Medusa of the Gorgons

Great Women of Greek Mythology #8

by Mike French, Vittorio Mattioli, Little Miss Grumpy (Cover)

Is Medusa an evil monster who turns people into stone just by looking at them, or was this tale created by victor and not the victim? She is, after all, just a mortal girl, albeit the daughter of primordial gods and sister to the immortal Gorgons. But her short life changes when, one fateful day, she goes to visit the new temple of Athena. From a sheltered upbringing to conversing with a sly goddess and evil god, Medusa discovers the world is not such a rosy place...

GREAT WOMEN OF GREEK MYTHOLOGY is a series of short books for young and old introducing readers to the ancient world through its heroines. These books aim to bring readers on a journey filled with excitement, drama, death and love, all while focusing on the women who have played such an important role in our history yet are still remembered as mere bystanders.

While each book can be read separately, and in any order, there is an underlying thread that ultimately connects all these characters and provides a wider view of what it was to be a woman in the ancient Greek world.

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2025

About the author

Mike’s debut novel, The Ascent of Isaac Steward came out in 2011 with Cauliay Publishing and was nominated for The Galaxy National Book Awards which due to an unfortunate clerical error was awarded to Dawn French.

Mike's second novel a dsytopian sci-fi called Blue Friday was released in 2012 by Elsewhen Press and was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke award 2013. Convergence, his third book, was released in October 2013 from Elsewhen Press and was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke award 2014.

In Nov 2015 Elsewhen Press published Mike's hybrid novel & graphic novel called An Android Awakes with artist Karl Brown.

The sequel Fictional Alignment was published in paperback April 2018.

Mike was also the senior editor and owner of The View From Here literary magazine which closed in Nov 2014.

Reviews

[Angela Mahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simplified version of a misunderstood gorgon, Medusa. It is a book for young readers aged 12+, however, the story does cover the rape of Medusa, so may require further explanations. This is part of a new mini series of the great women in Greek mythology. Plenty of themes explored here too, a good read. I would like to read the full set now. A lovely little book, bought in Greece, however can only get the kindle version in the UK.

[PotatoPeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

So i have got this in Greece and honestly I regret that I bought only this one story from the series. For what it is (as a really short novela) it is really good. The language is nice, the story does not romanticise or changes the original myth. She’s the victim, and Athena does not really help her~ the theme of rape is here. It is not pretty but it’s not grafic.
I always struggle with giving stars to these short books but I think this is really great. I don’t have anything to critique here really.

[Wirzada · Rating 2 out of 5]

'He was a monster, uncaring of others...but at least he seemed to be unable to understand that his actions caused such hurt.'

How to tell if a story written from a woman's perspective is actually written by yet another man?

When Poisedon is justified for raping a young girl because he is 'unable to understand' what he was doing, but Athena is depicted as even more cruel and vile for her actions.

Athena, because she is a female figure is irrational and evil but Poseidon...he is just the way he is 🤮.

[Lenka Kovarikova]

I don’t know how to rate this kind of book. It was well written and I especially enjoyed the last part „Behind the Myth“.