✨4 stars✨

This book was previously self-published but is being traditionally published. Thank you to the publishers for sending me an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a short, snappy read that really packed an emotional punch! I’ll admit I only really knew the basics of Medusa’s myth before reading this but I really enjoyed Rosie Hewlett’s writing and the voice she gave Medusa was really engaging.

I’m now interested in reading more of this author’s work in the future.

At first I found the beginning of this book slow. But I do love the portrayal of Perseus. And their relationship towards the end.
Rosie howlett has a knack of writing and pulling you in. I managed to finish it in a day and an enjoyable or read.
3.5 stars from me

The tale of Medusa given in the modern day way.

Heart warming, but so sad at the same time. I really could not put this book down as it had me hooked from the start.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

What a fantastic retelling of Medusa. I had tears in my eyes but also laughed a couple times. It felt like listening to a story of your beloved aunt.

"Our fragile patriarchy could hardly accept a female monster who can kill men and think for herself."

Hewlett brings Medusa to life in such an intricate way that despite the wide spread knowledge of Medusa, the story feels original. Whilst the first person perspective adds a raw level of intimacy, as Medusa changes throughout the book, there is a lack of development, this would be fine if in third person but when in first it feels rushed. I loved that the patterns and customs of Epic Poetry were maintained, e.g, the rosy fingers of dawn, grey Athena.

𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 - 𝓜𝓮𝓭𝓾𝓼𝓪 𝓫𝔂 𝓡𝓸𝓼𝓲𝓮 𝓗𝓮𝔀𝓵𝓮𝓽𝓽

“𝒯𝓇𝓊𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑒𝓃𝑔𝓉𝒽 𝑜𝓃𝓁𝓎 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓈𝓊𝒻𝒻𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝓎 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓈𝑜 𝒹𝒶𝓂𝓃 𝓅𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇𝒻𝓊𝓁.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Stars.

Wow. Just wow. Rosie Hewlett has outdone herself with this masterpiece. When I tell you I CRIED, I was a blubbering mess - for all the right reasons. This is SUCH a moving, powerful and gripping story - one we don't usually see with Medusa and I loved it.

I absolutely love mythology re-tellings and this is why. We follow Medusa's POV as her tragic story unfolds. She is written as such a diverse and strong character that you cannot help but feel deeply for her.

Outstanding writing, excellent character description and overall just an amazing read. I will be re-reading this for a long time. Highly recommend.

A story that will truly linger with me, full of powerful messages and teachings.

Thank you Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Rosie Hewlett and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Goodreads review - Live: 22/08/2025
Fable review - Live: 22/08/2025
Instagram review - Live: 25/08/2025 9am BST
Amazon review - Live 04/09/2025
Waterstones review - Live 22/08/2025

'I was beautiful once. I would not recommend it'

I am a huge fan of Hewlett's Medea and a lot of what I loved about that book is here too; a deeply personal story that draws you into the rage and pain of it's leading woman. Having Medusa tell you the story herself in a monologue style was a strong and powerful choice, lending this familiar story a fresh angle while also giving a voice to a figure who has been stripped of one for millennia.

I was surprised by the sympathetic take on Perseus, but not unpleasantly so, and I did appreciate that while we got to know his story, the narrative was not overtaken by it. This is thoroughly a story about Medusa's life, not her death, despite its looming inevitability, and Hewlett manages to pack an emotional punch into a short page count. One of my favourite aspects was witnessing the bond grow between Medusa and her gorgon sisters, and I found the ending to be a satisfying mix of remaining faithful to the legend while also giving closure and hope to it's star.

My only note is that the writing itself feels less mature and polished than in Medea - which makes sense considering this was published earlier, but I did find it a little jarring at times. Nevertheless, this is my favourite retelling of Medusa that I've read to date.

Thank you to Netgalley and Transworld for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐½ (2.5)

I was excited to pick up this retelling of Medusa but ended up DNF’ing at 48%. I can see this book appealing to many readers, but it wasn’t quite the right fit for me.

I found it lacked the depth and character exploration I had hoped for, and at times it felt overly simplistic, almost like a draft or something aimed at a younger audience. The casual, direct first-person style didn’t work for me either, and I found some of the modern turns of phrase a little jarring against the mythological setting.

That said, I do think this book has its place. Medusa’s story is an important one to keep retelling, and while this version didn’t suit my tastes, I believe it will resonate with readers who prefer a more accessible, straightforward approach to mythological retellings.

Medusa by Rosie Hewlett is honestly fantastic. I loved seeing Medusa finally get to tell her own story, and Hewlett pulls it off with real heart and style. The writing is punchy and super engaging. it’s so easy to get caught up in Medusa’s world and root for her. The feminist take is really refreshing, turning her into much more than just the usual monster. I flew through the pages and finished feeling totally inspired. If you’re into mythology or just want a fresh, powerful read, this one’s a must. Absolutely five stars from me!

