Book Review: Medusa by Nataly Gruender

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Greek Mythology, Fiction, Retellings, Adult
Pages: 432
Format: Physical
Rating:

Initial Thoughts

The Barnes and Noble by my apartment was going out of business, and you know what that means – book sale. And that is how I ended up with this lovely book on my shelf. When I purchased it I was still in my Greek Mythology era, so seeing this store felt like fate. Or should I say Fate. I didn’t have any expectations for this read – just to enjoy it and learn about Medusa. All I knew about Medusa is that she’s painted as a villain, has snakes for hair, and one look from her can turn anyone to stone.

The Plot (Spoiler-Free!)

Medusa is a mortal born from the gods Phorcys and Ceto. She has many siblings, but lives with two – Stheno and Euryale. However, Medusa is seen more as an outcast due to her mortality, often picked on and excluded. While attending one of her other siblings weddings, Echidna, the Graeae give Medusa a prophecy that a horrifying monster awaits her. At this wedding is Athena and Poseidon,  both who take an interest in Medusa. Athena specifically telling Medusa if she’s ever in Athens, to visit her temple.

Years pass and Ceto orders her three daughters to go to a large mortal city to explore. Medusa uses this as her chance to go to Athens and visit Athena’s temple. Athena invites her to become a priestess and Medusa leaves her sisters behind as she starts this new life. As a priestess, Medusa makes friends, finds purpose, and begins to see herself, despite what she was told growing up, as beautiful.

Still remembered from Echinda’s wedding she attended years ago, Poseidon pays her nightly visits, harmless and innocent, until it’s not. Poseidon commits a massive violation against her, and as a result, Athena curses Medusa with snakes for hair and eyes that can turn anyone to stone. Horrified, she runs from Athens and begins a journey of exile, survival, and self-discovery.

What I Liked

I absolutely loved this book.

I think part of my love for it was due to the fact I didn’t know much about Medusa so I was learning all this new lore on top of the story itself being so engaging. Gruender’s storytelling had me connecting with Medusa and made her feel deeply relatable. I was genuinely happy when she became a priestess and started to find belonging in a world that had excluded her for so long.

I didn’t know that this was a multi-POV book, but I loved having the other perspectives. Mainly told from Medusa’s POV in first person, there are chapters with Ceto, Stheno, Perseus, the Graeae, and Athena’s POV in third person. This really helped round the story out and gave the reader insights into what was going on in the world while Medusa is on her journey.

I also loved how the book felt like a series of arcs—almost like The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas. Even though the book isn’t broken up into parts, I mentally divided it into stages: her time as a priestess, the curse, her journey with Dionysus and Naiad, and more (but I won’t spoil the rest!).

Let’s talk about some fun things I learned. So did you know that ‘Medusa’ means ‘queen’? Love that. I also learned the how not only Cerebus and Pegasus were born. Learning about new characters in general was fun for me all the new names: Phorcys, Ceto, Stheno, Euryale, Echidna. Even learning more about Dionysus and a little about Perseus was something I enjoyed.

What Didn’t Work for Me

I don’t have any notes. I loved this book. While the pacing isn’t fast, I found it to be just right. I wouldn’t change a thing. Maybe I would want it to be longer because I didn’t want the story to end. But I wouldn’t want any filler chapters, but just for the store to keep going on.

Final Thoughts

If you like Greek Mythology, then I absolutely recommend this book. I believe this book should receive the same amount of praise as The Song of Achilles. You should also especially read this book if you liked Circe. They are both women who are outcasts in their families, face some sort of isolation, and find themselves during that period.

Medusa has definitely left a lasting impression on me, I wish there was more, and I wish I could read it again for the first time.