I, Medusa

by Ayana Gray

From New York Times bestselling author Ayana Gray comes a new kind of villain origin story, reimagining one of the most iconic monsters in Greek mythology as a provocative and powerful young heroine.

Meddy has spent her whole life as a footnote in someone else’s story. Out of place next to her beautiful, immortal sisters and her parents—both gods, albeit minor ones—she dreams of leaving her family’s island for a life of adventure. So when she catches the eye of the goddess Athena, who invites her to train as an esteemed priestess in her temple, Meddy leaps at the chance to see the world beyond her home.

In Athens’ colorful market streets and the clandestine chambers of the temple, Meddy flourishes in her role as Athena’s favored acolyte, getting her first tastes of purpose and power. But when she is noticed by another Olympian, Poseidon, a drunken night between girl and god ends in violence, and the course of Meddy’s promising future is suddenly and irrevocably altered.

Her locs transformed into snakes as punishment for a crime she did not commit, Medusa must embrace a new identity—not as a victim, but as a vigilante—and with it, the chance to write her own story as mortal, martyr, and myth.

Exploding with rage, heartbreak, and love, I, Medusa portrays a young woman caught in the cross currents between her heart’s deepest desires and the cruel, careless games the Olympian gods play.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Retellings, Greek Mythology, Historical

400 pages, Hardcover

First published November 18, 2025

About the author

Ayana Gray is a New York Times-bestselling author of speculative fiction. Her works have been translated in eleven languages across five continents. She currently lives in Arkansas.

Reviews

[Esta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zeus hurls lightning bolts, Artemis has flawless aim and Poseidon waves a trident around like he’s overcompensating for something probably. Cool I guess. But do any of them have snake hair and a gaze that can turn you to stone? Yeah, nah.

But while Medusa may be famed for her hissing hair and looks that literally kill, her story retold by Ayana Gray, in line with Ovid's version of events, is one of the most tragic.

It made me feel a lot of emotions ranging from devastation to fury. Maybe it's because Medusa's story feels timely and simultaneously, exhaustingly familiar...

In my opinion, Medusa was never the monster. She was just a seventeen year old mortal who was victim-blamed and demonised. I applaud Ayana Gray for a powerful reclamation of one of Greek mythology’s most misunderstood people, retelling Meddy’s story with righteous fury, tenderness and the cultural relevance it always deserved.

I'm sure Greek mythology veterans are aware that the gods were, frankly, a pack of predatory, misogynistic, narcissistic, groomers, creeps and pedos and if they were real people they would probably run in the same circle as that Epstein guy and that orange fella.

Moreover, there’s the underlying metaphor of mortals worshipping heinous, callous, flawed gods in the same cringe way people today worship celebrities and politicians, who in reality are just people who should be held accountable for their actions.

But I digress.

Anyway, Gray reframes Medusa as a symbol of everything women have survived and her reclamation of Medusa’s story is here to make you reflect, rage and remind you that "monsters" aren't born, they're made.

I, Medusa is now my favourite Greek mythology retelling I have ever read, overtaking the ranks of my beloved Miller’s Circe and Song of Achilles and a few others. I think if you have ever been fascinated by Medusa and Greek mythology retellings, you will probably resonate with this and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. But for the love of the Gorgons, please mind your triggers loves. [For people who need 'em, I listed them at the bottom of this page.]

If you’re a Poseidon, Zeus or Athena apologist (I’m so very sorely disappointed in Athena), maybe sit this one out.

My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK | Zaffre & Ayana Gray for the ARC.

Trigger warnings I caught, but aren't limited to: Sexual predators, domestic abuse, slavery, alcoholism, animal cruelty, racism, xenophobia, colonisation, rape, sexual assault, child SA, grooming, gaslighting, PTSD, misogyny.

﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

In my Gorgon era with Medusa and I just read the prologue where she turned a predator into stone so obvs I'm here for that. 🐍

[Yun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wonder what price I would pay, for that same freedom.

A dynamic entry into the Greek mythology retelling space, I, Medusa takes a villain in the traditional lore and turns her into the hero of her own story.

I adore mythology retellings. But for some reason in recent years, I’ve been tiring of them. Maybe I’ve read too many. Or maybe all the interesting ideas have been written and there's nothing new left. Whatever the reason, it's surprising and thrilling to come across a tale and a character that makes me remember why I fell in love with the genre in the first place.

The story kicks off, and I'm immediately enthralled. We follow Medusa as she yearns to leave the island of her home. She wants to see what's out there, to explore and have adventures. But instead, she is a mortal woman amongst immortal beings, and her parents' sole expectation of her is a favorable marriage to burnish the family name.

In prose equally arresting and foreboding, Ayana Gray draws the reader in, and we are left with the distinct feeling that all will not go well for Medusa. After all, every Greek mythology is pretty much a tragedy, and I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Medusa's will be as well.

But then, as the book continues, it starts to get a little bogged down with an issue common among this genre. When you think about it, you can approach a mythology retelling in two ways—by centering the tale on an event or on a character. If you go with an event, you have more freedom to focus on the choosiest bits, though at the expense of some character development. But if you pick a character, while you get the advantage of sketching them in sharp relief, you must more or less tell their whole life story, and some parts just aren't as interesting as others.

And so the middle of Medusa's tale sagged a bit from this exact phenomenon. We've moved on from the exciting introduction to our heroine and her bid to leave her childhood home. And we haven't yet gotten to the pivotal moment when she would become the legendary monster of so much fame and infamy. Instead, she's just living her life day to day, trying to make it as an acolyte in Athena's temple.