I haven't read any Greek mythology for a long time and this was a fab read to refresh my memory. I also hadn't heard the story of Medusa since I learnt about Ancient Greece in primary school and this was a more mature version.

Overall I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC.

Urgh I just love Rosie’s style of writing, I absolutely loved Medea and again lovedd Medusa. One of my favourite Medusa retellings I’ve read. And the quotes in this book were such a slay…

‘A man can sing endlessly of a woman’s beauty, but if she acknowledges it herself she is immediately the villain?’

‘I was not the first woman to be blamed for a man’s flaws and I certainly won’t be the last’

‘Being feared was far more fun than being desired’

So pleased that there is a re-release of this book so more people can get to enjoy it, she’s short but so good - thank you NetGalley and Transworld publishers for the ARC
5 ⭐️

Truly flawless and empowering storytelling. This is perfect for students of Ancient History and for those with any interest in Ancient Greece and Greek Mythology. Clearly a passionate and knowledgeable writer imparting her enthusiasm to those who follow her. Tremendous

“True strength only comes from suffering. And that is why I was so damn powerful.”

You might think of her as the monster with snakes on her head who turned men into stone but she wasn’t always like that. Born breathtakingly beautiful, Medusa was desired by everyone who saw her, even the gods and we know gods cannot be refused however hard you try. Doing so will only lead to disaster… So when Poseidon turned up at Medusa’s home, wanting her, it was only ever going to end one way, as being a priestess to Athena meant that desires of the flesh were forbidden to Medusa. But Poseidon would not take no for an answer…

Sometimes depicted as a monster or someone terrifying or grotesque, this book will allow you to see her as a woman, as a mother, as a daughter and a sister and someone who rises from the depths of her suffering to become someone strong and someone to be admired. Please, pause a moment, pick this book up and hear her story in her own words!

I do love a Greek myth retelling and I have to say I absolutely loved this one. The writing is so lush, the details of Medusa’s story beautifully reimagined and I can’t believe that Rosie had to self publish this story back in 2021 as publishers at the time thought myth retelling were maybe too niche a market. Hmmm… ☺️

Having won a prize in 2021, it is wonderful to see this novel get republished and I can’t wait to see its beautiful jacket hit the bookshelves in just over two weeks. I think I might just have to buy it for myself too!

This was a moving, first-person feminist retelling of the life and death of Medusa.

First self-published a few years ago, the book is now being traditionally published in September - and I’m so glad it’s going to reach more readers, including me!

A couple of years ago I read "Stone Blind" by Natalie Haynes and didn’t love her take on Medusa. Naturally, I couldn’t help but compare the two, even though "Medusa" was originally published first in 2022. Haynes is an accomplished writer and that’s clear, but I didn’t feel the emotion in her version. Rosie Hewlett’s debut, though, felt raw and angry. It read like a diary, like the voice of a young girl, which Medusa definitely was. For me, that was the perfect combination. It broke my heart. I cried :(

I love that women are reclaiming Medusa as their own, as a symbol of feminism, strength and resilience. In the words of this Medusa, "True strength only comes from suffering. And that is why I was so damn powerful."

If you want a fresh and emotional retelling of a well-known story, I’d recommend this one.

4.25/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

This was a reread for me, having first picked up the self-published version in 2024, and I loved it just as much the second time around. The traditionally published version also features a new foreword that was such a delight to read.

Hewlett covers the whole of Medusa’s life, with only a small section dedicated to her death. That feels exactly as it should, because Medusa should not be remembered only for how she died. This story humanises her, showing her not as a monster but as a woman shaped by the circumstances and cruelties of others.

Between Medusa and Medea, Hewlett proves her gift for reimagining women so often vilified in mythology. She brings out their humanity, making them multifaceted and complex rather than the “monsters” they are usually reduced to.

Told entirely from Medusa’s perspective, with sharp retrospective insights woven throughout, this story is masterfully done. I only wish it had been longer, simply so I could have stayed with it a little more. Its concise length, however, means the pacing never falters.

Rosie Hewlett is an auto-buy author for me. I will read anything she writes, and I cannot recommend Medusa (and Medea) highly enough.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Rosie Hewlett and the publishers for this ARC! This was my first Greek mythology and Medusa retelling, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I do have knowledge of Medusa and her mythology, me and my ‘Medusa was innocent’ t-shirt were extremely excited to read this ARC!

