A sapphic graphic-novel reimagining of the Medusa myth, where the fearsome Gorgon and a blind princess fall in love against impossible odds. Perfect for readers of Lore Olympus and The Song of Achilles.
Song for Medusa is a sapphic reimagining of the petrifying Gorgon Medusa, who falls in love with a blind princess who is not affected by her curse.
Medusa has lived in her temple prison for years, turning men who seek glory to stone. Her only comfort is the mysterious song drifting from the villa palace above. After a chance encounter with Princess Cyrene—whose blindness spares her—the two lonely women find in each other kindred spirits, and soon, love.
A romantic, resilient retelling of a classic myth Centers LGBTQ+ and disabled characters with care Lush, expressive, cinematic artwork Perfect for fans of Lore Olympus and The Song of Achilles
Fall under Medusa's spell in a myth made new . . . beautiful, powerful, and unforgettable.
This was so sweet and pretty!! The artwork is reminiscent of the comic books I used to read as a kid and the lettering perfectly fits the story. Weaving in Sappho's poetry into the story was a brilliant idea 🥹
It's also a pretty short graphic novel, so you can easily finish this in a single setting. The characters in here were adorable. Most of them, at least. I wanted to punch Perseus in the face.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
OBSESSED. this medusa retelling was unputdownable and gorgeously drawn. the sapphic romance had me HOOKED. dear grace please bless us with more greek myth retellings 🛐
A cute and ernest update of the Medusa legend with with a feminist message and women-loving-women romance. Perseus still sticks his nose in, but most of the other details and side characters are changed from the more common tellings.
The art and storytelling are a bit awkward at times, but I consistently enjoyed my time spent in the pages.
Side note: The poetry of Sappho, as translated by Anne Carson, is included in little snippets as songs sung by the main characters throughout the book.
Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
Thanks you NetGalley for the ARC of this adorable sapphic retelling. I absolutely love Greek mythology and this was just perfect to read on my back home. Medusa oh who knew you were so beautiful, almost as much as your beloved. My the art is just amazing!! I read this so quick I couldn’t put it down once. It comes out November 10 definitely recommend checking it out.
❝ that’s all men are taught : to destroy , to kill, to rule. no matter how hard we try, they will take until is nothing left of us❞
! Thank you NetGalley and Grace Desmarais for the copy of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own !
⋆˙⟡ I love Greek mythology and I absolutely love this. it is so beautiful and I and I really would have like it if it was longer because i couldn’t get enough of this retelling
gracias net galley por esta joya de mitología griega lesbianaaaaa, mi tipo de droga favorita. fue muy tierno, pero me hubiera gustado que fuera más largo o por lo menos que hubiera un montaje de su relación para que sea un poco más creíble que se enamoren al instante. igual entiendo el trabajazo que lleva a hacer una novela gráfica y estuvo BÁRBARA <3
I believe this is the story of Princess Cyrene who was a fierce huntress and Thessalian princess in Greek mythology - 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ 4.5/5
Song for Medusa by Grace Desmarais is a beautifully crafted and emotionally resonant graphic novel that gives the familiar story of Medusa, a fresh and deeply human perspective. Instead of presenting her merely as the monstrous figure traditionally associated with Greek mythology, the book explores the person behind the myth—her emotions, vulnerabilities, struggles and the experiences that shaped her. This reinterpretation makes Medusa feel considerably more complex and relatable, while also encouraging the reader to reconsider the way her story has traditionally been told.
The artwork is one of the strongest elements of the book. The illustrations create an evocative mythological atmosphere while effectively capturing the quieter emotional moments between the characters. The combination of visuals and narrative makes the story immersive and allows the ancient setting and its characters to come alive in a very accessible way. I particularly enjoyed how the graphic-novel format adds another layer of expression to Medusa's journey, allowing emotions and symbolism to be communicated visually rather than relying entirely on dialogue.
What makes the book stand out is its ability to take a well-known myth and approach it from a more compassionate and character-driven angle. Cyrene and Medusa are both remarkably presented as per book's content. The emotional development feels meaningful, and the story leaves the reader thinking about identity, suffering, power and the consequences of how stories are remembered and retold. There are a few moments where I would have liked certain relationships and emotional developments to be explored even further, but these are relatively minor shortcomings in an otherwise impressive work. Inspired from the work of Sappho, a lady writer from the island of Lesbos, this is presented very finely with the help of graphics. However, I felt that the story ended so abruptly. It could have been extended a bit with more content.
Overall, it is a striking, thoughtful and beautifully illustrated reinterpretation of Medusa that transforms an ancient myth into an intimate story of humanity, identity and resilience. A particularly rewarding read for anyone interested in Greek mythology and graphic storytelling.
