Stone Cold

Medusa x Triton #1

by Lena J. Castle

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.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 31, 2026

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Victoria Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Coming Soon