My other issue with this story is that certain sections come across a bit too obvious and modern in its lessons. This is a clearly a female rage story, but some of the dialogue are a bit too aware of this fact and apply a contemporary language in its examination of misogyny. That doesn't really match the ancient tone of the story and as a result, it pulled me out for a bit.

But small quibbles aside, this is such an interesting take on an often maligned character. Medusa is more than just the monster and myth she ends up being, and this story does her justice, bring all of her beauty and complexity and duality to life.

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[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m obsessed with Medusa so this was a no brainer. The early reviews look so good! Can’t wait to start this one!

The cover’s so pretty 🥹🩷

I promise I’ll get a tropes list up soon!

Expected Pub Date - 11/18/25

Also a side note- I’m less active than usual right now as I’m waiting on pins and needles for my home owners insurance to bind to my contract so I can move already!

I hope to be back to my jubilant active self very soon! Please help me manifest this closing date for tomorrow 😭🙏🏻



Many thanks to Random House for the digital arc, all thoughts are my own. 🐍🖤

[Kezia Duah · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I will never be helpless again. I will never be powerless again.”

Ah I love a good retelling!

There’s honestly not much more to say. This was a quick, simple story, yet still so emotional and tragic. It hurt! The abuse of power in this goes so hard. Gray didn’t hold back on the viciousness that we know of the gods and goddesses, and ugh, I was appalled so many times. I wanted to strangle most of them. Still, I appreciated that we still got the good kind of love, in all its forms, between some of the characters.

I’ve read enough versions of Medusa’s story to have some idea of what to expect, but this still felt like an entirely new and beautiful experience. I loved Gray’s take on Medusa’s tragedy. I’ve always found her intriguing, but now, this version? Medusa absolutely has a place in my heart.

The biggest thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immaculate. I, Medusa is an immaculate book.

I could honestly stop there. Thats all you need to know.

Gorgeous prose, perfect pacing, amazing character depth, an expertly woven narrative, and poignant symbolism and themes. There is nothing about this book I didn’t love.

Hands down the best Medusa retelling I’ve ever consumed.

GO READ THIS BOOK!

*Hopefully the finished edition will include content warnings, but in the mean time. Please read with care there is are heavy themes within, including on page SA.

| IG | TikTok |

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Erin W · Rating 2 out of 5]

In I, Medusa, veteran YA novelist and folklore enthusiast Ayana Gray turns to Greek mythology to construct a tale about injustice, loss of innocence , monstrosity, and rage. We follow 17-year-old Medusa, or Meddy as she's known to her sisters and friends, from her isolated home island as she's prepared for marriage to Athens after she's chosen to train as one of Athena's priestesses. All the while, she must faces increasingly horrific episodes of violence and violation -- against her sisters, her friends, and herself -- at the hands of the gods and of men raised in a patriarchal world. Meddy soon learns that she, unlike the women around her, can't seem to accept the world she's inherited. Instead she rages. And it is through that rage that she becomes the monster that myth memorialized.

Medusa has long been a feminist symbol and a locus for the exploration of the potential of female rage as a tool of resistance. I applaud Gray for throwing her hat in the ring and trying to add something new to these narratives with the introduction of a Black heroine and especially the rich thematic potential of Black hair (though, I will also point readers to Bethany Morrow's "A Song Below Water" for another YA novelization of this story).

SPOILERS AHEAD

However, I did not love this book, and I don't think that Gray executed it particularly well. Overall, I found it to be a slow read, especially in the middle. Gray chooses to devote the majority of the book to Meddy's time in Athens as an acolyte to Athena. This, to me, is absolutely the least interesting part of Medusa's story. It felt like lazy, tired plotting -- schoolroom bullying, a three trial competition to win a spot as a priestess. I wanted more of her reckoning with her rage or working out how to still have relationships as a Gorgon. This was all shoved into the last 40 or so pages of the book. It seemed like Gray ran out of steam before she got to the truly heart of the story.

This book, though marketed for adult and including several explicit scenes of and allusions to sexual violence, read to me like YA and young YA at that. We are viewing the world through the eyes of a 17 year old protagonist, who somewhat inexplicably, has no knowledge of the ways the world works and also literally no idea what sex is. Her mode of processing is so juvenile and simplistic, and it kept this book from being particularly rich or insightful. I think Gray was trying to up the stakes by highlighting Meddy's extreme loss of innocence at the hands of the powerful figures working in her life (and also her grooming and assault by Poseidon), but this just made the book so black and white and lacking in nuance that I had trouble emotionally relating to it.

I actually think this is a problem I have with Gray's writing here in general. For me, there was something off about the world-building in this book. It never felt like ancient Greece to me. Part of this are the sloppy anachronisms (Meddy speaks Latin... come on!). But there is also just a very contemporary sensibility to the ways various characters are portrayed (Meddy's mother as an abused and abusive alcoholic housewife...) I also found myself yearning for a deeper engagement with what race might have meant in ancient Athens. Yes Meddy was Black and a foreigner, but what did that really mean at the time? I'm not sure Gray knows what she's doing with her Black heroine.

