Medusa Gorgon isn’t the same woman who once lived in Atlantis. Now, she moves through the glittering city beneath the sea with a new identity, spending her days in a chef’s jacket and her nights hunting the powerful men who ruined her life.
Detective Triton is juggling two one killer turning high-ranking officials to stone… and a second targeting women who work at Tops, an underground bar and brothel in Atlantis.
With her own body count rising, the last thing Medusa needs is to get tangled in another killer’s case. That is, until she learns who’s behind the murders. More women will die if she does nothing, even if protecting them means risking everything.
Medusa is a survivor who will not be undone by a man with a badge. If Triton gets too close, she’ll lie to him. She’ll play along with his growing feelings, drawing him close enough to monitor his investigation and steer suspicion away from herself.
But Triton is sharp, disarming, infuriatingly charming, and the more time she spends pretending to let him close, the less it feels like pretending.
Stone Cold is the first book in a dark fantasy romance Medusa retelling trilogy perfect for readers who love hidden identities, slow burn romance, morally gray heroines, and serial killer-detective tension.
For content warnings, please visit the author’s website.
Lena J. Castle is a fantasy romance author. When she’s not busy building imaginary worlds, you’ll find her cozied up with a good book, spoiling her very fluffy cat, or experimenting in the kitchen.
For more about her books, visit www.lenajcastle.com and join her newsletter to stay up to date with new releases, deals, and giveaways.
To be honest, I did not go into this book with any expectations. It’s the first ARC I ever read so I was just excited for that. But then I started reading the book. And. Literally. Couldn’t. Stop. This book was so bingeable and such a page turner. The plot was super nicely put together with such a beautiful writing. I haven’t read a lot of stories with a morally gray FMC, so I was really glad to get to know Medusa. For the first book in a series, this one was genuinely interesting. It introduced the world, the characters, gave us a nice detective story line and also a lot of tension. Medusa’s story just broke my heart and I hope to see more of her healing process in the next books. My girl needs a therapist asap. Overall a very nice read that I would recommend to a friend.
Thank you Booksirens for the advanced copy. Thank you Lena. People who put suitcases on beds without thinking make me cringe too.
When I stumbled upon the blurb for stone cold I thought to myself this is either going to chaotic and fall short or… or…… it will be fucking amazing.
And ladies and gents it is fucking amazing. The intrigue! The intelligence! She is so observant! Medusa is seeking her rightful revenge because Atlantis and Olympus (similar to other governments) are apologists for heinous crimes against women. The more power or money one has the more they get away with.
And in this story- while we teeter on whether Poseidon was involved he clearly knows what happened to Medusa and allowed it to be covered up.
I’m ready for Triton to realize his father is the bad guy.
RATING BREAKDOWN Characters: 1 star World Building: 1 star Plot: 2 stars Emotional Impact: 0 stars Personal Enjoyment: 1 star Cover Art: 3 stars Total Rounded Average: 1.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for granting me the privilege of reading ARCs.
I have been waiting for a Medusa fantasy or fantasy romance for a long time! Ever since watching 'Clash of the Titans' as a little girl, I fell in love with her. In my mind, she represents female rage and revenge with the power to turn anyone to stone for crossing her. There are such strong emotions associated with her for me. This book, however, missed the mark completely on conveying any of that emotion. I feel like this is one tick away from being a "Cozy Fantasy" or "Cozy Mystery". If that's what it's going for, it mostly hit the mark.
This is a murder mystery fantasy. A genre I truly adore when done right. But this entire book seems shockingly similar to another popular dark romance series I've read... down to some of the smallest details of how the crimes are planned & committed. Without getting into spoilers here, I just could not help but compare this story to another that is written much better. From the way the FMC and MMC meet, to the preparation for the murders, to the supposed chemistry between them (which I found sorely lacking).
The characters felt very one dimensional. I did not feel, connect or care about them at all. They seem to have some intrigue between them, but the feeling isn't there. There was no depth to their emotions, and they just suddenly appear. Know what I mean? Like, they began existing when the story does, with one storyline exception that delves back to one event in the past. I don't feel they are real people, with pasts and emotions. They were on the page to do a job; finish this particular story. That's what it felt like. The romance between the characters was non existent. I was expecting slow burn with tension and banter. None of that exists.
