I am a sucker for reframed and retold Mythological telling, especially Greek.

This follows Jason, the captain of the Argo sent to retrieve the Golden Fleece, but really it highlights all the women he leaves behind in his wake.

Like Haynes’s other books, we get interjections from a range of wonderful characters. Unnamed side characters, a few Goddesses, a crow…

We get an insight to the Lemnian women who were repudiated by their husbands which I really enjoyed.
Most importantly, we see Medea. A betrayed wife and mother, but also a witch, a revenge-seeker, a kin and king killer, a child-killer.

<b>It was, as I say, a dark night. Poetic, I suppose. Winds howling, clouds covering a quavering moon. And what followed was very poetic, if you like your poetry to be filled with tragic irony. Oh, you do? That is good news, I would hate for you to be bored.
</b>
You are made to reflect on the story behind the one we know. Behind the legend, what do the background characters think?

I love the easy way Haynes brings you into the story. The witty writing, the emotion she draws out of a few lines of ancient poetry.

Despite it starting to feel repetitive with all these women being left and hard done by, I throughly enjoyed my time.

It is strange and wonderful reading so many retellings and getting these different takes on the Epics from different authors.

Arc gifted by the publisher.

I have such a soft spot for Medea and I feel like this made her toothless, if I want Medea I want her angry and violent and I support women's wrongs but she hardly had any of them to speak of here.

I’ve read and enjoyed Natalie Haynes before, so I was excited to pick this up. She’s great at giving a voice to women from Greek myths who are usually pushed to the side, and Medea is such an interesting choice. I loved seeing her as more than just the “villain”, here she’s clever, complicated, and very human.

The writing is beautiful and full of emotion, and the way Haynes weaves myth and feeling together is really impressive. I especially liked how she told the story from Medea’s point of view, making the Golden Fleece adventure feel fresh even though it’s a tale we’ve all heard before.

That said, parts of it felt a bit slow for me. There’s a lot of introspection, which sometimes made the pace drag, and I think if you’ve read her other books you might get a bit of déjà vu with some of the themes. It’s still powerful, but at times it felt a little too familiar.

Overall, this is a thoughtful and emotional retelling, and if you like character driven stories with a strong feminist angle, you’ll probably enjoy it. I liked it, I just didn’t love it as much as I hoped.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for a copy of this arc!

I enjoyed reading this tale of Medea and Jason a lot more than I expected, as admittedly I don’t actually know too much aside from Jason (well, Medea) acquiring the golden fleece and the fact that Rick Riordan used it for Sea or Monsters.

So going into this I was a little blind, but Natalie Haynes has such a way with writing stories that I was able to follow along with these characters and understand the journey and learn a lot more. It was beautifully put together and crafted and you can tell that the author cared about it deeply!

The fact that the story is told through different female POV’s works well as we get to see it through the lens of those who are always forgotten, those who get used and pushed to the side once they are no longer needed. I will say that the first half was filled with a lot of different women and other female characters to a point where I would get a bit confused but couldn’t go back to the beginning easily due to it being a digital arc, but also the pacing was unbelievably slow until we get to Medea and Jason as Medea really carried the story on her back.

Reading the authors note also added a lot to the story as you got to see her passion for it and the fear of starting this, and I am glad she did as this was genuinely beautiful!

Overall, this was a really good book and I highly recommend it to anyone who love greek stories and would like a more feminist take on them!

This continues Haynes’ panoramic style of retellings that gives you the entire context for the cast of characters that play a role in the myth, however hidden or previously overlooked this may be. I felt the pacing was a little mismatched, though the final third was sublime.

Firstly can we just have a round of applause for another absolute masterpiece from Natalie Haynes. 👏🏼

I love Natalie’s writing style and Medea is one of my favourite characters from the Greek myths so I had high hopes for this!

I’ve read a LOT of the recent strong female mythology retellings and thought I had a pretty good overview of the main ones but once again Natalie shows there is so much more that can be drawn out. This isn’t just Medea and Jason’s story, Natalie tells a popular story but from the unique point of view of many overlooked characters, (and occasionally objects) fleshing out and adding colour to myths I thought I knew well.

Fast paced, it jumps about but I found it easy enough to follow, and all the interwoven characters’ stories are so intricately layered and flow in and out of each other, this was a pure delight to read.

I’m so happy to have had an eArc of this and already have my indie special edition on preorder from my favourite bookshop.

3.75 stars ⭐️. Firstly thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this novel in return for my honest opinion.