Even more, there is something very abstracting about her prose that makes it hard for me to immerse myself in the world of the story. The Medusa story is about monstrous bodies and no one in this book felt particularly embodied? Gray uses simplistic terminology to describe her characters (ie sea foam green hair or copper skin). She shies away from indulging in the visceral and weird. Her gods wear human faces instead of having scales or crab arms. This comes back to the curiously abstracted sex and sexual violence -- Gray doesn't really contemplate how bodies meet for either violence or pleasure. And she doesn't really give her characters time to process these encounters (a side character is assaulted and forced into sex work, and basically is just ok with it? ) Because of this, I just felt... nothing. The introduction of the queer story late in the book was equally baffling. I don't love the idea of mobilizing queerness as an antidote to male violence, and that's kind of what it seemed like happened here.

This has gone on long enough, but I want to end with something I did really like that I think will stick with me when I think about Medusa in the future. Toward the end, Medusa has to learn how to tame her new hair-- a heartbreaking loss because hair was been figured as a source of pride, creativity, and familial love and connection through the whole book. Gray imagines the snakes as sentient, intelligent, and animalistic. They move and bite, and Medusa must punish this body of hers that has become strange. She yanks out a snake at the root and kills it, hurting herself in the process. This is what I wanted from this book. The body horror. The violent rage. The agency and visceral exploration of its cost. It made it all the more disappointing seeing that Gray could deliver, and knowing that she mostly just didn't...

[DianaRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

five stars — i am absolutely blown away at how original this medusa retelling is, and i feel that is something to note since the greek retellings genre is so oversaturated, especially with the popular and beloved myths.

ayana grey does a phenomenal job on all fronts: her characterization and development of medusa from a sheltered, naive girl to a young woman being forced to grow up before she deserves is so heartbreaking; there are multiple depictions of sexual assault, and medusa does not understand the power imbalance until it happens to someone she loves dearly and witnesses victim blaming for the first time.

i was particularly heartbroken at how many women in this book did not protect other women, but i am especially disappointed that athena was not a protector of women; i do feel that it was the right choice, in ayana’s retelling, and so i do appreciate how cruel and self-serving athena is as an olympian.

i also listened to the audio through libby and the narrator did a fantastic job!

i will have to check out ayana’s backlist after loving her adult debut!

——

very excited to dive into this medusa retelling, especially after seeing mutuals enjoy their read

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is one of the best books to come out of 2025. and if you don’t read it, you need to re evaluate.

[AG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update: Happy release day to this wonderful book!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for the arc!

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

I must admit that books inspired by Greek mythology usually don't excite me anymore. I've experienced several renditions of many popular Greek myths in text, audio, and visual format ad nauseam. It takes something special these days for a retelling like this to pique my interest. That something, in this case, was the marketing for this book. I'm glad I picked this up because it was a hit!

● Ayana Gray is a masterful storyteller. The pacing was perfect and I devoured this within 24 hours.
● Gray adds so much nuance to Medusa's character and gives her a voice and a fully fleshed-out backstory. Meddy isn't always a likeable character and does make some impulsive decisions but they lead to her character development. So many tiny moments come together to make her who she is- I could appreciate them a lot more after I turned the final page.
● What I really liked about Meddy as a character was how I could see vestiges of the human in the monster and the monster in the human.
● Meddy's transformation from an innocent, sheltered girl to someone who took charge of her own life (even if that made her a monster, a villain in the process) was the highlight of this book.
● The author explores so many aspects of womanhood not only through Medusa but through her mother Ceto, her sisters Stheno and Euryale, and other side characters.
● Gray doesn't portray the gods as perfect and glorious but as the vindictive, deeply flawed beings they really are.
● I liked Gray's idea of withholding the agency from the man who's often thought to be the hero of this story by, as she explains in the author's note, not even naming him.
● Gray taps into the cultural diversity of the time period, especially that of Athens. She captured the sights and sounds of the setting very well, and I was totally immersed.
● This story is so relevant even today. Poseidon's actions mirror those we often see men of power do in the 21st century. Themes of power dynamics, grooming, rape, and especially consent were poignantly explored.

I'd highly recommend this to fans of Greek mythology and feminist retellings. I can't wait to see what Ayana Gray has in store for us next!

[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What an original retelling of Medusa’s life and one of my favorites from Greek mythology! I’ve read plenty of retellings over the years but this one stood out for its wonderful storytelling and portrayal of voice & power. Medusa was a victim before becoming one of the most powerful snake-haired Gorgons.

Ayana Gray managed to deliver a stunning retelling of Medusas life. She captured her rage, power and heartbreak through thorough storytelling leaving me completely immersed in Medusas world. From childhood to up-to-her death, recurrent themes of male power & abuse, female subordination & subservience were the driving forces for Medusa’s growth and power. Her compassion and determination is what set her apart from other characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed her character arc progression and immersion into this “monster”. Majority of the book heavily focused on her life before Athens and her journey into becoming one of Athena’s priestesses. While we do see how Medusa slowly changes, I felt that the last part of the book was too short. I wanted to see more of her villainous side—her rage, her anger. I wanted more boldness and cunningness. She went through so much, but was given so little by the end. Nevertheless, this was a fascinating take on her life and outcomes. Highly recommend, add this to your list asap!

“Men with power are always the first to be believed”

“I’ve learned that most men are cruel. Some are just better at hiding it”

I want to thank NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group & Ayana Gray for this GORGEOUS eARC.