Thanks to netgallery for an earlier access to this book
I don’t know much about Greek Mythology and I wanted to change that by reading something simple and easy to understand why people love it so much - and now I get it. Medusa is a character that had me interested in for a long time. When I see that graphic novel it immediately grabbed my attention. Reading it was such a pleasure.
I loved the art style - I felt in love with these pages with lyrics on. The colors are so beautiful and they are making the story more realistic (as you can make a mythology realistic) Sometimes the words were a little hard to read but that wasn’t a big problem.
I loved Cyrene’s character - I need to read more about her history because her strength and how she defends women’s rights is so inspiring to me. The fate that a blind princess and a Medusa whos eye sight changes into stone is soo interesting. I was wondering almost the whole book if it’s gonna be a tragedy or a happily ever after. The book is fast paced and I’ve read it in one sitting. I really recommend it to these who don’t know anything about Greek mythology or want to remind themselves about this story (for me personally this graphic novel encouraged me to get to know better Greek mythology)
"Eros shook my mind like a mountian wind falling on oak trees"
I really enjoyed this sapphic graphic novel of Medusa. The Greek Lore is what caught my eye and it was a great retelling.
The story was easy to follow and had enough detail to feel all emotions throughout. Hated Perseus, will forever adore Eros, feeling how isolated both Cyrene and Medusa felt. King Darius was abit meh. I loved the end of this novel and how the Fates intervened!
The illustrations were bright, colourful and beautiful and I loved the style!
Absolutely gorgeous illustrations with the sweetest love story. I loved this sapphic reimagining of Medusa that was both cozy and romantic! And unlike Song of Achilles, the ending won’t leave you in pieces.
This was a very cute sapphic retelling of Medusa and Cyrene. While the plot was simplistic and predictable, it still keeps you engaged and rooting for Medusa and Cyrene.
This was good but I’m not sure I’m the target audience. It definitely seems more YA than I expected. But overall, I liked the message of the story. It was an interesting take on Medusa which was interesting to me as I love Greek mythology.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this novel.
This graphic novel offers a sapphic reimagining of the story of Medusa. For years, Medusa has lived in solitude, turning men who try to hurt and/or kill her into stone. But one day, Princess Cyrene of Aeolis stumbles into her cave, saved from turning into stone herself by her blindness. As the two spend time together, they fall in love. But Cyrene is betrothed to Perseus, who will stop at nothing to make Cyrene his wife and take the crown.
Gorgeous artwork and a beautiful story! 🩷 I really enjoyed this book and loved both Cyrene and Medusa. The romance between them was sweet and lovely and though it was fast-paced, I liked how they bonded over music and performing together. This book also gives a glimpse into Medusa’s life before her assault by Poseidon and what I would call the punishment she received from Athena. The story of Medusa is very much one of violence against women and how women are often victim blamed when they are assaulted. I liked how Medusa and Cyrene reclaimed their power and independence, especially against Perseus, and the men in their lives who didn’t believe they could amount to anything simply because of their gender, and, in Cyrene’s case, because of her disability.
I also loved Cyrene’s friend Lyra! She was so much fun, especially with her betting lol, and I liked how supportive she was of Cyrene. I also liked the part with Eros because he was kind of funny and goofy. I would love another graphic novel about the Fates though! They seemed awesome and I would love to know their story more 👀 Lastly, I’ve always hated Perseus so I’m happy he was depicted the way he was in this book: as an arrogant a**hole and a fraud 🙂
A wonderful graphic novel and I really recommend it! 🩷 Thank you to the author, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review 🩷
This is a lovely sapphic graphic novel reimagining of the classic Greek myth of Medusa.
Cursed by a god to turn anyone who meets her gaze to stone, Medusa has lived a lonely life in her secluded cave, feared as a monster. But when Princess Cyrene, a beautiful blind songstress, finds her way to the cave, fate has something else in store for them both.
I enjoyed this comic a lot. I thought the story was a beautiful interpretation of the classic myth. It highlighted the injustices faced by women and mortals who were treated as playthings by the gods. I liked the FMCs a lot and thought their story was sweet. The artwork was lovely, with painterly illustrations. I also thought it was really nice how Sappho's poetry was incorporated through Cyrene’s song. The scenes with the music were definitely my favorites.
Overall, a really successful reimagining of a classic story with a fresh LGBTQ+ spin.
Art: 4/5 Plot: 4.5/5 Writing: 4/5 My Enjoyment: 4.5/5
*** I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
I have always been interested in Greek and Roman mythology, and the story of Medusa is a particularly good, albeit underlit, one, especially from Medusa’s perspective.
