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MEDROMEDA

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The myth of Medromeda explores the life of Medusa before she became the feared monster that turns men to stone. Amidst the confines of her imposed darkness, light is revealed in the most unexpected ways, proving that seeing the world though another's eyes can change the heart of man, and maybe, even the gods.

 

On the sleepy island of Seriphos, a young Medusa saves a wounded crow with the heroic help of Perseus. The three form an inseparable bond. On the neighboring island of Patmos, Princess Andromeda lives a lonely, conflicted life that values power over love.

 

Unbeknown to them, all three were born on the same day, at the same hour, and with an ethereal beauty that surpassed that of the gods.  For one, beauty would be their unraveling curse.

 

A rivalry between Athena and Poseidon leaves a mark on the innocence of these three souls. Their lives become unknowingly intertwined, bound by an ancient legend that will test the boundaries of truth, power, loyalty, and love.


264 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2024

2 people are currently reading
35 people want to read

About the author

Lore Wren

2 books7 followers

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5 stars
9 (45%)
4 stars
8 (40%)
3 stars
1 (5%)
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1 (5%)
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1 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Salina..
232 reviews9 followers
September 6, 2024
⚠️ S.A
Liked ✅
- Myth building
- HEA
- Mortals win

Thoughts 💭
I am questioning whether I am currently in a bit of a mythological retelling era.

In the first half of Medromeda readers learn about Medusa, Andromeda and the baseline for all their myths to unfold. Once I hit 50% I got really worried as to how the rest of the book was going to play out, I felt like their stories had been told where else could we go.

The last half is my favourite! Everything gets wrapped up in a way that makes you so thankful you kept reading. There is a bit of the villain getting what they deserve, there's a bit of sticking it to the gods, and a happily ever after. Medusa and Perseus are goals, I really loved their bond and love for each other. It was very interesting to bounce around between the events of the past and how they impacted and changed the events of the present. It was a cool way to bring both stories together and intertwine them.
Profile Image for Destinee 🫡.
91 reviews10 followers
July 26, 2024
˗ˋˏ Medromeda ˎˊ-

☆˙୨ৎ⭒๋࣭⭑ Author: Lore Wren ☆˙୨ৎ⭒๋࣭⭑

₊˚⊹♡ Rating: 4 / 5 Stars ₊˚⊹♡

⋆˚✿˖° Review:
this was not one of my normal reads, but I have always loved mythology so I am glad I gave this one a shot. At first, it took me a minute to adjust to a mythology style writing, but once I did, it fit the story so well. This story was great to see the many different emotions humans face, & the effects they can have on others. from romance, vengeance, hatred, jealousy, Medromeda shows the beautiful & ugly parts of humans.

♡ What I Loved:
- mythology
- retelling of medusa in a fun, intriguing way
- writing style fits the story well
- insights into all the parts of humans

.ᐟ What I Didn't Like:
- minor grammar errors
- at the beginning there was tons of people being introduced so i got confused just a bit

જ⁀➴ Spice Level: 0/5, all closed door

— ୨୧₊˚ Would I Recommend It?:
yes! Lore Wren does a great thing in showing us the power of humans & love. its a beautiful story & is so interesting to see the twist on the tradition Medusa lore.