Expected release date: November 18, 2025

[Mai ༊*·˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 ★— Medusas' myth is a well-known one, so going into this book already knowing her fate made the experience feel a bit like watching a slow-moving disaster, as I got to witness a young woman maturing while gradually discovering the pitfalls that came with her upbringing among immortals. The story opened strongly, dipped in the middle, and then pulled me back in toward the end.

I really enjoyed how the book carved out Medusa’s family dynamics, which were dysfunctional but still full of love. This came through most clearly in her bond with her sisters, a bond I loved reading about! The author used Medusa’s locs as a meaningful connection to her home and her family, and I appreciated how this detail was woven throughout the story. Her hair tied her back to memories of their care and teaching, and it felt like a very touching reflection of very real Black culture and how hair connects us to our people.

The middle section, however, was where I felt a bit lost. I did not love the sequences of her priestess training in Athens, which leaned very YA in tone, and many of the side characters there felt like high school caricatures with drama that did not work for me.
My interest returned with the scenes focused on Athena, who is written as a surprisingly multi-layered and compelling character here.

The book depicts Medusa’s inevitable fate with real empathy, showing that her end did not have to be what it became. Her sheltered upbringing, her isolation, and the wider cultural attitudes toward women and girls all contributed to the tragedy of her story, and these factors felt painfully stacked against her.

The final chapters were heartbreaking, though I do wish the author had given more room to Medusa’s experience after her transformation, since the ending felt a bit rushed.
Even so, the emotional weight of it all still stands, and I think that this book really is an interesting and thoughtful take on the myth, even if I sometimes wished it had dug a little deeper.

[Bubbi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of this book to read and review.

I, Medusa is, at its core, a slow, flat, and disappointingly unoriginal retelling of one of mythology’s most tragic and compelling figures. Despite being under 300 pages, the novel drags and the prose is boring. Pacing is one of its biggest issues—there’s a heavy reliance on excessive, often unnecessary information that adds little to the story. Instead of deepening the narrative, much of the prose is dedicated to mundane, repetitive moments: waking up, eating, walking, small talk, going to bed. These scenes could have been condensed or removed entirely to make room for more meaningful content. As a result, not much actually happens, and what does happen often lacks weight or urgency.

Gray’s prose itself feels uninspired. There’s little emotional resonance or poetic quality to bring the myth to life. The characters, too, are disappointingly underdeveloped. Even Medusa—who should be at the center of this rich, emotional retelling—feels like a vague sketch rather than a fully realized figure. Athena, and indeed all the gods, come across as one-dimensional and lifeless. They lack the grandeur, menace, or mystery one would expect from divine beings. None of them feel particularly powerful, otherworldly, or complex.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect is the depiction of Medusa herself. She is portrayed as painfully naïve and uninformed—a baffling choice, given the gravity of her myth. Her passivity and lack of awareness made her a frustrating protagonist to follow. Instead of a bold reinterpretation of the iconic Gorgon, we’re left with a character who feels diminished and unremarkable.

What’s more disappointing is how little the novel explores Medusa’s transformation into the snake-haired, stone-turning figure we all associate with her name. That portion of the myth, which holds so much potential for drama, tragedy, and power, is barely touched. Gray shies away from a more nuanced, complex and above all darker narrative, opting instead for a sanitized, surface-level portrayal and feels underwhelming and uncreative. There’s so much room for psychological depth, thematic weight, and rich world-building, yet the novel seems content to skim the top layer.

This continues a frustrating pattern I’ve noticed with many modern mythology retellings. Despite the inherent richness of the source material—stories teeming with drama, symbolism, and timeless relevance—so many of these books end up feeling empty. Instead of tapping into the nuance, the strange beauty, and the emotional intensity of the myths, they often present a hollowed-out version of the story. I, Medusa unfortunately follows suit, offering little more than the shell of its premise.

Additionally, the novel attempts to comment on consent and sexual assault in a way that is well-intentioned but ultimately clumsy. Rather than weaving these themes organically into the historical and mythological context, the book halts to deliver modern-day moral messaging that feels jarringly out of place. While it’s important to address these issues, doing so with more subtlety and narrative integration would have been far more effective. As it stands, it reads more like a PSA than a compelling narrative arc.

In the end, I, Medusa is a missed opportunity. Medusa’s story is one of pain, power, and transformation—an archetype ripe for reinterpretation. But this retelling fails to capture a more darker, sinister, and grueling version of her complexity, her rage, or her tragedy. It lacks not just depth, but a sense of purpose or passion. I wanted so badly to be swept away, to feel the pulse of the myth anew. Instead, I was left with a version that felt safe, dull, and uninspired.

[Samantha Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My quote:

‘Ayana Gray captures the diversity and sweeping expanse of classical antiquity in this tense, poignant, and compassionate reworking of the myth of Medusa. Deeply relevant to both the ancient and the modern worlds, it packs a punch as hard as stone – yet still leaves room for the fragile joys of the mortal condition, from sisterhood and romance to self-discovery.'

Note: I received an Advance Reading Copy from the publisher.

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the advanced review copy!

Happy release day to this heart breaker! ❤️‍🩹

•Mortal, Maiden, Mistress, Monster•

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book/study/essay on Medusa that didn’t leave me raging at the unfairness of it all, and this was no different. What a fierce and lovely depiction of her story! Medusa (or Meddy as her sisters call her) is a 17 year old girl in this story—deeply flawed, but worthy of love nonetheless. The themes of power, rage, family, and mortality drove Medusa through all stages of her story, from mortal girl to monster. We all know how this story ends, but I still felt it like a punch.