I was therefore pretty excited when I saw the title of this graphic novel. And I was not disappointed. Song for Medusa gives us a different perspective, as well as a reimagining, of her story, while keeping the core details of the original myth. This story has a far better ending for our main character; one more befitting someone who has been unjustly violated and then cursed by the gods.
If you finally want a happy ending for one of the many humans, that fell victim to the gods who just saw them as mere playthings to do with as they please, this graphic novel is for you.
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I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
As a child, I was obsessed with Greek mythology and all that I had to satisfy that itch was reading a "mythology encyclopedia" back to front. Several times. I was born too early for the Greek Retelling Revival. I've tried a few. None of them really convince me.
This one has a couple of things going for it. The art is cute and accessible. It's WLW. It's ~diverse~. But it still kind of falls flat for me. However, I am no longer 16 years old, as mentioned. The Greek mythology obsessed teen in your life might think you're cool for giving this to them. If you're cool with queer themes, of course. That's the sad thing, really. Queer art should also get to be mid or only appealing to a young audience, but it's being banned left and right. So despite my personal misgivings, I am happy the author is putting this out into the world.
A short, sweet, and cozy YA story with a lot of charm. The romance developed a little faster than I would normally prefer, but given the length and style of the story, it worked well enough and did not take away from my enjoyment.
Although I am not part of the target audience, I still found this to be an enjoyable read that could easily appeal to readers of different ages. It is a light and heartwarming story that does not overcomplicate things, making it a pleasant choice when you are looking for something quick and cozy.
The illustrations were another highlight for me. They are lovely and beautifully complement the story, adding an extra layer of charm to the reading experience.
Overall, a cute and comforting YA read with beautiful illustrations and plenty of heart.
It´s a fun, quick Young Adult graphic novel. The premise is interesting enough - who better to fall in love with Medusa than a blind girl? The art is beautiful, especially the colours - and stylistically a great choice for the subject matter.
As it's YA, it is a bit insta-everything; insta-love between the main characters and insta-heelturns when plot calls for it for other characters, mainly the father:
The book is laced with excerpts from a poem by Sappho -diegetically, as our main character sings-, and I liked the historical notes at the end of the novel.
i loved this reimagining of the medusa story so so much 🥹 she's hot and badass and so in love with her princess 🥰 the art style was really cute and colorful i liked it a lot along with the characters designs ! amazing job ! the love story is so cute and i'm glad we have a happy ever after i was scared i'd end up sad knowing how the mith usually goes
Thank you Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The art in this graphic novel is gorgeous. I love how music/singing is portrayed in particular. I’m sure in print it is even more lovely. The story was rather simple and straight forward, but I still very much enjoyed it - I saw another reviewer mentioned that it felt young adult, which I can agree with, but for me this didn’t bother me. For fans of Greek sapphic stories, this graphic novel is for you !
3.75 ⭐ While not perfect, I had a lot of fun with this sapphic Medusa retelling, where she falls in love with a princess who is blind. I would have loved to have more buildup of the plot, and more development of Medusa and Cyrene’s relationship overall. I also had some qualms with the male characters feeling like cardboard cutouts and would have enjoyed some more depth from their characters. However, I loved the gorgeous illustrations, aesthetic color palettes, and engaging storyline and think that readers who enjoy queer retellings will have fun with this one. (Thank you NetGalley for this arc!)
This graphic novel is a beautiful, queer and feminist retelling of Medusa's story, loosely inspired by the writings of Sappho. A quick, heartwarming read, and I also really enjoyed the artwork.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
[thank you to netgalley for the advanced reader copy]
I love graphic novels more than anything, especially ones with great illustrations and entertaining storylines. The second I started it I was hooked!! Especially since the story follows Medusa and focuses on the importance of understanding, everything was executed so well and the characters are amazing!!
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I adored this graphic novel reimagining of the story of Medusa. The interwoven snippets of poems from Sappho were wonderful as Cyrene, the princess sung her songs.
As a blind princess, she’s been caged inside the palace most of her life. When she finally gets a day to herself outside of the palace walls, she stumbles upon the cave of Medusa.
As a feared monster, all Medusa expects is yet another man is here to kill her. But this time, a delightful young woman is here by chance.
I loved this reimagining, especially how it cast Perseus into such a different light for me. I’m always a little on the fence about these retellings, but this is now up there as a favourite for me!
The artwork was beautiful and it was an easy read too!
It’s out on 10th November 2026! Mark your calendars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for sharing an eARC copy of this graphic novel with me!