This is my 3rd Natalie Haynes book and after a slow start I really enjoyed it. The very beginning was extremely slow with a lot of characters and jumping in between which I felt had no relevance to the story of Medea and Jason.

However when we were finally introduced to the pair about 40% through the story became a lot more engaging and I seemed to sail through the rest of the book . An enjoyable read for anyone who likes Greek mythology

Medea is one of my favourite figures in Greek mythology and I am a huge fan of Natalie Haynes so reading this was a no-brainer. The opening half of the book lays the groundwork of Jason’s character and motivations before meeting Medea. The use of different characters and voices added depth to the story but was difficult to follow at times. I read the second half (from Medea’s entrance) in one sitting and loved getting to see this depiction of Medea and her internal battles. I would give this 4.5 stars due to the (in my opinion) slower start but for any fans of Greek mythology, retellings, or Natalie Haynes, this is definitely worth a read.

Medea weaves the story of Jason & the Argonauts magically. It is told through the eyes of the women and men surrounding the tale as well as the goddesses (and birds) who assist in the quest.

Without Medea, Jason would have never retrieved the Golden Fleece and this tale explores that & reminds you to question who truly is the hero. You could easily read this without being familiar with the original myths, though part of the joy for me is rediscovering this story from a new viewpoint. Even though there is a wide cast of characters, their voices are distinct and the story is easy to follow.

I have previously enjoyed Haynes’ work, I recommend this and look forward to more in the future.

Sometimes the stories they sing are only one side… and the witch was never given the mic. 🖤🗡️

Jason seeks glory. Medea holds the power to grant it—witch, priestess, daughter of a cruel king. When their fates collide, the gods look away… and something darkly beautiful ignites.

This is a retelling of Medea where the shadows speak, vengeance simmers, and love is just another offering to the gods. It’s bold, sharp, and told in a voice that feels hauntingly modern - almost like watching a tragedy unfold on stage under candlelight. 🎭🕯️

As a Greek mythology lover (especially the feminist kind), this one hit in all the right places - though I definitely would’ve loved more Medea and less of Jason the golden boy. We know his story. I came for the witch. And she burns.

If you love modern-toned myth retellings, morally grey women, cursed love, divine drama, and men who underestimate the wrong girl, this book is for you.

Unfortunately, I did not finish this book. I have a relatively solid base knowledge of Greek Mythology and know the story of Medea, however the narrative and storytelling of this book is so unclear that I had no idea what was going on. The narrative jumps so much you’re left unable to build a connection with any characters and there is no clear storyline established. I’ve read a few of Jennifer Saint’s other books but unfortunately this one didn’t hit the mark.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As a first-time reader of Natalie Haynes, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect — but I’m leaving this book thoroughly impressed (and mildly obsessed with the Golden Ram).

No Friend to This House is a layered, multi-voiced retelling of the Jason and Medea myth that challenges the idea of a single ‘truth’. Haynes doesn’t centre the usual heroic narrative — instead, she hands the mic to those who’ve been silenced, sidelined, or simply written out. Mortals, goddesses, even the occasional mythological beast all get their say, and the result is a dynamic, at times bitingly funny tapestry of voices.

The tone is sharp and smart, with humour woven through some truly grim material — a balancing act Haynes pulls off with ease. While I came in knowing only the basics of the source myth, the writing is completely accessible. If anything, not having any allegiances to the original made this reinterpretation even more compelling.

It’s not just clever — it’s thoughtful. The final essay explaining Haynes’ narrative choices added depth without being overly academic, and I appreciated that as someone new to her work.

This is a bold and human take on a well-worn myth, and I’ll absolutely be reaching for her backlist. If you’re after a feminist retelling that doesn’t preach but provokes, this one’s worth your time.

Anything that Natalie Haynes writes is worth reading. I started this book not fully understanding the title, which Haynes explains in her authors note at the end of the book. I had assumed that this book would be telling the story of Medea but actually the title is about Jason, which meant that I spent the first part of the book utterly confused about when Medea would make an appearance. This only happens over a third of the way into the story. Once she has made her appearance, the pace of the story really picks up and it becomes more compelling. The story is told through multiple perspectives but despite this is quite easy to follow along. I read the whole thing within 24 hours in a mad binge as it was impossible to stop reading. Would strong recommend that anyone who likes this reads Haynes book 'Pandora's Jar' which is one of her non-fiction books about the Greek myths and has an excellent chapter on Medea.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advance copy.

Another stellar retelling from the incomparable Natalie Haynes!

I was very excited for this retelling, as I find the story of Medea so fascinating and unusual. The story is told by all the women on the periphery of the Argo’s violent voyage - the forgotten voices that so often warrant only a small mention in the myths, which Natalie Haynes amplifies so masterfully with her own unique spin. It moves fast, from voice to voice, cleverly intertwining the stories into a Greek chorus (no pun intended) telling the tale. The story expands outside just that of Jason’s quest, through all the women affected and, importantly, the golden ram itself. Some of the names were familiar, but others were not, and it was refreshing to hear so many new perspectives and takes.

The emotion cuts deep at times - mothers losing children, sisters taken by gods, women at the mercy of capricious men. It’s beautifully written and painfully tragic. The violence of the original myths is laid bare by modern voices.

The author’s signature razor-sharp wit and nuanced insights made this a brilliant, fast-paced read. I couldn’t put it down!

I love Natalie Haynes reimaginings of Greek Mythology. No Friend to this House was fast paced with that classic tongue in cheek style that I have come to love within Haynes’ writing. She totally gets how fascinating and completely bizarre these tales are and isn’t afraid to poke fun whilst also appreciating the richness and vibrancy of these stories and putting female perspectives at the heart of her writing. I will always pick up her books because I know they’re going to be brilliant!

i admit to being a natalie haynes lover, and i have read quite a few of her books, but this is by far my favourite of the lot. i loved the sense of rising dread, knowing what would happen and how each incident and event was building to the unavoidable climax of the myth of medea. i loved the perspective changes, the bouncing narrative and the humour of the novel, along with the strong characterisation of figures that have been endlessly rewritten. writing jason as a charming but overall lucky man with a lot of the gods/goddesses on his side was a good move, and incorporating the real history of ancient greece’s attitude towards ‘foreigners’ as a way of medea’s alienation from her new peers was so satisfying too.
i had a goddamn good time with this book, thank you ms haynes!

This book got me out of a big reading slump!

I knew going in, that as with any Natalie Hayne’s book that you pick up it would be a richly written & beautiful woven story, amplifying women’s voices in myths where they’ve previously been ignored, or had minor/stereotypical roles. It lived up to and exceeded all of those expectations.

I had very little knowledge of the myth going in and initially I thought the number of different characters & POV’s would be confusing. However as I read on, I felt this helped to build the world from all angles, bringing lesser known characters into the centre of the story.

I loved the journey we were taken on as the women got to tell their true story, which shone a very different light on the classic portrayals. An absorbing & entertaining read throughout, which really had me guessing until the end.

Thank you so much Pan MacMillan & NetGalley for the advance copy, it was a joy to read.

"No Friend to This House" offers a fresh take on the Medea myth by portraying Jason very differently from his usual heroic image and giving Medea and other characters multiple, complex perspectives. While the sharp writing and layered voices add depth, the frequent POV shifts and uneven pacing made it hard for me to fully connect with the story.

No Friend to this House is absolutely a friend to my house - what a brilliant read! Natalie Haynes has crafted a clever, witty, and emotionally rich retelling of the myth of Medea and Jason (yes, the Argonauts guy). But rather than simply recount the tale we're all familiar with, she comes at it from fresh and unexpected angles. We hear from characters on the fringes, from the Gods watching above, and even from the golden ram himself (yes - and it's amazing!). Even if you know the myth inside out, there's something new and illuminating here. If you don't, it's a perfect entry point - accessible, engaging, and compelling. I came away with a much more rounded, nuanced understanding of Medea, shaped through a female lens that offers empathy without glossing over complexity.

The story is layered, imaginative, and told with intelligence and humour. At one point, the banter between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite had me genuinely howling - her dialogue is so sharp and well-timed.

Huge thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the advance copy!

4,5 ⭐️

No Friend to This House is a retelling of the story of Medea but at the same time so much more. It is a chorus of voices telling the adventure together.

You sense very quickly when the author, in this case Natalie Haynes, has a special connection with a subject. The story reads like a play that speaks to you and takes you on a journey through ancient Greece. Different voices are featured which manages to give a familiar story a new tone.

This is not the first book by Heynes that I read nor the first story of Medea that I take to heart. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed rediscovering this story. The final chord managed to creep into my heart and I enjoyed immensely her side notes at the end telling why and how she wrote this book. Besides, I am now dying to go see this as a play!

Fans of Stone Blind will enjoy No Friend To This House as much as Stone Blind!