I do wish I had gotten more time with Medusa’s inner thoughts during the last stage of her life. We spent so much time with Medusa as a daughter and sister and acolyte, I wanted more pages devoted to her coming into her power. The ending felt too short compared to the descriptive and immersive beginning. Overall though, this book was great!

Definitely don’t skip the Authors Note at the end! I loved the decision to keep the “hero” nameless. Anaya Gray did a wonderful job with I, Medusa, and I’ll definitely be checking out more from her.

[Morgan Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow—what a stunning retelling. I, Medusa is a powerful and lyrical reimagining that breathes new life into one of Greek mythology’s most infamous figures. In recent years, I’ve absolutely been living for all the feminist takes on classic myths, and this one absolutely earns a spot at the top of the list.

We all know Medusa as a monster—one of the most iconic in all of mythology. But, as this book so beautifully explores, monsters aren’t born—they’re created. This is the first time I’ve truly read a full, rich backstory for Medusa. Sure, I knew how she came to be cursed and why her image is tattooed on so many bodies, but I’d never felt her story until now. Ayana Gray gives her depth, heartbreak, strength, and fury—and once you’ve read this, it’s impossible to ever see Medusa as the villain again.

Gray doesn’t hold back when it comes to portraying the gods as they are: cruel, capricious, and disturbingly entertained by the pain of others—mortals and lesser deities alike. It’s a story full of betrayal, power, identity, and ultimately reclaiming your narrative. I was completely swept up in it.

This was my first Ayana Gray novel, and it will definitely not be my last. If you’ve loved retellings by Casati or Saint, add I, Medusa to your list immediately. It’s gorgeous, gutting, and unforgettable.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. I loved it, and I can’t wait to see what Gray writes next.

[mileena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t just read this book — I felt it crawl under my skin, settle in my ribs, and whisper, “Yeah, we’re gonna unpack some things today.” Ayana Gray took the ancient, dusty myth of Medusa and turned it into something alive and furious and heartbreakingly human.

This Medusa isn’t a monster. She’s a girl who’s been failed over and over again by the people who should have protected her. She’s angry, she’s traumatized, she’s trying to stitch herself back together with shaky hands — and somehow, she’s still defiant. Still dangerous. Still soft in ways she refuses to admit.

The writing? Absolutely gorgeous. Every sentence feels carved out of marble and dipped in poison. It’s atmospheric in that “I can literally smell the sea and the stone and the grief” way. And the pacing flows like a myth: steady, heavy, and building toward an explosion you know is coming but still aren’t ready for.

What hit hardest is how the book balances pain and power. It doesn’t glamorize her suffering — it makes you angry for her. It makes you want to reach into the pages and scream with her. This is a story of reclaiming your voice, your rage, and your narrative after the world has twisted it beyond recognition.

And the ending?? Satisfying, cathartic, vicious — exactly what a Medusa retelling should be. I closed the book and just sat there, staring into space like, “Okay… so THAT’S how you write a myth retelling.”

[Gabriela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t have a particular fascination with Greek mythology, but I love a story that takes a deeper look at someone historically viewed as a monster and rewrites the narrative.

A mortal child born to gods. A naive adolescent reckless enough to attempt bribing a cruel man out of a political marriage to her sister. A young woman brave enough to risk a lifetime of punishment in order to save her friend, a slave.

Meddy jumps at the chance to leave her small, sheltered life and join Athena’s temple as an acolyte. When she first arrives she has hope, wonder, awe. We watch as her optimism is insidiously, hopelessly trampled. By misogyny. By patriarchal gods. By the women who bow to them. This narrative shows what happens when an unchecked patriarchal system frames its own victims.

While the beginning pulled me in, there were also parts of the story where I only felt moderately engaged. I wanted more tension each time Medusa experienced an inequity, and it seemed like the memory of each incident eventually faded. I wanted, if not for her to fight harder, for her to hold on to her anger at the system that pushed her down. I wanted to revel in her revenge. I'm probably projecting my own feelings, and Meddy’s optimism is likely a calculated move. The way it is written makes sense, but I also wanted there to be more emotional payoff in the first half of the story.

Medusa is initially an innocent teenager who clings to hope and faith in the goodness of the gods who eventually demonize her. Even after she is cursed I’m not sure it is rage that rules her. Yes she has it, but it is tempered. There is sorrow in all that she has lost. She still tries to have hope. In the end, and I believe this is where Gray’s retelling is truly powerful, I can’t say that she ever became a monster.

If I were to base this review solely on the prologue and epilogue I would give it 5⭐️’s.

4⭐️’s, audiobook

[Lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An heart wrenching reimagining of Medusa’s tale in the vein of other mythology retellings like Circe, centering on the girl that becomes the monster.

I knew how the original myth ended and still I wasn’t prepared for how devastating this book was. The author manages to add depth and nuance to Medusa’s tale, and make it more heartbreaking for that.

I think this book is classified as adult, and it definitely contains dark themes (please read the trigger warnings first) but my main gripe is that it feels more like a YA coming of age.
Medusa is 17 throughout the book, and many of the decisions she makes feel very juvenile. Many of the dynamics during her priestess training felt like silly high school drama and took me out of the story.

On the other hand, I thought the author really nailed the depiction of the men who pray on Medusa and take advantage of her innocence and inexperience (and desire her for those reasons). These characters weren’t caricatures, they felt very real and subtle, and their interactions with 17-year-old Medusa were chilling to read.