There are also plot holes everywhere. As a major fantasy reader, I know how to suspend my disbelief for a fantasy world, but I find there are certain places I just cannot do that. For example, there is no background checking, resume or interview whatsoever to get the FMC a job in THE ROYAL PALACE... LIKE, THE ONE WITH THE KING IN IT!! Even though she is referred for the job at the palace by the Prince, who IS A COP!! Like, what? Even with all the MMC's intrigue about the FMC, he never checks into her before she just starts working there and gets a room to live in the palace! I call bull! These type of inconsistencies happen throughout (not time to name them all) and I just could not get my brain to fall for it.
Moving on... another topic is the SA that runs throughout this book. Sure, there are trigger warnings. But, there are multiple storylines that require SA to happen or be mentioned and described. This is where the author lost me entirely. There's a right and wrong way to portray SA in your story. The wrong ways were chosen here. Flippant discussions about SA that just seems to happen all the time and everyone knows about it and it casually comes up in conversation, even with the police, and then those people just go about their day. So, yeah. I'm sorry, but SA is a topic that needs sensitivity, feeling, emotion, outrage, growth, SOMETHING. It's not just a tool to get your story going. Or something to give you a reason for a mystery. It is discussed in this book as casually as the weather.
All in all, this is Atlantis! The author had an opportunity to build such an amazing world from the setting! Yet, there is nothing. No world building whatsoever. The author had a story line that could have led to those strong Medusa emotions, but all of that fell flat. There was no growth from SA. There was no emotion tied to anything. It just... existed on a page.
I don't even know how to explain the emotions this book brought out of me.
Medusa has always been remembered as a villain, but this story makes her human. It doesn't erase the darkness of her choices or ask readers to see her as perfect, it allows us to understand the woman behind the myth. I found myself feeling angry, heartbroken, protective, and completely invested in her journey. More than once, I wanted to reach through the pages and give her a hug.
The author takes incredibly dark themes and handles them in a way that creates an emotional connection rather than simply relying on shock value. Some scenes were genuinely heartbreaking, and I was honestly amazed by how boldly the story explored pain, survival, and the consequences of being treated as a monster by the world around you.
The mystery was compelling enough to keep me turning pages, and I finished this book in one day. The investigation, twists, and emotional stakes carried the story beautifully. While there is tension and yearning between Medusa and Triton, I appreciated that the story didn't depend on romance alone. The slow burn elements and banter were well executed, but the mystery and Medusa's personal journey remained at the heart of the story.
This is a very modern take on Greek mythology. Readers looking for a traditional retelling with familiar mythological storytelling or extensive worldbuilding may find this approach different from what they expect. Personally, I thought it was creative, refreshing, and memorable. The modern elements brought a unique charm to an otherwise magical world.
The worldbuilding was the one area where I wanted a little more. I love getting immersed in fully developed worlds, and I would have enjoyed more time exploring this version of Atlantis. However, being thrown directly into the action also created a fast paced reading experience that made this book incredibly easy to devour.
What stayed with me most was Medusa herself. I feel strangely protective of a character who has spent centuries being labeled a monster. This book reminded me that myths often leave out the humanity of the people at their center. A clever, emotional, and unforgettable retelling. I'm already looking forward to the next installment.
For readers who enjoy dark mythology retellings, character driven mysteries, morally complex characters, and stories that challenge the way we view familiar legends this one is worth picking up.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the ARC.
Thank you so much Lena J. Castle for sending me this ARC!
Stone Cold is the first book in a Fantasy Romance trilogy and a Medusa retelling and I loved this story so much, it’s amazing and I already can’t wait for book 2.
After getting assaulted 7 years ago, Medusa is finally ready to get her revenge. Pastry chef during day and killer at night, she hunts the men who hurt her and a chance encounter with Triton, Poseidon’s son, gets her a job at the castle with even better access. But Triton is the detective who is looking for the killer and with him constantly asking her out and her growing complicated feelings despite insisting on only using him, getting her revenge keeps getting harder than she expected, especially since one of her targets is his father.
I knew I was going to enjoy this book when I read the blurb but omg it was incredible, I absolutely loved it! I was hooked from the first page, the plot was so interesting and keeping me on the edge of my seat with that murder mystery and how both cases were connected and trying to figure it out. And of course I adored all the characters. Medusa was such a badass FMC, my heart was breaking for everything she went through and was still dealing with in this book but she didn’t let it break her, she became even stronger and I loved seeing her get her revenge, I can’t wait to see her again in book 2. Triton was exactly the cocky but protective detective I wanted him to be, the way he kept asking her out and was falling for her fast despite her not exactly being nice to him all the time but him not giving up was so great to read about. Their relationship was definitely a slow burn but there was so much tension and he was yearning for her and I loved the knife to throat scene and all the banter, I also liked how unsure he was at times and even awkward when it came to dating, he was such a green flag (despite the slight stalking) and they were incredible together, I can’t wait to see them again in the next books and am dying to see him realize she is the killer he’s been looking for.