Medusa follows one of the most notorious Greek mythology figures, with this book giving her a much more deserved story than has been written from the histories. Don’t get me wrong, it still ends in sadness. In guilt. But there is hope. There is light in her story. There is acceptance.

We follow Medusa from birth, giving us her story in a first person POV, witnessing her literally being thrown away by her mother and follow her through childhood, into her tragic young adult life. Along the way, we also meet other well known mythological figures, Poseidon and Athena (boo, hiss!), Hermes and of course Perseus. And as we often see in a lot of media retellings, the gods are not always what they are cracked up to be 🥲!

Thankfully, Medusa is more of a feminist view at a man written mythology, which was even mentioned by Medusa throughout the book, two quotes I highlighted being ‘I, like so many others, have fallen casualty of the narrative of men’ and ‘History is written by the winners. Or, more simply, history is written by men’, which unfortunately is our reality the majority of the time!

This was an extremely quick read, and although it was a short book, it didn’t feel like it was cut short and everything, despite any anguish felt, was relevant to the story. It was also still very fleshed out despite it being a short read, and it flowed really well between Medusa’s stages in her life.

I highlighted so many moments throughout the book, many are unfortunately things that can be translated into how it is being a woman in this day and age (and has been for years prior). I wanted to jump in a hug Medusa so many times, I’m so glad that we have this narrative that feels like such a love story to Medusa, but not sugarcoating the details of her life.

I had already pre-ordered the special edition, and I am thoroughly excited to receive my lil reward! And after reading this book, I am very excited and 100% jumping into Medea when I get the chance! 🐍💚

📚 Book Review 📚

I was not the first woman to be blamed for a man’s flaws and I certainly won’t be the last 🐍

I have read many stories about and including the Greek mythical monster, Medusa but none like this.

Told from the pov of Medusa herself, this adaption delves into the background of this feared creature, to the time when she was a mortal priestess. The name Medusa means ‘protector’ and she was brought up after being abandoned by her mother (herself a fierce goddess) because of her mortality and her beauty.

Time has retold her tale as one of pride and punishment but this is incorrect. Time and patriarchal retelling have twisted Medusa into a harpie who was disrespectful and wicked. Instead, she was an innocent who was raped by Poseidon and then punished by Athena (she is definitely not all she’s cracked up to be either!) who showed no empathy, for all eternity to be the monster we know her as. Medusa was banished until she was beheaded by Perseus and took her place in Greek infamy.

This is a fantastic retelling, deeper and personal. A great read which I finished within two days.

I’d like to thank Random House UK, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

Book re-released on 4th September 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

It's taken me a hot minute to put my thoughts into words,

First and foremost, thank you. As a survivor of SA, this let me felt so seen. Reading Medusa's feelings after what happened to her resonated with me so strongly. I know that we eventually figure out it wasn't our fault but seeing it in words hit differently.

The story itself was a masterpiece. I wasn't sure going into it how I would end up feeling; I was worried it was going to end up being just another retelling of another Greek tragedy, but it was so much more than that. It was so interesting to find out more about her prior to her being turned into a monster, and you could really empathise with her with all she'd been through. These were already my feelings towards her, given the circumstances, but it really cements that she was a victim, not just the monster she was portrayed as.

The thing that surprised me the most, and that I adored, was the unexpected friendship with Perseus. It gave a whole new meaning to him ending her life at the end.

I will be recommending this to literally everyone.

Medusa is one of my favourite characters from mythology, so I was really excited to receive the e-ARC of this and get stuck into her story! I really enjoyed Rosie Hewlett’s take on the tale, starting when Medusa was, disappointingly, born mortal, and following her through her life as a priestess of Athena before swerving into the inevitable descent into the monstrous creature people learned to hate. If there’s one thing I will always read, it’s a feminist retelling of a Greek myth, so I absolutely loved this. I enjoyed the modern re-interpretation of her story, placing the fault on Poseidon and the gods, rather than an innocent young priestess. Hewlett’s writing is full of metaphors and unique turns of phrase which I really enjoyed highlighting and rereading. I would absolutely recommend this to any fans of Greek retellings feminist icons and fantasy and mythology. She brings new life to an old story and reinvigorates the myth for today’s readers.

This is Rosie Hewlett's first novel, which was written during Covid and initially self-published in 2021. It is now being re-released to a wider audience.

In this short novel (around 200 pages), Medusa talks directly to the reader and tells them her story in a first-person point of view. The author largely remains loyal to the traditional myth, although she adds a few twists. The narrative however is flipped to present Medusa's feelings and emotions, giving voice to the maligned woman. It makes for a quick, moving read.

A recommended read for fans of Rosie Hewlett and female-centred mythology retellings.

Thank you to NetGalley and RandomHouse UK for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.