This book is for readers who want their tragedies fueled by female rage.

Thanks to Zaffre via NetGalley for providing an eARC

[ᴄᴀᴛ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ☆ | This was honestly so sad. Prior to reading this I knew some of Medusa's story, not a whole ton though, just the basics. Medusa has always interested me so getting to read this and read more about her was amazing to me.
⚠︎ Keep in mind that there are some heavier topics in the book, as well as on page SA. Which I don't believe there were trigger warnings at the start of the book. ⚠︎

'𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏. 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.'

𓆙 : 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
I'm going to start this by saying I. Hate. Poseidon.
He did, what lots of men do, and took advantage of Meddy. She's 17, he's thousands of years old. Need I say more?

"We'd never slept together. I had never done it before, with anyone."
𝖹𝖾𝗎𝗌'𝗌 𝗀𝖺𝗓𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝗎𝗇𝗐𝖺𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀. "And my last question: Did you say no?"
▹ That should not be a question, whether she actually said the word 'no' should not matter. Meddy made it clear. She said "wait". She said that she 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵. She tries to get away. And he stops her, he pins her arms above her head so she can't move. And he rapes her.
This is something that, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺, hasn't happened to me. But I do know that it does happen, often.
I believe in traditional myth, it happens to Medusa too, and it isn't just in this story, most of the stories I've seen, Poseidon rapes Medusa. And 𝘴𝘩𝘦 is the one punished for it. (are we even surprised? It's always the victim getting blamed for it)
He lied, made it seem like she seduced him. "𝘴𝘩𝘦 was the one who courted me." (𝗹𝗶𝗲) "but she grew increasingly interested in more carnal relations. Even when I cautioned her, she was...𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵." (𝗹𝗶𝗲) "Tonight, I went for a stroll in the gardens, and she was there, drunk. She practically begged for me." (𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗲)
Absolutely disgusting.

"𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔," 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒔, "𝒔𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓."

· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·

I loved seeing when Medusa was in Athens. Watching as she was an acolyte, then a priestess, and everything else.
I loved the descriptions of Athens, as well as seeing her friendship with Apollonia grow over time.

Though her time in Athens wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. The other acolytes go up to her, tug on her curly hair. Even if you've never seen someone with a certain hair type before, it doesn't give you a right to just go up to them and touch as you please. Just because she's black, and a foreigner to Athens, does 𝘯𝘰𝘵 in any way excuse the other acolytes actions.
'"Please don't touch my hair." My voice is soft, but the room is small enough that the words carry. Several of the watching acolytes shift, visibly uncomfortable, but I keep my eyes trained on the blonde girl. She's now looking at me with both surprise and confusion, as though she can't quite believed what happened. I have the vague notion that she doesn't hear the word 𝘯𝘰 very often. For a second, her hand remains half raised from where I knocked it away. Then the surprise gives way, and her features twist. She suddenly looks as though she's tasted something sour.
"It's just as well.' Her voice is still syrupy sweet, but there's a new undertone. "I wouldn't want to touch a metic's hair anyway.'
I rack my brain, trying to place that word. 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤. I know it is shorthand for he Greek word "metoikos," another word for foreigner. It isn't an inherently bad word, but the way the girl spat it makes me bristle. She steps toward me, sniffs the air, then makes a show of holding her nose. Some of the other acolytes laugh.
"You 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘭," she declares. "Do they even bathe you where you come from?"'

▹ From everything ─ stories, movies & shows, books, we know Medusa as a monster. This shows that monsters aren't born, but made. And even then, she isn't just going around everywhere, looking everyone in their eyes to turn them to stone. She was trying to avoid that. She wasn't participating as much, when her sisters were doing the same.
I feel like after reading this I can't see her as just a 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳, now. Because honestly, how could I?


𓂁𓂄 : 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔

» 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝘂𝘀𝗮 was an amazing character, I loved reading through her pov. Seeing her thoughts, dreams and fears.
We see her bond with her sisters, and her training to be a priestess. Along with a three part competition to become one.
She's been sheltered her whole life, and is unaware of plenty of things that she soon learns when she leaves her home island for the first time
» 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝘆𝗮𝗹𝗲 and 𝗦𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗼 were also wonderful. Before reading this I did 𝘯𝘰𝘵 know that Medusa had sisters. But I loved seeing the bond they had and how much these two cared for Meddy. Even trying to find her head, and the one who murdered her.
» I loved 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗼 and how he was a true friend to Medusa. How, even after she had snakes for hair, he ran for her, telling her everything would be alright. What happened to him at the end was awful.
» 𝗔𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮 was wonderful. Medusa's one true friend while she was in Athens. I was wondering what happened after she was dismissed as an acolyte. So seeing her near the end, once Medusa was already a gorgon. And how they got close again, becoming friends, and even lovers, was sweet. I love the romance between her and Medusa, though I feel it could've had more (when they were in Athens) that lead to their romance.

· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·

"𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌."

· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·

⚔ : 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍
I do wish there was a bit more in the book about 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 she became a gorgon.
But if you enjoy retellings, especially ones including Greek Mythology. I definitely recommend this one. It's beautifully written, absolutely heartbreaking and definitely worth the read.
Thank you to Netgalley & the publishers for allowing me to have an arc of this book!

▸I also really loved the dedication for this book and wanted to share!
"𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓: 𝑰'𝒅 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆."