₊˚⊹♡ Conclusion:
thank you Lore Wren for giving me a chance to read this book! i loved the rawness, powerfulness and authenticity of the characters you crafted. it was a great story, & one with a lot of power & meaning that can reflect into one's own life.
₊˚⊹♡
Profile Image for Helen G-W.
67 reviews2 followers
July 18, 2024
This book blew me away. I was so captivated. Lore has given Medusa a humanity and relatability that I have never seen anywhere else.
The story is so beautifully written and flows effortlessly. There are parts that could’ve been confusing but Lote wrote in such an amazing way, so perfectly, that there’s no confusion at all. It’s brilliant.
This book was so much fun to read and has so many *GASP* moments, and moments where you’re on the edge of your seat with anticipation. The last 8 chapters had me in my feelings.
Lore has written a wonderful book that I will reread multiple times. It has become a favorite.
I can’t wait for more of her work, I want it all.
I highly recommend Medromeda. It won’t disappoint and you’ll want more too.
Profile Image for Rachel.
77 reviews
November 3, 2024
What an amazing book! Great read! Could put it down %!
Profile Image for Katie Beth.
23 reviews1 follower
June 18, 2024
This debut from Lore Wren was expertly crafted to read just like traditional Greek mythology. Her twists on the old legends were refreshing and full of new life. This one was full of romance and love, manipulation and murder, wrath and forgiveness. This book was all closed door, thank goodness since they were all teenagers. But there is on page (non-explicit) SA so check your triggers there. Most of the chapters are short and sweet. Perfect for a mom chasing busy kids all day and needs short bursts for good stopping points to handle business. The take on the Medusa myth is so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, Perseus could stand against the best book boyfriends. If you loved Percy Jackson, or The Odyssey, pick this one up. Great Read!
Profile Image for bookish1.sam.
138 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2024
I love mythology and Medusa is one of my favorites. I've been looking for the perfect Medusa retelling and although I don't know if this retelling is perfect, I do think that it’s pretty close. It definitely is the best retelling I've read till now.

This retelling beautifully interconnects the stories of three very well known greek mythology characters and gives the POVs of Medusa, Andromeda and Perseus. You get more backstory and see them play bigger parts in eachothers stories.

My heart aches for Medusa! Eventhough she’s not real, she represents a lot of real women and her story is just straight up tragic and unfair!

In this story we get to see her as she was before she became the infamous monster everyone knows about.

Amd we get a different ending. One that I absolutely love. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Medusa, mythology, or just a good love story!
Profile Image for Abby.
275 reviews8 followers
July 1, 2024
Lore Wren did an amazing job with her debut novel, Medromeda. I am a huge fan of Greek mythology, and I think she knocked it out of the park. I’m not sure how many people do not know who Medusa is, or at least know what she is known for. This story covers Medusa’s story before she became what she is known for today. I love how this is inspired and is a retelling of and Lore’s narrative was well written. This book is not long and is something you can read in one sitting or if you’re out and about! I would definitely take this book with me to run my errands. I love that it’s a story for me to be very invested in, but also a book that I can put down and pick up right away if my children were to bother me. I love that I don’t feel so overwhelmed by the writing, like in the Iliad, with the massive amount of text.

“This story follows the life of Medusa before she became the “monster” she is known for, turning men into stone. On the sleepy island of Seriphos, a young Meduda saves a wounded crow with the heroic help of Perseus. The three form an inseparable bond. On the neighboring island of Patmos, Princess Andromeda lives a lonely, conflicted life that values power over love. Unbeknownst to them, all three were born on the same day, at the same hour, and with an ethereal beauty that surpassed that of the gods. For one, beauty would be their unraveling curse.”

This retelling and story has been told several times and in different ways. I enjoyed the direction in which Lore wrote and how she blended the old with the new. Her story will pull on your heartstrings in different directions. If you’re new to Greek mythology or Medusa’s story, you won’t be overwhelmed or underwhelmed. I feel like the story hits all the right spots. You get to read about trust, family, romance, love, lust, murder, and much more. I am very happy to have this book on my shelf! It’s one of my favorites! I can’t wait for Lore Wren to come out with more!
Profile Image for Tanja Glavnik.
743 reviews14 followers
November 3, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Ah, what a let-down.

I'm usually a sucker for a good Greek mythology retelling, but while Medromeda has good bones, it lacks in execution.

The characters are rather flat and one-dimenional. Medusa is good and wronged; Perseus is righteous and wronged; and Adromeda is a spoiled brat. That's it, that's all you need to know about why there's body-switching involved that gets rid of the "bad" girl and allows the "good" one to live the rest of her days out with the guy she loves.

That alone could be overlooked if not for other unfortunate problems with the text itself. I'm hopeful it's only because it's an ARC but, there are jumps between first person to third person POV, past tense to present tense in a past-tense prevalent text (example: Medusa loves to sing instead of Medusa loved to sing), and on more than one occasion the text describes something that happened before and the character's remembering it, but it's written so confusingly that you think it's happening right now, in this moment, until you're yanked back to the actual present (again without any notable sign) and you're left to figure out what happened.