Stone Cold is an amazing romantasy book, I absolutely loved it and recommend it to everyone. Book 2 can’t come soon enough!
🐍🌊 ARC REVIEW 🌊🐍 Stone Cold Medusa x Triton #1 by Lena J. Castle
Thank you so much to Lena J. Castle for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. 💙
✨ What happens when two legends collide… and fate refuses to let them stay apart? ✨
Stone Cold pulled me into a world of mythology, magic, and unexpected connections, bringing a fresh twist to two iconic figures. I loved the way Lena J. Castle reimagined these legendary characters and created a story that felt both familiar and completely new.
The atmosphere of this story was captivating, blending the beauty and danger of ancient myths with the emotional depth of the characters’ journeys. There is something so addictive about seeing powerful beings brought down to their most vulnerable moments, and this story explores that balance beautifully.
The dynamic between Medusa and Triton was such a fascinating part of the story. Their connection carried tension, emotion, and the feeling of two forces colliding while discovering there may be more beneath the surface than either expected.
I loved the way Stone Cold explored themes of identity, trust, and finding strength after being shaped by the world around you. It’s a captivating mythological romance filled with magic, secrets, and a journey that leaves you wanting more.
A gorgeous start to the Medusa x Triton series — I’m excited to see where this mythical adventure goes next. 🐍✨
***I received a free ARC which did not impact my honest review of the book***
Lena just KNOWS how to write rich characters, easy banter, chemistry that oozes off the page, and a plot that keeps you up saying “just one more chapter” until the wee hours of the morning; this book was no different!!
Medusa is dead- sort of. She was supposed to die but she survived when her family didn’t. Now, she’s out to get revenge on the men who wronged her and her family. The only problem is that the detective who is tracking her crimes might be the dreamiest son-of-an-enemy to exist. Not only is he tracking her, unknowingly, he’s also tracking the now-serial killer who started with her family!
This book kept me on my toes and left me craving more! The chemistry and tension between Medusa (Petra) and Triton was absolutely delicious. I was craving every interaction between them.
Medusa’s arc was really lovely- from death fueled monster to lovestruck damsel and back to “I hate men”.
Side characters were fun and robust- Raia & Scarlett kept things grounded. And, as always, Poseidon is a real piece of sh**.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I’ll start this by saying my knowledge of Greek mythology is virtually nonexistent so I have absolutely no knowledge of the Medusa story.
I loved the morally grey FMC, made a very nice change to it usually being the MMC. The elements of a murder mystery actually worked really well for me. The MMC history could use some more explanation but I’m hoping that comes out in the next book which I will definitely be keeping an eye out for.
Enjoyed that most characters had some sort of back story, rounded out the whole of the supporting cast who can sometimes be written very one-dimensionally.
*Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to ARC read this book. I am so glad I got the chance and I loved every second.* Medusa and Triton, i love them and I wish they would just realize they are perfect for each other. Triton becomes so caring and soft when he is around her. The world building is very good but the storyline and the characters are my favorite. I love reading a good murder mystery with fantastic characters that you can easily love. I can't wait to see how their relationship progresses in the next book.
This was such a fun read I read in a day! The Medusa retelling was so unique! I love how us as the reader knows she is the killer and the MMC is the one detective trying to solve these murder mysteries, so we can just watch to see how it all unfolds and connects. It was such a good slow burn and it was so endearing the MMC was a littleeee awkward with how to handle the spitfire Medusa was lol. I'm looking forward to seeing where book 2 goes and the hopeful reaction to her being the killer!
The writing is nice, the story is good and the plot is plotting! I want more!
I loved the murder mystery and all the tension happening. The relation between Medusa & Triton is so tense, I want to know what will happen! Triton is such a man and I feel he need a happy ending! And Medusa deserve it too!
Can't wait to see how the story continue
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was amazing. I had high expectations for a Medusa retelling and it DELIVERED. The characters were perfectly thought out, the plot made sense and the links to Medusa’s mythology were extremely well executed. I finished it in a day and a half. Read this now.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love retellings of the Greek gods but this was definitely a new one. I was absolutely sucked in and it was so interesting to read a detective take on this story. A strong woman who seeks revenge on the men who destroyed her. A detective investigating serial murders including her murders.