I really enjoyed this cute story about Medusa and Cyrene. I loved their relationship and the Greek atmosphere throughout the story. I also really liked the inclusion of Sappho’s poetry, which I thought was a really nice addition.
There were a few moments where the text was a little difficult to read, but overall this was a really enjoyable graphic novel and I would definitely recommend it!
My first graphic novel—and I couldn’t have picked a better one! ✨
Greek mythology is something I’ve always enjoyed, and this fresh take on Medusa was beautiful. I loved the combination of mythology, romance, loneliness, hope, and gorgeous artwork.
Medusa and Cyrene’s story was tender and moving. The illustrations made the whole experience even more immersive.
Beautiful, magical, and absolutely worth 5 stars. 🐍💜
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this beautiful reimagining of Medusa’s story. As someone who loves Greek mythology retellings, Song for Medusa was right up my street, but it was the combination of the gorgeous artwork and the lyrical, almost musical prose that really made this stand out for me.
The story centres on Medusa, who has been cursed by the gods and transformed into the Gorgon we know from mythology. Living in isolation, she has learned to survive rather than live. Meanwhile, Cyrene, a blind princess, is confined by the expectations placed upon her and treated as though her blindness makes her somehow lesser. When their paths cross, an unexpected friendship develops into something deeper.
I particularly enjoyed the way the story gives Medusa a chance to be seen as a person rather than simply the monster from the familiar myth. We learn more about her history, including what happened with Poseidon, while Cyrene's story explores her own struggles with expectations, independence and the limitations imposed upon her. Their relationship develops through friendship, trust and mutual respect, which made their eventual love story feel particularly meaningful.
The themes of healing, self-worth, resilience, standing up for yourself and exceeding other people's expectations are woven naturally throughout the story. At its heart, though, this is a story about connection and Sapphic love, and I loved seeing that relationship given such a tender and central place within a Greek mythology retelling.
The artwork is absolutely stunning. It brings the mythology to life beautifully and works particularly well alongside the lyrical writing. The prose has a poetic quality that makes the whole book feel almost like a song or a piece of mythology being retold aloud. Despite dealing with some darker elements of the original myth, the storytelling is accessible and easy to follow, making this feel like a graphic novel that could appeal to a wide range of readers.
This is a thoughtful, beautifully illustrated retelling that takes a familiar myth and gives its characters more agency, humanity and emotional depth. I came away from it feeling that Medusa's story had been given a new heart, and I would happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys mythology retellings, graphic novels or Sapphic fantasy.
Recommended for: Readers who enjoy Greek mythology retellings, graphic novels, lyrical prose, Sapphic romance and stories about healing, resilience and finding your own identity. Content warnings: Sexual violence/sexual assault (referenced and implied), coercion, violence, death, discussions of trauma and abuse.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The artwork in this book is stunning and poignant. I appreciate the inclusion of Sappho's poetry as I think it bears thematic connection with the work.
I am intrigued by the choice to include Perseus in this way, since he is one of the very few heroes in Greek mythology who normally gets a happy ending, though of course if Medusa is framed as a hero, then of course he would be at odds with her. I think I would have preferred a slightly less simplistic story and less simplistic characters, even though I understand there is a practical limit to the length of a graphic novel. For example, giving Perseus or Cyrene's father a more complex character. It didn't really feel like anyone grew over the course of the story (well, I suppose Medusa did, but besides her.) However, that is easily forgiven with beautiful art.
I would say my favorite character in this was Eros, just because he was quite different and exciting to see on the page. My next favorite was Medusa, in part because she looked so beautiful. And finally Cyrene---because she's beautiful.
I found Cyrene's relationship with her friend Lyra quite cute, but Lyra also was a bit stereotypical/trope-y.
One thing I wondered in regards to disability in this work is whether this indeed makes sense for a blind character in Ancient Greece. Like, I'm not saying blind people aren't capable---far from it---but it's a bit odd to me that Cyrene rejects the use of so many things that would make things more accessible for her, such as having a sighted guide, even from Medusa. I understand that she wants to keep her independence, but she literally almost died and keeps meeting Medusa in such dangerous places. It doesn't feel very responsible of her. On the other hand, even bringing a guide dog along would be smart for her, especially because Medusa's not a danger to animals in this story (see, for reference, the hermit crab which shows up multiple times in this story). I also just don't know how the guards wouldn't have heard her using her cane to get around + is it even possible to use a standard cane on the beach (possibly it is, but I don't know). Anyway, I'm not saying it's unrealistic because obviously different people with different disabilities can handle things differently and make choices about their own accessibility on their own, but I was just thinking about this throughout the story.