The story could have benefited from about 50 more pages fleshing out the characters and giving their motivations room to breathe, particularly Andromeda, who yo-yos between trying to be good to power-hungry within the span of a few sentences, maybe a paragraph, before settling for psycho.

I could keep going but all in all, this book sadly wasn't the best. The myth of Perseus, Medusa and Andromeda deserves a little bit more than what we're given here, and I understand that this is a debut novel, which is why I say: edit, edit, edit. It absolutely needs tight edits before hitting mass market!

Sadly, a miss for me.
1 review
June 7, 2024
Lore Wren’s debut novel is a knockout start to what promises to be an epic series. With its layered characters and intricate plot, Wren’s storytelling is nothing short of masterful. Each chapter is a thrilling blend of suspense, raw emotion, and sharp insights into the human psyche. The romance in this book is off the charts, adding a sizzling, sexy vibe that’s sure to hook fans of the genre. The chemistry between the protagonists crackles with intensity, featuring steamy scenes that will keep readers coming back for more. Even if you’re new to mythology, you’ll be hooked by the vivid descriptions and clever dialogue that pull you right into this richly crafted world. This isn’t just a story; it’s an exploration of deep themes and relationships that stick with you long after you’ve finished reading. Lore Wren has absolutely nailed it with this incredible debut, marking her as a rising star in contemporary lit. This book is a must-read!
Profile Image for David Wright.
100 reviews1 follower
August 21, 2024
At first I liked the simple writing style but then I realised it’s because the author doesn’t know how to write.

Pros:
Simple writing style, like a fairy tale.

Con:
Needs about three more commas per page.
The rape scene is very badly written.
Chapter 15 switches between first and third person.
The last quarter of the book is a complete mess.
Perseus can deflect lightning bolts with a sword - why is Athena even attacking him in the first place since they haven’t interacted at all?

Thank you to BookSirens for an ARC
Profile Image for KyLee Zelfer.
50 reviews6 followers
December 24, 2024
Medusa retelling

This Medusa retelling was EVERYTHING. The first half was predictable, and I feared for how it would end, but the back half sent me reeling! The combination of Medusa and Andromeda stories being told together adds so many layers, and it really blew me away to see how they ended up intertwined at the end. Medusa isn't what she seems, and her and Perseus's love is to die for. My heart goes out to Vexia, and I really hope she had a happy ending to her story.
Profile Image for Tony.
195 reviews1 follower
December 9, 2024
A memorable visit to my past education in high school. I had a class where we learned about the Greek and Roman gods. This book brought me back to that time. This was a very enjoyable read. I would say most of my generation would enjoy being reminded of their studies. Well done. I look forward to reading more of this authors work.
4 reviews1 follower
August 3, 2024
This is a great book for readers who are new to mythology or have plenty of experience. Lots of great action, plenty of well-written characters, and several places in the book that will have you on the edge of your seat. Give it a go, you will be happy you did!
Profile Image for readingcactuss.
95 reviews2 followers
February 9, 2025
I wanted to like this so much but it wasn’t for me. The writing is good but overall the plot didn’t work for me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Charlene (pageandplace).
335 reviews20 followers
August 26, 2024
🌵Medromeda🌵

The myth of Medusa is retold in a beautiful and heartwarming way! 🐍

Medusa, before becoming a feared monster, saves a wounded crow and meets Perseus. The trio become bonded and their lives forever intertwined. 🐦‍⬛

An ancient legend will test the boundaries of love, loyalty truth and power amongst the gods and goddesses. 🪶

I am a huge Medusa fan and went in with a love for her already but this was a truly beautiful retelling, that shows the truest beauty of Medusa’s soul!

“We are written”…. “Love filled their eyes and tears punctured their veils of strength.”
“We are all monsters to someone.”

These were 2 of my favorite lines from the books. Wren wrote so fantastically and gave Medusa a heart of gold and a face of beauty throughout, with and without the head of snakes! 🐍
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