[Stacey Sturgis ˗ ღ ˎˊ˗ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

I picked this up because I am one of those people who has always found the concept of an avenging female character in mythology to be fascinating. I lightly studied Greco-Roman literature in college but it’s far from my favorite period, so I can’t speak to the accuracy of the setting or the customs portrayed in the book. Suffice to say they worked for me.

I enjoyed the way Medusa was depicted as a very human teenage girl, with all the accompanying foibles of that age. The author did great work humanizing her and placing her firmly in her family as a devoted sister and daughter. I could feel the sexual trauma scene-building long before any was deployed in the plot, but please be cautious of this if it bothers you. It is not a small part of the story.

My favorite relationship was definitely Meddy and Theo. Apollonia was a bit predictable for me.

The author uses pointed, if anachronistic, dialog about consent and immigrants. Timely for the 2026 reader.

Overall a solid and polished story with interesting, well-drawn characters.

I borrowed this copy from my public library. Today’s libraries are more than books. From teaching critical literacy skills to promoting entrepreneurship and small business development to preserving and facilitating our community stories, libraries serve us in so many ways. Please support your local library, and learn more at https://ilovelibraries.org/what-libra... .

[Steph Anya · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐I absolutely loved this book! Modern retellings of Greek mythology are such a joy, and seeing the representation of a dark-skinned heroine with locs really set this book apart. I was unfamiliar with Medusa's backstory as we rarely see a narrative from her perspective, so this was not only entertaining but also educational. I appreciate the structure of the book being organized by her progressing identities. The conversation on power imbalances between age, gender, and race were handled with such care. I have already been recommending this book, and will continue to do so. Please read trigger warnings!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ★

“I will never be helpless again. I will never be powerless again.”

A beautifully written and refreshing retelling that focuses on Medusa’s life before her transformation into a Gorgon. Instead of the legendary monster, the story reimagines her as a teenage girl with dreams, fears, and a deep sense of humanity. We see Meddy’s closeness with her sisters and training as a acolyte. The story shows her rage and pain, but also highlights moments of love and friendship making it emotionally compelling.

Meddy’s 17 and naive, having lived a sheltered life on an island. She lacks awareness of intercourse and the real world. Gray does a great job writing her character—she starts out unaware, but that makes her eventual awakening feel more powerful. Watching Meddy grow from someone who doesn’t fully understand the world around her into someone who starts to fight back is what makes her story moving. This is also worked well showing how young women can be manipulated and silenced.

In conclusion I, Medusa is not for readers seeking a fast paced, action-packed mythological spectacle. Instead, it’s a character-driven exploration of girlhood, coming of age, grooming, and transformation in a patriarchal world. At its heart, it’s a story about trauma, survival, and the suffocating power of silence. The reason I loved this so much is because of how well it mirrors real-life rape culture and shows how perpetrators exploit victims through power imbalances.

That’s the curious thing about monsters.
The worst ones don’t bother hiding in the dark.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher Bonnier Books UK for the advanced copy.

[Krissi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a retelling of the tale of Medusa with an emphasis on how she became one of the gorgon queens along with Stheno and Eurayle. There are differences especially with the relationship between her and Poseidon (which can be interpreted in different ways anyways), but overall it was done well. There was an emphasis on class and men overpowering women of the time which was portrayed well and helped contribute to the character of Medusa. Definitely worth a read!

[alyssa✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

probably one of the best medusa retellings i’ve ever read. i loved the take on medusa’s story and i absolutely devoured this one in a few hours! this was heartbreaking, tender, and absolutely devastating at the same time.

this does frequently mention & have scenes with SA & rape so pls check all the trigger warnings before reading this!

[Toribetweenpages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful retelling highlighting individualism, feminine rage, and friendship. The highlight of Meddy's hair really stood out compared to other retellings. Adored how Meddy felt unique from other Medusa stories

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child I was obsessed with Greek and Roman mythology and so when a rash of feminist mythology retellings cropped up, I eagerly tried them all. Some were good, others felt like they featured the same woman over and over again, a one-dimensional misandrist who used hypersexuality to rise to power. But I still scoop them all up anyway because I am still kind of a mythology geek. "I, Medusa" did not disappoint and impressed me with its originality.

This book reminded me of what had enthralled me about the myths as a child - the shallow, vengeful gods who use mortals as their playthings and the valiant mortals who stand up to them. This book takes on the origin story of the monster, the villain and the legend, Medusa.

In this retelling, she is just Meddy, a child who loves her two older sisters but chafing under the control imposed by her cold and distant parents, two minor sea gods, on a remote island that she longs to escape. Completely innocent, she's never even been told what sex is. But she has a fierceness and confidence in her. When a suitor comes to her island home to court her sister, she learns he is a cruel, abusive man and she seeks to thwart the match. She accidentally kills him instead.

This sets into motion a series of events that attract both the goddess Athena and the sea god Poseidon, whom Meddy has a schoolgirl crush on. She trains to become an acolyte under Athena's temple and quickly learns the goddess's capriciousness, casting out her friend after she was raped by soldiers and blaming the victim in a clever bit of foreshadowing.

You think it'll be an age gap romance between Medusa and Poseidon, but it turns into something far darker as the sea god exploits their power imbalance. I liked how the author showed him as not just a one-dimensional evil monster, but someone who kept Medusa's hopes up in a seemingly charming act of grooming.

