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Of Serpents and Sorrow: A Medusa retelling
Before the myth, there was a woman.
Medusa has been groomed her entire life to follow a single path: serve her term as the highly-respected Priestess of Athena, and then become the perfect, obedient wife to a wealthy nobleman she would never love.
Ismene has grown up despised by her tyrannical father, hidden away from polite society so she cannot bring shame to her family.
When the two meet, their lives are turned upside down by a whirlwind of forbidden feelings and secret dreams of a different kind of life. One where they might both be happier than they’d ever thought possible.
That is, until the gods get involved, and their world is transformed beyond recognition.
Medusa has been groomed her entire life to follow a single path: serve her term as the highly-respected Priestess of Athena, and then become the perfect, obedient wife to a wealthy nobleman she would never love.
Ismene has grown up despised by her tyrannical father, hidden away from polite society so she cannot bring shame to her family.
When the two meet, their lives are turned upside down by a whirlwind of forbidden feelings and secret dreams of a different kind of life. One where they might both be happier than they’d ever thought possible.
That is, until the gods get involved, and their world is transformed beyond recognition.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2025
About the author
Katherine Shaw
11 books13 followersKatherine Shaw is a multi-genre writer and self-confessed nerd from Yorkshire in the United Kingdom, spending most of her time dreaming up new characters or playing D&D. She has a passion for telling stories of injustice and battles against oppression, often with a focus on female protagonists.
You can find out more about Katherine at her website (www.katherineshawwrites.com), where you can also sign up to her Mail Club to receive exclusive news and updates.
You can find out more about Katherine at her website (www.katherineshawwrites.com), where you can also sign up to her Mail Club to receive exclusive news and updates.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 15, 2025
Of Serpents and Sorrow is a beautiful Sapphic reimagining of the tragic story of Medusa, a much maligned character in Greek mythology. Instead of the monster here we are introduced to a very human Medusa, a young woman who is proud to serve as a priestess in the temple of Athena until a chance encounter with a young woman named Ismene changes the future she was sure lay ahead.
Ismene is the daughter of an artisan potter and her home life is far from easy, he is quick to take out his mercurial temper on her, often physically while also berating her as worthless since her facial scarring means she is unlikely to ever marry. When she meets Medusa and gets a glimpse of a future far happier than she could ever have imagined she decides to take a chance.
If you are familiar with the story of Medusa you know that this tale cannot have a happy ending but even knowing that, I was not prepared to have my heart ripped out quite so completely by this beautifully tragic love story. I fell in love with these characters, seeing them both grow in different ways as they found hope in each other, while Ismene gained confidence and a sense of her own worth, Medusa became more aware of her privilege. Even the secondary characters had depth and emotional resonance. I also have to tip my hat to the research that clearly went into this book, the historical details are woven into the story seamlessly and it is abundantly clear that this is a labour of love for the author. Finally I have to say that the cover artwork is just beautiful and could not have fit the story any better.
This is a book I was excited about from the first time I heard it mentioned and it really did not disappoint. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading this beautiful book.
Ismene is the daughter of an artisan potter and her home life is far from easy, he is quick to take out his mercurial temper on her, often physically while also berating her as worthless since her facial scarring means she is unlikely to ever marry. When she meets Medusa and gets a glimpse of a future far happier than she could ever have imagined she decides to take a chance.
If you are familiar with the story of Medusa you know that this tale cannot have a happy ending but even knowing that, I was not prepared to have my heart ripped out quite so completely by this beautifully tragic love story. I fell in love with these characters, seeing them both grow in different ways as they found hope in each other, while Ismene gained confidence and a sense of her own worth, Medusa became more aware of her privilege. Even the secondary characters had depth and emotional resonance. I also have to tip my hat to the research that clearly went into this book, the historical details are woven into the story seamlessly and it is abundantly clear that this is a labour of love for the author. Finally I have to say that the cover artwork is just beautiful and could not have fit the story any better.
