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I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.



I’d been looking forward to this retelling of Medusa’s tale since it was announced and thankfully, Jessie Burton didn’t let me down. I’d never read any of her previous books before, and I’m so very glad that I finally did. I had a grand time reading this.

As always, I prefer the original Greek myth, which didn’t have any involvement from Poseidon, but instead focused on Medusa’s innate power that came from being born the mortal Gorgon. However, I think Burton did a great job of blending the various interpretations in hers, both from the Greek original as well as from Ovid’s more popularised Roman retelling. Burton’s retelling read like a faery tale, its lyrical tone pulling me along on Medusa’s journey.

I especially loved the inclusion of Medusa’s sisters, who are so often sadly omitted in modern retellings. Burton also portrayed another side to Perseus, which I hadn’t seen before and greatly appreciated. It was simply a compulsively readable story that sucked you in, making you curiously turn the pages, excited to find out what happened next.

Not only did I enjoy the story itself, but the art to go along with the retelling was equally stunning. It was simultaneously antique with a creative twist, not entirely Greek-inspired art, but something wholly original too. I’m glad it was illustrated because it greatly enhanced my reading experience and added to the storybook atmosphere the words themselves created.

This was one of - if not the best - Medusa retelling I’d read in years and I highly recommend it to those wanting a fresh take on her myth. Burton’s retelling is another fabulous addition to the recent stack of feminist mythological retellings and I do hope she plans to write more of them in the future. I’d pick them up in a heartbeat.