I, Medusa by Ayana Gray
I, Medusa by Ayana Gray
This is a retelling of the myth of Medusa and I have always been a bit obsessed with Greek Mythology, so I was excited to read this as it’s from Medusa’s point of view.
Medusa, or Meddy, is introduced to us as a teenager who has been sheltered in many ways even though she has already been introduced to the cruel and vicious gods that surround her life. This makes some of her interactions with others very immature and she is quite naive in certain aspects which causes her some issues throughout the story. Gray did a great job of showing the viciousness and abuse of power from the Gods, and I enjoyed the sisterly bond present throughout the entire book.
The middle part of this story fell a bit flat and seemed to drag as we waited to find out how Medusa becomes what we all know her to be. I can see that this book was more focused on Medusa before she becomes the “monster”, but I did wish that we got a bit more of her afterwards because the ending felt quite rushed. I also felt like there were some inconsistencies with Medusa’s personality and character. At times she is so outspoken and stands up for others but then there are times she is too timid and meek that it feels like two different characters entirely.
Overall, I still enjoyed this story and the author’s new take on Medusa’s background and life. However, it isn’t going to be one I’d recommend immediately and I think one reason behind that is that it does feel very YA at times and I was hoping for it to be a bit darker than it was. That is probably more of a personal preference, so I don’t want to deter others from reading it.
Thank you NetGalley for sending an ARC of this book for my honest review.
Synopsis: Meddy has spent her whole life as a footnote in someone else’s story. Out of place next to her beautiful, immortal sisters and her parents—both gods, albeit minor ones—she dreams of leaving her family’s island for a life of adventure. So when she catches the eye of the goddess Athena, who invites her to train as an esteemed priestess in her temple, Meddy leaps at the chance to see the world beyond her home.
In Athens’ colorful market streets and the clandestine chambers of the temple, Meddy flourishes in her role as Athena’s favored acolyte, getting her first tastes of purpose and power. But when she is noticed by another Olympian, Poseidon, a drunken night between girl and god ends in violence, and the course of Meddy’s promising future is suddenly and irrevocably altered.
Her locs transformed into snakes as punishment for a crime she did not commit, Medusa must embrace a new identity—not as a victim, but as a vigilante—and with it, the chance to write her own story as mortal, martyr, and myth.