‘So to mortal men, we are monsters. Because of our flight, our strength. They fear us, so they call us monsters.’
Medusa is the only mortal in a family of gods. Growing up with her sisters, she quickly realizes that she is the only one who gets older, experiences change, feels weakness. Her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know.
When the sea god, Poseidon, commits an unforgivable act in her sacred temple the goddess, Athene, takes her revenge on an innocent – and Medusa’s life is changed forever. Appalled by her own reflection: snakes have replaced her hair and she realises that her gaze can now turn any living creature to stone. Medusa can no longer look upon anyone she loves without destroying them,, and so condemns herself to a life lived in shadow and solitude to limit her murderous rage.
That is, until Perseus embarks upon a fateful quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . .
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
Imprint: Mantle/Pan
Publication date: 15/09/2022
Stone Blind
By Natalia Haynes
Review by Sophie
Most of us may know the story of Medusa the monster, but do you know the story of Medusa the woman? Told to us through the female voices of the Greek mythological world – both directly and indirectly linked to Medusa – we are thrown into a complex narrative full of political intrigue, resentment, pride, and innocence as we ponder the question: what really makes a monster?
Natalie Haynes ensures Medusa remains at the centre of this web, as a character that can only watch as her fate is decided for her. It is a sad and brutal story, yet Haynes strikes a fitting balance between social commentary and fable where the cast of characters demand the reader to consider the moral dimensions of this ancient tale.
If you are looking for an intimate telling of Medusa’s story, this may not be the fit for you. But if you are a fan of Greek myth, keen to find out more or looking for a compelling read then I think you should give this one a go!
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