This is a book I was excited about from the first time I heard it mentioned and it really did not disappoint. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading this beautiful book.
August 30, 2025
4.5* rounded up
Of Serpents and Sorrow by is a skillful Medusa retelling which, as all the best retellings do, had me fully invested in the story, even whilst I knew the ending. (Not me desperately wanting a HEA for Medusa and Ismene even though I knew that wasn't going to happen 😭)
I enjoyed our two main characters, Medusa & Ismene, who both felt alive on the page, the depiction of their burgeoning relationship, and the exploration of how they navigated being women in Ancient Greece.
Even the little snapshots of Perseus were an interesting look into his actions and pysche. Shaw also captures the capracious and haughty nature of the Gods in the glimpses we get of them.
In the second half of the book - after Medusa's transformation - I also really liked how her sisterly relationship with the other two gorgons was portrayed.
Overall, a definite recommendation for anyone who enjoys greek mythology retellings.
(Also, more sapphic greek mythology retellings, please!)
Of Serpents and Sorrow by is a skillful Medusa retelling which, as all the best retellings do, had me fully invested in the story, even whilst I knew the ending. (Not me desperately wanting a HEA for Medusa and Ismene even though I knew that wasn't going to happen 😭)
I enjoyed our two main characters, Medusa & Ismene, who both felt alive on the page, the depiction of their burgeoning relationship, and the exploration of how they navigated being women in Ancient Greece.
Even the little snapshots of Perseus were an interesting look into his actions and pysche. Shaw also captures the capracious and haughty nature of the Gods in the glimpses we get of them.
In the second half of the book - after Medusa's transformation - I also really liked how her sisterly relationship with the other two gorgons was portrayed.
Overall, a definite recommendation for anyone who enjoys greek mythology retellings.
(Also, more sapphic greek mythology retellings, please!)
August 27, 2025
This is one of those "this book completely destroyed me...here, read it!" kind of books. Oh my goodness!
Of Serpents and Sorrow as a Medusa retelling is just glorious. It's effortlessly written, and honours the original myth whilst bringing its own essence to the table. I particularly loved the addition of the Sapphic romance between Medusa and Ismene. Two broken souls, in one way or another, finding and loving each other despite living in a world hellbent on deciding their fates for them.
Hope shines through this book, almost in a heartbreaking way. Like, this is a Medusa retelling. We know her story, and we know how it ends. How can there be any hope of anything different? And yet, several times throughout the story, I almost believed Medusa might have her happy ending. So yes...heartbreaking!
If you enjoy Greek tales, I very much recommend this gorgeous book!
Of Serpents and Sorrow as a Medusa retelling is just glorious. It's effortlessly written, and honours the original myth whilst bringing its own essence to the table. I particularly loved the addition of the Sapphic romance between Medusa and Ismene. Two broken souls, in one way or another, finding and loving each other despite living in a world hellbent on deciding their fates for them.
Hope shines through this book, almost in a heartbreaking way. Like, this is a Medusa retelling. We know her story, and we know how it ends. How can there be any hope of anything different? And yet, several times throughout the story, I almost believed Medusa might have her happy ending. So yes...heartbreaking!
If you enjoy Greek tales, I very much recommend this gorgeous book!
August 21, 2025
This was a fantastic little book. I'm a huge fan of retellings, and I wasnt sure how Shaw would handle certain aspects of Medusa's story, or even make it new. But the love story was refreshing, Ismene's character jumping off the page, and even though it's an old story, I was never too sure as to how the plot was going to play out.
If you love a lil indie book and a greek mythology, give it a bash 😊
If you love a lil indie book and a greek mythology, give it a bash 😊
August 16, 2025
This book ripped my heart in half in the most beautiful way possible. The two main characters are both flawed and victims of circumstance, but they come together to form a gorgeous bond. Shaw writes astounding prose that will keep you hooked from line one. A highly recommended read!
January 30, 2026
Well done retelling. Descriptions of characters & places were lovely.
July 4, 2026
Beautiful and heartbreaking all in one book
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews