loved the portrayal of Jason (described as having a “spine made of water”) and enjoyed it overall. Lovely, rich world and didn’t shy away from incorporating mythology, as so many retelling do nowadays.

This was a wonderful book! It is so amazingly immersive, it’s got beautiful writing style, and it’s just the right pace. I am so happy I got to read this, as it definitely sparked me back into loving Greek mythology retellings! I can’t wait to see what else JJ Taylor will write!

This is not the story of the woman you think you know. You know only the tales told through the ages. No, this is the story of a dangerous woman fighting for her freedom in a world dominated by cruel gods and ego driven men…

In the house of King Aeetes on the shores of the Black Sea, Medea plays with gods in the forest as visions of a dark future haunt her. Descendant of Helios and daughter of sea nymph Idyia, Medea holds the kind of power meant for the heroes of the epics, the heroes who have yet to arrive in the world. But as a woman, her place is decided by the men around her. Until Jason and his Argonauts arrive, bringing with them the winds of change and the goddess’s voice ringing out of Medea’s lips.

Sacrifices. Politics wrapped in layers of deceit, blood, and ego. Gods with their own agendas not meant for mortal flesh. Magic. Monsters. Love. Who will Medea become in her desperate search for freedom?

I’ve been obsessed with Greek mythology since I was a teenager, so I was really excited to get this arc! I was familiar with the story before I read this book, but this retelling is from a different perspective. Medea is a strong, female, main character and the book has amazing feminist vibes. The relationship between Medea and Kip is refreshing and realistic. Following along on Madea‘s journey was so much fun, and I felt drawn to her character as such a strong, independent female, Add to that all of the references to the Greek myths and I was eating this book up.

The timeline does switch between past and present often, which I usually don’t enjoy. However, the author did a wonderful job of tying things together, so it made sense. I feel like if the story was written in a linear method, you would not get the full effect intended.

Thank you so much NetGalley and JJ Taylor for this arc in exchange for my review!

"Medea" by JJ Taylor is an epic and brutal retelling from Greek Mythology.
The novel captures, in Medea's character, the kind of mortal embodiment that would have the strength to be a conduit of the gods. Emboldened and ruthless, Medea is a woman both flawed and relatable. The novel encompasses the life of Medea, from her early days as an aide to Jason until her later years as a queen jaded and reflective.

Taylor's retelling parallels the tone of Greek Mythology well, because the plot is both adventurous and gruesome. The plot gives the reader a feeling of anticipation as to what the gods have planned for Medea, especially in the earlier part of the novel. Additionally, Taylor's portrayals of other mythological figures, amidst Medea, gave them complexity and personality in a way that the original tales do not. The narrative mainly explores female gods, and presents an interpretation of each of them as formidable, which is refreshing considering much of Greek Mythology is littered with misogyny.

The conclusion of the novel, admittedly, was lack luster and felt like a kind of betrayal to the rest of the plot. What Taylor presented as freedom and authenticity in the majority of the book felt done away with during the novel's end. What did not help the novel was that the language was repetitive and slow, at times. While Medea was a powerful force in the novel, her complexity was lacking and was carried by the characters around her, which was disappointing consider this book was in first person.

Overall, this was an enjoyable novel but held more weak points than strong ones.

gorgeous mythological retelling of one of my fav mythological characters. would recommend this one quite a lot. tysm for the arc.

Medea: Priestess, Princess, Witch is a Greek mythology retelling focusing on Medea. This book was my first introduction into Greek mythology inspired stories after Percy Jackson and it was really disappointing.
I put this book down at 10%. From what little I read, the plot seemed to be moving forward nicely but was completely overshadowed by the terrible writing. The writing of both the characters and the prose is horrible.
Let us start with the characters. The characters will behave in ways that are completely incongruent to the story around them. Medea’s father or brother will be angry simply because the author tells us they are angry. Taylor gives no reason or situations for why these characters should be angry, or any actions or descriptors that would lead one to believe that they are angry.
Other times characters will act without reason.
“By the time I got to the temple entrance, I was sweating and filled with dread. I shut the door behind me and slid to the earthen floor.
‘Medea? Whatever is wrong?’ Alkippe, my handmaid and only friend, hurried to my side. She swept my hair from my face and searched my expression. ‘A vision then.’
I nodded and gripped Alkippe’s hand. ‘Men are coming. Foreign men. Kip, I think they’re coming for me.’
‘For you? Why would they come for a priestess of the temple? Surely they seek your father?
I Pulled my hand away and stood. ‘Is it so had to believe I might be wanted?’”
The way Medea went from fear to anger that someone may not actually want her was jarring. Her thought process generally does not make sense, and that can be said for most of the characters in the novel.
Moving onto the prose. The prose is an overwritten mess, full of run on sentences and grammar mistakes. It was painful to read and made it hard to comprehend what was going on. I would find myself rereading passages to figure out what was happening.
Below is an example of a passage that is overwritten and grammatically incorrect.
“Chaliope came racing into the room, her hair loose around her. Two years younger than me, she was the essence of spring, of beauty and optimism, and life.”
Overall, I think this read like a very early draft. This book had potential to good, but needed time to be further developed and edited.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

Medea is a character from greek mythology that I've seen pop up in a few other stories, but isn't someone I knew a lot about. I love a female led greek mythology retelling, so this was something I was always going to pick up.

This was such an easy read, and I absolutely flew threw it. I got through 200 pages in a day, and neglected to do everything else I had planned to get done that day it was that good.

Main characters easily annoy me. I find they're usually written in a way that's supposed to be unique, but at this point is actually way overdone and makes me want to roll my eyes straight out of my head. Not once did Medea make me feel that way. She had such amazing growth and was SO relatably stubborn.

This is a world ran by men, a world where women are supposed to keep quiet and do as they're told. Medea is a woman with incredible power, that stands up to these men and says "No." The female solidarity in this book was so powerful and I loved every second.

JJ Taylor has reimagined the tale of Medea into a thrilling and multidimensional character that resonates with the modern day woman. Medea is grappling with her own dreams and desires in a world full of societal norms and divine intervention that keep pushing and pulling her along her quest for freedom.
JJ Taylor's dedication to world building places you alongside Medea as she starts and continues her quest for freedom. Along the way there is political intrigue, magic and emotional depth thanks to the author's dedication to worldbuilding and detail.
The close narrative style allows readers to gain an insight to the inner workings and emotional capabilities of a woman trying to navigate a journey that at times is perilous, complex and emotionally raw. The reader is gripped from the start and feels the ebbs and flows alongside Medea.
I would thoroughly recommended this coming of age tale of Medea who leaves her home in search of the life and freedom she has always wanted and who's adventures and trials will mold and shape her into the powerful protagonist that readers will connect and relate to from start to finish.