I loved the character of Meddy and thought she was interesting and complicated. Sometimes she could seem childish and brash but that also plays into her villain origin story nicely. I enjoyed how the men in this weren't all evil and Meddy is a courageous girl with a temper seeking righteousness. I also appreciated how this showed female friendships and the loving relationship between Meddy and her sisters. I have found the absence of that in other Greek myth retellings troubling.

I also appreciated how this really explored the diversity of ancient Greece, little touches like Meddy's sisters helping her twist and care for her locs to the discrimination she faced in Athens. But it also showed that racism back then wasn't the same as it is now.

In short this is a new favorite and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this wonderful book that breathes life and complication into the Medusa legend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Emmy Carrasco · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️

Seeing a Greek retelling about Medusa being 17, black, with locs… I was so excited. You witness who Medusa truly is and the world building around her with her patronage, siblings, minor gods, and the Olympians - there are so many tiny small details I would love to appreciate it here.

As for the actual story, there’s so much yet so little to say. It was fast paced and covered quite a few heavy topics. Power dynamics, ideation, the nuances of rape, obligation, what is considered evil, prejudice and so much more. The aspects of friendship, I was actually hurt by quite a few scenes in this. There was so much growth within the inner dialogue. I wish there was more of her life after becoming a Monster, the ending felt a bit rushed. The Epilogue was an amazing addition. I will say, despite this being marketed as one of if not Gray’s first adult novel, it does still feel a bit YA - new adult if we must compromise.

This was a wonderful and unique interpretation on Medusa’s story but if you are looking for action packed violence and rage, this isn’t it. This is more similar to V.E Schwab’s style of writing being heavily character focused. If you enjoy Greek mythology and Bury Our Bones in the midnight soil, there is a good chance you will enjoy this!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for this ARC.

Expected publishing date: Nov 18th 2025

[Alisha 🦋💗 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I had to sit on this review for a little bit to gather my thoughts, and myself. This is probably one of the best Medusa retellings I have ever read. I was gripped from the first page all the way to the last. I’m pretty familiar with the story of Medusa, but this retelling just made it even better. I’ve been putting off getting my Medusa tattoo for a very long time… scared that it will finally make my experiences a finality. But, I think after reading this book, it is time. This will honestly stay with me forever and I can’t wait for the world to experience this.

Medusa, the woman you are <3

Thank you to Random House Publishing for the ARC!

[Marialyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a real sucker for Greek mythology and this story so well done intrigued me.

Medusa, a mortal born to two lesser gods into a family that already had two immortal children, yearns to leave the island her family lives on.

She gets her wish and becomes a favorite of one of the gods, Athena. Life seems good but then Poseidon appears and Medusa's life turns into one where her hair is turned into snakes.

She becomes a woman vilified and her actions are those dedicated to being a monster, but is she really? Is she just s girl who has been maligned for a deed not of her making?

[kiki’s delivery witch ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: Sexual assault, victim blaming, religious trauma, and the urge to throw things at fictional goddesses.

I, Medusa absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. I went into this expecting another bland Greek mythology retelling (sorry, but the market is saturated), and instead got a gorgeous, rage-inducing love letter to Black womanhood.

Can we talk about how BRILLIANT it is that this book focuses on Medusa’s life before she became the monster everyone thinks they know? Because that's where the real story lives. We get to see Meddy as a young woman with dreams, fears, and the most beautiful relationship with her sisters. The way Ayana Gray depicts their reverence for their hair, their locs as extensions of their very souls, had me running my fingers through my own tangly curls with newfound appreciation.

And speaking of hair, can I just say that when Athena’s punishment finally comes (and we ALL know it’s coming), the violation feels so much more devastating because we’ve spent chapters understanding what those locs meant to Medusa? It’s not just about turning her hair into snakes. It’s about corrupting something sacred, something that connected her to her heritage, her sisters, her very sense of self. I literally had to put the book down and take a walk around the block because I was so MAD.

Athena remains the absolute WORST, and I’m living for this portrayal of her as the ultimate pick-me girl of Mount Olympus. The way she victim-blames Medusa for Poseidon’s assault while positioning herself as the “reasonable” goddess? Kudos to the Gray for not softening her edges or trying to make her “complex.” Sometimes people are just terrible, and Athena is TERRIBLE.

Now, Poseidon. Oh, Poseidon. Gray's decision to make him charming is absolutely diabolical and so, so real. Because that’s how it works, isn’t it? The worst men are often the most charismatic, the ones who make you doubt your own instincts. His scenes made my skin crawl in the best way possible because they felt authentically predatory without being gratuitous as an older man preys on a young, impressionable teenager.

The pacing had me flipping pages like my life depended on it. There’s this beautiful slow build as we watch Medusa navigate her world, fall in love for a bit, and slowly realize that the gods she’s been taught to revere are actually monsters in divine clothing. When everything finally comes crashing down, it hits like a tsunami.

I’m absolutely obsessed with how the author grounds this mythological story in very real experiences of Black womanhood. The microaggressions, the way Medusa’s beauty is both celebrated and weaponized against her, the expectation that she should be grateful for male attention regardless of how it makes her feel. It’s all there, woven seamlessly into the ancient world.

My only complaint? I wanted MORE. More time with her sisters, more of her life before the transformation, more of her internal world. But honestly, that’s probably just me being greedy because I fell so hard for this version of Medusa.

If you’re looking for a mythology retelling that actually has something to say about power, trauma, and survival, this is it. Just make sure you have tissues handy and maybe don’t plan anything important for the rest of the day because you WILL be emotionally devastated.