Medusa: New & Ancient Greek Tales

by Liv Albert (Introduction), Dr Miriam Robbins Dexter (foreword), Tracie McBride (contributor)

Medusa
Foreword by Miriam Robbins Dexter

Variously described as a fiend, a monster, a charming seductress who was felled by the righteous might of Perseus, son of Zeus, Medusa is perhaps the most misunderstood of mythological women. Described by male historians, poets and epic writers such as Hesiod and Ovid, there are many aspects of her imagined life which find resonance in the struggles of the outsider, the cursed and those used in the service another's vision of the world around them. This fascinating collection brings together new stories and ancient origins, offering a wider perspective on the whole life of the powerful, wonderful Medusa.

About the series: Discover the mythology of humankind through its heroes, characters, gods and immortal figures. Myths, Gods and Immortals brings together the new and the ancient, familiar stories with a fresh and imaginative twist. Each book brings back to life a legendary, mythological or folkloric figure, with completely new stories alongside the original tales and a 30,000 word essay which emphasises ancient and modern connections, tracing history and stories across continents, cultures and peoples. New and emerging writers from open submissions reveal hidden themes, casting fresh perspectives on well known stories, alongside the specially commissioned story of the origins and the cultural background from the era. The first titles are Medusa, Odin, Anansi and Circe.

Genres: Mythology, Fiction, Greek Mythology, Fantasy, Short Stories

368 pages, Hardcover

Published November 12, 2024

About the author

Liv Albert is the host, creator, writer, editor, and producer of Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby! (read: the only person involved)! Liv is a giant nerd for a great many things, though most notably, Greek & Roman mythology.

Liv has a degree in English Literature & Classics (Classical Civilizations) from Concordia University in Montreal where she studied ancient Greece and Rome broadly. She is constantly researching new details and versions of Greek mythological stories to tell in the podcast, and especially loves speaking with experts on various ancient world subjects (always for the podcast!). Liv is devoted to the world of Greek and Roman mythology, even if it is full of bloodshed and horrible men.

She has a single mythological hill on which she will die: Medusa was a survivor and didn’t harm anyone.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first half they took the collection of all the history and facts everyone has already published about Medusa and then added their own opinions. It's not horrible but if your looking for something new and Interesting maybe something with some historical meat, this isnt it. They try to do little jokes here and there and some puns but it all falls flat. Im not fully disappointed, it just could have been so much better.

The second half is more like story telling. Each chapter being written by someone else. Like a collection of everyone else version of Medusa through time. Not horrible but again not overly exciting.

[Coraline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this anthology about Medusa! It’s a new genre for me, and I’m so glad I ventured outside my usual thrillers. My favorite piece in the book is "The Medusa Rondanini" by Gabriella Ramalho. It’s beautifully written and incredibly original, yet also provides a fresh and insightful take on Medusa's backstory. The way it blends the familiar myth with such a unique perspective makes it a compelling read. I highly recommend this to anyone looking to explore new genres!

[Candace Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this collection of short stories and of course, the introduction by Liv Albert! My favorite was “What Actually Happened” by Rhys Hughes. It was beautiful, unique, and imaginative.

Several of them would actually be awesome tv or movie concepts. I loved the VERY varied and sometimes futuristic/sci-fi feeling/dystopian tales inspired by Medusa.

Definitely worth the read if you’re a Medusa stan.

[Josie Mars · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could do 3.5 stars. I think maybe short stories are just not my thing but I really liked the concept of a good 100+ pages of history (and I love Liv Albert who wrote that part) followed by essentially fan fiction.

[Megan Harvell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! So beautiful.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introduction was a bit long and boring, but the modern myths were enjoyable.